Ten Years Ago-My Thoughts on September 11th

Ten years ago I was a recent college graduate on my way to my first real job interview for a job I wasn't really qualified for. I was so nervous that I was sick to my stomach and my dad drove me four hours to the interview. It was early on the morning of Tuesday September 11th, 2001. In an attempt to calm my nerves, I listened to cassettes of Enya, Celine Dion, and classical music for the entire four hour drive. Because of this my dad and I had no idea of the terrorist attacks taking place until I got to my interview. I was shocked to hear about the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I couldn't believe it. On our way home, my dad and I listened to the radio and my family watched the footage that night on TV. 

I'd always felt safe growing up in the States. The events of September 11th woke our nation to the fact that we aren't as safe here as we'd believed. But it also showed that Americans are brave and resilient. New York is rebuilding and our country is stronger. I've also been inspired by the stories of courageous people who lost so much yet continue to live and strive and love. 

I'd like to take a moment to pay my respects to the people who lost their lives on that tragic day and to those who lost loved ones. I also like to say thank you to the people who work every day to keep our country safe both here in the States and abroad.

In Remembrance

Review: Vanish

Vanish

By Sophie Jordan

Publication date: September 6, 2011

My review:

This sequel to Firelight starts right where that book left off as Jacinda, Tamra, their mother, and Cassian are fleeing Will's family of hunters. Going back to the Pride means giving up Will forever but Jacinda doesn't have a choice. Things are worse than she could have imagined though as she is kept under constant watch and treated poorly while Tamra is adored and their mother faces banishment. The threat of having Jacinda's wings clipped is also becoming more of a possibility. Cassian turns out to be a surprising source of comfort and an ally. It would be so much easier if she could just love him and do what the Pride expects of her. Then Will shows up on Pride lands but can Jacinda sacrifice everything to be with the boy she loves or will it be too high a cost?

In Firelight, Jacinda was treated like a precious treasure by the members of her Pride. They kept watch over her because her gift as a firebreather is highly valued. Now having fled the Pride and revealed herself to humans, Jacinda is in shame and treated like a criminal. Her sister Tamra was always ignored before but now she is the one who everyone seeks out. It looks like just as Jacinda has lost everything, Tamra's dreams are coming true. This change in Jacinda's circumstances drives home to her the consequences of her decisions. Unfortunately she still behaves selfishly at times and she can be self absorbed but by the end of the book she appears to be changing for the better.

Vanish gives a greater insight into the workings of the Pride since the bulk of the story takes place in the Draki community. We are introduced to some new characters as well but some of the old characters like Az, Jacinda's best friend, sort of fade into the background. Instead Tamra plays a bigger part in her sister's life. In Firelight I didn't like Tamra very much though I could understand her feelings toward Jacinda since she didn't manifest like Jacinda did. In Vanish, I liked Tamra a little more and the two sisters become closer.

The romance becomes more complicated in Vanish as Jacinda realizes that Cassian has genuine feelings for her and she has mixed feelings about him when Will appears to be out of the picture for good. There is also the added dilemma that it is expected that she and Cassian will become a couple for the sake of the Pride and that Tamra has been in love with Cassian for a long time. I am really tired of love triangles but at least it seems that Jacinda knows who she wants to be with by the end of the book. 

I am glad that Tamra becomes more likable here and that we get to know more about the Draki. It was also nice to see a little bit of maturation in Jacinda though she has a long way to go. Unfortunately the addition of a love triangle and the relatively few scenes between Will and Jacinda reduced my enjoyment of this sequel. What I really liked about Firelight was the romance and the strong chemistry between Jacinda and Will which we don't have enough of here. My overall thought is that while Vanish is not as good as Firelight, it is still an engrossing story and the cliffhanger ending makes me want to read the next book.

Readalikes: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Note: I received this e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Review: Blue Skies Tomorrow

Blue Skies Tomorrow

By Sarah Sundin

Publication date: August 1, 2011

My review:

On the outside Helen Carlisle is a grieving widow, busy taking care of her toddler son and volunteering. She lives with her in-laws, a fine upstanding couple devastated by the death of Helen's husband Jim. Reality is far from the image the Carlisles present to the world. Helen is determined to keep Jim's memory alive for her son and this means hiding the truth even from herself. Then Helen runs into Army Air Force Lt. Ray Novak who has been stationed nearby. Ray is severely disappointed about his new assignment as a supply officer. He misses being a flight instructor but because of his lack of combat experience he can't be in Training Command anymore. When he sees Helen again he thinks he may have found the silver lining to the situation. Though Ray wants to pursue a relationship with Helen, their past hurts may get in the way of any kind of future.

Blue Skies Tomorrow is the final book in the Wings of Glory series and features Ray, the eldest Novak brother. Ray has always wanted to be a minister like his father and while he enjoys flight and being a flight instructor for the Army Air Force, Ray does not want to go into active combat because it would likely mean taking the lives of others. Ray secretly fears that he is a coward unlike his brave younger brothers Jack and Walt who are both distinguished war heroes. Ray may not be like his brothers but he is still an admirable character. I loved how he wanted to face his fears and the way he doesn't give up under the difficult situations he faces. Helen is a character that you can't help but feel sorry for. She has suffered so much pain and abuse in her life that even when I felt frustrated with her for not standing up for herself I could understand why she behaved the way she did. It is a real joy to see her bloom under the kindness shown to her by Ray and others in the community. 

What I enjoy about Sarah Sundin's books is the combination of realistic and flawed characters, a positive faith message, romance, and fascinating historical information. Just like with the other books in the series there is also plenty of historical detail about flying planes as well as what life was like back home during WWII. The subject of the treatment of African Americans in the Service was also explored a little. Blue Skies Tomorrow does a nice job of bringing the series to a close in the final days of WWII. I will miss the Novak brothers but I can't wait to see what Sarah Sundin writes next. 

Readalikes: The Zion Covenant series by Bodie Thoene, The Daughters of Fortune series by Judith Pella, The Women of Valor series by Elyse Larson

Note: I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour through LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review

Waiting on Wednesday (67)

"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'm waiting on:

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont

Publication date: April 1, 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre… 

Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own…

I think this sounds like the perfect book for me! I love Jane Eyre and I like the idea of Emma being sucked into that story and experiencing Jane's life. 

How do you feel about modern books that are based on classics?

What are you waiting on this week?

Top Ten Sequels I'm Dying to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. There is a new subject each week and this week's topic is "Top Ten Sequels I'm Dying to Read".




My list (in order by publication date):


*The links will take you to the book descriptions on Goodreads but if you haven't read the prior book, beware of spoilers there*

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan (October 4, 2011)


This is the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series, which is a spin-off of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. This series has the same humor, adventure, and some of the same characters. Percy is in The Son of Neptune and I can't wait to find out what kind of trouble he gets into this time.

Crossed by Ally Condie (November 1, 2011)


Crossed is the sequel to Matched, a dystopian romance with a love triangle (which I am not fond of) and interesting world building.  Matched ended with a cliffhanger so I am eager to see what happens next for Cassia, Ky, and Xander.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (December 6, 2011)


I wasn't sure if I would like Clockwork Angel though I loved the Mortal Instruments series but I was glad to realize that the Infernal Devices prequel series is just as good plus it is set in Victorian England. I am excited about Clockwork Prince as I think we will find out more of Jem's secrets...

A Million Suns by Beth Revis (January 10, 2012)


Across the Universe was a great science fiction/dystopian debut novel set on a giant spaceship with cryogenically frozen passengers. This time, it looks like there is trouble with the Godspeed. 

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (March 6, 2012)


Delirium is an amazing dystopian romance with a surprising ending. Now we'll see how Lena is dealing with all the changes in her life...

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter (March 20, 2012)


I have been waiting a long time for this one as the Gallagher Girls is one of my favorite YA series. Super-Spy-in-Training Cammie is in real hot water as she has amnesia but she's a smart and creative girl so I'm sure she'll find her way out of this sticky situation!


City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare (May 8, 2012)


The Mortal Instruments series is probably my favorite YA paranormal series and with the way City of Fallen Angels ended with a big shocker about one of the characters, I can't wait to read City of Lost Souls to see how it turns out.


Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Spring 2012)


There isn't much information (or even a cover) available for this sequel to Divergent but as Divergent is currently my favorite book of 2011, I'm sure I will love Insurgent and can't wait to read it.

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead (June 19, 2012)


I just read and enjoyed Bloodlines and while it didn't have a cliffhanger it did end with this enticing sentence: "...I knew the uneasy peace we'd just established in Palm Springs was about to shatter. Dimitri Belikov had arrived." Excited? I know I am! June is too long to wait for The Golden Lily. 


Crown of Embers by Rae Carson (Fall 2012)


The Girl of Fire and Thorns is my second favorite book of 2011 and while there is nothing known about Crown of Embers, I am eager to read more about Elisa and her world.


Honorable Mention:


Hallowed by Cynthia Hand (sequel to Unearthly) (January 24, 2012)
Fever by Lauren DeStefano (Chemical Garden series #2) (February 21, 2012)
Timeless by Gail Carriger (Parasol Protectorate series #5) (February 28, 2012)
Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall series #3) (March 13, 2012)
The Savage Grace by Bree Despain (Dark Divine series #3) (March 13, 2012)

Did any of these make your list? 

Teaser Tuesdays (63)

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:

"What would he do to me if he thought I was a danger to him?If I allowed one tiny flicker of fear to cross my face, he would see it. He would know that I suspected him and then-"

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

p.105

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"On my fourteenth birthday when the sakura was in full bloom, the men came to kill us. We saw them come, Aimi and me. We were excited, because we did not know how to be frightened. We had never seen soldiers before."

Suzume is a shadow-weaver. She can create mantles of darkness and light, walk unseen in the middle of the day, change her face. She can be anyone she wants to be. Except herself.

Suzume died officially the day the Prince's men accused her father of treason. Now even she is no longer sure of her true identity.  Is she the girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother’s new husband, Lord Terayama? A lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama’s kitchens? Or Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands?  Everyone knows Yue is destined to capture the heart of a prince. Only she knows that she is determined to use his power to destroy Terayama.

And nothing will stop her. Not even love.


This book is not yet available in the States (It will be published in late April 2012). I couldn't wait that long to read it so I am glad I was able to buy it from The Book Depository. I am really enjoying this fantasy retelling of Cinderella. It reminds me of Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon and Eon by Alison Goodman.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (78)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. 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!


Tuesday was the first meeting of my book discussion group. While only one person was able to attend the initial meeting, once I started advertising our first book pick, several people picked up copies so I hope that the first actual book discussion later this month will be well attended. Plus I'll be serving Chinese food to go with the book (Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok) so it should be fun.


I didn't post a single review last week which is unusual for me. I hope to remedy that this coming week! I did get some more reading in though and really enjoyed some fantastic books. 


I am also holding a new giveaway for The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, a YA fantasy novel that will be published later this month. It is open Internationally so be sure to check it out!

Books read:

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

I was a little worried that I would be disappointed with Bloodlines since it would have Sydney as the main character rather than Rose but I was surprised by how much I liked Bloodlines anyway. It is the start to a great spin-off series and I think most Vampire Academy fans will be pleased with it.

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

I had a feeling I'd like this book and I wasn't wrong. It is not without some flaws but I am glad it tackled issues of religion and that the main character wasn't just a caricature of a Christian teen. I know I would have been able to relate to Lacey if I'd read the book as a teen.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

I am still a little torn about this book. I liked it but at times the pacing was slow and I was bothered by the ending. Still it is well written and it has some memorable characters and historical detail.

Little Black Dress by Susan McBride

This book was entertaining if a little predictable. It reminded me quite a bit of The Violets of March by Sarah Jio but with a touch of Sarah Addison Allen because of the magical elements.

Currently reading:

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

I love this book so far! It is a fantasy retelling of Cinderella set in an Asia-inspired world. I think it is something that fans of Cindy Pon and Alison Goodman would enjoy.

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

I love this book! It is one of my favorites and it is the September selection for my book club. I am having fun listening to it on audio this time around. Grayce Wey does a fantastic job narrating the story. I am really really picky about audio books but her voice is so believable and somehow listening to it makes it more emotional than when I read it last year.

What I plan to read next:

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

I am looking forward to reading this since it is so highly recommended. I know it is popular with book groups too.

The Third Wave: A Volunteer Story by Alison Thompson

I know this will be an emotional read. The author was at both Ground Zero on September 11th and she went to Sri Lanka to help after the tsunami. Should be a powerful story and timely as we head towards the 10th anniversary of September 11th.

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

I am determined to at least start Uncommon Criminals this week. I hate when I buy books but don't read them for a long time. Sometimes I never read them and end up donating them to my library. While I think I will eventually donate this, I want to read it first!

Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter

I loved Michelle Moran's Cleopatra's Daughter and I am hoping that this YA book about Selene will be good too. 

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

I have heard excellent things about The Kitchen Daughter and look forward to reading it. There are supposed to be tasty recipes featured too. I don't know that I will be brave enough to try them but maybe there will be something easy :)

So that's my reading plan for the week. 

What have you been reading lately?

In My Mailbox (61)

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.

For review:

The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hirandani

I am interested in reading this one because it features a biracial teen and deals with the topics of unemployment and figuring out who you are and where you belong. I received this book courtesy of NetGalley.

The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson

I've heard really good things about The Lantern. It is a gothic mystery set in France. I received an ARC courtesy of the Amazon Vine program.

Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto

I am looking forward to reading Before Ever After. It sounds like an unusual story about a widow who finds out her husband is still alive and possibly immortal. I received an ARC courtesy of the Amazon Vine program.

Purchased:

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

I couldn't resist buying this one when I saw it was just $3.99 for Kindle. I really enjoyed Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and have been wanting to read more of Lisa See's books.

From the library:

OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy

I think this book sounds cute and it has a good premise-a Jewish girl who badly wants a scholarship pretends to be Christian so she can get into a speech and performing arts camp. The synopsis promises romance, humor, and soul searching as the protagonist tries to figure out the right thing to do.

Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

I really liked the first book in this trilogy but was disappointed by The Guardian of the Gate. I am hopeful that the series will end well with Circle of Fire and I can't wait to find out how things will be resolved.

The Things We Cherished by Pam Jenoff

I am kind of a sucker for WWII related fiction. I have heard positive things about this book and hopefully it won't disappoint!

Little Black Dress by Susan McBride

I've already read this book and I thought it was pretty good though the last part felt kind of rushed. It is a fun chick lit book and while I found it to be predictable, I enjoyed it enough to stay up late finishing it.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I loved the movie and the book has been on my TBR list for years so I finally took the plunge and checked out a copy from the library. I have heard that this is a book that people love or hate. Hopefully I will be one of those who loves it!

The Third Wave: A Volunteer Story by Alison Thompson

This sounds like a moving book about the author's experience as a volunteer in Sri Lanka after the tsunami. Of course when I heard about it I knew I had to read it since it is a subject near to my heart.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns Giveaway

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one. But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can’t see how she ever will. Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess. And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young. Most of the chosen do.

This is one of my favorite book debuts this year (second only to Divergent!) and I wanted to give one lucky person the opportunity to win it. I think this is a fantastic fantasy novel with a good message. Still uncertain? Check out YA author Zoe Marriott's review!

Win a Copy of The Girl of Fire and Thorns!

Rules:

You must be age 13 and up to enter

This contest is open internationally (as long as Book Depository ships to your country)

You DO NOT have to be a follower

Only one entry per person

Deadline: September 30, 2011 at 11:59 PM (EST)

Contest is Closed