Teaser Tuesdays (30)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read 

Open to a random page 

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teasers this week:

"My breath tore at my chest as I pushed myself faster than I thought possible. I was running from death and expected it to catch me at any moment."

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

p. 132

Paranormalcy is different from the usual YA paranormal. I am thoroughly enjoying it although I haven't had as much time to read it as I'd like. 

It's Monday What Are You Reading (42)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. I always enjoy seeing what other people have read and reviewed over the past week. It is also a great way to find new books to add to that ever-growing TBR list!


With the holiday last week I didn't have as much time to read and I didn't finish a single book (although I had a great Thanksgiving with my family). This week I hope to do better. I am participating in a lot of reading challenges and I'm starting to run out of time to read them. I have a lot of books checked out from the library but I may have to put them aside to read for my challenges!

Books finished:

None

Reviews:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Film Review

The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee

The Replacement by Brenda Yovanoff

Currently reading:

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

What I plan to read next:

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

(This is for a reading challenge. I loved the BBC film version so I'm sure I'll enjoy the book)

Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen


What does you reading week look like?

Review: The Replacement

The Replacement

By Brenda Yovanoff

Publication date: September 21, 2010

My review:

It is not unheard of for kids in the town of Gentry to go missing. People just don't talk about it. They mourn and they go on, hanging horseshoes and other protective charms over cradles. Mackie Doyle has been taught from an early age the importance of blending in. To stand out in Gentry is to invite trouble. The problem is that Mackie is different from everyone else-he is deathly allergic to iron and blood because Mackie isn't human. He is a replacement, left in the crib of Malcolm Doyle. Now his classmate Tate's sister Natalie is gone, replaced by a "child" that dies. Tate asks Mackie for help but how can he help her? Mackie must go back to his roots and the world that left him for dead to save Natalie.


The Replacement is set in a creepy town with an interesting premise based on Celtic folklore.  There is no name given to the creatures who live beneath Gentry but they appear to be based on folklore surrounding the Fae, or Old Ones. If this story was told from Tate's perspective I think it wouldn't have worked as well as it does. Mackie is an unusual protagonist but his flaws and differences make the reader like him more.

It is hard to define what genre this book belongs to. It has elements of romance between Mackie and Tate and at times it could almost be a suspense or horror novel. It also takes a look at the deeper idea of what it means to belong. I am not sure if this book is part of a series but it works as a stand alone novel.  Brenda Yovanoff's debut novel is fantastic and Mackie Doyle is a memorable protagonist. I would strongly suggest The Replacement to fans of Sarah Rees Brennan.


Readalikes: The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater, Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda, Nevermore by Kelly Creagh, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, The Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent

Waiting on Wednesday (32)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week, I am waiting on:

The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Jamila Stevenson

Publication date: January 8, 2011

When high school senior Asha Jamison gets called a "towel head" at a pool party, the racist insult gives Asha and her best friend Carey a great money-making idea for a post-graduation trip. They'll sell T-shirts promoting the Latte Rebellion, a club that raises awareness of mixed-race students.

Seemingly overnight, their "cause" goes viral and the T-shirts become a nationwide fad. As new chapters spring up from coast to coast, Asha realizes that her simple marketing plan has taken on a life of its own-and it's starting to ruin hers. Asha's once-stellar grades begin to slip, threatening her Ivy League dreams, and her friendship with Carey is hanging by a thread. And when the peaceful underground movement turns militant, Asha's school launches a disciplinary hearing. Facing expulsion, Asha must decide how much she's willing to risk for something she truly believes in.

I think this sounds like such a fantastic story and it would be a great book to read for next year's POC Reading Challenge. It is wonderful to see more POC YA fiction. I love the cover too.

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: The Body at the Tower

The Body at the Tower

By Y.S. Lee

Publication date: August 10, 2010

My review:

In this sequel to A Spy in the House, Mary Quinn is on the job again but this time the stakes are even higher as she disguises herself as a young boy to infiltrate a construction crew. A worker plummeted to his death from St. Stephen's Tower at night. There have also been mysterious thefts and injuries going on at the site. Mary's investigation is complicated as she faces the nightmares of her past and then James Easton returns, bringing complications of a different sort as Mary tries to untangle her feelings and avoid detection.

The Body at the Tower is another fantastic mystery set in Victorian London. Mary proves again that she is intelligent, courageous, and resourceful. It is hard to read about her struggle with her ethnic identity and her fears from the past as a child on the street. Mary matures over the course of this book in part because of her return to more difficult circumstances while she is impersonating a young boy. It is inspiring to see her newfound confidence and her determination to help those who are struggling. Mary's ability to confront the hardships of her past head on enables her to grow as a person. Her relationship with James also begins to deepen but as usual her work is a barrier between them. 


The Body at the Tower was also enjoyable from a historical perspective. I found it fascinating to read about the construction of St. Stephen's and the lives and working conditions of the construction crew. Big Ben is a famous landmark but I didn't really know much about its beginnings. I was a little disappointed that the mystery surrounding Mary's dad was not elaborated on but I am hopeful that we will find out more about him in the next book.  If you enjoy mysteries I would strongly encourage you to give the Agency series a try. You won't be disappointed!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Movie Review

Last Friday I had the day off so I decided to go and watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Usually when I watch a Harry Potter film for the first time I know that there will be scenes that I wish were included and scenes I wish were not added. While I was disappointed with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I was pleased with David Yates's adaptation of Half Blood Prince but with Deathly Hallows being my favorite book, I wasn't sure what to expect. 

Right away the film starts out like the book with Snape arriving at Malfoy Manor. After this scene however there is a new scene involving Hermione and her parents mixed with shots of Ron at the Burrow and Harry at Privet Drive watching the Dursleys get ready to depart. I loved the added scene. It really sets the tone for the film as the trio says goodbye to the safety of home as they prepare to hunt horcruxes.  The feel of this film is very different as it is not set at Hogwarts but all over Britain. My favorite scenes include the seven "Potters", Harry and Hermione at Godric's Hollow, and scenes with Dobby. In the film version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets I found Dobby to be annoying but here his scenes are touching. I also liked the creative way that The Tale of the Three Brothers is told but it does take you out of the moment in some ways. 

One thing I will note is that it appears that Harry seems to have forgotten about his invisibility cloak. It did not make a single appearance. I don't remember him using it in the Half Blood Prince film either and I wonder if perhaps the filmmakers don't like the special effects used to render Harry "invisible" but show us the cloak. For whatever reason, it is not used although it has a bearing on the story in Deathly Hallows. I also found myself laughing at Harry as Runcorn in the Ministry. In the book, Runcorn is a threatening figure and Ministry employees are afraid of him. He may not be a Death Eater but he very visibly shares their views. Here, the Polyjuice Runcorn walks like he needs to visit the facilities very badly and raises a laugh from the audience instead.

The film is mostly true to the vision of the book with a few changes and of course the typical lack of explanation. Really anyone who watches the films without having read the books is probably very bewildered by this point! It is entertaining to read Roger Ebert's reviews of the Potter films because he has not read the books.  Overall, I thought this was a fantastic movie and I will probably go and see it again (and watch it many times on DVD). As it was coming to a close I couldn't help but wish that I could watch the whole thing at once instead of waiting until July to see the conclusion!

Have you seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? What did you think of it? Did you feel that it was true to the spirit of the books?

It's Monday What Are You Reading (41)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. I always enjoy seeing what other people have read and reviewed over the past week. It is also a great way to find new books to add to that ever-growing TBR list!

Books finished:

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (audio reread)

The Replacement by Brenda Yovanoff

Currently reading:

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White


What I plan to read next:

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn

What does your reading week look like?

In My Mailbox (39)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to share what books you received for review, purchased, or checked out from the library during the past week.


This week I didn't get anything from the library but I was thrilled to receive two amazing e-ARCs from NetGalley!

For review from NetGalley:

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent


What did you get in your mailbox this week?

The Magic

There is something magical about discovering fantastic books and reading them for the first time. I experienced it with The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Lord of the Rings, and even more so with Harry Potter.This Friday, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I hits the big screen and I can't wait to see it. At the same time I am a little sad because I know that this is the beginning of the end. In celebration of the movie release I have been rereading the books and watching the movies. I am currently rereading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. It has been awhile since I reread it (2008 I think) and I can't help but reflect on how I felt when I first started reading the books. 


I loved how Harry had that sense of wonder when Hagrid tells him that he is a wizard and when he first visits Diagon Alley and Hogwarts. Everything is a new experience and in the same way, being introduced to the world J.K. Rowling created was a new experience for me as a reader. I didn't start reading the books until 2003 when my sister convinced me that I should give them a try. It wasn't long until I was hooked! Listening to the audiobooks and watching the movies only added to my enjoyment.


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a visual treat even if I prefer the darker themes and better acting in the later movies. The sense of wonder and magic from the book was perfectly captured and I enjoyed experiencing it along with Harry. Each time a new movie was released I eagerly looked forward to seeing it even though I knew that I'd be disappointed that some fantastic moment from the book didn't make it in. The movies still captured some of the magic of the books.


Although we've known the end of the story since 2007 I still feel like the journey isn't over until I've seen both parts of Deathly Hallows and any deleted scenes there may be on the DVDs. For me I still have at least one year to go until the magic is finally over. I comfort myself with the thought that I will watch the movies and reread the books many times in the years to come. 

Have you ever felt that way about a series of books or movies? 

Waiting on Wednesday (31)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am waiting on:

Deadly Little Games by Laura Faria Stolarz

Publication date: December 28, 2010

Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: They both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to sense things through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control and hurting people. Camelia's gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn't yet comprehend. Before either teen has a chance to fully grasp these abilities, an unresolved family tragedy resurfaces in Camelia's life, irrevocably changing everything she cares about...

Deadly Little Games is the third book in the Touch series. I was a little disappointed with the ending of the last book but I am hopeful I will still enjoy this one. I think it is an interesting premise.

What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesdays (29)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read 

Open to a random page 

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teasers this week:

"The minute she's gone, I hurry to Minnie's high chair and start cramming all the carrots into my mouth. For God's sake, why did she have to cook so many of the bloody things?"

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

p. 158

Nothing comes between Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) and her bargains. Neither act of God nor budget crunch can shatter her dreams of wall-to-wall Prada. Every milestone in her well-shopped life (travel, long-lost sister, marriage, pregnancy) inspires new vistas to explore in the name of retail therapy. But now she faces her greatest little challenge yet: Becky’s two-year-old daughter, Minnie. While motherhood has been everything Becky dreamed it would be—Baby Dior, Little Marc Jacobs, and Dolce & Gabbana for toddlers—adorable Minnie is wreaking havoc everywhere she goes, from Harrods to her own christening. Her favorite word is “MINE!” and her penchant for Balenciaga bags, Chanel sunglasses, and online purchases has no rival under age five.

Becky is at her wits end. On top of this, she and her husband Luke are still living with her parents. Thankfully it appears house buying attempt number four is a go! Until a huge financial crisis causes panic everywhere, and nobody wants to shop—not Becky’s personal shopping clientele, not her friends, nobody. And with Luke in the doldrums, it’s time for Becky to step in—with a party: A surprise birthday party for Luke (on a budget) is the perfect antidote to everyone’s woes. At first.  Will Becky manage to keep the party of the year a surprise? Can she hire jugglers, fire-eaters, and acrobats at a discount? Will enlisting the help of Luke’s unflappable assistant to convince him to have another baby realize her dream of matching pom-poms? Will Minnie find a new outlet for her energetic and spirited nature (perhaps one with sixty percent markdowns)? She is, after all, a chip off the old shopping block. And everyone knows a committed shopper always finds a way.

I just finished this latest Shopaholic novel over the weekend. At first I struggled to get into the book but I kept with it and soon found myself laughing out loud at Becky's antics. 

Reading Challenges

As November winds down I decided to take stock of how I am doing in my reading challenges. I think I was crazy to sign up for 21 challenges! I have finished 11 of them but I haven't even read a single book for the Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge. I haven't done a good job of reading nonfiction this year either. I don't think I will be getting through David McCullough's John Adams. I think next year I will pick short nonfiction books to read or I'll stick to cookbooks! All the same I am looking forward to signing up for some new challenges next year and even thinking about hosting my own mini challenge.

How are you doing with your reading challenges this year?

It's Monday What Are You Reading (40)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. I always enjoy seeing what other people have read and reviewed over the past week. It is also a great way to find new books to add to that ever-growing TBR list!

Books finished:

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Books reviewed:

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Currently reading:

The Replacement by Brenda Yovanoff

What I plan to read next:

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

What does your reading week look like?

In My Mailbox (38)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to share what books you received for review, purchased, or checked out from the library during the past week.


Even though I have a stack of books at home that I need to get through, I couldn't resist checking these out from the library this week!

From the library:

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

Passion Play by Beth Bernobich

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Simply from Scratch by Alicia Bessette

Valeria's Cross by Kathi Macias and Susan Wales




What did you get "in your mailbox"?

Review: Nevermore

Nevermore

By Kelly Creagh

Publication date: August 2010

My review:

When Isobel Lanley is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project she is less than pleased. She is a popular cheerleader and her boyfriend and friends consider Varen a goth freak.  Varen likewise views Isobel as shallow but as they are forced to work together, they grudgingly become friends.  This new friendship is put to the test however when her parents and friends disapprove and then strange things begin to happen. Are the creatures she sees just a figment of Isobel's imagination or does it have something to do with Varen and their project on Edgar Allan Poe?


Nevermore reimagines the fate of Edgar Allan Poe and the inspiration for his stories in this unusual and haunting paranormal romance.  I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere and suspense as much as the growing romance between Varen and Isobel. I also loved the use of Poe's poetry and short stories throughout the book, particularly The Masque of the Red Death. Varen is not the typical paranormal "hero". It is not usual to make the male romantic interest the victim of bullying. The combination of the paranormal storyline with the high school bullying/popularity storyline makes this book unique. 


Nevermore is a standout paranormal debut novel and I can't wait for the sequel. I would suggest this book to fans of the Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl as well as to those who enjoy Edgar Allan Poe. 


Readalikes: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl,  Lament by Maggie Stiefvater, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, Juliet Marillier

Waiting on Wednesday (30)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am waiting on:

The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig

Publication date: January 20, 2011

Laura Grey, a veteran governess, joins the Selwick Spy School expecting to find elaborate disguises and thrilling exploits in service to the spy known as the Pink Carnation. She hardly expects her first assignment to be serving as governess for the children of Andre Jaouen, right-hand man to Bonaparte's minister of police. Jaouen and his arch rival, Gaston Delaroche, are investigating a suspected Royalist plot to unseat Bonaparte, and Laura's mission is to report any suspicious findings. At first the job is as lively as Latin textbooks and knitting, but Laura begins to notice strange behavior from Jaouen-secret meetings and odd comings and goings. As Laura edges herself closer to her employer, she makes a shocking discovery and is surprised to learn that she has far more in common with Jaouen than she originally thought... As their plots begin to unravel, Laura and Jaouen are forced on the run with the children, and with the help of the Pink Carnation they escape to the countryside, traveling as husband and wife. But Delaroche will stop at nothing to take down his nemesis. With his men hot on their trail, can Laura and Jaouen seal the fate of Europe before it's too late?

I read an excerpt of the book on Lauren Willig's website and it was fantastic. I can't wait till The Orchid Affair is published!