E-books and amazing e-book deals

When I first heard of e-books I felt nothing but scorn. I had of course read digitized versions of classics on websites like Project Gutenburg for school but the idea of choosing an electronic book for pleasure reading made no sense to me. I love books, especially the new book smell and glossy covers or deckled edges. I did not think I'd ever read an e-book for fun. Then I read Twilight and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen in New Moon but my library had no copies and the bookstore was temporarily out of stock so when I saw that it was available as a PDF e-book, I bought it right away. This was in the days before Kindle (there were other e-readers out there but they were too expensive for a college student). I read eagerly and found that I didn't mind that I wasn't holding a copy of the book in my hands. Of course I later went back to the store and bought a copy but what this made me realize was that e-books were not the enemy. While I still prefer books in print I also enjoy e-books. I have since read e-books from my library and e-ARCs from NetGalley and Galley Grab. I have also purchased some from Amazon.com to read on my computer and iPhone. I also recently purchased a Kindle and look forward to being able to check out e-books from my library on Kindle later this year.

Do you read e-books? Do you buy them or download free ones from your library or online retailers?

Here are some great deals I've found on Amazon.com (some of the prices are the same for the Nook and I've added links for those too). Amazon has more than 600 e-books on sale from $0.99 to $2.99 as part of their Sunshine Deals sale. These sale ends Wednesday so if you're interested don't delay!

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

$1.99

Kindle

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

$2.99

Kindle

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles

$0.99

Kindle

The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

$1.99

Kindle    NOOK Book

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

$2.99

Kindle     NOOK Book

Need by Carrie Jones

$1.99

Kindle     

Entice by Carrie Jones

$1.99

Kindle

Ballad: A Gathering of Fairy by Maggie Stiefvater

$2.99

Kindle

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

$1.99

Kindle     NOOK Book

Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald

$1.99

Kindle     NOOK Book

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

$1.99

Kindle     NOOK Book

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

$2.99

Kindle     NOOK Book

Savannah From Savannah by Denise Hildreth

$1.99

Kindle

The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick

$2.99

Kindle     NOOK Book

Review: Unearthly

Unearthly

By Cynthia Hand

Publication date: January 4, 2011

My review:

Clara Gardner and her family uproot their life in California to move to Jackson Hole, Wyoming so that Clara can fulfill her purpose. This might seem strange to outsiders but Clara, like her mother and younger brother, is an angel blood, a descendant of angels. She has supernatural strength and speed and like all angel bloods, she was created with a specific purpose. The clues to what this purpose are appear to Clara in visions: she sees a young man, a truck, and a forest fire. Then on her first day at her new school, she sees Christian, the boy from her vision-the one she is meant to save. Unfortunately there are complications in the form of Christian's possessive girlfriend and the fact that Christian is like a local god at his school and Clara is on the outside. How can she save him if she can't even talk to him? Clara also has to contend with the annoying but oddly appealing Tucker. He is a distraction she can't afford, especially when time may be running out for Christian.

Unearthly is not the run-of-the-mill YA paranormal. The other books about angels tended to feature fallen angels and focus on passionate romance. Here, the main character is trying to figure out her purpose in life. She is trying to understand what it means to be an angel blood as she comes to the realization that there are a lot of things she doesn't know. Clara is also a new student at school and she isn't popular. In fact, the other kids kind of pick on her a little at first. I enjoyed seeing Clara develop friendships with Wendy and Angela. Angela in particular is quite a character. I also liked the importance of family. Clara has a close relationship with her mom and her brother though her dad doesn't seem to be a big part of their life.

The romance at first seemed like it was going to be a love triangle but thankfully that was not the case. Clara and Tucker do not get along at first as they both misjudge each other. Clara is more interested in Christian, partly because of the visions and partly because she finds him good looking (like most of the girls at school). It became clear which boy Clara wanted to be with but that may not be the guy she is meant to be with. Since this is the first in a series, the ending is a little ambiguous.

Overall, I thought this was a more original take on angel fiction than anything else I've read recently. I usually hate angel fiction but that was not the case with Unearthly. I certainly prefer it to books like Hush, Hush. Clara is not a victim and she is not all knowing or overly rebellious. She is compassionate, brave, and flawed and she tries to do the right thing. In some ways she reminds me of Grace Divine from The Dark Divine but more relatable. I think what drew me to the story the most was not the romance (though it was good) but rather Clara's desire to find out why she exists. The idea of finding your purpose or calling is something I would have related to as a teen. I look forward to the next book to learn more about angel bloods and to find out if Clara made the right decision. I would suggest Unearthly to fans of The Dark Divine by Bree Despain.

Readalikes: The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Review: Summer Rental

Summer Rental

By Mary Kay Andrews

Publication date: June 7, 2011

My review:

Three childhood best friends reunite for a month at a beach house at the Outer Banks, each bringing their own troubles with them. Ellis Sullivan was just downsized from her banking job but decides to go on with the trip anyway, deciding that after years of hard work with hardly any time off, she is due for a vacation. Julia  is glad to have a break from decisions about her career as a model and the boyfriend who hopes to marry her. Dorie is keeping secrets from her two best friends and this time at the beach keeps her from having to think about the ways in which her life is changing. They are joined unexpectedly by Maryn Shackleford, a woman on the run from an abusive criminal husband, and by Ty Bazemore, the handsome man with financial troubles who lives in the apartment upstairs.  


While the story is told from multiple viewpoints, Ellis feels like the main character since she is the one the reader meets first and she is the architect of the trip. Of the four women staying at the beach house, Ellis is the one I could relate to the most and I think she is the one that we get to know the best. Julia and Dorie are good supporting characters and I even liked Maryn though she remains distant for most of the book. Ty as a love interest for Ellis didn't quite meet my expectations. I think it could be due to the negative first impression that he makes on Ellis the first time she sees him. Their romance develops rather suddenly and I don't get the sense that Ellis gets to know Ty. Instead it seems more like she falls in lust rather than love. It was not the romance but the friendship between the three main characters that I liked the most. 


Summer Rental is a familiar story. It doesn't have any unexpected surprises but instead feels like a book you've read before. While the characters each grow a little and help each other through their troubles, the story seemed to lack the depth it could have had. The ending also wraps up a little too neatly and the resolution of the suspense subplot was conducive to some eye rolling. Still for all its sameness and flaws it is an enjoyable beach read. I liked this book for what it was-a fun, light chick lit novel perfect for summer reading. Pack this one in your beach bag if you are a fan of Jennifer Weiner, Patti Callahan Henry, and Beth Harbison. 


Readalikes: By Invitation Only by Jodi Della Femina, Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison, Driftwood Summer by Patti Callahan Henry, The Beach House by Sally John (Christian fiction), Claire Cook


Note: I received this book courtesy of the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review

Waiting on Wednesday (56)

"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:

Supernaturally by Kiersten White
Publication date: July 26, 2011

Synopsis:

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.


I really liked Paranormalcy and this one sounds like it will be equally good. Have you read Paranormalcy? Will you be reading Supernaturally when it comes out next month?

Top Ten Tuesday

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 Settings in Books".


My list:

1. Hogwarts Castle from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling


I love the world of Harry Potter and one of my favorite places to read about in the series is of course, Hogwarts. With its hidden passages, the Room of Requirement, the Great Hall, Gryffindor Tower, and many other magical places where Harry, Ron, and Hermione spend their time, Hogwarts is a memorable location and in a way, a character in its own right. I love the way the castle defends itself against interlopers like Dolores Umbridge (the castle keeps her out of Dumbledore's office) or against Voldemort and the Death Eaters themselves.

2. Diagon Alley from Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone by J.K. Rowling


If there is a second place in the Harry Potter universe that I'd love to visit it is Diagon Alley with its unique magical shops, The Leaky Cauldron, and Gringotts bank. Diagon Alley is Harry's first encounter with the magical world. I love the movie scenes in Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

3. Narnia from The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis


I have only read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian but Narnia is one of my favorite fictional locales, particularly the Narnia we meet in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. From the moment that Lucy wanders out of the wardrobe into the wintry world of Narnia I was enchanted. I also liked the idea of the talking animals and taking tea with a faun :)

4. Hobbiton from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien


At heart, I am a hobbit. I may not have furry feet or pointed ears but I kind of resemble a hobbit too :) I loved reading about their quaint and quiet way of life where they enjoy the simple pleasures of food and friendship and perhaps more food. If there was a fantasy land where I would feel most at home, it would be the Shire. Plus I'd likely find the small houses quite comfortable!


5. Camp Half-Blood from the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan


While I would never be admitted entrance since I am not a demigod, Camp Half-Blood is a fascinating place to read about! I found the various cabins to be interesting and the original Oracle is incredibly creepy. There are all kinds of secrets and challenges involved with living at the Camp not to mention the quests and the low survival rate of the campers. While I wouldn't want to put up with Mr. D, I think Camp Half-Blood would be an amazing place to visit.


7. Green Gables from Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery


I would love to have grown up at Green Gables with Anne Shirley! Avonlea may have its share of busybodies like Rachel and Marilla could be strict but what a beautiful place it is.  Anne's life certainly took a turn for the better when Matthew Cuthbert brought her home instead of the expected new farmhand.


8. The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women from the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter


Another awesome fictional school is the Gallagher Academy. On the surface it is just another private school for privileged girls but in reality it is an elite spy training school where Cammie and her friends learn useful things like surveillance and self defense. 


9. Rivendell from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien


When Frodo and company arrive at the Last Homely House, it is a haven of rest for them, especially for Frodo who is recovering from a serious wound. Lord Elrond may be a little intimidating but the elves are welcoming and they certainly know how to entertain with food, poetry, and song. This beautiful refuge would be a hard place to leave when you know you are headed to Mordor.

10. Hogsmeade from the Harry Potter series


Besides Hogwarts if there is one other place I'd love the opportunity to visit it would be Hogsmeade so I could have butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks, load up on candy at Honeydukes, visit the Shrieking Shack, and buy cool gag gifts at Zonko's Joke Shop. A Hogsmeade weekend a great opportunity to form secret societies to bring down evil hags like Dolores Umbridge or the perfect way to unwind after a stressful week.

Would any of these make your list of top ten fictional settings in books?

Teaser Tuesdays (52)

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:

"But I am not selfless enough. Sixteen years of trying and I am not enough. My legs go numb, like all the life has gone out of them, and I wonder how I will walk when my name is called."

Divergent by Veronica Roth

p. 43

Synopsis:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (66)

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!

Books finished:

Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn

This was good but it seemed to take forever before the mystery showed up.  I prefer Silent in the Sanctuary for its mystery but at least there was quite a bit of romance in this one (the cover makes it look like a romance novel but it is not) and we find out more about Brisbane's past.

Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

My review for this one will be posted later in the week. This is my first Mary Kay Andrews novel and while it could have been better, I still enjoyed it.

Books reviewed:

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Currently reading:

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

What I plan to read next:

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

I am eager to start this book. It sounds like a Sarah Dessen or Sarah Ockler book and I've only heard good things about it.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This is another book I can't wait to try. It has received so many positive reviews and everyone keeps telling me I will love it. I hope they are right :)

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

I've had this ARC for awhile now and since it will be published next week I thought I'd better read it soon. It is the only paranormal on my list this week.

Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern

I loved Into the Wild Nerd Yonder so I am beyond excited to read this. I think it sounds a little like Amy and Roger's Epic Detour combined with the mystery of a missing friend.

That's what my reading week looks like. 

What have you been reading?

In My Mailbox (54)

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:

Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy

Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman

Thanks to Amazon Vine, Hyperion, Random House, and Simon & Schuster GalleyGrab

 

From the library:

 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean

Dolci di Love by Sarah-Kate Lynch 

 

 

May Wrap Up

I can't believe how quickly May seemed to fly by! Already we are halfway through 2011 and summer is finally here :)

This month, just like in April, I read 10 books. This seems to be a trend for me!


Books read in May:

1. Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton
2. The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
3. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
4. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
5. Clarity by Kim Harrington
6, Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn
7. My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren
8. Sideways on a Scooter by Miranda Kennedy
9. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
10. Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn

I still need to write reviews for most of these. I am so behind...


Books reviewed:

Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton
The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Clarity by Kim Harrington
Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury
Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn
Gone With a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West


My favorite books read in May:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn, and Sideways on a Scooter by Miranda Kennedy


Most disappointing book:

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris-at the same time it was one I couldn't put down. There is something compulsively readable about her Sookie Stackhouse books even though the quality has deteriorated in the last few years.


Favorite post:

Childhood Favorites

I had a lot of fun on my trip down literary memory lane. It was sad to see that a couple of my favorites are now out of print but mostly they are still available for today's young readers :)

Review: North and South

North and South

By Elizabeth Gaskell

Publication date: 1855

My review:

Margaret Hale's comfortable life in the idyllic village of Helstone is upended when her father resigns as minister and moves his family to the industrialized north of England. Leaving behind her beloved home and the beautiful countryside of southern England is hard enough but Margaret struggles to cope with life in Milton, a cotton manufacturing town that is worlds away from what she is used to. From the moment that she meets cotton manufacturer John Thornton, they are at odds. He represents to Margaret the worst of Milton and she looks down on him as a "tradesman". His initial dislike is replaced by attraction and then love but will he and Margaret be able to move past their differences when she takes sides against him in a mill strike?

If you combined Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice with a dash of Dickens and Charlotte Bronte, then you'd have North and South. It reminds me a little of Pride and Prejudice because of the way Margaret Hale and John Thornton initially clash. However there are some differences. The story doesn't just focus on Margaret and John's relationship but instead it also takes a look at the different social classes and the way life in the north is different from the south. The author makes a point of including the views of mill workers as well as the gentry. The importance of the social issues is reminiscent of the works of Dickens. Elizabeth Gaskell was actually a friend of Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte. I think their influence is definitely present in her writing.

Margaret as a protagonist is not always likeable. At times she came across as snobby and condescending but she does improve over the course of the novel. Margaret really shows her strength in the way she is there for her family and Bessy Higgins through the hardships they face. I think it is important for us to see how Margaret felt about the people of Milton and to watch how that sense of superiority gave way as she gained understanding and perspective. John Thornton is a much more admirable character from the beginning though he too is not without flaws. He builds up his family's business and brings back their fortune after his father lost everything. He also befriends Mr. Hale and tries to be a friend to Margaret though she treats him with disdain. The romance is satisfying and I particularly liked that the reader is given insight into John Thornton's mind and his feelings about Margaret. That is something that we did not get with Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and it only served to make me like Thornton more (and perhaps like Margaret less).

Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe as John Thornton and Margaret Hale

The book has been adapted as a TV movie/miniseries twice with the most recent adaptation in 2004. The 2004 version starring Daniela Denby-Ashe and Richard Armitage is the one I watched. It is because of the miniseries that I decided to finally read the book! Both are excellent though there are some differences between the miniseries and the book. In the film version, Mr. Thornton appears to have a violent temper (only directed at careless mill workers that nearly hurt others) but this temper makes him more aloof and gives Margaret a reason to dislike him other than her own prejudices. It also serves to make Margaret a more sympathetic character. There are other differences with the portrayal of secondary and minor characters as well but overall it is pretty faithful to the book.

I think North and South is a book that fans of Jane Austen would enjoy. The writing style is mostly very readable. I did struggle with some of the vocabulary used by the Higgins family but there is a glossary at the back of the book. At times the pace also lagged a little but I am glad I persevered with it. North and South is now one of my favorite classics right along with Jane Eyre and the novels of Jane Austen. The film is also a new favorite of mine and a good starting point if you are uncertain about reading the book.

Waiting on Wednesday (55)

"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:

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Publication date: October 4, 2011

Synopsis:

In The Lost Hero, three demigods named Jason, Piper, and Leo made their first visit to Camp Half-Blood, where they inherited a quest:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Who are the other four mentioned in the prophecy? The answer may lie in another camp miles away, where a new camper has shown up and appears to be the son of Neptune, god of the sea...

I was thrilled when the cover was finally revealed for The Son of Neptune. I am a big fan of the Percy Jackson series and I liked the first book in this spin-off series. Percy will be a major character in The Son of Neptune  and I can't wait to read it! Read the hilarious first chapter where Percy takes on some evil "snake-haired ladies" (Gorgons) that just keep coming back for more. :)

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?