I'm a hopeless book addict. I often find it hard to stick to one book at a time (though it does happen on occassion) as I am always looking out for that next great read. I also have yet to meet a bookstore that I haven't liked...or that I've been able to walk out of without buying at least one book.
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If you are an author or publisher and you have a book you'd like me to review, send me an email at Irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com and let me know a bit about the book.
I do own a Nook named Alistair Wayland (Alis for short) and he too is happy to accept your book for review. I also can read ebooks via my apps on my ip@d (which is currently in need of a name) - available apps are nook, kindle, overdrive and bluefire.
Publisher: Harper Collins Publication Date: 02 Mar 2010 ISBN: 006172680X Format: ebook Pages: 480 Websites: Lauren Oliver
Place(s) Traveled to: Ridgeview, Connecticut (fictional town)
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I won’t say a whole ton about Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver as it isn’t schedule to be released until March 2010. What I will say though is that this is a story that I both loved and hated. I loved the voice of the main character Samantha Kingston and I loved how her story was told. But I also hated it. I thought that the buildup was great but that the ending was unnecessary and in some ways glorified something that probably could have been avoided.
The story itself is told in a way that is very reminiscent of the movie Groundhog Day in which Sam relieves the same day over and over. And with each reboot she learns something new about herself and those around her. It’s a beautiful story and one that will break your heart at times as well. Lauren Oliver has a wonderful style of writing and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan isn’t your typical vampire story. It’s a gritty fast paced novel that takes place primarily in New York City. It starts slowly with a plane that lands at JFK and moments later goes eerily dark. No one can explain what happened or why all but a few passengers have died. It is left up to Dr. Eph Goodweather – head of the Canary Project which is a branch of the CDC stationed in NYC - to figure it out and if Abraham Setrakian, a mysterious old man who claims he’s seen this before, is correct and a virus has been unleashed then there isn’t much time. You can watch the official trailer for this book below:
For the most part The Strain is an intense and fast paced read. It’s a gripping story of a killer virus that spreads quickly and gives its victims an unholy thirst for blood. It’s a creepy little novel that I couldn’t stop listening too. I loved the narrator, Ron Perlman, and thought he did an amazing job bringing all the multiple voices that make up this story to life. The problem that I had with this audio is that the chapter breaks…(or what I assume were the chapter breaks) were designated by this loud and jarring sound bit of music. The sound was often far louder than the narration and so would fill the car with a cascading bang that would jar me out of the false reality of the story. It was distracting and something that I really could have done without.
The beginning was a little slow but once the book got started it easily got me hooked. I also wonder how this story will be made into a trilogy. While I really enjoyed the story I think that it could have been summed up in a single volume. There were some scenes that I felt were overly long and could probably have been editing down or cut out entirely. Overall though I really liked the story and I look forward to seeing what comes next. I like how del Toro and Hogan made vampires scary again. Because everyone knows that while vampires are many things they should always be just a bit dangerous and under no circumstances should they ever sparkle in the sun.
Have you seen the new(ish) HBO tv series called TRUE BLOOD? do you like it? Well then you might be happy to know that the show is based on a series of books, officially the Gothic Southern Vampire Series - but more commonly known as Sookie Stackhouse series. Currently this series has 9 books published and more are on the way I am sure. And better yet Melissa's Bookshelf is hosting a contest for the first SEVEN of them. That's right...you heard me. The contest is open worldwide and will run until 05 July, 8 pm EST. More detail can be found by clicking here.
Place(s) Traveled to: Nothing officially set. According to Sara Zarr "It's set in a fictional rural town that could be way way northern CA or southern OR and the name of the town is Pineview"
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Once was Lost by Sara Zarr tells the story of Samara Taylor who just wants to be a typical teenage girl living in a small town. Only she isn’t your normal teen. She is “the preacher’s kid” and as such the other kids always never get too close. Even her best friends don’t tell her about the parties where there might be drinking because she’s the preachers kid and she might tell or is too holy or something. While she might not always like it, Sam has accepted her role. She holds it together because she has her secrets too. And its not until those family secrets start to become public that she learns that maybe she can trust others with what she is really feeling. Sam is also drawn closer to those around her when a local girl goes missing. The whole community is turned upside down and she learns that there are bigger things out there then what is going on at home.
Once Was Lost is a beautifully written story about faith and friendship and what it means to belong. The story is told through Sam’s eyes and her voice is at once strong and also fragile as she struggles to accept the things that she cannot change. I first fell in love with the cover of this book and quickly became enamored of its main character. Sam is witty and wonderfully drawn that I could almost hear her voice as the story unfolded. Sam isn’t an easy character to get to know but once the walls start to come down a bit she becomes achingly real. I really enjoyed this book and found that I couldn’t put it down. All the characters were believable and I kept turning the pages to see what I might learn about them next. In this book you won’t find any big booms or sudden twists or turns instead what you’ll find are slow cracks that creep across the glass as Sam and those around her are forced to deal with a world that isn’t perfect. This is a book that I highly recommend.
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.
Tamara Ann Simpson hasn't been having a good summer. First her best friend in the whole world moves away and into the house where she used to live is a "squirrelly runt, a lying snake, and a pitiful excuse for a ten-year-old" that she calls Muscle Man McGinty (real name, Douglas and who is actually a very scrawny boy). Every word that comes out of Muscle Man's mouth is grating to Tamara because every word is a lie. And yet no matter what stories he tells everyone on Ramble Street, they all believe his stories. Like the time he swam in the olympics or that he sang on broadway...and the biggest lie of all that Neil Armstrong. THE Neil Armstrong who is about to walk on the moon is his Uncle! But he really hits an all time low when he says that he can beat the ENTIRE block in a game of kickball. This is the moment that Tamara has been waiting for. The moment when everyone sees Muscle Man McGinty for who he really is. Although the truth might just surprise Tamara as well.
Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me by Nan Marino is a poignt look at a simpler time. When lies are "whoppers" and the start of summer is signaled by the first pass of the ice cream truck. Tammy is a spunky girl who is on the cusp of adulthood and learning about heartache when her best friend moves away. She can be funny and seem so much older then she really is at one moment. But in the next be a bratty child who seems to delight in saying mean things to Muscle Man. Yet despite all the mean comments Muscle Man always gives her a smile and never lets Tammy get him down. (There is a great lesson in dealing with bullies there!)
This book will make you laugh and it will also make you cry as it brings home some of the big events of the late 1960s....the Vietnam war was going strong and the world was about to watch as man landed on the moon for the first time. Tammy has such a strong voice that shone though the pages. She made me want to keep reading to see how the epic kickball battle turned out. Neil Armstrong is My Uncle is a quick read and one that can appeal to all age groups...although it might seem dated to today's kids who spend more time on the computer IMing and might relate the game of kickball to something that they're forced to do in gym. And yet, the world that Marino paints is so vivid that I think it might be enought to pull kids away from the modern world and get them to think about what has come before them. This is a book that I'd highly recommend, its fun, well written and will remind you to think about the larger world. It will also remind you that everyone has a bit of Muscle Man and Tammy inside of them and that sometimes you need to look past the surface to figure out who someone really is.
The Maze Runnerby James Dashner is the start of a new series published by Delacorte Books. This is the third book by Dasher and regular followers of my blog know that I read and loved his first book Journal of the Curious Letters....I have the second book The Hunt for Dark Infinitystaring at me from high up on Mt TBR. I had plans to read it when it came out but it took forever to get my hands on it that I just haven't had the time to squeeze it in. =( Though everything I've heard about it has been amazing. So with all those good things comeing from Dashner's other books I was so excited to be able to get my hands on a copy of The Maze Runner at the Book Expo America. Such much so that I pretty much dragged several of my blogger friends along with me to his signing and made them all get copies. (Hopefully they are liking the book as much I did!)
Maze Runner starts off in an eerie way, a boy is trapped in the box and the box seems to be moving. When it stops and the top opens he is dragged out by a group of scraggly looking books all around his age. The only thing this boy can remember is his first name, Thomas. First names are all anyone can remember. And this mysterious place that Thomas finds himself in is called the Glade, which lies in the center of a maze. A maze where the walls are always moving and deadly creatures roam at night looking for a Gladers who didn't make it back "home" before the doors closed. There is a set routine to life in the maze...runners run out daily looking for a way out. The boys are almost happy, that is until the unthinkable happens and a girl appears and she brings a horrible and cryptic message and life for those in the Glade will never be the same.
This book left me breathless. I was sucked in from the first page and couldn't put this book down. I love Dashner's imagination and the fact that he incorporates mechanically beasties into his stories. These creatures seem so real that I can pratically hear them moving about as I read. I wizzed through this book because I needed to know what happend. Why were the boys in the maze? Would they find a way out? And that ending?!?!? Gah!!! Such a bloody cliffhanger that I was cursing James Dashner (just a bit) because I NEED to know what happens next. My only consolation is that there is a next but as THIS book isn't out until October I have a long wait ahead of me. *sobs* If you like dystopian novels then you will like this book. Its a fast paced read that keeps you engaged with the need know. I think that this is far and away Dashner's best book to date and I can't wait to see what else he has up his sleeve.
As you already know I was recently at the Book Expo held in New York City. While there I picked up many great reads which I'll be posting about once my friend sends me the pics from Day 1. (I had forgotten my camera and so used hers.) So while you all patiently wait for the rest of my posts about this most fabulous of events I thought I would give you the opportunity to win one of the books I picked up there.
Now I have a few things that I plan on giving away but I thought that I would start off with the book that I am currently reading, The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I have about 1/3 of this book to read and so far it is blowing me away. It is so amazingly good...and dare I say it...I think its far better than The Journal of Curious Letters. Which is saying a lot since I LOVED that book!
For those who don't know The Maze Runner won't be in stores until 06 Oct so this is soft cover ARC...and the cover on what you are getting isn't as cool as what is pictured above. The cover looks a bit more like this:
And if you need to know a bit more about the story this is what the back of the book has to say:
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
And have I mentioned just how amazing this book is so far?? Well if not, it is. The rules for this contest are simple:
For one entry leave a comment on this post
For one entry tweet about this contest (please add @Irisheyz77 to tweet so I see it)
For one entry blog about this contest (please send me the URL to your post)
Contest is open world wide and will close on 04 July 09.
So there you have it...you have the opportunity for 3 entries into the pool. Please make sure that you leave a way for me to contact you. I will post the winner here and send out an email but if I get no response after a week then I will choose another winner from the pool of entrants. Thanks for stopping by and good luck to all who enter!
The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow by Tim Kehoe stars Vincent Shadow who up until recently was an only child living in New York with his dad. In his spare time he heads up to his secret lab where he works on his inventions. When his dad remarries his whole world is turned upside down. Not only does he gain 3 new sisters but he is also given the news that the family is moving to Minnesota. This move means that Vincent must abandon his lab and his dreams of becoming a toy inventor. That is until he hears of a contest given by a famous & reclusive toy inventor. This contest takes place in New York....can Vincent needs to not only come up with a winning entry, but he must also find a way to get back to the city to showcase it.
For the most part I enjoyed this book, I really enjoyed the characters of Vincent and his stepsisters. They all intereacted in a believable manner and at times cracked me up with their antics. There were times when the 'evil' stepmother role got to be a bit out of hand. Not all stepmothers are bad and I didn't see any point to the continuation of this stereotype. The ending also seemed to be really rushed and lacked some of the substance and subtlety that characterized the start of this story. There also seemed to be some indication that this might become a series, if so then I think that I will check out fututre books as I did enjoy Vincent's story and would like to see what he does as he grows up.
As some of you already know I was fortunate enough to attend this years Book Expo America. This is a huge event in book industry and as a blogger I was so excited to go. Since New York City isn't too far away my friend Beth, over at Beth's Hobbies decided to take the Amtrak train down, a ride that was around 3 hours long. I picked up the train about 30 minutes before Beth but while we both waited we exchanged lots of texts. Beth was a bit worried she wouldn't find me on the train and despite my best efforts I couldn't lose her.
On the train I had the choice of reading my current book or in being a good blogger and trying to catch up on reviews. It was a tough choice since the book I was reading, The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle by L.J. Smith was a good read and a wonderful trip down memory lane. (I'd first read this book as a teen back in the early 90s!).
As you can see I decided to be a good blogger and started to type up some of my backlog of book reviews. That and enjoy the scenery...most of the trip was along the coastline and the views were so calming and beautiful. I only wish that I'd taken more photos!
Our train arrived in NYC right around 5pm....which was right smack dab in the middle of the Teen Author Carnival that was going on and while we both wanted to go we still had to check into the hotel. So the TAC wasn't on the agenda. Sadly! But from what we've heard it was a real blast.
Here is a pic of our hotel room....it was really nice, the beds were comfortable. The only drawback was the AC...it wasn't the best unit and would go from not working well to making the room feel like an ice box! But we managed ok especially since we were so very tired after each day spent at the BEA. After freshening up a bit we dashed off to the Strand to meet up with Sharon, Alea, and Steph S. First stop was dinner at this fabo Italian place called, Piola. Sadly Steph had to leave early to catch her train home but it was really fun meeting her! After dinner we headed over to The Strand where Sharon (aka The Strand Master) showed us her favorite haunts before we settled in to look at the YA ARC shelves.
There was a bit of a scuffle when Alea discovered ARCs on the end cap....a location that Sharon was unaware of....and they almost came to blows over a book. It was quite scary and Sharon ended up leaving in a huff when Alea took her down. *pause* Ok not really....or at least not entirely. Alea did discover an end cap of books and Sharon did leave early but only so that she could get home early and rest up for BEA greatness. I picked up a ton of great books during this visit. I swear I have a sickness because I WAS going to be at a BOOK EXPO for two days where there would be loads of BOOKS....but well....you can't go the The Strand and not get anything. Here is a visual pic of my horde:
After we all checked out Alea & her mom went back to their hotel and Beth and I returned to ours. We relaxed for a bit before turning in early because we'd planned an early morning wake up call in order to stand in line for tickets to Suzanne Collin's book signed of Catching Fire !
Books from The Strand in list form: The Maze Runner (ARC) by James Dashner Dull Boy by Sarah Cross Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by R.J. Anderson (I don't know about you but I like the UK title better, Knife) Paisley Hanover Acts Out by Cameron Tuttle The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas The Fetch (ARC) by Laura Whitcomb The Other Side of the Island (ARC) by Allegra Goodman Bass Ackwards and Bellyup (ARC) by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain Band Geeked Out (ARC) by Josie Bloss Girls (ARC) by Tucker Shaw Every Soul a Star (ARC) by Wendy Mass The Devouring (ARC) by Simon Holt and Paper Towns (ARC) by John Green
So many books! I don't even know how I'll choose what to read first! Or heck...when I'll have the time to read them all!! Stay tuned for more BEA posts....there's still so MUCH to talk about!
In May, I had the most amazing opportunity to attend the BookExpo America in New York City. Not only was I going to see publishers and authors in person but I was also able to snag a ARC of Catching Fire the sequel to Suzanne Collins's amazing book Hunger Games. Not only was I able to pick up a copy but I was also able to get it signed by Collin's herself. Needless to say I was uber excited! I'd been looking forward to this book ever since I finished Hunger Gamesa short time before the expo.
Catching Fire picks up about six months after the end of Hunger Games and it quickly takes off in a direction that I couldn't have predicted. I was blown away by the story and thought that it went above and beyond the amazingness that was Hunger Games. I couldn't put this book down and can't believe that I have to wait another YEAR for the next book to come out. I need to know what is going to happen next. Now I know I normally say more about a book but I don't want to spoil anyone about what's to come. Just know that if you liked Hunger Games then you'll love this book as well. Catching Fire is a fast-paced, breathless read that leaves you panting and wanting more. Its a book that will stay with you and make you think.
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick is a collection of drawings that were dropped off one day at the office of a publisher by a man named Harris Burdick. Burdick was looking to publish a book and brought the drawings to show what he was capable of. He left the drawings with the publisher and promised to return the next day to discuss what the publisher thought. Harris Burdick never returned by the publisher held onto the drawings because he found them so fascinating. There were 16 pictures in all and each had a single one line caption which is supposed to inspire the reader as to what the story the picture might be telling.
My interest in this book came mostly from the name in the title, Burdick. Burdick isn't a common name and it also just happens to be the maiden name of my grandmother. Burdick's have a long history in the US that dates back to 1651 and you can learn more about their history by checking out the Burdick Family Association website.
But I digress.
According to the forward written by Chris Van Allsburg the pictures are meant to inspire the imagination. Which is why he chose to put them together into a book after being told the story of how the publisher, who was a friend of his acquired them. All in all I found the pictures a bit underwhelming and the captions tended to baffle more than inspire me to think more about the story that they represented. All the pictures were also black and white line drawings and to me if they were meant to inspire children I'd expect them to be filled with color. Something to draw the eye and encourage children to look deeper at the image.
Pingo is a forthcoming children’s book written by Brandon Mull and Illustrated by Brandon Dorman. Mull is the author of the wonderful FABLEHAVEN series (if you haven’t read it yet, then I highly suggest you do) and Dorman is an amazing artist…just check out his website and I’m sure you’ll agree. Pingo is a cute little story that asks the question “what happens when your imaginary friend, becomes your imaginary enemy?” Which I think is a very fun question to ask yourself…especially if you’ve ever had an imaginary friend.
As this is a children’s book its very short and so there isn’t much I can say about the story without giving it all away. What I can say is that the illustrations are fantastic! For an example I’ve pilfered this one from Brandon Dorman’s website:
The one issue that I had with this book was the text. It didn’t have that special sort of cadence that I would expect from a children’s book. Instead some of the words/phrases seem a bit long for the target audience…some of the concepts might also be above that young audience. Although not having kids myself – and not available at this time for testing – I can’t say for definite how a young child would react to this book. If nothing else, the brightly colored illustrations will be enough to engage their attention and their minds.
Have extra books? Why not send them to our troops?
Click the image about to be directed to www.booksforsoldiers.com and learn how you can clean off your bookshelf and help out our men and women in the military at the same time.
Top Girls in Books for 2012 (in order of "meeting")
1. Jade Lansing from Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey 2. Riley from Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey 3. Minerva Highwood from A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare 4. Ana from Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Top Guys in Books for 2012 (in order of "meeting")
1. Braden Michaels from Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey 2. Trey Lansing from Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey 3. Colin Sandhurst from A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare 4. Sam from Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Publisher: Harper Collins
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by 
was a good read and a wonderful trip down memory lane. (I'd first read this book as a teen back in the early 90s!).
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