2011 Challenges

Here is a list of all the challenges that I am currently participating in for 2011. I'll try to keep this list updated throughout the year as I complete portions of it. To see what I thought of a book just click on the links that I add to the book titles. If you are interested in learning more about these challenges or signing up yourself just click on the Title of each that appears before the summary.

 

What's in a Name 4

Here's how it works: Between January 1 and December 31, 2011, read one book in each of the following categories. Overlaps are allowed between other challenges but not between categories and books can be any media source (print, audio, ebook). I'll be replacing the examples with the actual titles of the books I read as I read them.

1. A book with a number in the title: Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Love by Numbers, Book 3) by Sarah MacLean
2. A book with jewelry or a gem in the title: Silver Phoenix (The Kingdom of Xia, Book 1) by Cindy Pon
3. A book with a size in the title: A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley
4. A book with travel or movement in the title: Across the Universe by Beth Revis  (Godspeed, Book 1)
5. A book with evil in the title: Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters, Book 1) by Kelly Keaton // Demonglass (Hex Hall, Book 2) by Rachel Hawkins
6. A book with a life stage in the title: Matched (Matched, Book 1) by Ally Condie // Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls, Book 1) by C. C. Hunter

2011 Debut Author Challenge

The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year. The Story Siren is going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels. I’m hoping to read at least 25. Challenge will run from January 1, 2011- December 31, 2011.  Authors that have "adult" titles currently published but are debuting a YA/MG novel in 2011 can be included  and this goes for authors that have childrens books published as well. Novels must be read between the dates of January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011 to count toward your challenge total. (this means if you've read a 2011 debut novel in 2010, it doesn't count..... but reviews posted in 2011 will count toward the monthly prize packs, even if you read the novel in 2010.

1. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (review to come in July)

2. Across the Universe by Beth Revis  (Godspeed, Book 1)
3. Haven by Kristi Cook

4. Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters, Book 1) by Kelly Keaton

5. Hourglass (Hourglass, Book 1) by Myra McEntire

6. Wither (Chemical Garden, Book 1) by Lauren DeStefano

7. Kat, Incorrigible (The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson, Book 1) by Stephanie Burgis

8. Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls, Book 1) by C. C. Hunter

9. Two Moon Princess (Two Moon Princess, Book 1) by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban

10. Unnatural (Archangel Academy, Book 1) by Micheal Griffo

11. Ruby Red (Ruby Red, Book 1) by Kerstin Gier

12. Entwined by Heather Dixon

13. Chime by Franny

14. A Touch Mortal (Touch Mortal, Book 1) by Leah Clifford

15. Divergent (Divergent, Book 1) by Veronica Roth

16. Fury (Fury, Book 1) by Elizabeth Miles

17. The Pearl Wars (Skyship Academy, Book 1) by Nick A James

18. Circle 9

19. Variant by Robison Wells

20. Saving June by Hannah Harrington

21. Blood Song by Rhiannan Hart

22. Love & Leftovers

23. Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

24. The False Princess by

25. The Sharp Time

 YA Historical Fiction Challenge

The objective is to read a set number a YA or MG Historical novels. There are three levels to this challenge and I think that I will start with the lowest, Level 1, and commit to reading 5 historical YA books. Though there is always a good chance that I will move to an upper level by the end of the year. We shall see. This challenge will run from January 1, 2011- December 31, 2011.

1. Kat, Incorrigible (The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson, Book 1) by Stephanie Burgis
2. Loving Will Shakespeare by Carolyn Meyer (Audio)
3. Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac (Audio)
4. Waterfall by Lisa T Bergen
5. Chime by

2011 E-book Challenge

The objective is to read a set number a e-books between January 1, 2011- December 31, 2011. There are four levels to this challenge and I think that I will aim high and go with Obsessed. This level involves reading 20 e-books and since in 2010 I read well over 25 I think this is a doable one. Though there is always a good chance that I will move to an upper level by the end of the year. We shall see. This challenge will run from January 1, 2011- December 31, 2011.

1. Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr
2. Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
3. Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Love by Numbers, Book 3) by Sarah MacLean

4. Haven by Kristi Cook

5. Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters, Book 1) by Kelly Keaton

6. Friends MS

7. Stay by Deb Caletti

8. Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

9. Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates

10. A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

11. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

12. Kiss of Night

13. Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare

14. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

15. Carter Finally Gets It

16. Raw Blue

17. A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean

18. Saving June by Hannah Harrington

19. Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

20. The False Princess
21. The Sharp Time

The Contemps Challenge

Read at least 18 books published by one of the 21 Contemporary authors over the course of a year. When I've read a book for this challenge I will add the date I completed it as well as link to my review.Titles in italics are ones that I own and need to read. This challenge was begun in 2010 and was carried over into 2011.

1. Losing Faith by Denise Jaden (read: 08 Aug 2010)
2. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
3. Girl, Stolen by April Henry (read: 09 Oct 2010)
4. Freefall by Mindi Scott
5. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney (read: 28 Oct 2010)
6. Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
7. Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers (read: 27 Oct 2010)
8. Trapped by Michael Northrop (read: 18 Jan 2011)
9. Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer
10. Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt (read: 12 Jan 2011, review to come in March)
11. Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
12. Family by Micol Ostow
13. Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith
14. Pearl by Jo Knowles
15. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
16. The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
17. Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
18. Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
19. The third book in the Carter series by Brent Crawford
20. Sharks & Boys by Kristen Tracy
21. Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Personal Challenge: Read 100+ Books in 2011

Read 100 books or more between 01 Jan 2011 and 31 Dec 2011.

1. Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr
2. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (review to come in July)
3. Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
4. Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt (review to come in March)
5. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
6. Trapped by Michael Northrop
7. Across the Universe by Beth Revis (Godspeed, Book 1)
8. Nightshade (Nightshade, Book 1) by Andrea Creamer
9. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
10. Matched (Matched, Book 1) by Ally Condie
11. The Eternal Ones (Eternal Ones, Book 1) by Kirsten Miller
12. Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Love by Numbers, Book 3) by Sarah MacLean
13. Haven by Kristi Cook
14. Silver Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia, Book 1) by Cindy Pon
15. Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters, Book 1) by Kelly Keaton
16. Hourglass (Hourglass, Book 1) by Myra McEntire
17. The Dark and Hollow Places (Forest of Hands & Teeth, Book 3) by Carrie Ryan
18. Wither (Chemical Garden, Book 1) by Lauren DeStefano
19. Friends MS
20. Demonglass (Hex Hall, Book 2) by Rachel Hawkins
21. Fury of the Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia, Book 1) by Cindy Pon
22. Kat, Incorrigible (The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson, Book 1) by Stephanie Burgis
23. Stay by Deb Caletti
24. Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz
25. Lost & Found by Shaun Tan
26. Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls, Book 1) by C. C. Hunter
27. Castle Waiting Vol. 2 by Linda Medley
28. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
29. Two Moon Princess (Two Moon Princess, Book 1) by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
30. Unnatural (Archangel Academy, Book 1) by Michael Griffo
31. Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates
32. Hounded (The Iron Druid, Book 1) by Kevin Hearne
33. Loving Will Shakespeare by Carolyn Meyer (Audio)
34. Ruby Red (Ruby Red, Book 1) by Kerstin Gier
35. Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac (Audio)
36. Changes (The Dresden Files, Book 12) by Jim Butcher
37. Pearl by Jo Knowles
38. Entwined by Heather Dixon
39. Cut by
40. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn
41. Bitter End by Jennifer Brown
42. Hexed (Iron Druid, Book 2) by Keavin Hearne
43. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
44. The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
45. Chime
46. The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan
47. The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey, Book 2) by Julie Kagawa
48. The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan
49. Siren
50. A Touch Mortal (Touch Mortal, Book 1) by Leah Clifford
51. The Iron Queen (Iron Fey, Book 3) by Julie Kagawa
52. Perception (Clarity, Book 2) by Kim Harrington
53. Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have)
54. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
55. Personal Demons (Personal Demons, Book 1) by Lisa Desrochers
56. Prelude to a Scandal (Scandal, Book 1) by
57. Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society, Book 2) by Ally Carter
58. Once Upon a Scandal (Scandal, Book 2) by
59. Name of the Wind (Name of the Wind, Book 1) by Patrick Rothfuss
60. Try Me ( ?, Book 2) by Parker Blue
61. Wisdom's Kiss
62. Devil's Kiss (Billi SanGreal, Book 1) by Sarwat Chadda
63. Divergent (Divergent, Book 1) by Veronica Roth
64. When It Happens by Susanne Colasanti
65. Fury (Fury, Book 1) by Elizabeth Miles
66. Night of Surrender (Spindle Cove, Book 1) by Tessa Dare
67. Hammered (Iron Druid, Book 3) by Kevin Hearne
68. All You Desire (Eternal Ones, Book 2) by Kirsten Miller
69. Eon (Eon, Book 1) by Allison Goodman
70. The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn
71. The Pearl Wars (Skyship Academy, Book 1) by Nick A James
72. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
73. Waterfall (River of Time, Book 1) by Lisa. T. Bergen
74. A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley
75. A Game of Thrones (Game of Thrones, Book 1) by George R. R. Martin
76. Kiss of Night
77. Name of the Star (Name of the Star, Book 1) by Maureen Johnson
78. Circle 9
79. Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices, Book 2) by Cassandra Clare
80. The Unwanteds (The Unwanteds, Book 1) by Lisa McMann
81. The Truth of the Matter (Book 3)
82. Once Upon a Winter's Eve (Spindle Cove, Book 1.5) by Tessa Dare
83. Past Perfect by Leila Sales
84. The Fences Between Us
85. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Book 1) by Laini Taylor
86. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
87. Saint Training
88. A Girl Named Mister
89. Variant (Variant, Book 1) by Robison Wells)
90. Nightspell (Mistwood, Book 2) by Leah Cypess
91. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
92. Carter Finally Gets It (Carter, Book 1) by
93. Raw Blue
94. Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
95. Blood Song (Llarmel, Book 1) by Rhiannan Hart
96. When She Woke
97. A Rogue by Any Other Name (Fallen Angels, Book 1) by Sarah MacLean
98. Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith
99. Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick
100. Love & Leftovers
101. Deadly Cool (Deadly Cool, Book 1) by Gemma Halliday
102. The False Princess
103. The Sharp Time
104. The Body Finder (Body Finder, Book 1) by Kimberly Derting

Matched ARC Contest Winner

Sorry for the delay in this announcement....the winner of an ARC of Matched is

Madeline R of Early Nerd Special

Congrats on the win!! I've already mailed the book out to you and it should arrive in a few days. Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone else who entered. More contests are coming so stay tuned.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

It's that time again! I'm so excited for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge! I loved participating in the 2010 Debut Author Challenge and can't wait to start in on the books from 2011. As with this year my goal is going to be 25 books which shouldn't be so hard with so many amazing reads. You can find more information about the 2011 Debut Author Challenge here!

Edited to add: All books that I read for this challenge will be listed on my 2011 Challenge Page here.

My List

Yes...I am aware there are more than 25 books listed but going through the list of 2011 debut titles makes it hard to just pick a few. So here are the list of books that I am most excited to read and my 25 (and probably more) books will come from here.

BOLDED Titles are books I have read, but not reviewed yet.

ITALICIZED Titles are books I own, but have not read yet

•  20 Years Later by E.J. Newman
• A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies
• A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
• A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
• Across the Universe by Beth Revis
• Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
• Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
• Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
• Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sharif
• Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
• Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
• Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley
• Broken Wings by Helen Landalf
• Choker by Elizabeth Woods
• Clarity by Kim Harrington (read in 2010 & will not count towards challenge)
• Countess Nobody by Lynn Bonasia
• The Coven's Daughter by Lucy Jago
• Dark Parties by Sara Grant
• Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
• Dead Rules by Randy Russell
• The Demon Trapper’s Daughter by Jana Oliver
• Die for Me by Amy Plum
• Divergent by Veronica Roth
• The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
• Enclave by Ann Aguirre
• Entwined by Heather Dixon
• Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
• The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
• Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray
• Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
• The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
• Fetching by Kiera Stewart
• Forgotten by Cat Patrick
• Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese
• The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
• The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
• The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
• Haven by Kristi Cook
• Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
• Hereafter by Tara Hudson
• Hourglass by Myra McEntire
• How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain
• Human.4 by Mike Lancaster
• I Am J by Cris Beam
• The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
• Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. by Caissie St. Onge
• Kat the Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
• The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Jamila Stevenson
• Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
• Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
• The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
• Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
• Luminous by Dawn Metcalf
• Memento Nora by Angie Smibert
• Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
• The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill
• The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
• Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle by Crickett Rumley
• Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
• OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy
• Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
• Popular by Alissa Grosso
• Possession by Elana Johnson
• The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner
• Queen of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
• The Returning by Christine Hinwood
• The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
• Rival by Sara Bennett-Wealer
• Saving June by Hannah Harrington
• The Shadows Cast By Stars by Catherine Knutsson
• Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman
• Sister Mischief by Laura Goode
• So Shelly by Ty Roth
• Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
• Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
• Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O’Roark Dowell
• Those That Wake by Jesse Karp
• Timeless by Alexandra Monir
• The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
• Unlocked by Ryan G. Van Cleave
• Vanished by Sheela Chari
• Vesper: A Deviants Novel by Jeff Sampsen
• Vicious Little Darlings by Katherine Easer
• Warped by Maurissa Guibord
• The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
• Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
• Wildefire by Karsten Knight
• Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
• Wither by Lauren DeStefano
• XVI by Julia Karr

North and South Read-a-Long: Week 3 Update

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About the Read-a-Long
Week 1 Update
Week 2 Update

This weeks update covers chapters 21 to 30 of Elizabeth Gaskell's North & South.

One thing that I love about this story is that there is always something happening and if my heart isn't racing then its probably breaking. In these next ten chapters my heart gets pulled through so many different emotions. They start off with a bang and a riot of the millworkers on Marlborough Mills. The same mills that are owned by Mr Thornton which are very near to his house. And of course Margaret chooses that that day to go and visit with Mrs Thornton in order to ask to borrow a water bed for her ill mother. Margaret is still dealing with coming to terms with a new view of the Thornton's and her mother's increasingly poor health that she is all out of sorts on the visit. She is also quite sympathetic to the cause of the millworkers as a result of her friendship with Bessy Higgins.

Margaret also has a heart and a growing conscience that defies class and what should and shouldn't be done. So when she sees the danger that Mr Thornton is in from the rioters she tries to protect him by standing between him & them in the hopes that the workers won't risk hurting a woman. Unfortunately she is injured and those in the Thornton household that see put a more romantic spin on the why because they can't imagine someone doing something so risky just because. Which then leads to a scene that just makes my heart break. when Mr Thornton declares his love for Margaret and asks for her hand. Its such a wonderful scene in the book though because the reader gets to see Mr Thornton's thoughts...this is something that you don't get in the miniseries although Richard Armitage does such an amazing job in this scene as well conveying so much without saying much. Ah...swoon.

And Margaret, dear sweet Margaret, really does know how to crush a soul. It just makes a reader want to cry. Though at the same time you know that she isn't in the same place as Mr Thornton. She'd only really just started to notice him after all. A noticing which does continue in meetings that the two have after the disastrous proposal. Its a good noticing though because I think after Margaret recovers from the events of the riot and the death of her friend and starts to think about what Mr Thornton said she starts to look at him differently. She then also starts to notices elements of his character that she previously overlooked. Only the girl is a bit too stubborn to let him see that....and he's a bit too hurt to try to take too much notice of her....plus there is the added turmoil of her life of the visit from her fugitive brother.

See...more action!

There is just always something happening that as a reader you don't want to stop turning the pages. You just want to stay lost in the world that Elizabeth Gaskell has created. With each turn of the page I fall more and more in love with all the characters in the book. (This includes annoying gossipy Mrs Dixon because really she does change as the book progresses just as everyone else does and I've grown to love her too.) I am also trying really really hard to not watch the mini-series again until after this re-read is done. But I am not sure that I can. Its just such a wonderful book to screen adaptation and yet another way for me to stay within the world. But I will hold off....for now....after all I have more chapters to read!

How are you liking North & South? Leave your comments (or a link to your blog post) below!

North and South Read-a-Long: Week 2 Update

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About the Read-a-Long
Week 1 Update

This weeks update covers chapters 11 to 20 and can i just say these chapters were filled with such tension and happenings! Margaret begins to learn the ways of Milton through her interactions with Bessy Higgins and her father. Both of which are mill workers and Bessy is not in the best of health which further endears her to Margaret. Margaret is also introduced to Mr Thornton's mother and sister who are both at the top of Milton society. The Hale's themselves are still in a bit of limbo when it comes to their status and as a result those in Milton think that they put on airs. 

But because of this limbo like state Margaret is able to socialize with both the Higgin's and the Thornton's and we as readers are able to get a more well rounded view of what is going on in the mills. Its sometimes hard to know which side of the fence you should stand on as both sides seem to have a point. Oh how confusing a time this must be for Margaret!

What I love about these chapters is that this is when Margaret finally starts to see Mr Thornton as more than a trademan. She starts to see him as just a man and is able to have easier conversations with him and maybe...just maybe...starts to fall for him just a little. Although she is still for too prideful to admit that. Mr Thornton, of course, has been attracted to Margaret from the start but he's held himself aloof from her because he understands her Southern ways more than she understands his Northern ones. But in these chapters he too lets down his guard just a little and allows himself to talk freely with Margaret. Oh, they keep there talk to such topics as the strike and not feelings. But it shows something that Mr Thornton acknowledges and respects Margaret's opinion. After all she is just a woman and a foreigner at that and so many other men of Mr Thornton's status would just dismiss her. 

I love reading this book. Every time I open its pages I am sucked into another world. Elizabeth Gaskell is so descriptive that its so easy to visualize the setting. The conversations are so real that you almost feel like you are in the room with the characters. Although this could just be my love and memory of the miniseries coming into play as well.

Are you reading North and South? What do you think about these next 10 chapters? Put your thoughts in the comments below or add a link if you blogged about them.

Shadow Hills Puzzling Paperback Reveal

Hello everyone!

On 10 May 2011, the paperback edition of Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus will be released in stores by EgmontUSA. When it hit shelves it will have a brand new cover, a piece of which I get to reveal to you today. Starting on 08 Nov 2010 pieces of the cover have been appearing on blogs and the full cover will be revealed on Anastasia Hopcus's blog on 20 Nov. Here is the latest piece of the puzzle:

But that's not all...there is also a trivia contest going on where you can win a signed Shadow Hills Poster. There are 12 questions, on 24 different blogs and if you answer them all correctly then you'll be entered to win. All the answers will be revealed on Anastasia's blog on the 20th.

Question #9: What cartoon character does Phe think Brody looks like? (answer in the form below)

Be sure to follow each of the blogs to put the puzzle pieces together and to find the next trivia question.  

For Question #8 please check out the following blogs:
The Serpentine Library
Reading Nook

For Question #10 please check out the following blogs:

Books Out of the Bookshelves
Fictionally Yours

For more information on Anatasia Hopcus click on the links below:
Official Site
Blog
Twitter
Shadow Hills Facebook Page
 
Buy Shadow Hills
Indiebound
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

North and South Read-a-Long: Week 1 Update

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Hello everyone,

Welcome to the week 1 recap of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Unfortunately I don't have much to add here as I've been sick the last several days and haven't been able to focus on reading very much. Currently I am in the middle of Chapter V and I hope to finish it up either later today or tomorrow. It all depends on my ability to focus. (I really hate being sick!) But that is no reason why you shouldn't be able to start sharing your thoughts. I've included a Mr Linky so that those who blog about the first 10 chapters can link to their post. For those that prefer the comments then start commenting! Also be sure to keep checking back here and I'll revise this post once I've finished reading. I'm so sorry to slack off right at the start. Please forgive me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Updated: 11 Nov 2010
Wow...so its taken me longer to get back on my feet than I thought and its been almost a full week since I said I'd try to get my recap in of the first 10 chapters of North and South. I've had the plague (aka the flu) and its just taken a ton out of me. But without further ado here are some of my impressions.

Margaret Hale: She's the main protagonist and Elizabeth Gaskell originally intended on calling the story Margaret Hale but changed it later on at the request of her publishers. I like Margaret she is a strong character if a bit haughty. She judges people a bit too unfairly at times and has an over idealized recollection of Helstrom - the village of her youth. One thing that I love about Margaret though is that she's not afraid to take chances. She'll jump in with both feet when she sees someone in need she'll do what she can to assist. Margaret is a girl adrift. When she was a child she was sent to live in London with her aunt and cousin Edith and learn a whole new way to act. Her life in Helstrom forces her to change her ways again because what one does in the city isn't always what is done in the country. And so when her family moves to Milton - a manufacturing town - she's out of her element and trying to find the proper way to act. And in the process she comes across as cold and uppity as the people in Milton aren't used to southern ways. I also think Margaret's miniseries character is very true to her book persona.

Mr Hale: He's a character that I just want to smack at times. He has strong ideals but lacks something of a back bone at times. When he decides to leave the church and move the family North he takes the cowards way out (in a sense) and has his daughter tell his wife. I've always found this to be a bit low and cowardly of him to put such a burden on his daughter. Of everyone in the family, he settles into Milton the most easily. He is in his element and there are times I wonder if he ever stops to think of the effect all the changes he's made has on his family.

Mrs Hale: She is a lot more annoying in the book than in the movie. She's a frail woman and isn't always the most agreeable in the book. But in the movie she is shown to be a kind woman with a close relationship with her daughter. In the book however, she is prone to little jealousies. She is jealous of the time that Margaret spends with her father. Is hurt that he confides in Margaret and not her - and IMO this is justified. Mrs Hale is even jealous of the time Mr Hale spends with Mr Thornton. I think part of her envies their easy conversation the two men share. Its something that she and her husband don't do anymore. As they've grown older the Hale's seem to have grown apart.

Mr Thornton: Proud. Hardworking. Richard Armitage. (Sorry just had to say it because RA is THE perfect actor for this role.) I love this character both in the book and in the film. Mr Thornton is such a strong, hard working character and I love how he is drawn to Margaret. She isn't like any woman that's he's known before, a mystery. Although because of their different upbringings they often misunderstand each other which results in hurt pride and wounded feelings.

Mrs Dixon - in the movie she's this lovable family servant but I find her much more annoying in the book. She is very gossipy and judgmental of her employers. She is often too free with her words and critics.

One thing I love about the book over the miniseries is the background. There are a lot more details given in the book that really flesh out the story. The miniseries does a good job in bringing the book to life but out of necessity things have to be cut or rearranged to save time. Like the first meeting of Margaret and Mr Thornton is differ in the book and miniseries. While I love their first meeting in the book filled with its subtle nuances and tension. I adore the miniseries version as well - the one that shows Mr Thornton's fiery temper and dedication to safety of his workers. I love the descriptions of the book, Gaskell does such a good job of describe the various places that Margaret has lived - those coupled with the visuals from the miniseries give a very detailed look at the time that Margaret was living in. I really enjoyed the first 10 chapters and look forward to the next ones.

If this is your first time hearing about the read-a-long you can learn more about it here.

Signed Maze Runner & Scorch Trials Winners

The winner of the signed copy of The Maze Runner is: Cynthia M

The winner of the singed copy of The Scorch Trials is: Kristina B of Frazzled Book Nommer

Congrats to you both! I've sent you an email asking for your address. Thanks to everyone else who entered. There is also still time to enter for an ARC of Matched. Click here for details.

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney (Spoilers)

Publisher: Little, Brown Books

Source: BEA 2010

Publication Date: 02 Nov 2010

Series or Standalone: Standalone

ISBN: 0316090530

Format: Paperback (ARC)

Pages: 352

Websites:

Daisy Whitney - Official Site

Daisy Whitney - Blog

Daisy Whitney - Twitter

Place(s) Traveled to: Providence, Rhode Island

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

First Line: Three things I know this second: I have morning breath, I'm naked, and I'm waking up next to a boy I don't know.

**WARNING: THIS REVIEW WILL HAVE SPOILERS SO PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK**

I first heard about The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney at BEA this past May as it was one of the books that people were buzzing about. In the months that followed there was a lot of buzz about it and with each rave comment and review that I saw I became more and more excited to read it. I finally sat down recently to do just that and I thought that the opening chapter was just amazing. I read it and thought....man I am in for a treat. Sadly, the book took a nosedive from that point forward. Which was sad because I really wanted to like this book. 

The first thing that I had issues with was that there was so much TELLING going on. As I read I often felt that Whitney was talking down to me and I didn't like that feeling. I'd much rather be shown the little details. It also felt like there was too much telling to Alex that she was raped by other characters and less of her actually believing it herself. She just sort of sat, listened, and was like OK if that's what you guys think then that's what must have happened. And much of this telling was done by these cloak and dagger means. Secret meetings with her sister and then even more secret meetings with The Mockingbirds (more on them in a few.) Another thing that bothered me was how clueless Alex was. She first learned of the Mockingbirds before she started at Themis Academy as they group was founded by her sister. But other than that she didn't know anything about them. She never cared to learn. So for most of the book every other character had to explain to her the groups history and their reason for being. I know that there had to be someone not in the know, but all the telling got to be old. I wish that Whitney had used several different means to tell the groups history. When Alex decides to go to the Mockingbirds with her case and begin to learn their purpose she then begins to get very upset when others in her school ignore the flyers and other signs of the group. Talk about your pot calling the kettle black.

Then there were the Mockingbirds themselves. On the surface they sound like a good and worthwhile group of students interested in justice and protecting others. When a student is wronged they can have their case tried by a council of their peers. I was part of a student mediation group when I was in high school. Its amazing how well students governing and interacting with students can work. However, that's not what the Mockingbirds turn out to be. Instead if student A brings a case against student B then student B is guilty unless they prove they are innocent. And as they are guilty they have their rights systematically stripped away. Until they are unable to leave campus or have their birthday cake taken away from them. This is done so encourage the accused party to appear and follow the rules of the "court." The Mockingbirds says this is all ok though because if the accused is found innocent then everything that he or she lost gets restored to them afterwards with a few extras to boot. Which is a little too little too late in my book.

Which leads me to the need for the Mockingbirds in the first place. They aren't a group formed by the school, they are a secret society that was formed because the school never seems to notice the bad things that happen. It is very clear from reading this book that Daisy Whitney has no love of privatized institutions. There was a total lack of interest from teachers in this book. As long as the students....or "puppets" as Alex liked to refer to the teachers thoughts on students...so as long as the students preformed well on demand then they were happy. There were many complaints in Alex's inner monologue about her disgust for the adults at her school and many times in which that voice didn't seem like a teen. I've had several friends who attended a boarding school and each always said just how involved the adults were with the students. That many times they acted as surrogate parents. Its usually not until college that teachers and students have that separation. And I think that Whitney was taking her own college experiences and trying to force them into a more young adult sort of setting. The result are situations that just don't ring true. 

The one time that Alex actually trusts an adult much of the conversation is how she was drinking that night, and how as she's underage it was so wrong for her to drink, that she hasn't had a drink since and probably won't drink again. With the adult saying what a wise and mature choice that was since drinking underage is never wise. She then says that Alex must do what she thinks is right and if she doesn't want to report the incident then that is perfectly fine. What adult would say that? What teacher when hearing that a student had been raped would just sit there and do nothing? Not to mention that one of the reasons that Alex said she didn't want to report the rape was because her parents would pull her out of Themis and send her to a different school. Again this book just lacked a sense of reality and believability.

Another thing that never felt real was the dialogue. It was always so stilted and disjointed and told woodenly by characters that never came to life for me. The only one I ever felt anything for was Alex and that was more annoyance than anything else as I was stuck having to listen to her inner monologue for the entire book. I think that this may have been a story that was told better using multiple points of view. The Mockingbirds wasn't all bad though I did think that the flashback scenes were done well. They were believable (although that wasn't always the case for the triggers) and made you really feel for what happened to Alex. I would have liked to have had them appear with a quicker frequency though then they did. If they had then there would have been less need for Alex to be told what had happened to her. 

I managed to finish The Mockingbirds but it was a struggle of will. Normally this would have been a book that would land on the Did Not Finish pile. The only thing that really kept me reading was that The Mockingbirds was part of The Contemps Challenge. That and the few people that I talked with as I read told me to keep reading as it got better. Sadly, it just was never meant to be. I should be clear though the issues that I have with this book have nothing to do with Alex being raped. I felt for her because she went through that. My issues were all the details that occurred after that event. Especially the Mockingbirds. I do not like their sense of "justice"and as a result I find that this is not a book that I can recommend.

Opinions other than mine that you might like better

The Book Cellar - 5 stars

Amy Reads - 5 stars

Bookalicious - 3.5 stars

Book Trailer Monday (54): Breathless Reads

Book Trailer Monday is where once a week I feature a trailer for a book that has captured my attention. This trailer might be for a book that is about to be published, or maybe its for a book that has already been released. There won't be any rhyme or reason to the trailer that I choose....the only common denominator will be that I liked it. That it made me stop or made me think or maybe it made me laugh. I do this mainly for my own enjoyment because I love book trailers. I find them fascinating and I hope that you enjoy the ones that I show here each week as well.

This weeks trailer is for the Penguin 5 books by the Penguin Group: The Eternal Ones, Matched, The Replacement, Sapphique, and Nightshade. I first saw this trailer by accident before it was officially released and fell in love with it. Its short but it just really grabbed my attention....and the song....the song is just perfect.  This is just one of those trailers that I can watch over and over. Now to find time to read the books - all of which have been sitting on Mt TBR for far too long! Have you read the Penguin 5? Which was your favorite?




What did you think of this weeks selection? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

If you know of a book trailer that you would like to see featured on Book Trailer Monday then please send me an email with a link to irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com.