Hop & Follow Friday! (8)

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee where you can join in the fun and meet lots of new bloggers!  Check out her blog to join in the fun!
This week's question from Marla at Starting the Next Chapter:

Keeping with the dystopian and apocalypse theme that seems to be running rampant on parajunkee.com, I have one very hard question for you: If you were stocking your bomb shelter, what books would you HAVE to include if you only had space for ten?
Um...only 10?!  I believe that my husband and I are currently planning on building a library/cellar bomb shelter....but just for fun and to play along. :-) [And I'll not include my NookColor...although I would *obviously* take it.  Also, I'm sticking with books that I currently own...]

1. Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
2. The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff
3. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5. Walk with the Wind by John Lewis
6. The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall
7. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
8. Elizabeth by David Starkey
9. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
10. Archaeological Study Bible :-)

And out of curiosity I asked my husband what he would take (what? two people = 20 books, right?):

1. Bible
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
5. Medieval Europe: a Short History (Hollister)
6. Edgar Allan Poe: the Complete Works
7. Gilbert of Sempringham and the Gilbertine Order (Golding)
8. The Hobbit
9. Amber, Gold, & Black: The History of Britain's Great Beers
10. Storm of Swords (Martin)

The "Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly book party hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books.  Join in the fun and link up at her blog!

This week's question...

Summer is coming quickly - what 2011 summer release are you most looking forward to?

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Release date: 7 June 2011

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Happy Friday! May your weekend be filled with books!

YA Book Review: Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Darklight by Lesley Livingston
(c) December 2009 by HarperTeen

Goodreads description:

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt.


Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.


When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power. Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom . . . or tear them apart.

Thoughts, Ramblings, Musings...

As an up-front warning, I try really hard to keep my reviews spoiler-free, but this is the second book in the Wondrous Strange trilogy and I can't guarantee that something I write won't be construed as "spoiler-y" in terms of the first book.   There.  Now you know...read at your own risk! If you're interested in the series, check out my review of the first book!


Let's start with this: if you haven't read book one (Wondrous Strange) in this series, then don't pick up this one.  This is definitely the type of series/trilogy that requires you to start with book one and work through the rest.  Book two wouldn't make sense without book one (and really, book two isn't complete without book three).


I mentioned in my review of Wondrous Strange that I loved Kelley's independence and fiery personality.    That's definitely still true in this book and I enjoyed watching her develop and learn what it really means to be a faery princess (and the daughter of Auberon and Mabh no less).  She stands as one of my current favorite female protags as of late (no Bella syndrome here, thank goodness).

There was a good bit of character development in this book, which I really enjoyed.  We get to know our main characters (Kelley and Sonny) quite a bit more.  We started to get to know the Fennrys Wolf more.  I totally dig his character.  As the reader, you wonder at his intentions at times, and if you're like me, you'll want to tell him--"Back off!  She's Sonny's girl!"  (Or maybe that's just me and I'm way too invested in fictional relationships)  This was definitely the highlight of this book for me.  I felt like Livingston took the characters that I met in book one and really let me get to know them.  Even the faery kings and queens get a bout of character development in this one.

Beyond character development, I have to admit that I felt like this book dragged just a little.  It all leads up to this huge cliffhanger reveal at the end, but it felt like a long time getting there.  This book strikes me as a bridge between books one and three.  You get to know the characters.  There is just enough plot line to keep you going.  However, the end (and really the whole story) definitely leads you into the third book.  I understand wanting to leave a cliffhanger to pull readers into the final book, but I guess I would have liked a little more plot development here.  Take it a little further, that's all I'm saying.

If you like the series, get more information at the author's website. Also, enjoy this book trailer. :-)

Hunger Games Casting: Take 7

Tributes from District 3!

 

 Ian Nelson and Kalia Prescott

I can't say much about these castings because they are pretty minor characters (if my mind serves me correctly). What I do have to say is that the girl in the above advertised picture looks SO much different than this one...

I'm sure it's a lighting/makeup thing (maybe?) but the first time I saw this pictures I thought: "That's not even the same girl!"  Oh well.  I'm starting to see the similarities now, but I was totally confused at first.  And isn't Ian Nelson cute?! (...in that cute little brother sort of way...)

Also, as a follow-up to "Take 6," (my blog post from earlier this week) they are saying today that the John C. Reilly casting rumor is really just that at this pint--a rumor.  He has NOT been offered the part officially, which gives me hope that they are still looking at others because I was NOT a fan of that rumor. 
 (*HUGH LAURIE* pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease)

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we share upcoming books that we're eagerly awaiting.

I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler
(c) 1 May 2011 by Sourcebooks Fire

Goodreads description:
Brainy Tess Smith is the younger sibling of the beautiful, popular, volleyball-scholarship-bound Kristina. When Kristina is diagnosed with bone cancer, it drastically changes both sisters' lives. Sometimes the things that annoy us the most about our siblings are the ones we'd miss the most if we lost them.


You have to admit that this sounds beautiful in that "cry your eyes out" way.  I really enjoy reading these occasionally (not too often because...well...I don't actually ENJOY crying all the time when I read).  I think it hearkens back to a minor obsession with Lurlene McDaniel's novels when I was much younger. Also, I've kind of been in that kind of mood since reading If I Stay by Gayle Forman.

What are you waiting on this fine Wednesday?

Tween Tuesday: Green by Laura Peyton Roberts

"Tween Tuesday" is a weekly meme hosted over at GreenBeanTeenQueen.  If you're looking for a good middle grade book or have a review to share, be sure to check it out!

Green by Laura Peyton Roberts
(c) Jan 2011 by Random House Children's Books

Goodreads description:

Lily's thirteenth birthday starts off with a bang. Literally. A present explodes on her porch . . . and soon after, a trio of leprechauns (yes, leprechauns) appears in her bedroom. They whisk her away to a land of clover, piskies, a new friend, a cute boy, and lots of glimmering, glittering gold. A world of Green.

It turns out that Lily—as her grandmother was before her—is in line to be keeper for the Clan of Green, in charge of all their gold. That is, if she passes three tests. And she has to pass them. Because if she doesn't? She may never get to go home again. She'll be stuck with the Greens.

Forever.

Thoughts, Musings, Ramblings...

I picked this book up on a whim from the library. (You know those times when you don't really know what you want so you walk up to the J Fiction "New Books" section and just pick one?  That was me.) I've been trying to read more books for the 8-12 crowd. (I work in the library but I'm only REALLY proficient at YA reader's advisory...I'm trying to fix that.) I tried to read this one last fall, but it couldn't catch my attention amidst my overwhelming amount of homework.  Anyway, getting to the point--I'm glad I picked this one up (again).  It was a cute, quick read!


To begin with, Lily is a very "relateable" (spell check says that's not a word, but it's all my tired brain can come up with this morning) tween character.  Lily and her mom have moved around a lot so Lily doesn't have many friends and really doesn't feel like she fits in.  She goes to gymnastics class basically because her mom told her to take it.  She has one real friend, but that friend has another "best" friend, which leaves Lily alone the majority of the time anyway.  While sometimes I find characters like this a tad "whiny," I didn't ever feel that way about Lily.  She didn't whine and complain about not having friends; she just seemed kind of sad and got really excited about the one friend she did have.

The story is well-paced, although maybe a tad on the slower side for many tween readers looking for a fast-paced read.  It starts off a tad slow with Lily's descriptions of gymnastics class and plans for her 13th birthday party.  Things starts to pick up a tad when the leprechauns come and kidnap her.  I thought Lily's reactions to the leprechauns were pretty well-written.  She doesn't instantly accept their story and even as they are entering the Green meadow, she is trying to concoct an escape plan.  I appreciated that she didn't instantly accept her magical heritage.  She does eventually  accept and even embrace her "destiny."  The plot twists enough to keep you engaged as Lily battles through her three keeper tests, despite setbacks and manipulative leprechauns.

Overall, this was a pretty enjoyable tween read.  Sure, there was some cheesy dialogue and plot lines, but what else would you expect with leprechauns? ;-)  I would probably recommend this book to tween readers who like contemporary reads and a little fantasy mixed in.  With the female lead, I would tend to recommend this more to 8-12 year old girls.  A reader who enjoys the Magic Tree House books might be a good candidate for this standalone novel.

Hunger Games Casting: Take 6

I'm a little late on this one, so most people already know!  However, I couldn't NOT blog about it after all my other posts (and my borderline obsession with this casting...in case you hadn't figured that out yet).

We have our Mrs. Everdeen!

Paula Malcomson

I'm going to go ahead and give this casting a "thumbs up" because to be quite honest  she looks exactly how I imagined Mrs. Everdeen. Beyond her looks, I know nothing about her as an actor. She has a lot of acting credits on her resume though and I don't doubt that she'll probably do a decent job. 

Now...for a casting RUMOR...

Haymitch?!

John C. Reilly

I'm not sure what to say about this yet...other than he wouldn't be my first choice.  I thought there were a decent number of actors with potential for this part (and my vote still goes to Hugh Laurie *sigh*)...and I have to be honest and say Reilly didn't come up.  

Thoughts? Who are you still waiting on?

(*Cinna*)