Criminal Plots Reading Challenge 2011

So, the amazing Jen Forbus from Jen's Book Thoughts is hosting her first challenge in 2011: the Criminal Plots Reading Challenge and I just have to join in on that one, even though I had promised myself I wouldn't join too many reading challenges. So far, I'm up for 4 challenges, so I should be good to go.

Rules of the Road:

So, what's involved in this challenge you ask? It isn't too difficult. It involves reading six books throughout 2011 (January 1 through December 31, 2011).

One book should be read that fits into each of the following categories:

• A book by a new to you author who's blurbed a book you enjoyed. So check out the cover of a crime fiction book you've enjoyed and see who blurbed that book and is also an author you've never read before.
  

• A book that has been made into a movie. It doesn't have to be a movie you've seen but it can be. The book, however, should be one you haven't read before. (Examples: MYSTIC RIVER, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, LONDON BOULEVARD, HOSTAGE, etc.)
  

• A book with a protagonist opposite your own gender. So if you're female, the protagonist should be male; if you're male the protagonist should be female.
  

• A book set outside the country in which you live.
  

• A book that's the first in a new-to-you series.
  

• A book by a 2011 debut author.

Other Important Details:

• You can read the books in any format you choose: print, audio, e-book, etc.
  

• You can read books from any sub-genre of crime fiction: hardboiled, P.I., police procedural, cozy, thriller, etc.
  

• You do not need to have a blog to participate.
  

• You can use the books for other challenges but one book cannot count for more than one category in THIS challenge.
  

• Books do not need to be pre-determined. You can choose them at any time throughout the year. And you can read them in whatever order you choose.
  

• At the conclusion, each participant that completes the challenge will be entered for a chance at one of three prize packs.

Now, I have not yet had a chance to create a list of possible books, but I hope to get around to it tomorrow.

Book Reviews: Becca Black - iDracula and Richard Peck - Three Quarters Dead

Since I have been overly stressed out during the past two months and got sick as a result, I haven't been around much. However, I did read quite a bit and I will try to catch up with my reviews with some reviewlets during the next week or two.



Becca Black’s iDrakula is a modern re-telling of Dracula in the right now very popular text message / e-mail / blog post format. About a year and a half ago, I took a class on vampires in literature and film, for which I had to read the classic story and watch two different film versions. Having those three adaptations in mind, I jumped right into iDracula, expecting a maybe boring warmed up version of the same old story. Let me say I was pleasantly surprised when I literally raced through the story and finished it in one night. So if you’re up for a modern version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this might just be for you!





I picked up Three Quarters Dead by Richard Peck at BEA earlier this year. I have this wonderful, signed ARC and it was waiting for my return to my cousin, where I devoured it within two short nights. From the back cover blurb, I had expected a story about a girl that becomes part of the in crowd and soon discovers the ugly side of the girls. This is not the case, but the book is equally compelling. Soon after Kerry is noticed by the three coolest girls in the school, her new friends die in a car accident and Kerry is devastated. She has no friends left and her life becomes very difficult. With this ghost story, Richard Peck sucked me in and kept me hooked throughout the book. If you’re looking for a ghost story with a twist and a quick ride through New York City, you’re definitely in for it!

October & November summary

Due to bad list keeping, the current edition is a bit out of hand, and probably not very chronologically.

bought
174) Jennifer Brown: Hate List
175) Judd Winick: Pedro & Me
176) D.D. Barant: Death Blows
177) Kevin Roose: The Unlikely Disciple - A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University
178) Jhumpa Lahiri: Unaccustomed Earth
179) Danielle Joseph: Indigo Blues
180) Elizabeth Rudnick: Tweet Heart
181) Heather Brewer: Ninth Grade Slays
182) Caroline B. Cooney: The Face on the Milk Carton
183) Heather Brewer: Tenth Grade Bleeds
184) Mary Balogh: At Last Comes Love


read
76) Jen Nadol: The Mark
77)Teri Hall: The Line
78) Jill Shalvis: Instant Temptation
79) Danielle Joseph: Indigo Blues
80) Elizabeth Rudnick: Tweet Heart
81) Lisa Kleypas: Secrets of a Summer Night
82) Judd Winick: Pedro & Me

2011 Debut Author Challenge

The wonderful Kristi from The Story Siren once again will host the Debut Author Challenge. Since I had a wonderful time discovering new YA authors in 2010, I will definitely join in.

If you want to join in yourself or just want more info, go to the sign-up page at Kristi's blog.

I have not yet made up my mind about what books I want to read, so I will leave my list open for now. But I will think about it more in the next couple days.

Announcement: Series Challenge Season 5!!!

Due to my current busy schedule, I'm afraid the Series Challenge Season 5 will not start until January 1, 2011. I hope you don't mind! If you want to sign up for the challenge, just comment below with your name and a link to your blog. If you don't have a blog, please note that.

The rules:
1) The challenge starts January 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2011.

2) You must read 3 or more books for this challenge.

3) With these books, you should finish the series or at least be up to date with it.

4) Crossovers with other challenges are perfectly alright, as are re-reads.

5) Post a review on your blog and leave a link at the post I will set up on January 1, so I can keep track and others might find new series to enjoy.

6) Have fun!

That's it :)

If everything goes according to plan, I might even have a prize or two for one or two Season 5 winners. Woohoo!

On a side note: I have read a few books and I definitely will review them, but with university and work I have more than enough on my plate right now. I would go into detail, but it isn't really that interesting anyways, so I'll just leave it at that.

The review post for Season 5 is up!!!

Book Review: Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey & Floyd Cooper

Author	Calvin Alexander Ramsey, illustrations by Floyd Cooper
Title	Ruth and the Green Book
Publisher	Carolrhoda Books
Date of Publication	November 2010
Page Count	32
ISBN	978-0-7613-5255-6

Ruth and the Green Book is set in the 1950's and tells the story of how Ruth and her parents drive down to Alabama to visit her Grandma. On their way, they experience difficulties because of the so-called Jim Crow laws that upheld a separation between African-Americans and Caucasians.

In their joint effort to bring history to life for kids, Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Floyd Cooper created a wonderful picture book about difficulties in the past and how community and "The Negro Motorist Green Book" helped to at least circumvent these problems. Cooper's illustrations are beautiful and transport the reader right back to the 1950's and the story is wonderfully narrated.

Guest Post: Don't Give Up by Pamela Samuels Young

Today I have a wonderful guest post for you - from the wonderful Pamela Samuels Young! She is a practicing attorney and already had 3 bestselling legal thrillers. Buying Time is her current thriller and it is out now, available from GoldmanHOUSE Publishing. And a few days from now, I will have the review for her latest thriller up as well. So thanks to Tracee from Pump Up Your Book and Review From Here for making this possible.

And now, without further ado, I pass the word to Pamela Samuels Young!

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DON'T GIVE UP by Pamela Samuels Young

You’ve been working on your novel for months, maybe even years, and lately you feel more discouraged than ever. Perhaps it’s the disappointment of not having finished the book yet. Maybe you don’t know where to go next with your story. Or it’s possible that you’re just physically and emotional drained from all the time and effort you’ve poured into this dream. I’ve been there!

Each time I fall into the writing dumps, I wonder if I’ll ever dig myself out. Fortunately, I always do. You’ve put too much time into this venture. Now is not the time to give up.

Here are my top five tips for re-energizing yourself when you feel like giving up.

Read Inspirational Stories About Writing and Writers

Take a writing break and read about other successful writers who weathered the storm. Here are two excellent books to get you started:

Knit Together: Discovery God’s Pattern for Your Life by Debbie Macomber.

This book was such an inspiration to me. Macomber, a best selling writer with more than 100 million books in print, openly shares her story of writing rejection. Once you read about her writing journey, you’ll close the book anxious to get back to your own novel.

Rotten Reviews & Rejections, edited by Bill Henderson and Andre Bernard. This book shares the rejection letters and stinging reviews received by many successful and prolific writers, from Stephen King to Upton Sinclair to James Joyce and more. You’ll scratch your head at the discouraging rejection letters these wonderful writers received. They didn’t give up, and you shouldn’t either.

Don’t Strive for Perfect Prose

Many new writers think that everything that flows from their computer must be golden. Hence, if they write a few pages which doesn’t sound worthy of a Pulitzer, they’re disappointed. Forget about writing a perfect first draft. The most important part of writing is rewriting. Just concentrate on finishing a first draft. Then revise until you’re pleased with the final product.

Set a Writing Goal

Make a commitment to write a set number of pages per week. Can you commit to writing 10 or 15 pages per week? Or maybe committing to write three hours a day or three days a week works better for you. Whatever goal you set, make sure it’s realistic. Start out small and once you get into the flow of things, increase the goal. And if you fall short one week, don’t beat yourself up. There’s always next week.

Start a Writer’s Group

Put the word out that you’re looking to start a writer’s group. Tell friends, family members and colleagues that you’re looking for three or four serious writers who would like to build a supportive writing environment for themselves and other writers. You’ll probably have a lot of interest in the beginning, but only the serious writers will be around for the long haul. Establish a regular meeting time (at least once a month) and require at least two members to produce work for the group to critique each month.

Think About Your Story

Most people assume that if you’re not putting words on paper, then you’re not “writing.” I don’t feel that way. The next time you’re taking a long walk, standing in a grocery store line, or stuck in traffic, use the time to mull over your story. Think about your characters or your plot. Imagine your protagonist having a conversation. Think about how you might describe a room. Challenge yourself to invent a predicament that creates conflict for your character. If you come up with some great ideas, don’t forget to write them down.

Hang in there!

September summary

So, I am back from my vacation and of course I had books with me - and also bought some...

bought
168) Maureen Johnson: Suite Scarlett
169) Jill Shalvis: The Trouble With Paradise
170) Lisa McMann: Fade
171) US History for Dummies
172) Toni Morrison: Beloved
173) Heather Brewster: Eight Grade Bites

read
70) Ally Carter: Only The Good Spy Young
71) Becca Black: iDracula
72) Lisa McMann: Fade
73) Mordecai Dzikansky & Robert Slater: Terrorist Cop
74) Heather Brewster: Eight Grade Bites
75) Richard Peck: Three Quarters Dead

Book Review: Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

Author	Ann Aguirre
Title	Grimspace
Publisher	ACE
Date of Publication	February 26, 2008
Page Count	320
ISBN	978-0-441-01599-3
Series	Sirantha Jax #1

Sirantha Jax carries a rare gene - one that allows her to jump ships through grimspace, a place in which ships can travel to faraway places in a relatively short amount of time. Unfortunately, this work shortens the life of a so-called jumper significantly. When the ship Jax is navigating crashes, she's accused of killing everyone on board, and since she doesn't recall the crash, she can't really defend herself. Still incarcerated, a mysterious man visits Jax and offers to help her escape - for a price. She is supposed to help a small group of people break the monopoly the Corp has on interstallar travel ("jumping") and establish a new breed of jumpers.

Before I write anything about my thoughts, I have to admit it has been 8 months since I read Grimspace, so this will most likely be a bit spotty at times. Nonetheless, I still remember a lot about the book because it was just this impressive! In general, I'm not what you would call a sci-fi reader let along a sci-fi fan, but I came across this book and it just sounded interesting. It reminded me in the hours I spent with my Dad watching Star Trek back in the day (15 years ago or so). I was simply intrigued by the idea behind the book and Ann Aguirre did not let me down there. It was easy to gain access to the world of Sirantha Jax and you could see some real character development even in this first book in the trilogy, not just an introduction to the most important people.

The sad point for me is that I am very reluctant to read the other two parts in the trilogy, because I made the huge mistake of reading a review at Amazon (Yes, I know - what a huge mistake!!! Lesson learned ;) ) and it totally gave away the fact that two characters who grow close during the first book grow apart again later on. I am not sure I want to continue the series, so if you have read it: will it totally bog the story down or is it still as amazing as the first book? But if you haven't read the book yet, don't worry, because I think you can leave it after book one without being unsatisfied, because the big question definitely is answered at the end.

PFL: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
pub date: March 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

In her dreams he’s irresistible—seductive, charming, and undoubtedly dangerous. But when he appears to her when she’s awake—and captivates her just the same—she’s not sure which way is up and which is down.

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.

Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Who is Haden? And why are the rules for Theia harsher than those of other kids? Is there a reason for that? My first questions and ones I am incredibly curious to find the answers for!

Book Review: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

Author	Ally Carter
Title	Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Gallagher Girls)
Publisher	Hyperion
Date of Publication	December 23, 2008
Page Count	236
ISBN	978-1-4231-0006-5
Series	#2 Gallagher Girls

After being forced to give up her first boyfriend ever, Cammie Morgan hopes and wants a peaceful semester at Gallagher Academy. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen. First, Gallagher Academy is the leading school for girl spies, and then Cammie is a CIA legacy. On top of that, something strange is going on at the school and in the headmistress's office, murmuring about Blackthorne is going on. But who is Blackthorne and what's the mystery all about? Not long after this, the girls are again crawling through secret passageways and surveilling the school.

With the Gallagher Girls books it is like returning to good old friends. Cammie, Bex, Liz & Macey are girls I would like in real life as well. They're witty, intelligent and they know how to kick ass!

With Cross My Heart And Hope To Spy we're once again back at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women and this time around, there are some unusual happenings going on at the school building itself. With a quick summary of the first book - world-of-mystery style! - , Ally Carter brings us back into the world of Cammie and we're thrust into a new adventure.

As much as I loved the first book, I think this one was even better. I felt I already knew how they think and feel, so I could guesstimate how the girls were going to act and react towards the happenings at Gallagher Academy, but there were still surprises. My lips are sealed as to what these surprises actually are or how they came to existence, but be assured - it's awesome! As soon as I finished the second installment (A couple months, ago, I admit!), I pre-ordered the third book, Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover - that's how much I needed to get back together with "my girls"!

PFL: All Just Glass by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



All Just Glass by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
pub date: January 11, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

Sarah Vida has given up everything for love. From a legendary family of vampire-hunting witches, Sarah was raised to never trust a vampire, to never let her guard down, and to avoid all tricky attachments of the heart. But now Sarah IS a vampire—changed by the boy she thought she loved. Her family has forsaken her, and Sarah herself is disgusted by her appetite for blood.
Aida Vida is Sarah's older sister, the good, reliable sibling who always does her family proud. But when Aida's mother insists that Sarah be found and killed, Aida is given the one assignment that she may not be able to carry out.
Taking place over just twenty-four hours, ALL JUST GLASS tells the story of a game-changing battle that will forever change the world of the Den of Shadows. And at its center is the story of two sisters who must choose between love and duty. Dark, fully-imagined, and hard to put down, ALL JUST GLASS will thrill Amelia's fans—old and new.

Oooohhhh! Turned into the very thing she was taught to hate and hunt, how will Sarah deal with her life now? And can her sister complete the assignment? I am so very curious to find it out... And then, there's the cover which I think fits great with the summary!

PFL: Orchards by Holly Thompson

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Orchards by Holly Thompson
February 22, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

After a classmate commits suicide, Kana Goldberg—a half-Japanese, half-Jewish American—wonders who is responsible. She and her cliquey friends said some thoughtless things to the girl. Hoping that Kana will reflect on her behavior, her parents pack her off to her mother's ancestral home in Japan for the summer. There Kana spends hours under the hot sun tending to her family's mikan orange groves.
Kana's mixed heritage makes it hard to fit in at first, especially under the critical eye of her traditional grandmother, who has never accepted Kana's father. But as the summer unfolds, Kana gets to know her relatives, Japan, and village culture, and she begins to process the pain and guilt she feels about the tragedy back home. Then news about a friend sends her world spinning out of orbit all over again.

A few years ago, I started developing "a thing" for anything Japanese. It started out with anime series, mangas and Japanese TV series and even though I don't watch any of the series anymore and haven't read many mangas this year, Japan still holds a special place in my heart. I'm curious to see how Kana deals with spending time in Japan where she has to learn how to fit in.

BBAW Interview with Melissa @ I Swim For Oceans

So, today I have another special for you. As you all probably know, this is the Book Blogger Appreciation Week. For this special occasion, I got to interview Melissa from I Swim For Oceans. I didn't know Melissa's blog before this, but I've come to like it a lot, so I suggest you take a look as well!


Tell me a bit about yourself. What do you do when you're not blogging?

When I’m not blogging, I’m usually working. I know…it’s riveting. I have a very demanding job working as a technical writing and proposal coordinator for a consulting company. Basically, that just means I write government and military proposals. It’s deathly dull. When I’m not working though, I’m swimming, running, going to concerts, or rabidly reading.

You started your blog out as a personal blog, talking about your life in general and also a bit about the book you were (are?) writing. What made you change it to a book blog?

Frankly, I’ve always been interested in blogging, but I never knew what I wanted to blog about. I liked the name that I’d picked for my hypothetical blog though, so I decided to go ahead and start something and see where it went. At first, it didn’t go anywhere. I mean, let’s be honest, nobody wants to know what I ate for breakfast, where I went at lunch, and who I met for dinner. I was looking for a book to read one day when I stumbled on a book blog, and I was hooked. It gave me an outlet to babble incessantly about the literary world and not have people judge me! Books are so much a part of all of our lives that it’s nice to “meet” others out there like me.

Speaking of your life as a writer - how is everything going along? What are you writing about?

Let’s just say that I’m a perpetually aspiring author. I doubt I’ll ever be published, but I will always write. I recently shelved my last full manuscript called Fire & Snow. I just couldn’t tie it all together, so I decided to let it go. Right now, I’m working on a dark, YA dystopian called RACE, about genetically engineered human weapons designed to destroy but desperately trying to survive in an omniscient society determined to exterminate them because they can’t control them. Crazy, eh?

You repeatedly mentioned that you escaped Alcatraz when you were 22. What's the story behind that?

Well, I’m addicted to the water, and I’m also addicted to adrenaline-fueled challenges. After I completed swimming in college, I wanted to try open water swimming, and that was the most challenging race I could find. The water was 52 degrees on race day, and there were 800 competitors from around the world. They ferried us out to the island, dropped us off along the side, and then there was a mass start. Now, if you’ve ever seen a race start, it’s violent. People claw over one another to break to the front. It took me 31 minutes to swim the mile and a half to shore, and I placed 22nd overall, 3rd of all the women, and 1st in my age group. It’s an incredible experience and, hey, who doesn’t want to say something cool like they escaped Alcatraz?

You've been a competitive swimmer for most of your life, starting when you were 3. How has it formed your life and why did you stop competing?

Swimming has always been a part of my life. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t doing it. While in middle school and high school, kids were having social lives and getting involved in school activities. I practices twice a day an hour away from my home. My friends and family were my teammates, and they understood the massive commitment it takes to be a competitive athlete. Swimming made me who I am today by teaching my discipline, perseverance, and the importance of hard work – something that is invaluable. I stopped competing in pool swimming because I graduated college and finished my NCAA eligibility. Now I compete Open Water races for fun because I want swimming to be a joy, rather than a chore in my life now.

You're a huge Harry Potter fan (so am I, by the way). What is your favorite aspect of the books? What is your least favorite aspect?

I think my favourite aspect of the books is that you can lose yourself in the world of Harry Potter, no matter your age. They appeal to so many age ranges. My least favourite aspect would have to be the epilogue in the seventh book. It’s cute, but I felt it was too abrupt, and it makes me sad…in a weird way!

What are your Top 5 books? (If 5 is too difficult, you can chose up to 10 book - I know how hard it can be to choose the best of the best!)

Oh gosh! This type of question is always evil because there are just so many options. Ok, I’m going to do my best:
Many Waters by Madeleine L’Engle
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (though I’ll probably list all 7 here)
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Last Silk Dress by Ann Rinaldi
Redwall by Brian Jacques
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
I’m just going to have to stop there, or I will keep going, but the list goes on. Those are just a few of my constants.

If you had to pick one genre or category of books to read for the rest of your life - no ways out, no changing your mind, ONE genre or category. Which would you choose?

While I know I’m 24, and I’m technically out of the genre, I think I would choose anything YA. Don’t get me wrong, I love plenty of other genres, but sometimes I feel adult books lose their soul in order to write “pretty” or “profound.” YA may not always be the deepest, but it’s always the best to connect with.

If you could take only 3 books on a month-long vacation, which books would you choose?

See, now you’re just evil! Ok…just three books for one month? Hmmmm…I would probably pick one really long and difficult one, one fun and simple read, and one long, but heartfelt read. So, I guess I would pick:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (I really want to read it, but ahhh it’s hard!)
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan (fun and simple)
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (long but heartfelt)

Imagine a new reader stumbles upon your blog. Which 3 posts would you want her or him to read? And why did you choose those three?

That’s a good question. I would probably want them to know a little about who I am, how I do a review, so I would say they should read the Friday Fix #7 featuring yours truly and one of my review of Mockingjay because I’m proud I did it sans spoilers! The third post would probably be any Teaser Tuesday because I feature some of my writing, and I love to hear what people think…good or bad.

What do you like best about blogging, especially blogging about books?

I went through phases. Blogging was fun, but without a purpose. Then it became a chore. Now, I’ve finally settled into a routine where I love blogging, and the best part is meeting others who love books, love to write, and love to discuss literature 24/7. Without blogging, I wouldn’t be able to connect with my blogging buddies from New Zealand to Japan, to Europe, Asia, and Africa. It’s an incredible network.

Guest Post: At the Museum by M.J. Rose

Today I have a wonderful guest post for you - from the amazing author M.J. Rose! I'm excited about this one not only because it's the first guest post by an author here at the Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic, but also because I have enjoyed M.J. Rose's Morgan Snow books a lot (albeit in German, for the sake of Mom). So thanks to Tracee from Pump Up Your Book and Review From Here for making this possible.

And now, without further ado, I pass the word to M.J. Rose!

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At the Museum ~ by M.J. Rose

Growing up, I didn’t want to be a writer; I wanted to be an artist. We lived a block away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and I started taking Saturday morning art classes there when I was just seven years old.

I’ve often felt art is my religion and that museums in general but the Met specifically is my temple of choice. It’s where I go to be renewed, refreshed and inspired. I don’t think I’ve ever gone longer than a month without visiting there.

So its not all that surprising that sooner or later I’d write a novel with a museum as one of my main characters and that I’d pick the museum that was in my backyard when I was a kid.

But how I got idea for the Hypnotist is surprising, at least to me.

One day about three and a half years ago, on one of my regular pilgrimages to the Met, I headed straight for one of my favorite spots. The Mastaba Tomb of Perneb is a tiny bit of 5th Dynasty Egypt transplanted to Manhattan. A gift from Edward S. Harkness to the museum in 1913.

You can enter the limestone tomb from the left or the right. One doorway leads to the main offering chapel. I took the other, which leads to a second ritual chamber. The space is very small and only three or four people can fit at the same time. I was lucky to be in the intimate ritual chamber alone and looking through the slot in the wall at a wooden statue of Perneb in the room beyond known as a serdab. In ancient times this passage way allowed for family and priests to offer up incense and chants to the deceased.

I heard footsteps. A little girl about seven or eight had entered and came up beside me to look through the slot. She had long blonde hair and was wearing a school uniform. I watched her examine the space, giving every section careful attention.

“It hasn’t changed much at all,” she said finally in a wistful voice.

I asked her what she meant.

“Since the last time I was here,” she said.

Something about the way she said it made me curious. “When was that?” I asked.

“When I lived in Egypt.”

“You know this tomb has been on display in this museum since 1916.” I said.

“I lived in Egypt way before that,” she said and smiled. She was about to say something else when from outside the chamber an older woman’s voice called out.

“Veronica, it’s time to go. Now. Please.”

The little girl ran off, quickly, without looking back, without giving me a chance to ask her anything else.

Even though I write about reincarnation, I haven’t had any meaningful reincarnation episodes of my own. I don’t get visitations. I’ve never seen a ghost. But I’m not sure what happened that afternoon.

I can picture Veronica in her navy jumper and white blouse that had a dark smudge on the collar. She had a one-inch scratch on her left hand. Her hair was pulled off her face with a silver barrette. A lot of curls had escaped. She had a child’s voice but it was so charged with adult emotion.

It was that emotion which sparked the idea for my novel, The Hypnotist. And the paintings and sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum that fueled it.

If you go the Met, please go visit Perneb’s tomb. And if you see a little girl there with long blonde hair and a blue school uniform… ask her if her name is Veronica… and if it is, thank her for me.

PFL: The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
pub date: February 22, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

A series set in a Lovecraftian industrial city in an alternate 1950s that centers on a mechanically gifted young girl approaching her 16th birthday, the age at which everyone in her family goes insane, leaving it up to her to unravel the mystery of their madness--and save the world.

It is 1955...but not the 1955 you know. The Witchcraft Scare polarizes America. Magic is outlawed and practitioners are burned. And one girls has discovered that magic is neither fiction nor fairy tale, but very much alive...

Aoife Grayson is a month shy of sixteen, the age when everyone in her family goes mad. An orphan in the steam-powered city of Lovecraft, Massachusetts, Aoife escapes the confines of her repressive boarding school and along with her best friend Sam and outlaw guide Dean, sets out to discover the secret of her family's madness. What she discovers is a world of forbidden magic and faerie curses, and a dark secret that has shadowed the Grayson family for generations. Aoife must choose between keeping the secret or keeping her sanity, and unravel the dark machinations of the Winter Court of the Fae before it's too late to save her city...or herself.

Oh wow! I love fairy tales - or fae tales, if you like - and a world where magic exists but is outlawed *sigh*

PFL: Other Words For Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Other Words For Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
pub date: January 11, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

Ari Mitchell feels invisible at her Brooklyn high school. Her hair is too flat, her style too preppy, and her personality too quiet. And outside school, Ari feels outshined by her beautiful, confident best friend, Summer. Their friendship is as complex and confusing as Ari’s relationship with her troubled older sister, Evelyn, a former teenage mom whose handsome firefighter husband fills Ari’s head with guilty fantasies.

When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York—and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari’s family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future. Meanwhile, Summer warns her that what she feels for Blake is just an infatuation. Not real love. But Ari’s world is awash with new colors, filled with a freshness and an excitement she hasn’t felt in years.

When misfortune befalls Blake’s family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?

What is going on in the world of Ari? That's what I want to know - and I can't stop wondering. This question has been following me since I first heard about Other Words For Love...

Book Review: The Boy In The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

And once again my friend Karmeloeule wrote a wonderful review.

Author	John Boyne
Title	The Boy In The Striped Pajamas
Publisher	David Fickling Books
Date of Publication	October 28, 2008
Page Count	240 pages
ISBN	978-0-3857-5189-6

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a book about many things: about not wanting but having to, about missing someone dear, about friendship and most definitely about things one does not know about.

Bruno is a nine year old boy living in Berlin. When his father is promoted to a new place, his family has to move with him. Bruno is not thrilled: not only does he have to leave this beautiful house full of memories and adventures, but also his friends and relatives stay behind. Yet, as a very well-educated German child, Bruno is not in the position to display his resentment: all he knows is that he has to move together with his mother, his teasing and annoying sister and some of their household to a place called “Aus-Wisch”. Nothing in “Aus-Wisch” and the new house do not even rudimentary reach the level of Bruno’s home Berlin. The house is not as noble, the people are not as friendly and, most crucial, there is no other child to play with.
Driven by his curiosity, Bruno one day begins to explore the surroundings and what he finds is what he thought to never have again: a friend.

I really did like this story, if one may say so. I entered Boyne’s world completely unaware of its content- which I recommend everyone in order to stay excited and share the eagerness to explore what’s everyone is not talking about- and was surprised how fast I could see with Bruno’s eyes. This book is truly extraordinary. I’d loved the way Boyne approached such an on the one hand highly explosive, yet for us Germans slowly annoying (we are confronted with it all the time and one could say “Not again a book about the Nazis and so on”) topic. I would say that this catching book adds perfectly to the category of “When Hitler stole the pink rabbit” and should be obligatory for kids in school as well as at home.
This book is an exemplar I am so happy I bought, read, thought, wrote, talked about and I look forward to- one day- give it to my children.

PFL: The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
pub date: January 1, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than gold or oil-and worth killing for

Vera and her brother Will live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations. Timely and eerily familiar, acclaimed author Cameron Stracher makes a stunning YA debut that's impossible to forget.
"Let us pray that the world which Cameron Stracher has invented in The Water Wars is testament solely to his pure, wild, and brilliant imagination, and not his ability to see the future. I was parched just reading it."-Laurie David, academy award winning producer of An Inconvenient Truth, and author of The Down to Earth Guide to Global Warming

PFL: Timeless by Alexandra Monir

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Timeless by Alexandra Monir
pub date: January 11, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

When her mother is killed in a car accident, Michele Windsor has no choice but to move in with the wealthy grandparents she's never met in New York. Disillusioned by their coldness, Michele retreats into her room, where she discovers her great-great-aunt's journal--and, once she touches its pages, finds herself hurtled back in time.

In the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele learns that a wedding is coming up between the Windsors and another prominent family, the Walkers. But when Michele attends a party, something miraculous happens: while almost no one can see her in this era, one gorgeous young man with sparkling blue eyes can. Drawn together by mutual attraction, the two bond over music and the parents they've recently lost. But when the party is over, Michele learns the truth--the man she just fell for is Phillip Walker. And she, unknowingly, has just inspired him to call off his wedding to her great-great-aunt, prompting a family feud that will last for generations.

As Michele travels back and forth in time, she and Phillip meet over and over, always frustrated by their inability to have more than a few hours together. Michele knows she should try to make a life in the present, but none of the boys at school can hold a candle to Phillip. Finally, Michele tries to end their romance altogether--spurring a tragedy that transcends generations. Has Michele destroyed her chances for happiness? Or is her love for Phillip . . . timeless?

This fairy tale, mysterious time travel novel sounds awesome, if it was on the shelves already, I would rip it right off to read it. I am pretty sure I'll love Michele and I want to know more about Phillip! Who is this mysterious guy and what will happen between them?

Book Review: The Ivy by Lauren Kunze with Rina Onur

Starting today, I will have a guest reviewer, my wonderful friend Karmeloeule (so obviously not her real name!). This is her first review for my blog and I think she's done a great job!

Author	Lauren Kunze with Rina Onur
Title	The Ivy
Publisher	Greenwillow Books
Date of Publication	August 31, 2010
Page Count	320
ISBN	978-0-0619-6045-1

In anyone’s life comes the time when the whole stress of intensive learning finds its climax in the final exams and –hopefully- a successful graduation from High School. Callie Andrews is no exception; yet, her finals are topped by the admission to the oldest and most accredited university of the Old and New World: Harvard. Being a prior soccer captain, Californian Callie is confronted not only with the immense academic expectations, but also challenged by many unwritten laws. Styling guidelines, social hierarchy, extracurricular activities build rather the basis since Callie is her own misery: many gorgeous guys equal a lot of trouble. The true dimension of her dilemma is yet to be explored.

“The Ivy” is pure entertainment: nasty Harvard socialite meets innocent girl. The thought of ‘once you made it into Harvard, nothing is an obstacle anymore’ is truly contradicted. Despite certain differences, “The Ivy” can easily be mentioned in one breath with the “Gilmore Girls”, moreover, a sequel of Rory’s time at Yale. Luckily, it shall be a series and has definitely potential to become a movie or a TV production. Lauren Kunze’s work is definitely a book that should not be missed in a girl’s book shelf. As you can see, I am completely satisfies and excited + I can’t wait for the next part!

Vacation time!

Starting on Monday, I will be away on a vacation for about three weeks. I am already very excited because I will visit my cousin again. She lives in Maryland and so it is an exciting trip across an entire ocean! I am sure we'll have a great time together. I've been with them for a few days in May already (right before BEA), but it was just too short! I am not yet sure what we'll do (except for one thing: My cousin already warned me that we'd go shopping - yay!). Once I'm back I will let you know what we did.

Unfortunately, this also means I will not be around much. I have quite a few posts that will show up to give you something to read, but it might take longer for me to approve comments, but please do not let this keep you from commenting! The posts will be a nice mix of reviews both by a friend of mine and myself (I do have a backlog, after all!) and some PFL posts.

I'm afraid I'm incapable...

Yes, I truly believe this! I am really incapable of writing down my own blog's url. I don't know how long this has been going on, but apparently my brain is hardwired for the e-mail address I use for my blog - which leaves out the "secret"-part of the blog's name and url. Sorry about that!

PFL: Bloody Valentine by Melissa de la Cruz

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.

Bloody Valentine by Melissa de la Cruz
December 28, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series.

It's a Blue Bloods book - what more do I have to say! I absolutely loved the previous ones, so it is a must read for me...

August summary

This was such a sad month regarding the DNFs! I can't believe I dumped three sooo promising books *sigh* I don't know what was wrong with me this month. I read some awesome books, but these three books sounded right up my alley and then the main characters all just got on my nerves big time! At least, I know I finished some quality literature both with Shakespeare's play and the German book On Borders and a whole bunch of other great books. That is somewhat of a consolation!

added
161) William Shakespeare: Twelfth Night
162) William Shakespeare: King Lear
163) William Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice
164) Samantha Mackintosh: Kisses For Lula
165) Ally Carter: Only The Good Spy Young
166) Sarah Mlynowski: Gimme A Call
167) Katherine Chloé Cahoon: The Single Girl's Guide To Meeting European Men

read
60) Jennifer Echols: Major Crush
61) Florentine Dame & Elizabeth Weydt: An Grenzen (On Borders)
62) Teri Hall: The Line
63) William Shakespeare: Twelfth Night
64) Nora Roberts: Vision in White
65) Louise Rennison: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
66) Lisa McMann: Wake
67) Lindsey Kelk: I Heart New York
68) Kristan Higgins: Too Good To Be True
69) Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

DNF
4) Sydney Salter: Swoon At Your Own Risk
5) Lionel Shriver: Double Fault
6) Sydney Salter: My Big Nose And Other Natural Disasters

PFL: Rosebush by Michele Jaffe

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Rosebush by Michele Jaffe
December 14, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

See Jane run. See Jane die.

Instead of celebrating Memorial Day weekend on the Jersey shore, Jane is in the hospital surrounded by teddy bears, trying to piece together what happened last night. One minute she was at a party, wearing fairy wings and cuddling with her boyfriend. The next, she was lying near-dead in a rosebush after a hit and run.

Everyone thinks it was an accident, despite the phone threats Jane swears were real. But the truth is a thorny thing. As Jane's boyfriend, friends, and admirers come to visit, more memories surface--not just from the party, but from deeper in her past...including the night her best friend Bonnie died.

With nearly everyone in her life a suspect now, Jane must unravel the mystery before her killer attacks again. Along the way, she is forced to examine the consequences of her life choices in this compulsively readable thriller.

With Rosebush I think I will get everything - a YA, a mystery and a thriller - so yes, I'm already certain it will be a future love!

PFL: When The Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



When The Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer
pub date: November 23, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

Based on the famed Carmen story, it's a love triangle taking place over a summer against the backdrop of competitive drum & bugle corps.

I absolutely love the Carmen story ever since one of my music teachers introduced us to it in class about 15 years ago - I just need to read this!

PFL: The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
pub date: November 2, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.

I am always curious how dynamics in boarding schools are - and a secret society that makes sure bad behavior and crimes are being punished, well, what's not to love about that!? And the fact that they named themselves after one of my all-time favorite books only adds to that feeling!

Book Review: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

For rather obvious reasons, this will not be a review as you usually find them on my blog. What negative aspects could I possibly find in a work of one of the great ones anyway?

Author	William Shakespeare
Title	Twelfth Night (Wordsworth Classics)
Publisher	Wordsworth
Date of Publication	1601/1602 ???
Page Count	128 pages
ISBN	978-1-853-26010-0

Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are shipwrecked and both believe the other to be dead. Viola is saved by an unnamed captain, who helps her masquerade as a man, and subsequently ends up as a page under Orsino, Duke of Illyria. Orsino asks Viola, known to him as Cesario, to help him woo Olivia, a beautiful if cold-hearted countess. Olivia, though, falls in love with the sensitive Cesario (Viola in disguise). The entire play is spread out through five acts and has a comic subplot which takes up a significant part. In this subplot, quite a number of secondary characters conspire to make Malvolio, Olivia's head steward, believe his mistress returns his feelings.

This is one of the few cases in which it is not a book that catched my eye, but a movie adaptation. I have always had and will always have a soft spot for anything Shakespeare, so when I watched She's the Man (Full Screen Edition), I was surprised to find out it was based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. I first picked up the movie because I wanted some fun teen flick to relax and just sit back and enjoy it. But oh what little did I realize about it! Now granted, I do not often watch a movie before I read the book because I'm a firm believer in "The book is always better!" (but the movie might still be worth watching). All in all, this was maybe the 5th case of movie before book in my entire life?

First off, it has my all-time favorite guy in there - Channing Tatum! And no, I'm not above and beyond squealing and swooning, when it comes to this guy.

(For more pics of Channing Tatum, click on the pic above - that's the blog from which I got this one.)

While the movie is far from an exact adaptation of the original play by William Shakespeare, it is well worth watching and I managed to watch it 4 times withing 26 hours. There are quite a few not so obvious hints at Twelfth Night and other tuned down, yet hilarious scenes one does not necessarily see the first time around. If you're up for a little funny, yummie movie, you might want to go out and watch this. And no, I'm on purpose not saying anything about Shakespeare's play. I love his works and there's nothing better!

Oh, and for the record, if you're all up for a little eye candy in form of Channing Tatum: he rocks sports outfits, regular clothes, towels & a tux in this one (and I'm somewhat certain I forgot another style)...

PFL: Matched by Ally Condie

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Matched by Ally Condie
November 30, 2010

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic.

Apart from the pretty, pretty cover, the biggest turn on for me was the fact that the main character, Cassia, has to decide whether to stick to society's urge for perfection or to go for her own passion. For those who don't know it (yet), one of my minors at university is comparative religion and I have a soft spot for everything and anything about Judaism. There, especially among the orthodox branches, matchmaking (shidduch) is a very important part of finding The One - and it is all based on family, upbringing, health and religious life (among other things). So I am always curious how matchmaking works in other, even fictional, societies. And then, there's the aspect of a dystopia! Oh my, three big reasons for reading this book!

PFL: Stork by Wendy Delsol

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Stork by Wendy Delsol
pub date: October 12, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

After her parents' divorce, Katla and her mother move from Los Angeles to Norse Falls, Minnesota, where Kat immediately alienates two boys at her high school and, improbably, discovers a kinship with a mysterious group of elderly women--the Icelandic Stork Society - who "deliver souls."

I don't have an explanation for that one other than the truly stunning cover (I can look at it for hours!) and the fact that something in the summary just speaks to me...

PFL: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
pub date: October 12, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

What can I say, I need to know how the story continues!

PFL: The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block
pub date: September 28, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

When she was thirteen, something terrifying and mysterious happened to Liv that she still does not understand, and now, four years later, her dark secret threatens to tear her apart from her family and her true love.

From this very short summary, I'm already intrigued and very curious. What is Liv's secret? What happened when she was thirteen? And how will it all pan out for her? I can't wait to find out!

Book Review: Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Author	Dia Reeves
Title	Bleeding Violet
Publisher	Simon Pulse
Date of Publication	January 5, 2010
Page Count	454 pages
ISBN	978-1-4169-8618-8

Hannah is not your regular teenager. She is plagued by hallucinations, has a whole medicine cabinet full of pills and fills her closet with frilly, self-sewn dresses in violet - all of them! In search of love, Hannah runs away to Portero, Texas, to find a new home there - with her mother. Portero, however, turns out to be about as regular a town as Hannah is a regular girl. Soon, she discovers dark secrets and meets very mysterious people. As the cover flap text says - Anything can happen and no one is safe.

I have to admit, I saw the cover and just had to get it. The various darker shades of violet are absolutely georgous, and the girl on the cover seems to be mysterious, not stick figure thin, but beautiful. And then, there's the added effect of a POC actually displayed on the cover. And yes, even I, a white girl (think Snow White with reddish-brown-dark blonde hair) takes issue with incorrect portrayal of main characters on the cover!

But in the end, my absolute love for this book does not only have to do with the cover. Dia Reeves created characters that are absolutely amazing! They're not perfect the way some authors in the past have portrayed their characters, because I strongly believe that no one ever is perfect and that it is actually our quirks that make us likeable. With Hannah, her mother Rosalee, her friend Wyatt and all the others have flaws that are addressed head on.

What intrigued me even more was the fact that Hannah's mental illness, shown from her own point of view. Mental illnesses are often subdued or toned down in books unless they're specifially intended to teach about one such illness. Reeves instead showed how Hannah suffered from it and how she tried to cope with both her mental illness as well as the ways adults around her tried to deal with it.

I absolutely loved Dia Reeves' debut novel with its paranormal aspects and everything. I hope for a seque as I would love to revisit Hannah's world and I would like to find out more about the mysterious world of Portero. And of course, I also would love to find out how the relationship between Hannah and Wyatt develops in the future.

Addendum:
So far I know there will be another book by Dia Reeves which will be published in January 2011. Its title is Slice of Cherry, and I'm so excited, I already pre-ordered it!

PFL: Crave by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Crave by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz
pub date: September 21, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

Shay has had a rare blood disorder since she was born. In fact, her mother married one of Shay’s doctors, Martin, who left his world-renowned leukemia research to try and figure out exactly what the disorder is and how to cure it. When she turns seventeen, Martin begins to give her new blood transfusions that make her feel the strongest she has ever felt. But she also has odd visions where she sees through the eyes of a vampire. At first, she thinks she must be imagining the visions, but when she begins to see Martin’s office in them, she knows she has to check it out. That’s when she finds Gabriel, a sexy, teenaged vampire, imprisoned in Martin’s office. The connection she has built with Gabriel compels her to set him free. But when he kidnaps her in an attempt at revenge on Martin, their lives become deeply intertwined. She doesn’t know the half of it.

With this one, I'm mostly curious, because it's another take on the vampire story line - and I want to know what Martin is up to and what will bevome of Shay & Gabriel. I'm so curious!!!

PFL: When Rose Wakes by Christopher Golden

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



When Rose Wakes by Christopher Golden
pub date: September 28, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

An enchanting tale by Christoper Golden about a teenager who wakes from a coma and slowly comes to realize that she is Sleeping Beauty of fairy tales.

I absolutely loved the story of Sleeping Beauty! It was one of my two favorite fairy tales as a kid (the other one was the Princess on the Pea) and I want to read everything about Sleeping Beauty. I definitely want to have this book in my mailbox the day it is released, so I can read it right away and dive right in. The summary doesn't give much away, but dang, it's Sleeping Beauty - I'm soooo excited!

PFL: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
pub date: September 7, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

OMG! What can I say about this book? Ever since I first heard the title, I was absolutely excited about The DUFF and it never got less. In fact, when I read the summary, I was even more persuaded that this was one of those books that will just make my day and will end up on my list of best books ever! In a way, I'm a lot like Bianca, even now that I'm 9 years older than her.

I. Want. This. Book!!!

PFL: The Absolute Value Of -1 by Steve Brezenoff

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



The Absolute Value Of -1 by Steve Brezenoff
pub date: September 1, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

The absolute value of any number, positive or negative, is its distance from zero: |-1| = 1

Noah, Lily, and Simon have been a trio forever. But as they enter high school, their relationships shift and their world starts to fall apart. Privately, each is dealing with a family crisis—divorce, abuse, and a parent's illness. Yet as they try to escape the pain and reach out for the connections they once counted on, they slip—like soap in a shower. Noah’s got it bad for Lily, but he knows too well Lily sees only Simon. Simon is indifferent, suddenly inscrutable to his friends. All stand alone in their heartache and grief.

What absolutely intrigues me about this novel is that I just feel a deep need to know how each of the characters deals with his or her problems, how their friendship turns out considering all the difficulties and the love "triangle". And then, there's the fact that the title has a reference to math. Ever since I read The Housekeeper And The Professor by Yoko Ogawa I have a thing for math again.

July Summary

I hope to be back, as far as my reading is concerned. Let's see whether I can manage to "come back" where my reviews are concerned. I have already taken a good step towards preparing everything, now all I have to do is polish them up!

bought
152) Jandy Nelson: The Sky Is Everywhere
153) Jenny Meyerhoff: Queen of Secrets
154) Sandy Blair: A Highlander For Christmas
155) Suzanne Brockmann: Forever Blue
156) Mark Haddon: A Spot of Bother
157) William B. Bradshaw: The Big Ten of Grammar
158) Sidney Salter: My Big Nose And Other Natural Disasters
159) Jeff Brown & Mark Fenske: The Winner's Brain
160) Julie Kagawa: The Iron Daughter

read
50) Ryan A. Conklin: An Angel From Hell
51) Danielle Joseph: Shrinking Violet
52) Sapphire: Push (aka Precious)
53) Jill Shalvis, Rhonda Nelson & Karen Foley: Born on the 4th of July
54) Emily McKay: Affair with the Rebel Heiress
55) Emily Forbes: Wanted - A Father For Her Twins
56) Felix Anschütz et al.: Entschuldigung, sind Sie die Wurst
57) Cathy Williams: Bedded At The Billionaire's Convenience
58) Jandy Nelson: The Sky Is Everywhere
59) Ally Carter: Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover

DNF
2) Elizabeth Scott: Something, Maybe
3) Margaret McDonagh: Italian Doctor, Dream Proposal

Now, I haven't been around much during the past two weeks or so. Besides wrapping up the semester, I was also kind of preoccupied with strep-throat. And my strep-throat didn't go away with just one round of antibiotics, no I had to go through two rounds. And if you've ever taken that many antibiotics, you probably know how tired I was for the past weeks. Now it seems as if I'm finally okay again, so all I have to do is get my energy levels back up. I still sleep 10 hours a day when I don't have to get up for something important in the morning.

In the mean time, I didn't get that much reading done, I think. I read Push by Sapphire, which was so hard to read. I am still shocked! But let's leave that for the review. After that one, I definitely needed some brain candy in form of romance. I've read one short story collection and am now on a novel. After that, my brain should be able to deal with other things again. Push really had a harsh effect on me!

blame game time (July 3)

It is time for another blame game! The blame game was first done by Chris from Stuff As Dreams Are Made On, but I have adapted his rules to fit my needs.

Wendy of Wendy's Minding Spot reviewed Pamela Callow's Damaged, a legal thriller starring a female attorney crossing paths with a serial killer who dismembers girls.

Shanyn of Chick Loves Lit reviewed The Candidates by Inara Scott

Beth of Beth Fish Reads only mentioned Emma Donoghue's Room, but it already has me in for this book!

June summary

I might as well give up the fight!

bought
140) Sarah Rees Brennan: The Demon's Covenant
141) Erin Healy: Never Let You Go
142) Jessica Leader: Nice and Mean
143) Virginia Woolf: Mrs. Dalloway
144) Simone Elkeles:Leaving Paradise
145) ELizabeth Scott: Something, Maybe
146) Teri Hall: The Line
147) Eileen Cook: What Would Emma Do?
148) Aprilynne Pike: Wings
149) Louise Rennison: Angus, Thongs And Full-Frontal Snogging
150) Sapphire: Push
151) Alice Sebold (ed.): The Best American Short Stories 2009

read
45) Andrew Davidson: The Gargoyle
46) Emmett James: Admit One - My Life In Film
47) August Wilson: Fences
48) Jennifer Solow: The Aristobrats
49) Angela Morrison: Taken By Storm

PFL: Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Fat Vampire by Adam Rex
pub date: July 27, 2010

Summary from GoodReads:

Doug Lee is undead quite by accident—attacked by a desperate vampire, he finds himself cursed with being fat and fifteen forever. When he has no luck finding some goth chick with a vampire fetish, he resorts to sucking the blood of cows under cover of the night. But it’s just not the same.

Then he meets the new Indian exchange student and falls for her—hard. Yeah, he wants to bite her, but he also wants to prove himself to her. But like the laws of life, love, and high school, the laws of vampire existence are complicated—it’s not as easy as studying Dracula. Especially when the star of Vampire Hunters is hot on your trail in an attempt to boost ratings.…

Leave it to Adam Rex to create a thought-provoking novel that takes on teen angst, sexuality, identity, love, and undeath in ways that break it out of the genre.

I haven't read about fat vampires yet and adding teen angst and first (?) love - I think this might just be a fun variation of a vampire novel.

PFL: The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood
pub date: July 20, 2010

Summary from GoodReads:

Jessamine Luxson lives with her father, Thomas, an apothecary, in an isolated cottage near Alnwick Castle. Thomas’s pride and obsession is his locked garden full of dangerous plants, which Jessamine is forbidden to enter.

When a traveler brings an orphan to their cottage, he claims the boy has special gifts that Thomas might value. Jessamine is drawn to the strange but intriguing boy, called Weed. Soon their friendship deepens into love. Finally, Weed shares his secret: He can communicate with plants. For him they have distinct personalities—and some are even murderous. From the locked garden the poisonous plants call to Weed, luring him with promises of deadly power.

When Jessamine falls inexplicably ill, only Weed’s relationship with the Poisons can save her. But Thomas is determined to exploit Weed’s abilities, even if it risks Jessamine’s life—or drives Weed to the brink of madness.…

Doesn't that sound great???

In My Mailbox monday (June 27)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event exploring the books I found in my mailbox and is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie. To join in, please visit Kristi's blog!

Mailbox Mondays is a weekly event hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page. To join, please visit her blog!

This week was fairly quiet. I received one book (Angus), which I had ordered last week because I want to read the book before I watch the movie. The other two books were pretty sponaneous acquisitions. In other words: I can't leave a book store without buying a book *sigh*


Angus, Thongs And Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison



Precious aka Push by Sapphire



The Best American Short Stories 2009 by Alice Sebold & Heidi Pitlor (eds.)

PFL: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

There are many different memes out there for bloggers to feature the books they're really, really looking forward to. Unfortunately, none of them really meet my needs as I tend to find books I consider my possible future loves in droves rather than one at a time. And I don't feel like featuring those books in droves either. When I fall for a book before its pub date, that usually means something! That means, from now on, you will occasionally (or for the next few weeks: quite some days) find this new feature here.



Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
pub date: July 20, 2010

Summary from GoodReads:

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past...and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves...and is nonetheless drawn to Cole. At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love--the light and the dark, the warm and the cold--in a way you will never forget.

What can I say? *sigh*

Follow my book blog Friday by Parajunkee

This is my first time joining Parajunkee's Follow my book blog Friday. Basically, it seems to be a great way to find more people around the book blogging world, so let's see what happens!

Letting it all out...

Okay, so I haven't been around much lately and maybe my PFL posts are a bit much right now (I'm playing catch up here, but I promise I'll be done soon and then it'll spread out more!), but in a way, I've been feeling a little lonely in the past - and the BEA only made it more evident. (And yes, I know I haven't finished my BEA post yet - I'll get there, promise!)

I'm a German girl, ahem, woman blogging in English*, while most of the book blogging community is set in the USA and Canada. So meeting up with other bloggers, getting to know them better or just tweeting at the same time is very, very difficult. It seems as if all the good ideas always pop up on Twitter first, but I only hear about them long after they first started, that way, I feel pretty left out (It doesn't help that this is a sore spot for me because back at school I was always the odd one out because of all the books I read - for pleasure! *gasp*). Also, I don't really get to meet up with anyone. Don't get me wrong, on Day 3 of BEA, I got to meet and talk to a few of my awesome fellow bloggers and it was great, but my lack of abilities when it comes to small talk doesn't help with keeping a conversation going. I still really, really appreciated the time I got to spend with those bloggers. Even with my social awkwardness, it was great to have people talking about books around me!!!

Some days, it really seems as if I'm so far on the outside, I don't even count as part of the book blogging community anymore. And BEA made that even more obvious to me because it seemed as if everyone knew each other there. There were always groups of bloggers running from booth to booth and signing to signing. I didn't have a group to spend time with, so I was just standing there on my own in line after line. I mean, I couldn't possibly just jump right in front of a group of people and say "Hi, I know your blog and absolutely love it!". That would seem soooo stalker-ish (sort of like Kasey's behavior on this season's The Bachelorette)...

Or maybe it's just that while I can still talk about the books I read, I don't get to talk about them with someone else. I just don't know anyone who reads books as soon as they're out in real life, and by the time I can buy the copy, it seems as if everyone already said all that was to say.

So yes, I'm throwing myself a pity party here, and I assume the heat (I'm melting in this room without AC!) and the fact that the guy** (obviously male and so not good for me) seems to be semi-back don't help too much. Even without those additional factors, I would still feel like that, but maybe I wouldn't feel the strong urge to write it out. Come to think of it, what doesn't help either is that I'm a shy person who takes things to the heart - too much, actually. Plus, I think I just revealed how flawed a person I am. I think I'll put me back in the corner of the Dreamworld where I've been for the past 4+ years.

---

*For the record: I have a German book blog as well, but I tend to feel a little guilty when I rave about a recently released book for which I couldn't even find a German pub date (it happens, although it has gotten better - and I'm no longer one of the few who stick to books in the original). Plus, when I read a book in English, it is easier for me to write about it in English. That way, I don't have to think about the best German word every other sentence. Or maybe it's that I have higher expectations for my book reviews when I write them in German. The ones you find here are pretty much as I would talk - only with less hmm's.

** From now on TG, should I ever feel the need to refer to him again.