His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

Let me start this review by saying, “Oh, SNAP!” When I first started , the writing felt a bit cliched to me, and I wasn’t fanatical about Phe. Yet by the end of the novel, Anastasia Hopcus had managed to change my mind.

The premise of this novel is probably my favorite aspect of it, just because it’s so original. I would get into it more, but I don’t want to spoil anything for you. The plot itself was very well planned, and while I was able to partially figure out what was happening, the ending still left me surprised, thoughtful and itching for more. I have heard rumors that there will be a sequel to this book, so I’m not complaining. And since I mentioned the writing earlier, I’ll add that it while it didn’t seems as cliched by the end of the novel, it also didn’t feel particularly memorable. Hopcus does, however, know how to use small details to create a particularly creepy atmosphere.

As for Phe, I didn’t love her at first. I thought she was a bit too impulsive at times. However, she was self-aware, smart and loyal enough to her loved ones (a character trait which I also loved in Zach) that it didn’t really bother me by the end of the novel. One character that I can’t wait to learn more about is Corrine. I have a feeling that if there is a sequel to this book, she’ll be around even more and we’ll have much to learn. And then there was Trent, who is the type of person I worry about encountering in real life.

Shadow Hills is an enjoyable but suspenseful and frightening read. This novel isn’t necessarily one of my favorites I’ve read this year, but I think it’s a fabulous set up and an entertaining book. I think the series will only get better from here and I can’t wait to see where Hopcus takes the story next!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through .

All seems well and good when young Lucy Graham marries Sir Michael Audley; she has married well and Sir Michael is thoroughly devoted to his new bride. His daughter Alicia, however, sees through her new stepmother’s girlish ways. Shortly after the wedding, Sir Michael’s nephew, the attractive but lazy barrister Robert Audley, welcomes back to England an old friend of his, George Talboys. The pair visit the Audley Court, where George disappears in mysterious circumstances. Robert Audley is spurred into action, taking up the case of his missing friend with a newfound passion and energy. Like the best detective novels, and with some wonderful melodrama, the plot unravels at great pace until the truth is revealed about Lady Audley’s Secret.

As you can tell from my status updates on GoodReads, this book took me a ridiculously long time to get through. It was actually for my Vic Lit book club (not school), and the week I had for Thanksgiving wound up being ridiculous, so I've only just had the chance to finish it. Despite the amount of time it took me to read , I really enjoyed it on the whole.

I have to say that the plot is a bit predictable. It's fairly easy to figure out what the basic idea is. With that being said, I still really enjoyed it. What kept me reading was wanting to discover how exactly everything played out and learning more about the characters. I've always been a very analytical person who pays close attention to detail, so this was important to me. I also have to say that I enjoyed the way Braddon ended the novel.

I also need to confess to being a big fan of the Victorian writing style. It's a bit over the top for some people. I want to include this one quote which I thought was amazing for its style, diction, and its commentary on tea.


I also loved that the narrator referred to Lady Audley as "my lady" and that the word "mustachio" was used at several points throughout the novel.

Braddon's characterization is quite excellent in this book. I became invested in Robert in particular, as well as George and Clara, and really wanted things to work out for them.

Overall, this is a great read. If you're looking for a Victorian thriller, pick this up. You won't be disappointed!

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

The Outsiders is a book that delves deeply into the hearts, minds, and stories of a group that had no voice before S. E. Hinton gave them one. She began writing the book at age 15, spurred on by the disturbing trend she saw growing in her high school towards division between groups. "I was worried and angered by the social situation," Hinton writes. "I saw two groups at the extreme ends of the social scale behaving in an idiotic fashion -- one group was being condemned and one wasn't.... When a friend of mine was beaten up for no other reason than that some people didn't like the way he combed his hair, I took my anger out by writing about it."

Thirty years after it was first published, The Outsiders still carries the same frightening and unifying messages for teens (and readers of all ages). The ruthlessly realistic and violent story of the Greasers and the Socs, rival gangs from very different sides of the railroad tracks, is narrated by Ponyboy Curtis, a smart, sensitive kid who has grown to become one of the most recognizable figures in the history of young adult literature. Any teen who has ever felt isolated or different can identify with Ponyboy, a kid forced to be tough on the outside, but who underneath is just as scared and needy as anyone. Hinton herself has said that she has never written a character as close to her own self as Ponyboy is. Young Adult fiction was shaped and defined by Susan Eloise Hinton, and the realism she attached to the genre became the norm, enabling later writers like Robert Cormier and Judy Blume to find characters and voices that actually spoke to adolescents. Since 1967, Ponyboy has become the hero for countless teenagers nationwide as The Outsiders stands to influence an entire new legion of adolescents who need Ponyboy as much as ever. (Summary from Barnes and Noble)

To be honest, if I’d never heard anything about , I don’t think I would have felt drawn to it. Yet it’s considered a YA classic, and one day when I was volunteering at my local library and shelving books, this novel jumped out at me. I was pleasantly surprised.

This novel is definitely not a fluffy read. It’s the story of people struggling to get by amidst discrimination. I’ll be honest and say that I didn’t think I would be able to relate to the characters who consider themselves greasers. I’m not sure that I even know anyone who I would consider a greaser.

Part of the reason why I enjoyed this book as much as I did is because the plot is a perfect mixture of action, suspense and emotion. Ponyboy’s problems are real and honest, and while I’ve never gotten into a fight on the streets, I can relate to his struggles of grief and not always getting along with family. While I connected most with Ponyboy, I loved that his friends weren’t just greasers but people with ambitions and interests. Soda was probably my favorite character.

Despite my initial reservations, I understand why The Outsiders is a classic, and it’s a book that will stay with me for quite some time. The content of this novel is often violent, but I wouldn’t hesitate to hand it over to a teenager or an adult, because I think Hinton conveys an important message about choices and mobility.

Disclosure: I checked out a copy of this book from my awesome local library.

Another day. I awaken, bleary eyed. After some breakfast and waking up a bit more, I switch on my computer and turn to Google Reader. Some posts I look through are lengthy, others short, others full of pictures. I even see stars in some cases, and notice how many different techniques I see among different reviews.

I’m sure many of you have noticed that I don’t post ratings my book reviews. I thought about it when I first started my blog, but decided against it. For one thing, I’ve always been better with words than numbers. Furthermore, I’m intrigued to hear what other people like or don’t like about what they’re reading. While I sometimes look through star ratings that a book has gotten on GoodReads, I feel that those without reviews often tell me more about how popular a book is than what I specifically might like about it. However, I know other people certainly feel differently than I do, so I decided to ask some other bloggers for their thoughts on ratings.

I set out to talk to people who all had different set ups, whether it be a simple star rating, a system with many facets or no ratings at all. I actually really liked some of the explanations that bloggers who decided to use ratings provided. Jessica of said that ratings are important to her because, in some ways, they can be the most truthful part of a review.


As someone who worries that I sometimes conveys a lot of praise for a book that was merely enjoyable as opposed to WOW!, Jessica kind of makes me want to change the way I do things. I will say that if I only enjoyed a book but wasn’t jumping up and down over it, I try to convey that in my reviews (I realize try might be the operative word here). However, I totally agree that there is a big difference between a four and a five star book, and I think for me the four star books are the ones where, while I may not have anything negative to say about it, I just didn’t love it whereas five star books are the ones where I fall head over heels in love and am still thinking about it weeks later. Jen of says she pays particularly close attention to 5 star reviews, because she might find something worth reading. Gail of eloquently points out that ratings can give her an idea of how much others enjoyed a book, while still keeping distance between her and spoilers.


I think this is especially true in a circumstance like the one I’ve been in lately: my Google Reader has been filled with reviews of by Maggie Stiefvater, but I don’t want to check them out because I’m still reading , which is its prequel. However, it seems that based on the ratings I’m seeing I’ve gotten the sense that people are enjoying it.

I've also seen rating systems that touch on multiple aspects of a novel. For example, Kristi of , gives the Plot, Characters, Ending, Writing and Cover each their own individual rating, but she also gives an individual rating, and says that the Overall rating is the best way to find out how much she enjoyed reading a book.


I totally agree with this reasoning. I read the Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar and while I don’t particularly care for how they’re written, I’ve given most of them four or five stars on Goodreads because I think they make awesome guilty pleasure reads. Some bloggers, such as Melina of , have set up lovely personalized rating systems: Melina looks at Plot, Characters, Attention Grabbing, Girlie Meter and Ending. I love Melina’s system because it’s unique to her tastes: while not every other blogger would rate on girliness, it’s important to her, and I think it’s awesome that she’s so frank about what she looks for.

And then there’s people like me, where you have to hunt us down on GoodReads to find out how we rated a book. I give a book a star rating when I’m on GoodReads, but to be honest, I occasionally feel a little reluctant to do so. The truth be told, I find it challenging to use some kind of numerical scale to convey how much I liked or disliked or a book. For example, no blog I’ve seen that has a multi-faceted system has a category for “experience” which is a hard thing to rate, but can also be really important to one’s impression of a book. Like I remember reading and knowing that I should have been working on a paper but unable to put it down, or the feelings of my stomach flipping throughout . While some of the previously mentioned bloggers have talked about a rating as a snapshot, I know some other people who realize that ratings can lead to people jumping to conclusions.


I think what Allison talks about here is the idea of telling vs. showing. As an English major, when I wrote a paper, my goal was not just to tell my professor, that my thesis is right, but to show them, perhaps by using textual evidence. Misty of expresses many ideas which are similar to Allison’s, but also points out that her ratings of books are subject to change.


I totally agree with Misty here. There are some books that I’d like to re-read for the sake of forming my coherent opinions about them. Sometimes I’ll be surprised that a book is still fresh in my mind six months after reading it or vice versa. Just because I rate a book on GoodReads doesn't mean that it's set in stone.

My point in writing this post is that when it comes to book ratings, there isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things. Every technique has its ups and downs, and I've simply set out to explore why bloggers might choose to do things a certain way, primarily out of curiosity and for the sake of contemplation. I've learned that different things work for every blog writer and every blog reader. I like how I post my reviews, and the responses I’ve gotten from others whose tastes are similar to mine. Plus, I think people should post whatever and however they want on their blogs. I’d love to hear what you all think about ratings, so feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at .

For review:
by Elizabeth Scott
by Jennifer Donnelly
Contest wins:
Swag
by Courtney Summers
by Susie Day
From the library:
by S.E. Hinton
by Simone Elkeles (Click to watch the book trailer!)
by Melina Marchetta
Bought:
by Carrie Ryan
by Christopher Moore
by Nicole Krauss
by Tamora Pierce
by Lesley Livingston
by Chelsea Rae Swiggett
by Suzanne Young
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
by Julie Kagawa
by Maggie Stiefvater
Tour sites mentioned:

Bloggers and Blogs Mentioned:
Jeremy of
Sarah of
Kelsey of
Allison of
Chelsea of

Read:
by Elizabeth Scott
Currently Reading:
by Maggie Stiefvater
by Jennifer Donnelly
by Neil Pasricha
I plan to read:
by Julie Kagawa
by Chelsea Campbell
by Sarah Beth Durst
by Laurie Halse Anderson
by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
by Emily Bronte
by Stephenie Meyer (This is waiting for me at my library.)
by Bree Despain (I think this is finally in transit, so hopefully it will be waiting for me at the library shortly.)

Greetings, blog readers! My 1oo Followers Giveaway and Stardust Giveaway both ended, so I have some winners to announce. I'll start with the 100 Followers Giveaway. I wound up choosing four winners for this giveaway, which is an extra for every 50 followers I earned after posting the giveaway. So, without further ado, here are the winners!

Top Ten Picks is hosted by . When I saw this meme, I knew I would enjoy creating a list of my own. I should note that not all of these characters are necessarily book crushes, and that with the exception of my number one choice, these aren't in any particular order. Without further ado, here's my list.

10.) Weaver from by Jennifer Donnelly
Weaver is a character who’s strong, bold character. I love him because he’s intelligent and loyal to Mattie, the main character, throughout the novel. I would love it if Donnelly wrote a follow-up to A Northern Light were she told us all about what he goes on to do with his life.

9.) Stephen from by Dodie Smith
It was so hard for me not to develop a crush on Stephen. He’s sweet and struck me as such a romantic, as well as being passionate. Furthermore, I liked that he was still in the process of maturing at the beginning of the novel, because it made him a more interesting character.

8.) Oskar Schell from by Jonathan Safran Foer
Oskar was an expressive and honest character. However, I think my favorite traits about him were that he was eccentric and creative.

7.) George Emerson from by E.M. Forster
Mischievous would be a fabulous word to describe George, and I think the 1985 movie makes a particular effort to depict him as such. If I delve too much into what I like about him, I risk spoiling the story for others, so I will simply say this: I love that he’s passionate.

6.) Kent McFuller from by Lauren Oliver
Those of you who’ve read my Character Connection post on Kent have already heard about my adoration of him, so I’ll keep it concise: he’s sweet, a little on the geeky side and he’s not one to sugar coat his opinions.

5.) Peeta from by Suzanne Collins
I realize that I may lose some followers over this decision, and I can’t pretend for one second that it was an easy decision to make. Some people have said that they feel like Peeta doesn’t have as much of a backbone, but I like the side of Katniss he brings out. Plus, honorable mention goes to Gale, who I’d actually like to keep for myself. He strikes me as being stereotypically masculine (muscular, etc.). Who knows, though, Mockingjay could entire change my mind on this matter.

4.) Colonel Brandon from by Jane Austen
Colonel Brandon strikes me as a rather stoic, quiet character, especially when played by Allan Rickman. I tend to think of him as a particularly loyal and patient man, both of which prove to be excellent qualities in his romantic endeavors.

3.) Fred and George Weasley from the series by J.K. Rowling
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I can’t choose between these two brothers. I love that they do crazy things which I would have been too nervous to do as a teenager, and their senses of humor. However, they prove quick to stand up for family and friends.

2.) Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Ron is definitely kind of an awkward, nervous character, and there were definitely times when I grew frustrated with him. Much like his brothers though, he was quick to jump the defense of his loved ones, whether it be his little sister or a girl he’s pining after.

1.) Mr. Darcy from by Jane Austen
Who else would top my list but Mr. Darcy? He may have his lessons to learn, but he’s utterly swoon worthy by the end of the novel and pursues what he really wants. Plus, Colin Firth plays him in the 1995 miniseries. What’s not to love?


I'd also like to give honorable mention to Sam from by Maggie Stiefavter. I didn't want to officially add him to the list as I'm still reading the book, but I love that he's the sensitive, music writing type.

Now that you know my choices, I'd love to hear who everyone else's favorite literary men are!

Hello everyone, and welcome! The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer of .

This week's question: Tell us about the book you are currently reading!

I'm currently reading two books, namely by Elizabeth Scott and by Maggie Stiefvater, both of which have main characters named Grace. Shiver is about a girl named Grace and her fixation with the wolves in her back yard, and what happens when her world collides with that of the wolf, Sam, who she's been admiring. I think this novel is beautifully written and I can't wait to find out what happens. One thing I love about it is that it alternates between Grace and Sam's perspectives. However, I have put it on hold for Grace by Elizabeth Scott, because I have this book through an ARC tour.

Grace by Elizabeth Scott is about a suicide bomber named Grace who's trying to escape her mission. I'm only about 40 pages in, and was a little dubious at first, but I think this book may have just clicked for me.

I'm also holding two giveaways right now, both of which will end this Saturday night. As part of the Got Books? Event, I'm giving away a copy of by Neil Gaiman and a handmade Stardust Snowdrop bookmark. Click if you'd like to enter!


My other giveaway is celebrating hitting 100 blog followers, where you can win one of 8 YA pre-orders. You must be a follower to enter this giveaway. Click to enter!

Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to hearing about what everyone else is reading.

In a lush and vivid world of dark forces, Wolf is on the run from his past, and from the ghosts and demons that haunt the windswept moors of Devil’s In a lush and vivid world of dark forces, Wolf is on the run from his past, and from the ghosts and demons that haunt the windswept moors of Devil’s Edge. But he is not alone: Along the way he befriends a brave girl named Nest. When they discover a sinister enemy is looming closer than they ever could have imagined, Wolf and Nest must determine the difference between lies and reality—and who they can trust—before it’s too late.

is a book which I feel fairly conflicted about. There were some things about the novel that I really enjoyed, and I’m actually wondering if there’s going to be a sequel to it, because I felt that the author left enough room for one by the end of the story. I liked this book, but had some problems with it along the way.

I found the premise and setting of this book to be very original. I liked that Langrish made some of her characters and over arching themes Christian, because sometimes I feel that sometimes people tend to criticize religion without a lot of good reason or logic behind why they’re doing it, and are often doing so for the sake of being critical. A lot of the mythology behind the elves and how they and their surroundings came into being was exceptionally well thought out and woven into the story. There were, however, times throughout the story when I felt that the plot slowed a bit too much for my liking.

One of the things which I didn’t like so much at first was the human characters, particularly Wolf and Nest. As I was reading, I got a vibe from both of them which I felt said, “I want to be a strong-willed character, but will be glad to overreact and stalk off angrily if you upset me.” My problem wasn’t so much that this particular trait could get annoying, but that it didn’t feel very original to me. While I couldn’t quite put a finger on it, I felt like I’d read characters very similar to Wolf and Nest before. However, I felt that they grew much more original and complex towards the end of the novel. Of all of the characters, Elfgift may have been my favorite!

Even though I liked the ending for the most part, I did find myself questioning its feasibility. I’d ultimately really like to continue with these characters and the world Langrish has created, so I hope that a sequel is in the works.

Disclosure: I won an ARC o this book form Amelia of . Thanks, Amelia!

Greetings, lovely blog readers! As you all know, books play a large and very important role in my life. They have even begun a slow but steady takeover of my bedroom. However, I have to be honest and say that T.V. is another one of my great loves. One of my favorite shows right now is .
Some of you may also be familiar with Adele of , who is fantastic. She recently started an entertainment blog called . Adele has assembled a fabulous team of bloggers to write about various T.V. shows. For example, Sarah of is writing about . So now you ask, how are Snark and Bark and my love of Castle connected? Why, I'll be posting about Castle every Tuesday on Snark and Bark! Until season three starts up, I'll just start at the beginning of season one and work my way forward, so be sure to stop by often if you're interested in my opinions. My first post, which is all about why I love Castle, went up earlier today. Click to read it! Thanks to Adele for assembling such a fabulous team of bloggers!

The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.

A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants--from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor. Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys--except for Claire's rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.

When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire's quiet life is turned upside down--along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom or with each other.

Enchanting and heartfelt, this captivating novel is sure to cast a spell with a style all its own.

I will be honest with you all: despite having lived in Texas and Florida for the first nine years of my life, I hold some preconceived notions about the south, and I imagine that some of my notions may be unfair and untrue, perhaps even outdated. I’ve also visited New Orleans, but perhaps someday I should explore more of the south and reconsider my notions. At any rate, when I think of the south, I think of a southern accent, fried food, debutantes and sweet tea. didn’t necessarily prove any of my assumptions to be correct, but it did provide some excellent drama and a lovely family story.

The Waverley family is a unique family in that all of them have some sort of magical power, like Evanelle, who has to give people things, although she doesn’t understand why. However, Allen gave other families similar legacies, and I thought that was a cool concept, especially since it can be kind of true to real life. For example, my mother’s side of the family is notoriously bad at making plans whereas my father’s side of the family are known for being neat nicks with not a lot of extra stuff just sitting around. At any rate, I found the Waverley family charming, although I did sometimes get a bit frustrated with Claire. She is, however, a caterer who specializes in edible plants, so if you’re a big plant eater or a lover of sugar then be prepared to be made hungry!

There was definitely some “Don’t you go stealing my man as I prove I’m better than you!” drama going on between Sydney and her former best friend, Emma. While Emma’s insecurity and lack of prudence were a little irritating, I found this aspect of the story amusing because it got a little ridiculous at times. I liked her husband Hunter John, however, for the fact that he had backbone.

And the romance. While neither the romances between Claire and Tyler and Sydney and Henry weren’t the most original, they were sweet, and I found it hard not to like Tyler. Furthermore, I thought that they were done in a way that fit with the atmosphere of the novel.

Garden Spells is a swift, emotional and lovely read. While it’s not the most stunning or original book I’ve ever read, it kept a smile on my face and I didn’t want to put it down.

Disclosure: I won a copy of this book from Jen of . Thanks, Jen!

In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for six hundred years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve that star and bring it back for her. It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.

I loved this book. Despite the fact that it took me a while to get through, when I picked this up, I was engrossed by the plot and prose. I felt that this was the ultimate fairy tale, but with a bit of Gaiman added to make it stand out, namely a couple of aspects that were vaguely horror-esque.

It's hard for me to review this book, because I honestly wouldn't change anything about it. I thought Gaiman's writing, prose and descriptions were absolutely beautiful. Dare I say that he enchanted me? This isn't quite your average fairy tale, as its more adult in terms of the sexual content and violence. I also have to say that I liked all of the characters, and thought they were fairly relatable. Who hasn't had a crush like Tristan's? I actually thought the star had her irritating moments when we fist met her, but I grew sympathetic towards her. I would not have been happy had I been in her position! One aspect of the ending may have been a tiny bit predictable. I was okay with that, however, because it was what I wanted for the characters, and I felt that Gaiman did a really good job of creating a feasible ending which tied all loose ends of the story together. Other than that, he had me on my toes all throughout the novel!

exceeded and surpassed my expectations. The story feels so captivating and original to me. I can't wait to continue reading his work.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at .

Won:
by Marilyn Brant + swag
by Lindsey Leavitt x2 + bookmarks
Bought:
by Julia Hoban
by Sarah Ockler
by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
by Sarah Dessen
by Anna Godberson
by Jessica Brody
by J.T. Holden
by Michelle Zink
by Kathryn Stockett
Button which says "Book Junkie"
Edgar Allan Poe Action figure!
Bloggers and Blogs Mentioned:
Melina of
April of

I got quite a bit of reading done over the fourth of July Weekend and while on vacation in Maine, so I'm feeling very productive.
Read:
by Maureen Lindley ()
by Lynne Truss ()
by Jennifer Hubbard ()
by Kay Cassidy ()
by Becca Fitzpatrick ()
by Sarah Addison Allen
by Katherine Langrish
by S.E. Hinton
Currently reading:
by Maggie Stiefvater (I bumped this one up because Maggie and Kristi are hosting a Twitter party on the 22nd to celebrate the release of . Click for more information!)
by Neil Pasricha (I've been reading a few pages of this every night before bed. It is most definitely a feel good read!)
I plan to read:
by Chelsea Campbell
by Sarah Beth Durst
by Simone Elkeles (This is waiting for me at my public library, so I need to pick it up Tuesday when I go in to volunteer.)
by Bree Despain (I requested this from my library as well and am first on the hold list, so it'll probably be there soon.)
by Laurie Halse Anderson
by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (If I had a dollar for everyone person who's said, "Why haven't you read this yet!" I would be rolling in dough.)
by Emily Bronte
by Jennifer Donnelly (I'm on an ARC tour for this book and I will probably get it late this week or early next week.)

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

I’ve been intrigued by because I saw a lot of reviews of it around the blogosphere, but it seemed like they were primarily at very drastic ends of the spectrum. People either loved the novel or hated it, so after seeing that my library had a copy, I checked it out to see what I would think, and I find myself falling somewhere in the middle

I have to say that I think Fitzpatrick is talented as an author. I found the premise of this book to be quite original. My favorite part of this novel was easily the plot. While I could get an idea of where it was going about halfway through, I was impressed by how intricately and carefully it was done, while still leaving the reader wanting just a little bit more. I would go further in depth, but I don’t want to spoil anything.

My problem with this novel was the characters themselves. They were well developed, I just didn’t like the actual characters. I was often surprised by how imperceptive Nora and Vee seemed to me (especially Vee). When I read about some of their schemes I said, “Really? Why would they think that is a good or feasible plan?” Other times I just felt that they were a little bit oblivious.

And then there’s the issue of Patch and Nora’s relationship with him. I know Nora kept saying she knew Patch was dangerous and chased him anyways, and while I didn’t find this to be intelligent, I didn’t necessarily consider it to be the most unrealistic aspect of the novel. If fiction only represented idyllic relationships where no one does anything they might regret later, that wouldn’t be entirely true to real life. I don’t mean to sound pessimistic, but not every relationship is perfect. Sometimes people have a hard time getting out of bad relationships, or they chase people who’ve hurt them before and will probably do it again. I also felt that control and manipulation, both physical and mental, were interest concepts throughout the novel and I’ll be curious to see how Fitzpatrick treats them later in the series.

I enjoyed Hush, Hush, but clearly I finished the novel with some grievances. I think for a lot of people, their perception and opinions of Nora strongly affect how they feel about the novel as a whole. I say if you’re intrigued, give this novel a chance and form your own opinion. I’d love to hear what you think!

Disclosure: I checked out a copy of this book from my awesome local library.

Hello everyone, and welcome! The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer of . Since I didn't have a chance to participate in the hop last week, I'll be answering the questions for last week and this week.

Last week's question: Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!

Oh, this is tough, as I have lots of favorites! Definitely , because I think he's hilarious, and I always love his characters. I also love , because her writing is witty, her main characters endearing, and her romances lovely. I also love and because of the magical worlds they create in their books. They're also authors which I associate with my early teenage years, and I always have happy memories about the fist time I read by novels about them and was swept away.

This week's question: What book are you dying to get your hands on, past, present or future?

by Suzanne Collins! I want to know what happens! It's the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy and Catching Fire ended on a cliffhanger. by Julie Kagawa, which is the second book of The Iron Fey trilogy. I would also have to say by Andrea Cremer because I've heard it's amazing, and I know I'll be getting it on an ARC tour some time in the next month.

If you're stopping by my blog for the first time, right now I'm holding a giveaway in celebration of getting 100 followers. Click to find out more info! Note that you must be a follower to enter. I'll also be holding a 48 hour giveaway next Thursday and Friday as part of the event, so if you like giveaways, be sure to stop by then as well.

When the Prom Queen becomes your fairy godmother…

Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret society of popular girls dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of.

… be careful what you wish for.

Jess’s transformation wins her the heart of her dream crush and a shot at uber-popularity. Until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers the real force behind her exclusive society. It’s a high stakes battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys in power need Jess on special assignment. When the mission threatens to destroy her dream life come true, Jess is forced to choose between living a fairy tale and honoring the Sisterhood… and herself.

What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

If you’re looking for a fun and girly read, you may want to check out , but if inspirational and empowering are also traits you’re looking for, you should definitely check out this book. I read the vast majority of this novel on a day spent on long flights, sitting in airports and waiting on tarmacs, and this book was the perfect thing to distract me from the anxiety and impatience I felt about traveling. It exuded girly fun and kept a smile on my face!

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the plot of this novel, but I was really impressed. I loved that the story had its secret society, intelligence and spy elements. Cassidy wove in a considerable amount of intricate detail. While it had me up past my bed time in search of satisfaction, which it provided, it piqued my interest enough to make me wish I could read the second book right away.

I found Jess as a narrator to be feminine, fun and cute, but also very thoughtful. Her descriptions definitely made me want to get fabulous highlights and an indulgent frozen coffee beverage. I also have to say that I thought the romance was particularly well written and I definitely swooned over Ryan. I’ll admit that I was a bit more dubious of him by the end of the novel, but will be eager to see how his character evolves later in the book.

This is a book about good versus evil, and I definitely agreed with Cassidy’s broader definitions of good and evil. It wasn’t just a simple who’s nice and who’s mean, but it’s about empowering young girls to feel confident and succeed in life, despite discrimination and bullying. I will admit that I got skeptical at the Cindys desire to have tame relationship choices and relationships, but I understand that Cassidy likely meant this as message not to say that women shouldn’t dress as they wish or be sexual beings, but that they should stay true to themselves in the process. I think the girl power message sets a great example and can encourage a reader of any age to empower his or self. It’s also especially why I think The Cinderella Society would be a great book for younger readers of YA.

Overall, this was fun and a swift read, but much deeper than the cover or the premise lets on. I can definitely see myself picking this up again when I need some girlinesss and positive energy in my life. I enjoy the messages that Cassidy has woven into her story, and can’t wait to read the other books in the series and much more by her.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

You all know that I love to read and may have noticed that one genre I particularly favor is YA. As you may also already know, I just graduated this spring from a small, private liberal arts college. I’m sure this seems strange to some people given my educational background, especially upon hearing that I was an English major. I think a lot of people who’ve had similar educational backgrounds would assume that I devote my time to classics and literary fiction, and some might even turn up their nose at YA and claim that it has little academic merit, a statement with which I disagree. Yet I’m 22 years old, I still read YA, and I know of other people my age and older (gasp!) who do as well.

I consider myself an advocate of reading for every age group, and I think that people should read what they want to read it, not what other people consider age appropriate or intellectual. I believe reading can increase a person’s vocabulary and help someone imagine a different way of life, or a situation from a different perspective, or just be a way to relax and have fun. I could go on and on about why I think people should read, but I think that everyone should read a book or a magazine at some point, even if it’s not very often.

I love YA and I don’t think it’s a genre that gets the credit or respect that it deserves. Don’t get me wrong, there is still plenty of adult fiction that I hold close to my heart, and I still read adult books. I think part of my love for it could be that as I’m in my early twenties, I’m fairly close to what I consider the target audience of this genre. I generally think of the most targeted as tweens and teenagers, but I know people from many age groups who love YA. But I don’t necessarily see myself as becoming less enamored with the genre as I grow older.

So now the question is, why do I read so much YA? Why don’t I spend more time reading adult novels, or beloved classics? I’m not positive that I have a perfect answer to this question. I think that when I was younger and around twelve or thirteen, I liked the genre because I thought that it helped me see kids close to my age doing awesome and amusing things, whether it be becoming a knight like Alanna, going to Hogwarts or discovering that my father is a prince of a small European country. However, books have also been a way for me to connect with other people. I bonded with a neighbor after we walked to our local library and she introduced me to the works of , which later in the year led to a girl in my math class befriending me after seeing me balancing a copy of on my trapper keeper. I volunteer at my local library and just the other week I started talking books with someone my age and led to discovering that she knows one of my best friends from high school. As an aside, this is weird because I went to high school in Ohio and now live in Minnesota.

Now I love that YA deals with issues that are actually relevant to teenagers and adults, and while there’s a lot of different sub-genres, I think this is true of all of them. Being able to relate, empathize or sympathize with a character and or his or her situation makes him or her much more likeable. In Astrid contemplates her virginity and it’s meaning to her. In Mia struggles with body image problems. In , Katniss struggles with what she wants versus what she feels she has to do. In Kent and Sam both struggle with how they and the friendship between them has changed over the years. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. I think that if one searched hard enough, any reader can find a character who they can relate to.

I also have more personal reasons why I read YA, and I think it’s because I feel such a strong connection to the genre because I connected to others through books and grew to read so much more. I think that these days picking up an old YA favorite helps me reminisce back to my geeky, bookish, sixth grade self. I would still love to get an acceptance letter from Hogwarts or a job offer as a knight. And I love continuously exploring new worlds, or meeting more characters that I see parts of myself in, or that intrigue me. Jackson Pearce, author of and , recently made a vlog entitled “Why I Write For Teens” in which she says, “When I was a teenager I wanted to do everything, and I guess I still do in a lot of ways.”
I think Jackson has expressed her emotions about growing up wonderfully and I can really relate to this feeling, especially as someone who isn’t really sure where I’ll be in just a few months. Rock on, Jackson! If you haven’t watched this vlog, I highly recommend that you take a look at it and Jackson’s entire . I love trying new things, especially when it means going some place which is new to me. Right now I feel like that, with some exceptions, I have a lot of choices regarding what I’ll do with my life. It makes me feel like so much is possible. I am contemplating becoming a librarian, but things change. I’m eager to see what my fate will be, even though part of my transition into the real world has involved frustration and I know that there is more to come.

Do I feel like I have anyone to defend my love of YA to? No. I’ll read what I want to read, thank you. Am I eager to persuade non YA readersto give the genre a chance? Definitely. I don't think I can express my enjoyment of other genres as well as I can for YA, like adult, or the sub-genres of YA, but if I do I hope to give you all an update with my thoughts. Until then, I’ll be reading and blogging about YA books, along with many others.

"In 2002 Lynne Truss presented Cutting a Dash, a BBC Radio 4 series about punctuation." Through sloppy usage and low standards on the Internet, in e-mail, and now "txt msgs," we have made proper punctuation an endangered species. In Eats, Shoots & Leaves, former editor Lynne Truss dares to say that it is time to look at our commas and semicolons and see them as the wonderful and necessary things they are. If there are only pedants left who care, then so be it. This is a book for people who love punctuation and get upset when it is mishandled. From George Orwell shunning the semicolon, to New Yorker editor Harold Ross's epic arguments with James Thurber over commas, this history makes a case for the preservation of a system of printing conventions that is much too subtle to be mucked about with.

I read this book in the hopes of reviewing my punctuation, but this read proved to be far more entertaining than simple grammar rules. If you are an American reader, be prepared to have many things about your country, as well as your poor grammar, mocked. I consider myself a bit of a grammar snob (even though I know mine is far from perfect), but Truss definitely put me in my place.

This is a challenging book to review, perhaps because it’s so straight forward. I think Truss did a great job of thoroughly cover all of her bases. It is definitely fair to say that this book proved to be helpful guide and refresher for punctuation. Truss provided practical examples to help her read better understand the points she made.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the fact that Truss had clearly found her voice. She was intelligent, witty and humorous. If you like your grammar and punctuation rules with a little bit of snark, I highly suggest that you pick this book up.

When I read by Dodie Smith a few years ago I thought it was a lovely story of romance and personal growth, and I think this film absolutely did it justice. I will confess that I don’t remember how every single plot detail played out in the book versus the movie, but to be honest, that comparison wasn’t important to me.

For me, one of the most magical things about this film is the setting. I thought that the castle and its surroundings fit the feel of the novel really well. There were some things which I loved having visualized, like the scene where Rose touches the gargoyle in the kitchen, or Stephen’s life in London. I also really enjoyed watching the party scenes and the costumes (which I thought were lovely).

I also loved how they brought the chemistry between Cassandra and Stephen to life. I already thought it was potent in the book, but for me it felt perfect in the film. To be honest, I really thought all of the acting was excellent.

Perhaps one of my favorite things about this movie was the fact that the ending stayed loyal to that of the book. And I thought that the actress was really wonderful and preserved the emotional tone of the scene. I think this is overall a fantastic adaptation, and that if you loved I Capture the Castle or just enjoy beautiful scenery that you’ll enjoy it.