Interview with Laura Ruby and Bad Apple Giveaway!

Interview with Laura Ruby and Bad Apple Giveaway!

Another awesome book contest. I can't wait to read it.

Contest ends 12/13!!!

SWOON Six-Month Anniversary Event & Contest!

SWOON Six-Month Anniversary Event & Contest!

Check out this awesome contest! The Book Butterfly is giving away a signed copy of Swoon, one of my FAVORITE books! I highly recommend it. Read my review for further proof.

Contest ends 12/17!

Contest!

Wow two posts in one day! I'm gettin the hang of this blogging thing!

So there's an AWESOME contest being held by Katie at Katie's Book Blog. Here's the post: http://katiesbookblog-katie.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-books-of-christmas-contest.html

She's giving away TWELVE books! How cool is that?! Contest ends 12/26/09!

A Great and Terrible Beauty

Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty

Author: Libba Bray

Pages: 432

Rating: ****1/2

Summary (from Amazon): A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.
Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother’s death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls’ academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order.

Review: Awesome. Amazing. Incredible. This was one of the (many) books I read on my vacation, so it holds an even more special place in my heart. This book was adventure, mystery, secrets, drama, and a beautiful Victorian setting. Though it is "paranormal", the book doesn't have that unrealistic feeling to it that most supernatural books do. Right, realistic visions...anyway, what I really did like about this book was how realistic it was. There wasn't the protagonist who is perfect and the good person who is always right, like in most novels. Gemma has her faults. She falls victim to the hype of cliques, even when she is hurt and scorned by the popular crowd. She, along with the other girls, still desire to be a part of Felicity and Pippa's clique. I found this really refreshing. The end got a little confusing, but nothing too major. It was still an excellent book!

Recommended for: Historical fiction junkies, mystery lovers.

So I am getting a cold. Yeah, it sucks. Life is go-go-go and all I want to do is sleep. I'll fit in as MANY posts as possible in the upcoming weeks, because trust me, I of all people know the magic of a good book, and the desire to share that magic by giving a book as a gift! So! Be sure to keep looking around the blog; I'm still working on adding more features. Sadly my computer fails to be up to par with what I need/want done, but I'm wearing it down. Thanks for reading!

I have returned! New feature!

Sorry for my absense. Due to technical difficulties and a family vacation, I have been without access to the internet for a few weeks.

I have been thinking about ways to perk up my blog. I've decided the first Friday of the month's post will be "Curl Up With a Classic". So as my first official CUWAC post, I give you...

Title: Jane Eyre

Author: Charlotte Brontë

Pages: 374 (varies by edition)

Rating: ****

Summary (from Goodreads): Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead and subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield Hall, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a richer life than that traditionally allowed women in Victorian society.

Review: Though it can be difficult at times, there is definitely a reason Jane Eyre is a classic. It is full of real characters and lush descriptions. Jane Eyre is a strong-moraled, independent young woman-a very uncommon creature during this Victorian era. Her independence and ability to love will capture any reader. Do not be deceived however--there are dark undertones to this otherwise-romance novel. There is language to get through in some areas, but for the most part the plot moves quickly and comprehensibly. Jane Eyre is a classic you should curl up under the covers with.

Recommended for: romance lovers, "star-crossed lovers" diehards

Yes I realize I said Wide Sargasso Sea was next, but I thought Jane Eyre should come before its spin off.

In other news, I will start participating i Waiting on Wednesday as well. I have a lot of books to review from my family vacation, so expect more posts soon!

A Kiss in Time

Title: A Kiss in Time

Author: Alex Flinn

Pages: 370

Rating: ***1/2

Summary (from Amazon): Jack is on a European tour mandated by his parents ("What they don't tell you about Europe is how completely lame it is") when he breaks an ancient curse by kissing the slumbering Princess Talia. Instead of rejoicing, she and other awakened members of their magical kingdom are confused and perturbed to find themselves in the 21st century. In order to escape the wrath of her father, who blames her for causing the curse, Talia flees with Jack to his home in Florida. While acclimating to the modern world-cell phones, television, Jell-o shots-the princess manages to charm everyone she meets and help Jack sort out his life. Alternating between the teenagers' distinctive points of view, Flinn skillfully delineates how their upbringings set them apart while drawing parallels between their family conflicts. Fans of happily-ever-after endings will delight in the upbeat resolution, which confirms the notion that "love conquers all."

Review: I liked this book. Sleeping Beauty was my favorite Disney princess, so I was psyched to read this book. I also enjoyed Alex Flinn's other fairytale retelling, Beastly, so that played a part as well. Meryl was definitely my favorite character, but I liked Talia as well. This novel was pretty cheesy, but what else can you expect from a fairy tale? I really liked the new twist Alex adds to the story--just a hint, it's perfect for hopeless romantics like myself. So if you love a good romance novel and just want to live happily ever after, definitely check out this book.

Recommended for: romance lovers

A review for Alex Flinn's novel Beastly will come in the near future (hopefully). As of now, next on the list is actually a book a just read for school: Wide Sargasso Sea

Eyes Like Stars and Twenty Boy Summer

Wow so I officially fail as a blogger. Here are my most recent reads:

Title: Eyes Like Stars

Author: Lisa Mantchev

Pages: 352

Rating: ****1/2

Summary (from Goodreads): Enter Stage Right All her world's a stage. Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She is not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but has no lines of her own. Until now. Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every place ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known. Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience. Open Curtain

Review:This book was phenomenal. I feel very repetitive, because I keep saying how amazing books are. I've read a lot of great books recently! Most of them have been recommended by other bloggers. ANYWAY this book was another original. I've never read anything like Eyes Like Stars before. Swoon was original, but there were some parts that reminded me of Twilight. This novel should have its own genre. Everything from the plot to the setting to the characters was pure originality. And they were all great! Lisa Mantchev created a new world, one most people would never have imagined. Bertie is a strong female protagonist who doesn't let the "Managers" boss her around. I was a little confused about Ariel--what is he exactly? (That's right, Ariel's a he) But otherwise it was comprehendable, which is important for fantasy books. Though I'm not sure if this book can be categorized as fantasy...anyway, GREAT read. I can't wait for Perchance a Dream (Theatre Illuminata Act II)!!

Recommended for: Fantasy-lovers, play-goers, and readers who like a little mystery and action with a splash of romance.

Title: Twenty Boy Summer

Author: Sarah Ockler

Pages: 290

Rating: ****

Summary (from Goodreads):"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.""Okay.""Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?""Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

Review: I totally misjudged this book. I wrote it off as another light, fluffy romance novel. WRONG! This book, while yes is mainly about romance, goes a lot deeper. Anna deals a lot with her heartbreak, loss, and the fact that she is keeping such a huge secret from her best friend. Anna isn't your typical romance novel heroine whose love comes riding in on his white horse to make her life complete. She is her own person, as she is realizing as Frankie becomes someone she can barely recognize sometimes and by the fact that Matt is gone forever. The writing is beautiful and Sarah Dessen-esque (a compliment I do not give lightly). I almost started crying at some points, which is very uncommon for me. Another great read--perfect for summer, though it was nice to have a little sun in this dreary Midwestern November.

Recommended for: Romance lovers

Again, sorry (if anyone is even reading this). I'll try to post more frequently. Next up: A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn