Review: Glow (Sky Chasers #1) by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Glow (Sky Chasers #1) by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Expected publication: September 13th 2011 by St. Martin’s Griffin.

* In compliance with FTC guidelines, it should be noted that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Young Adult and Science Fiction.  I’m not exactly a fan of those genres.  This book is promoted as “the most riveting series since The Hunger Games“.  I liked the first book but I’m not a fan either.

So what does that mean for Glow?

I LOVED IT.

Yes.  No one was more surprised than me.  I’ve never been this engaged in a YA novel before.  Certainly the first one I stayed up late for.  It was – to me, at least – very original, complex, thrilling, and exciting.  This is definitely good stuff!  Could this be the YA novel I am looking for?

Description from the back of the ARC copy:

[...] a violent battle separated two young lovers on a ship bound for New Earth.  Will they find a way back to their ship — and each other?  And most importantly, will they survive and preserve the future of the human race?

From that short blurb, you can already see that there’s a lot going on in the story.  And a lot at stake!  Set against the backdrop of Outer Space, Waverly and Kieran are the oldest children born on the Empyrean at fifteen and sixteen, respectively.  I liked Waverly right away.  She’s a strong character and I was rooting for her all the way.  I had a love/hate opinion on the boys but I’ll get to that later.  Waverly was so brave and I like that in a female character, especially if the book is geared towards young girls.  Yes, there are also “bad women”, in the story but how Waverly triumphs over them is the one worth noting.

The POV changes between the girls’ tribulations at the rival ship New Horizon and the boys’ fight to save the Empyrean.  I’m not a fan of the guys that much.  Kieran started off as being naive.  Personally, his rival, Seth, appealed to me more.  Until the twist (that came out of nowhere, unexplained) that had me doing a complete 180.  I was so engrossed in this boys’ POV.  It certainly caused a bigger reaction from me than the girls’.  Kieran earned brownie points for me but there was another plot twist that had me rethinking my opinions yet again.  It was kind of frustrating but I liked that treatment by the author.  It keeps the reader interested and guessing.

The book deals with pretty dark stuff such as thoughts of murder, kidnapping, use of guns and violence, fertility, loss of life, and revenge.  Some of them get violated in unthinkable ways so be warned.  Just when you thought it could not get any worse, it does.  Nevertheless, I liked the pace.  I found myself staying up late reading chapter after chapter.  The last time I did that was for The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, which I loved, so that’s saying something.

And oh, the ending?  You know those season finale cliffhangers?  Just like that.  Boy, what a set up for the sequel!  This first installment has everything: sci-fi, disaster, romance, adventure… it’s brilliant.  If more YA books are as good as this, I can understand how so many people are into the genre.  I am eagerly awaiting the next installment to the Sky Chasers series (and hopefully, I can acquire and ARC of it too.  Hint-hint. Haha!).

Rating: 5/5.

Recommendation: You know, I really think those readers who are skeptical about YA literature will devour this.  It’s original, engaging, and a breath of fresh air from the genre that’s been inundated by vampires, werewolves, and girls who want nothing else but to get a boyfriend.

Get your copy here.

Mini Haul

Criminal Minds: Jump Cut / Max Allan Collins

I got it for $2.50 at Book Alley! 

I read another Criminal Minds novel, Killer Profile on my nook.

And oh, I have been receiving First Reads / Librarything books through out the week but I am lazy haven’t had the time to take photos of them.  I will soon.  In a huge mailbox haul-ish of sorts.

Book haul!

Book porn!  \o/

Currently reading: Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan.

Recently purchased at 60% of Borders: Eve by Elissa Elliott, The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis, Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.

I got Glow for FREE.  It will be released 13 September 2011.  The other books were about $15 for all 3.  Not bad at all. 

Note: The tag “book haul” is a tag I use for books that purchased.  I use the tag “mailbox” for the stuff I got for free.

Review: Dirty Little Secrets by Kerry Cohen

Dirty Little Secrets / Kerry Cohen

Expected publication: September 1st 2011 by Sourcebooks, Incorporated.

* In compliance with FTC guidelines, it should be noted that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Description from GoodReads:

From the author of the provocative hit memoir Loose Girl, this is an eye-opening look at the dangerous, secretive world of today’s adolescent girls who use casual sex as a means to prove their worth-to boys, to friends, and to themselves. Cohen examines how we got to this point, where young women use male attention like a drug and why they keep going back, even though the behavior is often self-destructive. Featuring current research and interviews with over 70 girls, this is a wake-up call for parents everywhere that’s not to be missed.

When I found out I won this on GoodReads First Reads, I was excited.  I read Cohen’s memoir, Loose Girl, earlier this year.  I thought it was a moving piece and a rare look into the life of a girl society views as a “slut”.  It was not an easy read and it left me feeling rather sad and sorry for the girl on the page.

This was not an easy read either.  The inclusion of other people’s stories seemed very interesting to me.  It is difficult to review books like this.  And I have to say, I did not like it.  Some parts bored me as it went on and on and on about statistics and definitions that I’ve already read several pages prior. It became repetitive.  The personal stories didn’t really do much apart from introducing an idea.  I would’ve liked a story wherein some of the perspectives were put into action.  They were interesting (and again, rather sad) but I just couldn’t feel for and/or connect with these women.  The “shock value” came from the numbers – how old they were and how many sexual partners they’ve had – instead of the actual content of their experiences.

Also, it was difficult reading this without ones personal beliefs kicking in.  I’m not saying I disagreed with everything the book says and stands for.  But I couldn’t help but think that some of them did not actually empower girls and women; instead, make them seem more feeble and weak.   But hey, what do I know?

To be honest, I found so little empowerment in this book.  As a woman, I even felt slightly insulted.  It’s as if women are incapable of controlling their lives and their person.  That there is only ONE and narrow road to a healthy relationship with the opposite sex.  That sex is nothing more than a tool.  I don’t remember the book talking about the good that can come out of sex.  I understand that this is primarily for and about “loose girls” but how about the other teen girls who will read this?  On one page, it’s telling her that it’s okay to talk, think about, and ultimately have sex.  But on the next page, it is scaring her with what can (and according to the whole tone book, will) happen once you try it, you’ll want it all the time.  I’m confused at to what this book really wants to say.  Not to mention, it came across as preachy and annoyingly self-righteous.

Overall, I was disappointed.  I could not relate to the book and it just bored me.

Rating: 2/5.

Recommendation: Teen girls and their parents, especially mothers.  This can be a valuable reference to school guidance counselors.

Get your copy here.

Review: Effie at the Wedding by Tracy Marchini

Effie at the Wedding / Tracy Marchini

When the cover says ‘short story’, it means short story.  Ten pages.  I read it in under fifteen minutes!

Effie is the maid of honor on her sister’s wedding.  Her older, prettier, and skinnier sister.  And she doesn’t want to be there.  She wants to get away from it all when she accidentally locks herself in the bathroom.  While sitting there, she reflects why it’s better to stay in there than rejoin the reception.

Because the book has a lot of amusing lists, this review will come in a list form.

5 Reasons Why I Liked Effie at the Wedding

5. It’s funny!  Effie sounded bitter and insecure and she whines a little but that’s okay.  She’s keeping it real.

4. Her lists are witty!  And she had very good points, as superficial as some of them were.  Her sarcasm is her defense mechanism but as the lists go on, you get to see that she’s just a scared little girl, scared to lose her sister.

3. Great characters!  Apart from Effie and her sister, her aunt, mom, and grandmother were funny as well.  Even with just a line or two between them.

2. The references to Hamlet, crazy cat ladies, questionable colors, and “It’s Complicated” relationships.  I’m not a huge fan of chick lit or YA in general but if done right, it’s fun.  This was done just right.

1. It’s not just a cutesy girly story.  It’s doesn’t dwell on “Oh I’ll never get a boyfriend” or “Oh I’m too fat, I’m not good enough”.  Sure it does talk about that but in the end, it’s just Effie reflecting on her relationship with her best friend, her sister.

Rating: 5/5.

Recommendation: Waiting for your nails to dry?  Need a quick pick me up?  Then pick this up!

Get your copy here.

* In compliance with FTC guidelines, it should be noted that I received the book for free through LibraryThing Member Giveaways.

Quotes: Helen Exley

“Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled “This could change your life.”

—-

What are the books that changed your life?

Review: A Bitter Truth: A Bess Crawford Mystery by Charles Todd

A Bitter Truth / Charles Todd

Expected publication: September 1st 2011 by William Morrow.

* In compliance with FTC guidelines, it should be noted that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

I have a love-hate relationship with the mystery/thriller genre so I’m constantly on the hunt for new titles to see how an author will twist the well-known and loved genre into something new.  I haven’t read anything by Charles Todd before so I was quite looking forward to reading this one.

A Bitter Truth is third in the series of mystery novels featuring battlefield nurse – and accidental sleuth – Elizabeth “Bess” Crawford.  Upon her return to England from war-torn France, she encounters a bruised and beaten woman named Lydia Ellis.  Ever the good heart, Bess takes her in.  Lydia tells a tale of violence and betrayal and tells Bess that the only way she would come back to her Sussex home is if Bess would accompany her.  They find Lydia’s home of Vixen Hill in mourning over a lost brother.  As Bess prepares to return to London, a house guest is murdered and Bess becomes a suspect.

Okay, the GOOD:

I like the overall mood and setting of the story.  Very gothic, noir-like.  The scenes in France had a totally different feel from those set in England.  It really transports you to WWII era.  The story progression, albeit slow, was steady; no flashbacks and almost re-telling of events within the text.  It almost had the feel of a dinner theatre mystery.  I liked the character of Bess.  She was solid and consistent and strong.  Simon Brandon and Sergeant Larimore were very likable as well.

Although I did not like most of the Ellises, they had good character development.  However, I am not sure if readers are supposed to hate them as much as I did.  They, especially Gran, were cold and self-centered.  Lydia was insensitive and impractical (although I did like her the most out of her family).  At first, I thought it made sense for the author to antagonize the Ellis family for the sake of the story but towards the end, I’m not quite sure if that was necessary… or even relevant overall.

And, the stuff I did not like:

Okay, I liked the premise of the story and the direction it was going as I read on.  But the execution was lacking.  Everything was long-drawn-out and it slowed the story down.  There were parts where I was reading a passage again and again until my eyes glazed over.  I had a hard time getting into it because the beginning was slow and boring.  (And as it turns out, the whole first part had absolutely NOTHING to do with the bigger picture.  Filler!)  And the overall writing was choppy.  It was like it was trying to sound like something it’s not.  I can’t quite figure it out.  Maybe it’s because “Charles Todd” is a pseudonym for a mother-son writing team?  Two people with different writing styles.  The words did not flow smoothly.  The switching between calling the Ellis family members by their first name and full name got confusing fast.  “Mrs. Roger, Mrs. Lydia, Lydia Ellis”, all one person.  Can’t we just call her “Lydia”? “Mama Ellis, Mrs. Ellis, Roger’s mother”?  I gave up after a while and just went with it.

There were also some questionable decisions that I don’t want to get into.  (That’s for a reader guide or a book club to discuss.)  I have to say that I was impressed that I wasn’t able to crack the case before the book told me who did it.  But that was short-lived because more irrelevant things happen towards the end of the book.

With that said, this was enough to spark my interest in seeking out other Charles Todd books.  Bess is a great character and I would like to see her in the author’s other work.

Rating: 3/5.

Recommendation: This can be a good book club selection.  There is a good amount of mystery and intrigue and lots to talk about.

Get your copy here.

 

Post #100: Once upon a time… What is the first line of your favorite book?

There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.

If you don’t know where that line is from, you don’t know me well enough. 

Yes, my favorite book in the whole entire universe is Jane Eyre. An Autobiography by Currer Bell.  Charlotte Brontë.  Why?  Because every time I read this masterpiece, I fall in love with it all over again.

I love how Jane is a no nonsense type of woman.  She knows what she’s capable of and does not complain over the things she does not have.  And I also love – actually, it’s what I love the most about this – Edward Fairfax Rochester.  Some say he was cruel to Jane.  I didn’t think so.  You want cruel, call upon Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.  LMAO.  If you ask me, Rochester just didn’t know how to handle someone like Jane.  It’s like when we’re kids… there’s a boy teasing you, pushing you to the sand to get your attention because he likes you (but hates cooties more than he likes you).  It was so clear that he loved Jane from the moment they were properly introduced.  Frankly, it was Jane’s attraction that wasn’t clear until she said it herself.

I encourage EVERYONE to read this beauty at least once in their life.  It’s a bit to go through but you won’t regret it.

PS: Thank you for supporting my little book blog.  Here’s to 100 more!

Review: Maya & Filippo Make Friends in Auckland by Alinka Rutkowska

Maya & Filippo Make Friends in Auckland / Alinka Rutkowska

Isn’t it just the cutest thing?    I would have loved a physical copy of this.  I was gifted a digital copy via LibraryThing.

Siblings, Maya & Filippo, are living the sweet life on deck aboard their cruise ship Fun Princess.  They travel all around the world.  One of their stops is Auckland, New Zealand and for one day, they explore the city and make friends along the way.

This is a “Color It Yourself” edition.  I think it’s a wonderful way to get kids more involved in this book.  To have them read about Auckland, New Zealand and at the same time, making an image of it on their own.  The illustrations by Konrad Checinski are so cute and fun.

I did see some words that might be a little big for, say, a 6-year-old or whatever the target audience of this book might be.  And letting kids explore a whole city all by themselves?  I don’t think it’s safe.

Overall, it was a good one.  It teaches children how to be happy in their lives and cease the day.  There’s a lot of places to explore out there.

Rating: 4/5.

Recommendation: A perfect read-aloud during storytelling time.  Or a cute bedtime story.

Get your copy here.

* In compliance with FTC guidelines, it should be noted that I received the book for free through LibraryThing Member Giveaways.

Review: I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship by Wade Rouse

I'm Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship / Wade Rouse

Expected publication: September 6th 2011 by NAL Trade.

* In compliance with FTC guidelines, it should be noted that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Imagine me saying this in a sing-song voice:  “I looooove it!!!”

From the hilariously sweet foreword from Chelsea Handler’s dog, Chunk, to the very last essay, this anthology put a smile on my face at every page turn.  This book has twenty essays from twenty different writers/dog owners.  TWENTY tales that will definitely warm your heart, brighten up your day, make you laugh out loud and say, “Yes, I do that too!”

I am a dog person and currently dogless so this made me want to get a four-legged best friend as soon as possible.  I mean, how can you say no to adorable eyes looking straight at you, almost pleading to walk with you to a loving home?  I get chills just thinking about it.  The stories about adopting a dog were so touching and it is a helpful look at what happens AFTER an adoption. I particularly like “Dogs are the New Children” by Jen Lancaster.  Because they are.  Couples decide not to have children but they get dogs.  Then the attention they would’ve showered on a child would be placed upon their pet.  Alice Bradley’s “Menage a Dog” talks a bit about that too.

The essays about how their dogs helped them in their lives.  The very touching “Walking My Dog Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death is a Nice Way to Start the Day” by Bob Smith had me in tears.  As well as “The Little Rascal” by Beth Harbison.  I just… love how the authors wrote about their dogs with so much love and appreciation.  Another one of my favorites is “Are You A Rascal or a Ringo?” by Jeff Marx (I love Avenue Q).  It shows how dogs are not just their owner’s friend, but can be to other dogs as well.

If I had to pick ONE favorite, it has to be “A Dog Day of Summer” by W. Bruce Cameron.  HI-LAR-IOUS.  If this is any indication, I cannot get my hands on his book A Dog’s Purpose.  I loved it so much, I read it twice in a row.  Then passed it to my mom and she was laughing out loud too.  A close second would have to be “Scratching at My Door, Tail Between his Legs” by Caprice Crane.  It has WIN written all over it.  I mean, imagine an ex-boyfriend asking for visitation rights for your dog?  WIN!

It would’ve been great to see photos of the dogs with their owners.  You know, to put a face to the name.  A lot of people know who Chunk Handler is but to see Cindy, Maisy, Boz, Rascal, Maeby, and Bridget would have been fantastic.

Rating: 5/5.

Recommendation: Dog lovers!  Pet lovers!  Hell, I want EVERYONE to sit down and read this while your pet is frolicking on the grass with his/her friends.

Get your copy here.