Feeling a Little Bookish

Review: Spin by Catherine McKenzie

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Harper Collins
Publishing Date: February 1st, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Pages: 424 pgs
ISBN: 9781554687589

Rating: 4 stars

Summary from GoodReads:
Katie Sandford has just gotten an interview at her favourite music magazine, The Line. It's the chance of a lifetime. So what does she do? Goes out to celebrate - and shows up still drunk at the interview. No surprise, she doesn't get the job, but the folks at The Line think she might be perfect for another assignment for their sister gossip rag. All Katie has to do is follow It Girl Amber Sheppard into rehab. If she can get the inside scoop (and complete the 30-day program without getting kicked out), they'll reconsider her for the job at The Line.

Katie takes the job. But things get complicated when real friendships develop, a cute celebrity handler named Henry gets involved, and Katie begins to realize she may be in rehab for a reason. Katie has to make a decision -- is publishing the article worth everything she has to lose?

My Review:
This book has been out for about a year in Canada and I was surprised when I saw it on NetGalley; I guess it is being released in February in the States. I have to say that I quite enjoyed this book. I had just finished listening to a pretty serious book on audio and this was a welcome change. This book deals with the serious issue of alcoholism and addiction but it does so in a way that is not too depressing. The novel is mostly set in a rehab clinic where Katie Sanford is undercover trying to get a story on celebrity Amber Sheppard, aka The Girl Next Door. When Katie enters rehab she thinks that she going to have to "fake" her alcoholism just to get in but in the end she discovers that perhaps maybe she did have a problem that needed some attention. This book becomes a novel of self discovery and Katie ends up hurting not only herself but someone she forms a friendship with. This novel plays out the way that one would expect but to me this isn't a bad thing. When you begin reading this book, you know it is the kind of book that will conclude positively. I quite enjoy books like this when I need a little cheering up and I was glad to have this book on hand when I read it. The book is full of shenanigans that both Katie and Amber get into in rehab and in the end there is a little romance. There is only one thing that irked me with the book but I think this is because I have the distinct pleasure of dealing with close family members with alcoholism my entire life. I found that Katie's transformation to be a bit too sudden. Every alcoholic that I have dealt with is highly in denial and even after several stints in rehab, they still have a very difficult time admitting that their drinking was ever a problem. Again, I don't think this is something that the average person would pick up on while reading Spin and I realize that I may just be extra-sensitive to the issue. Even with this one complaint, I really enjoyed McKenzie's writing style and I am looking forward to reading more of her novels. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: The New Girl by Paige Haribison

2012-01-28T11:54:00.002-05:00

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publishing Date: January 31rst, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 304 pgs
ISBN: 9780373210428

Rating: 3 stars

Summary from GoodReads:
They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.

My Review:
I received this copy from NetGalley for an honest review and I have to say I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading it. I had read and reviewed Harbison's debut novel Here Lies Bridget and I had mixed feelings on that one too. When I first started reading this novel I had no idea what it was about and as I started reading I realized that there were way too many similarities to the novel Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier for it to be coincidence.

-The novel is set at Manderly
-The missing girl in the book is named Becca, short for Rebecca
-There is a love triangle between two boys, best friends
-The narrator of the novel is never named but always referred to as "New Girl"

I could go on and on but I don't want to ruin too much of the plot. So, without knowing it I had picked up a re-telling of DuMaurier's Rebecca. I have to admit that while many people enjoy the classic Rebecca, I have never been a huge fan. I always found the characters to be infuriating. Well, not much is different with this book. I found myself really disliking many of the characters in this book.

*** SPOILER ALERT***
Johnny and Max, for one, could not get their act together. They claim to be best friends, yet they are both sleeping with the same girl even though they both don't really like her that much. Why would you waste your friendship on something like that? It seems like neither one of them can really speak their mind and in the end they string people along. I found this to be really frustrating in the narration by New Girl. Clearly, Max liked her but could never bring himself to commit because he felt guilty about his missing ex whom he never seemed to really enjoy anyhow.

The girls in this book are downright nasty, mean girls. Harbison is quite good at writing characters like this, as her novel Here Lies Bridget deals with this very thing. New Girl's roommate borders on psycho and I couldn't imagine having to share a room with someone like that.

I have to admit that while there were some things that I disliked about the novel, I did enjoy other things. The writing for one is quite good. It keeps you engaged until the very last page and I had no trouble reading this in 2 days. This is saying a lot because I was in the middle of writing report cards this week and things were a bit hectic. Harbison has a way of evoking your emotions in a way that you may not expect.

Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. As I said, while it may not be my favorite book of 2012, it's not going to rank on my most hated books either.

Wow: The House I Loved

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

My pick this week is an adult book. I loved De Rosnay's Sarah's Key. I read her second book published in Canada A Secret Kept and I while I liked it I didn't love it. I'm looking forward to seeing how this book is. Here is a summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Sarah’s Key and A Secret Kept comes an absorbing new novel about one woman’s resistance during an époque that shook Paris to its very core. Paris, France: 1860’s. Hundreds of houses are being razed, whole neighborhoods reduced to ashes. By order of Emperor Napoleon III, Baron Haussman has set into motion a series of large-scale renovations that will permanently alter the face of old Paris, moulding it into a “modern city.” The reforms will erase generations of history—but in the midst of the tumult, one woman will take a stand.
Rose Bazelet is determined to fight against the destruction of her family home until the very end; as others flee, she stakes her claim in the basement of the old house on rue Childebert, ignoring the sounds of change that come closer and closer each day. Attempting to overcome the loneliness of her daily life, she begins to write letters to Armand, her beloved late husband. And as she delves into the ritual of remembering, Rose is forced to come to terms with a secret that has been buried deep in her heart for thirty years. The House I Loved is both a poignant story of one woman’s indelible strength, and an ode to Paris, where houses harbor the joys and sorrows of their inhabitants, and secrets endure in the very walls...

This books is out in stores February 14th, 2012.

Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Puffin
Publishing Date: March 3rd, 2005
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 221 pgs
ISBN: 9780142402511

Rating: 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.

Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A stunning debut, it marks John Green's arrival as an important new voice in contemporary fiction.

My Review:

I had never read anything by John Green and recently I have discovered his YouTube channel: Vlogbrothers. I couldn't get enough of the Green brothers. They are charismatic and so informative. My husband and I sat down and watching video after video after video and it was at this point that I decided that it was imperative that I read one of his novels. I had Looking for Alaska already on my Kobo and so I figured that was a good place to start. Green's writing does not disappoint! He is just as charismatic and eloquent in his books as he is on his videos. This book is a story about Miles, a teen boy who makes the decision to go to boarding school. The novel takes place over his first year at boarding school and is centered on the relationships he builds over the school year. I loved Miles! Throughout the course of his narration he seems to just tell it like it is. The description of his going away party was both a little sad and hilarious all at the same time. I felt a bit bad for him but at the same time the way the book is written makes it humorous and interesting. I also loved that Miles can quote any famous person's last words. It fit into the storyline perfectly but I also found it fascinating to learn about all these famous last words. I wasn't quite sure what to make of Alaska Young. Miles becomes infatuated with his peer and over time he develops a friendship with her. I couldn't quite understand what her deal was. At times she seemed to be so interested in Miles while at others she couldn't stop talking about her boyfriend who is mostly absent throughout the novel. She seems intent on living life dangerously and in the end this becomes her downfall. I do not want to give too much of the storyline away but I have to admit that I kind of figured it out before it happened. This didn't make the novel any less enjoyable. My favourite part of the book were all the little nuances that Green adds to his characters and plot lines. I have to say that I am really excited to read my new copy of the newest Green book, The Fault in Our Stars. Overall, I give this book 5 out of 5 and I highly recommend that you go out and pick this novel up if you don't already have it.

Wow: A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

My pick this week is an adult pick but it sounds quite good. Here is the summary from GoodReads:

A GROWN-UP KIND OF PRETTY is a powerful saga of three generations of women, plagued by hardships and torn by a devastating secret, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of family. Fifteen-year-old Mosey Slocumb-spirited, sassy, and on the cusp of womanhood-is shaken when a small grave is unearthed in the backyard, and determined to figure out why it's there. Liza, her stroke-ravaged mother, is haunted by choices she made as a teenager. But it is Jenny, Mosey's strong and big-hearted grandmother, whose maternal love braids together the strands of the women's shared past-and who will stop at nothing to defend their future.

This book comes out January 25th, 2012.

Book Review: Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: HMH Children's Books
Publishing Date: January 17th, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 204 pgs
ISBN: 9780547550763

Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:

Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.
But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

My Review:
I have had this on my TBR pile for quite some time. I was given this book as a review copy via NetGalley. This is a debut book for Megan Bostic and I have to say that it tugs at your emotions. It narrated by Austin, a 17-year-old boy who is dying. I love the fact that it is narrated by a boy. Many books that I read are narrated by a female and it took me a little bit to get used to reading a book told by a male. It takes place over the course of one weekend in which Austin is trying to live out his dying wishes. He takes his best friend and girl he loves, around to different places taking care of his unfinished business. This varies from trying to get his parents back together to taking a hike in the mountains. I was reading this book on the way to Quebec City with my husband and found myself tearing up. My husband gave me a few looks but I couldn't help it. I don't usually cry during books; I usually save this for movies, TV shows and perhaps sometimes commercials. It makes you question what you take for granted in life and it really makes you appreciate the time that you have. While I enjoyed this book, I did have some concerns with it. I found at times that it was a little unrealistic. Austin's quest wasn't unrealistic but I did find that some of the reactions to his quest were. For example, the idea that he is going to bring his parents back together after 5 years of separation was a little bit of a stretch. I think that it was a little too idealistic and I found myself questioning it. Overall, I have to say I enjoyed it; it is a short and easy read. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.

Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Razorbill
Publishing Date: October 18th, 2007
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 288 pgs
ISBN: 9781595141712

Rating: 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.
On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.
Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

My Review:
I have been hearing nothing but good things about this book for years now. I don't know why I haven't gotten to this book sooner than I have but I'm glad I finally decided to read it. I couldn't put this book down. It was everything that everyone has said it is and more. Asher is able to capture the emotions of the characters perfectly. I couldn't help but feel for Clay, who is one of the main narrators of the novel. He receives a set of tapes made by Hannah Baker a friend of his who had recently committed suicide. The tapes contain 13 reasons why Hannah committed suicide. There was a whole range of emotions that were evoked by this novel. I felt sad, angry, frustrated, empathetic and annoyed all at different times in the novel. Sometimes I wanted to scream at Hannah that things would have gotten better if she had given it some time. Another part of me wanted to give Clay a hug and tell him that things are going to be okay. When I was done this book I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was haunting and I felt quite sad when it was done. I couldn't help but think what a waste it was to have someone die for such things. Don't get me wrong, her experiences were quite serious but I couldn't help but wonder what Hannah might be like as an adult after maturing a little bit. I think the reason this book evoked such emotions in me is because when I was a teen I seriously contemplated killing myself for a while. I grew up in a pretty stressful household and that took it's toll on me and I can't help but think of all the things I would have missed out on if I wasn't here. I am so thankful that I chose to keep fighting rather than give up. Asher is a very talented author and I can't wait to get my hands on his next novel. Overall, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Review: The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

2012-01-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Razorbill
Publishing Date: December 8th, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 336 pgs
ISBN: 9781595143686

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:
Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

A debut novel from an immensely talented new writer, The Probability of Miracles crackles with wit, romance and humor and will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page.

My Review:
I picked up this book because it has been getting a lot of attention lately. I have to say that when I first started reading it I was unsure if I would like this book but as I continued reading I found that I couldn't put this book down. I had read something similar recently about a dying teen and I wasn't sure if I could handle another one. That being said, I loved the character of Cam and her crazy entourage. The book picked up after Cam moves to Promise, Maine in her family's hopes that a miracle may change her terminal diagnosis. Cam is the ultimate teen who is broody and impulsive at times but she also has a kind of maturity most likely gained from cancer treatment and knowing that she has limited time on this earth. After moving to Maine, Cam meets Asher who is just about the sweetest guy a girl could meet. Throughout the novel you almost forget that Cam is sick and you can't help but laugh at the predicaments she gets herself into. This is another book that actually evoked some tears from me (which I swear doesn't usually happen when reading). I definitely recommend this book and I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publishing Date: November 29th, 2011
Genre: Dystopian, YA
Pages: 305 pgs
ISBN: 9780399256752

Rating: 3 stars

Summary from GoodReads:
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias' death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

My Review:
I had some high expectations for this book considering the book reviews that I have seen on the blogosphere. I have to admit though that I was a bit disappointed. It's not to say that I really disliked this book but it fell a bit flat for me. I really liked June's character; she was strong and sassy yet she had her flaws. She believed too easily in what the government was feeding her and it her quite some time to start questioning things. I was surprised when she so easily gave Day to her superiors and I had to question why she didn't stick around and try to figure out what was going on with Day. Her actions had horrible consequences for some of the characters in the book. One thing that bothered me about this book is that the world that June and Day live in is never fully described. I know that this is a dystopian novel but I was never sure what was happening. There were different sectors and there was the Republic but how did they all fit together? I don't know if Lu is planning on expanding on this in her future novels but I would have thought that this would have been laid out in the introductory novel of a series. Overall, it was a decent read but I'm unsure if I'll devote much time in this series. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

WoW: Everneath

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

This book has a gorgeous cover. Here is the summary from GoodReads:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

This book comes out January 24th, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday: Write Another Please :)

2012-01-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is Top Ten Authors you Wish Would Write another Book.

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to come up with 10 authors for this one but I will try my best. Here we go:

1. Marian Keyes. I love her books and I am always eager for another one to come out. It hasn't been too long since her last book but I devour them when they do come out.

2. Ann Marie MacDonald. She is a Canadian author who wrote Fall on Your Knees and Where the Crow Flies. I thoroughly enjoyed both these books and she hasn't released anything in a little while so I would love to see another book out there.

3. Stieg Larsson. I absolutely adored The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books. I know that it is highly unlikely Larsson will write another book considering he has since passed away but one can only dream.

4. Ann Brashares. She wrote the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series and I also read her My Name is Memory. I know that she just published the last Sisterhood book but like Marian Keyes, I can't get enough of her books. She wrote the book 3 Willows and I thought that it would become a series. I'd like to see what she will do with that.

5. S. J. Watson. I read the book Before I Go to Sleep last year and it was super good and I can't wait to see what this author is going to do.

6. Kate Jacobs. I have read all her books (Friday night Knitting Club and Comfort Food). I would really like to see a new one from Jacobs.

Anyhow, this is all I can think of but I can't wait to read the rest of your responses. If there is anyone you recommend I check out please let me know in the comments section.

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Poppy
Publishing Date: January 2nd, 2012
Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 236 pgs
ISBN: 9780316122382

Rating: 4 stars

Summary from GoodReads:
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

My Review:
I have been seeing so much about this on the blogosphere so when it came out I got it for my Kobo Vox. I read this completely on the 5 and a half drive to Quebec City for my honeymoon with my husband. I have to say that this book was super cute and it was just the thing I needed after reading a very intense book. The book is about Hadley who has to go to her father's second wedding to a woman who she has never met. On her way there she meets a cute boy named Oliver and they share their stories on their long flight overseas. I have to say while I do not believe in love at first sight I do believe that you can fall for someone in a short period of time. I think that the longevity of the relationship depends on many things including but not limited to compatibility, chemistry, honesty and hard work put into the relationship. I do believe that the way you start a relationship also has a lot to do in where the relationship is heading. In this book, I have a good feeling that Hadley and Oliver could make it last. I loved Hadley's spunk and her ability to do what she thinks is the right thing to do. That isn't always an easy task. She seems unfazed by how other people will react to her. I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it for anyone wanting to read something a little uplifting. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

IMM

2012-01-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristy at the Story Siren. It gives bloggers a chance to share what bookish things they have received. Here is what I have purchased in the last little while:

I bought this for my new Kobo Vox

I really enjoy Hilderbrand's books. I got this one with some giftcards at Chapters.

I got this with some giftcards and I love Hopkins' writing style.

This is a great series! I love Kelley Armstrong

I have already read this and posted my review yesterday.

I got this book a few weeks ago. I have heard some good things about this and can't wait to read this.

I have read this one too. Stay tuned to see a review on the blog.

Again, I just finished this. Super cute!

Read this one today. Again I really enjoyed it.

This has been a Heather's pick for a while now and I can't wait to read it.

This looks really cute if you've read it let me know what you think.


I'm in the process of reading this right now. I can't wait to see where it leads.

Well, this is what I got in my mailbox. What did you get in yours?

Review: Identical by Ellen Hopkins

2012-01-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher:Margaret K. McElderry
Publishing Date: August 26th, 2008
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 565 pgs
ISBN: 9781416950059

Rating: 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:
In the latest hard-hitting YA novel by the New York Times bestselling author, 16-year-old identical twin girls must come to terms with their abusive father.

Kaeleigh and Raeanne are 16-year-old identical twins, the daughters of a district court judge father and politician mother running for Congress. Everything on the surface of their lives seems Norman Rockwell perfect, but underneath run deep and damaging secrets.

Kaeleigh is the good girl-her father's perfect flower, something she has tried so hard to be since she was nine and he started sexually abusing her. She cuts herself and vomits after every binge, desperate to feel something normal. Raeanne uses painkillers, drugs, alcohol, and sex to numb the pain of not being Daddy's favorite. Both girls must figure out how to become whole, but how can they when their world has been torn to shreds?

Writing in her characteristic narrative poetry style, Ellen Hopkins shows once again how well she knows today's teens and the issues that matter to them.

My Review:
I got this book at Chapters with some of my Christmas giftcards. I picked this up because I really enjoyed Hopkins' Crank trilogy and this book didn't disappoint. It is a tough book to read because it deals graphically with sexual abuse between a father and a daughter. It focuses on the family dynamics and how the abuse has affected not only the victim but also the victim's sister, mother and the perpetrator himself. I could not put this down because it was so interesting to see how Hopkins is able to write so fluidly about such a disturbing topic. The book, like Hopkins' other books, is told entirely in verse and I think that her writing style is genius. When the book shifts from one sister to the other there is a line that is mirrored on bother pages. I for one would have great difficultly trying to write like this. I found myself wanting to yell at the mother in this book. I wanted her to take her head out of her butt and take a real look at her family and demonstrate that she cared. I do not want to spoil any of the plot line but I have to say that the ending blew me away. I never saw it coming and it made the book all that much better. While this book may be too much for some people to digest I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend reading this book if you can handle some disturbing scenes.

Our Honeymoon

2012-01-06T21:00:00.004-05:00

Well, I just got back from a great 4 days. My husband and I got married in August and I started school right afterwards. As a result, we couldn't go on a honeymoon. I get 2 weeks off over Christmas and we took this as an opportunity to go on a little honeymoon to Quebec City. It was amazing! We stayed at Chateau Frontenac which is literally on old fort/castle. During our trip we wondered around the streets of Quebec, visited Montmorency Falls and went to an aquarium. Here are a couple pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Here we are on our way

D and the view from just outside our hotel

another view from the hotel

our hotel- the Chateau Frontenac

M & D at Montmorency Falls

The Falls

Stairs leading down the side of the falls

D in the middle of the suspension bridge

D at the suspension bridge

Me on the suspension bridge... I only made it halfway. I hate heights and was almost killed on a bridge as a child by a drunk driver.

A fishy at the Aquarium du Quebec

the aquarium again

Jellyfish

Walrus

Polar Bear

M & D in the hotel room.. our crazy hair and all :)

WoW: Incarnate

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

I have heard nothing but good things about this book and the cover is AMAZING. Here is a summary from GoodReads:

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

This book comes out January 31rst and it looks like it'll be quite good.

WoW: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

I don't think you can go wrong with a title like this. I am intrigued to see what Jennifer E. Smith does with this book. Here is a summary from GoodReads:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

This book comes out January 2nd, 2012.

WoW: A Million Suns

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

My pick this week is A Million Suns by Beth Revis. I recently listened to Across the Universe on audio and I need to know what happens next on the ship. Here is a summary:

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.
It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.
But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.
In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

This book comes out January 10th, 2012 and I hope it is just at good as Across the Universe.

WoW: Hallowed

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

My pick this week is Hallowed by Cynthia Hand. I have been waiting for this for about a year because I read Unearthly and quite enjoyed it. Here is a summary from GoodReads:

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

This book comes out January 17th, 2012 and I can't wait!

Review: Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

2011-12-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publishing Date: January 4th, 2011
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Pages: 324 pgs
ISBN: 9781439164631

Summary from GoodReads:
Sarah Nickerson, like any other working mom, is busy trying to have it all. One morning while racing to work and distracted by her cell phone, she looks away from the road for one second too long. In that blink of an eye, all the rapidly moving parts of her over-scheduled life come to a screeching halt. After a brain injury steals her awareness of everything on her left side, Sarah must retrain her mind to perceive the world as a whole. In so doing, she also learns how to pay attention to the people and parts of her life that matter most.
In this powerful and poignant New York Times bestseller, Lisa Genova explores what can happen when we are forced to change our perception of everything around us. Left Neglected is an unforgettable story about finding abundance in the most difficult of circumstances, learning to pay attention to the details, and nourishing what truly matters.

My Review:
I picked up this audiobook because I read Genova's debut novel Still Alice and I was blown away by her writing. I have to say that this book was equally as impressive. Left Neglected is about a woman whose life is in constant motion. She is being pulled in different directions by her children, her husband and her job. One day her life is dramatically changed and as a result she is forced to slow down. Sarah gets into a car accident which leaves her with an acquired brain injury. As a result of this injury she suddenly forgets all things left. She forgets her left hand, her left leg, the left side of a page, the left side of a room; basically her brain tells her there is no left side. This means a lot of physical therapy in order to train her brain to remember her left side. I found Genova's description of this brain injury fascinating. It also makes you think about your own life. What is really important in life and what kind of things are we neglecting. Sarah realizes that she was neglecting the things that are really important in life, such as special moments with her children and getting to know her mom, in order to be successful in her career. This book really made me question if I appreciate the little things in life or if I rush past them all to get to the next phase in my life. Why are we always in such a rush to get to the next thing when we aren't even fully experiencing the present? I really enjoyed the audio part of this book. The narrator does a really good job at holding your attention and at expressing the feelings of the characters. I also really liked the relationship between the husband and the wife in this book. It doesn't sugar coat the difficulty that they had trying to adapt to their new situation. Finances were strained and the husband and the wife really had to redefinine their relationship in a way. Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 and I have added it to the best books of 2011 pile. I definitely recommend picking it up and if you haven't read Still Alice you should get that while you're at the bookstore.

WoW: Wintertown

2011-12-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

I'm looking forward to Wintertown by Stephen Edmond. Here is a summary from Good Reads:

Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The former "girl next door" now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, "Old Lucy" still exists, and he's determined to find her... even if it means pissing her off.
Garden State meets Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist in this funny and poignant illustrated novel about opposites who fall in love.

This book came out 2 days ago on December 5th but I'm still waiting to go and pick it up.

TTT: Childhood Faves

2011-12-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week we are supposed to share our favorite books from childhood so here they are:

I'm Canadian so this is a staple with Canadian children. We still watch the DVDs every Christmas

Who didn't love the Babysitter's Club? My faves were always the Super Editions.

So this was more during grade 7 and 8 but I loved a good scary novel and these were the best! Forget Goosebumps :)

This is an amazing children's book and Robert Munsch is another great Canadian author.

This was another series that I loved in grade 7 and 8. Scary and creepy.

Sweet Valley High was great! I have to admit that the new book that came out recently didn't quite live up to the original series.

I must have read this book 100 times in elementary school. It has funny stories about going to school.

Where the Wild things are was a staple in our household.

Well, I only came up with 8 of them but I honestly can't remember all the books I read as a child. I read entirely too many! I'm curious to see what you all come up with.

Review: Saving June by Hannah Harrington

2011-12-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Harlequin
Publishing Date: November 22nd, 2011
Genre: Contemporary, YA
Pages: 336 pgs
ISBN: 9780373210244

Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary from GoodReads:

When her older sister commits suicide and her divorcing parents decide to divide the ashes, Harper Scott takes her sister's urn to the one place June always wanted to go: California. On the road with her best friend, plus an intriguing guy with a mysterious connection to June, Harper discovers truths about her sister, herself and life.

My Review:
I received this book on NetGalley for review and I really enjoyed it. The book is a contemporary that blends tear jerking moments, teen angst, road trips, mixed tapes, and finding oneself all in one book. Harper Scott is struggling to come to terms with the fact that her sister, June, committed suicide. Throughout much of the book Harper seems rather detached about her sister's death and can at times be rather tempermental.
I thought that Harrington did a good job of showing grief in a different way than just sheer sadness and depression. I also really enjoyed the road trip part of this book. I love that with each stop on their journey Harper learns more and more about herself and in the doing that she is able to learn more and more about her sister. I have to admit to crying just a little bit at certain parts of this book. I could not put this book down and it only took me a day to read. I would most definitely recommend this book to those who love YA and contemporary reads. My only gripe about this book is that they threw in a romance. I am not sure that I would be ready to start a relationship or to fall in love with someone mere weeks after my sister's death. That is one thing about some YA that irks me a bit. I don't think that it is necessary to always have a romance involved in every book especially when it is a book that is already dealing with death and finding oneself. Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Top Ten Tuesday- What am I waiting for?

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's edition is as follows:
Top Ten Books That Have Been On My Shelf For The Longest But I've Never Read.

Well I have over 400 books on the shelf. I know it is a ridiculously big TBR pile and I plan on going on a book buying ban ASAP. Anyhow many of the books that are there have been sitting on my shelf for years. RIDICULOUS!

I have to admit that most of my books will be adult books as I have only started reading YA in the past year. Well, here's my list:

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller- This is a classic and I know I have to be in the right frame of mind to read it... hence my procrastination

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt- I really want to read this so I'm not sure why I keep putting it off

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth- Well it's not surprise why I'm putting this off.. this book is a behemoth- a ridiculous amount of pages.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo- I think this needs to go on my tbr list for December. It's supposed to be amazing

The World According to Garp by John Irving- I think everyone and their mother has read this. It looks great.

The Godfather by Mario Puzo- Another classic

Good Grief by Lolly Winston- This book looked so good when I got it and then school happened and I never got to it. I've been out of school for 3 years now. I think I should pick it up.

Half Magic by Edward Eager- This book was given to me by my practicum teacher- over 3 years ago! Yikes!

I am Legend by Richard Matheson- I got this book after the movie came out and then never got around to reading it.


Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells- I enjoyed the movie and wanted to read the book.

Well there it is... I can't wait to see what you have been hoarding on your bookshelves :)

Review: Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer

2011-11-14T20:06:00.001-05:00

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Publishing Date: September 12th, 2011
Genre: YA, mystery
Pages: 256 pgs
ISBN: 9780547496382

Rating: 4 stars

Summary from GoodReads:
Willa is lucky: She has a loving blended family that gets along. Not all families are so fortunate. But when a bloody crime takes place hundreds of miles away, it has an explosive effect on Willa’s peaceful life. The estranged father she hardly remembers has murdered his new wife and children, and is headed east toward Willa and her mother.
Under police protection, Willa discovers that her mother has harbored secrets that are threatening to boil over. Has everything Willa believed about herself been a lie? As Willa sets out to untangle the mysteries of her past, she keeps her own secret—one that has the potential to tear her family apart.

My Review:
I received this book in a package of books from Thomas Allen & Son about a month ago. I had a backlog of books to read so this one got put on the back burner. Well, I feel like I should have read this book sooner. I really enjoyed this book. I actually read it all in one night and I couldn't put it down. The book is about Willa who lives with her mother, her step-father and her step-sisters. One night, her biological father goes on a rampage and kills his wife and his children and is on his way to see Willa. After all is said and done this is much more than just a thriller. It delves into the complexity of blended families and of how important biological parents are to our identity. Willa begins questioning her identity after this incident and embarks on a journey to "find herself". I really like how the author is able to write about teens. As I've said before in other reviews, I often find that some authors gloss over some of the difficult things of being a teen. In this novel, the main character Willa allows herself to be selfish for once and she does so in an over-the-top kind of way. This novel deals with many issues that teens face including blended families and cutting. It is raw and real and well written. I would definitely recommend this novel. Overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Smart Chicks Kick It!

2011-10-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Recently I had the chance to meet up with some Ottawa area bloggers. This wasn't just any get together though, we were all getting together to go to Smart Chicks Kick It. It was an amazing event where we got to meet: Charles de Lint, Melissa Marr, Melissa de la Cruz, Margaret Stohl, Jennifer Lynn Barnes and my personal fave Kelley Armstrong. It was an amazing night!

First a group of us met at a restaurant close to the signing. This is the first time I got to meet some of my fellow bloggers and it was so nice. It's great meeting people who are just as passionate about books as you are. I was also excited because there are not many author events in the Ottawa area. Most times they are in Toronto on a week night and that is a 5 hour drive for me.

At the signing there was a question and answer period and then we played some fun games. It was really interesting listening to the authors talk about everything under the sun. It really seems like they have a lot of fun on these tours. Here are a few pictures from the evening:

The panel: Charles de Lint, Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Melissa de la Cruz, & Margaret Stohl

The crowd: fairly diverse. I even saw my vice principal and a co-worker there with a group of students from my school.

Margaret Stohl- this woman has enough energy for the whole room

Again Margaret Stohl- during the lightning round

Some amazing bloggers: Chrystal from Snowdrop Reads, Em from Emilie's Book World, Carmel from Rabid Reads, Me and Catherine from The Lady Critic's Library

Getting our books signed.

The line up was insane!

Overall, a great night and I got a book signed from each author! Yay! I can't wait for more blogger get togethers and more author signings.

Waiting on Wednesday: Inheritance

2011-10-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

This week I am excited for the fourth (and hopefully) the final in a series.

Inheritance by Christopher Poalini!!

What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Fun!

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's edition is the Top Ten Books to Read for Halloween. Here are my picks:

Not much explanation needed- it's about werewolves

This is a great book at witches and wizards.. oh and some dragons

This book creeped me out like you wouldn't believe; great ghost story

Here's another great ghost story

Zombies!!

Another ghost story- what can I say I love a good ghost story

Creepy distopian vampire/zombie type book

Vampires but done in a different way... 3rd book comes out this week!

Classic vampire

Well it's right in the title- Witches

These are my top ten... What are yours?

Word on the Street

2011-10-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

So this post is a little late. I have been ridiculously busy trying to make some resources for my classroom lately and as a result I haven't had time to download any photos from Word on the Street. I know excuses, excuses. Anyhow, for those of you who don't know Word on the Street is an annual event in Toronto (I also believe it is in other Canadian locations as well). Essentially they shut down two busy streets in Toronto at Queen's Park and there are tents with book vendors and food vendors. They also have different author readings and things in the park. It's an incredibly amazing bookish event and this year I had the opportunity to go with my sister. We also met up with my old roommate while we were there. Here are a few pics from the event:

Here I am on the street. You can see all the vendors in the background.

Again another pic of me with the vendors in the background.

Here are all my goodies that I bought. This is pre-Mara Dyer

Word on the Street guide.

Again another pic of my goodies!

For all you Canadians I'm sure you know the PolkaRoo

Yes, I am a huge nerd!

Again, trying to sneak in while he greets the children.

Me & My Sister Kendra

Anyhow, we had a great time til the end of the day where we were going to go and see Kelley Armstrong speak. I thought it would be a great idea at that point to drop my credit card somewhere on the street. My sister and I ran around trying to find it to no avail. Oh well, I had my credit card company send me a new one. Overall, a successful day and I will definitely making this a yearly trip. Any bloggers want to meet up next year?

IMM

2011-10-23T10:06:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren .

This week I got a few books. I got one for review:


Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada!

I also bought 4 books:

I am ridiculously excited for this one!

Well, that's what I got in my mailbox this week. What did you get in yours?

Review: Pregnant Pause by Han Nolan

2011-10-22T09:48:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Publishing Date: September 19th, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 352 pgs
ISBN: 9780152065706

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:

Nobody gets away with telling Eleanor Crowe what to do. But as a pregnant sixteen-year-old, her options are limited: move to Kenya with her missionary parents or marry the baby’s father and work at his family’s summer camp for overweight kids.
Despite her initial reluctance to help out, Elly is surprised that she actually enjoys working with the campers. But a tragedy on the very day her baby is born starts a series of events that overwhelms Elly with unexpected emotions and difficult choices. Somehow, she must turn her usual obstinance in a direction that can ensure a future for herself—and for the new life she has created.

My Review:
I received this book in a package from Thomas Allen & Son publishers for review and I didn't know much about this book. It was a book that I thought might be decent but I didn't have high expectations for this book. That being said, I ended up really enjoying it. Nolan was able to write about teen pregnancy, which has been done many times before, and make it her own. I never got bored of this book and I never thought "I've seen this before". I love that the majority of the book takes place at summer camp. I worked at a summer camp for two years and I loved it. It was a specialized camp for children and teens with physical and cognitive disabilities and it was one the best experiences I've had. I can why Elly really finds herself immersed in it and why in the end it ultimately changes her for the better. Elly is a great character too. She is headstrong and is not afraid to tell people what she is thinking. I love the scenes when she is with her in-laws; she is full of sass and isn't afraid to put them in their place. I have to admit that while I may be stubborn like Elly, I don't usually go around telling people exactly what I'm thinking. I like that Elly's character is a bit flawed too. She is naive and a little bit selfish. This is what it is like to be a teen; they don't always have the answers but they think they do. I can remember being exactly like this- without the pregnancy and juvie thing. I thought I had it figured out and so often I ended up disappointed because things didn't quite work out that way. Elly is disappointed in life in more ways than one: her husband, her in-laws, her parents. She is a tough cookie though and she keeps on trekking through the big pile of manure handed to her. I have to say while reading this I just wanted to take the parents in this book and shake them. What were they doing? Do you really think trying to force someone to give their child up for adoption is the right thing to do? What ever happened to being supportive? Anyhow, I ended up loving this book and I can't wait to read more books by Nolan. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5

Contest: Jodi Picoult

2011-10-18T19:17:00.001-04:00

As you know I read a variety of different genres and while lately I have been reading predominantly YA I also read some adult fiction. One of my favourite adult authors is Jodi Picoult and I was excited to find out that not only is there a new book coming out in February but Simon and Schuster is having a contest where you can win a collection of every single Jodi Picoult book.

The new book is called Lone Wolf and it comes out February 28th, 2012 (btw how weird is it to write that date and it's just around the corner). This book doesn't have a cover yet but it deals with taking someone off life support. The synopsis sounds great. You can read about it by clicking on the link.

Before getting to the contest I wanted to give you a top 3 list of my favorite Jodi Picoult books. Here they are:


This is the first Picoult book that I read and it got me hooked. For all of you who watched the movie and thought that you should read the book I would recommend that you read this one. The ending in the book is drastically different from the book.


This book is about a boy who is on the Autism spectrum. I loved reading this book because I work with children who have Autism and I thought it provided a lot of insight into the day to day life of a family of someone who has special needs.


The Tenth Circle is one of those books that you either like or you really don't. There are different comics strewn throughout the book at when you are done there is a secret message hidden within these comics.

Anyhow, those are my fave Picoult books. I have to space my Picoult books out because at times they can seem similar but regardless I still love them. That is why I am excited for the contest. The contest is only open to Canadians and is hosted by Simon and Schuster Canada. It runs from October 18th until November 8th. If you would like to enter click the caption under the ad and it should direct you to the right place.

Sweepstakes from Simon and Schuster

I am crossing my fingers I win this sweepstakes. What are your fave Picoult books? Let me know in the comments.

In My Mailbox

2011-10-09T12:26:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

This week I only received one book but it came in the mail and was a complete surprise for me. Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada who sent me a finished copy of The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman for review.

That's what I got in my mailbox this week. What did you get in yours?

Review: Crank by Ellen Hopkins

2011-10-08T20:46:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publishing Date: October 5th, 2004
Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 537 pgs
ISBN: 9780689865190

Summary from GoodReads:
Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless.
Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.

My Review:
Last week was banned books week and I decided to read a book that is often banned: Crank by Ellen Hopkins. This book is written entirely in verse and at times I am not fond of this type of writing but this book was AMAZING! I could not put this book down and I read it all in one day. I even went out that night and bought the next two books in the series. This book is often banned because it has to do with a teen who becomes addicted to meth and as a result her decision making skills are often called into question. There are drugs, sex and profanity in this book and I suppose this is the reason it has been banned. I do agree that parents should know what their children are reading and if they feel the book is too mature at the time then that is their decision but I do not agree that an entire library should ban a book. It is up to the person to make that decision and it should not be a unanimous decision to say that something is too mature. Teens have all different types of experiences and books like this may help them to relate to something or someone even if it is a fictional character. I was disturbed by this book and it kept making me think of how life could be different for me if I had gone down a different road. I couldn't help but yell out loud at Kristina sometimes and not just at Kristina but also her father, and some of the men in her life. I would highly recommend reading this novel and I can't wait to read her next two books in this series: Glass and Fallout. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-10-05T19:05:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

This week I'm sure this book is on many other bloggers' wishlist. I read Divergent by Veronica Roth and I can't wait for the newest installment of this series: Insurgent.

Insurgent comes out May 2012 which seems like so long but I'm sure that time will just fly by. What are you waiting on this Wednesday??

In My Mailbox.. a little late

2011-10-02T18:17:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Well this week was quite a good week for books. I went to Word on the Street last Sunday and I will post about that soon but I got a few books there:

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

I also received a great big package in the mail of review books. Thank you very much Thomas Allen & Son Publishers! Here they are:

Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett

Pregnant Pause by Han Nolan

The Springsweet (The Vespertine #2) by Saundra Mitchell


Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

I also bought 2 books this week at Chapters:

The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha


The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Anyhow that's what I got in my mailbox this week. What did you get in yours?

Readathon

2011-09-30T22:00:00.000-04:00

April at Good Books and Good Wine has decided to host an impromtu readathon. This is good for me because I have been reading the same book for the past 2 weeks. I have been a bit of a reading funk. I am reading The Book Thief which is AMAZING but I have been just so tired when I get home from work. Anyhow, I have decided to take part in this readathon.

You may be asking which books I plan on reading and here they are:

-Crank
-The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
-Pregnant Pause

I do not want to be too overzealous because I also know that tomorrow my husband and I will be spending some time together but every moment not spent with him I will be reading reading reading.

If you want to join don't forget to check out the link for April's website.

Which books are you most interested in reading next?

Review: Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

2011-09-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publishing Date: May 3rd 2011
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 367 pgs
ISBN: 9781416994084

Summary from GoodReads:

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.
Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.
As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.

My Review:
As I stated in my previous post I have started listening to audio books on my long drive to school. My first audio book was actually Shade which is the first in the Smith-Ready series. I fell in love with Aura and I am not going to like with Zachary too. Who can resist a Scottish accent or any accent really for that matter. I also loved the idea of these books. That there was a shift and at the shift a whole population of people were born who could see ghosts. I can not imagine what life would be like if I could see ghosts walking around all the time. It was an original concept for a story line and I have to admit that I am a bit partial to ghost stories. It broke my heart in the first novel to listen to Aura go through her struggles with letting Logan go and moving on with her life. I do not want to give away too much of the storyline but there is quite the twist in this novel. I love that while many authors seem to go for the multiple book series a la Vampire Academy or Mortal Instruments series, Smith-Ready decided to leave it with 2 books. I like that after reading the first novel I could go right into the second novel and find out everything. I hate reading a series and having to wait and wait and wait through several books to get any answers. That drives me bananas and I eventually end up losing interest. I love that the book concluded and many questions were answered. I am not going to lie but I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of Logan. From the beginning he seemed a bit too egotistical for me. While he does have some redeeming qualities, I am definitely on Team Zachary. I would highly recommend both Shade and Shift. I could not get enough of them and ended up listening to these books even when I was not driving. I think I may have driven my husband crazy but oh well. Anyhow, overall I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

2011-09-29T18:51:00.000-04:00

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick is coming out on October 4th and I honestly can't wait. I finished reading Crescendo on my Kindle and I had to go to the bookstore to make sure that my e-book had the whole book attached. I was convinced that I had to be missing the rest of the book because it ended on such a cliffhanger. I can't wait to read this book, especially after reading the synopsis on GoodReads.

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

It sounds amazing and really the covers on this series are just stunning!

For all you Canadians out there Simon and Schuster has a great contest in conjuction with Garage. Becca Fitzpatrick is actually heading to Brampton and you can win a chance for front row tickets to her event as well as a signed Hush Hush series set and a giftcard to the Garage. Here are all the details:

I wish I could be in the Brampton that night but I'm not sure my principal would really like me taking a day off the next day to be at a book signing. Not to mention my grade 1s would be wondering what was going on and why their teacher isn't there. For those of you a little too far from the Toronto area there is also a Facebook app where you and Patch can be together forever. You should check it out.

I was wondering what your favourite part of the Hush, Hush series is. Mine is really just Nora's character in general. She is not afraid of being who she really is. Not to mention, Fitzpatrick actually writes in a way that the characters act like teens. I can't stand when I meet a character in YA fiction that is too grown up. Nora is ruled by her emotions and I love that. I can't wait to see what happens next.

What are you most looking forward to in the next book? What has been your fave part of the Hush Hush series thus far?

Leave a comment and I will be sure to respond. Only a few more days until the release of Silence!

Book Review: The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler

2011-09-19T18:42:00.000-04:00

Publisher: McClelland and Stewart (in Canada)
Publishing Date: July 5th 2011 (in Canada)
Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 528 pgs
ISBN: 9780374173951

Summary from GoodReads:
Prepare for The Hypnotist to cast its spell In the frigid clime of Tumba, Sweden, a gruesome triple homicide attracts the interest of Detective Inspector Joona Linna, who demands to investigate the murders. The killer is still at large, and there’s only one surviving witness—the boy whose family was killed before his eyes. Whoever committed the crimes wanted this boy to die: he’s suffered more than one hundred knife wounds and lapsed into a state of shock. Desperate for information, Linna sees only one option: hypnotism. He enlists Dr. Erik Maria Bark to mesmerize the boy, hoping to discover the killer through his eyes. It’s the sort of work that Bark has sworn he would never do again—ethically dubious and psychically scarring. When he breaks his promise and hypnotizes the victim, a long and terrifying chain of events begins to unfurl. An international sensation, The Hypnotist is set to appear in thirty-seven countries, and it has landed at the top of bestseller lists wherever it’s been published—in France, Holland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark. Now it’s America’s turn. Combining the addictive power of the Stieg Larsson trilogy with the storytelling drive of The Silence of the Lambs, this adrenaline-drenched thriller is spellbinding from its very first page.

My Review:
I recently started a new job that is an hour away and I was wondering what I was going to do with myself for 2 hours a day while I was driving. I decided that I was going to try audiobooks and I now don't know what I did before I started listening to audiobooks in the car. I have to say this book kept my alert on the ride to and from work. It started out fast paced and continued that way throughout the entire book. I really liked that the book was told from the perspective of several people. It also went from the present to the future to the past again in terms of the timeline. While some may find that irritating I like that the author used this as a way to keep things a surprise. While one character may be experiencing one thing another may have a completely different reaction to the same thing. For those of the feint of heart this is not the book for you. This book is quite gruesome and at times a little hard to handle. That being said, I am a bit of a weirdo and I like that kind of thing. If you like a good mystery I suggest you pick this up. Being titled the Hypnotist this book has a lot of information on hypnosis and what it kind be used for. I found the information to be really interesting. I couldn't get enough of this book and even found myself listening to it before bed. Overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

100 Most Popular YA Books

2011-09-17T13:08:00.000-04:00

So, I've been seeing this everywhere lately (most recently at the Bookish Brunette) and I thought that I would make a post of my own. There is a list of the most popular YA books and I was a little surprised that a few of them were even considered YA. Anyhow, I have put the books that I have read in bold and the books that I own but haven't read in italics. The rest are books that I neither own nor have read. Hope you enjoy?

1. Alex Finn – Beastly
2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones
3. Ally Carter – Gallagher Girls (1, 2, 3, 4)
4. Ally Condie – Matched (on Kindle)
5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) (on Kindle)
6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills
7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)
9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)
10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1, 2, 3) (on Kindle)
12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1, 2)

13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret
15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3, 4)
16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3) (On Kindle)
17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3, 4)
18. Christopher Paolini – Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)
19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)
20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)
21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)
22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse (On Kindle)
23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply
25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)
26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere

27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest

28. Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)

29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2) (On Kindle)
31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) (On Kindle)

32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why (On Kindle)

33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)
34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines
37. John Green – Looking for Alaska (On Kindle)
38. John Green – Paper Towns
39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)
40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1, 2) (On Kindle)
41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1, 2, 3) (On Kindle)

42. Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms (1, 2)

43. Lauren Kate – Fallen (1, 2, 3) (On Kindle)
44. Lemony Snicket – Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle (1, 2, 3)
46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2, 3)
47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
48. M.T. Anderson – Feed

49. Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1, 2, 3)

50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

51. Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)

52. Markus Zusak – The Book Thief
53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger
54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
55. Mary Ting – Crossroads
56. Maureen Johnson – Little Blue Envelope (1, 2)
57. Meg Cabot – All-American Girl (1, 2)
58. Meg Cabot – The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
60. Meg Rosoff – How I live now
61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)
63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road
64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
66. Michael Grant – Gone (1, 2, 3, 4)
67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion
68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind
69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline

70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust

71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book
72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)
74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere carnal over 40 winks
79. S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)
80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip
81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride
82. Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key
83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever
84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
85. Scott Westerfeld – Leviathan (1, 2)
86. Scott Westerfeld – Uglies (1, 2, 3)
87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days
88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy
89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)
90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry (1, 2, 3)

92. Stephanie Meyer – The Host

93. Stephanie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)

94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees
95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)

96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)

97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)
99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)
100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped
Hmm... it seems that I have many of these books but haven't read them. Maybe I should recitify that. I am surprised that I have read so many considering that I have just really started reading YA this year. Anyhow, how many have you read? Which one is your favorite? Do you think they left any books out?

I'm Back!!!

2011-09-12T21:35:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone. I kind of dropped off the face of the blogosphere for a little while but I promise that I am back. Do you want to know what I was up to and why I stopped posting. Well, I was a little busy. Instead of writing about it I will show you. Here is what I was up to:

Surprise! I got married! Aug. 27th. This is a sneak peak that we got from the photographer. I can't wait to see the rest!

This was taken before heading to the ceremony.

This is right after my hubby and I got married.

Here is a closeup of my dress.

Of course being bookish, the favors HAD to be bookmarks :)

Our first kiss.

Here is my guestbook. I made it like a scrapbook with a picture of each guest and they signed beside their picture.

Again, the bookmark favors but also, I made each and every one of those napkin rings. Talk about a pain!

Here is the reading list I made for my guests.

This is our table setting. I didn't use table numbers but instead I had a different book at each table and the guests had to find their table by looking for their book. Also, the centerpieces were candy buffets at every table.

Here is our tent. We got married in our backyard and had a huge tent. All the blue and purple puffs were made by moi.

My dad walking me up the aisle.

Our puppy Webber in his adorable tux!

Anyhow, as you can see that most of my wedding was DIY and as a result I didn't have any time for anything else, including reading. I am making a promise to keep up with my blog from now on. I may post a couple more wedding related things but I promise to also start up with the reviews again. Thanks for still following me. It means a lot to me.

Waiting on Wednesday: Always Something There to Remind Me by Beth Harbison

2011-07-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

Can you ever really know if love is true? And if it is, should you stop at anything to get it?

Two decades ago, Erin Edwards was sure she’d already found the love of her life: Nate Lawson. Her first love. The one with whom she shared everything--dreams of the future, of children, plans for forever. The one she thought she would spend the rest of her life with. Until one terrible night when Erin made a mistake Nate could not forgive and left her to mourn the relationship she could never forget or get over.

Today, Erin is contentedly involved with a phenomenal guy, maneuvering a successful and exciting career, and raising a great daughter all on her own. So why would the name “Nate Lawson” be the first thing to enter her mind when her boyfriend asks her to marry him?

In the wake of the proposal, Erin finds herself coming unraveled over the past, and the love she never forgot. The more she tries to ignore it and move on, the more it haunts her.

Always Something There to Remind Me is a story that will resonate with any woman who has ever thought of that one first love and wondered, “Where is he?” and “What if…?” Filled with Beth Harbison’s trademark nostalgia humor and heart, it will transport you, and inspire you to believe in the power of first love.

I do love a little chick lit. This book comes out July 19th, 2011 (Yes, that was yesterday!) What's on your wishlist this week?

Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

2011-07-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Harper Collins
Publishing Date: April 12th 2011
Genre: YA
Pages: 359 pgs
ISBN: 9780061797026

My Rating: 4 stars

Summary from GoodReads:
Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

My Review:

I had never read anything by Kelley Armstrong but I have heard so many great things about her. When I saw The Gathering at Chapters for 30% off (40% off with my discount card) I just had to get it. I wasn’t disappointed by this book. From the moment I started it I couldn’t put it down. I loved the setting of this book. I especially loved all the Canadian elements to this book. (They even mention poutine- for all you Americans reading this blog you need to try poutine!) It is not often that I read a mainstream novel with a Canadian setting. I have never been out west before but I have heard that it is beautiful. While reading this novel I felt like I was there. I would love to live on this island although I think I would be a little freaked out by the mountain lions all around. I also loved Maya. She was such a strong character and so loyal to her friends. You could see her inner conflict from the very beginning of this novel. My one beef with this novel is that it just sort of ends. I hate when novels are part of a series and it ends on a cliffhanger. Now I have to wait for a while before I know what happens next. I have Armstrong’s book titled Bitten which is part of another series. I will have to read this as soon as possible and at least I know there are quite a few books in this series which are already out. Overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Where Did They All Come From?

2011-07-15T09:23:00.001-04:00

This week's question is as follows:

How/Where do you get your books? Do you buy them or go to the library? Is there a certain website that you use like Paperbackswap?

I have to admit that while I should be getting books at the library I tend to buy most of my books. I usually end up getting them at Chapters but from time to time I find some good books at used bookstores. I do lend out a fair number of books and I also borrow some from my Aunt who reads just as much as I do. I have to admit though I buy them faster than I can read them so I have a huge TBR pile or what I like to call my library.

I'm excited to see the rest of your answers. Happy Reading!

Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

2011-07-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Egmont USA
Publishing Date: June 14th, 2011
Genre: YA
Pages: 397 pgs
ISBN: 9781606841440

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

My Review:
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put this down because the idea behind this book was just so interesting. At first glance this book seems to be about a girl who can see ghosts but in the end it is about much more than this. I loved Emerson's character because she stays herself throughout the entire book and grows from her experiences. I wasn't so sure about the romance in this novel at first but by the end of the book I liked the relationship between Emerson and Michael. I also really liked the secondary characters in this novel. Emerson's brother and sister-in-law were written quite well. McEntire is able to demonstrate their struggle in trying to be Emerson's guardian and at the same time trying to give her room to learn and grow. I don't have any complaints about this novel and you should definitely go out and get this book. I can't wait for the next novel in this series!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Things we Cherished by Pam Jenoff

2011-07-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

It gives people a chance to share what books we're so excited about that we can't wait for them to come out.

Here is this week's edition:

The Things We Cherished by Pam Jenoff

Summary from GoodReads:
Pam Jenoff, whose first novel, The Kommandant’s Girl, was a Quill Award finalist, a Book Sense pick, and a finalist for the ALA Sophie Brody Award, joins the Doubleday list with a suspenseful story of love and betrayal set during the Holocaust.
An ambitious novel that spans decades and continents, The Things We Cherished tells the story of Charlotte Gold and Jack Harrington, two fiercely independent attorneys who find themselves slowly falling for one another while working to defend the brother of a Holocaust hero against allegations of World War II–era war crimes.
The defendant, wealthy financier Roger Dykmans, mysteriously refuses to help in his own defense, revealing only that proof of his innocence lies within an intricate timepiece last seen in Nazi Germany. As the narrative moves from Philadelphia to Germany, Poland, and Italy, we are given glimpses of the lives that the anniversary clock has touched over the past century, and learn about the love affair that turned a brother into a traitor.
Rich in historical detail, Jenoff’s astonishing new work is a testament to true love under the worst of circumstances.

This book comes out July 12th, 2011 (Yes that was yesterday!) What's on your wishlist this week?

Review: 10 Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

2011-07-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publishing Date: June 7th, 2011
Genre: Contemporary YA
Pages: 368 pgs
ISBN: 9780061701245

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time.

My Review:

Again, this is another book I had to buy because of all the hype and this book lived up to the hype. I loved this story. It reminded me of being in high school and all the crazy things I did. I moved in with my dad when I was almost done high school and to say that he travelled a lot is an understatement. I was often left on my own in an apartment and while that may seem glamorous but it also means that you have a grocery shop on your own and pay the bills with money given to you. I could relate to April in that way but I have to admit while I may have had a few people over to the apartment when no one was there, I did not bring it to the level that these two girls did. I think I actually laughed out loud when they bought a hot tub for their place. What an amazingly good idea that could turn into such an amazingly horrible idea. This is a great summer read and I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a fun, hilarious read. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

Review: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

2011-07-09T07:30:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publishing Date: May 24th, 2011
Genre: YA
ISBN: 9780439895972
Pages: 390 pgs

Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program--or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan--or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Your tour guide? None other than Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again.

My Review:

I was very excited to read this book. I have never read anything by Libba Bray and when I saw this book on the shelves at Chapters I had to grab it. This review will be difficult to write. I so badly wanted to love this book but in the end I can’t say that I loved it. That is not to say that I hated this book. I really love Bray’s writing style. She is witty and eloquent and is amazingly talented. She is able to bring so many issues to light in the book including, corporate branding, GLBT issues and body image issues. I also enjoyed the little pageant queen bios and commercial breaks. I like the format of this book. That being said, I think the reason I couldn’t get into the book as much as I thought I would is because I didn’t find myself personally invested in one particular character. There were so many characters in this book and Bray does an amazing job of giving each character the same amount of attention and time in the book. I have heard so many great things about Libba Bray and I follow her Twitter feed so I think I am going to have to try another book. Maybe Going Bovine? Overall I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

2011-07-07T14:21:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publishing Date: June 7th, 2011
Genre: YA
Pages: 459 pgs
ISBN: 9781442429987

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary from GoodReads:

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction

My Review:

I had heard so much about this book that I just had to go out and buy it the minute it came out. I have to admit it was a bit different than what I expected but I mean that in a good way. I really enjoyed the world that the characters lived in. For some reason I kept picturing Saba as male rather than female. I think that it is because she exhibits so many qualities that are typically found in a male gender role. I like that Young is trying to challenge these gender roles by having such a strong female character. Saba is on a mission to find her twin brother, Lugh, who was taken by men on horses. Her younger sister joins her and over the course of their travels they find trouble but they also find new friends. I really loved the writing in this book and I think that Young did a really good job of showing Saba’s struggle with her identity. She is forced into a world that is completely unknown and she doesn’t have her brother with her. Lugh has always been Saba’s rock and she is unsure how to navigate her relationship with her younger sister and her new confidants. I have read quite a few books that are a part of a series and I am really glad that while this is the first book in a series, Young is able to wrap things up nicely with this book. I don’t feel like I have been left hanging to wait for another year to read the next book. Overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and I definitely recommend that you go out and get this book.

Waiting on Wednesday: 20 Years Later by EJ Newman

2011-07-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

It gives people a change to share what books we're so excited about that we can't wait for them to come out.

Here is this week's edition:

20 Years Later by E. J. Newman

Summary from GoodReads:

LONDON, 2012: It arrives and with that the world is changed into an unending graveyard littered with the bones, wreckage, and memories of a dead past, gone forever.LONDON, 2032: Twenty years later, out of the ashes, a new world begins to rise, a place ruled by both loyalty and fear, and where the quest to be the first to regain lost knowledge is an ongoing battle for power. A place where laws are made and enforced by roving gangs-the Bloomsbury Boys, the Gardners, the Red Lady's Gang-who rule the streets and will do anything to protect their own.THE FOUR: Zane, Titus, Erin, Eve. Living in this new world, they discover that they have abilities never before seen. And little do they know that as they search post-apocalyptic London for Titus' kidnapped sister that they'll uncover the secret of It, and bring about a reckoning with the forces that almost destroyed all of humanity.

Who doesn't love a good zombie book? It comes out July 5th, 2011 (Yes that was yesterday!) What's on your wishlist today?

Giveaway Winner!

2011-07-04T19:49:00.000-04:00

I know I am a few days late with this but the winner for the book Someone Knows My Name/The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill is......
Ellen from Confessions of...

I will be e-mailing her and if I don't hear from her within 2 days there will be a new winner. Thank you to everyone for signing up.

Waiting on Wednesday: The End of Everything by Megan Abbott

2011-06-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

It gives people a change to share what books we're so excited about that we can't wait for them to come out.

Here is this week's pick:

The End of Everything by Megan Abbott

Summary from GoodReads:

Thirteen-year old Lizzie Hood and her next door neighbor Evie Verver are inseparable. They are best friends who swap bathing suits and field-hockey sticks, and share everything that's happened to them. Together they live in the shadow of Evie's glamorous older sister Dusty, who provides a window on the exotic, intoxicating possibilities of their own teenage horizons. To Lizzie, the Verver household, presided over by Evie's big-hearted father, is the world's most perfect place.

And then, one afternoon, Evie disappears. The only clue: a maroon sedan Lizzie spotted driving past the two girls earlier in the day. As a rabid, giddy panic spreads through the Midwestern suburban community, everyone looks to Lizzie for answers. Was Evie unhappy, troubled, upset? Had she mentioned being followed? Would she have gotten into the car of a stranger?

Lizzie takes up her own furtive pursuit of the truth, prowling nights through backyards, peering through windows, pushing herself to the dark center of Evie's world. Haunted by dreams of her lost friend and titillated by her own new power at the center of the disappearance, Lizzie uncovers secrets and lies that make her wonder if she knew her best friend at all

This book looks quite good and it comes out July 7th, 2011. What's on your wishlist this week?

Canada Day Blog Hop

2011-06-28T21:09:00.000-04:00

In celebration of Canada Day (which is July 1rst for all you Americans) I am partaking in the Canada Day Blog Hop which is hosted by Aislyn from Kni t, Purl, Stitch... Read and Cook! and Chrystal from Snowdrop Dreams of Books
I am very proud to be Canadian and I think that it's important to celebrate that. I live in Ottawa, which is the capital of Canada and Canada Day is always a blast. They shut down all of downtown and this year Prince William and Princess Cate are coming to visit and I can't wait!

Anyhow, I am sure you will all be excited to know that I am hosting a giveaway. I am going to be giving away one of my favourite books and it's by a wonderful Canadian author.

Here it is:

In Canada and the UK it is called The Book of Negroes and in the States and Australia it is called Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill. Just fill in the form below to enter. Winner will be announced July 2nd.
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In My Mailbox

2011-06-26T11:17:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a weekly meme where people share what they got over the week.

Since Canada Post is on strike I definitely didn't get anything in the mail but I did buy some books at Chapters. Here they are:

What did you get in your mailbox?