BBAW Day 5: Goodbye For Now

Today's BBAW topic is the last for this year: what did you get from this week?  Today's post is going to be the shortest one yet.  What can I say?  It's Friday.  It's been a great week and I've really got three things I've learned from this year's celebration:

1. The book blogging world is enormous and while it can be super overwhelming at times (how will I ever get to know anyone), I can start by just visiting a new blog or two.

2. There are so many great books that I will never get a chance to read.  It's ok.  But that doesn't mean I can't try :)

3.  Book blogging is still fun!  Keep doing it.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this week and for all the new blog friends (and books) I've been introduced to.  Special thanks to Amy, for putting in the work to make BBAW happen again this year.

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

BBAW Day 4: Overlooked Books

Today's BBAW topic is showing off our favorite overlooked books.  Since I couldn't bring myself to only showcase one book I loved that deserves more attention, I went for an even ten.  Consider this a little bonus Top Ten Tuesday.  Each of these books holds a special place in my heart (oh, the cheese - but it's true), so I urge you to give ate least one of these a shot sometime.

MG Fantasy (sometimes all MG fantasy seems woefully overlooked)
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby 
Well-plotted and totally atmospheric story that will leave you shivering (no, really, it's very cold-inducing).

The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge
Deliciously complex with a setting so vivid you'll feel like you dropped into a volcano.

The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel
Beautifully written with complicated characters and enough action to satisfy any.

Dreamdark books by Laini Taylor
Yes, that Laini Taylor - her Dreamdark books are just as well-written with a faerie world so real you'll weep when you return to ours.

Thornspell by Helen Lowe
A gorgeous, complex retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a fabulously real magic system.

YA fantasy/sci-fi
Plain Kate by Erin Bow
A dark fairy-tale-like story full of vivid details and atmosphere.

House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
One of those stories and characters (Matt) that just stays with you...for years afterward.  

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
A fairy tale retelling that made me like the Rumpelstiltskin story and love the miller's daughter.

YA realistic fiction 
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
A story that came at just the right time for me - with a message that's stuck with me since.

Overlooked classic
Precious Bane by Mary Webb
Another book that came at just the right time and has stuck with me for nearly 10 years. 

What books are you touting today? 

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

BBAW Day 3: The Meaning of Book Blogging

I've read a number of interesting posts about what book blogging means to bloggers.  Honestly, I'm struggling to come up with something that hasn't already been said, let alone said well.  Alas, this is my constant struggle in book blogging. :)  But, here is a short list of what book blogging means to me:

Book Blogging...

• gives me a chance to ramble on about books I loved or talk about why I didn't love them

• gives me a platform where other people can agree or disagree with those ramblings

• adds ridiculous amounts of books to my already ridiculous pile of TBR

• keeps me up-to-date (and way before publication date) on what new books are coming out

• brings me in contact with hundreds of like-minded crazy-readers every day

• provides a vast array of opinions on books I've read, books I haven't, and a huge number of other bookish topics

• induces me to pick up hundreds of books I'd never have chosen on my own

• provides a seemingly limitless number of online activities (from memes to read-a-thons to blog celebrations to read-alongs to bloggiestas...you get the point) that feed my need for book parties

• allows me to interact with wonderful, amazing, thoughtful, and smart people I'd never get a chance to meet otherwise 

So, which of these do you agree with?  And what would you add?

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

BBAW Day 2: Interview with Carrie of Books and Movies

Today I get the privilege of introducing you to Carrie of Books and Movies.  I love being able to get to know a new-to-me blogger better with fun and interesting questions.  So, here we go:

How long have you been blogging and how has your blog changed (or how have you changed) over time?
I've been blogging for seven years, but have been book blogging for the past three. I started out as a mommy blogger, mostly writing about our homeschooling adventures. After a few years, I realized that I was writing more about books, and reading more book blogs than homeschooling ones. In 2009, I started Books and Movies, and haven't looked back. I very rarely post on my homeschooling blog anymore, and now consider myself a book blogger.

What kind of book (or movie) is your go-to favorite?  Any specific genre or type of story?
Ooo, tough question! When I'm in need of comfort, I reread my favorites: Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, Wendell Berry, Leon Uris. When I'm going for a new read and I want something to completely drag me into the story, I go for YA fiction - usually dystopian. I also adore crime fiction and historical fiction.

It sounds like you have a pretty busy schedule, so how do you balance your time between kids (and homeschooling!), family, other obligations, and reading/blogging?
It isn't easy! I sneak reading and blogging time into the little pieces of time that happen throughout the day. I do a lot of my reading via audiobook, so that I can listen while doing dishes, laundry, driving the kids around to activities, etc. It also helps that I read quickly. As for blogging, I try to get a bunch of posts written whenever I have a free weekend. That way there are posts going up during the times when I'm too busy to read.

Tell us about the reading challenges you host?
A few years ago, I started hosting the Essay Reading Challenge, simply because I love reading essays and I think they are a misunderstood genre. The next year, I added the Ireland Reading Challenge. My heritage is Irish, so this was a no-brainer, and has become my most popular reading challenge. I have continued to host these every year, and a lot of terrific bloggers join me for the challenges. Last year, I hosted the Wendell Berry reading challenge, because he is a favorite author of mine, and I wanted more bloggers to experience his brilliance. Hosting the challenge had the added benefit of prompting me to read more of his work, and so the idea of the Graham Greene Challenge, which I am hosting this year, was born. I'm not sure if I'll do an author challenge next year or not - I'm toying with some ideas.

If you could be any character in any book (or movie) who would you be and why?
I would be Anne Elliot in Persuasion so that I could fall in love with Captain Wenworth, for the second time. :)

What one (or two or three) books have had the greatest impact in your life?
The Bible, because I am a Christian; Trinity by Leon Uris, because it taught me about the history of my ancestral homeland; and The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, because it helped me understand what my father experienced when he served in Vietnam.

Tell us something about yourself that most of your blog-readers wouldn't know?
I'm pretty much an open book, so I can't really think of anything! Let's see....I once had a short story published in a very small press magazine. Shortly after that, it went out of print. I don't think the two events were related. :)

Thanks so much for answering my questions, Carrie!  Doesn't she sound like such an interesting person?  Be sure to check out her blog, her facebook page, and twitter.

For more interviews, check out the BBAW page!

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

BBAW Day 1: Appreciate These Blogs

I love a lot of blogs.  I don't always let those bloggers know, through commenting or visiting enough, but here is a sampling of those blogs and bloggers who I can't seem to do without (and you'll see some of these mentioned in my interview tomorrow, sorry for the repeat):

I love reading Suey's blog, It's All About Books for her eclectic taste and unique voice;

Small Review always can convince me to pick up a book with her very persuasive reviews;

Susan at Bloggin' 'bout Books has eerily similar tastes to my own and tells it like she feels it;

Jenny at Alternate Readality gives uncensored and bluntly honest reviews;

Charlotte of Charlotte's Library keeps me up-to-date on my sci-fi and fantasy MG reads;

Stacked by Kimberly, Kelly, and Jen, who always have thoughtful discussions and in-depth reviews;

Kathy at Read This Instead has a unique and interesting reviewing style;

Emily (and Kylie and Andy) at Emily's Reading Room for their heartfelt, accessible, and thoughtful reviews; 

Enna of Squeaky Books who has fun reviews and lots of exciting contests, including her fabulous birthday bash;

Bonnie of A Backwards Story, who has the best collection of fairy tale reviews and celebrations of anyone I know;

Danielle of There's a Book who spotlights so many fabulous picture and MG books that I know I'll live on her site when I have kids.

Hopefully I've given you a few new sites to check out.  I'd love to know about a few of your favorites.

To find many, many more blogs, check out all the posts at the BBAW site.

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

Good Times Ahead

I've been sort of remiss in talking about some of these upcoming events.  There are lots of good times ahead in the blogging world, so keep your eye on these:

I'm feeling very sad that I'm not signing up to be a judge for Cybils this time around, as I've been so fortunate to be a judge now for three years on the MG Sci-fi/Fantasy panel.  But, my life is rather busy and uncertain and I don't want to sign up and not contribute to my fullest.  However, if you love Cybils and reading, do jump into the judging pool by this Friday, so you don't miss out.  It's always been such a fun and rewarding experience, plus you get to read lots of fabulous books!  Also, get thinking what books to nominate, as the nominations open October 1st.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week is back again!  I'm super excited to have this fun week-long event come back and I'm pretty relieved that the awards aren't making an appearance this year.  Mark your calendars for September 10-14 and prepare to celebrate each other and ourselves in the book blogging world!

I was super thrilled when Holly announced she was going to host a Seven Days for Sevenwaters celebration, all in honor of the fabulous Sevenwaters series by Juliet Marillier.  Despite only having read the first two books, I fell in love with the gorgeous world and beautiful relationships in each one.  I'm so excited to see what she's got planned for that week.

Last, but certainly not least, the wonderful fall Bloggiesta is set for September 28, 29, 30 this year.  I've participated as much as possible in this event and it's so wonderful to have an excuse to work on keeping up your blog.  Right now, Suey and Danielle are calling for mini-challenge hosts, so if you're interested in that, head on over to the mini-challenge host posts.  And prepare yourself for the fiesta!

What events in the book blogging world are you looking forward to!

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

BBAW Day 5: Blogging Practices

Today's BBAW prompt is to share three things I think are essential tried and true practices for every blogger.  Obviously, this is my opinion and I didn't spend hours thinking about it, just so you know.  Off the top of my head here are the three I try to abide by:

Be respectful, especially when you're angry.
It seems like every week there is a new blogging controversy that happens because someone says something and someone gets mad and says something and there's a whole bunch of nasty things said.  (Ok, most of the time, everyone is very nice.  But we all have off days.)  I think it's a great rule of thumb, particularly when you're angry, to step away from the computer and cool off.  You'll feel better if you don't make those nasty remarks online. 

There will always be someone more popular than you, so don't worry about it.
I know I tend to obsess about my follower number and how many people comment and how many people visit and how many, etc.  And I know I feel happier during the times I just forget about it and do what I want.  It's hard sometimes, but it really is so much more enjoyable.

Blog when you want to, don't when you don't.
Lots of people have said this and it really is some excellent advice.  I notice a drop in the quality of my posts when I don't want to be blogging and do it anyway.  It's better all around to just take a break.  People will still want to read your blog when you return.

The other question is about new trends or tools I’ve adapted recently or would like to in the future.  To be honest, I'm probably the last person in the world to adopt new trends and tools.  I know there are lots out there that will make my blogging easier and faster, but I just don't know what they are.  I'd love to hear about some though, if you have suggestions!

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

BBAW Day 4: Readers and the Seven Realms

Another day of BBAW fun and I am excited for this topic. Today BBAW asks: Has blogging changed the way I read?

The short answer: Yes.

To elaborate on this, my post today is the perfect example.  Today, I am talking about my love for the Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima.   But not in the same way I would have before the blog.  Not only do I talk about the love, but now I have the chance to literally share it.

See, back in the pre-blog days, I'd occasionally rave to people about awesome books.  Now, I can rave, I can interact with authors, and I can participate in book celebrations, like this one.  It adds a whole new dimension (or two or three...) to the reading experience.  I love the author interactions, the celebrations and read-alongs and countdowns and cover reveals and giveaways that populate the book blogging world.  I love to host and to simply participate.  All these things have increased my enjoyment and give depth to my reading experience.  And, of course, it's fun too! :)  So, to illustrate, here we go:

As you may recall, I've raved about this series before (specifically The Exiled Queen and The Gray Wolf Throne)- it's pretty much everything you could hope for in an epic fantasy, especially a world so rich and deep it's almost impossible to distinguish it from our own.  It's the kind of book that you fall into and emerge calling yourself Frodo or Arwen or dressing in robes and clutching wands because you're so obsessed with the characters.  A story that will bring something new every time you reread it.

Emily of Emily's Reading Room invited me to join in this Seven Realms celebration by posting part of a puzzle that when put together will spell a secret word that will allow you to enter to win a set of signed Seven Realms books.  You can also change your Twitter avatar to one of the pictures below (each one represents a group from the books) and tweet using the hashtag #sevenrealms for more chances to win!

My piece of the puzzle:

You can find the links to the other pieces of the puzzle at Emily's Reading Room.

Once you have the word, email it to Emily (emilysreadingroom(at)gmail.com) with the subject: Seven Realms Week.

Below are the images to use for Twitter.  The crown represents the Queen’s Guard, the ring represents the Clans, and the amulet represents the Wizards.  On Facebook you can change your profile picture as well, and post on the Provo City Library’s Facebook Page they are offering another set of the books, signed.

So, what has blogging changed in your reading experience?

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

BBAW Day 3: Community II

Today's topic is one I feel ridiculously inadequate writing about, so I'm hoping y'all will share your good advice and I will learn.  However, I wanted to mention a few things that I think I've learned (even if I haven't applied them) about blogging community.

First, the book blogging world is enormous.  There will never be a way for you to know every book blog out there and connect with everyone.  I think the best thing to do is find a core group of bloggers that you like.  People whose opinions and reviews you can respect, even if you don't always agree with them.  Connect with them, comment on their reviews or features that you like (and by comment, I mean things of substance).  Chat with them on twitter.  (Oh, how I am laughing at myself for giving this advice - I am so bad at it.)  This doesn't mean, however, that once you have a core group it can't grow, it just means you don't have to feel like you need to have 100 best blogging buddies.  I'd never have the time or energy to keep up with that many.  Kudos to you if you can!

Second, I think it's ok to have blogs on your periphery that you keep track of, but don't personally interact with the bloggers.  I stalk a number of blogs that I comment on irregularly, if at all.  Usually these are the big names that won't notice if there are 96 comments instead of 97.  I don't have the time to comment on everything I read, so usually these are the blogs that I skip.  Bloggers who are just getting started or that are under-the-radar are the ones I am more likely to comment on. 
  
So, let's get to some better advice, shall we?  I'd like to ask you guys, how do you find the time to blog and connect with other bloggers?  How do you start off that initial awkward acquaintance?  What are your tips for the ridiculously shy (like, well, me)?

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

BBAW Day 2: Interview

Today I get to interview Vy from Vy's Blog. Here's a little bit about her:

"My name is Vy and I'm a teen blogger. I love reading YA books and getting a chance to share my thoughts."

1. You are a relatively new blogger - what one thing do you like the most about book blogging?  What surprised you the most about becoming a book blogger?
What I like most of all is meeting other bloggers who share the same love for books! Meeting some bloggers in person at some book events are even more fun. I did not realize how much time I'd put into blogging. Book blogging is really fun but I just didn't expect it to be so time consuming.

2. What one book do you find yourself recommending to friends/family/strangers over and over?
I've been recommending Divergent by Veronica Roth the most lately. But the first question I always ask someone is, "Have you read The Hunger Games?". 

3. Share with us the experience(s) with your middle school librarians that started you reading again.
My librarians just make every single book sound like the most exciting thing ever. It was actually during our library orientation and she was telling us about The Hunger Games. After that I had to go get myself a copy and relied off of their recommendations. 

For more from Vy and to see her interview with me, check her out at Vy's Blog or on twitter: @VysBlog

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

BBAW Day 1: Community

Welcome to Book Blogger Appreciation Week!  I'm so excited it's finally here.  I've been helping out the wonderful people who have done most of the work and I feel fortunate to participate.  Be sure to check on the results of the voting and those lovely bloggers and books that won.  Today, we're talking about community and people who have made a difference in our blogging.  I'm not sure this will even cover it, but I thought I should tell you about bloggers I admire and bloggers who make me want to keep blogging.  Here are a few:

Emily of Emily's Reading Room - this girl makes me want to do more.  She kept me up-to-date on Utah author events (and makes me miss it more now) and she seems so tireless in her blogging.  Love to read updates from her.

Jenny at Alternate Readality - a new blogger and one of my favorites.  Her reviews will make you think long and hard about why you liked a book, especially when she can rip it up and down so neatly!  Not only does she write exceptionally honest reviews, she is my most regular commenter, nearly always leaving some comment on every post I do.  She certainly makes me think someone else out there is reading my stuff. :)

Small Review - this is the blog I wish I wrote.  Every review is thoughtful and has some really fun and smart points.  Her features are so interesting that I wish I'd come up with them.  I love the review comparisons and the discussion posts.  Such a unique and wonderful blog. 

Stacked - another blog I wish I had created.  Perhaps it is because Kimberly and Kelly are secretly the librarians I want to be.  They have thoughtful reviews and also fun librarian posts.  Always a pleasure to read.

Susan of Bloggin' 'bout Books - I'm starting to think that everything Susan recommends is something I should read.  We have similar tastes, though I think she is a better judge of a book's literary quality.  I love to read what she has to say, mostly because she is brutally honest as well.  A go-to for books I should read.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention again (and again and again): Suey of It's All About Books - all around nice person and really eclectic in taste.  She blogs about books, but lots of other fun stuff too like music and TV.  She's the one who made me want to be a more active part of the blogging community, particulary the Utah blogging community.  And she invited me to her book club (which I miss so much).  One of my favorite people who happens to be a blogger.

And there you have a handful of my favorite folks.  Who are some of your favorites?

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

Good Times in the Blogging World

Just wanted to mention a few events that are or will be taking place soon!  I have to admit, I love the blogging events that go on - I think they are one of the reasons I keep blogging even when I'm burned out.  Maybe one of these will help you get out of your slump:

First, Book Bloggers Appreciation Week (BBAW) is celebrating its fourth year in September!  Registration is now open and nominations for blogs and books that you love are open as well.  Be sure to visit and nominate your favorites.  I got the chance to help out (a very little) in the organization details this time and I'm so glad we were able to get things worked out so we can celebrate book bloggers again this year.

Second, I'm joining in with The Book Monsters' Review-a-Thon happening next week, August 7-13. I am ridiculously behind on posting reviews (book reviews from March that haven't been posted yet), so this will be a great chance for me to get lots of them up.

Last of all, I just wanted to shout out to those who haven't seen it yet, Presenting Lenore is doing her semi-annual dystopian celebration. Dystopian August is going to be fabulous with reviews and giveaways and previews for upcoming dystopian titles. Those of you who can't get enough of this genre, be sure to check her out. I'll hopefully be posting a few dystopian reviews this month to join in the fun :)

Oh, and just another shout out for my Name That Book giveaway going on right now.  Very few people have entered, so your odds are really good.  You could win your choice of a YA or MG book including Possession by Elana Johnson or Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.  It's open until Sunday, so be sure to enter.

Anything fun you're looking forward to this month in the blogging world? 

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

BBAW Day 5: Future Treasures

This was a hard post to write.  Well, the second half anyway.  I'll admit I am terrible with making goals (and even worse at following through).  But, as far as things I love about BBAW, that isn't too hard.  I loved finding new blogs, and I love that the links will be there for longer than this week and I'll be able to find new blogs for months to come (I didn't visit nearly as many blogs as I'd like to).  I especially loved the Forgotten Treasures we told each other about.  I hope we all pick one of those up and read it, if only to find out what makes another person tick.  I hope someone somewhere picks up Precious Bane and finds a new friend in that book.  

And now, on to the hard part.  I may have cheated a little and looked at other people's blogs first for ideas.  But, that is another one of the benefits of BBAW - a whole truckload of ideas!  Here are three that I finally settled on:

1. Not reading so much and feeling so stressed about finishing books on time that I no longer enjoy reading.  This is actually something I've been feeling coming on for a few weeks.  I have to step back, remember why I love to read, and then find some books that will pull me out of the "I have to finish this by" funk.  

2. Write some more thoughtful reviews.  I notice that with the above problem, my reviews start to all sound the same and I use those cliche words over and over.  If I liked something, why did I like it?  If I didn't, why not?  This will take a little more time when writing reviews, but I think will totally improve the quality of them.  (At the same time, if I can't think of why or why not, I'm not going to bang my head against that review until I figure it out.  So, maybe only some of my reviews will improve! :)

3. Get a new project that I've been sitting on going.  I've been thinking about starting this new feature at my blog which I think will be a lot of fun, but I've been stalled on it.  It will actually require quite a bit of time at first, but I think once I get it going, it will not be as difficult.  I'd like to see the first post go up in a few weeks time at the latest.  I hope you check back and see if I actually accomplish this one.  

So, what are your blogging goals?

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

Book Review Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart

Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9781606840801
Source: ARC provided by publicist

 

During the World's Fair in Philadelphia in 1876, Katherine must come to terms with the loss of her twin sister Anna.  She struggles to understand why Anna is gone and her part in the loss of her sister.  Surrounded by the people who came to Philadelphia for the fair and by cultures from around the world represented there, we get a very individual and human story of one young woman remembering the times she had with Anna and deciding if she wants to live life without her. 

Things I Liked:
Lovely, lovely writing.  This is my second taste of Beth Kephart, and I have to admit she has a way with words.  The writing isn't what you'd call flowery, showy or gripping, but it has a quiet power that draws you into the heart and soul of her characters.  I loved the setting, a time and place that I haven't read a lot about.  But, I especially loved Anna and Katherine.  They are what make this story tick.  The memories of the heartbreak and joy that both come from the same relationship.  A touching story.  Some lovely quotes:

The bird has gone off on some tune.  Short, unsustained notes - more like questions than songs.  The rustling of its feathers is like the sound of a hand cupped to an ear - that space between the hand and the ear, where the heartbeat echoes. p 38-39 of ARC

High above is the crystal chandelier, and Anna won't take her eyes off it; in Anna's eyes it shines.  It's like the icicles that form on the edge of a roof when the sun gets trapped inside - a cascade of ice and sun. 
"Like sitting inside a jewelry box," Anna whispers, and Katherine nods. p 158 of ARC

Things I Didn't Like:
I found that I was less interested in the present parts of the story, at least initially.  I loved far more the flashbacks Katherine experiences, her memories of Anna.  When she was in the present, things were so much more foggy.  I think that might have been intentional, since she was trying to deal with the guilt and sorrow and it was clouding her sight.  However, I got confused and even a bit bored with those parts.  But, taken as a whole, I really enjoyed this book!

Read-alikes:
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
that I recall...

mrg-factor: X
a very little implied

v-factor: ->
some scary situations, nothing graphically violent

Overall rating: ****

The Hidden Treasures idea for a BBAW post is perfect for this review.  I know Kephart's books have been under the radar for many, though the efforts of Amy from My Friend Amy and Nicole from Linus' Blanket have helped a lot. I know they are the reasons I picked up my first Kephart and why I agreed to read this one as well. She could certainly use more attention, and I think deserves it, if only for the sheer beauty of her writing!

And I would be remiss in my Hidden Treasure duties if I didn't also mention an absolute favorite classic book that I think I have yet to meet a book blogger who's read it! This beautiful book is Precious Bane by Mary Webb, which I posted a review of a long time ago. This book impacted me so much when I read it, possibly because it was a gift from my sister-in-law during a time when I was recovering from a (seemingly) broken heart. I was definitely mopey, sad, and feeling ugly. This book reminded me what beauty is and to look for it in everyone. If you can get through the colloquial language of the book (which is probably the hardest thing people find when reading it), then it is bright and sparkling and so lovely. If you have the time and patience, do try it and then come back and let's talk about it. Ok, end of raving.

What is your Hidden Treasure?

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

Book Review: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley
Publisher: Bantam
Publication date: April 2009
ISBN: 9780385343497
Source: Library

 

Flavia de Luce is in a perpetual rivalry with her two older sisters, Ophelia and Daphne.  Fortunately, she has a passion for chemistry which makes revenge something delightfully sweet any time she wants to cook up a little poison.  But, when a body finds its way into her family's garden, mysteriously dead and unfortunately implicating her father, Flavia must use all her skills, not just chemistry-related, to solve the crime and protect her father. 

Today's BBAW topic is Unexpected Treasure, and I have to tell you, this is perfect.  My review today is proof that bloggers have influence (even bloggers that are not Angie).  I have never been a big fan of newly released adult titles, especially not mystery titles (let's be honest, most of what I review is young adult and non-mystery).  I always feel like I have to wait and wait until I've heard enough good about them before I'll pick them up.  But, even then, I don't remember any other adult mysteries I've read.  I'm not sure if I just avoided them altogether because I had so many other favorites, or because of some unconscious decision.  Either way, this book was not on my radar.  Until it kept showing up all over the place, with people adoring and praising it to the skies.  I do not even remember which review finally pushed me over the edge, but I am oh so glad I finally caved.

Things I Liked:
Flavia is an absolute gem!  I couldn't help but love her to pieces, even when I couldn't understand her chemistry delights (I'm from a whole family of chemists, but I never even took a class).  Bradley has created such a real character, this precocious (totally overused, but really can't think of another word for it) eleven-year-old with a sense of humor you wouldn't believe.  I wanted to keep reading more about her and with her.  I wanted to follow her around everwhere and find out what she'd do or say next.  I especially wanted more of her sisterly escapades - even with four older sisters, I never had much skill in the revenge department.  And the story itself was a delight to read!  Well written with an unforgettable character.  Here are just a few of my favorite parts:

Their two yellow brick annexes, postulantly Victorian, folded back like the pinioned wings of a bone yard angel which to my eyes, gave the tall windows and shutters of Buckshaw's Georgian front the prim and surprised look of an old maid whose bun is too tight. p 7

It occured to me that Heaven must be a place where the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
No...eight days a week. p 59

It's a fact of life that a girl can tell in a flash if another girl likes her.  Feely says that there is a broken telephone connection between men and women and we can never know which of us rang off.  With a boy you never know whether he's smitten or gagging, but with a girl you can tell in teh first three seconds.  Between girls there is a silent and unending flow of invisible signals... p85

It was downhill all the way, and I made good speed.  When I backpedaled, the Sturmey-Archer three-speed hub on Gladys's rear wheel gave off a noise like a den of enraged venom-dripping rattlesnakes.  I pretended they were right there behind me striking at my heels.  It was glorious!  I hadn't felt in such fine form since the day I first produced, by successive extraction and evaporation, a synthetic curare from the bog arum in the Vicar's lily pond. p156

Things I Didn't Like:
Not much to not like.  The mystery aspect was a bit simplistic, I thought.  Some parts of it were fairly easy to figure out, though others completely took me by surprise.  Definitely worth reading.

Read-alikes:
Apparently, there's already another Flavia de Luce mystery, with a third in the wings - get started already! 
The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee (though they are both more Victorian...)

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

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
some fairly scary stuff, also a bit of violence

Overall rating: *****

What is your Unexpected Treasure?

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

BBAW, Day 2: New Treasure

I managed to participate in this year's BBAW interview swap (which makes me happy, since I forgot to sign up last year).  I got to interview the lovely Lu of Regular Rumination, which is a new blog for me.  Definitely take a look at her site - it's full of literary goodness!

ME: Tell us about your blog and the story behind creating it.

LU: I started Regular Rumination one December when I was on break from school and very bored. I didn't have any books to read

ME: What genre of books do your favorites (generally) come from?

LU: Hmmm, I'm not sure.  When I say I read everything, I really mean I read almost everything.  My favorite books come from a number of different genres, from YA dystopian to classics to literary fiction to horror.  

ME: If you could meet any character from any book, who would you choose and why?

LU: Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is at the top of my list.  Also Kay from The Night Watch.  Actually for very similar reasons: first I'd like to give each of them a big hug, then I'd like to take both of them out to coffee and make sure they became my best friends.  They're strong, level-headed women that have been through a lot and I think would have a lot to share.

ME: Who is your favorite villain from a book and why?

LU: I just recently read Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi and the villain is the main character's father.  He is so terrifying because we know there was a time when he loved his son, but greed turned him into a villain.

ME: If you wrote a book what would be the name of your main character?

LU: I recently started thinking about an idea and the name Annemarie popped into my head.  

ME: In five words, tell us what you think makes a great book.

LU: Characterization, setting, language, drama, & beauty.

ME: What is your favorite thing about reading?

LU: There's nothing I love more than getting so engrossed in a book that I forget the world around me.  I love that escape.  Beyond that, there is the wonderful community of readers and the instant connection you can make with people through books. Reading is something that I have shared with my family, my boyfriend and my friends. Now I can share it with the world too.  There are few things in life that make me quite as happy as getting lost in a wonderful book.  I don't even mind reading the bad ones so much.  
 

ME: What do you do when you aren't reading or blogging?

LU: Crocheting, hanging out with the boyfriend and my friends, watching Prison Break and Weeds. 

ME: What is your favorite part about BBAW or blogging in general?

LU: All the community building!  I love BBAW because we all get together and tell each other how fabulous we are.  I love book blogging because I get to meet people that have the same interests as me, but come from completely different walks of life.

Yes, exactly!  (And don't you just want to hang out with her?  I love the tin foil superhero look.)  I loved getting to know more about Lu and reading her interesting answers to these questions.  To get more Lu, head to her blog Regular Rumination or she's on twitter @lulu_bella and also, if you want to read my answers to some questions, check it out there too.

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

Listless Monday, Numb3r5 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!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

I finally am getting back into the swing of things (I think).  Though, I may have to make Listless Monday an every other Monday feature.  We'll see.  I tried my hardest to think of a BBAW-related list, but just couldn't think of anything that wouldn't simply be a list of awesome blog links.  And if you want that, check out my Second Opinions blog list on the right.  So, since some of us are school-ing right now, I thought it'd be appropriate to pull out a numerical list.  Books that have a number in the title.

Numb3r5

1-10:
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
The Stolen One by Suzanne Carlisle Crowley
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West by Sid Fleischman

11-100:
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede
The 13th Reality, Book 2: The Hunt for Dark Infinity by James Dashner
The 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (39 clues book 4)
The 39 Clues: One False Note by Gordon Korman (39 clues book 2)
The 39 Clues: The Black Circle by Patrick Carman (39 clues book 5)
The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (39 clues book 1)
The 39 Clues: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis (39 clues book 3)
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

100+:
The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
1776 by David McCullough
Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Mississippi Trial, 1955 by Chris Crowe
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

And, since it is Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I thought I'd highlight a few of my favorite blogs that I think I've discovered since last September (hey, my memory isn't that great).  Mostly, these are the ones I've found because of the awesome features and memes they do.  The first two are found at the top of this post.  Court of Once Upon a Bookshelf, whose Listed feature is so excellent - seriously, she's much more consistent than myself and has a lot of interesting lists, including extensive Canadian books.  Also, Amanda of A Bookshelf Monstrosity whose Books by Theme feature is always a delight to look at.  While the lists are shorter, they are usually so much more in depth and can be helpful if you are looking for a few books on a specific topic.  And last, I just wanted to mention Danielle of There's a Book, whose A Bit of Me(Me) I've just started doing on a semi-regular basis.  I love that she's created this meme that helps me actually share something about me, rather than just what I read.  For, though we may spend hours and hours reading, it isn't the whole of who we are.  These are three blogs that I quite enjoy.  Be sure to check them out! 

Any additions to the list or blogs you'd love to share?

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

Book Blogger Appreciation Week, 2010

This is the third year for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. It's a great way to party with our book blogging community. This year, it is going to be held from September 13-17.  I enjoyed BBAW so much last year, mostly because I was introduced to lots of new book blogs that I came to love! 

This year, everyone can register their blogs in order to vote for winners of an award category and also to nominate themselves in an award category.  I have to admit that I was (and still am) rather reluctant to nominate myself for an award.  But, I'm stepping outside of my comfort zone and doing it anyway.  I'm shooting for Best Speculative Fiction Book Blog, because I figure I read a lot of fantasy and some of the other subgenres for this niche.  Here are my five posts:

Review: Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
Review: Daughter of Forest by Juliet Marillier
Review: Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia by Brandon Sanderson
Essay: Why We Love Fairy Tales Updated: sorry for the bad link!
Recommendation: Listless Monday, Steampunk and Historical Fantasy Edition

Best of luck to all of you who are registering for an award!

Back From the Dead (aka the Moving) and Giveaway Winner

Sorry for the silent weekend. After all that BBAW work, I needed a break (just kidding, I was moving). Anyway, we are in our new place and surrounded by boxes, but fortunately I did not misplace my extra copy of The View From Saturday. So, without further ado, here is the winner:

Marie

Who mentioned one of her favorite book blogs is West of Mars, which I also enjoy (especially for learning about contests). I've sent you an email, so be sure to get your mail address to me.

Thanks to everyone for letting me know about your favorites. My reader is practically exploding!

BBAW Day 5: Concise is My Middle Name (sorta)

Goals in 50 words or less? Bring. It. On.

What I like best: simple layout, review format.

What I want in one year: more reviews and more readers. I want my blog to be a resource for reviews with content ratings. I wouldn't mind doing other things, but the focus of this blog should always be the reviews.

I would love to hear suggestions on what you think I could improve and what you think I'm doing pretty well. (No, really, you can tell me what I need to do better - I won't be offended!)