Armchair BEA - Wrap Up

Designed by Amber of Shelf Notes

My first Armchair BEA is coming to a close, and I'm very pleased at how it went.  I didn't know what to expect, but was so excited at all the interaction that took place!  I found several new blogs to follow, and got many great comments from interesting and like minded people, it was just a fun time overall! And I posted 6 days in a row! That's a record for me I think!

I even made my own button which I'm pretty excited about but which had nothing whatsoever to do with Armchair BEA! Yeah, I'm goofy and I know it! *dances a bit, then gets embarrassed, blush*




<div align="center"> <a href="http://shaunesay.blogspot.com/" title="The Space Between" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s471/Shaunesay/6a274b52-7fbd-42f5-8450-a28a76b04c3c_zpseb9f4ffa.png" alt=" photo 6a274b52-7fbd-42f5-8450-a28a76b04c3c_zpseb9f4ffa.png" /></a></ div>

Here's my week in review, be sure to check out the giveaway if you haven't already, I'm offering up your choice between 4 different Young Adult/Teen books that I've really enjoyed and would love to share with someone!

Introduction - In which you can see my hair behaving pretty well and I answer some questions.

Author Interaction - Where I *squee* about meeting Ann Aguirre in person and talk about how Twitter is such a great author interaction facilitator.

Short Stories and Novellas - I mention what a not-fan of short stories I am, then proceed to tell you about some that I really do like! (Kevin Hearne FTW!)

Choose Your Giveaway - I'm offering your choice of 4 different Teen/YA books that I really enjoyed and hope you might too!

Middle Grade/Young Adult Books - A walk down memory lane with those Middle Grade favorites that I grew up with and still think on fondly.


Thank you so much to everyone that commented, I still need to reply to some of you and try to visit more people, it's been a wonderful week and I hope to see you all around!  Group Hug!

Armchair BEA - Middle Grade/Young Adult Books

I'm going to take a step back in time today and share with you some of the books I grew up with that made me such a fan of reading. I'm so excited by the selection of books available to kids today, that adults can also enjoy. While I think the range is so much greater now, especially in Fantasy and Science Fiction, I did still have my favorites, and here they are.  I'm pretty sure these would all be labeled middle grade now:

Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. (Because hello, talking animals and a REALLY SCARY OWL!)

First published in 1941, Walter Farley's best-selling novel for young readers is the triumphant tale of a boy and a wild horse. From Alec Ramsay and the Black's first meeting on an ill-fated ship to their adventures on a desert island and their eventual rescue, this beloved story will hold the rapt attention of readers new and old. (My love of horses lasted a long time, it never really ended actually, and it HAS to be this cover because of the sky.)

Wolves and panthers and bears roamed the deep Wisconsin woods in the 1870's. In those same woods, Laura Ingalls lived with her Pa and Ma, and her sisters, Mary and Baby Carrie, in a snug little house built of logs. Pa hunted and trapped. Ma made her own cheese and maple syrup. All night long the wind howled lonesomely, but Pa played his fiddle and sang, keeping the family safe and cosy. (I think this may have been the start of my enjoyment of historical fiction.)

Tommy and his sister Annika have a new neighbor, and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a flair for the outrageous that seems to lead to one adventure after another! (I really need to go back and read these again!)

Everyone loves Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. She lives in an upside-down house and smells like cookies. She was even married to a pirate once. Most of all, she knows everything about children. She can cure them of any ailment. Patsy hates baths. Robert never puts anything away. Allen eats v-e-r-y slowly. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has a treatment for all of them. (I really thought it would be fun to have Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle as a neighbor!)

Emily Luccock is looking forward to living at Sugar Hill Hall...She remembers her aunt and uncle's grand old mansion well. But this time things are different. Her aunt's once bright and lively home is now dead with silence. Evil lurks in every corner and the dark, shadowed walls watch and whisper late at night. Emily is desperate to uncover the truth about what is happening at Sugar Hill Hall. But time is running out, and she must find a way to save the people and home she cares so much about. (I actually requested this one when I was sick and Dad made a special trip to the library for me.)

There are more of course, Black Beauty, and I was a fan of Trixie Belden, and I did read some Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, but I switched up to more adult reading pretty early on in my bookworm career, sneaking pages of some of Mom's romance novels long before I really should have! I'm loving all the Young Adult and Middle Grade books that are available now and read them unashamedly, even at 40! There's no such thing as too old if it's a story that you enjoy!

Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me, and I'd love to hear what your favorites were, or if you share some of the ones above with me!

Armchair BEA - Choose Your Giveaway!

It's giveaway day! 

I have chosen 4 Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Alternate History books that I really enjoyed, each the first in their series, and I will let you decide which one you want to win!  I will offer these either as a US Kindle or Nook copy, or a physical copy from Book Depository available to anywhere Book Depository will ship, winners choice.  Read on to see what each is about.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.” It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde In the good old days, magic was indispensable—it could both save a kingdom and clear a clogged drain. But now magic is fading: drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and magic carpets are used for pizza delivery. Fifteen-year-old foundling Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an employment agency for magicians—but it’s hard to stay in business when magic is drying up. And then the visions start, predicting the death of the world’s last dragon at the hands of an unnamed Dragonslayer. If the visions are true, everything will change for Kazam—and for Jennifer. Because something is coming. Something known as . . . Big Magic.

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder Keep Your Head Down. Don't Get Noticed. Or Else. I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution...

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld It is the cusp of World War I. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ genetically fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet. Aleksandar Ferdinand, a Clanker, and Deryn Sharp, a Darwinist, are on opposite sides of the war. But their paths cross in the most unexpected way, taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure….One that will change both their lives forever.

Enter here!

This giveaway will be open from Thursday 5/29/14 - 6/3/14.  Please use the rafflecopter form below. Note: The cover of the book may vary depending on the format chosen.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again for stopping by!

 I can't wait to share a book with you!

Armchair BEA - Novellas and Short Stories

I am not a lover of the short story.  I prefer a good full length novel and I can't really say that I have ever truly discovered an author through one of their short stories or novellas.  It's just not enough room to really get me on board. However, I am coming to enjoy them when it is by an author I already like, set in a world I already know with characters that I'm already familiar with that expounds on part of the story that I was wondering about, or just a side happening that they've been able to make into something more.

Kevin Hearne (Iron Druid) is really good at this, with his growing number of novellas adding to the main story, a side quest, or an explanation about why a character is a certain way or how they came to know what they know.  I have enjoyed all of the short stories and novellas in the Iron Druid series and am definitely up for more!

In general for me, if I have that back story and character knowledge already in my head, then I'm happy to read a short.  If not, I may read it, and it may be fine, but it probably won't stick with me, unless the idea is just really compelling.  I'd like to highlight Cascade Point by Timothy Zahn (a Hugo winner from 1984) as an example of that.  Unfortunately I'm not seeing a readily available version of it as an e-book, mostly just used paper copies on Amazon, so you might be able to find it that way if it sounds interesting to you.  I'm wishing I still had my copy so my husband could read it.  I was surprised he hadn't already because he's more the Sci-Fi Guy and I'm more the Fantasy Girl, but in this case I was ahead of him! ;)

Cascade Point is a story about an interstellar voyage gone awry. Mankind has figured out how to access wormhole entrances called "cascade points," which drastically reduces the amount of time needed to travel between stars. The process of navigating through these wormholes requires the presence in precise quantities of a substance called "ming metal." It also requires an excellent navigator as orientation and velocity upon entrance and exit of the wormholes determines not only where, but when you will arrive. Travelling in this way is very hard on navigators. Once the wormhole is entered a person's visual field is changed; you see mirror images of yourself stretching away to infinity in all directions. Most people cross from one cascade point to another unconscious because it is too unnerving to experience while awake.

Cascade Point struck me as such an interesting idea, and what really made me think was when the navigator in the story would see his reflections stretching away, in different uniforms, one as an admiral and he wonders what that parallel self did to become that, then he watches it move away from him down the line of reflections over the years.  It just really struck me as a fantastic visual for what many people go through in their lives, wondering what they might have done differently and how that would have played out. Would it hold up if I read it again?  Hard to say, but at the time it was something new and different to me and really grabbed my attention, sticking with me ever since.

Maybe I just need to read more from the Hugo's list!  I would love to hear more suggestions on short stories or novellas that have really stuck with you, especially those that are stand-a-lones, not part of a series. 

Thanks again for dropping by!

Armchair BEA - Author Interaction

And here I said that I don't post pictures of myself very often!  This is two in two days!

This is myself with one of my favorite authors, Ann Aguirre (Sirantha Jax, Razorland).  She is also the only one of my personal faves I've actually met in person and I was very excited! Next to her you can see Leigh Bardugo, author of the Grisha trilogy that I'm looking forward to, but haven't gotten into yet.  This is from last Fall's Fierce Reads tour that also included Gennifer Albin and Jessica Brody.  It was fantastic, they answered questions and spoke of their own writing experiences, were funny and down to earth ladies that I'm happy to have met and look forward to reading their books. 

Author Interaction.  It's something that up until the last couple of years, I had never thought to experience.  Authors have been doing book tours/signings for a long time, but it was rare that one that I read would be doing a signing anywhere near me, hence why above you see my first one!  That has all changed with the advent of social media.  Now there is nothing between you and your favorite authors if they take part in Twitter or Facebook, or any number of other outlets, which several of mine do.  I can't tell you how exciting it is to be in a Twitter conversation with not one, but two of your favorite authors, plus a few other authors you've heard of, but not read yet, including you just like you're all sitting around a cafe table, having lunch and talking about books!  It's fantastic just to be able to say directly to them, hey, I really love your work, and to know that they, and not an assistant or department of assistants is hearing you.  That is special to me, because if you really love a book, you've connected with the person who wrote it, and to be able to voice that to them directly gives me a great feeling!

I would say that most of my interaction has taken place on Twitter, a little bit on Facebook.  It really depends on the author and what they enjoy using the most.  Here are a few that I follow on Twitter, and with several I've had at least one "hey, you're great!", "thanks a lot!" type of interaction:

@KevinHearne @CarolynCrane @antonstrout @MsAnnAguirre @mollyharperauth

@YasmineGalenorn @scalzi @LauraKinsale @rachelkvincent @LKHamilton

They don't all have time to reply, like us, they are real people and have lives to lead.  I know I'm bad about using Twitter a lot, then not using it at all for awhile, I've seen some of them do the same.  Can you even imagine how many tweets @StephenKing has directed at him all the time?  So I've mentally schooled myself to not be sad if I don't get a reply, and it makes all those times that I do that much more special!  Sometimes it's just fun to watch the content they put out there.  Kevin Hearne (Iron Druid) posts great pictures of himself at places and with people, his expressions just crack me up!  He is also very funny in general, and maintains a Twitter account for Atticus' dog Oberon @IrishOberon. 

I'm really grateful that this avenue of contact is open, it has given me a real and immediate method of showing my appreciation to some people that I respect and admire but never thought I would get to interact with.  So for all the drama social media makes possible, I think it has also given us this valuable connection between author and reader that was harder to come by in the past.  I know it's meant a lot to me, and I really appreciate those authors that have made themselves available to their fans in this way!

Armchair BEA - Introduction

Hello!  I'm so excited that you're visiting me!  This is my first Armchair BEA so I'm still trying to figure out what it's all about.

I don't often post pictures of myself, but I thought an introduction post was the place, so there I am, right over there!  That was one of my better hair days, it's rarely that well behaved! ;)

It's question time!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? Where in the world are you blogging from?

My name is Melissa though I go by Shaunesay or Shaunie in the blog/internet world.  It seemed like a good idea at the time!  I'm an Inventory Analyst in the real world, and a book junkie the rest of the time.  Well, all the time really, I mean with all the smart devices we have and library apps, I can sneak a page in now and then!  According to my post history, I've been actively blogging since 2008, wow!  I originally started it to follow a friend, and didn't really do much with it for quite awhile.  Then I discovered book blogs, and finally knew what to use the silly thing for!  I'm coming to you from the Bread Basket of the US, Sunflowery Kansas!

What genre do you read the most? I love to read because ___________________ .

Lately I've been reading Urban Fantasy the most, but I'm also a fan of Romance, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Science Fiction.  Non-Fiction is my least read category, but there are a few that I've found to be fantastic!  I love to read because it adds another dimension to my life, allowing me to have adventures I would never otherwise have, and travel to places I'll most likely never go, in times that are past, never were, or are yet to be. 

What was your favorite book read last year? What’s your favorite book so far this year?

This is such a hard question!  I think I'll have to go with Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey for my favorite book this year so far, and A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon for last year, though I could easily recommend so many more!

Spread the love by naming your favorite blogs/bloggers (doesn’t necessarily have to be book blogs/bloggers).

There are so many great blogs out there that I admire!  I am so intermittent in my blogging, I can only imagine the time they put in on them!  Here are just a few that I enjoy:




  West of Mars
Amberkatze's Book Blog
All Things Urban Fantasy

Share your favorite book or reading related quote. 

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”

― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” 

― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones  

Thanks again for stopping by!  Have a great week!

Bout of Books 10 - May 12-18, 2014

It's time for Bout of Books 10!

10 is a milestone, it means you've done this a few times and you know what you're doing. Not only that, if it's worth doing 10 times, it's worth doing many more, and anything that promotes reading is worth doing a million times in my book, or any book for that matter! I'm excited to be taking part in Bout of Books 10 and we'd love it if you joined us!

What is this Bout of Books, you ask?

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

My Goals

I've had a rough and busy couple of weeks, so my goals are to relax and to enjoy my reading.  As I'm getting older I'm moving towards enjoyment over quantity.  Not that I'm not excited to log all those books finished, but somewhere along the way I realized it had become more about how many could I finish and my relaxing past time had turned into a chore, so I'm trying to turn it back into what it should be, an oasis in my busy life. :)

Currently Reading



Finished



Totals

Pages: 487
Time listened: 15:32

Wild Born (Spirit Animals #1) by Brandon Mull

From Goodreads: Four children separated by vast distances all undergo the same ritual, watched by cloaked strangers. Four flashes of light erupt, and from them emerge the unmistakable shapes of incredible beasts - a wolf, a leopard, a panda, a falcon. Suddenly the paths of these children - and the world - have been changed for ever. Enter the world of Erdas, where every child who comes of age must discover if they have a spirit animal, a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both. A dark force has risen from distant and long-forgotten lands, and has begun an onslaught that will ravage the world. Now the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers ...and on you.

I really enjoyed this first book in the Spirit Animals series: Wild Born. I'll admit it, I chose it for the cover, but also because I've enjoyed Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series, and because I saw that book two is by Maggie Stiefvater whose Raven Cycle I've been into recently. I checked out the audio from the library, read by Nicola Barber who did a wonderful job.

I would classify this series as middle grade, similar to that of Mull's Fablehaven series, and would recommend it to anyone who loves animals as companions.  It features four different children from different lands and backgrounds who have been chosen by the legendary fallen spirit animals to fulfill a huge responsibility.  They all have things to work through in coming to terms with their spirit animals and finding where their strengths lie, it's not necessarily a perfect bond at first sight. 

I love this concept of the spirit animals, this would really have spoken to me as a kid had these books been available!  I'm certain there would have been much pretending going on in this world during the summers at my grandmother's house!  I definitely look forward to listening to Stiefvater's contribution to the series, with #3 coming from Garth Nix.  Also adding to the series will be Shannon Hale, Tui T. Sutherland, Eliot Schrefer and Marie Lu.

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon April 26th, 2014

It's time for the 2014 April Edition of Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon! I'm going to focus on short stories today as I have quite a few to choose from!  I'm actually going to cheat and start early since I'll have to run some errands tomorrow and just can't stay up as late as I'd like to and still function on Sunday, so for me, Read-a-thon starts.... NOW! WOOT!

TBR:

Magic Mourns in Must Love Hellhounds (Kate Daniels 3.5) by Ilona Andrews - 77 pages
The Grimoire of the Lamb (Iron Druid #.4) by Kevin Hearne - 76 pages
The Chapel Perilous (Iron Druid #4.6) by Kevin Hearne - 33 pages
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows (Outlander #8.5) by Diana Gabaldon - 55 pages
A Plague of Zombies (Outlander, Lord John Grey #3.5) by Diana Gabaldon - 94 pages
Retro Demonology (Demon Trappers #.5) by Jana Oliver - 31 pages
Elusive Memories (The Hunted #1) by Amanda Shofner - 95 pages

And... whatever else I decide to be in the mood for! Pro Tip: If it's not working for you, switch to something else!  Nothing can kill your momentum faster than struggling with a book you're just not bonding with at the time.  Set it aside for something easier, shorter, funnier, scarier whatever it takes to keep your interest and get you back into the groove!

Updates:

9:00 AM - so my big talk about starting early didn't really happen.  Also, I wish that the Kindle short stories were more story and less excerpt of another book, because I don't read those, I wait until I read the actual book. I've managed 2 REALLY short stories, only about 31 pages so far because I slept in:

Retro Demonology by Jana Oliver
Guns for the Dead by Melissa Marr

4:30 PM - Back from errands and lunch, updating with a snack of strawberries and a Reeses Peanut Butter Egg!  While out and about I finished:

The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon
and started Roar and Liv by Veronica Rossi

So my page count is up to 119, which doesn't sound like much, but for me lately, that's pretty good!  It seems like I manage fewer and fewer pages each read-a-thon!  See ya later!

 5:40 PM finished Roar and Liv, and now I'm going to dive into Elusive Memories by Amanda Shofner, coming soon!

10:00 PM - after an extended gaming and facebook and 2048 Loki edition break *looks ashamed* I jumped back in and really got going on Elusive Memories.  The Kindle says I have less than two hours to go on it, so fingers crossed that I can get that and maybe one more short story finished.  We shall see!  I am still going for the moment!

10:30 PM - I discovered I won a doorprize in hour 15!  First time ever!  Woohoo!  Thanks so much!

12:45 PM - Done with Elusive Memories!  I think that will be all for me for this Dewey's, so my total is around 267 pages.  Thanks again to everyone that helps organize the read-a-thon, and congrats on it being the biggest yet! 

Finished:

95 pages?

54 pages

55 pages

33 pages

11 pages

20 pages

The Disillusionists by Carolyn Crane

The Disillusionists by Carolyn Crane Mind Games (#1) JUSTINE KNOWS SHE’S GOING TO DIE. ANY SECOND NOW. Justine Jones has a secret. A hardcore hypochondriac, she’s convinced a blood vessel is about to burst in her brain. Then, out of the blue, a startlingly handsome man named Packard peers into Justine’s soul and invites her to join his private crime-fighting team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal. With a little of Packard’s hands-on training, Justine can weaponize her neurosis, turning it outward on Midcity’s worst criminals, and finally get the freedom from fear she’s always craved. End of problem. Or is it? In Midcity, a dashing police chief is fighting a unique breed of outlaw with more than human powers. And while Justine’s first missions, including one against a nymphomaniac husband-killer, are thrilling successes, there is more to Packard than meets the eye. Soon, while battling her attraction to two very different men, Justine is plunging deeper into a world of wizardry, eroticism, and cosmic secrets. With Packard’s help, Justine has freed herself from her madness—only to discover a reality more frightening than anyone’s worst fears. Double Cross (#2) Kitten-Tiger and the Monk (#2.5) Head Rush (#3) Devil's Luck (#3.5)

I finally finished this series up earlier this year, and I loved it, it's become one of my favorite Urban Fantasy stories. I have only shown the blurb for the first book above so I don't spoil anything for you and because it was way too long otherwise. 

The idea of using personality traits as a weapon grabbed me first.  Zinging a criminal with an overdose of fear, recklessness, despair and apathy, anger and more in an attempt to short circuit them from their wicked ways, and reboot them into a life lived by the law isn't like anything I had heard before.  Normally your super powers are being able to fly, shooting lightning bolts, super strength, you know the ones.  But super paranoia? Super recklessness? How was that going to work?

While this new idea got my attention, it was the characters that kept me hooked, Justine the most, her inner monologues as she grapples with her paranoia were so akin to some of the conversations I've had with myself that I really bonded to her, I got her 100%.  The other Disillusionists are pretty much defined by their traits, but are lovable in their own ways. Packard is a mystery, and one Justine is alternately drawn to and frustrated by.  She initially idolizes Otto the Midcity police chief, as does most of the city for his heroic battle against crime, but in time finds out that he hasn't been completely honest with her either. 

Towering over all is the Tangle, a complex mess of highway bridges that seem to be a character in it's own right.  It's a fantastic stage that gives the feel of a system completely overburdened and decaying, that has become so massive and top heavy it's amazing it doesn't collapse on itself, but provides a perfect location for nefarious activity and hideouts.

I'm sad that the story has come to an end, but I'm satisfied with it. 

Right now Carolyn is working on a romantic suspense series called Undercover Associates that I'm looking forward to trying out.  While I'm typically more of a fantasy and paranormal fan, it's her character development and interaction that I really enjoy, regardless of the setting.  For more information on her work see Carolyn Crane's Website.

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater From Goodreads: “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.” It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore. From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater From Goodreads: Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

The Raven Boys was my first Maggie Stiefvater book and I'm looking forward to the rest! I have enjoyed the Raven Cycle so much so far, I was drawn in immediately, it was such an interesting idea that spoke to my love of ancient history and the mysteries that abound there. It seemed like such an odd combination to have a private school boy have an obsession with finding the burial place of an ancient Celtic king in Virginia, which isn't actually as out there as it at first sounds if you do a little digging.  History is full of very interesting things we were never told in school. ;)

The range of personalities is wide, from Gansey's easy elegance and competence to Ronan's abrasive destructiveness, Adam's struggles with his pride and anger at his inferior beginnings and Blue's disregard of their social status.  They are all far points on a compass that balance each other beautifully and make for a rounded story.  Even Ronan's pet Chainsaw has her own distinct attitude that made her seem very real, and very much a part of the story.

I actually have to say I liked The Raven Boys a little better than The Dream Thieves which focuses more on Ronan and his fight to master his dreams.  I love Ronan's character, and the dream aspect is very appealing as a plot device but the story line seemed a little more far fetched than in the first book, though still interesting and enjoyable.  I'm completely on board for the rest of the series, and the rest of Maggie Stiefvater's books!

See Maggie Stiefvater's Website for more information on her work.

Seriously Series 2014 - First Check In

I can't believe it's already April, this year is flying by! It's time to check in on the Seriously Series Challenge and see how we're doing! Above are most of the books I've accomplished so far this year for the challenge. Below are my status bars for each section.


Series Started Before 2014

Series = 5/19

 

Total Books = 8/32

Series Started In 2014

Series = 0/2

 

Total Books = 1/7

Series Re-Reads In 2014

Series  = 0/1

 

Total Books = 2/5

I'm exactly 25% of the way through the total number of books on my list, so I'm right on track!  How is everyone else doing?

Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Series by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs From Goodreads: A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs From Goodreads: The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London the peculiar capital of the world. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reacting experience.

I really wasn't sure what to expect going in to these, the photos used in the covers have that old time eerie feel combined with an extra wrongness that's intriguing and unsettling. I was prepared to find them just too weird, but while they are odd, and really "peculiar" is the perfect word for it, they are also endearing.

The characters are all very alive, with their own distinct personalities aside from their peculiar talents.  The world is our own, current and historical, but also fantastical, often dark and despairing during their travels.  I really felt invested in their struggles, and a bit haunted by some of the scenes presented and their outcomes.

I actually listened to the audiobook so I didn't have the additional photos to look at, but I do intend to go find a real copy so I can check them out.  The covers definitely drew me in, my mind not agreeing with what my eyes were seeing, even though it's there plain as day.

There is a movie scheduled for July 2015, directed by Tim Burton, so I'm definitely on board for that, interested to see how they handle the effects.  I don't see any news on a third book listed yet, but I'm hopeful since the story thus far indicates there should be more. 

Ransom Riggs' website is definitely worth a look as there is information on his other work there, he is deeply interested in photography and old photos and there is a free download there about 13 photographs that changed the world.

When you're ready for something a little different, give these a try.  You might not want to like them at first because parts are just so odd and out of our normal comfort zone of what is, but you'll come around.  I did. ;)

Spring Bloggiesta March 27-30

It's time again for a Bloggiesta! Join us March 27-30 and mark off some of those to-do's you've been meaning to get to, or get some inspiration if you're just starting out. Maybe you've stepped away for awhile and need a kick to get back into it, you'll get all that and more here! If this sounds like fun to you, head on over to the Bloggiesta Sign Ups Page and then get started on your to do list!

To do:

1. Write/schedule 4 book reviews - 3 down 1 to go!
2. Attend at least 1 Twitter chat done!
3. Work on cleaning up labels
4. Prepare/post a new giveaway
5. Do at least 1 mini-challenge done!
6. Attend the Google+ Hangout (Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern) done!
7. Visit other participants and comment (I need practice at this!)
8. Seriously Series Challenge update post. done!


Whew, that looks like a lot!  Hope to see you there!

Accomplished:
1. Attended Social Media Twitter Chat Thursday night at 8 pm, and learned things!
2. Turned on embedded comments so I can reply to individual comments - this excites me!  Thanks to +Tif Sweeney for that tip!
3. Attended +Amanda Shofner's Google+ On Air Hangout Tutorial and now I need to experiment!
4. Completed PicMonkey Challenge and made a new blog header, which led to a complete template color scheme overhaul that may change, but now I know how to do it!
5. Created/scheduled Seriously Series Challenge update, and used PicMonkey again!
6. Wrote/scheduled 1st review - Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series
7. Wrote/scheduled 2nd review - The Raven Cycle series
8. Worked through the About Me Challenge and only needed to add contact info!
9. Got rid of a few pages that I decided weren't needed or interesting to anyone else.
10. Wrote/scheduled 3rd review - The Disillusionists series.

Spring Reading Challenge 3/20 - 6/20 and Read-a-thon March 3/20 - 3/26

I was just thinking I needed a Read-a-thon to get me back in the reading groove, so this is just the ticket! Book Dragon's Lair is hosting a Spring Reading Challenge from March 20th - June 20th, and kicked it off with a Read-a-thon from March 20th - March 26th! Click on the pictures to go to the sign ups, they both start today!


Read-a-thon Progess:

03/20/14 - Starting Line

The First American Army - starting location 103
Blood Rules - starting location 1460
Lover Reborn - starting page 100
Heal Your Headache - starting page 22
A Feast for Crows - starting at 6:10

I'm sure I won't get through all of this in a week, but anything will be progress!

03/22/14 - Update

Backup - Finished!  Picked this up at the library yesterday and gave a quick read last night and today.

03/25/14 - Update

With only one day left, my goal will be to finish Blood Rules, the Kindle says I have just under 3 hours left on it, so hopefully I'll make it!

3/26/14 - Update

So I didn't actually finish Blood Rules, but I only have an hour left on it, so I still consider that pretty good, and more than I've gotten read lately! 

Finish Line:

The First American Army - starting location 103, ended at 103
Blood Rules - starting location 1460, ended at 4425 - estimate 174 pages
Lover Reborn - starting page 100, ended at 128 - 28 pages
Heal Your Headache - starting page 22, ended at 60 - 38 pages
A Feast for Crows - starting at 6:10, ended at 12:00 estimated
Backup - started at 1 - finished at 70

Total = 310 pages and almost 6 hours of listening.



Challenge Progess:

1. Backup by Jim Butcher - finished 3/22/14

 
Books Completed

A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare

When a devilish lord and a bluestocking set off on the road to ruin...time is not on their side. Minerva Highwood, one of Spindle Cove's confirmed spinsters, needs to be in Scotland. Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne, a rake of the first order, needs to be...anywhere but Spindle Cove. These unlikely partners have one week to • fake an elopement • convince family and friends they're in "love" • outrun armed robbers • survive their worst nightmares • travel four hundred miles without killing each other All while sharing a very small carriage by day and an even smaller bed by night. What they don't have time for is their growing attraction. Much less wild passion. And heaven forbid they spend precious hours baring their hearts and souls. Suddenly one week seems like exactly enough time to find a world of trouble. And maybe...just maybe...love.

I picked up A Week to be Wicked after hearing much love for the author by Amanda over at On a Book Bender. Our tastes seem to be pretty compatible, so while at the library I decided to see what they had.  A Week to be Wicked is actually the second of the Spindle Cove series, but I went for it anyway, figuring I wouldn't be too lost.  I'm so glad I did, this was a fun, adventurous and intelligent romp that had me laughing and sighing with emotion often on the same page! 

I enjoy historical fiction/romance on it's own, just for the fact of being set historically, but what really gets me attached to a book is when there is another element that ties in to my own interests.  I got that pleasant surprise here, as neither the cover, nor the description hints at the geological/paleontological elements involved.  It's actually a driving factor in the story and I love that!  Francine is a passive but humorous "character" in her own right.  Minerva is a strong woman with scientific interests, she's witty and quick, a girl I could easily identify with.  Colin is a rake, and a mess, but a lovable one, and he does his best to keep his promises, which usually just makes everything go even more wrong the harder he tries.  Of course he's a damaged hero, and we love those right? YES WE DO!  Fictional suffering FTW!

I also loved the dedication in the front: "For all the girls who walk and read at the same time."  Tessa was totally saying to me, "This romance is for YOU!" (I still do it!)

Thanks for the recommend Amanda, I'll definitely be reading more from Tessa Dare!

Amanda's Review of A Week to be Wicked

Tessa Dare's Website

KEEP GOING by Joseph Marshall III

From Goodreads: Grandfather says this: "In life there is sadness as well as joy, losing as well as winning, falling as well as standing, hunger as well as plenty, bad as well as good. I do not say this to make you despair, but to teach you…that life is a journey sometimes walked in light and sometimes in shadow.”   Grandfather says this: "Keep going.” When a young man’s father dies, he turns to his sagacious grandfather for comfort. Together they sit underneath the family’s cottonwood tree, and the grandfather shares his perspective on life, the perseverance it requires, and the pleasure and pain of the journey. Filled with dialogue, stories, and recollections, each section focuses on a portion of the prose poem "Keep Going” and provides commentary on the text. Readers will draw comfort, knowledge, and strength from the Grandfather’s wise words—just as Marshall himself did.

I discovered this little book in our collection the other day as I was poking through our basement books as I often do, just to remind myself of what is there.  I didn't remember buying it, or even seeing it there before, but as my family is going through some difficulties right now it seemed that it may have appeared in front of me for a reason.  I chose to honor the sign, if that's what it was, and give it a read.

This is a gentle, down to earth book of encouragement.  It does not sugar coat reality but instead emphasizes the duality of all aspects of life and the importance of taking another step, no matter how weary you are, or how small that step is.  Life is difficult, and those steps will be hard, but you must keep going, and in facing down those storms, you will gain strength.

I found this quick video of the author reading the introduction to the book which summarizes with a beautiful oration.  I know I will enjoy listening to it many times, and look forward to reading more of the author's work.

Website of Joseph Marshall III