Top Ten Tuesday: Character Switch

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and today's topic is which characters you'd like to swap places with for 24 hours.  I had a hard time at first, but when I remembered that only 24 hours meant I didn't have to experience some of the less awesome stuff, I was able to decide.

Hermione of Harry Potter
I think I'd like to experience Hogwarts, but definitely not in some of the later books.  Early on, for sure.

Elizabeth Bennett of Pride and Prejudice
I do tend to adore Jane Austen and though Persuasion is my favorite, I think Lizzy doesn't have quite as sad of an experience through most of the book.  Of course, I'd want that 24 hours to correspond with when she and Darcy finally come to an understanding :)

Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables 
Oh, Anne.  I seriously have wanted to be you for a long time and I would definitely love to finally be you right when you finally figure out you do love Gilbert (and he still loves you, of course).


Amy of Across the Universe
So, things aren't exactly awesome for her, but I'd pick 24 hours of when she actually gets to see what's outside the ship.  Traveling in space?  Yes, please.

Kendra of Fablehaven
Definitely Fablehaven is an awesome place to hang out (most of the time), I'd probably want to be her for when the stuff with the fairies happen (in case anyone hasn't read it, don't want to spoil it for you).

Cammie of Gallagher Girls
Preferably not when someone is trying to kill her, but when she's doing something cool and spy-like. Who doesn't secretly want to be a spy?

Flavia of Flavia de Luce books
Smart, sassy, and totally a genius when it comes to solving mysteries (and torturing her older sisters), I'd definitely want a chance to feel the smart juices in my veins.

Cassia of Matched
Probably only during the sweet times of sneaking poetry with Ky and not when everything seems to fall apart :)

Mary of The Agency
All right, this is honestly just for James.  He's so hot!  Anytime they are on good terms with one another, preferably.

Cinder of the Lunar Chronicles
Never been a cyborg before and her Prince Kai is pretty darn cute.  I'll take the good times, please.

As you can see, I would totally pick and choose exactly when I got to be them, since I don't need to have any of their problems, thank you.

Who would you want to trade places with?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Dune Read-Along, Book 3 Discussion

Credit: Jenni Elyse

Watch out for major spoilers ahead!!

1. What is your reaction to finally learning the identity of Princess Irulan? Do you think that her convention added to the story?
I actually felt pretty sorry for her at the end. It was interesting to try to figure out who she was and why she had written so much about Paul, but I thought she got the short end of the stick there, and wasn't quite sure she deserved it.

2. Were you satisfied with the ending? For those reading for the first time, was it what you expected?
I guess I feel pretty satisfied with the ending, though it obviously leaves a lot of room open for the next books. I wish we'd gotten maybe a bit more about the jihad Paul kept talking about and more Alia and Paul's son Kept too (those events felt kind of incomplete and rushed over). But no cliffhanger, so I can read the next books if and when I want to.

3. On both Arrakis and Salusa Secundus, ecology plays a major role in shaping both characters and the story itself. Was this convincing? Do you think that Paul would have gone through with his threat to destroy the spice, knowing what it would mean for Arrakis?
I thought the idea of a harsh environment giving rise to strong, tough characters was completely realistic! It's kind of a bit like kids who grow up working hard, maybe on a farm, versus those who had everything handed to them. There are definite differences in the strength and abilities of people like that. I think Paul meant his threat, but knew there was no way he would have to follow through. It was a good call for him, but would have made for a pretty crummy end.

4. Both Leto and Paul made their decisions on marriage for political reasons. Do you agree with their choices?
I don't know that I agree necessarily, though as I mentioned, I felt pretty bad for Princess Irulan for her role. I can see how his choice seemed inevitable and could be considered the "right" one, but I wish for more following of heart in all cases :)

5. What was your favorite part in this section of the book?
I'm just glad we finally saw some action! Boy it felt like a long build-up to anything actually happening. It was pretty awesome to see Alia get some action and the fight scenes were pretty good to finally get to see. Also, the worm riding was pretty cool, if somewhat creepy.

6. Herbert used the word “jihad” on a number of occasions. What do you think of Herbert’s message about religion and politics?
Well, to be honest, I wasn't sure what that message was. Paul was definitely worried about his power to inspire people and where it might lead, but also didn't hold back when the manipulation suited him. The Bene Gesserit were a whole different breed of creepy and controlling and doing things for their own purposes. And yet, at the end, they all figured it was inevitable the Fremen who,d be fanatical about their leader. It was cautionary, I guess, but pretty subtly so.

What are your thoughts about the book? For those who adored it, what makes you love it so much and recommend it to people?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Macmillan (Henry Holt)
Publication date: June 2012
Pages: 368
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: Grisha Trilogy, Book 1

Alina and Mal have grown up together, orphans, with nothing but each other. But when the two are sent on a dangerous mission to the Shadow Fold, Alina suddenly finds herself shoved into the spotlight, with powers she never dreamed she had. Pulled from everything she knew before, in the lap of luxury, and at the side of the mysterious Darkling, Alina will discover just how much power she has.

Things I Liked:
I fell completely in love with the gorgeous setting.  I loved the details and the uniqueness (maybe I need to read more Eastern European inspired books) and just how well the story fit into the setting.  I think these are the true details that set this fantasy apart from others I've read.  I loved the imagination in creating the magic system and especially the Shadow Fold.  I did like Alina, though sometimes I was annoyed by her inability to decide sometimes what she wanted or recognizing that she was actually pretty cool (which, you know, is how a lot of us feel).  I did feel invested in how she was going to get out of her situation.  I was more intrigued by Genya, because she seemed complicated and more interesting to me.  I kind of want to hear more about her in the next books.

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, the story was pretty predictable.  I knew almost from the start how things would work out.  Though, to be fair, the very end was somewhat unexpected.  I think what contributed to this was that the story is very familiar.  The arc of the story wasn't exactly original, and the romantic plot was obvious from the start as well.  As I mentioned, the details and some characters kept me intrigued and invested in the story, but the actual plot was lacking for me.  These failings, however, did not prevent me from devouring that ending, reveling in the beautiful details, and overall enjoying this book.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of Chalice by Robin McKinley
Perhaps The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson too

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few here and there

mrg-factor: X
one rather steamy scene

v-factor: ->->
a couple of parts, mostly not described on page

Overall rating: ****

What are your feelings about this one?  

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielsen

Heaven Is Here: An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph, and Everyday Joy by Stephanie Nielsen
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication date: April 2012
Pages: 320
Source: Library
For: Because I read her blog

When Stephanie Nielsen and her husband and friend were in a horrific plane crash, she had no idea just how much her life would change. But finding her way in life post-crash, while it has its ups and downs, has helped her focus on those small things, those beautiful details in life that she can cherish because she knows just how close she was to losing them.

Things I Liked:
What an absolutely riveting, amazing, powerful, heart-wrenching, hopeful, and every emotion in between story.  I have been a reader of NieNie Dialogues for a few years now, but I think I didn't start reading her blog until after her accident.  I remember some of the brave and amazing and overwhelmingly difficult things she talked about and I was completely blown away by all she didn't talk about (but which you can discover in this book).  Her experiences are amazing, but what really shines is her ability, with the help of God, her husband, children, family, and friends, to overcome the mountains of challenges she faces.  I think it can be enjoyed by those who are LDS (or Mormon) like me and those who are not, just as her blog is enjoyed by both.  I loved the evolution of how she views herself, especially in regards to physical appearance.  It is easy to say that appearance doesn't matter when we are pretty, but it is even harder after you've experienced being different than everyone else.  Just a wonderful story made all the more powerful because it is true.

Things I Didn't Like:
It was a bit hard for me to read about her experiences so soon after my nephew's passing, but it also brought some comfort, seeing her family gather around her and support her and hearing how she was able to overcome her challenges.  The writing is not great, but I think it makes up for that in honesty.  I highly recommend this one to anyone who is feeling sorry for themselves or needs a boost of morale to keep going in difficult times. 

Read-alikes:
Reminds me of books like Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and even The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
 
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
(that I recall)

mrg-factor: X
some references to her relationship with her husband

v-factor: ->
not violence exactly, but the crash was pretty horrific and those parts can be disturbing

Overall rating: *****

How do you feel about inspirational memoirs?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date: February 2012
Pages: 320
Source: Library
For: Fun

Auggie has been in special schools since he started school, so when his parents decide to integrate him into a regular school in 5th grade, he is understandably nervous.  Having been born with a severe facial deformity, fitting in has not been something Auggie naturally does.  All Auggie wants now is to lead a regular 5th grade life, but can the kids at Beecher Prep accept him as he is, see past his unusual face?  

Things I Liked:
This really is a powerful book - a book that talks about hard things like bullying and doesn't seem to be too preachy and lame.  I think this will make a fantastic read-aloud for middle grade readers.  In fact, while I was reading it, my 12-year-old niece told me her teacher read the book to them and she really liked it.  It teaches hard lessons and shows the lessons from many different perspectives, all while feeling very natural.  I like how there aren't perfect people in the story - even those who are kind to Auggie make stupid decisions and aren't always able to look past his face.  I think it helped me to see that people who look different know that they do, they expect all of the reactions they get (because they've seen them all), and we need to get over it and see who people are underneath.  Kids can be cruel, but kids can be so kind too.  A sweet story that packs a punch.  And you can't help but love Auggie, who deals with so much, but with such grace.

Things I Didn't Like:
After all the raving, I expected there to be something a bit more, you know?  Something big and crazy that happens.  Instead, I get this quiet book with a message that doesn't exactly sneak up on you, but doesn't whack you upside the head either.  Quiet messages like be a bit more patient when people annoy you, etc.  Not exactly what I thought it would be. Better.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper
 
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
not really violence, but bullying

Overall rating: *****

If you haven't read this one, get on it!  Everyone should get a chance to experience it.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Not So Bookish, If You Please

So today, friends, I decided I didn't want to post anything bookish.  No book reviews or lists or Name That Books (sorry) or books I want to read or anything like that.  Today, I decided to show you a little bit of our home improvement.  Since we bought our home in March, we've been slowly (very slowly) working on some projects.  First was getting in the wood/laminate flooring and then I decided to refinish the kitchen cabinets.  Wow, that one took a long time (what with the sanding and the varnishing and the finish on top, oh how naive I was about the time involved).  But I'm pretty proud of them, so I thought I'd give you a look at the finished project.  Enjoy!  I'm sure I'll have something more bookish for you tomorrow :)

This one was back when I had the bottom finished, but hadn't started on the top.  Our kitchen looked like this for longer than I wanted...

And those two give you a more complete view of what changes took place (you can see our newer floor too...sort of).  Either way, I'm much happier with the color and it goes much better with the counters and the floor.  And I'm happiest that the project is done...at least until I want to put some hardware on them :)

Do you like doing home improvement projects yourself or hiring someone to do it for you?

Dune Read-Along, Book 2 Discussion

Credit: Jenni Elyse

Watch for major spoilers!!

1. Was Liet’s identity a surprise? Who do you think he really works for?
Um, yes.  I really didn't suspect Liet was anyone we had met before. As far as who he really works for, I got the impression he worked for the planet, what would be best for it and not just one person or group.

2. What do you think of the Fremen culture? is this a culture you think you’d enjoy spending some time with?
What I really love about them is how complete it feels. Herbert really went all out to create this whole complex society and culture. I love how water really is currency, how what is most important to them is literally worth the most. Everything they do and say is steeped in the knowledge of how much water means to them. I think it would be interesting to spend time with them, but I don't know if I'd survive on Arrakis. It's plenty hot and dry for me here in Arizona!

3. What do you think of Count Fenring’s unusual verbal mannerisms?
Mostly I found them annoying while reading. I had a hard time imagining how it would sound. I did like how he and his wife often weren't afraid of saying exactly what they wanted to. Cunning, but annoying too.

4. This is a far future empire with very little in the way of computerization. Information is often passed down orally, and schools (such as the Mentats and the Bene Gesserit) have formed to train young people in memorization and information processing. What are you thoughts on a scifi story that is very “low-tech”? Does that sound like a feasible future? A ridiculous one?
I actually really like the low-tech details. I think there is just enough advanced tech that matters in the worlds where they exist to be believable. But I really think that our future doesn't have to be as steeped in electronic technology as it is now. It is a nice balance between what is past and what may come. I hope oral history never disappears completely!

5. If you found the beginning of the book tough to get into, do you find that you’re having an easier time with the middle portion, now that all the “set-up” is complete?
I definitely don't feel as confused and annoyed as I did before. I am still having a hard time now and then getting into the story, especially when the really weird trippy things happen, but I don't feel lost or overwhelmed by strange words and phrases.

6. The center portion of the book is still pretty dialog heavy, but what I’ve noticed is the subtlety of the dialog. Things left unsaid are often more important than things that are said. What do you think of that as a stylistic choice? does it make the dialog more interesting? less interesting?
There is a lot of double meaning and things unspoken but implied in the dialog. I find it requires me to pay more attention to what I said and focus more. Sometimes it works and sometimes I just don't catch the other meanings. I am not sure it is more or less interesting, but just more subtle.

7. Dune was written in the 60′s. Does it feel dated to you? How does it compare, writing style-wise, to more contemporary science fiction you’ve read?
Actually it doesn't feel really dated, though occasionally I will think a tech detail sounds odd. I'm not sure I read enough true sci-fi to compare it with contemporary stuff. I do find myself slightly annoyed with some of the writing style choices, but I don't think it's because of when it was written so much as how it was written. Amazing how well this one holds up, perhaps because it is light on technology.

8. If you’ve never read this book before, where do you think the storyline is headed?
You know, I'm really not 100% sure, but I think it will follow Paul to the point where he becomes the prophet or leader or savior or whatever they think he will be among the Fremen. His rise to power and struggle with that future he sees but doesn't want too.

What are your thoughts on these questions?

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Book Review: The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: April 2012
Pages: 352
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: The Ascendance Trilogy, Book 1

Sage was pulled from an obscure orphanage to be part of a sinister plot to place a puppet prince on the throne of the kingdom.  Forced to play a dangerous game and learn everything he needs to become the false prince, Sage struggles to perform.  Especially because there are three other contenders for the position and those not chosen won't survive.

Things I Liked:
Sage had me from the beginning.  I'm not entirely sure why, because I felt like I couldn't figure him out - he was enigmatic.  That might be part of it.  I know a big part of why I liked him was he reminded me of Eugenedes from The Queen's Thief series.  I love intrigue and political machinations and all kinds of stories like this, so I expected to like this one.  And I did.  I liked seeing how little clues placed here and there led to the logical explanations near the end.  While I found the ending strangely unsatisfying, I still couldn't keep myself from being immersed in the kingdom and the history and Sage.  Definitely a character and story I'll be thinking about for a long time.

Things I Didn't Like:
I guessed a big plot reveal in advance.  Mind you, I wasn't 100% certain, but I thought it sounded pretty good and all points were leading there.  There were still surprises and some things I didn't expect, so I wasn't truly bothered.  As I mentioned before, the ending sort of disappointed me.  I'm still not quite sure why, but it felt very quick and the way things worked out pretty easily felt kind of like a cop out after all that building.  And yet, I still really loved it.  Now I'm intrigued where the series will go, because the ending seemed so complete.

Read-alikes:
The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner
Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
 
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none 
that I recall

mrg-factor: X
some vague references, nothing on page

v-factor: ->
an incident or two, but not graphic

Overall rating: ****

What's your favorite political intrigue book?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Discussion Questions for Dune Read-Along, Part II

Credit: Jenni Elyse

Can you believe it's week two?  I'm behind in my reading already :)  Here are the questions (again, courtesy of Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings) for this week's reading.  Post your answers on Saturday, July 21st, or before/after as you prefer.  I will have the linky for your posts up on Saturday. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out the Dune Read-Along intro post. Warning: the question might contain spoilers if you haven't read the book!

1. Was Liet’s identity a surprise? who do you think he really works for?

2. What do you think of the Fremen culture? is this a culture you think you’d enjoy spending some time with?

3. What do you think of Count Fenring’s unusual verbal mannerisms?

4. This is a far future empire with very little in the way of computerization. Information is often passed down orally, and schools (such as the Mentats and the Bene Gesserit) have formed to train young people in memorization and information processing. What are you thoughts on a scifi story that is very “low-tech”? Does that sound like a feasible future? a ridiculous one?

5. If you found the beginning of the book tough to get into, do you find that you’re having an easier time with the middle portion, now that all the “set-up” is complete?

6. The center portion of the book is still pretty dialog heavy, but what I’ve noticed is the subtlety of the dialog. Things left unsaid are often more important than things that are said. What do you think of that as a stylistic choice? does it make the dialog more interesting? less interesting?

7. Dune was written in the 60′s. Does it feel dated to you? How does it compare, writing style-wise, to more contemporary science fiction you’ve read?

8. If you’ve never read this book before, where do you think the storyline is headed?

How are you doing in the read-along?  Making any progress?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Publication date: May 2012
Pages: 215
Source: ARC from ALA
For: Review

Prairie, who has been homeschool for all her 10 years, suddenly finds herself in a new town and without her grandma. Worse, she's got to go to public school and she's about to find out that it's not all that fun. Until she meets her best friend Ivy.  And even if she feels like a fish out of water, raising chickens and wanting to be outside instead of at school, she has at least one friend. 

Things I Liked:
I loved sweet Prairie and the way she hated change and couldn't see how things would work out, but then they did.  I loved when she would say things and then how she learned not to say things.  I loved watching her grow, listening to her voice, seeing her life changing in unexpected ways.  This book tugged a little on my heartstrings, but even more made me feel nostalgic for my childhood.  A sweet coming-of-age story of a young girl just beginning to understand life.

Things I Didn't Like:
Everything did wrap up pretty neatly, at least for Prairie, but not necessarily for Ivy.  Otherwise, it was just a short, sweet middle grade novel for fans of Little House on the Prairie or other small town stories.

Read-alikes:
Sort of a bit like Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Reminded me of a younger Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell 
Maybe like a younger Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker too

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Listless Monday: Setting Edition

Listless Monday was inspired by both Amanda at A Bookshelf Monstrosity's feature Books by Theme and Court at Once Upon a Bookshelf's Listed feature. Be sure to check out their lists!

It's been much too long since I've done a Listless Monday post and it's long overdue.  I've been thinking about this particular topic for a while too, since I simply love books with a big sense of setting.  When the place or location plays almost as important a part as a character.  Or just when it stands out as a specific part of the book.  I especially wanted to include futuristic stories where we get a glimpse of the bones of our familiar places with new aspects covering the surface.  So, here's a sample of books I could think of.  As always, I welcome your suggestions.

Setting!

Legend by Marie Lu (future LA)
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (future San Francisco)
Divergent by Veronica Roth (future Chicago)
Vixen by Jillian Larkin (past Chicago)
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin (future NY)
Partials by Dan Wells (future NY)
The Luxe series by Anna Godberson (past NY)
Bright Young Things by Anna Godberson (past NY)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (past New England)
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi (future Gulf Coast area)
Ruined by Paula Morris (New Orleans)
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (South Carolina)
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley (Arkansas)
Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker (Kentucky)
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson (past Montana)
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (Wisconsin)
Crossed by Ally Condie (future Southern Utah)
Cinder by Marissa Meyer (future Beijing)
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (alternate past England and Europe) (suggested by Megan)
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (future America) (suggested by Megan)
The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith (alternate/fantasy England) (suggested by Megan)

Any suggestions?

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Dune Read-Along, Book 1 Discussion

Credit: Jenni Elyse

Yeah!  We made it to the first discussion questions!  Hopefully you all managed to read Book 1 of Dune and answer the following questions.  Feel free to discuss these and other things in the comments.  Beware that there are spoilers for Book 1, but please avoid spoiling anything beyond that as many of us have never read Dune before.  Leave your links for Dune discussions and any other Dune-y posts you so desire below too. If you fall behind, no worries, keep reading at your pace and posting answers when you can.

1. What, if any, preconceived ideas did you have before you started reading Dune and how has the first section measured up to those preconceptions?
Well, I didn't have many ideas of what this book would be like except long and complicated, as many sci-fi sagas tend to be.  So far, it is living up to both of those expectations.  It was a bit hard to adjust myself to the new world and new terminology, but I think after about 40-50 pages I was immersed.

2. What did you think about the plot device of the early revelation that Yueh was to be the traitor?
I was surprised at first, but after seeing it over and over, I was a bit tired of it.  I mostly just wanted to get that traitor stuff over with and see what happened after.  An interesting way to go about telling a story, spoiling part of it so early, but I still had plenty of mysterious stuff to keep me guessing.

3. What was your favorite part of this first section? Which character(s) do you find most interesting and why?
I loved the first interaction they had with a worm - not something one can easily forget, an experience with a giant worm.  I really love Jessica and Paul the most.  I think they are both so much more than they appear and I love seeing their thoughts and what they can see in people without having those people even know.  Extra perceptions always intrigue me and these two have them in abundance.

4. Did the revelation about the Harkonnen surprise you?
Big time! I did not see that one coming! (I'm referring to the surprise regarding Jessica.) So not what I would have suspected and I am not exactly sure where it will go next, which is how I like my stories :)

5. Finally, please share some overall thoughts on this first section of the book. Are you finding it difficult to follow? Easy to understand? Engaging? Boring? Just share what you are thinking thus far.
Well, as I mentioned a little, I was completely thrown off for the first 40-50 pages, totally lost with all the weird names and phrases tossed about like I should know what was going on.  After I finally got it together enough and having some explanations given, I felt like I was joining the world, not just looking in from outside.  The story was slow to start too, but I feel like it's picking up and the momentum is beginning to build.  Definitely I can see how this book has made such an impact and has such a huge following.

What are your thoughts so far?

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Book Review: Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
Publisher: Disney/Hyperion
Publication date: March 2012
Pages: 304
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: Gallagher Girls, Book 5

When Cammie wakes up in a remote convent far from home, she is understandably confused. But, when she discovers she's forgotten the last several months of her life, confused doesn't begin to cover it. Chased and possibly caught by the Circle of Cavan, facing hostile friends she left behind, unsure of what she said and did, Cammie wants desperately to remember what she did. But there are some who don't want her to remember. At any cost.

Things I Liked:
My opinion of this series has certainly changed over the course of the books.  For the better.  It's evolved, for me, from fluff to substance, I think.  I'm always swept away in the exciting spy-packed stories from this series, but this one was particularly interesting.  It's darker and more sinister than previous books.  But, it also still has the humor and fun of the others too.  I loved watching Cammie try to unravel her summer and also unravel who she is and what she wants.  It had plenty of surprises, fun twists, and action scenes.  Plus, what person doesn't secretly want to be a spy and go on missions to fabulous foreign lands? 

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit that even more than usually in this series, I had to suspend my belief.  Most of this came at the end, but still.  And I did see some of the twists coming, but not everything.  I kinda wish we had gotten a little more of the story progressing than we did, but I'll be interested to see what happens in the next book. 

Read-alikes:
Read the first four Gallagher Girls books first
Heist Society series by Ally Carter


BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: ! 
maybe one or two...

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
I did mention it was a bit darker, right?  Also a bit more violent.

Overall rating: ****

Guess I don't read a lot of spy books.  Any other read-alikes you guys can think of?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Starters by Lissa Price

Starters by Lissa Price
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication date: March 2012
Pages: 352
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review, Debut Author Challenge, Dystopian Challenge
Series: Starters, Book 1

In a world trying to recover from a seriously decimated population, Callie and her little brother are trying to survive without their parents. But when Callie's brother gets ill, she must take a huge risk to earn some money - lend out her body to Enders, older people who survived the virus. When something goes wrong and Callie wakes up in the middle of the rental, she discovers not everything is going according to plan.

Things I Liked:
This book really had an awesome idea and the realization of it was fast-paced and exciting - and surprising.  I loved watching Callie try to figure out what was going on and how to get herself out of difficult situations that she didn't even get herself into.  I was truly surprised at where the story took us, which I haven't been able to say about a book for a while now.  I did not expect the twists that the story took.  And now I'm eager to see what Price has in store for us in Enders.

Things I Didn't Like:
I had a hard time getting into the beginning of the story.  Despite the interesting premise, there were some definite flaws in the set-up, notably that everybody between certain ages all died.  It seemed a little convenient.  Also the idea that all old people were pretty much obsessed with living forever or living in a young person's body and hating all the younger kids was a bit much to swallow.  The ending totally gripped me, though, and I loved where she took it.  Despite these issues, I'll be getting my hands quickly on the next book.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of the Chemical Garden series by Lauren DeStefano
And maybe a bit like Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few, not many

mrg-factor: none
that I recall

v-factor: ->
some fighting

Overall rating: ****

Are you generally wowed enough by an ending or story to overlook some world-building issues?

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Discussion Questions for Dune Read-Along, Part 1

Credit: Jenni Elyse

Here are the questions (courtesy of Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings) for this week's reading.  We are posting our answers on Saturday, July 14th, but you are welcome to do it before if you want.  I will have the linky for your posts up on Saturday. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out the Dune Read-Along intro post.  I'm posting them now so you can kind of keep these in mind while you're reading:

1. What, if any, preconceived ideas did you have before you started reading Dune and how has the first section measured up to those preconceptions?
(Alternate Question for those who’ve read the book: Did you see anything in this first section of the book that either you hadn’t seen before or that you had forgotten about, anything that stood out to you?

2. What did you think about the plot device of the early revelation that Yueh was to be the traitor?

3. What was your favorite part of this first section? Which character(s) do you find most interesting and why?

4. Did the revelation about the Harkonnen surprise you?

5. Finally, please share some overall thoughts on this first section of the book. Are you finding it difficult to follow? Easy to understand? Engaging? Boring? Just share what you are thinking thus far.

Can't wait to discuss all this on Saturday (um, I better get reading, though, as I'm only about 50 pages in).

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Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and today's topic is a freebie.  I'm kind of glad, because I started one of the Top Ten Tuesday topics a while ago and never ended up finishing it.  So, I'm going to now present you with my Top Ten Good Beach Reads.  I have to admit, I'm not much of a beach person, more of a mountain kind of girl.  However, I like to relax on a summer's evening, so that's more of what I considered.  I figured I'd throw in some obvious ones and some that you may not think of as "beach" reads.

Summer series by Jenny Han
-Well, duh.  This is a summery series about vacations to the beach.  It is definitely perfect for relaxing by the water.

Shug by Jenny Han
-This one seems more like a perfect summer read.  It reminds me of summers when I was a tween and I get all nostalgic thinking of how wonderful those days were.

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
-I think this one is perfect for a quick, fun, happy read.  You pick this one up, laugh throughout, and come out feeling happy about it.  A great one to read with your kids especially!

Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter
-All of these books are quick reads too and they entertain like nothing else.  Spy action and teenage drama - a perfect mix.

Tuesdays at the Castle Jessica Day George
-This one is another fun middle grade.  I think it's perfect for relaxing into a sweet fantasy.  Makes an awesome read-aloud.

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale 
-Summer wouldn't be complete without a fun mystery novel.  This one delivers on both points and can be quickly devoured in one day.
 

Blood Red Road by Moira Young
-If you are looking for a dystopian something that will engross you, this one will capture your attention and keep you entertained all the way through.  And you won't forget the characters for a long time.

He's So/She's So series by Kieran Scott
-If you are looking for something that is full of gossipy, back-biting, teenage angsty - this series will not disappoint you.  They are short and engrossing and you can appreciate your much simpler life when you are done :)

Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
-Quick, entertaining, and always jam-packed with adventures, this series will occupy you all week at the beach and it will definitely occupy your tween boys too.

Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer
Have I talked about this one enough yet?  No?  Well, these books will surely provide you with absolute entertainment.  And in case you hadn't heard yet, the audiobooks will keep you laughing for hours.

What are your beach reads?

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AND Go! Dune Read-Along Starts...Yesterday

Credit: Jenni Elyse

Hey!  I'm starting to see a pattern of lateness here in my blogging.  Ah, well.  I'm posting a day late (and probably a dollar short too, but that's another story).  Yesterday was the official start of the Dune Read-along!  We are reading Book 1 this first week and posting answers to the discussion questions (which, I will get up probably around Wednesday this week) on Saturday.  For more information and the schedule, check out this Dune Read-along post.  If you're joining in (or just want to follow along) get yourself geared up for the world of Dune!  I'll have a linky up soon where you can drop any Dune-related posts you put up this week - I promise!

And thanks to Jenni Elyse for the fantastic button. 

Dune forward folks!

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Classic Double Challenge: July

And once again, I find myself dreadfully behind and not just in reading for this challenge, but in the monthly post about it. I'm on vacation, so that's my excuse. I hope you are all doing a bit better on this challenge than I am, though I did get my Persuasion retelling, so I hope to read that pair this month. The monthly winner for June was Suey! I'll get something bookish on its way to you soon!

And I can't even muster up a good question for this post either. I blame it on vacation brain. Hope you all had a lovely 4th of July and I'll see y'all next week for the Dune read-along.

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My ALA Experience

So, it's a week later, but here's a bit about my first experience at ALA annual.  I definitely hope next time I go, I will be able to afford events and go to session to learn stuff.  Crossing my fingers!

I managed to completely miss all the Friday events I was hoping to attend, mostly because we didn't leave San Diego in time and ran into awesome traffic.  I was disappointed not to meet Rae Carson, not to attend the infamous Little, Brown dance party, and to miss the Middle Grade meet-up too.  Still, by Saturday I was ready to go.

Here's what the convention center looks like from the front:

The front sign - so thrilling.

I just loved these beautiful flowers that are everywhere in Anaheim (and San Diego too, we spent a few days there with some friends).

The palm-lined pathway to the exhibit halls.

I was a bit nervous about the line forming to enter the hall.  This picture was taken fairly early on, before even more hoards arrived and didn't really form any kind of line.  It is true, entering the halls was very much like Black Friday shopping.  I avoid that like the plague, so this was intense for me.

I enjoyed trying to walk slowly and taking in the experience, though it was rather crowded and hectic at times.  I also really enjoyed seeing Captain Underpants (and other book characters), who always managed to get a smile from me as he (or she) tried to maneuver around in that suit.

I know there's been a lot of chat about ALA and bloggers and librarians.  I feel like my opinion isn't much of one.  I do wish more librarians were able to get on the floor.  Especially the ones who want to, but have many other obligations and interests.  I do feel unhappy that publishers often are out of ARCs by the time some librarians make it to the floor.  That's a real problem and I can't say that I know of a solution.  I'm both librarian and blogger, though I am currently an academic librarian, not necessarily by choice.  If my work had decided to pay for my trip, you can bet I'd have spent a lot more time working with academic presses and vendors.  But my visit was more for myself and my blogging and a hopeful future career in children's services.  Don't know if that makes me partly to blame for whatever needs blaming, but anywho...

I was very happy to be able to meet Marie Lu and get Legend and Prodigy signed.  I'm not the best at taking photos (with my phone), so this nice shot was courtesy of a lovely school librarian, Jaime, who I got to chat with while in line.  Meeting librarians and bloggers and authors was a highlight for me.

Speaking of which, I was thrilled beyond reason to meet Susan Cooper, though I said very little and tried not to fawn over her.  She signed The Dark is Rising and King of Shadows (which I haven't read) for me.  I really wish I'd been able to attend the Margaret A. Edwards award luncheon to hear her speak too.

I did manage to take a photo of the longest line I stood in.  This was (part of) the line for Neal Shusterman.  He had a number of signings, but this one was where we could get UnWholly signed and it was quite impressive.  I met a few other fun librarians here too.  Names, alas, are another thing I'm not good at.

Without photos, unfortunately, I also got my Daughter of Smoke and Bone signed by Laini Taylor.  Still love her pink hair.  And This Dark Endeavor and Such Wicked Intent I got signed by Kenneth Oppel.  I kinda wish I'd brought my copy of Airborn.

After a few hours, I managed to meet up with and trail after Danielle from There's a Book (and her kind husband) and Amy of My Friend Amy.  They are so nice!  For some reason, I feel intimidated meeting people I admire, but they made me feel right at ease.  I also met Megan of Posey Sessions briefly as well - so. much. energy!  They invited me to dinner with them, where we met up with author Laura Harrington, whose book, Alice Bliss, I have yet to read but am now intrigued about.

Danielle, Amy, me

Danielle, Amy, me, Laura

After that, my husband and I dropped by Downtown Disney, but ended up too tired to go to the YA Blogger Meet-Up (seriously, I'm lame) and drove back to San Diego that night.

And, because I want to share this, here are the books I got.  A few I purchased, most I didn't.  I thought I did well at saying no or skipping ones I wasn't interested in.  I carried all of them around with me on my back and shoulders, so I thought every one of them through. I love those tote bags. :) 

So, that's it!  My first ALA experience and may it not be the last.

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