I've been feeling a bit sad since I haven't seen anyone pick up the 100+ reading challenge that J.Kaye used to host. However, I think I'll still challenge myself to read 150 books next year. And, since I've got some ambition right now, I'm signing up for a few other challenges as well:
First up, I'm joining Kristi of The Story Siren's 2011 Debut Author Challenge, wherein I will try to read 15 debut titles next year:
[Read in 2010, but released in 2011: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand]
1. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
2. The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
3. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
4. Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell
5. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth
7. Possession by Elana Johnson
8. Bumped by Megan McCafferty
9. Entwined by Heather Dixon
10. Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
11. The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
12. The Trouble with Half a Moon by Danette Vigilante
13. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
14. Abby Carnelia's One and Only Magical Power by David Pogue
15. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
16. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
17. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
18. Populazzi by Elise Allen
19. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
20. Clarity by Kim Harrington
21. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
22. Wildwood by Colin Meloy
Next, I'm signing up for the Middle Grade Book Challenge hosted at Cindy's Love of Books, cause I love me some MG. Technically it started in September, but I'll start counting in January (yeah for Cybils). I'm going for 15 on this one too:
1. The Shadows by Jacqueline West
2. The Magnificent 12: The Call by Michael Grant
3. Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
4. Dragonbreath: Attack of the Ninja Frogs by Ursula Vernon
5. Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
6. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
7. Reckless by Cornelia Funke
8. A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
9. The Dead Boys by Royce Buckingham
10. Keeper by Kathi Appelt
11. Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm
12. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
13. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
14. Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
15. The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
16. A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck (audio)
17. No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko
18. Under the Green Hill by Laura L. Sullivan
19. Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull
20. The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson
21. Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry
22. Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson
23. What Happened on Fox Street by Tricia Springstubb
24. Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
25. Abby Carnelia's One and Only Magical Power by David Pogue
26. Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
27. Radiance by Alyson Noel
28. Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti
29. Cahoots by Karla Oceanak
30. The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
31. The Lost Heiress by Catherine Fisher
32. The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
33. The Giver by Lois Lowry
34. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
35. Big Nate Strikes Again by Lincoln Peirce
36. Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
37. The Flintheart by Katherine and John Paterson
38. Can You Survive: Jack London's Call of the Wild adapted by Ryan Jacobson
39. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
40. The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
41. With a Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo
42. Wildwood by Colin Meloy
43. Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
44. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
45. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
46. The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman by Ben H. Winters
47. Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
I'm also doing the YA Historical Fiction Challenge, hosted by YA Bliss, because I definitely need to read more historical fiction. I'm shooting for level 2, which is 10 books:
1. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
2. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
3. The River Between Us by Richard Peck
4. Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
6. A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck
7. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
8. With a Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo
9. Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm
10. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
11. Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
12. This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel
13. Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
And then I'm doing the e-book Reading Challenge, hosted by The Ladybug Reads and aiming for the addicted level, 12 e-books:
1. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
2. Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell
3. Outside In by Maria V. Snyder
4. Red Glove by Holly Black
5. Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry
6. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
7. Bumped by Megan McCafferty
8. The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima
9. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
10. Jane Austen: A Life Revealed by Catherine Reef
11. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
12. Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
13. Moon Shot by Alan Shepard, Deke Slayton, and Jay Barbree
14. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
15. Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry
16. Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
17. Vanish by Sophie Jordan
18. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
19. Slayers by C.J. Hill
20. He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott
And of course I'll still be working away at the Local Author Challenge, which is a perpetual challenge. So I guess I'll be pretty busy all year round. Here's to a year of reading!
Any challenges you HAD to sign up for?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Angie of Angieville and "focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc."
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Publisher: Atheneum
Publication date: September 2002
ISBN: 9780689852237
Source: Library book club set and I own a copy, cause I love it so much!
Matteo is not your typical child. He's a clone. He spends the first years of his life alone with Celia, a servant, oblivious to what he is. But, when he meets the family in the big house, he begins to learn just what being a clone means. He's not human and no one treats him like that, except a very few people, including El Patron. But, does El Patron treat him like a human because he is one or because of a more sinister interest in Matt?
Things I Liked:
I've loved this book since I first read it several years ago and this reread for my book group solidified my love. There so much to discuss and think about! I loved all of the ethical thoughts and questions that arise, simply because of the subject matter - human cloning. Not only does it have these issues that make it interesting, but the story is fast-paced and you can't put the book down because you have to know what happens to Matt. He is such an interesting character because you feel for him and all that he suffers, yet you also see he is flawed and makes stupid choices just like everyone else. The world that slowly unfolds in the pages of the book is so interesting, because it feels real, like this is where our world is heading, which I think is a mark of a very good futuristic/dystopian book. Great story, great characters, and our book group had a LOT to talk about. It was a hit. I think I like this one even more than The Hunger Games, which is really saying something! All those shiny award stickers on the cover? Totally deserves them. One of my favorite parts:
What Matt hated about the creature was everyone's assumption that he and Furball were the same. It didn't matter that Matt had excellent grades and good manners. They were both animals and thus unimportant. During Easter vacation Tom said good manners were no harder to learn than rolling over or playing dead. Matt threw himself at him, and Maria ran shrieking for Tam Lin. Tom was sent to his room without dinner. Matt wasn't punished at all. Which was okay with Matt, except that Furball wasn't punished for his crimes either. He couldn't understand the difference between right and wrong. He was a dumb beast and so, apparently, was Matt. p 85
Things I Didn't Like:
The beginning is a little slow, but picks right up after a few chapters. I really wish we could have gotten a wider view of the world Farmer envisioned. It seemed like there was so much more going on than just what happens in Opium and Aztlan (Mexico). I'd really like for her to write another book set in this time and place (which I've heard is in the works).
Read-alikes:
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
very few
mrg-factor: X
they talk about affairs, but nothing happens on page
v-factor: ->->
there is some rather frightening stuff, not much physical violence
Overall rating: *****
What's your most highly recommended futuristic/sci-fi/dystopian book?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780312656263
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Things I Liked:
The book has a lot of good things going for it. I enjoyed the religious aspect of these angels, which I've found is missing in a lot of recent teen angel books. (It seems odd to me to have a book about angels, fallen or not, that never mentions God.) It was interesting to see the difference between humans and angels in their reactions and feelings. It's a fast and easy read and I felt a compulsion to finish it and find out what happens to the characters, though I often didn't feel a connection to them. I thought the interesting parts were the conflict of feelings between angel and human sides, particularly for Bethany since she was the only one susceptible to human feelings. The thing that I enjoyed the most was how much it reminded me of my own teenage romances (more discussed below).
Things I Didn't Like:
I must admit, however, that for the most part I was unimpressed. The book is too long and I thought that there was a lot extraneous detail that could have been left out. I think the biggest problem for me, however, was the romance. Xavier and Bethany essentially fall into eternal and complete love with one another right away. Their inability to be apart from one another (even for an hour) without physical pain seemed ridiculous. When I was reading about their relationship, I was reminded of my teenage romantic experiences (and how you think the world will end if you break up). But it was very over-the-top; so melodramatic that I felt distracted from anything else in the story. I'm quite positive many teen girls will enjoy it, but I guess I'm too far removed from that experience to enjoy reading about that kind of romance. I gotta give Adornetto props for writing so well at such a young age - I'm sure she's closer to the teen romance experience and therefore captures it fairly accurately.
Read-alikes:
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a very few (if any)
mrg-factor: X
very light, nothing descriptive
v-factor: ->
a little fighting, again very mild
Overall rating: **
Is it ridiculous to read teenage romance with your adult sensibilities?
It does have a pretty cool trailer going for it though:
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future by Dav Pilkey
Publisher: Blue Sky Press (Scholastic)
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780545175302
Source: Review copy provided by publisher
Things I Liked:
This book is pure silliness. The kung-fu cavemen are solely designed to bring out the laughs. The illustrations match perfectly the style of the writing and story. I loved the almost childlike drawings that tended to go along with the "caveman" talk. I got the most entertainment out of the flip-o-rama action pages though. It was loads of ridiculousness that will entertain all, reluctant readers especially. I passed it right off to my 10-year old nephew who devoured it in a very short period of time. Definitely a winner. Here's a peak inside:
Things I Didn't Like:
While I tried to ignore the adult reader in me, I did find the spelling and grammar mistakes to be super annoying. Yes, these are my own sensibilities projected onto the book. Still, I must mention that I was bothered. I don't think it will bother many kids, though. It's sheer entertainment and silly humor and that's the way it should be.
Read-alikes:
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
It will probably also appeal to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid crowd
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
potty humor doesn't count, right?
mrg-factor: none
v-factor: ->
nothing but a bit of kung fu action
Overall rating: ****
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
I'm so lucky to be hosting another giveaway this week! To bring laughs to a child you know this Christmas, any of these books will be a big hit. Thanks to Big Honcho Media and Scholastic, you could win these books.
Give the gift of reading to your child this holiday season! Scholastic books make the perfect stocking stuffer for any child on your list.
We have a HUGE prize pack filled with the most popular children’s books in the marketplace to offer one lucky reader! Titles include CAPTAIN SKY BLUE, IT’S CHRISTMAS DAVID, OOK and GLUK as well as TONY BALONEY, ODIOUS OGRE and I SPY CHRISTMAS A CHRISTMAS TREE!
One (1) Winner will receive a HUGE gift pack, including:
CAPTAIN SKY BLUE
IT’S CHRISTMAS DAVID
OOK and GLUK
TONY BALONEY
ODIOUS OGRE
I SPY A CHRISTMAS TREE!
I've had a chance to read Ook and Gluk and I assure you that the tweens in your life (especially the boys) will get a big kick out of it. I'll be reviewing it tomorrow as part of Tween Tuesday, so be sure to check back.
You have until next Monday, December 6th, to enter the giveaway. You must be 13 or older and have a US shipping address to enter. Just fill out the form below.
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
It's time to choose the winner of my Gratitude Giveaway: the signed ARC of Matched by Ally Condie! It was a great contest and thanks again to all my readers and followers. Before I mention the winner, I just wanted to (finally) share some of my favorite quotes from this awesome book. Even if you didn't win, you should definitely still read Matched - it comes out on Tuesday!
The meal seems like a dance; as though this is a ball as well as a banquet. The waiters slid the plates in front of us with graceful hands; the food, wearing herbs and garnishes, is as dressed up as we are. We lift the white napkins, the silver forks, the shining crystal goblets as if in time to music. p 10 of ARC
They created commissions to choose the hundred best of everything: Hundred Songs, Hundred Paintings, Hundred Stories, Hundred Poems. The rest were eliminated. Gone forever. For the best, the Society said, and everyone believed because it made sense. How can we appreciate anything fully when overwhelmed with too much? p 29 of ARC
Nothing I have written or done has made any difference in this world, and suddenly I know what it means to rage, and to crave. p 96-97 of ARC
I'll tell her and everyone else that I know: they are giving us pieces of a real life instead of the whole thing. And I'll tell her that I don't want my life to be samples and scraps. A taste of everything but a meal of nothing. p 249 of ARC
Reading these quotes makes me want to go read it again - there is so much in the book to make you think! And now we come to the winner:
Asenath
Congrats! I'll send you an email and I'll be sending the book out later today. And as one last plug for Matched, check out the very awesome website created for the trilogy. I had a lot of fun playing around on it. You can even get matched!
If you're sad you didn't win, be sure to check back later today, since I'm hosting a fabulous Scholastic prize giveaway!
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner
Publisher: Holiday House
Publication date: October 2010
ISBN: 9780823422852
Source: review copy provided by publicist
Deep beneath Trillium city there lies a hidden city of rats. Run by an evil dictator and his vicious army for the last decade, the rats of the Catacombs are oppressed and run down. But, a secret rebellion is stirring among the inhabitants, led by a mysterious figure from the past and three young rats who all lost their parents in the overthrow of the last ruler. Will they be able to defeat these wicked rulers before it is too late?
Things I Liked:
The book has an exciting non-stop action story that carries the reader along. I got sucked into the adventure and suspense of not knowing if our favorite characters would survive. It's a well-written and thrilling fantasy story with plenty of familiar themes, but fleshed out with the unusual rat characters. It also had just a touch of a creepy element, with the cruel and wicked leaders who have no pity. Kids will fall in love with the rat heroes and be taken in by the story.
Things I Didn't Like:
I had a hard time getting into the book at first. I thought it might be because I'm not usually a fan of animal stories (never read many when I was a kid), but I also think it might have been just a bit slow at the start. I did get pulled into the story, even if it seemed pretty predictable. While the ending wrapped up almost neatly, the last chapter (and prologue) seemed a bit odd to me. I'm not sure if its setting up for another book or just an open and rather creepy ending. Didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the story though.
Read-alikes:
Redwall books by Brian Jacques and Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
mrg-factor: X
some things are implied, but nothing explicitly stated
v-factor: ->->->
quite a bit, some of it a little gory, but nothing overwhelming
Overall rating: ****
Are you a talking animal book fan?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Name that Book is a biweekly game where you get to guess a book title from the photo clues.
Hope this will give you a bit of bookish fun on this dreary (at least here) Monday.
Book 1:
Book 2:
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
For this week's question, we are supposed to list at least one thing we're grateful for. Let's be honest, I've never been good at only picking one thing :) Here's the short list:
Family
I assume this is number one on pretty much everyone's list. Where would we be without family or the people in our lives we consider family? They offer us support and love and everything we humans need. My husband who is, you know, always there for me (and on and on and on about him). I love living near most of my family - the get togethers are wildly entertaining (so looking forward to Thanksgiving). I know I'll miss them when we finally move :)
A Job
This was a hard one for me to say, because I've been struggling so much with my job recently. But, because of my job, we've been able to pay for my husband's schooling without going into debt. We have enough to eat and a place to stay warm. I'm glad to have one, especially in this economic situation.
Books
Yeah, it's cliche I know (considering I blog about books), but it's true. Books are what keep me sane (some of the time) and help me relax and unwind at the end of the day (or the beginning or the middle). I love to have something on hand to keep my mind from worrying about stuff I can't control (and some that I can). This even makes me grateful for parents who taught me to read, for teachers who encouraged it, and for libraries who provide what no one individual could. I love my books :)
What about you?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
No Going Back by Jonathan Langford
Publisher: Zarahemla Books
Publication date: October 2009
ISBN: 9780978797195
Source: e-copy provided by author
Paul is an unusual young man. He's gay, but he's also a Mormon and he'd like to stay one. When he finally tells his best friend, Chad he freaks out. But, Chad doesn't want to end their friendship over that. As they continue to hang out, despite some awkwardness, Paul struggles to find a place he fits in and feels comfortable. Paul faces all kinds of challenges from seemingly every direction, but also finds help from several unexpected places.
Things I Liked:
This is definitely an author with guts. With a main character professing to be both gay and Mormon, there are lots who could take offense. I found myself entirely impressed with the skill and ability that Langford was able to capture the essence of what it must feel like to be torn in such a way. Paul felt very realistic to me - a teenager with the regular problems and a whole lot more stacked on his plate. I found myself getting a bit teary in places over his conflicting feelings and decisions. I particularly loved the bishop in the book, who showed compassion and help instead of judgment and condemnation. I also think the book shows the many varied attitudes and reactions of people both Mormon and non-Mormon to a gay Mormon teenager. Being LDS myself, I liked the perspective it gave me, because it had correct church doctrine, but also how individuals in the church interpret the doctrine (correctly or incorrectly). It's a unique book in its subject and its treatment of that subject. I especially liked how the ending was not so much happy as hopeful. I thought this quote from the book described essentially what it was about:
"I guess I was just hoping...I don't know, maybe I culd find some kind of balance. Some way I could stay in the church and do what I'm supposed to do, but still spend time with people who understand what it feels like to be gay, who won't get all freak out about me liking guys." p 211
Things I Didn't Like:
I did find the other story lines to be distracting, even if I understand why they are included. It felt like it was getting off track sometimes when it followed them. Also, I'm with Britt of Confessions of a Book Habitue in stating that I don't know who to recommend the book to. I think it would offend some Mormons and I think non-Mormons might misunderstand it or just get bored with some of the doctrine and preaching that goes on. Definitely for Mormon teens struggling with this issue and their parents.
Read-alikes:
I honestly can't think of any, perhaps a bit like The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith, though I haven't read it yet
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
lots, but no f-words
mrg-factor: XX
teenage boy talk and one incident, not described in detail
v-factor: none
Overall rating: ****
Any thoughts on this?
Please keep your comments polite or I shall be forced to delete them :)
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
I've decided to join in Angie's Retro Friday Reviews meme (hopefully I'll do it regularly). From her site:
Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted here at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time!
What I'll be doing for the most part, is reviewing books I've recently discovered that were published two or more years ago. I know I read a LOT of new stuff, but I'd like to review some things from the past too. I find it especially appropriate that I'm starting with a book from a series Angie originally got me hooked on.
Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Publication date: 2001
ISBN: 9780765343260
Source: Library
Things I Liked:
Once again, I am enthralled by the skill Marillier has as a story teller and as a creator of a world full of depth and history. The story is complex and takes many twists and turns that are both expected and surprising. I fell in love with Liadan as I did with Sorcha before her. She was a strong and resilient woman, who ends up being the one who saves, rather than being saved. I love a good, strong heroine. Marillier has a skill with words and with folklore, weaving a gorgeous setting and brilliant characters that seem as real and flawed as any I know. I find myself completely immersed in the drama that unfolds at Sevenwaters and beyond. The flawless way she includes magic in the ancient historical background of Ireland is just a testament to her skill as a fantasy writer. Oh, and the bitterness of this book just broke my heart. It is not a happy tale like Daughter of the Forest is (for the most part). It is filled with heartbreaking moments and broken lives and lies that tear families apart. And yet, I'm looking forward to reading the next books just as much. Some of my favorite parts:
I wove into this story as much wonder and magic and enchantment as I could. But I did not forget the ordinary things, the things that are wonderful in themselves, without being in any way unusual. p 182
The question was not so much did they trust me, as did I trust them? Bran had dismissed trust once as a concept without meaning. But if you could not trust, you were indeed alone, for neither friendship nor partnership, neither family nor alliance could exist without it. Without trust, we were scattered far and wide, at the mercy of the four winds with nothing to cling to. p 370
I do not seek to make these wounds vanish as if they had never been. I know he will always bear the scars. I cannot make his path grow broad and straight. It will always twist and turn and offer new difficulties. But I can take his hand and walk by his side. p 551
Things I Didn't Like:
Once again, the book is long and not for those with very short attention spans. I had to return this book twice to the library before I finished it. It takes time and patience, but you will be richly rewarded at the end for it.
Read-alikes:
Start with Daughter of the Forest by Marillier
I also love Marillier's Wildwood Dancing and Heart's Blood
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
perhaps a few
mrg-factor: XX
there are a few scenes, fairly tasteful, but descriptive nonetheless
v-factor: ->->->
there is fighting and some gruesome images, but not a lot of scenes
Overall rating: *****
Do you have a favorite fantasy author? One you haven't yet been disappointed by?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Poison: A Novel of the Renaissance by Sara Poole
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780312609832
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Things I Liked:
The book certainly had the ability to keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing what will happen next. It calls to mind books like The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, but in a historical and somewhat more interesting setting. It is very well written, interweaving historical detail and action very well, for the most part. I loved Francesca and her weaknesses as well as her strengths. She was a real character to me - one stuck in the religious corruption and deceit that surrounded her, but was still able to make smart choices. There were several twists that kept your interest from waning during parts where the time period was described or poison was discussed in detail. I was also intrigued by her discussions of religion, particularly in a time when it seemed so difficult to believe in the rightness of the church when there was so much corruption. It definitely made me want to learn more about the Borgias and to keep reading the rest of the books she plans to write about them. It felt refreshing to read some Italian historical fiction rather than the typical English fare. Here are some favorite parts:
Should you visit Rome or be fortunate enough to reside within it, I recommend that you find occasion to rise early and observe how each new day transforms the city from the monochrome of night to the blushing hues that the sun draws from this remarkable stone. Later, you will see the colors deepen almost to purple before finally yielding late in the day to muted gold. It is said that Rome possesses the fairest palette of any city and I know of no reason to disagree. p 17 of ARC
You may mock my foolishness but for just an instant, there in the darkness on the brink of death, I was overwrought enough to think that I heard the Almighty and that He was not remotely what I had been taught. Far from the omniscient majesty before whom we must tremble in blind adoration, He sounded a caring, if somewhat exasperated shepherd who went in search of us, his straying flock. Of course, I know I was wrong. And yet I know no such thing. The thought lingers: Surely the God who created Heaven and Earth can speak through the mouth of a man? Indeed, how else would he speak to men? Or, for that matter, to one particular woman? p 178 of ARC
I was and I remain a doubter; it is my curse. Yet in that predawn world, I discovered a truth I had not suspected. Whether by my own desperate need or just perhaps by divine intervention acting even through so deeply flawed a man, I found comfort and meaning in the act of forgiveness. p 267 of ARC
Things I Didn't Like:
The first half of the book was a bit bogged down by setting the scene. The historical details were less well integrated into the story during that section. It seemed a lot of it was just getting us ready for the rest of the story by letting us know what the time and place was like. While I found it interesting information, it did not flow well with the rest of the story. Some of Francesca's choices were quite stupid to me, but perhaps more in character for her. Mostly these were choices that didn't affect the rest of the story and were personal, so I overlooked them.
Read-alikes:
The White Queen or any other historical fiction books by Philippa Gregory
Reminded me of The Golden Web by Barbara Quick
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
not a lot in number, but some quite strong
mrg-factor: XXX
she has plenty of interludes, not to mention the general corruptness of the time
v-factor: ->->
a few situations, nothing described in great detail
Overall rating: ****
What time period do you crave historical fiction to be about?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Welcome to my giveaway as part of the Gratitude Giveaways: a signed ARC of Matched by Ally Condie. My review posted yesterday, so if you want to know more about this book and what I thought, check it out. (That is, if you haven't already seen the millions of other reviews out there.) Let's get right down to it.
I've got one extra ARC of Matched that I got signed by Ally Condie (read about my experience meeting her here). You can earn one extra entry by being a follower of my blog. Just fill out the form below to be entered (US only, must be 13 or older). The giveaway will run from today until Sunday, November 28th. I'll post the winner the following Monday. Good luck!
Let's not forget the excerpts of some of my favorite parts: [forthcoming, I promise!] [or let's just forget it, because I keep forgetting it - maybe in a separate post? Sometime? Maybe?]
And for lots of other bookish giveaways, go to any of the blogs listed below for lots of other great giveaways going on as part of the Gratitude Giveaways.
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Matched by Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication date: November 2010
ISBN: 9780525423645
Source: ARC provided by publisher/publicist
Cassia has grown up longing for the day she will be Matched to her future husband. When that day finally arrives, she is surprised and pleased with her Match, Xander, who is someone she's known all her life. But, when a face that is definitely NOT Xander shows up on the screen for an instant, she is shocked and confused. That sight sparks her curiosity and she finds herself falling in love with someone else entirely.
Things I Liked:
I love, love, love the writing. Ally is one of my new favorites, almost just for the way she writes. Her words seem simple and clean, but there is a poetic and complex depth to it. I love the way the words flow on the pages. I also happened to really enjoy the dystopian world she's created - a world where there are no choices, but everyone seems happy with what they have. It does have lots of similarities to The Giver, which just makes me want to go reread that one. The people might not have options, but they enjoy the small freedoms they do have. It was interesting to watch how Cassia changes over the book, how she begins to see small things at first and larger ones later that make her dissatisfied with the Society. The love triangle, which I am the first to admit is so overdone in literature, was actually quite good, I thought. (*slight spoiler*) Not only was she unafraid to admit she loved both boys, but she straight up told the one she didn't choose that she chose the other. They remained friends after. (*end spoiler*) I wish there were more books whose triangles resolved that way. I was pleased and satisfied and also ready for the next installment! And really, there is so much to talk about with this book. We were really fortunate that Ally, who is a local author, was doing a program at our local library. We visited with her after reading the book. I'm super glad we decided to use it as a book group read.
Things I Didn't Like:
Looking back at the reading experience, it seemed to move really slowly. There isn't a lot of action and things that happen, it is more a steady flow of regular every day things mixed with minute irregular things. So, while it isn't your typical action-packed dystopia, I think it still moves quickly and will keep the reader engaged through other means.
Read-alikes:
Delirium by Lauren Oliver (I've got an awesome double feature review of this book coming)
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
that I recall
mrg-factor: none
some kissing
v-factor: ->
there are some scary moments and a little violence
Overall rating: *****
Intrigued by this book? Want to read an excerpt or two? Good, because I've got a Gratitude Giveaway coming up tomorrow for a signed ARC of Matched and I intend to put some of my favorite quotes in that post so you can get a taste for this excellent book. Come back tomorrow to enter for your chance to read this fabulous addition to dystopian lit.
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
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