[Featured Discussion] - Accessories: Part #1

     This is a new segment, Featured Discussion. Where, I am looking at heading with this segment is more of a opinion based discussion. There is some that will be true and fact, but for the main part I want a good discussion, and I want people to chime in and talk. I will make my opinion and comments known as well. However please, PLEASE do not insult or degrade anyone else.

Featured Discussion:

     When I first started reading I did it with a simple piece of paper to keep track of where I was. A makeshift bookmark if you will, it was handy and went through numerous books with me. However, as time went on I realized that my poor paper was starting to die on me and I needed something a bit more stable. So this week when I talk about different Accessories you can get to help read or frankly aid in the reading process, I am going to focus on the simple thing; Bookmarks.


     Now there are the cheaper paper/plastic bookmarks that are all over the market. I just hate how while you spend the money on them, and they will last for a decently long time, eventually they will die just like my little piece of paper. As well they tend to show their wear more often than anything else, and I hate that. I want my products that I use to last, something that catches peoples' eyes and get a conversation started, or makes them want to go out and do the same thing.

     So what type of product do I look at when I purchase a bookmark. Well I have three at the moment and I have to say for a bookmark they are rather expensive, but I enjoy them. Best of all though, people have asked me where I got my bookmarks! That's the best!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams." - Henry David Thoeau

     This was my first bookmark and as you can see. I prefer the harder, stainless steel bookmarks. While they are a bit more pricey, they will last. The only difficulty I have found with them, is the little ribbon at the top, has come unraveled a few times and I have spent hours trying to tie it back on.

     The reason I use and prefer the stainless steel bookmarks is when I drop them, or bend them like I normally do it doesn't affect the bookmark like the paper or plastic counterparts. I absolutely hate the bend marks, I hate the blemishes and the imperfections that arise as the life of your bookmarks go on. The stainless steel, doesn't have that, the most that I see out of mine is the fingerprints that arise from use, but with water and a towel that's easy.

"Make the most of yourself. For that is all there is of you." - Emerson

     What do I look for, and what makes a bookmark unique to me. I enjoy reading and quotes very much so. Here the famous authors, and the infamous lines add a bit of my passion and the pure upbeat messages that make me smile each time I look at them. As well, I enjoy sharing the positive messages to friends, and other random people.

     Now if you you have any hobby or anything specific you find that you enjoy, I suggest finding a bookmark that revolves around that. For me it was the positive messages, the pure upbeat nature of this bookmarks that keep my attention happy. So these while they are rather general, to me they are special and unique. The people around me realize that as well, and that makes them much a part of my hobby as I am.

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." - Les Brown

     Now if you are interested in the three bookmarks that I have shown, realize that I spent a bit more than probably what you were thinking on them, but for something that's really good quality I believe it was worthy every bit of it. I would recommend this brand to anyone, I just wouldn't recommend their website.

     This is the Link to search Barnes and Noble, and while there was some on Amazon I don't see any at the moment. Sacchi Bookmarks and done by Swing Design. I love the model and the designs. While my designs seemed more oriented towards guys or gender neutral, they do provide a lot of designs and styles for girls. I would recommend checking them out and looking around at Sacchi and Swing designs bookmarks, they are so great and worth it!

     Next accessory I will talk about will be the choice of review mediums. Going into Blogger, Wordpress mainly; however, I am open to test and use other blogging options for posting reviews. As well I want to talk about why a reader should review the book. I hope to see you around!

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[Flashback Friday] - #24

     Flashback Friday is a weekly event, hosted here, that highlights a past released that we're dying to get our hands on...

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!

Title:  Elemental

   Author: Antony John

   Release Date: November 21st, 2012

      A lost colony is reborn in this heart-pounding fantasy adventure set in the near future . . .

     Sixteen-year-old Thomas has always been an outsider. The first child born without the power of an Element—earth, water, wind or fire—he has little to offer his tiny, remote Outer Banks colony. Or so the Guardians would have him believe.

     In the wake of an unforeseen storm, desperate pirates kidnap the Guardians, intent on claiming the island as their own. Caught between the plague-ridden mainland and the advancing pirates, Thomas and his friends fight for survival in the battered remains of a mysterious abandoned settlement. But the secrets they unearth will turn Thomas’ world upside-down, and bring to light not only a treacherous past but also a future more dangerous than he can possibly imagine.

My Stance:

     In a world were everyone is a mage, or an elementalist, however you want to think of it, Thomas is the first to be born without any control over any element. My question is in a world that revolves around the control of an element, how would you survive? And in Thomas case, what would you possess and what would you have to do to prove that you were just as valuable as the others. I can only image the life he must have as well; the humiliation and persecution he would face because he doesn't fit in.

     This book reminds of what it would be like for a normal person to live in a world of Elementalists, and I can't imagine it would be pretty. As well, I can imagine the envy and the admiration that Thomas would have for the Elementalists. To the point where he would do something drastic when pirates show up and take everyone. Okay, stop! Pirates kidnap a tiny group of Elementalists? I think not! If just one of them had gotten a grip and acted, I believe that they could have stayed.

     So we have a group of pacifist Elementalists that end up getting kidnapped and Thomas gets his chance to show why he should be treated, or respected the same way they are. While I enjoy the premise that Thomas wants to prove himself, that just because you are different doesn't mean you don't deserve respect, or the same treatment as the others. I don't buy into the whole past bit. I mean it's been overdone so many times, "Because of our past, you will hate us and ...." C'mon, do something more unique with this! I was very interested in this book until the last few sentences and it killed it. I may still pick this book up and read it, but with a sour taste in my mouth.

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[Stacking the Shelves] - #24

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your bookshelf, be it the physical one or your digital one!

      The list is slowly getting shorter. This week there is a list of books that I picked up a while back when I was on vacation in Napperville, IL. And what can I say, I love Anderson's Bookshop, if you have a chance stop by there and take a peak around. They have a great selection of books, signed and not, and if they don't have what you are after, they are friendly and are willing to help you anyway they can. I love them!

     This week, most of these I believe I picked up were signed. Yes I paid a bit more for them, but I cherish the books on my shelf, and I am hoping sometime in my lifetime I would love to get all the books on my shelf signed. It would be an honor and frankly, would complete my collection. Most of these books are focusing around heartbreak and pure emotion. I hope you all find the books as thought invoking as I did, and pick one of them up along the way!

Personal Effects

Unspoken

Blind Spot

Cold Fury

The Tragedy Praper

Mailbox Pickup:

Title:Personal Effects

   Author: E.M. Kokie

   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 11th, 2012

     Seventeen-year-old Matt Foster thought that if he could only get his hands on his brother's stuff from Iraq, he'd be able to make sense of his death. He wasn't expecting T.J.'s personal effects to raise even more questions about his life. Now, even if it means pushing his dad over the edge . . . even if it means losing his best friend . . . even if it means getting expelled from school . . . Matt will do whatever it takes to find out the truth about his brother's past. With compassion, humor, and a compelling narrative voice, E. M. Kokie explores grief and self-discovery in this powerful first novel.

      I honestly am not sure what pulled me the most toward this book. Whether it was the pure emotion it would take to find your brother's personal effects and only be more confused by what it means. I am not sure I would be up to the task, or the rollercoaster it would be to go through what remained of a loved one. I as well, am not sure what would stop me from finding the answers I wanted out. Maybe that's why I was pulled to this book, the pure fact that I could relate to the character so well.

     Now in this book, when I first read the synopsis I thought of the If I Stay series. I hope the emotion, the loss, and most of all the pure heartbreak and loss is there. Without that, I don't believe this book would be all that rememberable. As well, the anger of losing a loved one and not finding the answers he is seeking should be there, without those emotions the character falls apart, and becomes completely fake, or unrelatable.

---

Title: Unspoken

   Author: Sarah Rees Brennan

   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 11th, 2012

     Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

     But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

     The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

      Sarah has created a beast here, and the synopsis does nothing but make that beast larger and more exciting to read. When I got to the end of the second paragraph in the synopsis, I thought I understood what was going on, but when the next paragraph becomes with the Lynburn family coming back, I found myself completely lost. The questioned at the end were never addressed prior to Kami's past, but they create that past in an instant and makes it so the "crazy" girl isn't so crazy anymore.

     So a tale about finding the boy you have always loved, and spoken to everyday in your head, or your mind's eye whichever way you choose. However, I find this rather absurd. How can you love someone you have never met? How would you know what they look like? Okay you can dream about them all you want, but seeing them for once changes everything, the perception becomes reality. I understand that last question, Can she still love him, now that he's real? But the rest, that's up in the air when the past gets explained better.

---

Title:Blind Spot

   Author: Laura Ellen

   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: October 23rd, 2012

     There’s none so blind as they that won’t see.

     Seventeen-year-old Tricia Farni’s body floated to the surface of Alaska’s Birch River six months after the night she disappeared. The night Roz Hart had a fight with her. The night Roz can’t remember. Roz, who struggles with macular degeneration, is used to assembling fragments to make sense of the world around her. But this time it’s her memory that needs piecing together—to clear her name . . . to find a murderer.

     This unflinchingly emotional novel is written in the powerful first-person voice of a legally blind teen who just wants to be like everyone else.

     Blind spot I loved instantly. The fact that someone who is blind and was present at the time of a murder, but apparently to records, she was the only one there. Which leaves one question, how can a blind person kill someone? And the better question, did she do it? I love how this synopsis sets her disability, or trait, and expands on that to make the world Tricia lives in a harder and harsher world than what we live in. I am not saying it's all that bad, but her struggle to be normal and normal people's perception probably aren't exactly what she wants.

     Tricia normally is used to piecing together the bits of color and images she gets to see the world around her, and I know that I take sight for granted, and I don't know what I would do if I couldn't see all the beauty around me. So how would I handle if I couldn't entirely see the murder I was around, and what if my mind actually pushed it behind. Would I want to remember what happened, and explain it to the people? There is a choice in this book, and a world that I don't entirely understand; I hope this is nothing but grand.

---

Title: Cold Fury

   Author: T.M. Goeglein

   Format: Paperback
   Release Date: July 24th, 2012

     Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure

     Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

     Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

     Action packed, with fresh, cinematic writing, Cold Fury is a riveting and imaginative adventure readers will devour.

     Cold Fury is one of those books that drew me in the moment, I read the synopsis. Now I have to say I am bias on this so take what I am about to say with a grain of salt; I absolutely loved the Jason Bourne series and frankly this book oozes every bit of that series. I am holding this to a similar standard, and I will make sure that doesn't play into the review of the book. I may even have to take my spy DvDs and hide them away prior to reading this. :P

     The issue I have with this book is the age. How could Sara know the necessary skills, and the martial arts or whatever that it would take to be held up to that series? I am a bit intrigued by Sara, and her persona. And what exactly is it that the mob is after with her parents? Why is Sara wanted dead? And the notebook? I am sure the notebook is more or less the ledger or accounting information of who owes who, and names. But if it was me, I would turn that book over to the police and try to get my parents back that way, not chase after the mob and take it into my own hands. I will have to get into the book to more or less give a better perception.

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Title: The Tragedy Paper

   Author: Elizabeth LaBan

   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: January 8th, 2013

     Tim Macbeth, a seventeen-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is “Enter here to be and find a friend." A friend is the last thing Tim expects or wants—he just hopes to get through his senior year unnoticed. Yet, despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential “It" girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving’s most popular boy. To Tim's surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, but she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone ever finds out. Tim and Vanessa begin a clandestine romance, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher.

     Jumping between viewpoints of the love-struck Tim and Duncan, a current senior about to uncover the truth of Tim and Vanessa, The Tragedy Paper is a compelling tale of forbidden love and the lengths people will go to keep their love.

     When I read this I thought immediately, "The Modern-day Romeo and Juliet." I hope this book holds up to that idea. A book in which a forbidden romance is pursued and while at school Tim needs to write a paper called The Tragedy Paper. Tim being nearly a nobody, with absolutely no social status or social identity, he's attracted to one of the most popular and noticed girl in the school, Vanessa. The problem with this love and this romance is the fear of losing that social status, and what it would mean to lose the person you love because they don't want to fall from the perch.

     However, there is a flip side to the whole situation. What if Vanessa did give up her status, gave up everything to show how much she cared for Tim, and in the end the Tragedy would be how everyone turned their back on Vanessa? I doubt that will  happen in this book, simply because that's not as big of tragedy as the first. I think completely that the book will focus on Tim and his loss of Vanessa, it's something I would rather read about and something I find a lot of readers can relate to. The loss, of a love one to a situation out of our control.

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[Update] - 04-07-2013

      Oh this week on the one simple update I have rolled out. I wanted to get my readers more involved and show them just what books I am looking at for my next selection of books to read. In my interest to get people involved, every so often I will post a poll on the blog with the four books that I am looking at and will read the winner of the poll when I finish the book I am currently on. There really isn't a timeline for when the poll ends, just when I finish the book I am on.

     This week on the poll is a series of dystopia sequels that I have been looking to finish. And while there is one book that ends the series and the other three are the second book in the series, I hope the poll should be equal. I have a favorite and I will give that away at the end of the poll, so till then you'll have to wait to see who I am rooting for.

     I don't want to do this every time I choose a book, because while it brings people to the blog and see what I am looking at reading. However, if I did I would run out of themes to run to poll on. This week is the Dystopia series, that are currently going on. I believe the next poll will be Contemporary Books, I will reveal the four books when the time comes but till then, I hope to see your votes!

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[Teasing Trailers] - #3 Blood Red Road

Teasing Trailers are a random events, hosted here, that highlights a new/post released book trailer of great reads or books that we're dying to get our hands on...

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

      Now this is a prime example of what I expect out of the good trailer. The trailer answers enough questions about the book and pulls you into the book, and the premise that I guarantee you will feel utterly engaged afterwards. Blood Red Road boars this female character that has some femininity but mainly its her strength and perseverance that saves everyone.

     The focus of this trailer lies on Saba, and that makes me sad. And the greatest motivator in this book, the book intro. When Lugh is taken from Saba, and nothing about Lugh or Jack is mentioned. Okay Lugh is briefly and there's no mention of why Saba needs to save him. I was disappointed with the lack of the other characters, but if you look at the book Saba is the main character, but her strength and her stubbornness pours through every choice and event.

     So back to Saba and the fact that this trailer is focused on her primarily. First off her character and her essence is captured nearly perfectly in this piece. However, there are times where she is compassionate (however few times that may be), so I wished there was more depth to her. Then there is the location of this tailer compared to the book. The location and what's happening to Saba right now, is only a small... small portion of what the book is about.

     I enjoy everything about the trailer though, it does get you involved more than any trailer I have seen thus far. Blood Red Road is definitely one of my more memorable reads, if not one of my favorites of all times. I would recommend the book to anyone, and if you think you may be interested in this book take a look at the trailer.

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[Waiting on Wednesday] - #21

          Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!

Title:  Taken

   Author: Erin Bowman

   Release Date: April 16th, 2013

     There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

     They call it the Heist.

     Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

     Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

My Stance:

     So this is a new book debuting from a new author and more and more I find myself looking at this book and drooling. I love the premise of this book, and it seems to be deeper than most of the young adult books; the greater good of the group. Meaning I believe in the society that Gray lives in, the older generation chooses to Heist all the eighteen year-olds and do what with them, we don't know. But it can't at all be good if they never come back, I'm going to say slave labor.

     Gray believes though he can escape over the wall, that to many is viewed as suicide. However, when the society threats to kill you anyone, why not risk jumping over the wall. My question is, at the end of this synopsis the Wall becomes the utter focus and the point at which everything drives toward. Does this Wall keep the people in or was it designed to keep something out? That's the better question, like in the Delirium series, the fences and walls that were erected were presented and done to keep the people in just as much as they were to keep people out. That would help drive the point home, in the plot and the synopsis. I am glad she didn't answer that question here, because it gives me something to look forward to.

     There is one lacking point to this book, a girl for a possible romance or relationship. I am sad that there is no other talk of suspect of this in the synopsis, and it leave a huge hole that seems completely unlikely. So the only choices for Gray is staying and letting whatever the Council does during the Heist happen to him, or simply just leave your family (which I am sure they would urge him to go) and try to escape. I don't see the choice as very hard, but if you add a significant relationship in the mix and she begs him to escape or stay, that changes the whole perspective.

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[Featured Discussion] - Movies vs. Books

     This is a new segment, Featured Discussion. Where, I am looking at heading with this segment is more of a opinion based discussion. There is some that will be true and fact, but for the main part I want a good discussion, and I want people to chime in and talk. I will make my opinion and comments known as well. However please, PLEASE do not insult or degrade anyone else.

Featured Discussion:

     When I was looking around at upcoming books, I happened to find myself on Epic Reads website (Here), and found this to be a great topic to add my two cents on this matter. First off I'll give you what Epic Reads proposes on the topic:

"It’s great to see the film adaptations of your favorite books, but one does not replace the other. Not only could they differ in plot, but you miss out on language and structure and description and secondary characters and all those lovely words. Perhaps work a movie into your book club schedule by planning to read a book and then watching the film version as a group. Then you can discuss how the two compare!"

      First off I know most of you will answer the same way, or that's my expectations on this topic. However, I am known to be wrong and hope that those who view this topic differently than myself, to share their opinions and suggestions with me. That's part of the reason I love books, the interpretations and different meanings each person can come to, all while looking at the same thing; so I would love to hear from you and see your opinions as well.

     Okay into the topic, first off I haven't seen a lot of movies that have turned into books, at least that I am aware of. However, when I took the time to go see The Hunger Games, I am going to have to find another book to relate to or another first, I was so interested in the movie it made me want to read the book. That's in my opinion how a good movie should be done. A movie shouldn't replace a book and a book shouldn't replace a movie; I have to agree with the original poster of this picture that the two should be treated separately.

     When I finished reading the first book, The Hunger Games I was so upset with how much of the book was left out of the movie, that happens all the time and more often than not people are willing to ignore it and say the movie was better. Okay there may be some cases, but in my opinion more often than not, that's not the case. If you have to leave some important facts or character building events out, eventually that will play some sort of role in the movie and eventually the fact X is left out will mean near the end something will have to be left out. And I find that saddening and disheartening.

     Movies and books, I enjoy both, but if I had to pick which one I would prefer over the other. I would have to say, Books. They are more in depth with the environment; Okay, let me explain, movies don't leave anything to the imagination, I am free to help fill in some of the blanks and make the story more unique to me. The characters in books allow the reader to connect to; in movies, I find myself disassociated with the characters in movies, and wondering why they are doing what they are doing.

     Don't get me wrong I love movies, it's just when you want to compare which one would let me get into the plot and the characters more, it would definitely be the book. However, they both allow their own unique interpretation on the story. The movie tends to be more focused on the directors, actors, and those affiliated with the specified movie and their interpretations of what the plot and the story is; whereas, the book lends itself on the author and the reader to the interpretation of the book. I want to feel like the author is getting me involved, as well as the director and when there is nothing to the imagination in a movie, I feel left out.

     So in closing I treat movies and books completely different. They are two different types of media and they convey two different types of interpretations of a similar story. However, the two have different groups that aid in the intrepretation, and aid in how much the view/reader are involved. My stance is simple, treat the two differently, view them differently, and don't really compare the two. There is no good correlation between the two and how good one is as compared to the other and saying that because the movie was good the book has to be good too, isn't always justified.

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[Flashback Friday] - #23

     Flashback Friday is a weekly event, hosted here, that highlights a past released that we're dying to get our hands on...

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!

Title:  XVI

   Author: Julia Karr

   Release Date: April 2nd, 2013

     Every girl gets one.
     An XVI tattoo on the wrist--sixteen.

     Some girls can't wait to be sixteen, to be legal. Nina is not one of them. Even though she has no choice in the matter, she knows that so long as her life continues as normal, everything will be okay.

     Then, with one brutal strike, Nina's normal is shattered; and she discovers that nothing that she believed about her life is true. But there's one boy who can help--and he just may hold the key to her past.

     But with the line between attraction and danger as thin as a whisper, one thing is for sure...

     For Nina, turning sixteen promises to be anything but sweet.

My Stance:

      First of all the cover caught my eye right away. XVI with a girls face in it, and at first when I looked at this I didn't see the XVI and was looking all over for the title of the book. It wasn't until I opened the book that I found the title of the book. I love the idea of the letters, and it makes you want to open the book and find out what they mean, only to be more confused than when you started.

     XVI is the tattoo every sixteen year-old gets on their wrist. However, Nina doesn't want to be one of those girls, she wants to be normal. To me this is a metaphor for not wanting to grow up and be an adult. I don't know if that's exactly what's trying to be conveyed or if there is some other meaning; dystopian, romance, or some other genre that would pull that metaphor in another direction. There is a mention of a boy, but there's no name, only the notion that he may hold some of the past that Nina has been asking about.

     Now, the end is a twist on the whole Sweet Sixteen tradition, however I am completely confused at what the purpose of the synopsis served this book. I know the main characters name and vaguely some details about the society she lives in. However, that's about it, I am left so open on the rest of the book that I am not sure what to initially think of this book, and that scares me more than it helps me.

     So I turned to my fellow Goodreads friends and most of them rated this book LOW, within 1.0-2.0 ratings across the board. And frankly, I am not impressed with those reviews. Something is drastically wrong, and I will admit I didn't read the review at the moment now, because most of them did contain spoils that I wanted to avoid. I will pick up this book, not because I am genuinely interested in the book itself; more so on the reason this book is getting ranked so low. I want to find out for myself, and dig into this book to figure out why people are rating this book so low.

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[Book Review] - Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Title: Something Strange and Deadly

   Author: Susan Dennard

   Series: #1 - Something Strange and Deadly
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: July 24th, 2012
   My Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

     The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

     Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

     The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

     And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

     Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

My Review:

     I love that this is a book that takes place in an older generation / time period. As well, I love how the dialogue, the behavior, and even the mannerisms help capture the older time period completely, and even Eleanor just sounds like the 1800s. At first when I read the synopsis for this book I was on edge, I didn't think I would enjoy how the book was written. I have never really been a fan of old english writing, but Susan you have changed me.

     The femininity in Eleanor was great! Her character showed the raw beauty and elegance of the time period. I loved that she wasn't just some weak-hearted girl of the 1800's; there was scenes with Eleanor that showed how much strength and passion she has in her. I loved that complexity in her character and hoped that more characters were like her. Granted she's not like a Saba, of Blood Red Road, or a Katniss, from The Hunger Games, but she is such a unique character that she stands out as well.

     Her brother is a character that I was hoping to see more of, but his character was probably the most predictable of all. Which is why this book failed in receiving any higher ranking than it did. Her brother is the entire point of the plot and after the first chapter I had nailed just who he was and what he was after. From the beginning of the book the plot never really twisted, it was just a simple straight shot to the end and I felt no real involvement in the plot or any on your seat sort of thrill.

     The only thrill I did find to this book was the brooding romance of Eleanor and Daniel. I hoped that they would get together and share a common good relationship. That happens sort of and they more or less seam to help each other and aid each other in going after the common enemy. It seemed more of a half fluid relationship than anything else really; and I was really disappointed that none of them really had it out and laid their love on the line. It was more of a forced relationship or something that half seemed natural and the other half fiction.

      The Spirit Hunters were humorous, not in the unbelievable or humiliating to writing sense, but it was a diverse group for the time period and while I understand some of the concepts behind their personas, there was this cohesion between all of them that makes me smile and just buy into them. Jie was my comic relief through the book and she makes the novel a little more light and down to earth.

     The book takes place in Philadelphia, and the location I wasn't sure or didn't know anything about. The scenery was great, and while I was reading the book, the scenery was what stuck in the back of my head. The environment made this book better, and in fact help bring this rating up a bit higher than I probably should have given it. The graveyards, the museums, and even the elegant victorian city around was just mesmerising.

     Now, if you follow the blog at all, you may see that I have actually gotten this book signed by Susan in person. I loved how noticeable and honest she was. She's a great character and while I have seen her, I want to state right now, meeting her had no impact on how this review went. I wanted to give an honest opinion and that's the reason, as well, that I waited so long from getting the signature to reading the book. I wanted to ensure that this book was purely honest, and non-biased.

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[Book Playlist] - The Madman's Daughter

     
     Now while you may understand that I love books and pretty much anything with words. There is also this time where music helps push the scenes and the mood of the book further. Most books will have a playlist and while I am a fan of fan-made playlists, I want to show what the author was listening to or what the author suggest would be a great compilation album to go with the book. Now while I am not sure if this is a correct first appearance of the this segment or if this is even from Megan Shephard, but I acquired it from Epic Reads and their public playlists. I highly suggest everyone to get on Spotify, and check them out.

The Madman's Daughter, a book about a psychopath father and his daughter trying to find him and put a stop to his madness. I want to come back to this, more than likely I'll edit this and add a EDIT descriptor at the end to show the change, but I want to come back after I read this book and add my opinion on what the music did, and how it helped shape my views on the book and the scenes. My initial thoughts though, is the music is so dark and gloomy that it brings to life this angsty vibe that makes me look at the shadows around the rooms differently. I view the book as this dark entranced world, in which the psychopath lives. The music brings her father to life, and I can see his anger, his tormented personality brooding in every note! Check it out!

First off there is a reason I choose to use Spotify, first off its a free music streaming application. Of course, if you wanted to avoid ads you could sign up and pay for the premium service. However, I am not and will not be endorsed by Spotify and I am not forced to use their program, I choose to because frankly I believe it's one of the best steaming communities out there.

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[Stacking the Shelves] - #23

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your bookshelf, be it the physical one or your digital one!

      The list goes on, and the work continues growing on making headway on the long list of books. Its been awhile, since I have fallen behind. I hope to make up for it, I will do my first series review of The Hunger Games this week and possibly do more than that this weekend. I need to add to my quotes folder, and get some more books that just rivet me. As well I have a few other things I want to try; an image for my rankings so it'd be easier to know what means what. As well as an update to rankings page to better update it. There is a lot on my list of things to do.

     This week on Mailbox Monday I bring you a smaller segment. The start to a series, whose playlist I can't stop listening to, a series that I have been interested in and an author who I've heard good things of and just can't wait to get into her novels, and other smaller novels that I have acquired over the week.

The Madman’s Daughter

Switched

Torn

Ascend

Undeadly

Mailbox Pickup:

Title:The Madman's Daughter

   Author: Megan Shepherd

   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: January 29th, 2013

     In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

     Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

     Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

     Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

      I looked at this book and found that the book was riveting. The concept is grand, and I love how the man, or father, however you want to describe it is on a warpath of knowledge. I get the impression that this father, wants to know why humans work, and he believes he can't use humans yet for some reason, so he's using animals. When one of the animals becomes human, and begins to act just like a human, it begs the question, what does it mean to be human?

     I found that the book brought a great interest to me about, how fantastic the idea of a daughter going after her father. When she fully knows what he's doing, the experiments he's doing. But what boggles my mind most about this novel, is the idea that the fathers assistem, is helping find her father. Than when they do find him, what are they going to do with him? How is his end going to play out at the hands of his daughter?

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Title: Switched

   Author: Amanda Hocking

   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: January 3rd, 2012

     When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

     Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

     Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

      Amanda Hocking, is a great author, from what I have heard. This is the series I have been looking at, and looking around at my shelves I thought the one empty space would be good with this series. Amanda Hocking is one of those great paranormal romances. I found that this series, quite fascinating. The girl, Wendy sounds interesting, the thought of imaging what it would be like to live as human, then turn around and learn that you aren't; in fact, the furthest thing from human.

     Wendy and Finn, a couple, who are the furthest thing from human than possible. A Changeling, I wonder what that is, and in the synopsis it would be ideal if they would at least hint at the meaning of this. A shapeshifter? That's a possibility, but at the same there is a chance that there is more to it than just that. As well, Finn is a character whose world is far beyond what I thought and the mystery behind who he is and what he is, is more than just a few simple questions.

The following two books are presented for your indulgence, but nothing more. I don't like to read or look in anticipate books or sequels in books that I haven't read the first book. 

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Title:Torn

   Author: Amanda Hocking

   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: April 24th, 2012

     When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…

     She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

     Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds.

     

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Title: Ascend

   Author: Amanda Hocking

   Format: Paperback
   Release Date: April 24th, 2012

     Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself. If she doesn’t surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe. But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind…even if it’s the only way to save them?

     The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn’t the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice…who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end.

     Everything has been leading to this moment. The future of her entire world rests in her hands—if she’s ready to fight for it.

     

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Title: Undeadly

   Author: Michele Vail

   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: November 20th, 2012

     The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...

     Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she's shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite boarding school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath.

     Life at Nekyia has its plusses. Molly has her own personal ghoul, for one. Rick follows her there out of the blue, for another...except, there's something a little off about him. When students at the academy start to die and Rath disappears, Molly starts to wonder if anything is as it seems. Only one thing is certain—-Molly's got an undeadly knack for finding trouble....

     I have always had a knack for the whole necromancy scene and when that notion meets the young-adult scene. Anyways, I love how Michele Vail creates this whole necromancy essence. Her boyfriend coming back to life, and the whole Rick persona. Makes me wonder who the boyfriend is, and who is Rick? I wonder, who she loves, who the romance is.

     A world where necromancers are real, and the dead coming back to life. Makes you wonder what she would do if something did happen to the one she loved; raise all of Nekyia to protect the one she loves. Rath, her tutor, who she reversed some work that he did. I get the feeling there is more to Rath than meets the eye. I would love to get to see Rath, and understand the motives behind him, there has to be more to his character than just some rogue necromancer gone astray.

     Then the final thing, I love the twist on the whole necromancer persona. When I vision a necromancer, I see black robes and a person who is so vilely evil that the dead awaken in fear of him. As well, when I view this synopsis, I see the exact opposite in Molly. I see a world in which she uses the dead, not as a means, but to fix what the normal persona of necromancers would do. She's a justification and purity behind the dead, not just some tormentor.

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[Waiting on Wednesday] - #20

          Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!

Title:  If You Find Me

   Author: Emily Murdoch

   Release Date: March 26th, 2013

     There are some things you can’t leave behind…

     A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

     Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

My Stance:

     If You Find Me really never made it on my watch list till I was at a Barnes and Noble recently and was looking through some of their new releases, and picked this book up. The cover is what got me, the girl is just beautiful, the eyes is what gets you. But as I started reading the cover, became more confusing and the story grew on me more than anything. And yet there is parts of the synopsis that confuse me to no end.

     In the start of the book, there is Carey and Janessa, I am assuming Carey is the main character. Carey and Janessa live in the woods with their mother, who is mentally ill. Now, when I got to this point I understood that their life would be rough if they were campers or just roughing it in the woods. But at the same time, when you get further you begin to realize they aren't there in the woods for no reason. That Carey and Janessa were abducted by their "mother."

     I don't understand, if their mother was mentally ill, why didn't they just seize a chance to run away? Instead they waited for the moment two men come in and "save" them. Than Janessa doesn't speak at all either, because of some secret that's happened to her. What has to happen to someone to make them not speak? Rape? Abuse? So the book puts these two girls into school and hopes them well, while they adjust to a new world, and the secrets they have to keep, to keep each other safe.

     I like this book because it's a tale of sacrifices, and love for your family/sister. Carey seems to be sacrificing parts of her, to keep her sister safe. I love the fact that Carey seems to want to keep Janessa safe at all cost, and it's that kind of family love I hope every brother/sister has; a never-ending love. In their new world, I am sure they would have to have new foster parents, in order to go to High School, they would need some place to go home to. I am thoroughly interested in this novel.

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