Countdown: 1 day left

The Blogoversary is tomorrow, September 27th.

Countdown: 2 days and In My Mailbox

Here's my 2nd day collage.  I'm posting from my hotel in Chicago!  Thanks to the Courtyard Marrott for having internet access.  There's even a printer in here! 

In My Mailbox

Borrowed from Friend

Borrowed from Friend

From Library

Countdown

I didn't post on Friday so here is the fourth AND third day collages.

5 days, Countdown and Sirena Review

Happy Thursday everyone.  I have a collage and a Review! for you today.

Sirena Review:

Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli

Publisher: Scholastic

Pages: 210

Genre: Romance/ Fantasy

From: Paperbackswap.com

Synopsis: In Donna Jo Napoli's beautiful prose, the tragic love story between a mermaid and a mortal comes to life for young readers. When Sirena meets Philoctetes, Hercules' friend, she falls in love. But the young warrior must return home to fight the Trojan War and leave his magical love behind.  From Goodreads.com (sorry that's all there was)

For the past few months this book has been sitting on my shelf.  I have taken it on every trip I’ve been on this summer, but never opened it until yesterday.  The only reason I even took it was because it was only two hundred pages long and would have been great for a car ride.  Now I wish I had opened it sooner because within these pages was a romantic story that really made feel for the characters.  I found myself wishing for Sirena and her lover’s happiness as they fought time, the Gods, frightening creatures, and their differences from each other.  I fell in love with their story with each new scene.

This story greatly surprised me because of the strong sense of location.  Much of the story takes place on the Greek island of Lemnos during the times of Greek Mythology and the Trojan War.  I wasn’t expecting the many Greek myths presented in this story.  I love stories of the Olympians, and when several famous Greek heroes made appearances I was thrilled.  All of this really gave the story more of a foundation, and increased the pace.  Sirena really based her character off of these stories like the way Christians follow the message of the bible.  When I first started reading Greek Myths I found it hard to believe that people really believed these things to me it was just a way to explain the changing of the seasons in ancient times.   Donna Jo Napoli made it believable; she made Sirena a very believable character.   

Sirena wasn’t like the other mermaids.  In the beginning of the novel Sirena and her sisters lead a ship of men to their deaths.  The author makes the reader sympathize with the mermaids.  Sirena never wants to knowingly kill another man even if it does give her immortality so she leaves her sisters.  When she meets Philoctetes she changes in the same way people in relationships do.  They learned from each other, made compromises, and found a way to live together when Sirena couldn’t live on land.  The author did a beautiful job with everything.  

Characters: 7

Plot: 7

Suspense: 8

POV: 7

Pace: 7

Theme: 8

Style: 8

Details: 8

Cover: 7

Overall: 7.5

Countdown

Well, six days till the big anniversary.  Does anyone like my collages?  I made them while I was watching Prom, good movie, but really really cheesey.  I like this one better because it actually fits in the post space.

Countdown! 7days

Happy Tuesday, guys here is my collage and Teaser Tuesday. 

Teaser Tuesday:

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Synopsis: Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival. From Goodreads.com

Teaser: Pg. 113. "I find it difficult to look at him, vacillating as I do from feeling the deepest empathy for his mortification to being barely able not to laugh."  "Wagons and dressing tents fill the back end, but the people who are left mill about aimlessly or sit idly in the shade."

Countdown

It's eight days till the party!  Here's my collage. 

9 days till Blogoversary

The bottom picture is the before picture.  Nine days till the blogoversary!

Countdown!

It's the countdown to my blogoversary!  There is 10 days till the party!  I can't believe it's been a year since I started this blog!  WOW!  I've already posted my Revolution Review for today, but I'll be trying to post everyday of the countdown.  Maybe this will bring me out of my blogging slump?  Now I'm getting excited.  Time to start partying!

Revolution Review

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Publisher: Delacorte Press October 12, 2010

Pages: 472

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Time Travel/ Romance/ Grief

From: Library

Synopsis: BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present. From Goodreads.com

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

I’ve just about given up on YA.  Every new book I open is a waste of writing.  All I’m thinking is “What self-respecting editor would let this go on the shelves?”  Often I end up abandoning the book half way through because I just can’t take it anymore.   Authors should think about books before they send them off to the publisher they should look at the characters and plot; they should think, “Is this how my characters want the reader to feel?”  The book should be a roller coaster of emotions that keep me hooked on each page, and drag me into the character’s world.  There are lots of bad books out there, but every now and then a book finds its way to you that is just- perfect.  Revolution is that book.

Every character I met was so real.  I felt like I could go and facebook friend them.  Andi herself is one of the most amazing characters, the most amazing person, I’ve met in a long time.  Her brother died last year and she blames herself for it.  Her dad is in a foreign country and her mom has lost it.  No one is there to help her so she just goes deeper into her depression.  The only thing keeping her afloat is her love for music and her talent on the guitar.  Andi is a musical genius!  I can tell she really loves music because she gives examples of music she likes.  These are real songs too.  I went on YouTube and listened to them and after hearing Andi’s opinion they became my favorite songs.  Andi even writes songs!  I love it when books use songs because that shows just how talented the author is.

 Andi’s best friend Vijay is hilarious I love how is mom is pushing him to be the best at his very prestigious school, and he’s fighting her.  This isn’t a very original Indian-American teenage plot, but it’s funny and Jennifer makes it work.  All of the characters are great; I couldn’t possibly describe them all.

From the very beginning I was hooked.  Andi drew me in and the plot grabbed hold.  There wasn’t a dull moment in this book I was always soaring to the next scene the next page to find out what happens next.  Ms. Krista Marino should be very proud of herself.  She really did a great job editing this book; I didn’t know that there could be anything this good in YA.  The intertwining of Andi and Alex’s stories was perfect and worked together well.  Towards the middle it did get a little Alex heavy, but nothing can be perfect.  There was a major twist during this part that I did not see coming, and it could have very well ruined the book, but it worked.  This is where you really see Andi changing and it was very powerful.  It was like watching someone become an adult through the years in just a few pages.  It left a punch that sent the message right to the heart, never to be forgotten. 

      

Jennifer really thought about this book a lot.  So I thought about this review a lot.  This book was a prefect ten.  It may have been historical, but Alex makes it interesting.  There was romance; Andi found a really nice guy.  The book also helps with grief.  That probably wasn’t in the synopsis, but the whole book is Andi dealing with the death of her brother.  I would recommend that everyone go out at once and buy this book from your local bookstore because I don’t often read books, but when I was done with this one my first response was to turn back to page one. 

Characters: 10

Plot: 10

Suspense: 10

POV: 10

Theme: 10

Style: 10

Details: 10

Cover: 10

Overall: 10!!!



P.S.- the switch in POV between Alex and Andi was really beautiful visually and story-wise. 

P.P.S. – Shine on You Crazy Diamond is now one of my favorite songs.

 

Eon Review

By: Allison Goodman

Publisher: Viking Juvenile December 26, 2008

Pages: 536

From: Library

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis: Eon has been studying the ancient art of Dragon Magic for four years, hoping he'll be able to apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. But he also has a dark secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been living a dangerous lie for the chance to become a Dragon-eye, the human link to an energy dragon's power. It is forbidden for females to practice the Dragon Magic and, if discovered, Eon faces a terrible death. After a dazzling sword ceremony, Eon's affinity with the twelve dragons catapults him into the treacherous world of the Imperial court, where he makes a powerful enemy, Lord Ido. As tension builds and Eon's desperate lie comes to light, readers won't be able to stop turning the pages...  From Goodreads.com

Character:  Eon herself was, that just about says it right there.  Eona was posing as a guy so that she could become a dragoneye.  Anyone could have come up with that, but when I think of that I want to know what sort of conflicts Eona would have with herself, and with Eon.  I’d want to know who was inside of the go for the dragon attitude.  Not many authors are talented enough to pull that off, but this author did it so wonderfully there were things I wouldn’t have known I wanted if she hadn’t put them in the book.  Her characters were master pieces.  Each one was just as developed as the next.  Even the walk-ons had attitude.  I believe that that is the sign of a good author.  Ido was a very interesting character, and he was the bad guy!  I thought he was so cool, and believable.  Throughout the book we figure out what he is all about. 

Plot:  I loved the culture from China.  Of course the Chinese calendar is a major allusion, but there was a lot in here some buried under the story, but still there.  It showed through the character’s actions, and it really was a big part of the story.  The story flowed well there was some lull.  It would have been even better if the suspense had been more developed, but there was plenty to keep me coming back.  Once the book got good it was hard to put it down.  The last couple of scenes are about as action-packed as they come.  I think that these two elements made this book something worthwhile for both genders, all ages.  It’s something I could see in the hands of a teenage boy and a twenty-something college woman.  My dad might even enjoy it. 

Cross-dressing is obviously a big part of this book, except it’s not something usually thought of.  When I picked up the book it’s like, yeah, okay this is a girl dressed as a guy, but there’s so much more into that that I hadn’t even thought of.  What would it be like for a girl having to deny she is a girl?  She wouldn’t be able to get into fashion or cooking or any of the other things that culture considers only for girls.  How many guys do you see picking out there outfits and getting into fashion?  How many of those guys aren’t gay?  That’s what I thought.  Culture especially the stricter Chinese culture puts anything like this below guys, only woman can do that it there “job”.  One of the major characters that helps Eona is a cross dresser.  Her name is Lady Dela, and she is a man, but inside she is a woman.  It is her that really brings out these issues and the Eona out of Eon. 

Dragoneyes are like powerful monks.  They go through combat training similar to karate, and they have a sort of duty to the people and the government.  Each dragoneye represents an animal on the Chinese calendar; they have special powers through their dragons.  The dragons are actually sort of like physical spirits (I know weird) that have power over life forces.  Kind of like Gods and the dragoneyes are able to wield their power.   If that doesn’t make sense, read the book.

Characters- 9

Plot- 9

Suspense- 8

POV-9

Theme- 9

Style- 9

Details- 10

Cover- 9

Overall- 9

P.S. there were lots of loose ends for the second book to pick up.  I’m very interested to see where the story leads In Eona. 

Sequel:

Top Ten Tuesday (20)

This is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  I love today's topic it's... The Top Ten Books You LOVED but never Wrote a Review for.

1. Diary Queen- I read this before I made my blog, but I absolutely loved this book because DJ is such a great, likable character.
2. A Time for Dancing by Davida Hurwin- I really like this book, but it was two sad to write a review on I could have never put those feelings in a critique.
3. 68 Knots- a really great summer read, or for just the person who loves travel and sailing.  I read this before I had a blog.
4. Geektastic- this book is awesome, but before I had a blog.
5. City of Bones- I've written review for the third and fourth book, but this one was a while ago.
6. the Outsiders- one of the best books I've ever read.  For some reason I didn't write a review for this one.  It was about the time I started this blog.
7. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie- I didn't want to write a review on this one.  It was amazing, but it didn't work out.
8. Tenth Circle- before blog
9. Just One Wish- before blog
10. Hunger Games- before blog

These are in no particular order.

In My Mailbox (5)

This is hosted at The Story Siren.

True to my word from last week I have two new books from the library, and I made a trip to Barnes and Noble yesterday.

Library:

This one I've been planning to get for awhile, and now that I have it I really like it.   Eon is full of culture and diversity that really adds to the plot.  It's not like the author was like, "hmm... I'm going to make this person...black.  Okay.  Yeah, now I'm representing another race."  No, she has really thought out each character.

I'm am so excited for this one!  I love this author, but this will be the first novel I've read of hers.  After reading Zombies vs. Unicorns I'm am still team zombie, but her story was just as awesome as any brain-blasting zombie story.

This is a nonfiction book I picked up because I'm trying to improve my writing skills.  This is the third one I've read, and this one so far is the funniest.  Only on chapter two.

Barnes and Noble:

This is what I bought!  My word choice has never been that good so I bought this to help when I do start writing that story.  It might be today it might be in a few years either way I'll be prepared.

Guess what I saw at Barnes and Noble that I didn't buy! 

I know I'm disappointed in myself too.

Book Blogger Hop Friday (10)

This is hosted by http://crazy-for-books.com/2011/08/book-blogger-hop-819-822.html. 

This week's question: “What’s the LONGEST book you’ve ever read?”

My answer: Some of my text books were pretty long, but I never actually read those cover to cover.  The fifth Harry Potter book is 840 pages long.  Eldest is 704 pages.  I don't think I've ever read a book bigger than that, but I heard that one of the paperback editions of Gone with the Wind was about 1200 pages long.  I've never read it, but I thought that was impressive.

Paranormalcy Review

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Publisher: Harper Teen, August 31, 2010

Pages: 335

Genre: Paranormal Romance

From: Library

Synopsis: Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal. From Goodreads.com

This came out around the time I started my blog.  Now it's almost the one year anniversary.  I remember really looking forward to this book among others around the time I became addicted to the HarperTeen Facebook page which led me to the blogosphere.  Now that I've finally gotten around to reading it, I'm disappointed.

          Paranormalcy started out fast.  The suspense and action came rolling in and the characters followed fast.  It took me only one day to finish it.  Then it did an odd thing it slowed down where it should have sped up.  An entire scene was repeated; I'm not sure how an editor would allow that.  We all know that gripping feeling you get at towards the end of the book where everything is finally coming together and to put the book down now would be a sin.  It's my favorite part of the book.  For some reason the action stopped.  This did ruined the book because now that the author had lost my attention I was able to find lots of flaws.  I know that many people liked this book and I did like it, but this was the author's first book so naturally there were some flaws.  As readers we only have her editor (and the sales manager) to blame. 

         In this loll of action many of the characters became very annoying to me.  I had noticed before that the walk on characters were very underdeveloped.  This is the mark of an author whose books are enjoyable to read but will never be more than that.  I'm sure many young adult reads don't mind that.  I do.  Evie could be described perfectly by her prized Tasey, the pink-studded taser she carries around with her.  She has a very kick butt attitude, and she's an enjoyable character that made me laugh.  In my opinion she was too nice.  Her flawlessness was not believable.  Lend was really cool.  He had these awesome powers and the scenes between him and Evie where so cute, but he was too perfect.  I would have loved him even more if he were a bit more human.  All of the characters were this way, even the villain.  I felt no sympathy for her even though her childhood was tragic.  The author had a great idea with the villain's queer motivation, but it was not played out enough to touch the emotions of the reader.  I don't want to be able to instantly tell who I can and can't trust.  I want the characters to speak for themselves making me question their motivations.  I don't want to be told who is good or bad.  I want to figure it out myself.

        Despite all of these little annoyances I enjoyed the book.  The author had a strong imagination and a true love for her story.  I could see why many people gave it good review.  Kiersten White has a promising future.

Characters-5
Plot-6
Suspense-7
Pace-7
POV-6
Style-6
Cover-8 (gorgeous)
Overall- 6.5

In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.  Go to the link to see more IMMs.

This week I've been reading a lot, some have just been from my bookself but I have a couple of new ones I've started to read from my local library!

Paranormalcy by Kristen White.  This book has been out for awhile but I finally got it yestereday and I finished it this morning.  The review is already written.  I'll have it up tomorrow.

The first book in this series is called Once a Witch.  I've been waiting for this one for awhile too since Once a Witch ended with a cliff hanger.  I excited to start this one today!  It just came out this month so I was very surprised when my library had it.



That's it for this week but I have a few on request at the library and they should be here in time for next weeks IMM.

Book Blogger Hop Friday (9)

Hello blogger hoppers!  As you know this is hosted by crazy-for-books.com , but you may not know what this weeks question is (you probably do).

“What is the one ARC you would love to get your hands on right now?”

My Answer:  Shut Out by Kody Kelinger.

Synopsis: Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: she and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Why: This author wrote Duff, and I really liked it. The story went by quickly and included characters that weren't all good but not all bad either. It ended with a very good message. I'm excited for this one it comes out September 5th.

Death Cloud Review

Death Cloud by Anderw Lane

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Pages: 306

Genre: Mystery

From: Library

Synopsis: It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.  From Goodreads.com

  Everyone knows about Sherlock Holmes, but what was he like as a teenager?  How did he become a detective? Andrew Lane has decided to find out.
       This book is written in third person following Sherlock to the home of his uncle's for the summer where he meets the mysterious, suspicous Mrs. Eglantine, and the street smart Matty.  Then the action starts picking up.  Before the story was slow and the characters, especially Sherlock's brother Mycroft, like to talk in long speeches that really slow the pace.  The book itself is a pretty moderatley paced novel, and there wasn't really anything to keep reading except the awesome teenage Sherlock Holmes.
       The characters were good.  I really loved Matty!  He was funny and a good change of pace from the richer folk.  Sherlock did act like a teenager, this is good because I was afraid he wouldn't be protrayed like a kid.  I haven't read any of the Doyle novels but I see how Sherlock was growing into the famous detective.
       The plot was exciting and action-packed.  The story was very realisticly protrayed and offered random facts and England geography/ history.

Characters- 8
Plot- 7
Suspense- 6.75
Theme- Knowledge of any kind is power- 8
POV- 6
Pace- 6.5
Cover- 8
Overall-  7.2

P.S.- Good writing style.  I'm excited for the sequel.

WWW Wenesday (7)

This is hosted at Should Be Reading.  I'll answer these questions

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?-  Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly- this is just amazing so far best book I've read since Delirium.  How to Grow a Novel by Sol Stein- a book about writing that has helped not only with my book but with my reviews.

What did you recently finish?-     

A Dog's Purpose- awesome book.  It's so cute, yet suspenseful, and it made me look at my dog in a whole different way.

What do you think you'll read next? - I have a few that I want from my library.
Iron Queen, Girl Parts, Diverngent, Gone, Eon, and surprisingly a lot more, but I can't remember the names.  It really depends what I'm in the mood for.