tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232721552930608882024-03-05T05:45:29.044-05:00Bunbury in the StacksHeidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-37081655540082071122012-05-28T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-28T00:44:45.728-04:00Review: Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edgehill<p><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-15fwQtZm-HY/T8FZnVvxpoI/AAAAAAAADXk/D_AAuYtqcPs/s1600-h/Dead%252520Reckoning%252520by%252520Mercedes%252520Lackey%252520and%252520Rosemary%252520Edghill%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill" border="0" alt="book cover of Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MgWPncv1inw/T8FZn4QqURI/AAAAAAAADXs/CuFYgadKcW4/Dead%252520Reckoning%252520by%252520Mercedes%252520Lackey%252520and%252520Rosemary%252520Edghill_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="232" height="353"></a>Title:</strong> Dead Reckoning [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599906848/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1599906848">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12971670-dead-reckoning">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong>Author:</strong> Mercedes Lackey [<a href="http://mercedeslackey.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/mercedeslackey">Twitter</a>|<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MercedesLackey">Facebook</a>] Rosemary Edgehill [<a href="http://www.sff.net/people/eluki/">Website</a>]<br><strong>Standing: </strong>Stand alone, but could be the beginning of a series.<br><strong>Genre: </strong>Horror, Historical, Steampunk<br><strong>Published: </strong>June 5th, 2012 by Bloomsbury USA<br><strong>Format: </strong>Kindle edition; 336 pages<br><strong>Source: </strong>ARC from publisher via NetGalley<br><br>Jett has seen them—the walking dead. She was there the night they attacked Alsop, and only escaped with her life through the dedication of her faithful steed. When after fleeing she comes upon Gibbons and White Fox, who are both investigating mysterious disappearances, they are hard pressed to believe her tale. However, they’ll learn soon enough that things are like good ol’ Sherlock said and “when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth” (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, <em>The Sing of the Four</em>).</p> <p>Deep in the heart of Texas three young souls, each on their own mission, band together to battle (you guessed it) zombies. Jett Gallatin is a young woman passing as a man, gambler, and sharpshooter as she scours the west looking for her twin brother who disappeared at the end of the war. Honoria Gibbons is a headstrong woman with a scientific mind set out to investigate mysterious disturbances and whether or not they can be credited to the invisible air ships someone is attempting to sell her father. White Fox (who for some reason isn’t even mentioned in the publisher’s blurb, he is a main character, see him there on the cover behind Jett and much more visible than Gibbons?) is a white man raised by natives, working as a civilian scout for the US Army set out to investigate what has happened to a soldier’s family. </p> <p>Is anyone else <em>extremely</em> turned off when books are pitched as ‘perfect for fans of _________’? This almost always assures I <em>won’t </em>pick up a book. I feel like I’m constantly thinking ‘oh, this is another dystopian that wants to be the next <em>Hunger Games</em>? No, thank you.’ And <em>Dead Reckoning</em> fell into that pile for me when I read the lines “perfect for fans of <em>Cowboys vs. Aliens </em>and <em>Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.”, </em>particularly since I have negative interest in either of those. But still, I haven’t read any Mercedes Lackey yet this year, which is kind of a *gasp* moment for me since she’s one of my all-time favorite authors and I read through the <em>Queens Own </em>and <em>Mage Winds </em>trilogies on a frequent loop. I’m not a huge fan of most of co-authored stuff, but I’d never read any of Lackey’s non-fantasy work, and since girls dressed as boys is a surefire trigger for my book sense, I had to give <em>Dead Reckoning</em> a go. </p> <p>Needless to say, <em>Dead Reckoning </em>did not disappoint, but it didn’t impress either. The story of a zombie army being raised and controlled in the old west of Texas was interesting. I really liked that because Jett was from New Orleans she was familiar with the notions of <em>hoodoo</em>, and found the notion quite hair raising, but that Gibbons insisted on a more scientific base for the creatures’ existence as well. A crazed cult leader gone over the edge, spoiling his ingenious mind with notions of grandeur made me just uncomfortable enough to be on the edge of my seat through portions of our story.</p> <p>Each of our three main characters had an interesting foundation. Jett is a highborn lady of New Orleans whose family has been destroyed by the Yankees after they conquered the south in the Civil War. She refuses to believe her brother, Philip, is dead, and sets out to find him. Jett doesn’t put on her masquerade because she despises girly things, in fact, she longs to return to the days of petticoats and luxury. Unfortunately, she knows that her disguise is the only thing that has kept her safe and alive in the west for the past two years. Gibbons is a scientific mind, raised by a father with such tunnel vision into his scholarly pursuits that he hardly noticed she was a girl. She is logical, intelligent, and bent on having an explanation for everything. She refuses to be belittled because she is a woman, and is at times the envy of Jett who lives in hiding. White Fox was raised from the time he was quite young by natives who took him in after his wagon train was destroyed and he was the only survivor. Part of me wished he would have just been a native himself, but part of me also loves this storyline. I was obsessed with <em>Strawberry Girl</em> by Lois Lenski and other stories of white children raised by native tribes as a child, so needless to say, I took a liking to White Fox.</p> <p>Now, notice I said ‘good foundation’ back there. On the surface, these characters and the story had a lot of potential, but in the end it all sort of fell flat for me. I constantly felt as if I was being told the story, rather than shown it, and it was neither strong enough in plot or character development to make up for a lack of the other. I just kept wishing for more depth. I wanted to feel the developing friendships between Gibbons, Jett, and White Fox, I wanted to care about their pasts and potential futures. I wanted to be afraid of the zombies, and feel chills across the back of my neck when the air got cold. But I didn’t. In fact, <em>Dead Reckoning</em> did so little to quench my gore craving, I wasn’t sure I cared if the things did destroy Texas.</p> <p>The same lack of oomph goes to the whole steampunk element of this book. I’ll be honest, I’m not really sure why it was there when it seemed unnecessary. Other than the brief mention of air ships (which as far as we know, did not actually exist), and Gibbon’s auto, there wasn’t really anything steampunk here. I’m not sure why a book can’t be set in the Victorian time period, have scientifically minded characters, and <em>not</em> be an attempt at steampunk, when in fact this time period was full of scientific pursuits and progress. For example, I would have love to have seen more focus on the railroads or telegraph! I feel like steampunk writers need to go big or go home, and in this case it needed to be ramped up quite a bit. I did like that it was steampunk in the wild west, which was a fantastic and fresh idea, I just wasn’t digging the application.</p> <p>All things considered, <em>Dead Reckoning </em>was a quick read with a new take on some old tropes. There’s no romance, smart and strong women, zombies, and a bit of a cult. If all these things appeal to you, I’d say it’s worth a shot! Since my own review is underwhelming, please check out some of the more enthusiastic ones I’ve linked below.<br><br><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more: </strong>Eh, this wasn’t a bad read, but honestly if it weren’t for Mercedes Lackey’s name on the cover I wouldn’t have been willing to give it a shot. I’m glad I did, but I’ll head back to Valdemar now, thank you.<br><br><strong>Recommended for: </strong>Those interested in horror or steampunk in the old west (because hello, who wouldn’t be?), and fans of the authors. I’m fairly certain this is being released as an adult novel, but it has definite crossover appeal for the YA crowd. This <em>is </em>a standalone but it was very not so subtly hinted that they would like to make it a series. Bare that in mind if that sort of thing matters to you.<br><br><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://agelesspagesreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-dead-reckoning-by-mercedes.html">Ageless Pages Reviews</a><br><a href="http://oneminutebooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/dead-reckoning.html">Short and Sweet Reviews</a><br><a href="http://aliseonlife.blogspot.com/2012/05/arc-review-dead-reckoning-by-mercedes.html">Read My Mind</a></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-76999747953710064582012-05-27T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-27T00:00:01.378-04:00In My Mailbox (17)<p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UIldvjs0548/T8AX1a42o-I/AAAAAAAADUI/K4iDrVyaW5w/s1600-h/SAM_1000%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMM (17)" border="0" alt="IMM (17) Bunbury in the Stacks" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CWIR3C5cdEQ/T8AX1kDogFI/AAAAAAAADUQ/r5S4g8XfzMI/SAM_1000_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="235" height="437"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Xcem89lAVWU/T8AX2ArSkuI/AAAAAAAADUY/l-d784LRvtQ/s1600-h/SAM_1001%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMM (17)" border="0" alt="IMM (17) by Bunbury in the Stacks" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aByfh0asH0o/T8AX2fq8-EI/AAAAAAAADUg/NJWy4YpDQLU/SAM_1001_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" height="436"></a></p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif">In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at </span><a style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif" href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/" target="_blank">The Story Siren</a><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif"> in which you share the books you added to your collection in the past week.</span></div></blockquote> <p>Hi friends! This week I totally busted my self-imposed library embargo in the attempt to secure reads that would satisfy my current reading cravings. Plus I got a couple of bookish non-book related things!</p> <p>First up was my Farenheit 451 shirt from <a href="http://www.threadless.com/product/473/Fahrenheit_451/tab,girls/style,shirt">Threadless</a>. This shirt first came out <em>really</em> early in Threadless history, something like 7 years ago. I really wanted it at the time, but missed out. Well, they finally reprinted it, so I had to splurge! </p> <p>With it is the start to my <a href="http://phoebeontheroad.blogspot.com/2012/05/margaret-dashwood-shawl-jane-austen.html">Margaret Dashwood Shawl</a>, a pattern I’m working on from the new <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/jane_austen_knits/archive/2012/05/14/jane-austen-knits-summer-2012.aspx">Jane Austen Knits</a> magazine! I don’t usually share my knitting on the blog, but since I picked up a whole slough of Jane Austen inspired patterns this week, I thought some of you Austen fans might like to see! I think that at some point (like after I finish the 4 projects I’m currently working on), I’ll have to make the gorgeous <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/93127.aspx">Marianne’s Romantic Bookmark</a>, and give it away on the blog! I actually have the yarn for it on hand, but want to dye it first.</p> <hr> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6sc6tKmcL3Y/T8AX22KFOrI/AAAAAAAADUo/9Zlsvc8wsP0/s1600-h/Dead%252520Reckoning%252520by%252520Mercedes%252520Lackey%252520and%252520Rosemary%252520Edghill%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill" border="0" alt="book cover of Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-33cW0SAo9LQ/T8AX3DDJt6I/AAAAAAAADUw/cVjS0TrxRxw/Dead%252520Reckoning%252520by%252520Mercedes%252520Lackey%252520and%252520Rosemary%252520Edghill_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="102" height="163"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aez4xXqHoFo/T8AX3ioAj1I/AAAAAAAADU4/ZGkXJXy6oao/s1600-h/Time%252520Between%252520Us%252520by%252520Tamara%252520Ireland%252520Stone%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone" border="0" alt="book cover of Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60v_Y1Ngy3Azzok30tomTFQbrM4R6B1K7egQ6C0NW2xQxEDvXvW7ldw8pRGcBSmSVLI2HKDmrlRDgTYrd-TGX5JjAJMzrdA23LieDR2jtJaTOIn-ldAY6DTjHCdQ4lPgvqa2LgxGSv_jf/?imgmax=800" width="104" height="162"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H35g-57Mhiw/T8AX4FSRepI/AAAAAAAADVI/AJVFomb8-cM/s1600-h/Cinderella%252520Fables%252520Are%252520Forever%252520by%252520Chris%252520Roberson%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cinderella: Fables Are Forever by Chris Roberson" border="0" alt="book cover of Cinderella: Fables Are Forever by Chris Roberson" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Kiyq1fqrzXk/T8AX4oYwdEI/AAAAAAAADVQ/eg3Omm4pV3M/Cinderella%252520Fables%252520Are%252520Forever%252520by%252520Chris%252520Roberson_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="94" height="162"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bKsNx0x0y8s/T8AX4xGG8hI/AAAAAAAADVY/U7ucGsnM8Vs/s1600-h/Return%252520Man%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Return Man by V.M. Zito" border="0" alt="book cover of The Return Man by V.M. 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How could I <em>not </em>sign up for that?! Actually finished this one already. I had some issues, but still enjoyed the read, my review will be up tomorrow. Thanks, Bloomsbury! </p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11115457-time-between-us"><strong>Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone</strong></a><br>As many people probably know, girls dressing up as boys is only one of the things that’ll make me pick up a book. One of the others? Time travel! This one sounds interesting, and potentially cute, and I’m excited to check it out! Thanks Disney-Hyperion. I’m thankful that as a librarian I have the opportunity to preview Hyperion books.</p> <p><strong>Shameful Library Binge:</strong> </p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12308801-cinderella">Cinderella: Fables Are Forever by Chris Roberson</a><br></strong>I have been waiting for this one for <em>months </em>to satiate my <em>Fables </em>craving. I’m a bit wary since Patrick Rothfuss was pretty meh about it, but I’m trying to go in without expectations. I did very much like the first installment, <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-cinderella-from-fabletown-with.html">From Fabletown With Love</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13172164-the-return-man"><strong>The Return Man by V.M. Zito</strong></a><br>This one sounded like a potentially good zombie read, featuring the man who returns to the lands abandoned after the zombie apocalypse in order to provide families with the opportunity to have closure and bury their loved ones. I’ll be honest though, I likely won’t get to this one atm. The hold came in at an awkward time, and I’m not sure I can do 3 zombie reads in a row, which I would have to do to fit this one in! I can always pick it up again later though, if anyone’s read this and has thoughts, let me know!</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9633064-hexed"><strong>Hexed by Ilona Andrews (and others)</strong></a><br><em>Hexed</em> is a collection of 4 novellas, but we all know why I got it—to read <em>Magic Dreams</em> by Ilona Andrews! Totally excited for some Jim and Dali story. </p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10964.Outlander"><strong>Outlander by Diana Gabaldon</strong></a><br>I decided that even though I’m busy this summer, I’d sign up for the <a href="http://www.thereadinghousewives.com/2012/05/sign-up-for-outlander-by-diana-gabaldon.html">Outlander Read-a-long</a>! Again…time travel. Not only time travel, but time travel involving Scotland and cute red headed boys. Yes, please!</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/267869.Silent_in_the_Grave"><strong>Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn</strong></a><br>I really don’t know much about this one other than it’s come highly recommended by <a href="http://www.bookharbinger.com/">Holly</a> and <a href="http://www.angie-ville.com/">Angie</a>, and when it comes to this sort of thing, I take their word for it! Think that this might be the perfect grown-up read to help me out of my <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-cant-take-angst.html">YA funk</a>.</p> <p><strong>Gifted</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2124206.The_Swan_Kingdom"><strong>The Swan Kingdom by Zoë Marriott</strong></a><br>Ever since I fell for her newest book, <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-shadows-on-moon-by-zoe-marriot.html">Shadows on the Moon</a>, I’ve been dying to read Zoë Marriott’s backlog. <a href="http://debzbookshelf.blogspot.com/">Debz</a>, who loves fairy tale retellings quite possibly even more than I do, hosted a recent giveaway in which she offered a copy of one of the fairy tales she’s reviewed! When I found out I won, it didn’t take me long to decide <em>The Swan Kingdoms</em> would be it for me. Thanks so much again, Debz!</p> <h2 align="center">Two weeks of Bunburying</h2> <p align="center"><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/salute-your-shorts-magic-mourns-by.html">Magic Mourns by Ilona Andrews</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-railsea-by-china-mieville.html">Railsea by China Miéville</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-howls-moving-castle-by-diana.html">Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/audio-review-white-cat-by-holly-black.html">White Cat by Holly Black</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-sloppy-firsts-by-megan.html">Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-prince-who-fell-from-sky-by-jean.html">The Prince Who Fell From the Sky by John Claude Bemis</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-fault-in-our-stars-by-john-green.html">The Fault in our Stars by John Green</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/road-to-avonlea-aka-road-to-my-heart.html">Road to Avonlea</a></p> <p align="left">That’s it for me this week, what new reads have you picked up? Who’s going to be at BEA? Find me and say hi!</p> <p align="center"><OBJECT classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_42ce0846-16ca-4924-b12e-5078049b2ef8" WIDTH="600px" HEIGHT="200px"> <PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fbunbinthestac-20%2F8010%2F42ce0846-16ca-4924-b12e-5078049b2ef8&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><PARAM NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><PARAM NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><PARAM NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fbunbinthestac-20%2F8010%2F42ce0846-16ca-4924-b12e-5078049b2ef8&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_42ce0846-16ca-4924-b12e-5078049b2ef8" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_42ce0846-16ca-4924-b12e-5078049b2ef8" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="200px" width="600px"></embed></OBJECT><noscript><a href="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_cw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fbunbinthestac-20%2F8010%2F42ce0846-16ca-4924-b12e-5078049b2ef8&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</a></noscript></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-39433319304532512382012-05-26T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-26T00:00:03.667-04:00Damn my love of gingers!<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f6eOIIWStTA/T8AE7KJ7HSI/AAAAAAAADTs/KbWquICUeZU/s1600-h/SAM_0999%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 20th Anniversary Edition" border="0" alt="Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 20th Anniversary Edition" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fR-n-K03rVU/T8AE7pbg1vI/AAAAAAAADT0/6MlDVco2200/SAM_0999_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="460" height="275"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.thereadinghousewives.com/2012/05/sign-up-for-outlander-by-diana-gabaldon.html"><img style="display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R0uVab18N2U/T5APKQP7JjI/AAAAAAAACSo/7w7wklKOPJQ/s225/Outlander%2520read-a-long%2520button.jpg" width="269" height="270"></a> </p> <p>That’s right folks. I’ve let myself be peer pressured into joining the <em>Outlander</em> Read-a-long. Though, if you know me, you probably realize that I don’t give into peer pressure unless it’s something I actually kind of want to do anyway. </p> <p>I’ve never participated in a read-a-long before. I don’t like to feel pressured into meeting other people’s paces, particularly since June is crazy busy for me. But, since these lovely hosts have decided to split the reading up over seven weeks, I think I can handle it! That’s just 7 chapters to read each week, or, one a day.</p> <p>As you may know, I’ve been looking for non-YA reads to get me out of a slump, and what better choice than <em>Outlander</em>? I love so many of the bloggers who are hosting and participating, and I don’t want to feel all left out when they’re all fanning themselves over Jamie Fraser, so clearly I need to get in on this. </p> <p>Soooooo….if you too have a love of gingers, Scotland, historical fiction or really big books, you can join us! Just visit any of the hosting blogs, like <a href="http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/2012/05/theres-gonna-be-outlander-read-long.html">Into the Hall of Books</a> to check out the reading schedule and sign up!</p> <p>Also, you see that CD up there? It contains songs from Outlander the Musical! Who knew that was a thing? Kind of excited to check that out once I’ve read…</p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-60629772455223320782012-05-25T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-25T00:00:06.649-04:00Road to Avonlea aka ROAD TO MY HEART<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GYOwKPbR3Go/T5Cgji8c4KI/AAAAAAAACn0/MKC1uD9Y7i4/s1600-h/road_to_avonlea_ca-show%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Road to Avonlea" border="0" alt="Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2SibR7WGKmA/T5CgjzsBMFI/AAAAAAAACn8/acEieM0Ef9Q/road_to_avonlea_ca-show_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" height="272"></a></p> <p>I know most of us grew up watching <em>Anne of Avonlea</em>, but I fear too many of you likely missed out on the wonderful television series, <em>Road to Avonlea. </em>I used to watch this show every week with my mom, it was our thing, and I have since rewatched it as an adult. I swear if I had $200 to spare, I would buy the entire box set. Luckily for you, you can get the disks from NetFlix if you have the service, and I do so recommend it. The show is set in our beloved Avonlea, and lasts for seven seasons and a movie, and you will certainly recognize a few names and faces:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ETpW1DcaRw0/T5CgkR3xM-I/AAAAAAAACoE/JTzOVClw-W8/s1600-h/marilla%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Marilla Cuthbert" border="0" alt="Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla Cuthbert in Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sN4wl7Jm5ZA/T5Cgk2JgAUI/AAAAAAAACoM/S2OHzFJ-VG4/marilla_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="238" height="212"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0aFqfneDZsA/T5CglDxoEqI/AAAAAAAACoU/UubuRQfjM2Y/s1600-h/Rachel%252520Lynde%252520%2525281.1%252529%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Rachel Lynde " border="0" alt="Patricia Hamilton as Rachel Lynde in Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uBgpH78K0J8/T5Cglgi0mAI/AAAAAAAACoc/boQi92KzR0s/Rachel%252520Lynde%252520%2525281.1%252529_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="232" height="211"></a><br> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-411mC70hZAI/T5Cgl1nV7BI/AAAAAAAACok/YUZqYTXyxTk/s1600-h/davy%252520and%252520dora%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Davy and Dora Keith " border="0" alt="Kyle Labine as Davy Keith and Lindsay Murrel as Dora Keith in Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ifQrU_SOBTw/T5CgmYZPcKI/AAAAAAAACos/kkz3N7XL32Y/davy%252520and%252520dora_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="210"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Do_6MALKJCc/T5CgmhH86eI/AAAAAAAACo0/dJLL1DwR35w/s1600-h/Muriel%252520%2525285.1%252529%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Muriel Stacey" border="0" alt="Marilyn Lightstone as Muriel Stacey in Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QhGlLEwwNS0/T5CgnFt0XoI/AAAAAAAACo8/GzJGIpYZYvA/Muriel%252520%2525285.1%252529_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" height="210"></a></p> <p align="left">That’s right! Marilla Cuthbert, Rachel Lynde, and Muriel Stacy are each in <em>Road to Avonlea</em>, played by the same actresses as in the <em>Anne </em>movies! Also, Davy and Dora Keith, who are in the <em>Anne</em> books, are in <em>Road to Avonlea </em>as well. Some other familiar faces with different names would be:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I7s99sJfglg/T5CgnkEP8wI/AAAAAAAACpE/2jdUAAr2veU/s1600-h/Alice%252520Lawson%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Alice Lawson" border="0" alt="Mag Ruffman as Alice Lawson in Anne of Green Gables" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0D3BZzlhS5Wtg_GqTVlFybsh8AJALJxclbjspdQ-w5Dieheu-wBhSRFyEW2sdvE3WJhw_LFySsILinGz3wukbp1uamLDrColnGIL-XJlhO_PZtjqxMRW42O3W6ceGRtcyiE9XChaqAt3G/?imgmax=800" width="211" height="201"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tWKoBi1yd1c/T5CgocqBLOI/AAAAAAAACpU/2RcTNH6TA-E/s1600-h/Olivia%252520King%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Olivia King" border="0" alt="Mag Ruffman as Olivia King/Olivia Dale in Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fn9FjIydKvw/T5Cgo5EUzUI/AAAAAAAACpc/sapPFNxyQ-4/Olivia%252520King_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="269" height="200"></a><br>Mag Ruffman, who you may recognize as Alice Lawson, from Lawsons’ General Store, is transformed into the ever cheery and optimistic baby of the family, Olivia King. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sArxTjAO6jM/T5CgpBUWZEI/AAAAAAAACpk/DumKhgKyf84/s1600-h/Amelia%252520Evans%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Amelia Evans" border="0" alt="Jacki Borroughs as Amelia Evans in Anne of Green Gables" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S2-oc7R6U7A/T5CgpqCDmHI/AAAAAAAACps/Nu--xOuab9Q/Amelia%252520Evans_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="212" height="197"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PgBuFHIbtcI/T5Cgp3ur8EI/AAAAAAAACp0/z3Bf6g_ZUFw/s1600-h/Hettie%252520King%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Hettie King" border="0" alt="Jacki Burroughs as Hettie King in Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fdsUvI07bss/T5Cgqe7LIUI/AAAAAAAACp8/rmdytTEqcK0/Hettie%252520King_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="253" height="196"></a><br>Jacki Burroughs, who played the professional dramatist in <em>Anne of Green Gables</em> is a strict school mistress and head of the King family in <em>Road to Avonlea</em>.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GZoRDSZzo-g/T5CgrE27aYI/AAAAAAAACqE/c3E9eKjIbPo/s1600-h/Reverend%252520Allan%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Reverend Allan" border="0" alt="Cedric Smith as Reverend Allan in Anne of Green Gables" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6nbrKRPe4J5QWlOC70Db5ubIZFGgKaKmHaH3q48p0YgziCrxfNM4WrIe5teJZGThDsp9bgFGUkoTayFV2HtfHMBraawYbkMNhC1eMZM_cBrqH7RqHV0MDci_nknWemMRkrFM3F9UC7pZ/?imgmax=800" width="231" height="178"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rwVU1bVGpos/T5CgsuFIZhI/AAAAAAAACqU/8leLSvBat78/s1600-h/Alec%252520King%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Alec King" border="0" alt="Cedric Smith as Alec King in Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-by7IVEJqsa0/T5Cgs7zTkgI/AAAAAAAACqc/1CUSfMaQF38/Alec%252520King_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="262" height="177"></a><br>Cedric Smith, who plays Reverend Allan in <em>Anne of Green Gables</em> takes on the role of the middle child, only son, and head of the King farm in <em>Road to Avonlea</em>.</p> <p align="left">There are in fact many more doubles in <em>Road to Avonlea</em> that you may spot, and you can find a complete list at Avonelea Vignettes, <a href="http://avonleavignettes.com/doubleidentities.html">here</a>. I have chosen these three because, as you may have surmised, <em>Road to Avonlea</em> largely surrounds the lives and times of the King family. Now, there was once a fourth King sibling, another girl, but alas, she has perished most tragically. When her husband is thrown in jail for something scandalous, their only daughter, the spoiled and haughty Sarah Stanley is sent to live with her Aunt Hettie in Avonlea. There, she must deal with her most tragical of circumstances, particularly—cousins.</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HrarPyR6Qxc/T5CgtFkiQsI/AAAAAAAACqk/gwVlgbY32B8/s1600-h/The_King_Clan%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Sarah Stanley and the King Clan" border="0" alt="Sarah Stanley and the King Clan from Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KPsms-7R8y0/T5CgtlIlklI/AAAAAAAACqs/buA7TFrKOmQ/The_King_Clan_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="285"></a></p> <p>Of course they all hate each other, and there’s tons of drama to be had. There’s even a scene that was considered too racey for television at the time, which had to be cut out (it involves cracking an egg on someone’s head and is rather laughable by today’s standards—don’t worry, it’s on the DVD). Felicity King is just the <em>worst</em> when you first meet her, but you know what? I end up adoring this girl—the eldest of the King children. Why? Well, in no small part, because of Gus Pike.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrYBw17YRJxzaQKMPAApKudcmT7l2L0co_0M0rjWbflZ0k-tM8Ny0CoG_sH9lhoWWVEYI8VTj6ew7a5dP-yg7EAhuQBiwejYq39_0AU9FsaDSqaMSm2dCqKkFCbh_uOmIPW-q9X2vSVwX/s1600-h/Felicity%252520King%252520and%252520Gus%252520Pike%2525203%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Felicity King and Gus Pike " border="0" alt="Felicity King and Gus Pike in Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mrlWScphbCI/T5CguQHpszI/AAAAAAAACq8/OX0GcKgWCKM/Felicity%252520King%252520and%252520Gus%252520Pike%2525203_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="236" height="168"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jhPnZp7oKns/T5Cgu4jNHfI/AAAAAAAACrE/ArqWqcfMGKQ/s1600-h/Felicity%252520King%252520and%252520Gus%252520Pike%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Felicity King and Gus Pike" border="0" alt="Felicity King and Gus Pike in Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--g9aiiBbOOk/T5CgvFINE0I/AAAAAAAACrM/upCaB2rEqgs/Felicity%252520King%252520and%252520Gus%252520Pike_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" height="167"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AHjL2GGK6EI/T5CgvU40QEI/AAAAAAAACrU/aTuM_xljIk0/s1600-h/Felicity%252520King%252520and%252520Gus%252520Pike%2525202%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Felicity King and Gus Pike" border="0" alt="Felicity King and Gus Pike in Road to Avonlea" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z1JJK0DORNI/T5Cgv8H9crI/AAAAAAAACrc/o39JCqZvoxQ/Felicity%252520King%252520and%252520Gus%252520Pike%2525202_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="258" height="164"></a></p> <p>Oh friends, let me tell you. You think that Anne and Gilbert have one of the all time greatest slow burn romances? They’ve got nothing on Felicity and Gus. Okay, okay, so it’s very nearly the same type of story, but in <em>Road to Avonlea </em>you get 6 seasons and a movie to bite your nails over this pair! Of course, they’re totally in love, and totally hate each other for <em>years</em>. It’s fantastic!</p> <p>Here’s some things you ought to know about Gus Pike:<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hriERazeZQQ/T5CgwHDGTII/AAAAAAAACrk/g8X1zzxvAn0/s1600-h/Gus%252520Pike%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Gus Pike" border="0" alt="Gus Pike playing the fiddle from Road to Avonlea" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tzSbEv-Tv0s/T5CgwklENdI/AAAAAAAACro/u-gPNDsTWmY/Gus%252520Pike_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <ul> <li>Mysterious past involving pirates and buried treasure. <li>Lives in the lighthouse—very spooky and intriguing! <li>A true seaman and wandering spirit. <li>Unwavering devotion to Felicity. Even when she’s outright cruel to him. <li>Plays the fiddle…hot? <li>Fantastic accent.</li></ul> <p>In short, Gus Pike has held a piece of my heart for the past 20 years, and probably always will. I adore <em>Road to Avonlea</em>, the town, the drama, the people…it’s all so wonderful. Okay, okay, at the beginning they put ridiculous make-up on Sarah Stanley because it’s 1990, and the picture is often terrible, but please look past that. This show has a heart of gold, and I’m not even kidding when I say I love it so much just the credit sequence can bring tears to my eyes:</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 448px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:a3466af3-fef5-44bb-97b8-3ffeb414a746" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="d3e086ce-2db1-41e5-aea3-b1256b82af3d" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbd-QukmrYk&feature=player_embedded" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ajxjKvy6ih4/T70avCNSMLI/AAAAAAAADQ0/IjVwXAZQVKs/video2f7d645f90be%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('d3e086ce-2db1-41e5-aea3-b1256b82af3d'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Zbd-QukmrYk?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Zbd-QukmrYk?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p>If you call yourself a lover of Avonlea<em>, </em>you <em>must</em> find a way to watch this show. And when you do, please oh please let me know what you think. You can find out more information about <em>Road to Avonlea</em> at the official website, <a href="http://www.roadtoavonlea.com/">here.</a> </p> <p><font size="1">In addition to the blogs and posts already linked, character images may be credited to </font><a href="http://sharetv.org/shows/road_to_avonlea_ca"><font size="1">Share TV’s Road to Avonlea</font></a> <font size="1">and <a href="http://miss-dashwood.blogspot.com/2012/03/anne-of-green-gables-week-rta-guest.html">Yet Another Period Drama Blog</a>, both of which have lovely posts and information about the show!</font></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-26287457662828916252012-05-24T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-24T00:00:08.397-04:00Thank you for giving a bump to my slump!<p>To all of you who commiserated with me and cheered me through my <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-cant-take-angst.html">whining about YA reads</a>:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TxuFmD-I4ZI/T70jD5CVHVI/AAAAAAAADRE/BSHbadWDqkQ/s1600-h/I%252520love%252520you%252520guys%252521%25255B4%25255D.gif"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="I love you guys!" alt="Fez That 70s Show gif" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-in3nQernJ18/T70jEZyuVjI/AAAAAAAADRM/KHZOO_u_DbE/I%252520love%252520you%252520guys%252521_thumb%25255B2%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="282" height="271"></a></p> <p>Special thanks to Asher, Ivan, Tatiana, Alyssa, Kyle, April, Angie, Maja, Vickie, Ashley, Anna, Catie, Short Latte, Gina, Flannery, and Holly!</p> <p>You all helped cheer me up, brightened my day, and inspired me to go out and read. I have determined that the first order of business in shaking the YA slump will be to read my copy of <em>Daughter of the Forest, </em>as there seems to be a general consensus that I will love it and it will solve all of my problems (well, maybe not all of them…it probably won’t get me a full time dream job). Next up, I plan to give <em>This Is Not a Test</em>, and <em>Seraphina </em>a go. I’ve heard great things about both of them, and am hoping they’ll make the cut. Though I also have <em>Dead Reckoning </em>and <em>The Return Man </em>at the moment, which means it’s going to be a Very Zombie June for me (and yes, I am now inspired to make A Very Zombie June logo out of the A Very Brady Christmas cover).</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y3bTylNVWlc/T70jEuvia_I/AAAAAAAADRQ/gb_grQSb8l0/s1600-h/daughter%252520of%252520the%252520forest%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier" border="0" alt="book cover of Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7z_Etg0YOfA/T70jFO-oaII/AAAAAAAADRY/xhWQl0PKM40/daughter%252520of%252520the%252520forest_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="205" height="339"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Co94nfFvhEw/T70jFdApoXI/AAAAAAAADRg/k505fSb4he4/s1600-h/this%252520is%252520not%252520a%252520test%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers" border="0" alt="book cover of This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OCi4TsSU8_M/T70jF_ZloJI/AAAAAAAADRo/_GoZjD_OshY/this%252520is%252520not%252520a%252520test_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="222" height="338"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-82UtvIvKAEc/T70jGTnSudI/AAAAAAAADRw/gsdfb9UJNOM/s1600-h/Seraphina%252520by%252520Rachel%252520Hartman%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Seraphina by Rachel Hartman" border="0" alt="book cover of Seraphina by Rachel Hartman" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X1ubK_hhmU0/T70jHSpPN2I/AAAAAAAADR4/5tDPH9ylAwI/Seraphina%252520by%252520Rachel%252520Hartman_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="217" height="337"></a></p> <p>Anyway, I’ll be sprinkling these three in with some other adult and middle grade reads as I get back into the flow of things. With three gorgeous (and eerie) covers, of which I approve, how could I go wrong? I’ll also be trying any number of other books recommended, like Gary D. Schmidt, <em>Unspoken</em>, <em>The Curiosities</em>! </p> <p>Go forth and read!</p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-31282649212437370332012-05-23T00:01:00.000-04:002012-05-23T00:01:02.360-04:00Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green<p><strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GmcHj3OpGDU/T4rfQmimbcI/AAAAAAAACf8/tWVP2A0jooA/s1600-h/fault%252520in%252520our%252520stars%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Fault in Our Stars by John Green" border="0" alt="book cover of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gTEABAOWJDE/T4rfQ87mArI/AAAAAAAACgE/nI-nNNNmPRk/fault%252520in%252520our%252520stars_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="374"></a>Title:</strong> The Fault in Our Stars [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525478817/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0525478817">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong>Author:</strong> John Green [<a href="http://johngreenbooks.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/realjohngreen">Twitter</a>|<a href="http://www.facebook.com/realjohngreen">Facebook</a>]<br><strong>Standing: </strong>Stand alone novel.<br><strong>Genre: </strong>Young Adult, Contemporary<br><strong>Published: </strong>January 10th, 2012 by Dutton Books<br><strong>Format: </strong>Hardcover; 313 pages.<br><strong>Source: </strong>Borrowed from my local library.<br><strong>Challenge: </strong><a href="http://chickloveslit.com/completely-contemp-challenge">Completely Contemp Challenge</a></p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px">You have a choice in this world, I believe, about how to tell sad stories, and we made the funny choice.</blockquote> <p>Did you know that there are, chemically speaking, two different stages of love? The first stage, the one where you’re falling and all dopey and basically unable to function because you can’t think of anything but that other person is the result of a chemical cocktail of adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin pouring through your brain. The second stage, the one where you’re committed and stay together potentially for life is because of two other chemicals, vasopressin and oxytocin. These are the ones that really bond you together, but the fact is, once you’re getting the vasopressin and oxytocin, you don’t get so much of the adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin. And that, my friends, is probably the biggest reason that I (and quite probably you) love to read about falling in love. It gives me a bit of those chemicals (and feelings) back. That’s why after reading a book I love, I often can’t sleep, and I usually have a lot of energy. And I love it! </p> <p>But here’s the thing. Reading can also make you feel not-so-good feelings that you don’t like and want to avoid like the plague. That, my friends, is why I did not really want to read <em>The Fault in Our Stars</em>. I drug my feet…a lot. Even while reading. A book that could have easily been read in one sitting, I read a third of, put down for two days, then read chapter by chapter for some time, getting up and doing something else constantly to try to keep myself from getting too involved. This behavior continued for about 2/3 of the book. I knew what was coming, and I dreaded it. I kind of Monnicad this book. I didn’t want to get hurt, so I pushed it away, but it hurt anyway. But it also felt pretty good, falling in love with Augustus Waters.</p> <p>This book doesn’t really need another review at this point (heck, I didn’t even bother to post a summary, please click the GoodReads link if you need one). Many/most of you have already read it, and to my knowledge, everyone’s loved it, so it seems silly to go on and on, and yet I’m not sure I can resist fawning a little. So here it goes:</p> <p>I love Augustus. I love that he pushes this perfect boundary between being pushy and just plain attentive. I love that he doesn’t try to kiss Hazel, or call her too much, and I love that he reads her favorite book first thing, and really thinks about it.</p> <p>I love that Hazel has a hard time standing much, and Augustus has a hard time sitting. Something about that whispers “star-crossed lovers” in your ear and breaks your heart.</p> <p>I love that Hazel and Augustus both have wonderful families. Families who care about them and support them, and even hover a little, but the kids don’t resent them for it. They love them for it. There need to be more families like this in books (and maybe in real life).</p> <p>I love that this book manages to include poetry that wasn’t at all cheesy, and did not once make me gag.</p> <p>I love that this book made me laugh a lot more than it made me cry. I agree with Hazel and Augustus (and with Mr. John Green), you have a choice how to tell sad stories, and the funny choice? That’s the best one.</p> <p>And I like my choices.<br><br><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more: </strong>This was my second John Green, and I’m not going to lie, I am glad it wasn’t my first. If it was my first, I’d probably think “wonderful book, but I’m not signing up for <em>that</em> again”. Luckily, I remain very excited to read his other books, and plan on listening to the audio of <em>Looking for Alaska</em> somewhat soonish. This guy’s made himself a must-read.<br><br><strong>Recommended for: </strong>The next time <em>anyone</em> says something degrading about the quality or value of YA lit, I’m going to slap them with <em>The Fault in Our Stars </em>and just dare them not to feel all the things.<br><br><strong>Real life repercussions of reading this book: </strong>Only 2.25 tissues used! <—Unsure if this is a bragging point, or a sign that I am well and truly dead inside.<br><br><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://www.thereadventurer.com/2/post/2012/02/the-fault-in-our-stars-by-john-green.html">The Readventurer</a><br><a href="http://www.greadsbooks.com/2012/02/fault-in-our-stars-by-john-green.html">G Reads</a><br><a href="http://chachic.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/the-fault-in-our-stars-by-john-green/">Chachic’s Book Nook</a><br><a href="http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/2012/01/the-fault-in-our-stars-john-green-audiobook-review.html">Good Books and Good Wine</a> (Audio)<br><a href="http://www.bookharbinger.com/2012/01/the-fault-in-our-stars-by-john-green/">Book Harbinger</a></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-44030647869470746642012-05-22T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-22T00:00:07.167-04:00I can’t take the angst!<p>Lately, every time I pick up a YA book I get about 20-30 pages and then I bail.</p> <p><a href="http://www.reactiongifs.com/?p=1654"><img style="display: inline" title="Bailing" alt="Bailing" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DEHL7qVvqm4/T7pp_A-C7jI/AAAAAAAADN4/mD9YZCSiq_U/Bailing%25255B5%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="433" height="297"></a></p> <p>I just feel like nothing’s grabbing me. It’s frustrating to be honest. I love YA, it’s my favorite age group to read for, and yet lately reading it kind of feels like banging my head against a dresser.</p> <p><a href="http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/headdesk-gif"><img style="display: inline" title="Dobby" alt="Dobby" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KqLQBvdV6hQ/T7pqAY5duKI/AAAAAAAADOA/890mweTuN-E/Dobby%25255B8%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="351" height="243"></a></p> <p>I can’t take another love triangle. I can’t take more insta-love. I can’t take more angst. And I really absolutely cannot take more descriptions of eyes AS GREEN AS THE FOREST or BLUE AND DEEP AS THE SEA, let alone hear about THE WAY HE SMELLS. In fact, at this very moment, I feel like I can’t take teenagers anymore period! They’re whiney. They’re rash. They always make stupid decisions, take way too long to figure stuff out, and find all sorts of ways to annoy me. Am I saying I’m done with YA? Certainly not! But I am going to take a bit of a break for a bit. Lately, it seems like every book I’m actually attracted to is either adult or middle grade. I think this is a sign. A sign to ease up, enjoy what I feel like, and don’t force the books that aren’t working for me at the moment. The next time I pick up a YA book I don’t want to feel like this:</p> <p><a href="http://www.reactiongifs.com/?p=1504"><img style="display: inline" title="Kitty can't take it anymore." alt="Kitty can't take it anymore." src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JZAoZ9AR0u8/T7pqAu_Gq2I/AAAAAAAADOI/Yh3bTnSv_hE/Kitty%252520can%252527t%252520take%252520it%252520anymore.%25255B4%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="363" height="276"></a></p> <p>I want to feel like this!</p> <p><a href="http://www.reactiongifs.com/?p=1620"><img style="display: inline" title="Stoked" alt="Stoked" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IR5BlR4-RNQ/T7pqBHKHOnI/AAAAAAAADOQ/iszoL29doeM/Stoked%25255B5%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="375" height="304"></a></p> <p>This is kind of a new thing for me, since I’ve been reading significantly more in the past six months or so than I ever have before. I’ve had series burn out, author burn out, and genre burn out, but I’ve never been so completely sick of a whole field of books. I know everyone gets in reading slumps, but I don’t feel like I’m in a reading slump, I’m just in a YA slump. </p> <p>For you, this means that reviews on my blog may be skewing to adult and middle grade a bit more than usual. I still have some YA reviews scheduled ahead, so it won’t be abandoned entirely, and you might not notice a difference at all! </p> <p>Do any of you ever have these feelings about YA or another group of books? Any tips or tricks for getting over it? My plan is to just steer clear for few books, or until something grabs me. </p> <p>What’s the most amazeballs YA read that might pick me up? I’d love to hear suggestions. Here’s a list of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5812324?shelf=arc-for-review">ARCs I have</a> sitting around, and here are books I <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5812324?format=html&page=2&shelf=own-but-haven-t-read">own but haven’t read</a>.</p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-46369997551694257792012-05-21T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-21T13:14:57.750-04:00Review: The Prince Who Fell From the Sky by John Claude Bemis<p><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RU5vijsbuds/T7UsI6vrOSI/AAAAAAAADJc/VJA0_qo0OyE/s1600-h/prince-who-fell3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Prince Who Fell From the Sky by John Claude Bemis" border="0" alt="book cover of The Prince Who Fell From the Sky by John Claude Bemis" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RDeABaDInYo/T7UsJZK4r4I/AAAAAAAADJk/us4mVIhMf9g/prince-who-fell_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="368"></a>Title:</strong> The Prince Who Fell From the Sky [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037586752X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=037586752X">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12452491-the-prince-who-fell-from-the-sky">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong>Author:</strong> John Claude Bemis [<a href="http://johnclaudebemis.com/">Website</a>|<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Claude-Bemis/34934544469">Facebook</a>]<br><strong>Standing: </strong>Stand alone novel.<br><strong>Genre: </strong>Middle Grade, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic<br><strong>Published: </strong>May 22nd, 2012 by Random House<br><strong>Format: </strong>Kindle edition; 272 pages<br><strong>Source: </strong>ARC from publisher via NetGalley<br><strong>Challenge: </strong><a href="http://thebookcellarx.com/2012-yamg-fantasy-challenge">YA/MG Fantasy Challenge</a></p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px">In Casseomae's world, the wolves rule the Forest, and the Forest is everywhere. The animals tell stories of the Skinless Ones, whose cities and roads once covered the earth, but the Skinless disappeared long ago.<br><br>Casseomae is content to live alone, apart from the other bears in her tribe, until one of the ancients' sky vehicles crashes to the ground, and from it emerges a Skinless One, a child. Rather than turn him over to the wolves, Casseomae chooses to protect this human cub, to find someplace safe for him to live. But where among the animals will a human child be safe? And is Casseomae threatening the safety of the Forest and all its tribes by protecting him?<br><br>Middle-grade fans of postapocalyptic fiction are in for a treat with this fanciful and engaging animal story by the author of the Clockwork Dark trilogy.</blockquote> <p>Anyone who’s been reading my reviews for a while now has probably realized that I love when a book puts a spin on my traditional way of thinking. I don’t always agree with the spin, but I like knowing it’s out there affecting the way people think about things. <em>The Prince Who Fell From the Sky </em>was one of those books. I was worried on more than one occasion that it would cross the line into ‘big message’ territory and make me groan, but it didn’t! John Claude Bemis weaved his tale with a deft hand in a way that made me think without making me feel like I was being judged. Not completely easy for a story about post-apocalyptic earth where the humans live no more and animals pass down stories of the Skinless Ones’ cruelty to the Forest.</p> <p><em>The Prince Who Fell From the Sky</em> was an interesting weave of native mythology, animal fantasy, and the currently popular post-apocalyptic setting. The main character, Casseomae (or Cas for short), is an aging bear with the instincts and desire to be a mother. Unfortunately, all of her cubs have been stillborn. As a result, she feels very protective of all those in need, saving each member of the band repeatedly throughout. When the Skinless Ones fall from the sky (presumably in some sort of space craft) and a child emerges, Cas refuses to let the hierarchy of the Forest kill him, despite the risk. The only memories creatures of the forest have of the Skinless Ones are of killing and destruction. She sets off with the companionship of a somewhat knowledgeable rat, a Faithful dog, and the ‘cub’ in tow. </p> <p><em>The Prince Who Fell From the Sky</em> is the story of unlikely partnerships between animals of different standing and relation to humans. It seems that each type of animal has their own stories and myths about humans, and I loved to see the alternate takes that the animals had. The greatest humor of the book sprouted from Dumpster, the rat who begrudgingly journeys alongside Cas in search of his Mischief and the Havenlands. He is the Memory for his Mischief, the one who is supposed to remember all of the stories and history. As such, he considers himself the authority on all things human, but of course, at least half of his ideas are laughably ridiculous and nonsensical to our human minds. For example, the idea that people had fire escapes on buildings so they could escape fire on the ground and run up to safety.</p> <p>The relationship between Cas and the ‘cub’ is powerful. Despite a language barrier (and I honestly <em>loved </em>that the human and animals couldn’t talk with one another), she manages to impart wisdom and respect for the Forest into him. This, she hopes, will make him a part of the Forest and unlikely to cause the destruction that all of the animals fear he portends. The ending of <em>The Prince Who Fell From the Sky</em> is unequivocally perfect. It’s realistic, heartwarming, and sad all wrapped into one. Plus I have to say, that I totally dig this cover.<br><br>While I obviously have many kind things to say about John Claude Bemis’s <em>The Prince Who Fell From the Sky</em>, I will admit that this story didn’t really grab me. It was well done, unexpected, and made me think from a new perspective, but at the same time it was very easy to put down, and didn’t have me longing for more. I feel descriptions of this one as a post-apocalyptic <em>Jungle Book</em> are fairly on the nose, though that is another story I was never enraptured by. Personally, I could take it or leave it, but I do feel that it will be a better fit for many young readers.</p><strong></strong> <p><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more: </strong>This was my first John Claude Bemis, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t fall madly in love and am not sure I will be picking up the Clockwork Dark trilogy.<br><br><strong>Recommended for: </strong>They’ve pitched this one more to fans of post-apocalyptic fiction, but I personally feel it’s a better fit for fans of animal fantasy such as <em>Redwall, Wattership Down, The Jungle Book</em><em> </em>or the <em>Warriors</em> series. Nice crossover appeal!<strong> <br><br>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://bookalicious.org/2012/05/review-the-prince-who-fell-from-the-sky-by-john-claude-bemi/">Bookalicious.org</a><br><a href="http://www.intergalactic-academy.net/2012/04/16/middle-grade-monday-the-prince-who-fell-from-the-sky-by-john-claude-bemis/">The Intergalactic Academy</a><br><a href="http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2012/02/prince-who-fell-from-sky-by-john-bemis.html">Kiss the Book</a></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-29151087994804109142012-05-19T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-19T00:00:04.858-04:00With Bated Breath (1)<p>Hi friends! So here’s the thing. When I started my blog, I intended on doing some With Bated Breath posts and then I didn’t do them. I’ve done them for new releases each month, but I meant it to be more fun than that. I kind of let Waiting on Wednesday take its place, but I’ve never really felt like that meme was the right fit for me or my blog. I don’t want to talk about just one book a week, and I don’t want to just talk about books that are upcoming. I want to talk about any book that’s made its way onto my TBR in the last week or so, and let you know where I heard about it too, since this will give you the chance to see the wonderful reviews and posts that led me to said books. With Bated Breath is part Waiting on Wednesday, part On the Smuggler’s Radar, but mostly it’s my own damn thing. Enjoy!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iUOq-xIrybc/T7QG7SoG9TI/AAAAAAAADHc/trNzLHu8FJ8/s1600-h/House-of-Mystery-by-Matthew-Sturges-%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="House of Mystery by Matthew Sturges and Bill WIllingham" border="0" alt="graphic novel book cover of House of Mystery by Matthew Sturges and Bill WIllingham" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9KjcPvt57wyAnBjhpLbFG9LmLOMg3-RsFEONTu830LNywXcy8tUgGRFle84JUGGyUM6CLNqvBDtz99yvvplcIurEO7Emdy8NLYvxI8L-DixXAfQyl5ZV8xINLlCXb4tEFXv59pzmYcTs/?imgmax=800" width="238" height="372"></a></p> <p><strong>House of Mystery by Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham<br></strong>January 1st, 2008 by Vertigo<br>[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401220797/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1401220797">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3754399-house-of-mystery-vol-1">GoodReads</a>]</p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <p>Matthew Sturges, writer of the Eisner-nominated JACK OF FABLES, and his JACK co-writer Bill Willingham, proudly unlock the doors to the HOUSE OF MYSTERY, a series that reinvents a classic DC Comics comic. HOUSE OF MYSTERY focuses on five characters trapped in a supernatural bar, trying to solve the mystery of how and why they're imprisoned there. Each one has a terrible past they'd like to forget, and with no books, newspapers or TV allowed in the House, they face an eternity of boredom. But stories become the new currency, and fortunately, the House attracts only the finest storytellers.</p></blockquote> <p>I came across this one last week while reading a fantabulous interview with one of my favorite authors, Bill Willingham, over at <a href="http://www.omnivoracious.com/2012/05/interview-with-bill-willingham-fables-and-moral-cues.html">Omnivoracious</a>. Bill Willingham is the author of one of my all-time favorite graphic series, <em>Fables</em>, and even though I’ve never picked up <em>Jack of Fables </em>(because quite frankly he’s the <em>Fables </em>character I dislike most), I really want to check out this series that is set to complete this August.</p> <p>Basically, it sounds like a <em>No Exit </em>type set up that can produce absolutely any kind of story imaginable. Count me in!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WM2_iOFSaWw/T7QG8626X2I/AAAAAAAADHs/PpSglMB7tsA/s1600-h/The%252520Billionaire%252527s%252520Curse%252520by%252520Richard%252520Newsome%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome" border="0" alt="book cover of The Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EqYD6WtGE0w/T7QG9c3WOAI/AAAAAAAADH0/UgS_jeS_7zQ/The%252520Billionaire%252527s%252520Curse%252520by%252520Richard%252520Newsome_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="368"></a></p> <p><strong>The Billionaire’s Curse by Richard Newsome<br></strong>May 18th, 2010 by Walden Pond Press<br>[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GYEH10/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003GYEH10">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6971551-the-billionaire-s-curse">GoodReads</a>]</p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"></BLOCKQUOTE<p> <p><em>Hello, Gerald. I hope this isn’t too weird for you—a letter from beyond the grave! By now you are my heir and worth a good deal of money. I hope you don’t mind. . . . I expect you’ve figured out that I was murdered. I would like you to find out who did it.<br></em><br>Gerald Wilkins had only been hoping for a ski holiday, but plans change when a great aunt he’s never met leaves him her entire estate worth twenty billion pounds! Whisked by his parents to London, England, Gerald is given a letter and told not to open it until after the funeral.<br><br>Now he’s got a mystery to solve. With the help of his new friends, Sam and Ruby Valentine, Gerald follows the clues into secret passageways, a musty jumbled bookshop, an ancient crypt and a colossal cavern where the secret of a priceless treasure lies protected by deadly booby traps.</p></blockquote> <p>This series was originally published in Australia, but was picked up for publication in the U.S. by one of my favorite MG imprints—Walden Pond Press! To celebrate the release of the third book in the trilogy this past week, <em>The Billionaire’s Curse</em> was free for one day only on Kindle. I snagged it up, because Walden Pond Press has never steered me wrong with gems like <em><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-neversink-by-barry-wolverton.html">Neversink</a></em> and <em><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-heros-guide-to-saving-your.html">The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom</a></em>. Completely forgot to put this one in my last IMM, so had to feature it here! <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t1g05PZ_qKU/T7QG9_ee0DI/AAAAAAAADH8/IEsaWWnCZ7c/s1600-h/Dead%252520Reckoning%252520by%252520Mercedes%252520Lackey%252520and%252520Rosemary%252520Edghill%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill" border="0" alt="book cover of Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QIkFxVBplIA/T7QG-0477xI/AAAAAAAADIE/iPDVJxtx4Tk/Dead%252520Reckoning%252520by%252520Mercedes%252520Lackey%252520and%252520Rosemary%252520Edghill_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="232" height="377"></a> <p><strong>Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill<br></strong>June 5th, 2012 by Bloomsbury USA<br>[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599906848/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1599906848">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12971670-dead-reckoning">GoodReads</a>]</p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px">Jett is a girl disguised as a boy, living as a gambler in the old West as she searches for her long-lost brother. Honoria Gibbons is a smart, self-sufficient young woman who also happens to be a fabulous inventor. Both young women travel the prairie alone – until they are brought together by a zombie invasion! As Jett and Honoria investigate, they soon learn that these zombies aren’t rising from the dead of their own accord … but who would want an undead army? And why? This gunslinging, hair-raising, zombie western mashup is perfect for fans of <em>Cowboys vs. Aliens </em>and <em>Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.</em></blockquote> <p>Okay,<em> </em>this is one of those where the ‘perfect for fans of list’ really turns me off, but I still totally broke my own rules about NetGalley requests for this one because Mercedes Lackey is one of my all time favorite authors, and if there’s one trope I can’t resist it’s freaking <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-scarlet-by-ac-gaughen.html">girls disguised as boys</a>. Thanks <em>so so </em>much to Misty of The Book Rat for bringing this one up in one of her <a href="http://www.thebookrat.com/2012/05/coming-attraction.html">Coming Attractions</a> posts, or it would have flown right over my head. As is I must have it. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cHppTyZ4Mu0/T7QG_bC2PgI/AAAAAAAADIM/XsR6ZQhaI9k/s1600-h/Un%252520Lun%252520Dun%252520by%252520China%252520Mieville%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Un Lun Dun by China Miéville" border="0" alt="book cover of Un Lun Dun by China Miéville" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-abUPa9FQGAs/T7QHAEmKXiI/AAAAAAAADIU/kDVKdIOcwnU/Un%252520Lun%252520Dun%252520by%252520China%252520Mieville_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="236" height="364"></a></p> <p><strong>Un Lun Dun by China Miéville<br></strong>February 13th, 2007 by Del Ray<br>[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345458443/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345458443">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68496.Un_Lun_Dun">GoodReads</a>]</p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <p>What is Un Lun Dun?<br><strong><br></strong>It is London through the looking glass, an urban Wonderland of strange delights where all the lost and broken things of London end up . . . and some of its lost and broken people, too–including Brokkenbroll, boss of the broken umbrellas; Obaday Fing, a tailor whose head is an enormous pin-cushion, and an empty milk carton called Curdle. Un Lun Dun is a place where words are alive, a jungle lurks behind the door of an ordinary house, carnivorous giraffes stalk the streets, and a dark cloud dreams of burning the world. It is a city awaiting its hero, whose coming was prophesied long ago, set down for all time in the pages of a talking book.<br><br>When twelve-year-old Zanna and her friend Deeba find a secret entrance leading out of London and into this strange city, it seems that the ancient prophecy is coming true at last. But then things begin to go shockingly wrong.</p></blockquote> <p>So this week I kind of fangirled all over China Miéville’s new YA book, <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-railsea-by-china-mieville.html"><em>Railsea</em></a>. Fell for his writing hard core. And the lovely Catie of The Readventurer was kind enough to point out to me that if I enjoyed the quirkiness, I’ll probably especially enjoy his MG book, <em>Un Lun Dun</em>. MG Miéville you say? Sign me up! If you need convincing, you should check out Catie’s review <a href="http://www.thereadventurer.com/2/post/2012/04/ya-review-un-lun-dun-by-china-miville.html">here</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Sjh--gEp5uI/T7QHAqLHpGI/AAAAAAAADIc/Oa03_8muA-k/s1600-h/Eve%252520and%252520Adam%252520by%252520Michaeol%252520Grant%252520and%252520Katherine%252520Applegate%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Eve and Adam by Michaeol Grant and Katherine Applegate" border="0" alt="book cover of Eve and Adam by Michaeol Grant and Katherine Applegate" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8PkCXY2OAKE/T7QHDxnxQpI/AAAAAAAADIk/hcWl2lfl6Kw/Eve%252520and%252520Adam%252520by%252520Michaeol%252520Grant%252520and%252520Katherine%252520Applegate_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" height="356"></a></p> <p><strong>Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate<br></strong>October 2nd, 2012 by Feiwel & Friends<br>[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312583516/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0312583516">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13493463-eve-and-adam">GoodReads</a>]<br></p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <p>Sixteen-year-old Evening Spiker lives an affluent life in San Francisco with her mother, EmmaRose, a successful geneticist and owner of Spiker Biotech. Sure, Evening misses her father who died mysteriously, but she’s never really questioned it. Much like how she’s never stopped to think how off it is that she’s never been sick. That is, until she’s struck by a car and is exposed to extensive injuries. Injuries that seem to be healing faster than physically possible.<br><br>While recuperating in Spiker Biotech’s lush facilities, she meets Solo Plissken, a very attractive, if off-putting boy her age who spent his life at Spiker Biotech. Like Evening, he’s never questioned anything... until now. Solo drops hints to Evening that something isn’t right, and Emma-Rose may be behind it. Evening puts this out of her mind and begins her summer internship project: To simulate the creation of the perfect boy. With the help of Solo, Evening uncovers secrets so big they could change the world completely.</p></blockquote> <p>I’m honestly having a hard time coming up with where I first heard of Eve and Adam, but I know I decided pretty readily that I wanted to read it. It may have been when perusing the BEA lists (because YES, this will be there), in an edition of <a href="http://thebooksmugglers.com/2012/05/on-the-smugglers-radar-87.html">On the Smuggler’s Radar</a> over at The Book Smugglers, or browsing Macmillan’s fall catalog, but wherever it was I first heard of Eve and Adam, I know for certain I’ll be hearing a lot more. <br><br>Side note: Why have I not yet read any Michael Grant? Everything his name is on makes its way to my TBR, but I have yet to touch any of them. Shame on me, maybe this will be my first? </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VEkDXCfqXkM/T7QHEZai4gI/AAAAAAAADIs/FRs1vPKQdWs/s1600-h/The%252520Seven%252520Tales%252520of%252520Trinket%252520by%252520Shelley%252520Moore%252520Thomas%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Seven Tales of Trinket by Shelley Moore Thomas" border="0" alt="book cover of The Seven Tales of Trinket by Shelley Moore Thomas" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QsVw9iU2GEQ/T7QHE39gmwI/AAAAAAAADI0/nsTDkXcRvR4/The%252520Seven%252520Tales%252520of%252520Trinket%252520by%252520Shelley%252520Moore%252520Thomas_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="302"></a></p> <p><strong>The Seven Tales of Trinket by Shelley Moore Thomas<br></strong>September 4th, 2012 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux<br>[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374367450/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0374367450">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13160327-the-seven-tales-of-trinket">GoodReads</a>]</p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px">Guided by a tattered map, accompanied by Thomas the Pig Boy, and inspired by the storyteller’s blood that thrums through her veins, eleven-year-old Trinket searches for the seven stories she needs to become a bard like her father, who disappeared years before. She befriends a fortune-telling gypsy girl; returns a child stolen by the selkies to his true mother; confronts a banshee and receives a message from a ghost; helps a village girl outwit—and out-dance—the Faerie Queen; travels beyond the grave to battle a dastardly undead Highwayman; and meets a hound so loyal he fights a wolf to the death to protect the baby prince left in his charge. All fine material for six tales, but it is the seventh tale, in which Trinket learns her father’s true fate, that changes her life forever.</blockquote> <p>This one I <em>know</em> I only found through Macmillan’s fall catalog, and I am so glad I did! This looks exactly like the type of MG I love. I love historical, fairy-tale like adventures, and I adore this cover that reminds me of <em>Catherine Called Birdy. </em></p> <p>This being my first issue, I could certainly go on, but I’m going to restrain myself so that I have some fodder for next time! Let me know what books, new or old, you’ve added to your TBR as of late.</p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-57931625117435426702012-05-18T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-18T00:08:48.973-04:00Review: Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UVJeCbNvYE2jW7Nak260tSZa4ZzJ_-aZItj2oA0pHjavNsv7IZ7JT5SLFM1IFI2B7TXSB2iDx84IxWA2K_NJnTWxQYEbnNM-8zjRBslrBhUPcX9AmmMwNfa9ZDsWk77trfN3nD1u7Tiw/s1600/sloppy+firsts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UVJeCbNvYE2jW7Nak260tSZa4ZzJ_-aZItj2oA0pHjavNsv7IZ7JT5SLFM1IFI2B7TXSB2iDx84IxWA2K_NJnTWxQYEbnNM-8zjRBslrBhUPcX9AmmMwNfa9ZDsWk77trfN3nD1u7Tiw/s320/sloppy+firsts.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.1389627552125603"><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Title: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sloppy Firsts [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0609807900/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0609807900">Amazon</a>|</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6473959-sloppy-firsts">GoodReads</a>]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Megan McCafferty [<a href="http://www.meganmccafferty.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/meganmccafferty">Twitter</a>|<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Megan-McCafferty/53129595664">Facebook</a>]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Standing:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Book one in the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jessica Darling </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">quintet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Young Adult, Contemporary</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Published: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">August 28th, 2001 by Crown Publishing Group</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Format: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kindle edition; 304 pages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Source: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Borrowed from my local library.</span><br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.1389627552125603"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Don’t they realize that Hope’s the only one who keeps me sane? ... I don’t see how things could get any worse.” </span></span><br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.1389627552125603"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life? </span></span><br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.1389627552125603"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A fresh, funny, utterly compelling fiction debut by first-time novelist Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts is an insightful, true-to-life look at Jessica’s predicament as she embarks on another year of teenage torment—from the dark days of Hope’s departure through her months as a type-A personality turned insomniac to her completely mixed-up feelings about Marcus Flutie, the intelligent and mysterious “Dreg” who works his way into her heart. Like a John Hughes for the twenty-first century, Megan McCafferty taps into the inherent humor and drama of the teen experience. This poignant, hilarious novel is sure to appeal to readers who are still going through it, as well as those who are grateful that they don’t have to go back and grow up all over again.</span></span></blockquote>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.1389627552125603"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I’m just going to lay it out there. I have never been so sexually frustrated at the end of a book. Ever. Now maybe that’s a bit spoilery, but I don’t think it’s so bad considering this is a five book series and we </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">know</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> these things get drug out in a five book series. But I’ve never read a contemporary series before; in the world of cliffhangers, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sloppy Firsts</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is far from the worst, but it was enough to make me die inside just a little and keep me up all night worrying about what’s going to happen to my new BFF Jessica. Which brings me to my basic conclusion about </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sloppy Firsts</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--I freaking loved it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, I pretty much </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">never</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> read contemporary before this year. Sure, maybe, if a book was renowned enough or I was required by some form of schooling, but I never really got into the genre. I’m totally a fantasy girl, and spent the bulk of my library time growing up on the floor of that one aisle at my library combing through the Sci-Fi/Fantasy collection and ignoring all other forms of literature. And I’m cool with that. But just this once, I found myself wishing with every fiber of my being that I had read </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sloppy Firsts</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as soon as it came out. Not only can it easily be crowned my favorite contemporary YA ever, I just know this book would have spoken to teenage me like a lifeline of sanity (or mutual morbidity).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dude, Jessica Darling is my homegirl. And I would totally print that on a shirt and wear it. Yeah she has her annoying quirks, like getting all giggly when she’s awkward or embarrassed, but for the most part she’s probably the fictional character I could most see myself being friends with in high school. We both really hate weddings and just want to elope, we both didn’t bother buying yearbooks, we’re both phone phobic, goody-goody ‘smart’ kids, and we’re both pretty hyper aware of our own ridiculousness. That doesn’t stop us from stressing to the point of physically harming our own bodies, being dramatic about our problems, and searching for pretty much any purchase in our home towns. I love that Jessica is holding out for a guy who can be her best friend, that she so dutifully keeps up correspondence with Hope, and that she writes us her story in her journal. Technically, that makes </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sloppy Firsts</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> an epistolary novel. I like that, and felt that the journal entries were believable, but at the same time, it read more like a strait up novel to me than you often get with the epistolary format.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I got such a strong feel for all of the characters in this book. Jessica struggles with relating to her parents, caring at all about her friends (whom she hates), dealing with her mad crush on senior who doesn’t know she exists, and a period that’s completely M.I.A. Of course my favorite character besides Jessica would have to be (you guessed it) Marcus Flutie. I loved Marcus, because even though I’d seen people mention him before I read this book, he was </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so completely not what I expected</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. In fact, more than anything, he reminds me of my own best guy friend from high school, right down to his woodsy-smoky smell, and I honest to God had ‘why was I just platonic with that guy again?’ thoughts. Because, dear friends, Marcus Flutie is awesome. Okay, he’s pretty weird and kind of a dick at times, but he’s also unexpected, quixotic, and pretty perfect for Jessica even if the world doesn’t see it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of my favorite things about </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sloppy Firsts</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was that the two most important and influential characters in Jessica’s life, Hope and Marcus, were more or less absent for the bulk of it. In fact, Hope is physically nonexistence, and Jessica has a weird curiosity about Marcus that begins to border on an obsession she just can’t drop, so while he’s mentioned often, he’s not very frequent appearance-wise. I found myself positively pining for more contact with this enigma of a character, while simultaneously loving how drawn out the relationship was. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sloppy Firsts</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was, to me, an entirely realistic representation of life in high school, and I loved every agonizing second of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Likelihood that I'll be back for more:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Okay, let me tell you, if I had had S</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">econd Helpings</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on hand, or if I hadn’t had to put myself on a wait list for the Kindle edition from Overdrive, I would have started it immediately. And it was 2:00 am. And I had to work in the morning. I call that a sure thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recommended for: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Absolutely anyone and everyone who enjoys contemporary YA. I have to thank Forever YA for picking this as the March book club pick, or I never would have read it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Real life repercussions of reading this book: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have totally and irrevocably changed my opinion of contemporary YA. It’s not that I haven't enjoyed contemporary since I’ve been pushing myself to read more this year, but this is the first time I’ve ever been completely riveted and dying for more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get a second opinion:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/2011/02/retro-friday-review-sloppy-firsts-by-megan-mccafferty.html">Good Books and Good Wine</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://theallureofbooks.com/2011/11/sloppy-firsts-by-megan-mccafferty.html">The Allure of Books</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://loveyalit.com/?p=3005">Love YA Lit</a></span></div>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-2010300972011981072012-05-17T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-17T00:00:07.935-04:00Audio Review: White Cat by Holly Black<p><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-m7E1zRITx0A/T48MP-h-KWI/AAAAAAAACnI/8wiENBjdWNM/s1600-h/White%252520Cat.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="White Cat by Holly Black (Audio)" border="0" alt="audiobook cover of White Cat by Holly Black read by Jesse Eisenberg" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XW2MIqTFYAI/T48MQJd4FlI/AAAAAAAACnQ/FLjIORTUzG4/White%252520Cat_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="266" height="318"></a>Title:</strong> White Cat [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416963979/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1416963979">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6087756-white-cat">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong>Author:</strong> Holly Black [<a href="http://www.blackholly.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/hollyblack">Twitter</a>|<a href="http://hollyblack.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a>]<br><strong>Standing: </strong>First book in the <em>Curse Workers</em> series.<br><strong>Genre: </strong>Young Adult, Urban Fantasy<br><strong>Published: </strong>May 11th, 2010 by Listening Library <br><strong>Format: </strong>Audiobook; 6 hrs, 40 min. Read by Jesse Eisenberg<br><strong>Source: </strong>Borrowed from my local library.</p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px">The first in a trilogy, this gritty, fast-paced fantasy is rife with the unexpected. Cassel comes from a shady, magical family of con artists and grifters. He doesn’t fit in at home or at school, so he’s used to feeling like an outsider. He’s also used to feeling guilty—he killed his best friend, Lila, years ago.<br><br>But when Cassel begins to have strange dreams about a white cat, and people around him are losing their memories, he starts to wonder what really happened to Lila. In his search for answers, he discovers a wicked plot for power that seems certain to succeed. But Cassel has other ideas—and a plan to con the conmen.</blockquote> <p>Sometimes I don’t really bother to figure out what a book is about before I pick it up. When I decided to check out <em>White Cat</em>, by Holly Black, somewhat on a whim, it boiled down to 4 simple reasons: 1) It was available on Overdrive, 2) It wasn’t too long (I was burnt out from listening to 14-18 hour books) 3) It was by Holly Black, an author I’ve been wanting to read more of and 4) the series was wrapping up, so I could go through the whole thing without having to wait. Needless to say, I was hoping <em>White Cat</em> would be decent, but didn’t expect it to be near as intriguing, original, or engrossing as it turned out to be!</p> <p>Full disclosure: I’ve had a huge girl boner for con men ever since…well forever. There’s something about grifters that is just undeniably sexy and alluring to me. I blame my parents for glorifying <em>The Music Man</em> so much as a kid…you <em>know</em> that’s totes why I became a librarian, to meet my con man! So…Cassel Sharpe? Yeah, I’d hit it. I probably wouldn’t even care if he were just using me as a means to an end (but he’d totally want to be strait with me because I’m the woman who would change his life). I’ve never had a thing for Jesse Eisenberg before, and the second his voice came out of my headphones (yeah, I didn’t even read who the narrator was prior to checking this out), I had all sorts of thoughts flash through my head, most of which added up to: I don’t know how I feel about this. But now? After finishing? I <em>love </em>me some Jesse Eisenberg. I mean, I liked <em>Zombieland </em>a lot, but his other movies like <em>Adventureland </em>and <em>Social Network</em> were largely depressing views of the world and humanity, and since the kid comes across as a slightly less awkward and slightly more attractive version of Michael Cerra, I wasn’t exactly wringing out my panties for the guy. But now I know that if I were to ever see him, I’d probably try to muster up the courage to tell him that I love his audiobooks: 1) Because it’s true, 2) Because I bet actors don’t get that a lot, and he’d totally want to have a night of splendor with me because of it, and 3) It’s cool, my boyfriend doesn’t read my blog.</p> <p><a href="http://theyoungoak.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/the-great-ones/"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Sad Sawyer...doesn't he looked depressed that I'm leaving him?" border="0" alt="Josh Holloway as Sawyer from Lost" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M1bdoNrv2Zg/T5mG0pXHrNI/AAAAAAAACyY/rYyggF2OAZA/sad-sawyer.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" height="235"></a>Where were we? Oh yeah, con men. Sexy magical con men. Sorry Sawyer, my heart was yours, but it’s been sold to another because you lack the <em>literal</em> magic touch. Holly Black has created a world in which there are curse workers; humans who have the ability to change something with a single touch. There are seven kinds of curse work: luck, dream, emotion, memory, death, transformation, and physical. A curse worker has to touch you with their bare hands in order to work you, which is why everyone wears gloves all of the time, and a bare hand is terrifying to behold. Working people is illegal, and has been for several generations. People that were once held up, have now been cast down as lowlifes and criminals, the worst of the worst and the lowest of the low. And for the most part, they’ve taken on this mantle. Worker families have become the crime families of the world. They can change your memories, change your emotions, make you believe what they want you to believe, and kill you with a single touch. They are, suffice it to say, scary awesome.</p> <p>Cassel’s family doesn’t run a crime ring, but they’re not too far off. His mother is in prison for working men for money, his brother is working for one of the biggest crime bosses around, and him? Well, he’s just trying to finish high school. Cassel is the disappointing child, the one without the power to work. Raised in a worker family, he knows all the tricks. He knows how to work a mark, and can almost always manipulate those around him to get what he wants. He’s haunted by his past, and the worst memory he has: killing his best friend, Lila, at age 14. As Cassel struggles to find out what really happened to the girl he loved, he begins to uncover a reality that he’s almost better off not knowing. </p> <p>Cassel is one of those bad boys that you just can’t help but have a thing for…because he’s also kind of a good guy. Cassel wants to do the right thing, it’s not his fault that doing right by someone often means doing wrong by someone else. Seriously, if this book doesn’t sound intriguing to you, then I think you might be broken. It’s cool, I’ll get Cassel’s mom to work you into feeling like you <em>must</em> read this series. Because really, you should.<br><br><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more: </strong>I’m pretty sure there’s no question about that. I’ve already checked the last two books out, and am most of the way through <em>Red Glove</em> as I write!<br><br><strong>Recommended for: </strong>YA UF fans, chicks who dig con men, those who want a story that is dark and edgy with a male narrator—no fluff-n-stuff in <em>White Cat</em>!<br><br><strong>Real life repercussions of reading this book: </strong>Hey, did you guys know/notice that Jace Wayland from Cassandra Clare’s <em>Mortal Instruments</em> series makes an appearance in all three of these books? Made my day in the “I spotted the pineapple in Psyche!” kind of way.<br><br><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://www.booksandsensibility.com/2012/01/book-review-white-cat-curse-workers.html">Books and Sensibility</a><br><a href="http://chachic.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/white-cat-by-holly-black/">Chachic’s Book Nook</a><br><a href="http://www.thereadventurer.com/2/post/2012/02/white-cat-by-holly-black.html">The Readventurer</a></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-64604837835942943852012-05-16T00:01:00.000-04:002012-05-16T00:01:01.113-04:00Review: Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones<p><strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-e20GuyBPOLU/T4NtgeMaewI/AAAAAAAACco/72D2hYion9U/s1600-h/howl%252527s%252520moving%252520castle%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones" border="0" alt="book cover of Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZcYUAt7WjZc/T4NtggRs8uI/AAAAAAAACcw/TVAJklhD7h4/howl%252527s%252520moving%252520castle_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" height="353"></a> Title:</strong> Howl’s Moving Castle [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061478784/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061478784">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2294528.Howl_s_Moving_Castle">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong> Author:</strong> Diana Wynne Jones [<a href="http://www.leemac.freeserve.co.uk/">Website</a>|<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diana-Wynne-Jones-Fan-Page/193902900688549">Facebook</a>]<br><strong> Standing: </strong>First in the <em>Castle</em> trilogy, can be read as a stand alone.<br><strong> Genre: </strong>Middle Grade, Fantasy<br><strong> Published: </strong>April 22nd, 2008 by Eos (first published April 14th, 1986).<br><strong> Format: </strong>Paperback; 429 pages.<br><strong> Source: </strong>Borrowed from my local library.<br><br>Sophie Hatter is certain she is doomed to a boring life. As the eldest child, she is bound to fail while her younger sisters go on to happiness. This inevitability seems to come to fruition when their father dies. Lettie, her middle sister is sent to apprentice at the town’s bakery where she is likely to catch a fine husband, and Martha, the youngest, is sent to Mrs. Fairfax to apprentice the witch and learn her spells and power. Sophie, fatefully enough, is stuck managing the family hat shop with her step-mother. Resigned to her woeful inheritance, Sophie breaths life into her work, creating hats of beauty that bring in business from all corners. Intrigued in her skills, The Witch of the Waste pays a visit to the shop, where she ends up cursing Sophie with old age, while ensuring that she won’t be able to tell a soul. Sophie determines that there’s little point in staying around, and decides to strike out and seek her fortune. As her fortune would have it, she ends up at Howl’s door.</p> <p>This book. I loved this book. It was so much fun, full of fantasy and wonder, I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about it. This is the kind of book that makes me cry over not having read it as a child, and I want to push it into the hands of anyone and everyone I know who loves middle grade and fantasy, no matter their age. Diana Wynne Jones’s writing is so very whimsical and <em>smart</em>. I love middle grade authors that are so utterly intelligent. I feel like too many times the age group gets written down to, but not in this case. In fact, the characters in <em>Howl’s Moving Castle</em> aren’t even middle grade themselves! Sophie is eighteen (or about 90, respectively), Howl is in his 20s; in my mind <em>Howl’s Moving Castle </em>brilliantly includes characters of all ages, managing to write them faithfully to their differences and similarities. </p> <p>Sophie is timid, and lacks confidence as a young woman, but almost instantly upon becoming 90, she sheds the uncertainties and delicacies of youth. She doesn’t have to be self-conscious of the things a teenager does, and so Sophie allows herself to be the hardened, nosey, insistent woman she really is. I love it. I love that Sophie is constantly doing things she knows will upset Howl, but she never lies about them when he confronts her, she just owns up. Howl, of course, is a wonderful character. What he appears to be on the surface, and what he really is underneath don’t quite line up, but yet he manages to be completely himself at all times. They’re both rather saucy really.</p> <p>The other characters in the castle, Michael and Calcifer, are equally wonderful. Michael is the 15 year old apprentice boy, and Calcifer is the fire-demon who helps to power Howl’s moving castle. Calcifer entreats Sophie to stay (and she very much wants to, because honestly, where else would she go?) and break the contract locking him and Howl together. Michael, obviously annoyed with Sophie initially, quickly softens and begins to take to her. So many of the characters in this book seem to have such large hearts, despite their appearances (and possibly their intentions). </p> <p>The story of <em>Howl’s Moving Castle</em> is full of magic, whimsy, and spectacle. I loved that while the story stayed strictly tacked on to Sophie, it was very clear that everyone else was having marvelous adventures as well. I find it enchanting that we get to know this, to glimpse these other stories, without really being privy to the details. Also, I found <em>Howl’s Moving Castle </em>to be pleasantly unpredictable. I was never sure quite which way the story was going, and I loved that Sophie and the others seemed to figure things out before I did. I hate always being the first to know! I really couldn’t recommend <em>Howl’s Moving Castle</em> more, and I’m certain I’ll be reading it again in years to come.<br><br><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more: </strong>Even though <em>Howl’s Moving Castle </em>can be read as a standalone, I already can’t wait to read more stories from Ingary. I’ll be picking up <em>Castle in the Air</em> next time I pillage the tween stacks.<br><br><strong>Recommended for: </strong>Anyone who loves MG, fantasy readers, people who enjoy whimsy and hats.<br><br><strong>Real life repercussions of reading this book: </strong>While I absolutely adore the movie <em>Spirited Away</em>, and really liked both <em>Ponyo </em>and <em>Princess Mononoke</em>, I’ve never actually watched Miyazaki’s <em>Howl’s Moving Castle</em>. Consider that remedied as soon as I finished this book! I also haven’t seen <em>Castle in the Sky</em>, which apparently has nothing to do with <em>Castle in the Air</em> despite the similarities…will have to check it out as well.<br><br><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/2011/09/howls-moving-castle-by-diana-wynee-jones-retro-friday-book-review.html">Good Books and Good Wine</a><br><a href="http://chachic.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/retro-friday-howls-moving-castle/">Chachic’s Book Nook</a><br><a href="http://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2011/03/review-of-howls-moving-castle-by-diana-wynne-jones/">Fantasy Café</a></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-87840174674806383182012-05-15T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-15T09:50:56.431-04:00Review: Railsea by China Miéville<p><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CIDgfcyc7zU/T7GD6AoCZSI/AAAAAAAADGE/H7QbmMxnjA0/s1600-h/Railsea%252520by%252520China%252520Mieville%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Railsea by China Miéville" border="0" alt="book cover of Railsea by China Miéville" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WrHSXELDp6E/T7GD6ugNzZI/AAAAAAAADGM/IZ_XQBTV2OU/Railsea%252520by%252520China%252520Mieville_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" height="381"></a>Title:</strong> Railsea [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345524527/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345524527">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12618868-railsea">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong>Author:</strong> China Miéville [<a href="http://chinamieville.net/">Website</a>]<br><strong>Standing: </strong>Stand alone novel.<br><strong>Genre: </strong>Young Adult, SciFi, Retelling (ish)<br><strong>Published: </strong>May 15th, 2012 by Random House Publishing Group<br><strong>Format: </strong>Kindle edition; 448 pages<br><strong>Source: </strong>ARC from publisher via NetGalley</p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <p>On board the moletrain Medes, Sham Yes ap Soorap watches in awe as he witnesses his first moldywarpe hunt: the giant mole bursting from the earth, the harpoonists targeting their prey, the battle resulting in one’s death and the other’s glory. But no matter how spectacular it is, Sham can’t shake the sense that there is more to life than traveling the endless rails of the railsea—even if his captain can think only of the hunt for the ivory-colored mole she’s been chasing since it took her arm all those years ago. When they come across a wrecked train, at first it’s a welcome distraction. But what Sham finds in the derelict—a kind of treasure map indicating a mythical place untouched by iron rails—leads to considerably more than he’d bargained for. Soon he’s hunted on all sides, by pirates, trainsfolk, monsters, and salvage-scrabblers. And it might not be just Sham’s life that’s about to change. It could be the whole of the railsea. </p> <p>Here is a novel for readers of all ages, a gripping and brilliantly imagined take on Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick that confirms China Miéville’s status as “the most original and talented voice to appear in several years” (Science Fiction Chronicle).</p></blockquote> <p>I’m not going to lie and say that <em>Railsea </em>is a book I will be recommending to all readers, but I will, with certainty, be recommending it to anyone and everyone I think would enjoy it. <em>Railsea</em> isn’t what anyone expects to see under the ‘YA’ label. Many have argued that it isn’t really YA at all, but when a book is pitched as ‘a novel for readers of all ages’, I don’t think it’s really trying to be. Given its content, I think that ‘a novel for readers of all ages’ is the perfect description for <em>Railsea</em>. It will appeal to Miéville’s adult fanbase, as well as make him more accessible to younger readers. The teens who will fall in love with <em>Railsea</em> will be those who probably read a lot of adult sci-fi or fantasy already; they will be smart, appreciate a wry sense of humor, and have a wonderful sense of adventure. Readers must be patient getting into this one, as it will take you a while to feel entirely at ease with the language and story, and to understand the world that Miéville has built, but I assure you that it will be worth the effort.</p> <p>As China Miéville has said himself: “Part of the appeal of the fantastic is taking ridiculous ideas very seriously and pretending they're not absurd.” I couldn’t possibly describe <em>Railsea</em> in a more accurate sentence. <em>Railsea </em>is ridiculous, but the respect and authority that Miéville gives to his characters in the story therein left me completely enraptured, enamored, and on the edge of my seat wanting more. To me, <em>Railsea</em> was hilarious. I was constantly laughing out loud in the way that you laugh at someone who you are never quite sure recognizes how truly clever they are. I was initially worried that I would be bogged down in the language, but instead I found myself languishing in it, making <em>Railsea</em> one of the more literary works I have read for some time. </p> <p>However, the best part of <em>Railsea</em> is the story that is found within all of this. <em>Railsea </em>is a sort of <em>Moby Dick</em> retelling, but readers shouldn’t go in thinking this will be all about a captain balancing on the edge of sanity pulling all the stops to bring down the big one. That’s only part of the tale. In fact, our focus isn’t the captain at all, it is Sham ap Soorap, who dreams of a life more exciting than that of a doctor’s assistant aboard a moler, and gets it. It’s the story of a sort of treasure map, a high seas adventure, and an escapade to the very ends of the earth. </p> <p>Now, those readers who love a focus on excellent world building and plot—<em>Railsea</em> is for you, but for those of you who are all about character development, you may not approve. It’s not that the characters are shallow, but <em>Railsea </em>is not a book where we get strong images of the characters’ emotions. And personally, I didn’t feel like anything was missing despite this. The world of <em>Railsea, </em>with scavengers, pirates, and hunters riding the railsea on trains rather than ships made me think of a futuristic old west, kind of like a more localized take on Joss Whedon’s <em>Firefly. </em>Add to that giant vermin such as fanged meerkats or predatory chipmunk packs living under the land of the rails, and you have some pretty terrifying imagery going for you. In addition, <em>Railsea</em> contains a number of illustrations of the creatures described, drawn by the author himself. I loved seeing them in detail, though I’ll admit I craved to see some of the drawings that Sham himself had done, or others depicting the railsea.</p> <p><a href="http://torbooks.co.uk/2012/04/25/first-extract-from-china-mievilles-new-novel-railsea/railsea/"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Great Southern Moldywarpe Talpa ferox rex" border="0" alt="Great Southern Moldywarpe Talpa ferox rex from Railsea by China Mieville" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5Ky5Rp7D9s4/T7GD7N-xmGI/AAAAAAAADGU/o4-Nut8RKRw/Railsea-300x192%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="291" height="193"></a></p> <p>I’m always impressed when an author writes a book so utterly un-sexist, that traditional gender divisions aren’t even a thought. As was the case with <em>Railsea</em>. Gender roles are never even alluded to, it is just a part of the world that women do the exact same jobs as men, and nothing whatsoever is thought about this. Our captain, Naphi, is a woman whose life philosophy has become killing Mocker-Jack, the Mole of Many Meanings. And she’s not the only strong woman about, there’s scrappers, molers, and Caldera Shroake making <em>Railsea</em> a book that spreads the crazy, savvy, and skill all over. </p> <p>I realize I haven’t talked overly much about the plot, but the reality is, you don’t want me to. You want to dive into the unknown of the <em>Railsea </em>with as few preconceived notions of the plot as possible. This is one of those books I loved, but about which I still have a hard time adequately formulating my thoughts into words. While I have tried to express that this is not for everyone, I have to stress that those that click with <em>Railsea</em> will <em>really</em> click. This will certainly be one of my top reads of 2012.<br><br><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more: </strong>Oh goodness yes! I’ve been wanting to read some China Miéville for some time, and since I particularly enjoyed the zany wit of <em>Railsea</em>, I think my next read will be his other book for younger readers, <em>Un Lun Dun</em>. <br><br><strong>Recommended for: </strong>Fans of <em>Firefly</em>, Neal Stephenson, <em>Tremors, Treasure Island </em>and <em>Moby Dick</em>.<br><br><strong>Real life repercussions of reading this book: </strong>Okay, I loved bats before, but now I want a pet day bat so badly it’s ridiculous. Daybe for best animal companion of the year?</p> <p>Also:<br></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:d5d8a39e-4cc7-4ebc-9808-2e5eed64aa31" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="872ac568-3682-44b7-88e5-4e4fa385bd1b" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJhx6bizOCA" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6w9mPa1WzrU/T7JfP8b4wHI/AAAAAAAADG8/HFXtGiSCCpw/video6606e19e84f6%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('872ac568-3682-44b7-88e5-4e4fa385bd1b'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/xJhx6bizOCA?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/xJhx6bizOCA?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div><div style="width:448px;clear:both;font-size:.8em">This one’s for Naphi.</div></div><br><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://www.thereadventurer.com/1/post/2012/04/railsea-by-china-miville.html">The Readventurer</a><br><a href="http://www.kirkusreviews.com/blog/science-fiction-and-fantasy/life-rails/">The Book Smugglers</a> (in Kirkus)<br><a href="http://io9.com/5905228/ride-china-mievilles-crazy-train-in-railsea">io9 YA Novels</a> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-35243028077099325042012-05-14T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-27T00:25:24.048-04:00Salute Your Shorts: Magic Mourns by Ilona Andrews<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"> <p><strong></strong></p> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeEY-2xf38kX7CbcrMnePJSfULjyXaAWSMhMqUTW8hmPKjCWJlkmDwMXN7w7VR8-D9MurjqOCZxOhSqQS76TUXJv6fkIfyw4BunvpFEeEHHTrEq_hw701ZJWgCrhEXbdmNL6dy8fMbdpR/s1600-h/Salute-Your-Shorts4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Salute Your Shorts" border="0" alt="Salute Your Shorts" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mwUaBHWBMYs/T62mm_6F8iI/AAAAAAAADCw/gZ5hAzNjrM8/Salute-Your-Shorts_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="230"></a></div> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif"><i>Salute Your Shorts</i> is a weekly (ish) feature here at Bunbury in the Stacks highlighting and reviewing short stories and novellas. Everyone is welcome to join at any time, just grab the pic above and shoot me a link in the comments so that I can include your post in a roundup.</span></div></blockquote> <p> <p><strong></strong></p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FzLytxvjzcs/T62mnCmw86I/AAAAAAAADC4/PWhTnSUcz_Y/s1600-h/Must-Love-Hellhounds-by-Ilona-Andrew.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Must Love Hellhounds by Ilona Andrews" border="0" alt="book cover of Must Love Hellhounds by Ilona Andrews" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zNPC8WtTGbA/T62mn5lxNGI/AAAAAAAADDA/WkhdhC58e54/Must-Love-Hellhounds-by-Ilona-Andrew%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="253" height="389"></a>Title:</strong> Magic Mourns in Must Love Hellhounds [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DW92S4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002DW92S4">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6286042-must-love-hellhounds">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong>Author:</strong> Ilona Andrews [<a href="http://www.ilona-andrews.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ilona_andrews">Twitter</a>|<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ilona.andrews">Facebook</a>]<br><strong>Standing: </strong>Magic Mourns is a Kate Daniels novella between books 3 and 4. This anthology also includes 3 other novellas which are part of the Guild Hunter, Sookie Stackhouse, and The Guardians series. As I have not read these other series, I did not read the other 3 novellas.<br><strong>Genre: </strong>Urban Fantasy<br><strong>Published: </strong>September 1st, 2009 by Berkley Trade<br><strong>Format: </strong>Paperback; 361 pages. Magic Mourns alone is around 90 pages.<strong> <br>Source: </strong>Borrowed from my local library.<br><strong>Alternative Source:</strong> Magic Mourns is also available to purchase as an e-book single <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00513PJ20/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00513PJ20">here</a>.<br><strong>Spoilers!: </strong>This review contains very minor spoilers for Magic Bites (reviewed <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-magic-bites-by-ilona-andrews.html">here</a>), Magic Burns (reviewed <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-magic-burns-by-ilona-andrews.html">here</a>), and Magic Strikes (reviewed <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-magic-strikes-by-ilona-andrews.html">here</a>). One could, theoretically, read this story without having read other Kate Daniels novels.</p></div></div> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <p>The phone rang again. “Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea—“<br>”Can I speak to Kate?” An older male voice tinted with country accent.<br>”I’m filling in for her. What do you need?”<br>”Can you take a message for her? Tell ‘er this is Teddy Jo callin’ down from Joshua Junkyards. She knows me. Tell her I was drivin’ on through Buzzard, and I saw one of them fellers she hangs out with, the shapeshifters, run like hell through the Scratches. Right below me. There was a big dog chasin’ him.” <br>“How big was the dog?”<br>Teddy Jo mulled it over. “I’d say as big as a house. A one-story. Maybe a bit bigger. Not as big as one of them colonials, you understand. A regular-person house.”<br>”Would you say the shapeshifter was in distress?”<br>”Hell yeah, he was in distress. His tail was on fire.”<br>”He ran like his tail was on fire?”<br>”No, his tail was on fire. Like a big, furry candle on his ass.<br>Bing. Green five, shapeshifter in dire distress. “Got it.”</p></blockquote> <p>When I picked up <em>Magic Mourns</em>, I was expecting Kate. What I got was Andrea. The shift in narrators was a surprise for me, but not an unwelcome one. I love me some Kate, but I’ve really enjoyed Andrea’s character in the past two books, and knowing that <em>Gunmetal Magic </em>is coming out this summer with her PoV, I was pumped for the preview. And friends, <em>Magic Mourns </em>did not disappoint! </p> <p>Often, when you pick up new narration by the same author, it’s incredibly similar. However, Ilona Andrews really took me by surprise with Andrea. She <em>doesn’t</em> write the same for this character at all. Sure, it’s still written very well, but Andrea’s thought process is different to Kate’s. We see that not only in her mental dialog, but because it is written in first person, we see it in every word. Andrea’s narration isn’t full of well-known phrases and clichés, it’s not as clipped, moody, or sharp; it <em>is</em> another strong butt-kicking chick with a wry sense of humor, and I am now more than ever a fan of Andrea’s.</p> <p>I’m going to say after the past three books, Ilona Andrews kind of owed us this one. <em>Magic Mourns</em> tells the story of Andrea dealing with duty <em>without</em> Kate. When she receives word of the (supposedly) giant dog chasing a shapeshifter outside of the city, she heads out to check the scene. There she finds, much to her dismay, Rafael. Rafael running from what is, indeed, a three headed dog the size of a house. Andrea doesn’t particularly want to work with Rafael, but she doesn’t want to leave the guy either. She wants to create a better bond between herself and the Pack, hoping that she can earn a position of trust similar to Kate’s, making relations easier for everyone. </p> <p>As always, we get a fun and unique play on mythology (Greek this time), but with it comes the gratification of Andrea and Rafael, and how their relationship differs from Kate and Curran’s. Andrea and Rafael, unlike the other couple mentioned, actually acknowledge and talk about the issues between them. For better or worse, at least they have some form of communication going. <em>Magic Mourns</em> also gives us better insight into Andrea’s past. We’ve known she is beastkin, but other than the stigma involved, we’ve been a little blind to what that really meant for her growing up. I was incredibly interested to have her past laid bare, appalling as aspects of it may be. Where Ilona Andrews has been giving us snippets of Kate’s past and relationship with Curran slowly over 3 novels, it was really quite satisfying to learn so much about another character in such a short period of time. Not that I’m complaining about Kate’s pacing, quite the opposite, I love it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need to be thrown a bone every once in a while. Andrea’s story was well paced, informative, and the perfect balance between action and romance.</p> <p>Overall, <em>Magic Mourns </em>is a must read for Kate Daniels fans, particularly those preparing to enjoy <em>Gunmetal Magic!</em></p> <p><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://specficromantic.com/2009/10/17/must-love-hellhounds-by-charlaine-harris-nalini-singh-ilona-andrews-and-meljean-brook/">Janicu’s Book Blog</a> (review of entire <em>Must Love Hellhounds</em> anthology)<br><a href="http://www.literaryescapism.com/4317/must-love-hellhounds-anthology">Literary Escapism</a> (review of entire <em>Must Love Hellhounds</em> anthology)<br><a href="http://allthingsurbanfantasy.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-must-love-hellhounds-by-ilona.html">All Things Urban Fantasy</a> (review of <em>Magic Mourns</em>) </p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-37357737054141818272012-05-13T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-13T00:00:06.630-04:00In My Mailbox (16)<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A7HSubvzsBg/T62vTylBjgI/AAAAAAAADDQ/9xiFPj5Ds6s/s1600-h/SAM_09904.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="In My Mailbox (16)" border="0" alt="In My Mailbox (16)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ku_l1tiay5Q/T62vUKZ5ouI/AAAAAAAADDY/x_K9dBEOD0E/SAM_0990_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" height="186"></a></div> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif">In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at </span><a style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif" href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/" target="_blank">The Story Siren</a><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif"> in which you share the books you added to your collection in the past week.</span></div></blockquote> <p>Hi friends! This post is covering the past couple of weeks as I’ve been being good and not collecting quite so many books as of late. I’m invoking a library moratorium on myself until I get a good chunk of these lovelies that I actually own read. We’ll see how that goes…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-W3CEFbGj6e4/T62vUuh5wAI/AAAAAAAADDg/JXtoz9y1sW4/s1600-h/White-Horse-by-Alex-Adams8.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="White Horse by Alex Adams" border="0" alt="book cover of White Horse by Alex Adams" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-q1VcvZ3BOxY/T62vU-STO_I/AAAAAAAADDo/NWexZhowf3I/White-Horse-by-Alex-Adams_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="146" height="247"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7-T241b_01A/T62vVV5rrfI/AAAAAAAADDw/pxRUu0Ow154/s1600-h/Touch-by-Jus-Accardo8.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Touch by Jus Accardo" border="0" alt="book cover of Touch by Jus Accardo" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uWHKAUtPKhM/T62vVsLvbDI/AAAAAAAADD4/GQaLh8Iv26Q/Touch-by-Jus-Accardo_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="147" height="246"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5_BOhU-bG6Q/T62vV_CG2lI/AAAAAAAADEA/miu-Z2tIK_o/s1600-h/Chopsticks-by-Jessica-Anthony-and-Ro%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral" border="0" alt="book cover of Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7zSe6vjFQjM/T62vWR3fJzI/AAAAAAAADEI/jvGVH-_frnQ/Chopsticks-by-Jessica-Anthony-and-Ro%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="191" height="245"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-W8QllwsEA2c/T62vWktlx6I/AAAAAAAADEQ/bAVl_vdE5YU/s1600-h/Meant-to-Be6.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill" border="0" alt="book cover of Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FkvWzJgVCwI/T62vXLXG5BI/AAAAAAAADEY/EI-Omms2ZAk/Meant-to-Be_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="153" height="243"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0ELjvm8PgJY/T62vXbC8njI/AAAAAAAADEg/GH3c9f19olo/s1600-h/Everything-on-a-Waffle-by-Polly-Horv%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath" border="0" alt="papperback book cover of Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Yob5cfqfW40/T62vX_mS5JI/AAAAAAAADEo/CVJ2jUg3d6c/Everything-on-a-Waffle-by-Polly-Horv.jpg?imgmax=800" width="166" height="244"></a></p> <p>From the Library:<br><strong>Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath</strong> [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312380046/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0312380046">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18576.Everything_on_a_Waffle">GoodReads</a>]<br>I know I <em>just</em> said library moratorium, right? Well, there are still some books I need. I plan to keep getting the series I’m in the middle of (Kate Daniels and Jessica Darling), and this! A while back I picked up an ARC of the companion novel to <em>Everything on a Waffle</em>, <em><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13262753-one-year-in-coal-harbor">One Year in Coal Harbor</a></em>, and of course I wanted to read the first one first! Particularly because this is also a Newberry award winner. Plus, isn’t the paperback cover adorable? She looks so much like my little redheaded niece, I love it…also it makes me hungry.</p> <p>For review: <br><strong>Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill</strong> [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385741774/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0385741774">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11721314-meant-to-be">GoodReads</a>]<br>I am loving this dreamy cover people, and since it involves London, sounds super cute, and I’ve heard wonderful things from those who’ve already read it, I’m excited to check it out! Requested via NetGalley, thanks Delacorte!<br><br>Borrowed:<br><strong>White Horse by Alex Adams </strong>[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451642997/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451642997">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12173462-white-horse">GoodReads</a>]<br>The lovely Janice from <a href="http://specficromantic.com/">Janicu’s Book Blog</a> and I had a weird meet cute on Twitter where we realized we had a mutual friend in real life who happens to live about halfway between the two of us. After finishing <em>White Horse</em> (you can read her review <a href="http://specficromantic.com/2012/04/16/white-horse-by-alex-adams/">here</a>), she offered to let me borrow it and we used our mutual friend as a book mule and halfway house. Thanks to both of you! </p> <p>Won…I’ve been super lucky lately. I’d better be careful or people will want to start taking me on dangerous adventures:<br><strong>Touch by Jus Accardo</strong> <strong></strong>[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937044459/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1937044459">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11882171-touch">GoodReads</a>]<br>So does everyone remember back to the YA March Madness tournament? <em>Touch</em> was this book I’d never heard of, and yet it kept trouncing other books. Jacinda from <a href="http://www.thereadinghousewives.com/">The Reading Housewives of Indiana</a> had such enthusiasm for <em>Touch</em> (read her review <a href="http://www.thereadinghousewives.com/2011/10/review-touch-denazen-1-by-jus-accardo.html">here</a>) that it was catching. She, and the lovely people at Entangled Publishing offered up a copy of <em>Touch</em>, and I was lucky enough to snag it! After the tournament, and <a href="http://www.thereadinghousewives.com/2012/03/jus-accardo-and-cast-of-touch-takes.html">this awesome interview</a> with Jus where she and the cast of <em>Touch </em>took on <em>My Little Pony</em>, I can’t wait to read it. Thanks to all those involved!</p> <p><strong>Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral</strong> [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595144358/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1595144358">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11882171-touch">GoodReads</a>]<br>I’ve been fascinated with the concept of this book ever since I first heard of this book through the author, Gayle Forman, who cited it as an example of where she thought the future of YA might be headed. I read this one in about an hour one evening this past week, and thought it was awesomely innovative (though quite frankly the ending will have me ‘wtf’ing for days. Thanks so much to the charming Anna from <a href="http://http://www.annareads.com/">Anna Reads</a> for hosting the giveaway, and to Razorbill for the book! </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--ME1oKqeaeg/T62vYLL4xMI/AAAAAAAADEw/Kn6BTge2JAk/s1600-h/false%252520prince%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="false prince" border="0" alt="false prince" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-um_NiWAHSnI/T62vYqwtpKI/AAAAAAAADE4/kLvPGY85EzM/false%252520prince_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="163" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1MOLYUkmu9Y/T62vZMGIMYI/AAAAAAAADFA/_FW8zw1J07A/s1600-h/SAM_0987%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="SAM_0987" border="0" alt="SAM_0987" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jLEtq1PUz_w/T62vZW3eO_I/AAAAAAAADFI/8SQzwr4QRFw/SAM_0987_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></p> <p><strong>The False Prince by Jennifer Nielson</strong> [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595144358/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1595144358">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12432220-the-false-prince">GoodReads</a>]<br>What’s that you say? Didn’t you get <em>The False Prince</em> from the library in your last IMM? Why yes, yes I did. I got it from the library, read it, loved it, and was ecstatic about winning Jennifer Nielson’s Twitter contest for a signed copy of the book! As someone who rereads a lot, especially as series come out, I love owning books I enjoy. I was so happy to put this one on my shelf, especially since Jennifer was kind enough to sign it for me!</p> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h2 align="center">My bunburying as of late</h2> <p align="center"><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-neversink-by-barry-wolverton.html">Neversink by Barry Wolverton</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/audio-review-abundance-of-katherines-by.html">An Abundance of Katherines by John Green</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-fracture-by-megan-miranda.html">Fracture by Megan Miranda</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-heros-guide-to-saving-your.html">The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-struck-by-jennifer-bosworth.html">Struck by Jennifer Bosworth</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/salute-your-shorts-faery-tales-and.html">Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-how-to-flirt-with-naked-werewolf.html">How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/audio-review-fever-crumb-by-philip.html">Fever Crumb by Philip Reeves</a><br><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-magic-strikes-by-ilona-andrews.html">Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews</a></p> <p>That’s it for me these days, let me know what’s up around your corner of the world these days!</p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-82759094003651011312012-05-11T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-11T00:00:01.127-04:00Review: Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews<p><strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XR7rrehrkLo/T5xsxp-oVjI/AAAAAAAAC3g/t56qIuOdU00/s1600-h/Magic%252520Strikes%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews" border="0" alt="book cover of Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_x-V-OEtMDo/T5xsyL0gxlI/AAAAAAAAC3o/yg9hZvGcSTE/Magic%252520Strikes_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="227" height="376"></a>Title:</strong> Magic Strikes [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0441017029/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0441017029">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4345498-magic-strikes">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong>Author:</strong> Ilona Andrews [<a href="http://www.ilona-andrews.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ilona_andrews">Twitter</a>|<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ilona.andrews">Facebook</a>]<br><strong>Standing: </strong>3rd in the <em>Kate Daniels</em> series. <br><strong>Genre: </strong>Urban Fantasy<br><strong>Published: </strong>February 20th, 2009 by Ace<br><strong>Format: </strong>Kindle edition; 322 pages.<br><strong>Source: </strong>Purchased.<br><strong>Spoilers!: </strong>This review contains spoilers for the first two books in the series, <em>Magic Bites</em> (reviewed <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-magic-bites-by-ilona-andrews.html">here</a>), and <em>Magic Burns </em>(reviewed <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-magic-burns-by-ilona-andrews.html">here</a>), so go read those first!</p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <p>Drafted to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that's saying a lot. </p> <p>But when Kate's werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games- an invitation only, no-holds-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament- she and Curran, the Beast Lord, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta's shapeshifting community.</p></blockquote> <p>One day Ilona Andrews sat down and thought <em>Hmmm….you know what would make the Kate Daniels series even more awesome? Gladiators!</em> And then she proceeded to write one of the greatest Urban Fantasy books out there. I realize as someone who has read barely any Urban Fantasy I can’t really say that with authority, but you know what? Haters can shove it, it’s true. I loved this book, and I can see why so many people were telling me <em>this </em>was the point in the series I wanted to get to. Of course I greatly enjoyed <em>Magic Bites </em>and <em>Magic Burns</em>, but <em>Magic Strikes </em>is where everything really clicks into place, finds its pace, and doesn’t let go.</p> <p>In <em>Magic Strikes</em> we get all of the characters we’ve loved from the past two installments, and my love of Kate Daniels with her biting snark, quippy lines, and fast blades grows and grows with every page. Ilona Andrews has this amazing ability to incorporate cliché lines and phrases in a way that don’t make her books seem passé, it makes them seem real. You get attached to her characters because you can really see and understand how they think, and Kate and crew think like some of the best heroes around. </p> <p><em>Magic Strikes</em>’ plot line surrounds the one thing the Pack is well and truly not allowed to screw with—The Midnight Games. But what fun would a Kate Daniels book be without Derek, Jim, Curran, Rafael, and Andrea? Easy answer: none. Okay strictly speaking, Andrea isn’t a member of the Pack, and <em>Magic Bites </em>was plenty of fun without her and Rafael, but seriously? Bouda fun is the kind of fun I like to see, and now that I’ve had a taste, I don’t want a book without it. Here is where I would say ‘You here me, Ilona?!’, but she’s already obliged me by writing <em>Gunmetal Magic</em>. I DIGRESS. </p> <p>So if you’ve seen the movie <em>Gladiator</em>, or you know, read some Roman history, you have a pretty good idea of what The Midnight Games entails. And if you’ve played World of Warcraft (yes I am revealing <em>just</em> how nerdy I am to ya’ll today), you have an even better idea because essentially it’s arena fighting between individuals and teams that are all sorts of freaky. We’re talking vamps, shapeshifters, minotaurs, magic users, trolls, golems…you know, all of those things that go bump in the night locked in an arena to rip each other to shreds for your viewing pleasure. Couple that with a dark plan to rid Atlanta of the Pack, some revelations about Saimon, more excellent mythology, some good ol’ fashioned street fighting and subterfuge, and you’ve got one heck of a fast-paced plot that had every cell in my body screaming AWESOME while I read.</p> <p>But of course, there’s also the reality that Ilona Andrews is a total and utter tease. And I kind of love it. I am now officially so in love with Curran, I can’t even stand it. He cares about Kate so much, it’s ridiculously obvious to pretty much anyone <em>but</em> her, and I love the developments in their relationship that we see in <em>Magic Strikes</em>. I want to gab about it for pages, but I don’t want to be all spoilery, so I’ll shut my trap and save my fawning for the next book. Let’s just suffice it to say that Kate and Curran are quickly moving up the list of my all-time favorite couples, and I can’t wait for more.<br><br><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more: </strong>100%, already have the next book on hand and ready to go.<br><br><strong>Recommended for: </strong>Fans of urban fantasy, butt-kicking women, hate/love slow-burn relationships, and anyone who’s spent a good deal of time playing arenas in WoW.<br><br><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://chachic.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/magic-strikes-by-ilona-andrews/">Chachic’s Book Nook</a><br><a href="http://specficromantic.com/2009/04/05/magic-strikes-by-ilona-andrews/">Janicu’s Book Blog</a><br><a href="http://www.bookharbinger.com/2010/05/magic-strikes-by-ilona-andrews/">Book Harbinger</a><br><a href="http://www.angie-ville.com/2009/04/magic-strikes-by-ilona-andrews.html">Angieville</a></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-42514567269001563352012-05-10T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-10T00:06:32.716-04:00Audio Review: Fever Crumb by Philip Reeves<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; float: left; clear: left; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWROCZfO0azMsw4sWJPwuHzceTsiMhGyiX5z5GImcYAE4_OLMfyoUNlNJ5M-E9CMdBxPezzv0EvOdxHI-GuPzgYqC3AloPmLx5lJJFxjx3zky3jcU9yzvN1CbVed7kD-khTrvGgnOTorT/s1600/fever+crumb.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWROCZfO0azMsw4sWJPwuHzceTsiMhGyiX5z5GImcYAE4_OLMfyoUNlNJ5M-E9CMdBxPezzv0EvOdxHI-GuPzgYqC3AloPmLx5lJJFxjx3zky3jcU9yzvN1CbVed7kD-khTrvGgnOTorT/s320/fever+crumb.jpg" width="269" height="320"></a></div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5879224364180118"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline">Title: </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/054522215X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=054522215X">Amazon</a>|</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8706230-fever-crumb">GoodReads</a>]</span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline">Author: </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Philip Reeve [<a href="http://www.philip-reeve.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/philipreeve1">Twitter</a>]</span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline">Standing:</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> First book in the Hungry</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> City Chronicles</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> prequel trilogy.</span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Young Adult, Futuristic, Sci-Fi</span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline">Published: </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">March 1st, 2011 by Scholastic Inc.</span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline">Format: </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Audiobook; 7 hours. Read by Philip Reeve.</span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline">Source: </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Borrowed from my local library.</span><br></b><br> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5879224364180118"><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif">Fever Crumb is a girl who has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the order of Engineers, where she serves as apprentice. In a time and place where women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only female to serve in the order. </span></span><br><br><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5879224364180118"><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif">Soon though, she must say goodbye to Dr. Crumb - nearly the only person she's ever known - to assist archeologist Kit Solent on a top-secret project. As her work begins, Fever is plagued by memories that are not her own and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are. Fever has also been singled out by city-dwellers who declare her part Scriven. </span></span><br><br><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5879224364180118"><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif">The Scriveners, not human, ruled the city some years ago but were hunted down and killed in a victorious uprising by the people. If there are any remaining Scriven, they are to be eliminated. </span></span><br><br><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5879224364180118"><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif">All Fever knows is what she's been told: that she is an orphan. Is Fever a Scriven? Whose memories does she hold? Is the mystery of Fever, adopted daughter of Dr. Crumb, the key to the secret that lies at the heart of London? </span></span><br><br><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5879224364180118"><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif">Haunting, arresting, and astonishingly original, <i>Fever Crumb</i> will delight and surprise readers at every fast-paced, breathless turn.</span></span></blockquote><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5879224364180118"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Philip Reeve has created a most intriguing world in </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">, the first installment of a trilogy preempting his </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Hungry City Chronicles </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">(also called the <i>Mortal Engines</i> series--</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">the prequel trilogy was written after). Now, I haven’t read the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Hungry City Chronicles</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">, so I can’t really speak to that effect, but I will say that </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">was a delightful, quirky, futuristic steampunk-like read. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> appears to be set in our own world, but so far in the future that electronics and such are referred to as creations of the ancients. While I would argue that </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> is not technically steampunk, and is rather just straight up sci-fi, it does have a very steampunk-like quality in that the world has a Victorian feel, and thus it will appeal to fans of that genre.</span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"></span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">I picked up </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">on audio after seeing it on YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults list. The title alone grabbed me, and when I read the premise I was drawn in. The audiobook is read by the author, Philip Reeve, and I am almost always a fan of audiobooks read by their authors (see Libba Bray’s </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-beauty-queens-by-libba-bray.html">Beauty Queens</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">). I’m happy to say that </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> did not disappoint! Philip Reeve’s narrative was excellent, and with an accent matching Jim Dale’s it was easy to be charmed into enjoying the audio of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">. His futuristic London held some laugh out loud quirks for me, like the use of the term ‘blogger’ as an insult, or instead of Hari Krishna cults on the street there were cults chanting ‘Harry Potter’. In fact, my initial reaction shortly into listening was ‘why haven’t more people I know read this book?!’ I’m sad to say, however, that my initial interest in Philip Reeve’s London waned by the end. I did enjoy </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">, but it turns out I liked the entire storyline significantly less than I liked the idea up front.</span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"></span><br><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> is also one of those books that, at least for me, sits on the precipice between Middle Grade and Young Adult. It is technically categorized as Young Adult, but reads very much like a Middle Grade book. I’d put it on the brink with books like Philip Pullman’s </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">His Dark Materials</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> trilogy, or C.S. Lewis’s </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">The Chronicles of Narnia</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">. I enjoy this age range, though I find it difficult to peg down at times, but sadly </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> didn’t grab me in near the same way as the other series mentioned.</span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"></span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">The character I most enjoyed in </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> was, no surprise, Fever Crumb. Fever is practical and logical to a fault; so much so that she seems almost robotic like. She won’t drink hot tea (because the transportation of tea is impractical), she shaves her head every other day (hair is an unnecessary vestige of our ancestors, and creates a home for lice), and she certainly doesn’t go in for things like fairy tales or fun. I think this is why the beginning of the book was so much more enjoyable to me than the end. I loved seeing Fever’s reactions to things, and observing her thought process. As the story goes on, she inevitably learns that it is okay to feel, and honestly I found her less interesting when she became more personable. </span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"></span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">The overall story of London, humans, and the scriveners was most assuredly an interesting set up, but I am uncertain that I was caught up enough to carry on. Philip Reeve does have a unique and charming way of putting a Victorian style on Science Fiction that is different from the steampunk genre in which we normally see this union. </span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"></span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline">Likelihood that I'll be back for more:</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"> I did enjoy </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Fever Crumb</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">, especially in its audiobook format. However, since my library doesn’t have the rest of the series on audio, and I don’t feel invested enough in the series to purchase it on audio, I do not know that I will be continuing on.</span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"></span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline">Recommended for: </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal">Those who enjoy older MG/younger YA books, steampunkers.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline"></span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal"></span><br><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline">Get a second opinion:</span></b><br><span style="font-family: georgia"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap"><a href="http://grubstreethack.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/book-review-fever-crumb/">Grub Street</a></span></span><br><span style="font-family: georgia"><a href="http://girlsinthestacks.com/reviews/ya-novel/2010/04/book-review-fever-crumb-by-philip-reeve/">Girls in the Stacks</a></span><br><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif"><a href="http://booksforears.com/2011/10/30/fever-crumb-philip-reeve/">Books for Ears</a> (Audio)</span> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-14902795454490064612012-05-09T00:01:00.000-04:002012-05-09T00:06:20.855-04:00Review: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper<p><strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zYQEimsn5HQ/T4MQ9m09ieI/AAAAAAAACcU/7r6RIYEeMyo/s1600-h/how%252520to%252520flirt%252520with%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper" border="0" alt="book cover of How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-stxuSzyuOQU/T4MQ_v8kobI/AAAAAAAACcc/tN5zAeAHGW0/how%252520to%252520flirt%252520with_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="366"></a> Title:</strong> How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439195862/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1439195862">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8182682-how-to-flirt-with-a-naked-werewolf">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong> Author:</strong> Molly Harper [<a href="http://www.mollyharper.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/mollyharperauth">Twitter</a>|<a href="http://www.facebook.com/molly.harper1">Facebook</a>]<br><strong> Standing: </strong>1st in the <em>Naked Werewolf</em> duology <br> <strong> Genre: </strong>Romance, Paranormal<br><strong> Published: </strong>February 22nd, 2011 by Pocket Books<br><strong> Format: </strong>Paperback; 371 pages.<br><strong> Source: </strong>Borrowed from my local library.</p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <p>Northern Exposure <br><br>Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble. For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worried that he might be the violent canine in question. If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated. . . .</p></blockquote> <p>Okay, <em>How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf</em> is really <em>not</em> the type of book I would normally pick up, but I’ve been trying to read out of my box more as I’ve been reading more—else you get bored! Two things happened this year that led me to Molly Harper: 1) I determined that yes, I do indeed like romance and 2) Melissa Marr bespoke her love for Molly Harper on Twitter. Harper was described as funny and snarky, and I found this to hold as true as I read, laughing often at Mo’s situations, way of thinking, and occasional witty reference.</p> <p>I loved our lead, Mo, and I absolutely adored the entire town of Grundy, Alaska. <em>How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf</em> is full of so many wonderful small-town characters from the cute old man, to the slutty waitress, the neighbors that will do anything to help one another out, and of course, the overly grouchy hot guy. Cooper, our male lead, reminded me a lot of Luke from <em>Gilmore Girls</em>. He liked his small town the way it was, he was wary of outsiders, and overly gruff with pretty much everyone besides his cousin. And since I’ve been in love with Luke for over a decade, of course I was pumped about Cooper! There’s a decent hate/love thing between him and Mo, which I always enjoy, and even though something about it seemed a bit off (like maybe a little too much I don’t want to want you but I do?), and their relationship went from 0-60 in 10 pages flat, I enjoyed them as a couple. </p> <p>Mo herself is a piece of work. I love that she’s the classic child of the overbearing parents striking out largely to get away from them (yeah, you can see a bit of a Lorelai resemblance here too, but it’s not extreme). The best part of this? Her parents are hippies! Uber hippies. Her mother is the worst sort of helicopter mom, but not in your usual way. She’s constantly barging her way in to Mo’s life to make sure that she’s eating organic, and sticking with the values they taught her. For goodness sake, Mo had to enroll herself in public school at 13, knowing that she’d never learn anything or function in the normal world if she let herself be homeschooled forever.</p> <p>Now, I’d already decided some time ago that adult sexytimes make me <em>super</em> uncomfortable, and that I don’t enjoy reading them. Which made me really hesitant to try <em>How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf</em> knowing there would indeed be some beyond PG13 scenes. All of the romance I’ve managed to get my hands on so far has been very chaste or vague, glossing over things, and I really liked that; but then I realized while reading <em>How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf</em> that I didn’t mind sexytimes so much after all! I even kind of enjoyed them. Then I sat down and thought of what turned me off of explicit sex scenes, and I came up with two things. 1) Hearing them on audio, most likely with a parent in the car. I don’t care that I was over 18 at this point, it’s <em>always</em> awkward to acknowledge sex in front of your parents (unless you have Mo’s parents, that is). 2) Last year I attempted to read <em>Witches of East End</em> by Melissa de la Cruz. The book basically opens with one of the main characters giving head to her fiancé's brother at her own engagement party. I was so disgusted by this, I can’t believe I powered through as much of that book as I did. I know some people don’t mind cheating, or at least reading about it, but I realize now that I really <em>really </em>do, and that it was the infidelity that disgusted me, not the sex itself. So call me cured, and sign me up for more!</p> <p>As far as the paranormal elements of the story go, I enjoyed them. The werewolf lore was fairly similar to <em>Twilight</em> in that wolves could change at will, and that it was a genetic trait passed down in certain native families. I’m happy to report though, that it’s similarities deviated in two important ways (apparently I’m all about the lists of two this review): 1) there’s <em>no </em>vamps. The werewolves don’t change because of any threat, they change each generation because they always have. 2) The chicks change too! Yeah I know <em>Twilight</em> had one chick werewolf, but it was something all new and scandalous because we need men to take care of things after all. Not so in <em>How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf. </em>All family members that share the genetic trait change. Woohoo! Mo seems to accept the werewolf thing pretty readily, but not instantly. She spends some time thinking she’s good and crazy, and freaks out a bit, which I appreciated. Cooper’s desire to run from his past give Mo and him something big in common, and I thought the story was well done—neither too light or heavy.</p> <p>Finally I just have to point out that I adore the cover art, despite the fact that Mo is supposed to have a pixie cut and this chick really doesn’t….but whatever. I devoured <em>How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf</em> in a day (a day where I got very little else done), and I’m happy to report that adult paranormal romance can fill a hole where I’ve been avoiding the YA versions as of late. It’s light and uncomplicated, but sometimes that’s exactly what a girl needs.<br><br><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more: </strong>Already put the second book, <em>The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf</em> on hold! It centers around Cooper’s little sis, and I’m totally in. After that, I’ll likely dip into the <em>Nice Girls </em>series. Because a children’s librarian who’s a vampire? I can do that.<br><br><strong>Recommended for: </strong>Readers sick of YA paranormal romance looking for a more adult read, or romance readers who don’t mind a paranormal twist. Those who like humor and snark.<br><br><strong>Real life repercussions of reading this book: </strong>I informed the bf that if we break up, I’m moving to Alaska. <br><br><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://www.lurvalamode.com/2011/03/21/review-how-to-flirt-with-a-naked-werewolf/">Lurv a la Mode</a><br><a href="http://www.pedanticphooka.com/2011/11/review-how-to-flirt-with-a-naked-werewolf-by-molly-harper/">Pedantic Phooka</a><br><a href="http://beckonedbybooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-how-to-flirt-with-naked-werewolf.html">Beckoned by Books</a></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-76772742652857511372012-05-08T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-08T00:00:03.943-04:00Salute Your Shorts: Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr–the Wicked Lovely Edition<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"> <p><strong></strong></p> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVNtgv_Ka0DruE14syXK0BAKFr0xJJTovUeiqE1AaafceH28h2f4RNuHRv-v6OZSaQUpQxINmeeBRV6DiuYrCXI5E8_vcn2iGAXjMeoDHP0-8W0e_94bT3P9MhUZYaOwr1hWFDJfpzulp/s1600/salute+your+shorts.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img title="Salute Your Shorts" border="0" alt="Salute Your Shorts feature image from Bunbury in the Stacks" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVNtgv_Ka0DruE14syXK0BAKFr0xJJTovUeiqE1AaafceH28h2f4RNuHRv-v6OZSaQUpQxINmeeBRV6DiuYrCXI5E8_vcn2iGAXjMeoDHP0-8W0e_94bT3P9MhUZYaOwr1hWFDJfpzulp/s320/salute+your+shorts.jpg" width="320" height="200"></a></div> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif"><i>Salute Your Shorts</i> is a weekly (ish) feature here at Bunbury in the Stacks highlighting and reviewing short stories and novellas. Everyone is welcome to join at any time, just grab the pic above and shoot me a link in the comments so that I can include your post in a roundup.</span></div></blockquote> <p> <p><strong></strong></p> <p align="left"><strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YT2_iCxH7jA/T6KZwYKn73I/AAAAAAAAC9M/ImFIHNhcEtA/s1600-h/faery-tales-and-nightmares_thumb1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr" border="0" alt="book cover of Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_cfke5WR0i0/T6KZw8phanI/AAAAAAAAC9U/u17HYB9vZwg/faery-tales-and-nightmares_thumb1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="257" height="391"></a>Title:</strong> Faery Tales and Nightmares [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061852716/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061852716">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8576171-faery-tales-nightmares">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong>Author:</strong> Melissa Marr [<a href="http://www.melissa-marr.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/melissa_marr">Twitter</a>]<br><strong>Standing: </strong>This week I’m talking the <em>Wicked Lovely </em>stories.<br><strong>Genre: </strong>Young Adult, Urban Fantasy<br><strong>Published: </strong>February 21st, 2012 by HarperCollins<br><strong>Format: </strong>Hardcover; 418 pages<strong> <br>Source: </strong>Borrowed from my local library.<br><strong>Challenge: </strong><a href="http://thebookcellarx.com/2012-yamg-fantasy-challenge">YA/MG Fantasy Challenge</a><br><strong>Spoilers!: </strong>This review contains all sorts of spoilers for the <em>Wicked Lovely </em>series, which I’ve reviewed as a whole <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/02/series-review-wicked-lovely-by-melissa.html">here</a>. Half of the stories take place after that series ends. So seriously. Go read that first. But remember, you <em>can</em> read half of this anthology spoiler free, and I’ve reviewed those stories <a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/04/salute-your-shorts-faery-tales-and.html">here</a>.</p></div></div> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px"> <p>Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments dark and light by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from beneath the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention—with amorous or sinister intent—relentlessly. </p> <p>From the gentle tones of a storyteller’s cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favorite characters from Marr’s Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with...or to fear. </p> <p>Lush, seductive, and chilling, Melissa Marr’s stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.</p></blockquote> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"> <p><strong></strong></p> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"> <p align="left">Welcome to the <em>Wicked Lovely</em> edition of Salute Your Shorts for <em>Faery Tales and Nightmares</em>! Today I’ll be talking the other six stories in the anthology, the ones that are either in, or somehow related to the <em>Wicked Lovely </em>universe. What can you read? First off, <em>The Sleeping Girl and the Summer King</em> is not technically <em>Wicked Lovely</em>, so go to town. <em>Old Habbits </em>and <em>Stopping Time </em>take place after <em>Ink Exchange</em>, so you are free to read those if you’ve only read up to that point in the series. <em>Cotton Candy Skies</em> shouldn’t be read until after <em>Darkest Mercy,</em> <em>Unexpected Family </em>and <em>Merely Mortal</em> should not be touched until you’ve finished the series.</p> <h2 align="left">The Sleeping girl and the summer king</h2></div></div></div></div> <p>I knew that this story was described as <em>Wicked Lovely</em>-ish, but before reading it I didn’t really understand why. This was the short story that Melissa Marr wrote that later turned into the series, however, <em>The Sleeping Girl and the Summer King </em>is quite different than the series itself. You can see that the structure is there (and a character named Aisling!), but it is still very much its own story.</p> <p>Each winter, a girl falls asleep, and spring only returns when she dreams of it. Throughout the summer, she spends her days basking in the sun with the summer king, until finally she comes of age where she is too old to sleep again. At this time, she is presented with a choice: stay young forever as one of the many girls of summer, or age as winter. Only if she chooses winter will its previous barer be free, but the allure of both sides is strong.</p> <hr> <h2>Cotton Candy Skies</h2> <p>This was the WL story I was most excited to read when I picked up <em>Faery Tales and Nightmares</em>. I probably would have been more excited about <em>Old Habits </em>and <em>Stopping Time</em>, but I’d already read them, and I knew <em>Cotton Candy Skies </em>featured my other WL favorite—The Shadow Court. I love Devlin and Ani, and was super excited at the chance to see them again, so I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t a little disappointed that they were barely in this story. However, when I thought about it, it made sense. They’d already had their happy ending, and there were others that still needed some tying up. That’s where this story, and Rabbit came in.</p> <p><em>Cotton Candy Skies </em>features Rabbit, Ani and Tish’s older brother and father figure, who has found himself sealed in Faerie. He feels at a loss, unsure of what to do with himself that will make him feel worthwhile in the same way that he felt needed and worthwhile in the outside world. It was fun to have a story about Rabbit, a minor character that I always liked, but we never heard much from. It was the perfect choice for a Shadow Court tale, and in the end it may not be my favorite in the collection, but I was happy nonetheless.</p> <p> <hr> <h2>Unexpected Family</h2> <p><em>Unexpected Family </em>takes place about a week after the events of <em>Darkest Mercy</em> conclude, and it’s a Seth story (yay!). Seth receives a letter from his mortal parents insisting that he visit them, indicating some urgency. He hasn’t seen his parents in several years, and while they have an amicable relationship, he’s certainly not in the mood to leave Huntsdale after all of the upheaval. For his family, however, he will. Seth bids goodbye to Aisling, and requests that Niall accompany him to California, knowing that he and Niall have to work out their differences. Seth doesn’t want to lose Niall as a brother, but he knows there will be friction as his opposite.</p> <p>I enjoyed this story a fair amount, particularly because Seth is one of the most interesting characters in the <em>Wicked Lovely </em>series. With three courts heavily invested in his welfare as son, lover, and brother, is it any surprise that he’s generally a good guy? <em>Unexpected Family</em> was probably my favorite WL story in this collection, though it would honestly be behind <em>Old Habbits </em>and <em>Stopping Time</em> which I read previously.</p> <hr> <h2>Merely Mortal</h2> <p>Unfortunately, <em>Merely Mortal </em>ended up placing as my least favorite story in this anthology. It’s a shame, being as it was also that last story in this collection, and therefore left me feeling a little down on it (even though the bulk of stories were wonderful). </p> <p><em>Merely Mortal</em> is a story of Keenan and Donia, attempting to cope as a real couple for the first time in over a century. They have loved each other for a very long time, but have never been able to surmount the obstacles standing in their way. Now, finally, Keenan has given up his regency and is free to love Donia, however, he has also given up his immortality. After 900 years, Keenan is mortal, delicate, and easily broken. He wants to attempt to become fae again, but Donia is so afraid of him being hurt. <em>Merely Mortal </em>tells a light tale of this couple vacationing—something rare and unusual for any fae reagents.</p> <hr> <h2>Old Habits and Stopping Time</h2> <p>I’m honestly going to kind of gloss over these two stories because I read them as e-book singles while I was reading the <em>Wicked Lovely </em>series last year, and chose not to reread them when they were published in this collection. They are the two longest stories in the book, each more a novella than a short story, they make up about 1/3 of the text in <em>Faery Tales and Nightmares</em>. </p> <p>Let’s just suffice it to say that if you love Niall, Irial, and Leslie (and if you don’t, I really think you’re missing out), you <em>must</em> check out <em>Old Habbits </em>and <em>Stopping Time.</em> <em>Stopping Time</em> focuses largely on Niall and Leslie, while <em>Old Habbits </em>focuses largely on the relationship between Niall and Irial. To me, these three characters are the most compelling of the entire series, and getting these extra novellas to explore the relationships between my favorite characters was time well spent! </p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-56933058058799633442012-05-07T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-07T00:00:05.378-04:00Review: Struck by Jennifer Bosworth<p><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-y17JDrE-SNY/T6S6Kk5WR4I/AAAAAAAAC-U/diFGH0gMQBk/s1600-h/struck%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Struck by Jennifer Bosworth" border="0" alt="book cover of Struck by Jennifer Bosworth" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jT2ty2CJxRE/T6S6LCfEx_I/AAAAAAAAC-c/WnDJEwMVB9M/struck_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="387"></a>Title:</strong> Struck [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374372837/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0374372837">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12432229-struck">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong>Author:</strong> Jennifer Bosworth [<a href="http://www.jenniferbosworth.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JennBosworth">Twitter</a>|<a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=521103525">Facebook</a>]<br><strong>Standing: </strong>First in a series, can be read as a stand alone.<br><strong>Genre: </strong>Young Adult, Apocalyptic, SciFi<br><strong>Published: </strong>May 8th, 2012 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR<br><strong>Format: </strong>Kindle edition; 385 pages.<br><strong>Source: </strong>ARC copy from publisher via NetGalley.<br><strong>Challenge: </strong><a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/debut-author-challenge">Debut Author Challenge</a></p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px">Mia Price is a lightning addict. She's survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her. <br><br>Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come. <p>Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn't who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.</p></blockquote> <p>Ah, <em>Struck</em>. It was awesome, it was frustrating, I’m thinking it was worth the time I took to read it, but also that I could have lived without doing so. First thing’s first, let’s talk about the good, because <em>Struck</em> does have some very cool culty goodness to offer. </p> <p>Mia Price can’t even keep track of how many times she’s been hit by lightning, and it hits her different every time. Sometimes it will throw you 20 feet, sometimes it will fry your hair, sometimes it will even stop your heart. Once you’ve been hit, you’re more likely to be hit again, and lightning is attracted to Mia like a star-crossed lover. As a result, Mia’s family picked up and moved to Los Angeles, where it rarely rains. There, she’s far less likely to be struck. She wears all modest clothing to hide the lightning scars that cover her body, Lichtenberg figures, which now encompass her skin. They usually fade within days of being hit—but Mia’s don’t. Here’s an idea of what the scars look like:</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichtenberg_figure"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Lichtenberg figure" border="0" alt="Lichtenberg figure on human skin" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WUA_pPLf-iY/T6S6LrWMNPI/AAAAAAAAC-k/l-OaKlZ3MJQ/Lichtenberg%252520figure%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="211" height="244"></a></p> <p>Pretty cool, eh? Personally, I think they’re kind of amazing and I’m not sure why anyone would want to cover that awesomeness, but I suppose seventeen year-olds that have been labeled freaks by their former communities are self conscious about this sort of thing.</p> <p><em>Struck</em> had the type of fast-paced plot that made the book a breeze. It takes place in the lull between a massive earthquake and the official apocalypse. Or, ‘official’ according to the cults. Er, the cult and the secret society (though I’m with Mia, the two look the same from where I’m standing). Mia finds herself, and her family, caught between two warring factions, each certain that they will save the world. However, both sides believe Mia is the key to victory, and they’re willing to cross more than a few lines to win her over to the cause. <em>Struck</em> plays with the power of belief, particularly in a time of crisis, and paints a frightening image of those who will take advantage of chaos and fear in destruction. The perversion of playing in people’s heads made me feel dirty, and I loved the real fear and emotion Jennifer Bosworth was able to impart with the actions of those involved. The plot wasn’t exactly full of surprises, but the writing was solid, and the characters were well-developed if (at least in my opinion) unlikable. </p> <p>And with that we come to the bad. As stated, I didn’t really like the characters. In fact, I didn’t really like <em>anyone</em> in this book. By the end I was ready to throw the book against the wall for lack of ability to shake some sense into or just flat up strangle Mia. Mia has leverage and power, and she doesn’t even realize it which drives me nuts. People keep trying to blackmail and lie to get her on their side, and it never once occurs to her that they should be begging and offering her stuff. I get the whole wanting to help your family thing, but at the same time, I don’t get the overprotectiveness that Mia exhibits. I’ve never been a big sister, so maybe I just can’t understand, but as the youngest of 5, I’m happy to say my brothers and sisters let me make my own mistakes and didn’t try to shield me from experiencing things the way Mia does with Parker. Sure, it’s the apocalypse, but I still think that’s just who she is and I’m not a fan. Also, it takes Mia <em>way </em>too long to figure things out. Wait, scratch that, she never does figure things out, she has to have facts spoon fed to her. </p> <p>And then there’s Jeremy. Oh the love interest. This is where I started beating my head against the wall and rolling my eyes so much my head hurt. It’s the whole immediate attraction, can’t take their eyes off each other, become completely stupid kind of love interest. Yuck. When they first meet, there is the implication that Jeremy has been stalking Mia. She actually thinks: “Jeremy, a stalker? No way. A guy like Jeremy didn’t need to stalk.” Um, so, let me get this strait. Attractive guys don’t ever do creepy or inappropriate things to girls? They don’t have to stalk girls, because women just fall naked at their feet? Mmhmm, you’re really earning my respect here.</p> <p>Finally, there’s the fictional science. I understand that sci fi is fictitious, and often requires suspension of disbelief, and I’m cool with that. Telepaths? Sure! Psychics? Why not? But when you start implying ridiculous things such as lightening causing an 8.6 magnitude earthquake, I draw the line:</p> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px">There was a geological survey going on at the time—which, ironically, had something to do with earthquakes—and a crew had opened up a hole in the ground that went way down into the earth, supposedly for miles, all the way to the Puente Hills Fault that runs right beneath downtown. Lightning struck straight into the hole, and immediately afterward there was an 8.6 magnitude earthquake that lasted over three minutes. The top seismologists in the world had formulated a theory that, hypothetically, the friction along the Puente Hills fault line might have acted like a beacon for lightning. When the fault was struck, it increased the pressure on the fault exponentially, setting off the earthquake like a nuke buried miles underground.</blockquote> <p>Sure, Bosworth gives herself the out by saying that this could neither be proved or disproved, but since the entire plot more or less revolves around the notion of lightning being able to cause earthquakes, I’m going to say no. Just no. To be fair to her, I did check with the U.S. Geological Survey’s <a href="http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php">page on earthquakes</a>. It states that “If weather does affect earthquake occurrence, or if some animals or people can tell when an earthquake is coming, we do not yet understand how it works.” But as someone who spent several years as a geosciences major, I find the notion pretty laughable. </p> <p>In the end, I had my frustrations, but it was engrossing and such a fast read that I devoured it in two sittings. It’s a good read for those looking for a plot-driven book, but be ready to ignore some pretty implausible science and annoying characters.<br><br><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more: </strong>Although I enjoyed a lot of <em>Struck</em>, it irked me. There was a lot of eye rolling and heavy sighing (the annoyed kind, not the happy kind), so I do not think I will be reading the rest of the series.<br><br><strong>Recommended for: <br></strong>I’ll just say this, watch the trailer. It’s one of the best-done book trailers I’ve seen, and it'll give you a really good feel for the book itself:</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:1555ea34-f8f1-45cc-9cc7-b43daed18b1a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="53a0dd5e-c72b-449e-b79e-dafefcd4b9d7" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhDAuZ9EXio" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NuClzvf6P4A/T6UuiGQ6-ZI/AAAAAAAAC_w/fjzjj8b6hoI/video38b8f13dbd7b%25255B17%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('53a0dd5e-c72b-449e-b79e-dafefcd4b9d7'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/jhDAuZ9EXio?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/jhDAuZ9EXio?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div><br><br><strong>Real life repercussions of reading this book: <br></strong>When there’s nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire.<br><br> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:f0d7cccc-cb82-416b-aed6-00014d93159e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="89d322f8-a8d5-4ffa-b283-c247e86dd847" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyrfGTYoM_s&feature=related" target="_new"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ueJVvHJ88xMDLdlgCln1V5X7vScMMkqS1CG8e1Lq4DASyigqZAU_acB20ipE0efZ9HrcUPNSrzOLLlemzSWlLiEU7btfVuPxyiwNwT_LRFJFOxQ6r7cxPie0phBeM8c3-9OJN_UC4obc/?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('89d322f8-a8d5-4ffa-b283-c247e86dd847'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/RyrfGTYoM_s?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/RyrfGTYoM_s?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div><div style="width:448px;clear:both;font-size:.8em">The song in my head after Struck.</div></div><br><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/2012/04/struck-by-jennifer-bosworth/">Hobbitsies</a><br><a href="http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/2012/04/struck-jennifer-bosworth-book-review.html">Good Books and Good Wine</a><br><a href="http://www.thenocturnallibrary.com/2012/03/struck.html">The Nocturnal Library</a><br><a href="http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/2012/01/my-thoughts-on-stuck-by-jennifer.html">Into the Hall of Books</a> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-87712764460501126632012-05-04T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-05T13:32:52.537-04:00Review: The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy<p><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HG_D8N63ENI/T6KxpsDIBsI/AAAAAAAAC9k/k7WrgqpTS58/s1600-h/The%252520Hero%252527s%252520Guide%252520to%252520Saving%252520Your%252520Kingdom%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom" border="0" alt="The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsA5_NqhZUtRY2AnVEDrLn-74TGQq-A-TQBnAYGX3Un1kh5muyTnlnt_XZDzjhgEyIcM7lS6lOqCodYBAPlHfx3JcAcIIB_owrc1QTcPgQe3ypkA3EtMnjh9biTwxW4LaXDKGx2w8YFsd/?imgmax=800" width="263" height="394"></a>Title:</strong> The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062117432/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062117432">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12969560-the-hero-s-guide-to-saving-your-kingdom">GoodReads</a>]<br><strong>Author:</strong> Christopher Healy [<a href="http://christopherhealy.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ChristophrHealy">Twitter</a>|<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Healy-Author/229072350509126">Facebook</a>]<br><strong>Illustrator: </strong>Tod Harris<br><strong>Standing: </strong>First in a series, but can be read as a stand alone.<br><strong>Genre: </strong>Middle Grade, Fantasy<br><strong>Published: </strong>May 1st, 2012 by Walden Pond Press<br><strong>Format: </strong>Kindle edition; 419 pages<br><strong>Source: </strong>ARC from publisher via Edelweiss.<br><strong>Challenge: </strong><a href="http://thebookcellarx.com/2012-yamg-fantasy-challenge">YA/MG Fantasy Challenge</a><br> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px">Prince Charming is afraid of old ladies. Didn’t know that, did you? Don’t worry. There’s a lot you don’t know about Prince Charming: Prince Charming has no idea how to use a sword; Prince Charming has no patience for dwarfs; Prince Charming has an irrational hatred of capes. Some of you may not even realize that there’s more than one Prince Charming. And that none of them are actually named Charming. No one is. Charming isn’t a name; it’s an adjective.</blockquote> <p><br>For anyone who’s ever thought:</p> <ul> <li>Why is ‘Prince Charming’ such an ambiguous title? <li>Does it really have to be ‘true love’s kiss’, or would any old kiss do? <li>Why’s it always the damsels in distress? <li>Why aren’t there enough fairy tales staring the men? <li>Beavers have the potential to be truly terrifying. Okay, maybe this last one is just me, but ever since I learned that there were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castoroides">six foot beavers</a> back in the day, I’ve been much more leery of the animal in general.</li></ul> <p><em>The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom </em>by Christopher Healy is the book for you! </p> <p>Welcome to the League of Princes! Princes Charming that is. Not to be confused with Prince Charmings. Prince is the noun, after all, it’s what gets pluralized. Like Attorneys General or Culs-de-sac. Actually, the later is French and I sucked at French for the one semester I took it, so I can’t tell you if ‘cul’ is a noun, but I <em>can </em>tell you that the plural of cul-de-sac is culs-de-sac and <em>not</em> cul-de-sacs as is often said. *Sigh.* *Removes Grammar Nazi hat.* </p> <p>Ahem. Anyway. The Princes Charming, as you know them, are better known in their own circles as Frederic (that’s Cinderella’s prince), Gustav (that’s Rapunzel’s prince), Liam (that’s Sleeping Beauty’s prince), and Duncan (that’s Snow White’s prince). Unfortunately for them, the bards didn’t give two licks about their fame, and composed the songs all about the ladies, completely leaving out any identifying markers and causing the ambiguous ‘Prince Charming’ title. They’re all a bit put out about it (and rightly so), but they each have some bigger issues to contend with. Frederic is afraid of, well, everything, Gustav is always one to fight first and ask questions later (or never), Liam’s head is getting a bit big what with all the hero work and praise, and Duncan is, for lack of a better term, weird.</p> <p>Ella (that’s Cinderella’s <em>real </em>name) wants adventure, Rapunzel wants to help people, Briar Rose wants to marry her Prince Charming (but she is absolutely <em>horrid </em>and needs to learn that you can’t always get what you want <em>even</em> as a princess), and Snow White just wants some ‘me’ time. Thus, feeling alone, cast out, or on the run, the Princes Charming come together to save the day and put names to their fame. Of course, this means battling the evil witch Zaubera, destroying her Supreme Scheme for Infamy, and putting a stop to her Grand Finale of Doom.</p> <p><em>The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom</em> is about as much fun as anyone can or should have reading a book. The villains are dastardly, the heroes are flawed, and quite frankly any author who pushes foreshadowing on over into the spoiler territory gets a win in my book. It’s not quite like Shakespeare flat out telling you how <em>Romeo and Juliet </em>is going to end, but it does paint an interesting picture when you’re starting out. </p> <p>All of the characters in <em>The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom</em> are wonderful. I loved them all. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Okay, I hated Briar Rose, but I loved Zaubera (I mean come on people, she has a thesaurus spell so that she can insult people more creatively), The Bandit King, and Reese. I love that Healy points out (repeatedly) how silly the notion is that you could love someone you’ve never even met, that his damsels are <em>not </em>in distress, and that his hero’s heroics are questionable. Ella, Rapunzel (I’m hoping to see more of her in the next book!), and Lila (Liam’s little sister) are all strong young women who aren’t afraid to save themselves. The princes, with the exception of Liam, are all victims of circumstance more than anything else. Liam, the one true ‘hero’ among them, isn’t perfect either, he has a lot to learn about utilizing others’ assets and diplomacy.<br><br><em>The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom</em> can teach anyone a lot about fairy tales, and a lot about life. It’s fun, adventurous, and informative! I highly recommend it to middle grade and fairy tale lovers of any age. I also have to say that the art is wonderful, but unfortunately, the e-galley copy that I had only had art for the first few chapters, so I can’t say much about it other than that I liked what I saw! I loved the cartoony look, and the reality that the princes were not all handsome, and the princesses were not all perfect. I do plan on purchasing a hard copy so that I can reread and view to my heart’s delight!<br><br><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more: </strong>I cannot wait for the sequel to this one! Healy mentioned it in a <a href="http://www.thebookrat.com/2012/04/interview-christopher-healy-author-of.html">video interview</a> for Fairy Tale Fortnight on <a href="http://www.thebookrat.com/">The Book Rat</a> and I am all over that! Also the <em>entire </em>time I was reading this I kept thinking ‘this book needs a movie deal…omg somebody please make this into an awesome animated feature!’ and <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/fox-animation-heros-guide-saving-your-kingdom-318041">I totally called it</a>! Fingers crossed, I <em>so</em> hope they do a good job with this one, it has the potential to be amazing (I’m thinking like <em>How to Train Your Dragon </em>awesome here).<br><br><strong>Recommended for: </strong>I want to start shoving this book into so many kids’ hands, and kind of want to have a baby and instantly age them to an appropriate age that I can read this to them. That’s a justifiable reason to have kids, right? Any fairy tale fans will love this one, particularly if you also enjoy middle grade and some light, adventurous fun!<br><br><strong>Real life repercussions of reading this book: </strong>I just have to say that Walden Pond Press is quickly becoming one of my favorite imprints. After reading this, <em><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-neversink-by-barry-wolverton.html">Neversink</a>, </em>and <em>Breadcrumbs</em>, I am beginning to wonder if they can put out a book I don’t love.<br><br><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2012/05/blog-tour-book-review-heros-guide-to.html">Mundie Kids</a></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-8821847360362221072012-05-03T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-03T00:00:08.810-04:00Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Bi_I0CB6GBvlkbNcDaqbQQAJAJrpkHgXLv1XlK2b1LPbp1xDDmjrg3sUeCPBw7w7GC5T359ytKZevMntULqzQU5h7euhoKCT-HiIpZtKOERoDimGqUb6ngGtm6BBIOzLjNSdHDXX8NIT/s1600/fracture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Bi_I0CB6GBvlkbNcDaqbQQAJAJrpkHgXLv1XlK2b1LPbp1xDDmjrg3sUeCPBw7w7GC5T359ytKZevMntULqzQU5h7euhoKCT-HiIpZtKOERoDimGqUb6ngGtm6BBIOzLjNSdHDXX8NIT/s320/fracture.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="218" /></a></div>
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.40430616680532694"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Title: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fracture [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802723098/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0802723098">Amazon</a>|</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9548964-fracture">GoodReads</a>]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Megan Miranda [<a href="http://www.meganmiranda.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MeganLMiranda">Twitter</a>|<a href="http://www.facebook.com/MeganLMiranda">Facebook</a>]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Standing:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Stand alone novel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Young Adult, Speculative Fiction</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Published: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 17th, 2012 by Walker Children's</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Format: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hardcover; 262 pages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Source: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Borrowed from my local library.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Challenge: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/debut-author-challenge">Debut Author Challenge</a></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first time I died, I didn't see God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>No light at the end of the tunnel. No haloed angels. No dead grandparents.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To be fair, I probably wasn’t a solid shoo-in for heaven. But, honestly, I kind of assumed I’d make the cut.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I didn’t see any fire or brimstone, either.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not even an endless darkness. Nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One moment I was clawing at the ice above, skin numb, lungs burning. Then everything--the ice, the pain, the brightness filtering through the surface of the lake--just vanished.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And then I saw the light.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Delaney fell through the too-thin ice on the lake one day. She fell through, and she didn’t come back up. Her best friend, Decker, pulled her out eleven minutes later. Death was definite; she was blue, cold, and not breathing. Even if by some miracle Delaney were to live, she’d be in a comatose vegetative state for the rest of her life. Only she wasn’t. She was fine. Or as fine as you could be when you were supposed to be dead but weren’t, which I suppose is really not fine at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fracture</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">took me by surprise with its intense emotions, steady pace, and overall feel. This was one of those books I was greatly looking forward to, and yet for some reason once I had it in my hands, I let it sit for two months before picking it up. Once I did, I couldn’t put it down. I read </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fracture</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in a single sitting, I think I actually put the book down once when I realized I needed sustenance and went to the kitchen for a snack, but I’ll admit it even made bathroom runs with me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fracture</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">instantly grips you into Delaney’s emotional plight, as she miraculously recovers from what should have been death, but despite her being alive, she isn’t the same. Physically, and mentally, there is something most definitely wrong. Her brain scans light up like a Christmas tree with areas that shouldn’t be firing properly, but are. She should have short and long term memory loss, but she doesn’t. She shouldn’t have control over her body motions, but she does. Delaney isn’t in top shape, she has broken ribs, intense headaches, and no short of trauma. She begins to have intense feelings of itch and pull from inside her brain, that draw her to certain places, certain people, as her hands begin to shake. Her parents and the doctors tell her she is having hallucinations, and believe that she is hurting herself, and hurting others. Delaney can’t believe this, and with horror she realizes that the pulls are drawing her to death, and that she’s not the only one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was surprised at how moved I was by Delaney’s story. I was expecting an edge of my seat type story, and I got it, but I wasn’t expecting the dive into depression that </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fracture</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> took. Both Delaney and her mother experience intense changes after Delaney’s accident, and have to struggle not to drown in their own hopeless states. I went in thinking Delaney’s drowning was over before I started, but I ended knowing Delaney had been grasping for the surface for the duration of the book. She has to grapple not only with her new abilities and physical changes, but with a complete upheaval in her home life, her school aspirations, and her relationships with friends. Delaney has a surprising sense of mortality for someone so young, even beyond the reality that she should by all rights be dead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was sad to me how few friends Delaney really seemed to have. It was like she was part of a group, but Decker was really the only one she let herself be close to. While this never hurt before, when Delaney and Decker begin struggling with their own emotions, she has no one else to turn to and Decker basically ‘wins’ their mutual friends by default. This upset me in no small part because I really wanted to love Decker. I totally fell for him in the first chapter, when he breaks down in utter relief at Delaney’s revival, but then his actions through the rest of the book frustrate me to no end, and I ended up despising him and all of their other so called friends. And then, there’s Troy. Troy, the one person who can really understand what Delaney’s going through. I want to hate Troy as much as I want to love Decker, but again, I can’t. More than anything, I pity him. When he meets Delaney, Troy finally feels that he’s no longer alone in the world, and I cannot fathom that kind of relief and intensity of emotion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fracture</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, to me, was an interesting observation on life, death, and healing. It recognizes that often in the face of tragedy, the person whose tragedy it is gets pushed to the side as those around them need comfort. While I loved that </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fracture</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was a stand alone novel, I will say my biggest disappointment was the end. It felt abrupt, and too out of touch with the overall story. I wanted a little more of an outlook to the future, or at least an acknowledgement that there would be a future, however difficult or easy or sad or happy. <i>Fracture </i>was one of those books that I was completely immersed in, and yet liked much less than I expected when all was said and done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Likelihood that I'll be back for more:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I will happily read whatever Megan Miranda comes up with next. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fracture</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was a solid debut, and judging from it Miranda has immense potential. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recommended for: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">People who enjoy unreliable narrators, and some twists to their contemporary reads. I’d say </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fracture</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has a similar set up to </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-if-i-stay-by-gayle-forman.html">If I Stay</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> balance-wise, but reads more like </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/01/review-fury-by-elizabeth-miles.html">Fury</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get a second opinion:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/2011/11/my-thoughts-on-fracture-by-megan.html">Into the Hall of Books</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.annareads.com/2012/01/fracture-by-megan-miranda-review.html">Anna Reads</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://thebooksmugglers.com/2012/01/joint-review-fracture-by-megan-miranda.html">The Book Smugglers</a></span>Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-65346371399908061332012-05-02T00:00:00.001-04:002012-05-02T00:12:49.755-04:00Audio Review: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green<strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aZFqtcFeoNc/T3yGj3wVN4I/AAAAAAAACaY/_axQ582h4zM/s1600-h/an%252520abundance%252520of%252520katherines%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="an abundance of katherines" border="0" alt="an abundance of katherines" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-V9NaO1fEYyA/T3yGkVyNSOI/AAAAAAAACag/ZmqOo0vn290/an%252520abundance%252520of%252520katherines_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="350"></a> Title:</strong> An Abundance of Katherines [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525476881/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0525476881">Amazon</a>|<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49750.An_Abundance_of_Katherines">GoodReads</a>] <br><strong> Author:</strong> John Green [<a href="http://johngreenbooks.com/">Website</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/realjohngreen">Twitter</a>|<a href="http://www.facebook.com/realjohngreen">Facebook</a>]<br><strong> Standing: </strong>Stand alone novel.<br><strong> Genre: </strong>Young/New Adult, Contemporary<br><strong> Published: </strong>September 21st, 2006 by Brilliance Audio (in print by Dutton Juvenile)<br><strong> Format: </strong>Audiobook; 6 hrs. 47 min. Read by Jeff Woodman<br><strong> Source: </strong>Borrowed from my local library.<br> <blockquote style="border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; background-color: #ffeac7; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; border-top: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; padding-top: 8px">When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. He's also a washed-up child prodigy with ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a passion for anagrams, and an overweight, Judge Judy-obsessed best friend. Colin's on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which will predict the future of all relationships, transform him from a fading prodigy into a true genius, and finally win him the girl. Letting expectations go and allowing love in are at the heart of Colin's hilarious quest to find his missing piece and avenge dumpees everywhere.</blockquote> <p>I’m not sure why this didn’t occur to me until long after I’d finished <em>An Abundance of Katherines</em> that of <em>course </em>I was going to thoroughly enjoy it. The whole ‘being attracted to someone with a particular name’ thing has <em>The Importance of Being Earnest</em> written all over it, and I don’t think it’s any secret that I am a fan. And enjoy it I did. Thoroughly. <em>An Abundance of Katherines</em> was the book I chose to give my John Green V-Card to, and I really don’t think I could have made a better decision. This book, to me, was hilarious, but not over-the-top-trying-too-hard ridiculous hilarious, completely-plausible-real-life hilarious. The kind of hilarious that means you probably shouldn’t listen to this audiobook while working out if you have asthma, because you will inevitably have a laughing fit while already low on breath and have an asthma attack somewhere far from home and your inhaler that you left sitting by the sink. Quite possibly when Hassan is having a fat kid asthma attack of his own. So, so worth it.<br><br>Jeff Woodman, the narrator, has a pretty sweet backlog of audio goodness behind him. I’ve listened to his narration of <em>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</em>, and <em>Life of Pi</em>, but he also narrates books I’d <em>love</em> to listen to including <em>The Westing Game</em>, <em>The Queen’s Thief</em> series, and other John Green books. Those are some legit credentials people, and he’s earned them. His narration of <em>An Abundance of Katherines</em> was spot-on—not the kind of narration that makes a good book better, but the kind of narration that brings a great book to life and lets you consume it in an ideal format.<br><br>One of my favorite aspects of <em>An Abundance of Katherines</em> was that I did not like the protagonist, Colin Singleton. Quite frankly, the kid was a tool, and I love well-written characters that are the types of people I would never hang out with enough to observe in real life. I mean, I’m all for nerdome and smarty pants and what not, but Colin Singleton just takes it too far. He’s the kind of kid who’s socially awkward, and knows he’s socially awkward, but only because he has a friend like Hassan to give him clues as to what is and is not interesting for other people to hear. I was less shocked by the idea that Colin had been dumped by nineteen Katherines than I was by the notion that this dweeb could get nineteen girls to go out with him in the first place. His social awkwardome doesn’t shut him up or turn him into an introvert, and I kind of love that. Colin is who he is, and even though I wouldn’t be caught dead with the kid, more power to him for not compromising and for finding friends who do enjoy him for who he is.<br><br>Even though Colin is a quirky mega-brain character with many life experiences the rest of us will never have, I feel like he’s incredibly relatable. He grew up labeled as a child prodigy, and now that he’s finished high school and is ready to move out into the world, he has to decide what it is he’s going to do that will mark his future. Colin wants to <em>matter</em>. I think most of us go through a similar experience at one point or another. We all grew up with certain labels, and we all have to decide whether or not those labels will continue on with us, and what we’re going to do with our lives. But, as the character Lindsey so poignantly puts it: “What matters to you defines your mattering.” To Lindsey, her mom, and many people in Guttshot (the town Colin and Hassan end up in on their quarter-life-existential-crisis road trip), it’s stories that make us matter. For Colin, it’s the idea that he could be a genius—he could figure out what it is that makes someone either a dumper or a dumpee. <br><br><em>An Abundance of Katherines</em> is full of profound eureka moments about what it means to be an average person living life and what impact that might have, not on the world but on you. It was hilarious, fun, and full of insight about becoming who you are supposed to be. My one complaint about the audio version of this book is that you don’t get to see the equations and graphs that Colin writes for his theorem. For someone very visual, like me, it was kind of hard to picture. Luckily, other people have posted pics of them, like Chachic, whose review I’ve linked below!<br><br><strong>Likelihood that I'll be back for more:</strong> Of course! I’m reading <em>The Fault in Our Stars </em>for book club, and I plan to listen to <em>Paper Towns </em>and <em>Looking for Alaska </em>on audio.<br><br><strong>Recommended for: </strong>Any contemporary fan, people who enjoy road trips, existential crises, eureka moments, and nerds. <br><br><strong>Real life repercussions of reading this book: </strong>Um, remember that somewhat vague allusion to this book making you have an asthma attack it’s so funny. Yuuup. That was me.<br><br><strong>Get a second opinion:<br></strong><a href="http://chachic.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/an-abundance-of-katherines-by-john-green/">Chachic’s Book Nook</a><br><a href="http://www.bookharbinger.com/2010/05/an-abundance-of-katherines-by-john-green/">Book Harbinger</a><br><a href="http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/2011/09/an-abundance-of-katherines-by-john-green-book-review.html">Good Books and Good Wine</a></p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-77365905736701249132012-05-02T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-02T00:08:08.531-04:00Waiting on Wednesday: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas<blockquote style="background-color: #ffeac7; border-bottom: #666 2px solid; border-left: #666 2px solid; border-right: #666 2px solid; border-top: #666 2px solid; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;">
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a>, that spotlights upcomi</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">g</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">n releases that we're eagerly anticipating.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NiGzVaPnwDI/T564AFsy-AI/AAAAAAAAC4M/CZyY89QXXow/s1600-h/Throne%252520of%252520Glass%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Throne of Glass" border="0" height="466" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mfGlaQK7bAI/T564AjO825I/AAAAAAAAC4U/qevYRupWGF0/Throne%252520of%252520Glass_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Throne of Glass" width="315" /></a><br />
<strong>Throne of Glass – Sarah J. Maas</strong><br />
August 7th, 2012 – Bloomsbury USA Children’s <br />
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After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. <br />
Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. <br />
Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. <br />
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.</blockquote>
I’ve been waiting to feature this one until the cover revealed, and lucky me it came out Monday! I have to admit I’m really disappointed in it though. I wish there hadn’t been a model on the front, but I tend to prefer covers that don’t feature people period. Ah well, we can’t win them all. Maybe I’ll be happier with the paperback. STILL! So excited for this one. It’ll be my third play on <em>Cinderella </em>this year, but that doesn’t make me any less pumped for another fantastic female assassin book after falling hard for <em><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-grave-mercy-by-rl-lafevers.html">Grave Mercy</a></em>. I have the first e-book prequel on hand, and am hoping to read it sometime in the next week or two. Biting my nails hoping that the book won’t disappoint! Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523272155293060888.post-88167220477779160602012-05-01T00:00:00.000-04:002012-05-01T00:00:04.859-04:00With Bated Breath: May New Releases<p>There are TONS of books releasing this month, but I’m going to highlight a few that I’m personally most excited for. You won’t see certain sequels here, because if I haven’t read the first, I’m not ready to be excited about the second! There really don’t seem to be as many trailers this month, but both Code Name Verity’s and Struck’s are awesome. </p> <h2>May 1st</h2> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TJ1X-c_5IOU/T57U0g3y76I/AAAAAAAAC4k/M_MNKw_Hvhs/s1600-h/When%252520You%252520Were%252520Mine%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle" border="0" alt="book cover of When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-x9JvgdzuKis/T57U10TwurI/AAAAAAAAC4s/riyjbJGlz_I/When%252520You%252520Were%252520Mine_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="169" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CitywrNBr6c/T57U2D7KVLI/AAAAAAAAC40/9rL-wpCrqX8/s1600-h/Code%252520Name%252520Verity%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein" border="0" alt="book cover of Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k4nMBgxDLSY/T57U2m7PBsI/AAAAAAAAC48/OeQoeQGNk6I/Code%252520Name%252520Verity_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>When You Were Mine – Rebecca Serle <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12022765-when-you-were-mine">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442433132/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1442433132">Amazon</a><br>Code Name Verity – Elizabeth Wein <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12851538-code-name-verity">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1423152190/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1423152190">Amazon</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://bunburyinthestacks.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-code-name-verity-by-elizabeth.html">My Review</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:bfea6de4-b8fa-4df2-9ebb-2debb920f23e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="ef014965-c7be-400d-9ba9-5370368fd462" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kLMupsGhJk" target="_new"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JM5y0hKglKo/T57U22cDNQI/AAAAAAAAC5E/5hy1MbYkPIs/video45e464a42e82%25255B71%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('ef014965-c7be-400d-9ba9-5370368fd462'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/3kLMupsGhJk?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/3kLMupsGhJk?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l9jcDUsaQJI/T57U3PO-fhI/AAAAAAAAC5M/EKsIjxzi7fs/s1600-h/The%252520Hero%252527s%252520Guide%252520to%252520Saving%252520Your%252520Kingdom%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy" border="0" alt="book cover of The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ftFzgkZtYvE/T57U3nc2pvI/AAAAAAAAC5U/-Ef1VMmZir4/The%252520Hero%252527s%252520Guide%252520to%252520Saving%252520Your%252520Kingdom_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="171" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AxRnQxpVlZA/T57U4Prgl0I/AAAAAAAAC5c/5MhJzgs6z2k/s1600-h/Being%252520Friends%252520With%252520Boys%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy" border="0" alt="book cover for Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_ftoAl7aNt8/T57U5uXrY2I/AAAAAAAAC5k/jAFjrxHHGwU/Being%252520Friends%252520With%252520Boys_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><br><br>The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom – Christopher Healy <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12969560-the-hero-s-guide-to-saving-your-kingdom">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062117432/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062117432">Amazon</a><br>Being Friends With Boys – Terra Elan McVoy <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12022847-being-friends-with-boys">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442421592/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1442421592">Amazon</a></p> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h2>May 8th</h2> <h2><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zaSeS5c4R-g/T57U77q_ZnI/AAAAAAAAC5s/rcHzi24QFkM/s1600-h/Silence%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Silence by Michelle Sagara West" border="0" alt="book cover of Silence by Michelle Sagara West" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B7D9AxNSYdQ/T57U8Qa-4II/AAAAAAAAC50/W9r6NsNyLPM/Silence_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nON4dvn247U/T57U9mq0QvI/AAAAAAAAC58/Rv5jnFPotxk/s1600-h/Wentworth%252520Hall%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame" border="0" alt="book cover of Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KIB8srl7vmQ/T57U-ZQakzI/AAAAAAAAC6E/GnyPpglzqno/Wentworth%252520Hall_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="163" height="244"></a></h2> <p>Silence – Michelle Sagara West <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12437907-silence">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756407427/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0756407427">Amazon</a><br>Wentworth Hall – Abby Grahame <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12747188-wentworth-hall">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442451963/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1442451963">Amazon</a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1CeghAYWh-U/T57U-oA7SbI/AAAAAAAAC6I/j0E3bh6Bl_Y/s1600-h/Enchanted%252520by%252520Alethea%252520Kontis%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Enchanted by Alethea Kontis" border="0" alt="book cover of Enchanted by Alethea Kontis" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-g4TVSw0DTAk/T57U_b2ro5I/AAAAAAAAC6Q/peFqU2CcdRE/Enchanted%252520by%252520Alethea%252520Kontis_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-91cxUlom-_o/T57VCMmqRsI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/yUBn3rwWEUo/s1600-h/struck%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Struck by Jennifer Bosworth" border="0" alt="book cover of Struck by Jennifer Bosworth" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fdx6bT5XFHw/T57VCbJAjVI/AAAAAAAAC6g/6qW_KapiDWQ/struck_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>Enchanted – Alethea Kontis <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12180248-enchanted">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0547645708/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0547645708">Amazon</a><br>Struck – Jennifer Bosworth <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12432229-struck">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374372837/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0374372837">Amazon</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:e3437d58-eec8-46f5-8110-893f6df69169" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="093cdb6f-d808-49e4-a52b-905bcc622b45" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhDAuZ9EXio" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eqNaDl5ljVY/T57VCyDxHSI/AAAAAAAAC6o/mDjygw4o7pk/video86af33c43a9c%25255B50%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('093cdb6f-d808-49e4-a52b-905bcc622b45'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/jhDAuZ9EXio?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/jhDAuZ9EXio?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gMddAqCFqp8/T57VDFEfGHI/AAAAAAAAC6w/OA39V-GgEVE/s1600-h/In%252520Honor%252520by%252520Jessi%252520Kirby%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="In Honor by Jessi Kirby" border="0" alt="book cover of In Honor by Jessi Kirby" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wHLNqHlSrLs/T57VDnsFREI/AAAAAAAAC60/DFs_uAB40D0/In%252520Honor%252520by%252520Jessi%252520Kirby_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="163" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zllXs8-VTdw/T57VDwEBHYI/AAAAAAAAC68/PLLPXWmWR0o/s1600-h/Pilgrims%252520Don%252527t%252520Wear%252520Pink%252520by%252520Stephanie%252520Kate%252520Strohm%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm" border="0" alt="book cover of Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KqpIndH4fQ0/T57VEwSGg1I/AAAAAAAAC7I/YAlCco46sE4/Pilgrims%252520Don%252527t%252520Wear%252520Pink%252520by%252520Stephanie%252520Kate%252520Strohm_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="169" height="244"></a></p> <p>In Honor – Jessi Kirby <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12049227-in-honor">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442416971/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1442416971">Amazon</a><br>Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink – Stephanie Kate Strohm <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12176957-pilgrims-don-t-wear-pink">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0547564597/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0547564597">Amazon</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:e486145b-210f-4b32-ade6-1b68d14b8990" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="61a5de08-8ed0-4467-a84f-fdc0c347619d" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNtJhiy34Bw" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OlKRtF_91ts/T57VFaUDl0I/AAAAAAAAC7Q/OfnrxBcG3qA/videoeec64ba7f978%25255B42%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('61a5de08-8ed0-4467-a84f-fdc0c347619d'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/mNtJhiy34Bw?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/mNtJhiy34Bw?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h1></h1> <h2></h2> <h2>May 15th</h2><br> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E-r0Ee1YHpY/T57VFuvKmvI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/p4jvosL9jzo/s1600-h/Gilt%252520by%252520Katherine%252520Longshore%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Gilt by Katherine Longshore" border="0" alt="book cover of Gilt by Katherine Longshore" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TPGUBoOj3EA/T57VGFUJcvI/AAAAAAAAC7g/jakE51zIRjg/Gilt%252520by%252520Katherine%252520Longshore_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WJOde8mQ0us/T57VGQAwA6I/AAAAAAAAC7o/IU1GQH8gpBI/s1600-h/Railsea%252520by%252520China%252520Mieville%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Railsea by China Mieville" border="0" alt="book cover of Railsea by China Mieville" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-e7S0Xje1qb0/T57VG6Br4tI/AAAAAAAAC7w/tSF40lbWGsE/Railsea%252520by%252520China%252520Mieville_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="162" height="244"></a></p> <p>Gilt – Katherine Longshore <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12952710-gilt">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670013994/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0670013994">Amazon</a><br>Railsea – China Mieville <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12392681-railsea">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345524527/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345524527">Amazon</a></p> <h2></h2> <h2>May 22nd</h2> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IQLWn78e2oQ/T57VHL1rzRI/AAAAAAAAC74/RNoRZ3pe1Jw/s1600-h/prince%252520who%252520fell%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Prince Who Fell From the Sky by John Claude Bemis" border="0" alt="book cover of The Prince Who Fell From the Sky by John Claude Bemis" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4eSdMYIPafM/T57VHg8ywYI/AAAAAAAAC8A/XUj5Wi13H8A/prince%252520who%252520fell_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="163" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uABZMvAhvGA/T57VICuTv7I/AAAAAAAAC8I/9oCqhvJBObM/s1600-h/Nightshifted%252520by%252520Cassie%252520Alexander%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander" border="0" alt="book cover of Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Eg4PkokDeK0/T57VIiljLxI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/7SfhByeVSzc/Nightshifted%252520by%252520Cassie%252520Alexander_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="151" height="244"></a></p> <p>The Prince Who Fell From the Sky – John Claude Bemis <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12452491-the-prince-who-fell-from-the-sky">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037586752X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=037586752X">Amazon</a><br>Nightshifted – Cassie Alexander <strong>|</strong> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12905583-nightshifted">GoodReads</a><strong>|</strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312553390/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bunbinthestac-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0312553390">Amazon</a></p> <p>What releases are you most looking forward to this month? Bonus points for anything other than <em>Insurgent</em>! Though of course, it’s okay to be pumped for it as well, I’m personally just sick of the hype.</p> Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00416898799044848769noreply@blogger.com9