What Are You Reading?

I'm going to put down the books I HAVE to read this week. Then fill in whatever else I read as I go along.

The Shepherd by Ethan Cross
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon-blog tour 3/7

Dead Reckoning by Caitlin Rother-blog tour3/8

So whatever else I read this week, I'll post about, but this is a pretty good chunk of books! *I'm looking at you Outlander!*

Review: I Think I Love You

About the Book

Wales, 1974. Petra and Sharon, two thirteen-year-old girls, are obsessed with David Cassidy. His fan magazine is their Bible, and some days his letters are the only things that keep them going as they struggle through the humiliating daily rituals of adolescence--confronting their bewildering new bodies, fighting with mothers who don’t understand them at all. Together they tackle the Ultimate David Cassidy Quiz, a contest whose winners will be flown to America to meet Cassidy in person.

London, 1998. Petra is pushing forty, on the brink of divorce, and fighting with her own thirteen-year-old daughter when she discovers a dusty letter in her mother’s closet declaring her the winner of the contest she and Sharon had labored over with such hope and determination. More than twenty years later, twenty pounds heavier, bruised by grief and the disappointments of middle age, Petra reunites with Sharon for an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to meet their teen idol at last, and finds her life utterly transformed.

Funny, moving, full of beautiful observations about the awakenings of both youth and middle age, Allison Pearson’s long-awaited new novel will speak across all generations, to the hearts of anyone who’s ever had a first love.

My Thoughts:

Who didn't have that GUY/GIRL that you dreamed about when you were a teen? I know I had several celebrities that I just *sighed* and *swooned* over and pinned pictures of them on my walls! Yeah, I did that too. So this was definitely a story that jolted my youthful memories.

I have to admit that I was more intrigued by Petra's storyline than I was for Bill. I mean, it was definitely fun to see how the other side of the story went, but Petra was just more interesting to me. I liked her interactions with her friends. That was DEFINITELY true to how teenage girls act around each other! Later in the story I enjoyed her interactions with her own daughter.

This wasn't my typical read, but it was good. I enjoyed it. This is definitely a quick read, and I do recommend it if you have read and enjoyed Pearson's book, I Don't Know How She Does It?

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Knopf (February 8, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400042356
• ISBN-13: 978-1400042357

Five Question Friday

1. Can you drive a stick shift?
Nope, I tried once and almost killed my friends car. I drove it around the block ONCE and when I parked the thing was smoking.

2. What are two foods you just can't eat?
Coconuts and Onions..well I can handle the sweet kind of onions, preferably battered and dipped in bloomin' onion sauce.

3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind?
I do not buy them. I don't really care for cookies all that much though.

4. How do you pamper yourself?

I take a bath. I take a nap. I read til my eyes cross. I'm kinda easy that way.

5. What is your nickname and how did you get it?
Well I have a few. Mickey (my sis and dad) I am the oldest, so when my sister was 1 she couldn't say Melissa but she could say Mickey. Not sure how that worked, but it stuck and I've been that ever since.
I'm Mel, babe, sweetie, Mommy, Hey You! :)

Book Club: The Last Brother

Synopsis:

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. In Appanah's impressive novel, two young boys living in Mauritius during WWII secretly become friends. Eight-year-old Raj and his two brothers live on a sugar plantation where their parents eke out a marginal living. But Raj's brothers are swept away in a torrent, and the family moves to the heart of the island, where his abusive father finds work as a prison guard, overseeing European and Jewish inmates exiled from Palestine by the British to Mauritius, where they await the war's end. Here Raj meets David, a detainee close to his age, and feels an immediate kinship with him despite Raj's father's warnings that the prison holds dangerous men. When Raj's father beats him so severely that he's admitted to the prison infirmary, his friendship with David deepens; the love Raj can no longer give his brothers he offers to David. Weather once again intervenes in Raj's life when a cyclone hits the island, and he and David attempt to outrun their fates together. Appanah's descriptions are meticulous, and the heartbreakingly endearing Raj makes for an unforgettable protagonist. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.




My Thoughts:

I read this book as a part of the book club over at Devourer of Books and Linus's Blanket. I was supposed to post this yesterday but I've been sick, so I JUST finished this book early this morning. I cannot decide where to start. This book was beautiful. It was just simply gorgeous. I can't form the right words to describe how much this book moved me.

Raj, oh dear sweet boy/old man, you moved me almost to tears! Your relationship with David, though short lived, proves that one person can make a big difference in another's life. I ached for him and his Mother. I cannot imagine going through that and living like that, but still ending up seemingly happy.

His father, oh I wished I could have jumped into the book and smacked him over the head so hard! I hated that man. I wished so many terrible things onto him, that I just had to put the book down for a bit.

I wanted to weep for David. His story is told only in shadow, but you understand. Raj may not get it until later, but the reader does. Appanah was wonderful at painting little David's character. The way she infers why David is there..his story is just all the more gut wrenching for it.

This book was divine and beautiful as much as it was bleak and disturbing! There is loss, love, heartache and hope. I loved it and am glad I was able to read it!



Links for the book:
(website | twitter | facebook)

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The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson

About the Book: (taken from amazon)
The inner life of Emily Dickinson was creatively effulgent, psychologically pained and emotionally ambivalent, as reported by Charyn, who here inhabits the mind of one of America's most famous poets. Charyn parrots the cadent voice of razor-sharp Dickinson, beginning in her years as the tempestuous young lyricist who aims to choose my words like a rapier that can scratch deep into the skin. From the first page, witty Emily harbors conflicted feelings toward her female status: her esteemed father, the town's preeminent lawyer, adores Emily at home for her intellectual companionship, but also dismisses her formal education as a waste of money & a waste of time, and it's easy to see how Emily's poetic instincts are born from the shifting sensations of comfort and resentment brought by a childhood spent serenading Father with my tiny Tambourine. Emily's growth is brightly drawn as she progresses from petulant child to a passionate woman with a ferocious will and finally to that notorious recluse. However, while this vivid impersonation is a stylistic achievement, it's also confining and limits higher revelations. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Jerome Charyn's Bio:

Jerome Charyn (born May 13, 1937) is an award-winning American author. With nearly 50 published works, Charyn has earned a long-standing reputation as an inventive and prolific chronicler of real and imagined American life. Michael Chabon calls him “one of the most important writers in American literature.”

New York Newsday hailed Charyn as “a contemporary American Balzac,” and the Los Angeles Times described him as “absolutely unique among American writers.”

Since the 1964 release of Charyn’s first novel, Once Upon a Droshky, he has published 30 novels, three memoirs, eight graphic novels, two books about film, short stories, plays and works of non-fiction. Two of his memoirs were named New York Times Book of the Year. Charyn has been a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. He received the Rosenthal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has been named Commander of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture.

Charyn was Distinguished Professor of Film Studies at the American University of Paris until he left teaching in 2009.

In addition to his writing and teaching, Charyn is a tournament table tennis player, once ranked in the top 10 percent of players in France. Noted novelist Don DeLillo called Charyn’s book on table tennis, Sizzling Chops & Devilish Spins, "The Sun Also Rises of ping-pong."

Charyn lives in Paris and New York City.

Awesome Video:


My Review:
This book was definitely a nice introduction to the life of Emily Dickinson. It's not a biography but a somewhat fictionalized version of her life, but I definitely think it
was a good way to get readers interested in the author. I've not read much..okay any of her work but after reading this story I've certainly become intrigued. I know that I have put
several of her works on my wish list!

It' wasn't hard for me to get caught up in the tale as it began I was fighting to find the time to read it! This is definitely a good story and I loved how close I began to feel with
Emily. Jerome Charyn is definitely talented and knows how to create a wonderful, flowing story. I was very much impressed with this book!
Although, I cannot remark on it's accuracy, but I can definitely say that this was a good story and can feel good about recommending it to any Emily fan!

Websites:

Blog Tour web site:
http://thesecretlifeofemilydickinson.blogspot.com/

Jerome Charyn's web site:
http://www.jeromecharyn.com/

Jerome Charyn's Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/jerome.charyn

Jerome Charyn's Twitter:
http://twitter.com/jeromecharyn

The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/SecretLifeOfEmilyDickinson

The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson Twitter:
http://twitter.com/EmilySecretLife

W.W. Norton & Company web site:
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail.aspx?ID=17221

Paperback
Price: $14.95
ISBN: 9780393339178
Pages: 352
Release: February 14, 2011

Hardcover
Price: $24.95
ISBN: 9780393068566
Pages: 348
Release: February 22, 2010

Buy links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

eBook buy links:
Kindle
Nook

Excerpt:
Amazon See Inside the Book

What are you Reading?

Well last week I pretty much just pittered around with my reading, so this week I'm getting back on track!

I am going to aim for four books this week! :) No more being lazy! I have my list and I'm gonna get it done!

To Read:


If a miracle happens and I get these four read, then I will read these:

In My Mailbox

Another slowish week, but I'm not complaining! I got a few really awesome looking books! So here they are!

- ARC from Shelf Awarness (Atria books)

-Thanks Megan from Morrow Paperbacks (HarperCollinsPublishers)

and last but not least

- (ARC) DoubleDay

Quick Review: The Radleys

About the book (from Goodreads.com)
Meet the Radleys

Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in an English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret

From one of Britain’s finest young novelists comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood and family life. In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys asks what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain – and lose – when we deny our appetites.

My Thoughts:
This was definitely a fun read! A very balanced tale that had plenty for everyone. The vampire family fight their instincts and try to "blend" in with the human world. They want the best for their children and think that by denying their cravings and refusing to live as vampires that they will be able to provide that.

They eventually start to lose themselves and become people they don't recognize. I loved that dynamic and I loved the humor that was laced throughout. As I stated, I believe that there is plenty to satisfy in this one!

What My Child Is Reading

This is a great meme that I recently found. I think that it's been around for a while (not sure) but I just now found it! Yay! I'm always planning what I'm going to read so I figured I'd do one for little man. He's slowly becoming a bookworm and that's just spiffy!

We went through his books and I asked him to pick five books that he wanted to read and then pick a day he would read that book. I even let him pick a special bookmark to use too! So what did my six year old son pick?

and Home for a Dinosaur by Eileen Curran

I'm thinking I'll get him to do stuff like color a picture from his favorite part or tell me his favorite part. I think that will be fun!

Review: The Greyfriar

About:
In the year 1870, a horrible plague of vampires swept over the northern regions of the world. Millions of humans were killed outright. Millions more died of disease and famine due to the havoc that followed. Within two years, once-great cities were shrouded by the gray empire of the vampire clans. Human refugees fled south to the tropics because vampires could not tolerate the constant heat there. They brought technology and a feverish drive to reestablish their shattered societies of steam and iron amid the mosques of Alexandria, the torrid quietude of Panama, or the green temples of Malaya.

It is now 2020 and a bloody reckoning is coming.

Princess Adele is heir to the Empire of Equatoria, a remnant of the old tropical British Empire. She is quick with her wit as well as with a sword or gun. She is eager for an adventure before she settles into a life of duty and political marriage to a man she does not know. But her quest turns black when she becomes the target of a merciless vampire clan. Her only protector is the Greyfriar, a mysterious hero who fights the vampires from deep within their territory. Their dangerous relationship plays out against an approaching war to the death between humankind and the vampire clans

Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar is the first book in a trilogy of high adventure and alternate history. Combining rousing pulp action with steampunk style, Vampire Empire brings epic political themes to life within a story of heartbreaking romance, sacrifice, and heroism.

My Thoughts:

So I'm a newb at Steampunk. I have only really read maybe three novels in this genre (including this one) and lemme tell you, it be good! I love it! So when I saw that this was a mix of steampunk AND vampires OMG I wanted to squeal in a happy way! So I'll just say this. It ...is...awesome!

*Ahem* Back to the semi professional like review.

I was instantly drawn into this story. I do believe that Princess Adele was a character I just loved from the start. She's not a wussy girly girl. She's plucky and all the good things I like to read, in a female character. She's noble but fair. I awwed at her protectiveness over Simon, her brother. I think she is a well drawn and excellently written character. She's not flat. She reacts in believable ways (well in regards to vampires and such.) She's conflicted and interesting.

The Greyfriar, is a mystery. At least at the start. I wrote down my prediction about WHO he would turn out to be, but I was wrong...sorely mistaken actually. I'm glad my prediction failed! (Not going to spoil it!) He is a great character as well. His story is intriguing too. He does bring about a new meaning to the whole, "rebelling against what is expected of you" to a whole new level! I thought the chemistry between Greyfriar and Adele was definitely intense and from the start was crossing my crossables that they got together.

Not only are the main two characters pretty well done, the side characters are also interesting.

I'm looking at you Flay!

I loved that the bad guys were soooo bad and the good guys were good but flawed!

All in all, this is a splendorific start to the series! I cannot wait til the next one is out!

Non-Book Post: I Want This So Hard!

I am a geek. I am a BIG geek for all things Zombie related and this game is simply *ugh I want! *

WARNING: THERE BE ZOMBIE RELATED GORE IN THIS VIDEO!!!!

This is the first video game trailer that I have literally wanted to cry over! It's done backwards, but it's so amazingly well done! I can't wait to get my paws on this!

Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

From Goodreads:
Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game.

Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind.

Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it


My Review:

I love Edgar Allan Poe. There I said it. The geeky little goth part of me LOVES the raven. So when I heard about the premise of this book I was all "OMGGOTTAHAVEITNOW" so yeah. Plus, hot dude on the cover giving me the sexah look. Yum! (sorry I know he's young but still..) Anyways, I got this for my Nook. I started it at about 1pm and finished it about 8pm that day. I didn't read straight through but I devoured it as quickly as I could. I took my Nook everywhere! EVERYWHERE! to finish this.

I loved that it had the potential to be cheesy. I've seen the basics of this book before..Chipper Cheerleader, rah rah girl, gets stuck with the omgadyuck Goth kid. They hate each other then slowly fall in LOVE..dun duh dunnnnn. The end.

That's now how this plays out at all! Hallelujah! Varen and Isobel have layers and depth. There is so much going on in this book, that I would be typing for hours in order to properly explain it. Needless to say, if feels effortless to read it. If that makes sense?

I loved nearly ever aspect of this right down to the baddies and the horrible cheerleaders!

I take notes as I read..I'll share a few with you now so you can see what I was thinking as I read it.

• "Is this a possible homage to the movie Labyrinth?"-If you've read this book already please tell me if you felt the same way!
• Pinfeathers is freaking freaking as hale!
• I'm so sad about the end (omitting because it's a spoiler) I don't want this book to be over! I want to know what happens next right NOW!

So that was just a few of my non-spoilery notes. Anyways, my advice is to read this book. I loved it from page 1 and continued that love til it was over. I want more. So please Ms. Creagh please get cracking on that! :)

Online Series: Clock Work

About Clock Work

When Esther St. Claire rejoins her sophomore year a semester late she expects a relatively quiet return.

But odd things begin to happen even before she can get to campus; starting with a strange encounter with a new student that escalates to attacks on Westin Academy’s student body by creatures thought to exist only in fairy tales in a myths.

An other worldly battle is going on and somehow Esther is the key.

About The Author:

E.L. Bassett, informally Erin and familiarly Rin, has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Before that she was prone to telling you all about how her sister was an alien and her dog pulled carts for garden fairies and dragging you into to the backyard to show you were Flybys (insect like creatures with powers over the elements) were nesting. Her penchant for the fantastic carried through grade school, evolving into a fascination with Dragons. She was constantly in the library reading everything she could, which of course led to the discovery of J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. She then knew she wanted to be a writer and her main genre would be fantasy.

In 4th grade she participated in the ECISD annual Oral Traditions Competition, her story being one complete with unicorns and ogres, taking home 6th place in the city. She can still recall the first 5 lines, which probably has a lot to do with the unicorn.

After joining the North Texas Speculative Fiction Writer’s Workshop while studying at TCU she was included in their chapter book with the science fiction story: Spirit of Hope. Since then she has been published in Indigo Rising, Raven Images and Abandoned Towers Magazine and has a chapbook published by Diminuendo Press.

The serial Clock Work came about when the Managing Editor at Abandoned Towers contacted Erin with the offer. After writing up a brief synopsis on two of the, many, works in progress, Clock Work was chosen. From there illustrator Juliet Doherty was found and the project came to life.

Erin enjoys off beat, out the ordinary writing of the urban fantasy persuasion, but also revels in classic fantasy stories with gripping battles, wizards, dragons or monsters, and epic fight scenes set in far off, mythical or fantastic places. Her book shelves are packed with everything from Holly Black, Martin Miller and Terry Pratchett to Christy Lijewski, Dean Koontz and Hal Duncan.

You can visit Erin Bassett’s website at: www.elbassett.com

Online Tour

Wednesday, February 16th
Guest Post at Genre Wench

Thursday, February 17th
Guest Post at Rex Robot Reviews
Spotlight at The Plot

Friday, February 18th
Character Interview at The Plot

Monday, February 21st
Guest Post at The Book Connection

Tuesday, February 22nd
Interview at The Examiner

Wednesday, February 23rd
Guest Post at InkyBlots
Review at Hott Books

Thursday, February 24th
Guest Post at The Hot Author Report

Friday, February 25th
Review at The Hot Author Report

Here Be the Winners...

Congrats to Stephanie Huber and Anne Campbell for
being awesome and winning my contest for this book!
I have sent your info the the publisher and your books should be on the way soon!

Thank you very much to all that entered the contest! I'll be hosting some more awesome giveaways pretty soon! Stay tuned!

What Are You Reading Monday?

My response to the question..."What are you reading this week?" is as follows:

I am gonna call this a "play by ear" week. I know for sure I have two review reads coming up, but that's it.
Vague I know, but I am just going to read and not really schedule myself. A slacker week. :) Yeah that's it.

Quick Review: How to Woo a Reluctant Lady

Okay first things first, what up with the cover? Seriously? I'm not sure what is going on here? Who is that model? Lauren Conrad? Anyways, the second thing I wanted to grump about is the title? How to Woo a Reluctant Lady..isn't that called attempted rape? So not a sexy or romantic sounding title.

With that said, the only flaws I found were those two very superficial ones. This is a great romance novel. I am not a HUGE romance fan, but this one didn't make me want to gag or hurl the book across the room..well after I opened it and started to read.

Minerva is definitely not a wallflower, nor is she a weak woman. She writes stories and makes her own living, which is definitely against the grain of her time. I like how she has made plans for her life, and they don't include marriage. She's actually trying to get OUT of marriage, thus the reluctant part of the title.

Giles is a wicked man that has had a speckled past, but is trying to better himself. I liked that he still have that roguish charm, but also a sweet side. I like the back story and was definitely routing for him. I think the two of them have great chemistry.

This was definitely a surprise for me. I liked it very much and for that I tip my hat to Ms. Jeffries for making me want to read more.

Happy Valentine's Day

I have uber love for all things creepy and spooky, so here you go! My creepy/spooky/weird Valentine's wishes to you!

Saturday Stuffs

I'll probably do a post like this every weekend, so you'll probably see this often. Here is where I'll put the things that amused me during the week. I'm a geek and always online so I'm always stumbling upon random, wacky thingamajigs. So enjoy! Join in with me if you want?! I'm not trying to start a meme but you know..the more the merrier!

So to get my Damon (the Vampire Diaries) fix I found this:

Now I don't usually condone Ke$ha but the song works for the video. It gave me the smiles.

Up next we have this:
If you can't read the font it says "Edward Cullen kidnaps real vampire, wants to know how to be awesome. Spike is still refusing to cooperate."



and lastly, I am just proving my nerdiness with this one but I miss the show Legend of the Seeker. I loved it. So this video made me get sad and all nostalgic!

Blog Tour: Can You Survive The Zombie Apocalypse

About the Book:
Inside these pages lies unspeakable horror. Bloodsplattering, brain-impaling, flesh-devouring horror. You’ve probably read your fair share of zombie stories. But this time it’s different. No longer can you sit idle as a bunch of fools make all the wrong moves. All hell is about to break loose—and YOU have a say in humanity’s survival.

You have choices to make.

Moral dilemmas.

Strategic decisions.

Weapons. Vehicles.

Will you be a hero?

Or will you cover your own ass at all costs?

Can you withstand the coming hours, days, weeks, and months? Or will you die amidst the chaos and violence of a zombie uprising?

Or, worst of all, will you become one of them?

My thoughts:

I was one of those geeky kids that LOVED the choose your own adventure stories. I would sit for hours and "read" them! This is an awesome one FOR GROWN UPS! What?! Zombies? Yes! I love zombies, obviously. I loved the concept of this book. I mean ninja strippers? What? This isn't a serious book. It doesn't take itself seriously. This is definitely a keeper! I loved the zombie trivia shout outs scattered all over this book!

So yeah basically I say read this! It's funny, it's a cool concept, and it's totally worth the hour or so you'll sit there and flip through it!

Book Details:

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Gallery
Publish Date: February 8, 2011
ISBN-10: 145160775X

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Isobel drew nearer to the black square of her open window. A cool breeze filtered through, stirring the curtains. She felt the brush of her hair against her cheek. How could the dream feel so real?" pg. 112 from Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

What Are You Reading Monday?

So this is a weekly meme that you see here every Monday morning. It's hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey! Every Monday I'll post the books that I plan on reading this week. So without further ado, my reading plans for Feb. 7th-13th.

-Nevermore by Kelly Creagh (ebook)

-The Magician's Nephew: Book 1 of the Chronicles of Narnia (read-a-long found HERE)

-for the read-a-long HERE (need to read ch. 1-5)(ebook)

-for this read-a-long HERE (need to read ch. 1-5)(ebook)
and also:
-for another read-a-long over at The Lost Entwife HERE (parts 1-4)

So yeah, I'm crazy with all these read-a-longs but I can't help it! So there you have it. My plans! Seems my Nook is going to get a work out this week! What are your plans?