Review ~ Prophecy of the Sisters ~ Discussion

Title: Prophecy of the Sisters
Author: Michelle Zink
Series: Prophecy of the Sisters #1
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2009
Source: Own (Bought at a used bookstore)
Format: Hardcover
Rating: Brandy: 3 stars /Malissa: 3 stars

~Scoop from Goodreads~

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.

 

Once again, Malissa and I decided to read a book together. Since we're making a habit out of this (yes, two books together is now considered a habit... ;) ), we may just try to review all of them together discussion style on here. :) There are pitfalls, of course, to reading a book together. For some odd reason we can never seem to pace it just right and be on the same page. Also, there's the risk of our discussion leading to spoilers. Those I will leave out as long as it is humanly possible. 

Malissa

I'm still not super far in Prophecy (maybe chapter 4) but I'm enjoying it for sure. Too early to say if it will be a like or a love, but I'm definitely engaged.   I do see what you mean about Lia easily accepting all the oddity that just happens time and time again. I noticed it (maybe partly because you mentioned it) but don't know if it would have bothered me or seemed strange otherwise. The whole feel that it's all fate makes that kind of believable but it also makes her seem a bit weak and overly accepting of her fate. I'm hoping she grows from the weaker twin that she sees herself as to someone stronger by the end. That could make or break the book for me, I think. And I find myself weirdly bothered by the opposition between Lia and Alice that seems to be growing and being set up. I know it fits the storyline so far, but I just don't want Alice to be the antagonist! The sister in me wants so badly to see them become allies in whatever it is that's going on ... Please, lol? I also like the way the whole family's feminist leaning attitudes exist but aren't a huge point in the story. It's just who they are, and that works for me. 

Brandy

cartoonsource.com

I'm teetering between 2 & 3 stars. Something seemed to be missing for me. A lack of caring for the characters, maybe? I was a little deterred by her finding the mark and not questioning it, of hearing the prophecy and simply accepting it. Oh hey, there's this prophecy about twin sisters and it's hard to understand. But hey, I must be a part of it. Why else would it be in our house? I don't know. It just seemed a little... forced, maybe. Personally if I had some weird tattoo like thing show up on my arm I am thinking I might freak out a little. What was her background on supernatural type things? There didn't appear to be any to me, so why was she so inclined to just believe and not be like "this type of stuff doesn't exist" or question it in some way. I think that's the part I struggled with the most. There were a few other things that seemed thrown in there, but didn't take me completely out of the story.

That aside, I enjoyed the writing itself, if the plot and character development was lacking. I'm not sure whether or not I'll read the next one when it comes. (I ordered thru the library) But I am curious to know how it ends, just not at all on the scale it should be to be waiting waiting waiting for the next one. Maybe I'll skim them. I just wasn't as entangled in the story as I'd like to be. There was too much going on for me to completely suspend belief and fall into it. :(  I'm saddened by this because I like the idea a lot. 


Malissa
Even at not quite done, I'm in complete agreement. If I loved the characters and were totally sucked in, I would probably be OK with the way she accepts it all so easily and chalk it up to "fate." But I find myself not really caring that much. She could give in and the apocalypse could come, and I'd be mildly annoyed. But I wouldn't feel any real loss. So, I kinda feel like "What's the point?" I'll likely end on 3 stars because I don't hate any of it by any means. A teen might like it for a light, casual read. But I wanted more from it. Like you, I loved the idea. I love the way the author takes things that are usually considered occult and evil and makes them just ... exist. Not really good or bad that they do. But it could be sooo much more dramatic and deeper and even darker really. And I have books like Splintered and Seraphina, and The Diviners on my list. Plus that new Printz winner I'd never heard of ;) I want more than "meh." Life is too short for meh, lol. 

Brandy

I'm with you on the not hating it. I don't. Or I wouldn't have finished it, of course. I just don't seem to have the inclination to care enough to find out what happens next. Some parts of the story intrigued me more than others. But mostly I found it to be so-so. "Meh," as you say. :)  I agree. Life is too short for meh. It was definitely missing a wow factor for me. I do hope that in the second book Lia becomes a stronger person. For that matter, I'd like all the characters to be a bit more rounded and to care more about what happens to them.

Malissa
Finally finished the book. Must admit that I don't really care what comes next... at all. I actually skimmed the last few pages. I mean I'd still recommend it to a teen whose tastes it fits with the disclaimer that I didn't love it, but it's not a bad read. I nearly rated two starts based on just my personal enjoyment (if I have to skim to finish, it feels like less than 3 stars to me), but I truly think it's recommendable. But definitely no wow factor. No real caring for Lia or her fate. If we'd gotten a stronger main character to care about, I might feel totally different, but we didn't. She feels so bland to me. No deep hurt at the rift (to put it mildly) between her and her twin sister, no deep anger and feelings of betrayal toward her mother, and no rage over the awful "incident" near the end.  Really? I'd be a hot mess of emotion at *best.* And that equals no desire to read on for me.

Brandy
I haven't thought about the book since I finished it so I'm leaning toward not caring either. I figure if I haven't thought about Lia or Alice and wondered at all then there's no point in reading further. I have more books I want to read more. I definitely agree with her being 'bland.' I think that's a great way to put it. I'm still sad, though. I wanted to like it... I really did.

Let us know what you think. Have you read it? Did you like it if you have? If you haven't read it, do you think you will?

Smiles,

B (& M)

Memorable Monday ~ The Way I Feel

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!

Memorable Monday is a meme hosted by Escape in a Good Book.  I'm excited to join in on this one because I love quotes, which was the driving force behind the creation of Memorable Mondays.  I thank the ladies at Escape in a Good Book.

So... how do you participate?  It's simple ~

1) Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.

2) Come back here and leave the link to your post in the comment box below.  If you don't have a blog, I'd still love to hear read your quote.  Leave it in the comment box instead of a link to a non-existent blog.  :)

3) Visit other participants if you have time.  It's always nice to have visitors.  There's no overstaying your welcome this way, and they don't have to offer the obligatory drinks.  Or clean.

4) If you tweet your posts, feel free to use the hashtag #MemorableMonday.

This week's choice:

"Feelings come and feelings go. I never know what they'll be. Silly or angry, happy or sad- They are all a part of me!"

The Way I Feel by Janan Cain

 

I have two children, 3 and 1, and I am the Youth Services Director at my library, so I read a lot of picture books, and I tend to enjoy most of them. This one is no exception. It's a great introduction for kids to a lot of the different emotions they have and/or will experience. It helps open up discussion about the way we feel sometimes and why, and that it's okay to feel that way. It can also lead to a discussion about how to handle those feelings, depending on the person, I suppose. :) Anyway, I loved this quote from it because it is true; no matter how you are feeling, it is a part of who you are. 

Anyone have any good quotes to share?

Smiles,
B

Bookish Pet Peeve

Disclaimer: I realize that not everyone treats their belongings the same and that what one person finds to be appalling another may not. I am not in any way trying to insult anyone who does the following. :)

I struggle seeing dog-eared pages within a book. I cringe even when it's not my own book, and I see quite a few of them working in a library. If it's your own book, and you want to do it, I won't argue with you (it is *yours* after all) ~ I will just inwardly cry every time I notice. However, I feel doing it to someone else's property is disrespectful to that person.

This is actually a book I own. I bought it at a used bookstore. I was disappointed when I noticed it had been dog-eared. I does not, however, effect the story. ;)

A Brief Story

Once, I let a family member borrow a book. It just happened to be book five in the Harry Potter series, which I not only loved but that was bought for me by my favorite aunt. I saw it laying on kitchen table, with no bookmark or scrap of paper and picked it up, thinking she had finished it. I was then that I noticed a small gap where the page she was on had been folded over. Now it should be noted that not only did I hand her the book to read, but I handed her a bookmark to go with it. (Yes, I can be a bit anal at times... I get that.) Really? I gave her a bookmark to use... not lose. So, I went and got another bookmark, placed it in where the page was folded over, smoothed out the fold the best I could and left her a note, which read something along the lines of, "If I see it again, you will no longer be allowed to borrow my books." (On a completely related note, she really was no longer allowed to borrow my books when I got the book back from her and found cigarette ashes inside... *shudder*.)

It's really not that hard to use a bookmark, is it? A scrap of paper? A post-it note? A business card? A receipt? A picture? A piece of string? A napkin? A tissue? If you're reading in the bathroom, a piece of (unused, of course) toilet paper?

Here's one of my favorite bookmarks. I've made a few of these (a couple book related, not family), but this one is the most recent and my current favorite. 

Yes, books are made to be loved. And sometimes the wear and tear on a book will show that love. But won't the love be able to be spread that much more if we take care of them? Just sayin'.

What are your thoughts? Are you a folder of the page? Or do you prefer to mark your spot with something - anything? What do you use?

Smiles,
B

~Follow Friday~

Hosted by Parajunkee's View & Alison Can Read, the goal is to gain new followers and to follow new people yourself! :)

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Taken straight from the hosts)

• (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
• (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
• Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers.
• If you’re new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Follow Friday!

This week's question:

What is the last book that kept you up late into the night just to finish it?

I don't do this very often as I have to young children that will likely get up at the crack of dawn if I do, but Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys made me do it. It was taunting me, I swear. I tried putting it down and I am pretty sure it called me names and bullied me into finishing it. And Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein? My goodness I couldn't put it down for anything. Kids schmids. Really. Who cares how tired I would be the next day when they decided 5 am was an acceptable wake up time. It was Code Name Verity for goodness sake! Okay. So maybe lately I have done it more than I thought. Dang them. :)  (If you're interested, my reviews are here - The Raven Boys, Code Name Verity)

Thanks for visiting! What books have kept you up late? ;)  Leave a comment below and if you have your own Follow Friday post leave a link to it and I'll visit! :)

Smiles,
B

Thankful Thursday

I ran across this idea from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. As mentioned there, this isn't a new thing and there are many versions of it floating around out there. I'm going try and do it as a reminder of things to be thankful for on a regular basis. I tend to fall off the wagon on these sorts of things so we'll see how it goes. :)  I imagine my thankfulness will vary from subject matter and some days will be quite random, given my head is quite random itself.

Thankful Thursday

 

I am thankful for my son. His innocence astounds me daily. Let's look at this morning. Eli wanted to have some chocolate milk instead of regular milk. When I told him yes you would have thought I said he could have an elephant for as excited as he got over it. I mean, it's chocolate milk, not the Golden Ticket into Wonka's factory. But this sort of reaction is a constant reminder of how much we, as adults, can take the little things for granted. I hope for my children that they always get excited about chocolate milk. Figuratively speaking, of course.

What are you thankful for this wonderful Thursday? Let me know in the comments below or leave a link to your own thankful post if you have one. :)

Smiles,
B

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays was started by MizB over at Should Be Reading,

To play along, simply answer the following three (3) Questions:
1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

Currently Reading

 

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

I'm about halfway through this one. I'm really enjoying the characters so far and trying to connect things before the author divulges the information for me. Michelle Zink has really brought to life the setting for me as well.

Recently Finished Reading

  

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

I liked the characters and struggles created by Sarah Ockler. It was a journey I enjoyed making with Delilah even if it was slightly predictable and had a few plot points that strained for me. You can see my review here if you want.

 

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

(Courtesy of NetGalley)

From my review:

"I agree with the ending going a bit faster paced than the rest of the book. But man, did you see that coming? I didn't. I kept mine at five stars though, despite being slightly disappointed with the resolution just being flung at me. So, no, I don't think it was just you. I just felt her writing, the world she created and the rabbit hole (ha!) I was able to go down that kept me forgetting I wasn't actually there made up for that one flaw. :)"

Needless to say, Brenna had me falling in love with her writing all over again.

What I Might Read Next

   

Splintered by AG Howard

This is another NetGalley copy I got a while back and haven't (whoops) gotten around to reading. Malissa has a copy as well, so we thought we might do this one together like we did Paper Valentine. :)  So if we're both ready at the same time... this will be next. *fingers crossed* I'm starting to itch for this one. 

 

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

(Another NetGalley)

After this one, I'm getting back to demolishing reading my short list for the year. But I'm curious to find out what happens with Rory next. ;)

What have you been reading lately? What do you think you'll read next?

Smiles,

B

Teaser Tuesdays ~ Prophecy of the Sisters

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.  Anyone can play along!  All you have to do:

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) 'teaser' sentences from that page.
4. Be careful... do not include spoilers!!!  Make sure that what you are sharing doesn't give too much away;  you don't want to ruin the book for others.
5. Share the title and author, too, so other Teaser Tuesday participants can add it to their TBR list if they like what you shared.

"There is no ladylike way to tell him to push all he wants, that is mouth and body on mine are the only things keeping me from losing my hold on a reality I never questioned until these past days."

"Even now I feel the wheels of a great invisible machine turning all around."

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

 

Have any teasers to share? Share in the comments or leave a link to your own Teaser Tuesday!  :)

Smiles,
B

Fixing Delilah ~ Review

Whew! It has been such a chaotic week for me. I think the gray cloud of sickness over our household has dissipated and we're left only with a few remnants of Kleenex lying around. That, and an ongoing antibiotic for my youngest. ;)  But we're on the mend and I'm back at work trying to catch up. Fun times! 

To kick off this week and get back in the groove of things, here's my review of the book I finished while home with sick kiddos. 

 

 Title: Fixing Delilah

Author: Sarah Ockler

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: December 2010

Source: Borrowed from my library

Format: Hardcover

Rating:  3.5 Stars

~Goodreads Description~

Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery.

 

  

I enjoyed reading Delilah's story. Her frustration flew off the page at me and I wanted to take her mom aside and yell at her for being so blind to it all. For not understanding the deeper issue, the reason for all the changes in Delilah's behavior and life. And when Delilah's Grandmother passes away, her mom sees it as an opportunity.

Delilah is whisked away to work on settling the estate after her grandmother passes away. A grandmother she hasn't seen in 8 years and has no clue why. She knows there was a fight but doesn't have a clue what it was about nor why it caused such a huge rift between her family. 

"Everything changes in the space of eight years - faces, places, even memories - realities as different from our recollections as we are from our old selves."

I did feel, however, that some of it was too easy. if that makes any sense. She reunites with her childhood summer friend almost immediately, and just as immediately they have a palpable romantic connection. There wasn't much in the way of "hey I haven't seen you eight years" awkwardness, and there is so much that would have changed from the time she was 8 years old to now (16). It just sort of seemed thrown out there to me.

And her mom. Oh, her lovely mother, who is a work-a-holic and doesn't seem to understand that her daughter misses the carefree there-for-her-all-the-time mom she used to be. After the problems Delilah has had at home, Claire (her mom), all the sudden seems to want a clean slate, without really even talking about the issues, even the on-the-surface issues? That seemed strange to me, but maybe it fits with her work-work-nothing-but-work attitude. (Apparently I'm into dashes today. :) )

Aside from those two issues for me, the story was very well told. Despite some things feeling rushed, it all felt real. The easiness of some things didn't slow the flow for me. The end result, the connections made, rang true for me. I loved some of the twists and turns and the discoveries that Delilah makes about her family and past as the story unfolds. Not only was I reading about her anger but I could feel it, as if she were slamming in me in the face with it. I love that!

The self-discoveries Delilah makes on her journey aren't new, or fresh, to stories. They're not groundbreaking. But they are real. They are things that most, if not all, people learn at some point. The true meaning of friendship, the bond of family, the power of forgiveness, the importance of letting go.

Have you read it? What did you think?

2013 Debuts I'm Excited About

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they provide a Top Ten topic for you to create your list, then you share it on their post so others can find you. :)

Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To

Splintered by AG Howard 

~ January 2013 ~

The Prophecy by Ellen Oh 

~ January 2013 ~

The Voice by Jennifer Anne Davis 

~ January 2013 ~

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd 

~ January 2013 ~

The Watcher by Lisa Voisin 

~ March 2013 ~

Pretty Dark Nothing by Heather L Reid 

~ April 2013 ~

Taken by Erin Bowman 

~ April 2013 ~

How My Summer Went Up In Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski 

~ May 2013 ~

All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry 

~ July 2013 ~

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke 

~ August 2013 ~

As good as all these sound to me, I am not deluding myself into believing I will actually read all of them this year. But I am really excited them nonetheless. :)

What debut books are you looking forward to? Leave a comment or a link! :)

Smiles,
B

♥ Paper Valentine ♥ Review & Discussion

Title: Paper Valentine

Author: Brenna Yovanoff

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: January 8, 2013

Source: Net Galley

Format: eGalley

Rating: 5 stars (Brandy) 4.5 stars (Malissa)

~Goodreads Description~

The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

Paper Valentine is a hauntingly poetic tale of love and death by the New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement and The Space Between.

Since Malissa and I were reading the same book at the same time, we thought we might try a dual review, just for fun, and have it be more like a book discussion. Since we now live hours apart, we were shooting thoughts back and forth via email. Really, we only discussed a little bit before we both finished the book, but I'll include those thoughts here as well. :) But you'll get both our thoughts on it.

Thoughts before finishing:

Malissa
So, I went into this book without any idea what it was about which I don't usually do. I'm sure a read summary or description at some point, but it's been so long that all I knew starting the book was the title and that I liked Brenna Yovanoff's other book I'd read (The Replacement). I think I should do this more often! It really adds a sense of mystery to an already mysterious storyline.

Which brings me to my next point. What genre would you put this in? I know almost nothing (especially in the YA world) fits into a single genre anymore, but I was expecting more straight paranormal/fantasy like The Replacement. Granted, being haunted by the sometimes hostile ghost of your dead best friend is definitely paranormal, but it's not the main storyline? Or is it...? Is it a murder mystery? Will the two combine at some point? Or does the presence of a ghost have nothing to do with a serial killer on the loose? I really have no idea where this book is going at this point (39%), and I like it!

I especially like the characters that Brenna Yovanoff creates. They're real people and never these perfect gorgeous creatures everyone wants to be. And they never have the audacity to sparkle. I also like how when our main character likes a boy, Yovanoff never tells that he's drop dead gorgeous (or even that he's not), she just tells us that Hannah is attracted to him and that's enough. I love that!


Brandy
I am in the same boat - by the time I started it I had forgotten what it was about, I just knew I wanted to read it because it was a Brenna book. :)

I am not sure what genre it would fall under, really. I mean, there's definitely the murder mystery plot and the ghost plot, so I would think it could fall under both of those. Even at 76% I'm not sure exactly what one has to do with the other. and what part Hannah plays in it. I'm not wanting to say too much, here, because I'm not sure what details you have gotten to and I don't want to give anything away.

I am LOVING the world Brenna creates; it's real, yet obviously not due to the supernatural elements to it. The characters are believable, even the dead one. And I do like that no one sparkles.

Thoughts after finishing: 

Malissa
Right now, I'm at a 4.5 on this book. Most of the way through I was pretty close to a 5, but the ending just felt a little rushed to me. At first I also thought it seemed a bit too easy, but upon reflection, I think it was more that it all wrapped up so quickly compared to the slow build of the bulk of the book. I may change my mind depending on how much the book "sticks" with me.

I went into this book with little idea what it was about. I got an ARC from NetGalley a couple of months ago, and I'm sure I read the description at the time, but who can keep track? I've read Brenna Yovanoff's first book The Replacement (and liked it quite a bit), so I was assuming paranormal/fantasy of some kind. In reality, I'd almost call this one more magical realism mixed with murder mystery with a dash of horror (though not really truly scary) plus a dose of romance. Yay for genre mixing!

What I loved: The characters! I loved Hannah (our main character) and Ariel (her little sister) and Finny (the love interest). Oh how I loved Finny! I love that Yovanoff's characters are so imperfect yet so likable. As I told Brandy early on in the book, I love that none of them have the audacity to sparkle! And Hannah really grew and developed as a character during the course of the book. The romance between Hannah and Finny was believable and felt real. There was palpable chemistry but no love at first sight business. I found myself really pulling for them, and was soooo disappointed in Hannah when she doubted him! (did I mention how much I loved Finny?)

I also really liked the atmosphere and pacing of the book. It was creepy but not really scary. The mystery was a lot of fun and the answer wasn't easy to see (at least I didn't see it). The whole thing had a slightly gothic feel to it and the heat wave and dead bird epidemic really helped to set the mood for me.

What I didn't love: OK it was just one thing, but it shaved off half a star which makes me rather sad. The ending came together too fast for me. I think it's because the pace of the actual book is slower (not it a bad way, but in a building of suspense kind of way) and then both storylines (or what I though of as two storylines) wrap up in nearly the same scene. I felt like I needed 15 or 20 more pages to make the resolution really work for me. But maybe that's just me.

Overall a great book. A lot of fun. And a promising book for discussion (teen book club anyone?) An author who just keeps getting better. I'll definitely be picking up Brenna Yovanoff's next book!

Brandy
Since I finished before Malissa, I waited on her response to the book so I didn't ruin anything for her. This is my response to hers. :)

I went back and forth before settling on 5 stars. For the same reason. The ending felt a bit rushed for me as well. But the world she created, the fact that I forgot I was reading most of the time, bumped it up to a five star rating for me.

I definitely agree with your genre mixing. This definitely doesn't fit in just one genre nicely. Wonder if she needed a recipe card. :)  The characters were amazingly done. Realistically so. Not a single one was perfectly perfect and one died trying to be. I hated when she doubted Finny as well, but I felt it rang true to making the story plausible. Blind faith is one thing, but, especially when you are a teenager, when everyone is telling you something about someone you start feel that there must be some truth behind it. She rallied, though, and stuck to her own beliefs and feelings about him, which nearly made me cheer out loud for them. :)

Creepy but not scary - I like that. I wasn't scared at all, but it was a goosebumpy type book for me. I love the Gothic feel Brenna adds to her books. She brings the story alive through writing such amazing characters and having the ability to put you there. I think without the heat wave and dead bird epidemic the mood of the book would not have been nearly as bleak or haunting.

I agree with the ending going a bit faster paced than the rest of the book. But man, did you see that coming? I didn't. I kept mine at five stars though, despite being slightly disappointed with the resolution just being flung at me. So, no, I don't think it was just you. I just felt her writing, the world she created and the rabbit hole (ha!) I was able to go down that kept me forgetting I wasn't actually there made up for that one flaw. :)

Definitely a great book club book, for sure. I'm with you on picking up her next one. I imagine I have quite a wait, though. :(  At least they're worth the wait!

 

Have you read Paper Valentine? What did you think of it? If you haven't read it, do you think you will?

Smiles,

B

Memorable Monday ~ Fixing Delilah

Memorable Monday is a meme hosted by Escape in a Good Book.  I'm excited to join in on this one because I love quotes, which was the driving force behind the creation of Memorable Mondays.  I thank the ladies at Escape in a Good Book.

So... how do you participate?  It's simple ~

1) Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.

2) Come back here and leave the link to your post in the comment box below.  If you don't have a blog, I'd still love to hear, well, read, your quote.  Leave it in the comment box instead of a link to a non-existent blog.  :)

3) Visit other participants if you have time.  It's always nice to have visitors.  There's no overstaying your welcome this way, and they don't have to offer the obligatory drinks.  Or clean.

4) If you tweet your posts, feel free to use the hashtag #MemorableMonday.

This week's choice:

 

"She's her and I'm me and surrounding us is an ocean of mess and misunderstanding, full of pirates and sharks just waiting to see who slips in first."

~Delilah [talking about her relationship with her mom] 

Anything strike you lately? Feel free to share your quotes below or leave a link to your own Memorable Monday. :)

Smiles,

B

Follow Friday Time

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Taken straight from the hosts)

• (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
• (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
• Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers.
• If you’re new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Follow Friday!

This week's question:
If you could choose one supernatural being/creature to really exist, what would it be and why?

This is a tough one. Just one? Out of all of them?  Or is choosing one even a good thing? I mean, they all have their cons, really, no matter what story you are reading, it seems. Some feed off humans, kill humans, and some are just plain evil and leave destruction in their wake. So, let's count out Vampires, Werewolves, Incubuses, Succubuses, Demons... I'm sure there's more. But, then you have the ones that are one of those, like Macon Ravenwood in Beautiful Creatures, who doesn't use his powers for evil/destruction. Maybe Maggie Stiefvater's Water Horses in The Scorpio Races, since they only hurt someone if they are being hurt. They seem the friendliest less evil of them all. Hmmm... I'm sure I'll change my mind later. I just don't want to wish one into being that would come destroy my life, or me. But, since I am creating this, I'll just be the one that changes them into being 'good'. ;)

What about you? What supernatural creature(s) would like to see exist in the real world?

This is a blog hop! Enter your name and URL in the linky below if you have a FF post to share. Feel free to comment (post or no post share) and share your thoughts! :)



Happy Friday... hope you all have a fantabulous weekend!!!
Smiles, B

Bookish Goals

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they provide a Top Ten topic for you to create your list, then you share it on their post so others can find you. :)

Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2013

1. Read more books to my kids
   We read a book before bed nearly every night, so we read at least one a day, but I would like see us reading more than that a day. And on the weekends, when we're home all day, I'd like to actually read closer to ten or so books together. Mind you, my kids are 1 and 3, so it's not like this would take all day, just a little bit of time. We get so sidetracked with other things that need to be done, or playing with toys or playing games, sometimes we don't read much. I know we may read more than some others, but my personal goal is to read more with them this year. :)
   
2. Read more books for myself
   This seems like a no-brainer, but I would like to read more books this year. I feel like I strained reaching my goal for Goodreads last year of 25 books; and I even included picture books in that count! :(  In my defense, I did have a wonderful little girl last January, so I spent the better part of the year acclimating to having a newborn in the house again. But still. More books. :)
   
3. Review all books read
   Usually I do pretty good at this, but I want to make it a goal so that I stick with it. Or, at least, be more apt to stick to it.
4. Have more consistent blog posts
   I want to make sure I post on average five times a week. I would say six, but unless I get really good at scheduling, and that's not looking likely, I will fail at that. I don't have internet at home and posting from my phone just isn't as fun or easy. Unless I'm missing something. lol 
5. Make more blogging friends
   I have really enjoyed 'meeting' and interacting with the bloggers out there. I'd love to continue to do so. :)
6. Expand my genre-reading
   I have read mostly YA this year. I did read a couple of one adult novel, but mostly they were YA and included some sort of supernatural theme, with the exception of Code Name Verity (off the top of my head). I would like to mix it up more this year. I am thinking a few more contemporary pieces, whether YA or not, and at least two adult novels. I find this hard... working with children and YA books in the library causes me to prioritize those over the adult books I might read.
7. Read at least one 'classic' piece of literature
   There are so many classics out there that I haven't read. Let's be honest; most of them would make that list. My friends and I have decided to read Jane Eyre this year and we have set a deadline for each of us to have read it by. June. Surely I can manage that. Y'think?
8. Take notes
   This one doesn't sound so bookish. But I'd like to actually make notes when reading. The few times I have, I've found I write a better review and sometimes even have a better understanding of how I feel about the book. :) It does make sense, I suppose, but sometimes when I do it I feel like I'm working more than enjoying, which then irks me so I stop. Counterproductive, really.
9. Get rid of some books
   GASP  Yeah... I really need to weed some of my books out. That doesn't happen very often and it's always so hard to part with some of them. I'm not sure if this goal is realistic. I'm putting it here anyway. For now.
10. UmmmmmYeah. I'm going to leave it at 9. I feel I stretched making a few of those, so I'm going to not do ten. I could make it 'watch less tv' which would therefore make for more reading time. But that's not exactly realistic for me. I do love me some tv. lol

Do you have any bookish goals for the year? Maybe I'll read some of yours and change mine up a bit. :)

Hope you all have a wonderful reading and otherwise year no matter what your goals... bookish or not.  

Smiles,
B

Memorable Monday ~ Gary Allan

Memorable Monday is a meme hosted by Escape in a Good Book.  I'm excited to join in on this one because I love quotes, which was the driving force behind the creation of Memorable Mondays.  I thank the ladies at Escape in a Good Book.

So... how do you participate?  It's simple ~

1) Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.

2) Come back here and leave the link to your post in the comment box below.  If you don't have a blog, I'd still love to hear, well, read, your quote.  Leave it in the comment box instead of a link to a non-existent blog.  :)

3) Visit other participants if you have time.  It's always nice to have visitors.  There's no overstaying your welcome this way, and they don't have to offer the obligatory drinks.  Or clean.

4) If you tweet your posts, feel free to use the hashtag #MemorableMonday.

This week's choice:

This week's choice for me comes from a song. There's been a lot going on in my life in the past few months, and this song speaks to the optimistic side of me. I try to remember not only the sentiment behind this song but that things could always be worse. I'll post the video with it (forewarning: It's a country song, so if you don't prefer country or hate it enough it makes you want to run screaming, don't hit play... ;) ), so I'll only post a few lines.

"And when you fall back down, keep on rememberin'

Every storm runs, runs out of rain

Just like every dark night turns into day

Every heartache will fade away

Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain."

Video courtesy of YouTube: Gary Allan Vevo

Name of the Star: Review

 

Title: Name of the Star

Author(s): Maureen Johnson
Series: Shades of London, Book 1

Publisher: Putnam Publishing

Publication Date: October 2009

Source: Own (Bought)
Format: Kindle Edition

Rating: 4 stars

~Goodreads Description~

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

“Keep calm and carry on.
Also, stay in and hide because the Ripper is coming.”   

I have owned this book for quite some time. It was the first book I purchased when I received my Kindle as a present. I finally picked it up and read it. I am SO glad I did. I don't know what took me so long; it's not like I'm not a fan of Maureen Johnson. I have enjoyed everything I've read by her and her twitter feed amuses me regularly. Whatever the case, I'm just glad I finally read it. :)

“It was like the entire world was colluding to make me feel insane, and it was doing a really good job.”

It took a little bit to get into it. I think, as is usually the case, it was a lack of time I could devote in one sitting to be swept away by the story, the characters. About halfway through, though, I had trouble wanting to put it down when need be. (For some reason, my kids have the worst timing when they wake up... lol).

“I decided to deflect her attitude by giving a long, Southern answer. I come from people who know how to draw things out. Annoy a Southerner, and we will drain away the moments of your life with our slow, detailed replies until you are nothing but a husk of your former self and that much closer to death.” 

I felt like Rory was strong in the sense that she left America to attend a school in a country to which she's never been. The times others were trying to make her feel uncomfortable she killed them with kindness, and family stories. I thought this was very well done. I felt the story was a bit slow going in the beginning, building up to the 'action', but it was very well written so it didn't bother me too much. I love a good story, so I don't mind trudging if need be. Also, just like the people in the story, serial killers (especially those who have never been identified) intrigue me. So the concept had me at the start. I was very interested to see what she was going to do with it.

My plan is no spoilers. I can say, however, that the ending... I did not see coming. I saw some things (ha! pun not intended, actually) that I wasn't sure I was supposed to see 'yet', but that... I didn't guess, predict. Made total sense, but still. As soon as it happened, I was like "Oh... that makes perfect sense. It fits." Plus, I was starting to wonder where she would go with a follow up. Now I know. I'm very curious to see what happens with Rory and her friends in The Madness Underneath.



“Fear can't hurt you," she said. "When it washes over you, give it no power. It's a snake with no venom. Remember that. That knowledge can save you.”

Have any of you read it? If so, what did you think? If you haven't, do you think you'll read it?

Smiles,
B

Guest Review ~ The Light Between Oceans

 

Title: The Light Between Oceans

Author: ML Stedman
Publisher: Scribner

 Publication Date: July 2012

Source: Library Copy

Reviewed by: Malissa :)
Rating: 3.5 Stars

Malissa, my best friend and reading partner, and I were talking not too long ago and I asked her if she wanted to post a review (or more than one, whatever, whenever) on my blog. She did! :) So here's her first guest post. :)

~Goodreads Description~

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, whose records as a lighthouse keeper are meticulous and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel has taken the tiny baby to her breast. Against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

M. L. Stedman’s mesmerizing, beautifully written novel seduces us into accommodating Isabel’s decision to keep this “gift from God.” And we are swept into a story about extraordinarily compelling characters seeking to find their North Star in a world where there is no right answer, where justice for one person is another’s tragic loss.

The Light Between Oceans is exquisite and unforgettable, a deeply moving novel.

 I finished this book back before Christmas (Dec 21st to be precise), but it's taken me until now to get the time to sit down and review it. In the long run, though, I'm actually glad that it did because sometimes I need a little bit of distance from a book to decide how I really feel about it. So...

There's a lot to like about this book. It's well written. The author has a unique way of beginning a chapter/section where she begins the first paragraph in present tense and then slowly (invisibly, really) transitions to past tense. It gives the impression that the reader enters a scene with a close up and then zooms out slowly. It's an almost cinematic feel. And it works well with the story in that the reader is close to the action but also has the slightly removed view of the omniscient narrator that provides a broader perspective. The language is beautiful and the setting (a lighthouse off the coast of Australia circa 1926) is exotic and engaging. And, most importantly, the story is a compelling one.

So, then, why only 3.5 stars? The dust jacket description of this book says it's about 'extraordinarily compelling characters seeking to find their North Star in a world where there is no right answer, where justice for one person is another's tragic loss.' Now I love a good moral dilemma as much as the next reader, but there was NO dilemma here for me. The premise of this story (and I'm not giving anything away here are the DJ and any publisher's synopsis tells you this much) is that Tom and Isabel Sherbourne, a young couple living on the island (he's taken the post of lighthouse keeper post WWI), have had 2 miscarriages and a devastating stillbirth when a boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a nearly newborn infant. The couple (against Tom's better judgement) decide to keep the baby and pretend it's their own child born several weeks early. Their reasoning being that the dead man must be the father and the mother must have washed overboard because no mother lets her infant out of her sight at such a very young age and so the baby will surely end up in a horrible orphanage.

Now I am admittedly not yet a parent. I've never had a miscarriage, and so I can only imagine the emotional devastation that Isabel would feel after losing 3 babies. But, and this is a big 'but' for me, I ama sister, and an aunt, and a cousin, and the honorary aunt of my best friend's two kids (I like to think so anyway ;) she is... :) ~Brandy), and I know without a second's hesitation that I would take in the child of any of the aforementioned people in a heartbeat if they were to suddenly wash over over the side of a dingy. I can't think of one child I know who is loved only by his/her parents and would be missed by no one else. And, of course, since this is a novel, you can assume things will not be as simple as Tom and Isabel think they can be. But my big problem is that I just couldn't bring myself to sympathize with them. What they did wasn't a dilemma. It was wrong. I didn't hate them by any means, but a moral dilemma isn't much good if you can't buy into both sides of it. At least I couldn't.

Other readers have loved this book. It has a 4.1 star average from over 15,000 readers on Goodreads. And there's a lot more to the story than the early bones I've described here. But the rest couldn't redeem the book for me in the end (even though the end is rather well done). But I will likely still pick up M.L. Stedman's next book because her writing appeals to me very much, and just because this book an I had our disagreements doesn't mean I won't fall in love with the next one.

Has anyone read it? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you think you will?

Thanks for reading!

Smiles,

♥ B ♥

WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesdays was started by MizB over at Should Be Reading,

To play along, simply answer the following three (3) Questions:
1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

Currently Reading



I've had this book for a while, but I'm now reading it and loving it. ♥

Recently Finished

   

Both of these are wonderful. Code Name Verity is probably is beautifully written and amazing. Let it Snow is fun and light-hearted (definitely a change of pace from the other!)

Might Read Next

  

Paper Valentine & The Madness Underneath both I received from Net Galley. I want to read and review them soon. I have had Before I Fall for nearly a year now and I want to read it! :)

What books are you reading right now?

Smiles,
B