Teaser Tuesdays (31)

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 second time my world exploded, it was also because of a word. A word that worked its way out of my throat and danced onto and out of my lips before I could think about it, or stop it. The question was: Will you meet me tomorrow? And the word was: Yes."

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

p. 146

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn't understand that once love--the deliria--blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: she falls in love. 

YA Historical Fiction Challenge

I love YA fiction and historical fiction so when I found out that YA Bliss is hosting a YA Historical Reading Challenge, I knew I had to sign up!

The YA Historical Fiction Reading Challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. 


The rules:


All books must be YA or MG
Books do not have to be 2011 releases
Anyone can participate
You can join at any time


There are three levels to the challenge:


Level one-read 5 YA historical fiction books
Level two-read 10 YA historical fiction books
Level three-read 15 YA historical fiction books


I am going to aim for level three. Here are some of the books I plan to read:


Bright Young Things by Anna Godberson
The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
Wildwing by Emily Whitman
Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury
In the Shadow of the Lamp by Susanne Dunlap
I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison
Assassin by Grace Cavendish 
Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer
Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa M. Klein
Once Every Never by Leslie Livingston
Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter
The Traitor and the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee (if I get it from Book Depository, may not be released in US till 2012!)


If this sounds like a fun reading challenge, sign up at YA Bliss!

It's Monday What Are You Reading (43)

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:

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Books reviewed:

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

Currently reading: 

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell


What I plan to read next:

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez


What does your reading week look like?

Debut Author Challenge 2011

The Story Siren is once again hosting the Debut Author Challenge. I love participating in the Debut Author Challenge because it encourages us to read new YA authors. This past year I was introduced to some great YA authors such as Lauren Oliver, Y.S. Lee, and Ally Condie. Next year's list looks just as promising. 

The basic rules for this challenge:

Read at least 12 YA or MG debut authors

The books must be first published in 2011

It must be the author's YA or MG debut

The Debut Author Challenge is probably my favorite challenge from 2010 and it is easy to participate in. For full rules, reading suggestions, and to sign up, visit The Story Siren. 

In My Mailbox (40)

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:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Courtesy of Around the World ARC Tours

From Amazon:

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

I am currently reading Delirium and so far it is fantastic. I've seen the BBC miniseries of North and South and I loved it so much that I had to get the book. What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Where Are You Reading Challenge

Sheila at the fabulous Book Journey is hosting this fun reading challenge. For the Where Are You Reading Challenge, the goal is to read a book that is set in each of the 50 states. The books can be either fiction or nonfiction. I think this challenge sounds like a lot of fun. I don't think I will make it through all 50 states but I will certainly try!

The rules from Sheila's post:

This Challenge starts January 1, 2011 – December 31st 2011.  The Challenge consists of reading at least one book that covers each of the 50 states of America and you can add as many other countries as you like.

So how do you decide what state a book is categorized under?

1.  In a fiction read it would be the State or Country that the book spends the most time in.  (Ie. If your main character is from Wisconsin but the book is all about his/her time in college in California – the books should categorize under California….)

2.  Non fiction reads categorize  in whatever State or Country it is about (Ie…. a book about fly fishing in Colorado is a Colorado point, and a book about women in Afghanistan is an Afghanistan point.

How to get started

Set up a map under Google Maps.  It is easy to do!  Every time you read a book in 2011, upload a cover picture to Picasa Web Albums (there may be other sites to use, feel free to use what works best for you).

Once you are ready and have your map set up please create a blog post (those who have blogs) using the Challenge picture of the map I provided above as well as link to this post so others may join in.  Then come back and link that post here to Mr Linky so I as well as other participants know that you are participating and we can pop in throughout the year to check out your map and how we are all doing.

This is actually a fun and easy challenge as all books you read qualify and it will be fun to see where you generally read books from as well as searching out books to fill in areas that you need.

For those who have covered the 50 states by the end of 2011, they will go into a drawing for a $50 gift card to Barnes and Noble or to Amazon.  **  All other areas beyond the 50 states are bonus points and we will have a drawing using random.org for those who read 10 or more books throughout 2011 in that category.

Sheila has included a link to her book map so you can see how to set it up. For more details and to sign up, visit Book Journey.

My Map:


View Where I Am Reading 2011 in a larger map

Review: The Mischief of the Mistletoe

The Mischief of the Mistletoe

By Lauren Willig

Publication date: October 28, 2010

My review:

Reginald "Turnip" Fitzhugh finally gets his own adventure when he visits his sister at school and becomes involved in unraveling a mystery surrounding a Christmas pudding with a secret message in the wrapping. Arabella Dempsey has just taken a job as a teacher at the school and together she and Turnip try to foil the plot of a possible French spy while losing their hearts to each other. 


Unlike the other titles in the Pink Carnation series, The Mischief of the Mistletoe does not feature modern narrator Eloise Kelly but instead is entirely set in the past. It is also devoid of floral spies and rather chaste compared to its predecessors particularly the most recent book, The Betrayal of the Blood Lily. Readers who are accustomed to seeing Turnip as a character of ridicule will be surprised to find that he is a man of integrity and depth albeit still clumsy and endearing. Arabella is a likable heroine reminiscent of Charlotte Lansdowne, the mild mannered heroine of The Temptation of the Night Jasmine. While events in The Mischief of the Mistletoe slightly overlap with the events in The Temptation of the Night Jasmine, you don't have to read the other titles in the series to make sense of The Mischief of the Mistletoe. The addition of Jane Austen as Arabella's friend and confidante will only increase the novel's appeal to fans of Austen's works. 


I found The Mischief of the Mistletoe to be a delightful and lighthearted holiday romance. At first I wasn't sure that I would like a book featuring Turnip as a main character but since the author wisely did not try to turn him into a macho hero, it really worked as a sweet romance. The mystery element is not as strong as it is in the rest of the series but it makes for a nice change. If you are in the mood for some holiday reading, give The Mischief of the Mistletoe a try. 


Readalikes: What Happens in London by Julia Quinn, Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Waiting on Wednesday (33)

"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:

 Red Glove by Holly Black

Publication date: April 5, 2011

Red Glove is book two in the Curse Workers series and although there isn't a description available yet, I loved White Cat and I am sure this will be a great story as well. The cover is creepy though with the disembodied hand and I have to admit that I preferred the cover of White Cat. 

What are you waiting on this week?

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?