Book Blogger Hop: April Fools

Today's question is as follows:

Since today is April Fool's Day, what is the best prank you have ever played on someone OR that someone has played on you?

Well, I do recall playing a prank on my younger sister. Now keep in mind that I was a lot younger when I played this prank and looking back it may have been a bit mean but at the time I thought it was hilarious. During the 80s we had this massive alarm clock in the room that we shared and my sister had no idea what the snooze button was and kept pestering me one day asking me what it was. For some reason I decided to tell her that it was a bomb button and that if I pressed it a bomb would go off in our house. I didn't think for a minute that she would believe me but low and behold she fell for it. Well anytime that she was doing something that was irritating me I would warn her that I was going to press the bomb button if she continued. My sister was terrified of that button and one day when she was being particularly annoying (which I sure wasn't really that annoying at all) I warned her I was going to press the button. My sister continued doing what she was doing and I pressed the button. I have never seen anyone run out of a room as quickly as she did that day. She was in a panic trying to get the rest of my 5 siblings out of the house. To this day, she brings it up and I will never live it down. The joys of the being an older sister, I guess.

I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of pranks you pulled. Enjoy the weekend :)

Review: Savannah Grey by Cliff McNish

Publisher: Carolrhoda/Orion Children's Books
Publishing Date: April 1, 2011
ISBN: 9781842551127
Pages: 234 pgs

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:

15 year old Savannah Grey has never felt she's belonged. She keeps her distance, so she's surprised by her attraction to the new boy Reece. Then strange things begin to happen: nature, it seems, is exerting an overpowering force on the world. Birds behave strangely; gusts of wind blow leaves so fiercely they seem to lure people away. And Savannah learns she has supernatural powers. Nature has a purpose for Savannah and her friends. For they are on course to meet the vile and evil Orcrassa, who wants to destroy the world by corrupting nature. And it wants Savannah Grey to help realise its savage intent.


My Review:
This is one of the first books I ever requested from NetGalley and I was excited to be approved for it because I definitely love a good monster story. I really enjoyed the way McNish narrated his story not only in the point of view of Savannah but also in the point of view of his monster the Orcassa. I really found the parts about the Orcassa the most interesting parts of the novel. I have read many monster stories and I found that McNish was able to find a new and interesting way to write his own monster story. I don't think I've ever before seen a story with a protagonist who has a whole defense mechanism against the monster stored in her throat. I have to admit that I did guess the plot twist in the end but I am constantly reading mystery novels so I most often guess the plot twists. The only thing that I would have changed about this story is the ending. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed and doesn't really tie up all the loose ends. I don't feel like there was a detailed enough explanation was given for the thing in Savannah's throat. Also, what happens now? I found the book just kind of ends and I was left with a feeling of wanting more. Overall I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5. If you like monster stories then you'll like this one.

Waiting on Wednesday: Sookie Stackhouse Continues

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.

This week's book is part of my favourite series: Sookie Stackhouse! I love love love these books and can't wait for the newest addition to Charlaine Harris' series. The 11th book in the series is called Dead Reckoning and here is a preview of the cover and a summary from GoodReads.





"With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. But Sookie suspects otherwise and she and Sam work together to uncover the culprit - and the twisted motive for the attack. But her attention is divided. Though she can't 'read' vampires, Sookie knows her lover Eric Northman and his 'child' Pam well - and she realises that they are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, she is drawn into the plot -which is much more complicated than she knows. Caught up in the politics of the vampire world, Sookie will learn that she is as much of a pawn as any ordinary human - and that there is a new Queen on the board . . . "



This book comes out fairly soon on May 3rd, 2011. If you haven't read this series yet I would definitely recommend reading them and watching the HBO series True Blood, which is based on the books.

Review: The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus by Sonya Sones

Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Publishing Date: April 1rst, 2011
ISBN: 9780062024671
Pages: 416 pgs

My Rating: 4.5 stars


Summary from GoodReads:

Celebrated YA novelist Sonya Sones makes a HUGE splash with her first adult novel, The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus, spinning a funny, fierce, and piercingly honest coming-of-middle-age story about falling apart and putting yourself back together. Nora Ephron’s I Feel Bad About My Neck meets Elizabeth Berg—boldly original and endlessly enthralling—The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus is a luminous, brilliantly told story of life, marriage, and parenthood that you will not soon forget.

My Review:
This book is a book written completely in poems which for the most part I am not a huge fan of. That being said, I think it worked well for this novel. I received this novel from NetGalley and I was on the fence about whether or not I thought I'd enjoy it but as soon I started reading I knew that it would be a book I would really like. It is a story about a woman who is going through middle age and is questioning a lot of things in her life. Her daughter is about to leave the home for university and Holly is having a serious case of Empty Nest anxiety. She is also going through menopause, having trouble writing her manuscript, dealing with a sick mother and questioning at times her marriage. I couldn't put this book down because it was just so well written. Sones brings humour to things that could be seen as depressing and I found myself laughing throughout that entire thing. While I am only 28, I could relate to the character as a woman. Overall I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5 and I definitely recommend reading it if you get the chance.

In My Mailbox (13)

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

Here is what I got in my mailbox this week:


This is what I got in my mailbox this week. What did you get in yours?

Review: Those That Wake by Jesse Karp

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Publishing Date: March 21rst, 2011
ISBN: 9780547553115
Pages: 340 pgs

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Summary from GoodReads:

New York City’s spirit has been crushed. People walk the streets with their heads down, withdrawing from one another and into the cold comfort of technology. Teenagers Mal and Laura have grown up in this reality. They’ve never met. Seemingly, they never will.

But on the same day Mal learns his brother has disappeared, Laura discovers her parents have forgotten her. Both begin a search for their families that leads them to the same truth: someone or something has wiped the teens from the memories of every person they have ever known. Thrown together, Mal and Laura must find common ground as they attempt to reclaim their pasts.

My Review:

I received this novel from NetGalley and I was looking forward to reading it. It is described as a type of dystopian novel and I usually really enjoy books like that. The book started out strong and it hooked me in with the characters and the plot. I really wanted to know what was happening to Mal's brother and also why Laura's parents forget who she is. I think that's why I ended up being so disappointed by this book. I was really interested in the beginning and I felt that by the middle of the book it kind of fell flat. I found that Karp never really fully explains the world in which the characters live. A lot of what is happening is implied and at times I had to ask myself if I missed something because I just didn't understand what was happening. There were also times when the plot slipped into someone else's mind but I kept asking myself is this person hallucinating or are they dreaming? I had a very difficult time following the plot near the end as well. I just didn't understand what was going on and I found that frustrating. I took English Literature as my major in university and I am usually pretty good at deciphering metaphor; however at points in this novel I felt a bit stupid and wondered if I just didn't get it because I was missing something. Overall I give this book 2.5 stars out of 5. I really really wanted to like this book but in the end it just didn't do it for me.

Waiting on Wednesday: Flash Back to the Past

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.

This week my book is a flashback from the past. Francine Pascal is coming out with a sequel to the Sweet Valley High books we all loved as children. I couldn't get enough of these books when I was younger and I'm excited to see what the twins, Elizabeth and Jessica, are up to as adults. Without further ado here is the book I'm waiting on this Wednesday:



Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal
(Summary from GoodReads)
Now with this striking new adult novel from author and creator Francine Pascal, millions of devoted fans can finally return to the idyllic Sweet Valley, home of the phenomenally successful book series and franchise. Iconic and beloved identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are back and all grown up, dealing with the complicated adult world of love, careers, betrayal, and sisterhood.



The release date for this is March 29th so mark it on your calendars.