Blog Tour- Q & A with Caroline Pignat

As part of my blog tour I was lucky enough to interview Caroline Pignat about her book Unspeakable. My review was posted this morning and I quite enjoyed the novel.


Caroline is an Ottawa-based author and has written some award winning stories.


Here is my Q & A with her.

A Little Bookish (ALB): What kind of research did you do for this novel?

 

Caroline Pignat (CP):

I spent several months researching the Empress of Ireland. Before writing this story, I knew nothing about the ship or the people involved. I read survivor accounts from newspapers articles (why Wyatt Steele’s character is in the story) and crew interviews, I also read non-fiction sources such as The Forgotten Empress by David Zeni and Fourteen Minutes by James Croall, and had the amazing opportunity of researching at the Archives at the Museum of History where I reviewed some fascinating artifacts -- such as a journal recovered in the wreckage. That was where I got the idea for Jim’s story to be through journal entries.

 

Another fascinating source was the diary of Titanic survivor Violet Jessop, a woman who served as a stewardess. That was a huge part of Ellie's experiences.

 

 

ALB: What did you find the most interesting thing while writing this book?

 

CP: The fact that such a huge event in Canadian history was seemingly lost really intrigued me and as I learned more about the ship, the sinking, and the stories of the people aboard, the more excited I became about sharing it.

 

 

ALB: What are some of your favorite novels? 

 

CP: I love any novel that draws me in and makes me forget to analyze it as I read. That’s the sign of a great writer, in my opinion. I loved The Book Thief, The Fault in our Stars, The Book of Negroes. Overall, I really enjoy character driven historical fiction, particularly Philippa Gregory and Diana Gabaldon.

 

ALB: What is your greatest piece if advice for future writers? 

 

CP: Trust your voice. You have something to say that no one else can say. No one has written the story only YOU can write.... and if you don’t write it, no one will. So keep at it. Keep learning the craft. And keep writing.

 

ALB: What are a few of your bookish pet peeves? 

 

CP: Ha! Great question. Where do I begin?! :) 

 

I only use Moleskine notebooks for journaling. And those plain black spiral ones for brainstorming. (Reading makes me write.)

 

I jot in novel margins -- but can’t read a book where someone else has scribbled or highlighted. Even in university, I paid full price to have a clean copy. 

 

I never write in red pen -- it feels angry... and screams: wrong!

 

I highlight in bright yellow as I read/research because I can’t remember anything. And bright yellow makes me happy. :) 

 

And I am very particular about my shelves. I have one of those IKEA cube type shelves FULL of books. Each square cubby has a particular reason -- usually related to the book I’m writing, the books I’ve read and can’t part with, the books I’ve bought and need to read, and the books I use for research. When my husband *thoughtfully* reorganized my books by height -- I freaked...... Don't. Touch. The books.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today! Happy Reading!

Blog Tour & Book Review: Unspeakable by Caroline Pignat

Today I am part of the blog tour for Unspeakable by Caroline Pignat. I was fortunate enough to dine with Caroline in March for our Ottawa Blogger Meetup. While there, she spoke with us about her upcoming book Unspeakable. It is an historical fiction novel about a shipwreck of the Empress of Ireland. This shipwreck actually happened after the Titanic and had many more casualties. It is one of the worst Canadian Maritime disasters in history but it often gets overlooked. 

It was amazing to hear about all the research and details that went into this book. Without further ado, my book review.


Publisher: Razorbill Canada
Publishing Date:  May 6th, 2014
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Pages: 288 pgs
ISBN: 9780143187554
Source: Copy given to me by publisher for an honest review



Summary from Goodreads:

On her first voyage as a stewardess aboard the Empress of Ireland, Ellie is drawn to the solitary fire stoker who stands by the ship’s rail late at night, often writing in a journal.

Jim. Ellie finds it hard to think of his name now. After their wonderful time in Quebec City, that awful night happened. The screams, the bodies, the frigid waters … she tries hard to tell herself that he survived, but it’s hard to believe when so many didn’t. So when Wyatt Steele, journalist at The New York Times asks her for her story, Ellie refuses. But when he shows her Jim’s journal, she jumps at the chance to be able to read it herself, to find some trace of the man she had fallen in love with, or perhaps a clue to what happened to him. There’s only one catch: she will have to tell her story to Steele and he’ll “pay” her by giving her the journal, one page at a time.

My Review: 

The story is told in the narrative of Ellie, who is a stewardess on the boat. It goes back and forth between present day and the past (pre-boat disaster). In present day, Ellie is recounting her experience to Steele, a journalist. She is trying to find more information about the man she fell in love with. 

I have to say that I quite enjoyed this story. I was a history minor and I really like reading historical fiction. I had never heard of this shipwreck so it's always nice learning something new. I also quite enjoy reading about Canada. It's fun to read about places you have been to. Some of the story takes place in Quebec City which is where I honeymooned. It's great being able to perfectly picture where the characters are walking around and exploring. 

I also really liked Ellie. She was down on her luck and while she didn't exactly welcome her new role on the Empress, she did what she could with it. She is tenacious and she goes for what she wants. All this in a time when women were not exactly equal. She is not afraid of a little hard work if she really wants something. I also like that the story is not solely focused on tragedy. It is about rebuilding after horrible tragedy. She has an inner strength that many would not possess. 

The secondary characters are also interesting. While we don't get to see much of Aunt Geraldine, what we do know about her is great. She is a woman living on her own in a man's world. I can see how some wouldn't like her but I did. She did what she thought she had to make it. I think that Ellie gets a lot of her qualities from her aunt. 

Overall, this book was well written and fun to read. I would definitely recommend picking it up. 

ARC Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date: April 15th, 2014
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages:  368 pgs
ISBN:  9781442426702
Source: Given to me for an honest review by publishers



Summary from Goodreads:

Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them — all at once?

Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved— five in all.

When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

My Review: 

Oh Jenny Han, you've done it again. You've teased me with an awesome premise, you've lured me with a great cover and ultimately you have confirmed why you are on my autobuy list.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before is about the Song sisters. Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys that she falls in love with. These are meant to be cathartic, a way to purge herself of her feelings that she doesn't think will be returned. They are never meant to be seen by anyone. They are just for her. 

Somehow, one day, her letters seem to be make their way to into the hands of those they are addressed to. This just causes a lot of shenanigans especially since one of them is addressed to her sister's ex boyfriend. 

I have to say that I really enjoyed the writing in this book. It is light and fun but it doesn't mean that it is simple. It was exactly what I have come to love about Han's writing. I really fell in love with the Song family too. Each of the characters is fun, and entertaining and I loved watching how each of the Song girls grows into their own.
Overall I would suggest this for a nice day out on the patio with a daquari or perhaps maybe an iced tea. I would suggest picking this one up as soon as you can. 

ARC Review: Panic by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Harper Collins
Publishing Date: March 4th, 2014
Genre: YA
Pages: 408 pgs
ISBN: 9780062014559
Source: Received for honest review from publisher via Edelweiss



Summary from Goodreads:

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

My Review: 

Panic is about a group of teens involved in a game to win a large sum of money. In order to win said money they must compete in several tasks that are increasingly more insane. Each round is like an elimination round that the last one standing wins.
The main character Heather had no plans to enter this dangerous game but on a whim, after her boyfriend breaks up with her, decides to enter. She then joins forces with her best friend and Dodge, a boy with his own reasons for joining the game.
As the story progresses and the stunts the graduates are encouraged to do for money quickly escalates in danger and ridiculousness, it becomes apparent that each player in the Panic game is in it for good reasons. Many are in less than ideal housing and familial situations. Others are in it for revenge. I enjoyed reading about the background stories of the characters.

While I found the story entertaining and the characters memorable, I have to admit that some of the story drove me crazy. Some of it had me thinking: Really?!? The stunts that are pulled are actually insane. Some people are seriously injured and other even end up dead. Even if I was in the worst financial situation I don't think I'd be able to last til the end. I would more than likely give up because it is just too insane.

I also wondered why the police weren't more a presence. I hate to be condescending but I'm fairly certain that most police forces are more cunning than a group of teens. I just found it some of it a bit too difficult to believe.

That being said, I did enjoy the story and gobbled it up. Oliver's writing style is one that I enjoy. The words just flow from the page, to the imagination seamlessly. Also, let's talk about cover appeal. This is gorgeous. The typeset is the same as the Delirium series and the picture is great. I love the hair and the black background. I would buy this book on the cover alone.

In summary, while I had some issues with this book, I think that it is one that is worth reading. Oliver isn't this popular for no reason.  

ARC Review: Be With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: William Morrow and Company
Publishing Date:  February 4th, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Pages: 365 pgs
ISBN: 9780062294784
Source: Received for honest review by publisher and Edelweiss



Summary from Goodreads:

Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…

My Review: 

When I finished reading Wait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout I couldn't wait to read more. I was excited to see that there was a companion novel written about Cam's best friend Jase and his sister Tess. Tess is younger than both Cam and Jase but she has always had a thing for Jase.  Even though they share a pretty hot kiss, Jase puts up a wall and Tess can't figure out why. 

I really enjoyed reading this steamy novel. It was full of drama and at times it tugged at the heartstrings.  I liked Tess.  She was not afraid to tell Jase how she was feeling and she pushed for what she wanted. She was struggling with her inability to continue doing something she loved and she was getting over an abusive relationship. She cared about her friends and family deeply and that shines through to her relationship with Jase. 

Jase's story is one that will melt your heart a little. He is really pushes everyone close to him away or he lets them in but keeps them at arms length. He never fully lets anyone in until Tess shows up and even then it's a lot of up and down. Those parts were super frustrating for me. I just wanted to yell at Jase and say, "Stop being so stupid! Don't you see you have a good thing?" 

While I really enjoyed this book and the storyline, I found that I didn't like it as much as Wait For You. I'm not sure why that was but it just was. I still enjoyed this book but just not quite as much. I would definitely recommend this is for a fun beachy read. 

In My Mailbox

Well it's been a long time since I've done one of these but since I got some great books this week I thought I'd share them :)

We had our 3rd annual Ottawa Blogger Meetup today and we were lucky enough to get a few goodies!


Here they are: 

This is an overview of all the goodies. Lots of buttons and bookmarks, some tea, sunglasses, lip gloss and of course- BOOKS!

The lovely Caroline Pignat was actually present at our meetup. Her new book Unspeakable is a historical fiction novel about a shipwreck.  I am also looking forward to Born of Illusion by Teri Brown. It's one I've been eyeing for a while.

 

 

 

 

 

Abroad by Katie Crouch- I borrowed this one from Ciara from Lost at Midnight. Shadows by Paula Weston (signed!) and An Infidel in Paradise by S. J Laidlaw (Also signed!)

The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco- This one looks super creepy.  Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid- This one looks great! Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell- This has been on my TBR for quite some time.

The Summer of Letting Go- This one is not from the meetup but from Thomas Allen and Sons for review. The DarkWorld by Cara Lynn Shultz- I hadn't heard of this but it looks pretty freaking. Better off Friend by Elizabeth Eulberg- Another borrow from Ciara. Thank you :)

Little Red Lies by Julie Johnston- Another borrow from Ciara. Inifinite Sky by C.J. Flood- I hadn't heard of this one before either but I'll give it a try. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson- I NEEDED this book! So excited to read it.

Cress by Marissa Meyer- Did I mention it was signed and personalized? Amazing The Beautiful and the Cursed by Paige Morgan- What a cover! The Young World by Chris Weitz- looks like a good dystopian.

Well there you have it. That's my haul for the week. What did you get?

ARC Review: Year of Mistaken Discoveries by Eileen Cook

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publishing Date: February 25th, 2014
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 272 pgs
ISBN: 9781442440227
Source: Received for honest review from Edelweiss/Simon & Schuster



Summary from Goodreads:

Friendship is a bond stronger than secrets in this novel from the author of The Almost Truth and Unraveling Isobel.

As first graders, Avery and Nora bonded over a special trait they shared;they were both adopted.

Years later, Avery is smart, popular, and on the cheerleading squad, while Nora spends her time on the fringes of school society, wearing black, reading esoteric poetry, and listening to obscure music. They never interact...until the night Nora approaches Avery at a party, saying it's urgent. She tells Avery that she thought she found her birth mom; but it turned out to be a cruel lie. Avery feels for Nora, but returns to her friends at the party.

Then Avery learns that Nora overdosed on pills. Left to cope with Nora's loss and questioning her own actions, Avery decides to honor her friend by launching a search for her own birth mother. Aided by Brody, a friend of Nora's who is also looking for a way to respect Nora's legacy, Avery embarks on an emotional quest. But what she's really seeking might go far deeper than just genetics.

My Review: 

My first Cook novel was The Almost Truth and I quite enjoyed it. I was happy to receive Year of Mistaken Discoveries for review. I started it almost immediately but it has taken me a bit of time to write my review. I was conflicted with this novel. There were lots of parts that I quite enjoyed and then other parts that I had a hard time connecting to. 

To begin this story is about friendship and family. Avery and Nora had a great friendship and they bonded over being adopted. When the book commences the two are already on the outs. They have grown apart because of high school dynamics. Avery is the more popular one and I would probably describe Nora as someone who stands out. She may even be described by some as emo. It was hard to really get a handle on how close the two used to be because while we are reading the two are so awkward around each other and really more acquaintances than friends. We see a bit of their friendship through memories and through Avery's quest after Nora has passed away. That being said, I wanted to see more of this friendship. I wish the novel had a few more flashbacks so that we could really see the relationship between the two girls. I also would have liked to see more between Nora and Brody. We know that Nora was close to Brody but there isn't too much depth to that explanation. 

I will say that I enjoyed watching Avery on her quest to find the birth mother. It seems like quite a difficult task and I am glad that I don't have to go through that. I can't really understand what it would be like to know you have pretty amazing parents but not knowing about your genetics and who gave birth to you. I think that I would always be wondering why. 

I like Cook's writing and her storytelling. This book is interesting and keeps you engaged but as I said before I just wanted a little bit more. It's a fairly quick read and at times it is pretty emotional. I would say if you are looking for a quick read then this is your bet.