We have reached the last day of May, so it's time for another state of the blog, so to speak. I've made a lot of progress this month. I'm starting to receive more reviewing opportunities, which is very exciting. I also reached (and surpassed) 200 followers and am on my way to 300. I have big plans for when I reach 500, so stay tuned! I received 3 ARCs and won 1 finished book from Goodreads, bought some awesome books on my own, and patronized my local library... a lot. While I didn't get reviews written for all of the books I read this month, I did manage to write a respectable 16 reviews out of the 20 books I read. All of the rest will be coming soon, maybe even starting this evening.
Everyday life, while maintaining a certain level of stress, is at least free from classes until August. My summer break started on May 4th, which was such a relief. I came out of classes with one A, one B, one C (it's a long story), and one W (that's for "withdrawal"). It's not my most stellar grade report ever, but it's a surviving one and means that my GPA didn't suffer, which is all that matters to me. Next up, I have GREs to prepare for and graduate schools to select and begin applying to. It's all a very daunting thought, as it's been several years since I last had to go through the applying for college routine. It's all enough to make my head reel! Plus, finding an ALA accredited library science program that just might give me a shot is leaving me feeling very nervous, indeed. I did, however, find out that my friend decided to go with information/library science, herself, and has confirmed with a school! It's very exciting and I can't wait to hear all about it.
It's been a great month, all in all. Thank you to both my new and old followers for making it so. I can't wait to see what June has in store for us all. Let the summer officially begin (just with less humidity, please? maybe?)!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Teaser Tuesday: May 31, 2011
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. It is a meme that lets you see what your fellow bloggers are reading and gives you a glimpse at books you may want to read. Anyone can participate so long as they follow the rules:- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- PLEASE DON'T SHARE SPOILERS! Try not to give away too much with your selection.
- Share the title, author, and page numbers so that others can add it to their to-be-read list if they want.
No one told you to call your band Salacious Mold, my friend."
We're Millenium Lint now," Simon protested.
My teaser of the week comes from page 35 of Cassandra Clare's City of Fallen Angels. It illustrates just how much these books make me laugh with their ready supply of quips. I don't know what I'm going to do until December, since this is the last published work by Cassandra Clare that I will have to read.
Monday, May 30, 2011
It's Monday! What are you reading? May 30, 2011
It's Monday! What are you reading is a weekly meme that comes to us from Sheila at Book Journey. To participate, simply post what you finished reading in the past week and what you plan to read this week. It is a good way to find other books you may enjoy reading. After you write your post, head over to Sheila's blog to leave your post's link on the link entry form at the bottom of the What are you reading? post.
What a weekend. My vacation wound up not being very vacation-like at all. In fact, I decided to come home today (Monday) instead of Tuesday. What should have been one of the highlights was a big flop. My trip to McKay proved disappointing in more ways than one. First, the YA shelves were picked over and the few books I would have liked to have were really over-priced, so I came out of the store empty-handed. Secondly, I was flabbergasted and dismayed to find that they now have an entire shelf dedicated to ARCs. Not cool, McKay! The only truly nice thing about the weekend was finishing four books, two of which were ARCs for novels that will be coming out soon. I really enjoyed both and am looking forwarding to posting my reviews. This is probably the only post I will make tonight. I'm still pretty tired from my "vacation."
What I Finished
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
The Hollow by Jessica Verday
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly (hitting stores June 7th; loved it!)
The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon (coming June 14th; another enjoyable read)
What I'm Reading
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
Up Next
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Legacy by Cayla Kluver
Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Vacation Time!
From tomorrow (Thursday) though Tuesday, I will not be making any new posts, meaning I am taking a break from the memes I typically participate in. I will be headed back to my hometown for an overdue visit with my family, a trip to used book heaven (a.k.a. McKay Used Books), and, if the weather agrees, maybe a trip to the zoo. If I can manage, I hope to finish Divergent and post a review, but as of yet am unsure as to whether I can squeeze it in tomorrow between a lunch out with my book buddy and packing for myself and a two year-old. I'm sure I will post IMM when I get back, as I will probably have books I want to show off. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a fun, safe weekend and I will see you all on Tuesday!
Waiting on Wednesday: May 25, 2011
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the image above will take you straight to her post and link widget. (Special note: The nifty button above comes from Lindsay at The Violet Hour. Isn't it pretty?)
This week, I have another addition to my birthday wish list: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey.
From Goodreads:Lenzi hears voices. She also sees visions--gravestones, floods, a gorgeous guy with steel gray eyes. She knows she must be going crazy, just like her dad did. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't do anything to help, and the voices just keep getting louder, the visions more intense. But when Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, everything makes sense.
Sort of.
He tells Lenzi that she's a reincarnated Speaker--someone who can talk to lost souls and help them move on--and that he has been her Protector for centuries. But instead of embracing her abilities, Lenzi struggles between her life as the girlfriend of a sexy musician and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. Yet time is running out; a malevolent spirit has been trying to destroy Lenzi for ages, and he will surely kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.
Her choices are clear: Destiny or normalcy. Alden or Zak. Life or death.
The story line sounds very interesting and it will likely fit in very well with my usual taste in books. The gorgeous cover doesn't hurt, either! Shattered Souls is scheduled to hit stores on December 8th, a mere week after my birthday, so on my wish list it goes! In the meantime, here is the book trailer for your viewing pleasure (please note that the book has undergone a change of title, hence the different name at the onset of the clip).
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Review: The Hollow
by Jessica Verdaypublisher: Simon Pulse
date published: September 1, 2009
format: hardcover
pages: 513
source: library
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N
challenges: Goodreads 2011 Reading Challenge; 2011 YA Reading Challenge
From Goodreads:
When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.
What I Thought
I had a very difficult time getting into this book. For the majority of the story, the most supernatural thing about it was the location: Sleepy Hollow, NY. I kept expecting for things to begin happening much earlier than they did as far as the book's description as being a paranormal romance went. When things did finally come to a head, the book was nearly over and I was left thinking, "That's it?" The revelation just lacked the punch that was really needed to make it earth-shattering news. Another issue I encountered was the relationship between Abbey and Caspian. It just didn't feel very believable to me and I could not get past the fact that Abbey went along with the flirtation so long without asking about such mundane facts as Caspian's last name. I also found several other components of the relationship hard to believe, though I am forced to leave those components out for fear of making this review too spoiler-heavy. Suffice it to say that I was not a fan of this pairing.
One thing that I did not have a hard time with was Abbey's grief for the loss of her friend, Kristen. I found that I was easily able to relate with her on that count, having lost a friend of my own five years ago. Her devotion to the memory of her friend was touching and watching her go through the stages of grief was absolutely heartbreaking. I felt for Abbey very much and wondered how she was going to get through everything going on in her life. Abbey's grief process was probably the only thing I found anywhere near believable about this book.
I'm not sure what else there is to say about The Hollow. It was okay on some levels and just not altogether appealing on others. I don't feel compelled to buy the other books in the series, but might consider checking them out of the library should they come available. I initially thought to give this book 3 hoots, but the more I thought about it, the more dissatisfied I became. I thought it had great potential, but could have been much better than it turned out. I give The Hollow 2 hoots.
Teaser Tuesday: May 24, 2011
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. It is a meme that lets you see what your fellow bloggers are reading and gives you a glimpse at books you may want to read. Anyone can participate so long as they follow the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- PLEASE DON'T SHARE SPOILERS! Try not to give away too much with your selection.
- Share the title, author, and page numbers so that others can add it to their to-be-read list if they want.
Stepping carefully around tree limbs and loose rocks, I made my way down. As I descended lower and the underside of the bridge became more visible, I spotted someone sitting on the ground reading a book.
That little tidbit comes from pages 97-98 of The Hollow by Jessica Verday. I'm still not sure where this book is going, exactly. At the time I am writing this I just completed the sixth chapter and, so far, all I know is that the protagonist's best friend is missing and believed to be dead and that the protagonist makes perfume. I guess we'll see what we see, as I'll be starting the seventh chapter soon.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Awesomesauce Giveaway by Lauren DeStefano!
In celebration of reaching 3,000 followers on Twitter, Lauren DeStefano has an awesome giveaway lined up. Visit her blog for a chance to win a personalized ARC of Wither, as well as... wait for it...wait for it...
wait for it....
An ARC of Fever! There will be a wait as it hasn't been printed yet, but it could eventually be yours if you visit Lauren's blog, participate, and leave a comment. Good luck!
Review - The Girl in the Steel Corset
by Kady Crosspublisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: May 24, 2011
format: eGalley
pages: 477
source: Netgalley
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N
From Goodreads:
In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….
Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.
Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.
But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.
What I Thought
Having already read the prequel, The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, I will briefly begin by comparing The Girl in the Steel Corset to the aforementioned novella. The overall tone of each work was slightly different. The Girl in the Steel Corset was a lot more involved, as well as a lot grittier. Although the span of time that has elapsed between the two stories is not very long, there are some differences in Finley's character. While she was a formidable enough character in The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, she is much more dangerous in The Girl in the Steel Corset. In the latter, we learn the real extent of Finley's worry over her darker half, as well as just how much its influence has progressed. While she had a certain gentleness about her in TSCoFJ, glimpses of that gentleness are fewer and more far between in TGitSC. She has more worries to contend with now, as well as more serious dangers to face than she had previously.
In The Girl in the Steel Corset, we are finally introduced to the mysterious Duke of Greythorne, Griffin King, who, if you read The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, you may remember. As it turns out, Griffin is a spectacle in his own right. Much like Finley, he is in possession of some very mysterious powers, though of a vastly different type. He is also a very affable character that it would be very difficult to be annoyed with. Though only eighteen or so, Griffin possesses a maturity beyond his years thanks to the mysterious death of his parents three years prior. It is easy to forget as his authoritative attributes are explored that he is so very young. Also revealing more about Griffin is the company he keeps. Sam, Emily, and Jasper are all vastly talented people who have found both friendship and a home with Griffin. His interactions with these people, as well as Finley, do a great deal to reveal the level of kindness he is capable of. It is no wonder he is a love interest for Finley.
As this is a YA novel, there is (perhaps not too surprisingly), a love triangle in the works. The other member of this triangle is a bit shocking, however. Rather than another member of Griffin's household or circle, Finley's interest is piqued by Jack Dandy, a cocky criminal overlord with a Cockney accent. The interactions between the two is perhaps more surprising. There is something underneath the surface of Jack that leaves behind the feeling of curiosity. What are his motives? Just what is he involved in? How can Finley possibly be interested in a self-admitted criminal? There are several points to ponder, which makes him a very intriguing character. I will be curious to see what else he has to offer in the next books.
I loved the action that The Girl in the Steel Corset had to offer. From tangles with people to altercations with automatons, there is a lot going in this book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It was very easy to become immersed in this book. Kady Cross has also given us a fascinating taste of steampunk, a taste that has left me with a craving for more. With strong female characters, biting wit, and gritty action sequences, this book is sure to please. There is so much more I could say, but it would give away too much. Suffice it to say that I will be looking forward to Kady's next book and give this offering 5 hoots.
Obligatory legal statement: This galley was provided to me free of charge via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
It's Monday! What are you reading? May 23, 2011
It's Monday! What are you reading is a weekly meme that comes to us from Sheila at Book Journey. To participate, simply post what you finished reading in the past week and what you plan to read this week. It is a good way to find other books you may enjoy reading. After you write your post, head over to Sheila's blog to leave your post's link on the link entry form at the bottom of the What are you reading? post.
Last week was busy book-wise. I read six books and posted five reviews. I've already gotten this week off to a good start by posting the first review for the week. On Tuesday morning, I'll have a review up for The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross and should also have reviews for The Hollow by Jessica Verday and Divergent by Vernoica Roth. There may be one or two more, but we'll just see what kind of progress I make with the library books, ARCs, and galleys I'll be working through for the next month. Three cheers for deadlines! At least I have good company. As I write this, evening has just begun and my two year-old daughter is sitting on her little chair next to me, "reading" a Sandra Boynton book to me.
What I Finished
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman by Margaret Drabble
Die for Me by Amy Plum
The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
What I'm Reading
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross (eGalley from Netgalley)
The Hollow by Jessica Verday (I was surprised to find out that she's a semi-local girl.)
The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly (ARC from Simon & Schuster)
Up Next
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon (ARC from Voice)
Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Review: City of Glass
by Cassandra Clarepublisher: Margaret K. McElderry
date published: March 24, 2009
format: eBook
pages: 391
source: gift
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N
challenges: Goodreads 2011 Reading Challenge; 2011 E-Book Reading Challenge; 2011 YA Reading Challenge
From Goodreads:
To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?
Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.
What I Thought
I have several questions by the time I finished City of Ashes and I was hoping against all hope that they would be answered in City of Glass. I had my theories, but no absolute conclusions. Cassandra Clare didn't leave me hanging. I knew from the very beginning of the book that I was going to have my questions answered. This was accomplished in such a manner as to leave me reeling and blow many of my previous theories as to how out of the proverbial water.
City of Glass picks up where City of Ashes left off. The Shadowhunter world has been left reeling after the events upon Valentine's ship and the hunt is on. The Clave knows now that Valentine will not give up and that his capture is imperative. Unfortunately, they can't seem to let go of their individual agendas and an investigation opens up. There is a new Inquisitor (a smarmy weasel of a man), and he is out to fulfill his own motives. The relationship between Jace and Clary is as tenuous (to put it mildly) as ever and there are still several issues that cause conflict between them. As they set out to try to save Jocelyn, save Alicante, and stop Valentine, the pair will be put to the test. All the while, a new adversary is lurking, waiting to make their move.
Though several days passed before I could finish City of Glass (not the book's fault; just juggling too much, so to speak), I was riveted, nonetheless. The further into the story I got, the more immersed I became. By the time I reached part 3, there was no way I was going to willingly put the book down. There were so many elements that made this book captivating. From the ultimate question (What is the real situation surrounding Jace and Clary?) to the many instances of heartbreak, I had to know what was going to happen. Several parts left me either stunned or with tears in my eyes (not trying to sound like The Mysteries of Udolpho there, but it's true). This installment in The Mortal Instruments series was packed with so much emotion that I was often left with a feeling of incredulity.
The way the story line panned out was almost like a tapestry to me. All of the individual threads began to intertwine until the bigger picture finally came into view. The characters expressed themselves in such ways as to evoke a wide array of emotions. I was heartbroken for Jace and Clary due to the suffering each was undergoing and I kept hoping that something would come along to take that suffering away. I'm not going to say whether it did or not. That would give away too much, I think. Suffice it to say that the entire journey was enough to completely draw me in and keep me there. I can truly say that the characters have won me over and I am now a big fan of Cassandra Clare's writing.
Though the above synopsis states that this is the last book in the series, that is not the case, much to my relief. I'm not quite ready to stop reading about these characters or the world they live in. I will be moving along to City of Fallen Angels next and am looking forward to seeing what Ms. Clare has for us next. As for City of Glass, I award 5 hoots.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
In My Mailbox - May 22, 2011
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme from The Story Siren where you can share your new acquisitions. They can come from anywhere: through the mail, via the library, purchased from a store, or downloaded as ebooks. It's up to you!I got some nice books this week. They might not be as numerous as last week, but they're still going to be a lot of fun. I got a package from Harper Collins as well as Simon & Schuster this week, so many thanks to both! I don't have a vlog this week since my camera batteries are dead and I haven't had the chance to charge them.
From Publishers
The White Devil by Justin Evans (won via Goodreads First Reads)
The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly (from the good folks at Simon & Schuster)
From Netgalley
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
From the Library
Pretties by Scott WesterfeldNeed by Carrie Jones
Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater
Ebook
Heart of the Witch by Alicia Dean
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