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Friday, September 14, 2012

Book Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

About 10 years ago or so, I attended the World Fantasy Book Convention that was held in Baltimore. I took a week off planning to take in some sights as well as the convention and then onto Washington D.C, which I had never actually been to before. Sure through or around, but never stopping in to check things out...like the Vietnam War Memorial where I found my uncle's name. Everything I experienced in DC was deeply moving. It was only a day or two spent there, but the impact was profound. My favorite stop was the Koren War Memorial. I had never seen anything like it and if any of you are ever in DC, I recommend it. I also saw the Star Wars exhibit with all the props, costumes and such, but this isn't about DC.

We spent most of the time around the Inner Harbor. There are great places to eat, lots of neat little shops and that is where the convention was. The convention itself was somewhat unremarkable, the memory now hazy and lost to time, but we had run into a friend of ours and his date and decided to take in some sights.

Baltimore is the land of Poe and for whatever reason, we decided to go on a walking tour of Baltimore to find the Poe House. In retrospect, this was not one of the brightest ideas we had ever had.

We actually did pass the church where Poe is entombed, but didn't stop to pay our respects. We didn't have a lot of time and were on a quest. The Inner Harbor is very clean, well policed, it's a commerce center, a tourist attraction and a safe place to be. However, it doesn't take long moving away from the Inner Harbor area to feel the depression of parts of the city. The clean modern brick landscape soon gives way to a more desolate cityscape. The buildings are older, more run down. There are a lot of people just sitting outside on their porches or hanging out in front of their houses, the neighborhood not altogether savory.

We were following the signs to the Poe House and found ourselves winding deeper and deeper into the labyrinth, the seedy side of Baltimore. To quote a wise on, "You will never see a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious." Only, apparently, we didn't get the memo.

As we walked, we could feel the eyes of all the locals resting on us, following us. We even heard some laughing, as if they couldn't believe we were crazy enough to be there. We walked for probably a couple hours, but couldn't find the place. So with much trepidation, we broke down and asked one of the locals. Luckily, he was a trustworthy sort and gave us accurate directions. We found the place not long after that, only to find the museum was only open on Fridays from like 2 - 4.

It was Thursday.

Book Description (From Amazon):
Publication Date: August 30, 2011 (Paperback Edition)
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted - nevermore!

-- from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

At once an homage to one of America's greatest writers and a page-turning psychological mystery that is equal parts horror, humor, and romance, NEVERMORE is the story of Varen -- a Poe-fan and goth -- and Isobel -- a cheerleader and unlikely heroine. When a Lit. project pairs the two together, Isobel finds herself steadily swept into Varen's world, one that he has created in his notebook and in his mind, one where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. Isobel slowly learns that dreams can be much more powerful than she'd ever expected, and that pain and despair come in all shades. As labels of "goth" and "cheerleader" fade away, she sees more in Varen than a tall, pale outcast, and a consuming romance is braced against the ever-clearer horror that the most terrifying realities are those within our own minds.

When Isobel has a single chance to rescue Varen from the shadows of his own nightmares, will she be able to save him -- and herself?

My Review:
Finally.....I have been wanting to write about this book forever. I had actually pre-ordered the book back in 2010 based on the book cover alone and found the title to be intriguing. I read the synopsis, a good premise, and I was predisposed to love it on the spot. I couldn't wait for the book to arrive. When it did, I immediately tore into, spent a few nights getting way too little sleep as I was pulled into the Varen's dark gothic world.

It was beautiful, poetic, dark and mysterious. When I finished the book, I became, pensive if not downright moody. The story haunted me and I couldn't stop thinking about it. This lasted probably about a week. I couldn't read anything else immediately after, I thought about it at night when I tried to go to sleep, but my dreams, I believe, were at least free of the influence of this book.

Isobel seems to have it all, she's on the Cheer squad, dates the quarterback of the football team, has all the right friends and is popular. She has everything she ever wanted and her life is perfect. That is until she is paired with the resident goth boy on an English class project.

Varen seems to be a bit of a loner. He's dark and moody, has a lip ring, wears combat books and the only color in his wardrobe seems to be black except for a green mechanics jacket he wears. He is thought to be one of the biggest freaks in the school by the popular crowd. And he frequently powers the rumor mill from being a serial killer to a vampire and drinks blood, that he lived in the basement of an abandoned church and my favorite, that he slept in a coffin. He seems to look down his nose at all the bright, shiny people and his biggest aspiration is just to be invisible and left alone. He does hang with a crowd at school, all the goths and PIBs, but he seems to always be on the edge and never really seeming at home. A tormented soul.

In class, they are all given time to meet with partners and discuss ideas for the project. Varen just sits in the back and doesn't move. Isobel, expecting him to come to her, gets up and goes over to his desk. She just stands there while he stares off at nothing. Finally, not being able to take the awkward silence a moment longer, she tells him she is not doing the work all by herself. His response is that he isn't either. They seem to be getting off on the wrong foot, but then, for Isobel, the encounter enters the realm of the bizarre when he grabs her hand and writes is phone number on the back of her hand...in purple ink.

They're project?  On Edgar Allan Poe. 

When her boyfriend, Brad, finds out, he naturally threatens Varen and gets a little rough with him. So naturally, Varen blames Isobel, whom he believes has told her boyfriend to beat him up. I have to say, Brad is a big jerk and I find little redeeming quality about him. Isobel, Brad and "the crew" hang out every weekend, but it's like the same 6 people. Doesn't she have any other friends.

Isobel seems vapid, shallow and self-centered, but that is all appearance. She makes arrangements to meet with Varen at the library, but tells her friends she can't hang out because she has a dentists appointment. They do see through her deception and give her the cold shoulder. Varen tries to warn her that her friends know she lied to them by passing her a note, which ultimately ends up in the hands of Brad. Isobel tries to make up with Brad who takes her back, but after a big game, they all go for ice cream, which Isobel finds out is where Varen works. They trash the place, bully him and Brad almost steals money from the register until Isobel finally wakes up and smells the coffee and intercedes demanding they leave the shop. She breaks up with Brad, finally, and stays to help Varen clean up the shop. It is here where her heart starts to change.

There is mystery. What happened to Varen to make him the way he is? Why is he so tortured? He will let certain things out, but is quick to put up walls no one can breach if anyone gets too close. He's a poet and an artist, but what is he writing about? When he stays away from home, where does he go?

There is horror. Isobel finds that since she has become acquainted with Varen, she sees things...in mirrors, which is just creepy as all get out. She feels like she's being watched and one night while trying to run home through the park, she is actually followed, but by what or whom?

There's danger. Someone or something is definitely out to get Isobel, but why? She feels like her life is in danger and it has only been since she started working with Varen on the class project.

There are so many unanswered questions, like who is Reynolds and where does he come from? Where does he go when he disappears? What is his connection to Poe? Who is "She" that Varen is always referring to? Once Isobel starts to unlock Varen's secrets, how far will she go to unlock them all and will she wish she hadn't?

The book climaxes at an All Hallows Eve dance, by invitation only, called the Grim Facade. It turns into a night of terror where Poe's stories come to life.

This is one of those books that would not allow me to put it down until I had devoured it. With the sequel, Enshadowed, due out, I decided to read the book again just because. Even though I already knew what was to come, I was still on the edge of my seat, gripping my pillow in a kung-fu grip, not able to turn the pages fast enough.

From Varen's journal:
She stood in the mist, waiting for him again,
always in the same place.
He always asked the same question.
"What do you want me to do?"
She never answered. She couldn't. All she
could do was stare, reaching toward him with
her gaze alone, pulling him to drown in the
sorrow of those depthless black pools.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Swoon Thursday




Swoon Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by http://yabound.blogspot.com/

Here's how it works:
From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Soooooooo...I was planning on actually writing a review, but then I realized it is Swoon Thursday and I just happened to finish a book last night that did make me melt from time to time.

I have raved about Nevermore By Kelly Creagh and it was my Swoon for last week.  I just finished the sequel, Enshadowed, and in keeping with the theme, I have chosen it as my Swoon for this week.  So without further delay...



I keep telling myself
That you're
just a girl.

Another leaf blown across my path
Destined to pass on
And shrivel into yourself
Like all the others.

Yet despite my venom

You refuse to wither

Or fade.

You remain golden throughout,

And in your gaze I am left to wonder if it is me alone

Who feels the fall.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2012

So, here it is, Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2012. This is a first for me. I have seen that there are really great themes for the whole week, but I will not be able to participate every day due to workload, OT being required and boxes that have taken on a life of their own.

However, today is supposed to be about appreciation and that is something I can get behind 100%.

First and foremost, I would like to thank all my friends out there who have chosen to follow my blog. I only had one follower for the longest time, still have a long way to go, but I still get a thrill when I see another friend following me. Thank you all for allowing me to share some time with you.

I would also like to thank everyone who has taken the time to stop by and leave a comment. I really do try to respond to every comment I get. I love having the opportunity to make new friends and to check out what they have going on. I may not always share similar interests with the friends I follow, but I am always interested in seeing what everyone has to say, what every one's been reading and let's not forget what every one's been getting in the mail. It's been a really long time since I've been able to geek out about books.

However, I would like to take a moment to send out a personal thank you. I have only been blogging since February and it has been a very slow start for me. It has been not a little daunting to see how sophisticated everyone is with their blog designs, their gadgets, content, etc. And I know I have a long way to go. A long way.

My friend Terri over at Alexia's Books and Such has been a long time friend and partner in crime. I allow her to have all the Mexican food she wants to eat when we have lunch and she allows me plausible deniability when I come home with packages after an outing. But it's much more than that.

Terri has been bugging me for eons to start a blog and I kept meaning to, but somehow never got around to or had the time. However, her patient yet persistent urging finally persuaded me to take that tremendous first step and I will be eternally grateful!

Wouldn't have done it without you, P, so thanks! And no, that doesn't mean you are getting any of my Neil Gaiman stuff to thank you. Sorry.

And to all my friends I have met and friends I have yet to meet, in this week of Book Blogger Appreciation, I say hail and well met! Thank you all for your inspiration, guidance, insight, thoughts and opinions. And thank you for spending a little bit of time with me and allowing me to share some with you!

It's Just Another Manga Monday: La Corda d'Oro 16 by Yuki Kure

It's just another manic Monday (for me). I wish it was Sunday. That's my fun day. My I don't have to run day. But it's not Sunday and today felt like I slammed my head through a brick wall to get to the work week.  Ah, the Go Gos.  How could you not love them?  Makes me want to rat my hair, wear lace gloves and rubber bracelets.  Well, perhaps not.

After working 11 hours, going to the grocery store and sorting through 6 comic boxes of Star Wars comics (which I am told equates to about 900 comics), and I am done for the day. I just want to read Enshadowed and here it is 11:30 already and I still have to wash up.

A blogger's day is never done, though, and I can't fore go my weekly manga post.

Alison Can Read started a weekly Manga Monday meme which I have jumped on. I've been reviewing manga from the start, but it is nice to have a place were like minded Otaku can meet and share our favorites. Currently Alison is running through and reviewing one of my favorite mangas, Skip Beat, so check it out.

For today's tasty and tempting morsel, I give you La Corda d'oro vol 16 by Yuki Kure.



Book Description:
Publication Date: August 7, 2012 | Series: La Corda D'oro (Book 16)
Every few years, the prestigious Seisou Academy holds a prominent musical competition, and only the very best students at the Academy are allowed to participate. Though all are eligible to apply, only students from the music department actually make it to the competition...until now.
On the eve of her big music competition, Kahoko should be getting some much-needed sleep…but she can’t stop thinking about Len. When Len reveals just how soon he’s leaving to study abroad, suddenly Kahoko can’t concentrate on music. Can she and Len admit how much they mean to each other before it’s too late? And can Kahoko still turn in a performance worthy of her training?

My Review:
This series still continues to be one of my favorites! I will say, though, that again, the pacing in this installment was a little on the slow side, but it was jam packed with tension and angst.

Kahoko has her big music competition. On the eve of her performance, she finds out that Len is going to be leaving Japan the same day. He had promised to be at her recital, but how can he be in two places at once?

And the only reason she found out is because she took him a thank you gift for all the help he has given her, practicing with her to help her get ready for the recital. She gives him a scarf. Ho hum. No wonder he is leaving Japan.  What is it about the gift giving in these manga where all the girls give the guys scarves or hats? Don't they have any other type of gifts they can give? How about an awesome new CD or some cologne? But I digress...naturally.

Anyway, back to the (in)action. So Kahoko obsesses over the fact that Len is leaving, that he wasn't going to tell her and she doesn't know if he will make it to her performance at the competition. All that pressure is making it hard for her to concentrate and prepare herself for the competition. How does she do? You know I can't divulge that bit of information.

Now to Len. It is obvious he has some feelings for Kahoko, but is he planning on making the recital or is he going to break his promise and just head to the airport? A run in with Ryotaro has him reevaluating his decision about the competition. Does he get there in time or does he turn his back and leave Japan and her behind? It's riveting!


And what of Ryotaro?  With Len out of the way, will he finally make an advance of his own with Kahoko?  Can he make her forget about Len?  For that, we will have to wait and see. It is not in this volume, but the next volume comes out May 7, 2013. Yeah. So there's quite a while to wait for that question to be answered.

Until then, you can satisfy your curiosity with volumes 1 - 16. Time to get reading!

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Stacking the Shelves - The Book Gods have smiled upon me!!!

I have to wonder if I am ever going to not have to deal with any boxes. I don't mean just any box because I'd never be able to buy dry packaged food from the shop again. I am specifically referring to the boxes in my storage unit and now the boxes in my house.

I have always been a bit of a sentimentalist. I keep everything, movie stubs, show tickets and play programs, why I even uncovered my middle school and high school report cards. As I started bringing boxes home, I threw out a bunch of stuff, but felt too attached to a lot of it, especially papers and such. However, I have now been working on this project for over a month, had no kind of summer at all except my vacation to Vermont because all my free time has been taken up working at the storage unit or the boxes in my house. And I'm tired of it all.
 I have given myself a deadline, for the house at least. I have to have all the boxes put away by next weekend as the following weekend I will be heading off to Germany for two weeks to see my brother and sister-in-law and to meet my brand new nephew. I do not want to come back to any boxes. It will be bad enough having to decorate for Halloween when I get back. And look, it's Christmas already. Where does the time go?


Today, I was having a blast. I went through my box of Correspondence from high school and college. Didn't read most of it, just went through and organized. I found a lot of stuff that made me cry, like letters from my Grandmom she sent to me in college. She passed in 2005, but I really still miss her. Lots of letters from my old school mates, some of who I am now in touch with on Facebook, but I was having a laugh over some of the stupid stuff they wrote. So, it was a nice little road trip down memory lane.

My overall weekend project was trying to sort through and make decisions on my comic books I have at the house and organize together with what I brought back from the storage facility last week. I actually have two boxes so far of comics to get rid of, but the fun part about it yesterday was that while I was trying to make decisions about a comic book series, I actually sat on the floor and read them. I haven't read any of my comics in the longest time. So, it felt really good. I also got to read them before I put them in the discard pile, so the money I spent wasn't a complete waste. I got a lot accomplished wi9th that at least, but did absolutely nothing with the stuff downstairs. Comics are being staged in my niece Brianna's room. Hey, she's not here. What she doesn't know won't hurt her. By the time she's over again, the room will be cleaned up...I hope.

Anyway, enough of my ranting and onto the reason for today's post.

So, last week was a pretty big week. I had a lot come in and I bought a couple more. I figured, to make up for the flood of books from last week, I would end up in a book drought for the remainder of the month. Not so, I am happy to report.  The Book Gods must have taken pity on me because they answered my prayers!  I have actually received two books I have been waiting for for what feels like forever.



Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews

 Pre-ordered:
Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh - I am currently reading this one and it is awesome so far!
Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck - This one is the next one on my list and I believe the final book
Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama - This one sounded interesting and I have read a couple reviews, so I am hoping to enjoy it
Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr - You can't go wrong with Melissa Marr
Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs - I am behind on the Medusa series, but I really enjoyed her mermaid books.  This one is book 2.
Supernatural: The Dogs of Edinburgh GN by Brian Wood - While I haven't read any of the comics, Scotland to me feels like home and Edinburgh is a beautiful city, so I figured, what they hey?



Bought (already released):
The Dragon's Winter by James A Owen - James A Owen is a fantastic illustrator.  He works in pen and ink, all black lines.  I had first become aware of him many years back.  He had released a beautiful comic book series called Starchild, but never finished it.  The illustrations in his dragon books are beautiful.
Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout - I had downloaded a sample of this after reading a review from one of my blog buddies.  ( I apologize for not being able to give credit where credit is due.  I really need to start writing this stuff down.)  Anyway, I really liked what I read in the sample and decided to give the series a try.  This is my first book by Jennifer L Armentrout, ,so I am hoping I enjoy the rest as much as the sample.
Conversational Italian by Pimsleur - I know this may seem odd, but I took German and Italian in high school.  No languages in college.  I have been studying up on my German which has come in very handy over the past few years traveling to Europe, but I decided to pick up Italian again after reading Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson.  There was a lot of Italian in the book, but I found that I was able to understand the majority of what was said even though it has been I won't even tell you how many years since school.  I am hoping to get to Italy eventually and I just figured it would be fun to pick it up again.  Besides, I can't wait for the sequel to come out, Kissing in Italian.  No word yet on release date. 
 
Manga received:
Oresama Teacher 10 by Izumi Tsubaki
Otomen 13 by Aya Kanno
Bleach 46 by Tito Kube
Bleach 47 by Tito Kube
Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden 10 by Yuu Watase
Earl and Fairy Vol 3 by Ayuko
Library Wars 8 by Kiiro Yumi
Arata: The Legend 11 Yuu Watase




CDs:

Stay Down by The Smoking Popes  - Love these guys

Well, that is my stash this week.  While not everything has been good this week, at least I have some great books to read that I can't wait to get into.  Hope you all had an equally good week.  Happy Reading!

TTFN!!!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Swoon Thursday: Soul Shattering Kisses


Swoon Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by http://yabound.blogspot.com/

Here's how to do it:
From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog. We want to know!

"He gripped her, though, and pulled her to him. Did he think she might slip through his arms or vanish? Or was his fear that he might? He raised both hands to cup her face, to hold her lips against his own. It was as though the moment was a stolen one, as though every second counted, as though this first kiss was doomed to be their last."

Monday, September 3, 2012

It's Just Another Manga Monday: Skip Beat 28 by Yoshiki Nakamura

Well, it is a Monday, but it is also a holiday which actually makes today Sunday.  At least, that is how it works out in my twisted little mind.  I now have to think about work, well, getting stuff ready for work as I have been out of the office now for 5 days.  I work from home on Thursdays and Fridays.  I didn't have much of a weekend, though, as I  worked overtime on Saturday and Monday.  When not working this weekend, I was at the storage facility or going through boxes back home.

The point of all this, if there really is one, is that while I do not have the normal Monday blues, I still have the blues as I didn't have do anything memorable for this Memorial Day weekend.  I feel like summer is over now and it went out with a sigh, not a bang. 

In between working and dealing with boxes, I was desperately trying to finish reading Nevermore by Kelly Creagh (again) as I should be getting Enshadowed this coming week.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

And since it is Monday and still a blah day with blah weather and now driving to work looming over me, I figured I would talk about one of my favorite mangas, Skip Beat.



Book Description (From Amazon):
Publication Date: July 3, 2012 | Series: Skip Beat (Book 28)
Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences rated teen.
Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he's casting her out now that he's famous! Kyoko won't suffer in silence--she's going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!

Ren’s new roles are dredging up old memories best left buried, and he’s having trouble dealing with the emotional turmoil. But the President was right when he claimed Kyoko was Ren’s good luck charm. Will her strange but good-natured ways be enough to keep him from his own darkness?

My Review:
This issue was like watching an episode of Dark Shadows where the pacing is really slow, nothing happens, but then at the end you get a hint that Quentin might turn into a werewolf. Well, it was like that.  Not a lot happened.

Basically the entire issue was about Ren practicing a driving stunt for his new movie and then actually executing the scene with another driver and Kyoko worrying about the fact that Ren is doing his own stunt driving. She worries about him throughout the entire volume. When there is an accident on the set, Kyoko can't help but leave the set of her own television show to find out what happened on the set of Ren's movie.

Not much happens, but the incident at the set is dredging up memories for Ren. Dark memories he had thought were buried. Just exactly what is it that happened in Ren's past that he can't forgive himself for? I know I can't wait to find out.

Volume 29 is due out October 2.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Stacking the Shelves or My Tragic Life Among the Stacks

So, this week found me back at the storage facility.  Sorry, no pics this week, I was very short on time.  I did manage to get 14 boxes, I believe, in my mini.  Of course they were not huge boxes, but still.  My goal this week was to get through the  remaining comic boxes and figure out what I was going to keep.  In this I was successful.  And I re-stacked everything, so it is all nice and neat.  I didn't actually bring home much in the way of comics, though.  However, I did bring home 9 1/2 boxes full of magazines.

Now, I used to love Mel Gibson as much as the next girl (well before he went all crazy), but I have got to wonder why I have about 15 magazines about Mel.  I have come to the realization that I have not made a lot of smart choices in my role as a consumer within our society.  But perhaps I have?  I mean, I have spent a lot of money over the years for stuff that now is little better than rubbish and the only reason it is better is because I can recycle the paper.  I have a lot of X-Files magazines as well, but while I thought I had a thing for David Duchovny, I now realize I had a thing for Agent Mulder.  Now that X-Files is over and done with (after jumping the shark  with the movie that ruined the franchise), I find I am no longer interested in anything having to do with David Duchovny's personal life.

So, then why purchase this stuff?  I think I finally figured it out.  I love covers, the art work.  Same with calendars.  The images evoke emotions, thoughts, feelings.  So, I see an image and I feel some sort of connection and I know I need to have it.  For example, I currently have 5 calendars at work: Dr Who, Jack Sparrow, The Pittsburgh Penguins (hockey), Return of the King and Inu Yasha.    I like looking at pictures.  So while I have bought enough magazines to build furniture out of, but have not read most of them, I have read a lot of the books I bought for the cover.  Okay, not the entire box of Hildebrandt Brothers covers on mass market paperbacks.  Those I actually collected just for the art work. 

You know, I think I need to seek some help.  I cannot rationalize away all the things I have acquired that I am now uncovering that have been buried for 7 years, but I can tell you that I don't buy anywhere near as much stuff as I used to.  Well, except for books.  And that leads us into.....



Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.


So, I actually had a pretty big week!  So excited!!  Of course, that means I'll probably get diddly squat for the next few weeks.  Karma is a bitch. 

But onto exciting reads!!!

Pre-ordered from Amazon:
                              
Heaven By Alexandra Adornetto (3rd installment of the Halo series) - I am still behind in this series.  I enjoyed book 1, but now that I think about it, I don't believe I actually finished it.  I'll have to rectify that situation.
The Wards of Faerie by Terry Brooks - Terry Brooks is one of the few adult fantasy authors I still read, although I am woefully behind on his books as well.  And there are more of them.  Still, I love the Shannara books and am looking forward to getting back into them.
The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors - It is a fairy tale about the magic of chocolate.  How can you go wrong?  I love Ms. Selfors prose.  It is often poetic.  I have loved every book of hers that I have read and I am eagerly looking forward to this one and anticipate it will be just as good as the others.




Other books I ordered:
The Boy Recession by Flynn Meaney - (From Goodreads) It's all about supply and demand when a high school deals with the sudden exodus of male students.

The boy recession has hit Julius P. Heil High, and the remaining boys find that their stock is on the rise: With little competition, even the most unlikely guys have a good chance at making the team and getting the girl.

The Sweet Life by Rebecca Lim - (From Amazon) Rome—city of style, culture, food, music, and romance. But is someone sinister stalking Janey Gordon during her Italian adventure? 

Gate 7 Vol 3 by Clamp - (From Amazon) A battle for supernatural supremacy rages in Kyoto! When a strange dimension overlaps with our reality, Hana and the members of her Inou squad use their mystical dominion over the elements to protect humanity against a torrent of invading creatures. Thrust in the middle of this war, Chikahito is a seemingly ordinary boy who's been accepted into Hana's group - but it's possible that he has latent powers of his own! 

Ordered from Amazon Marketplace used / new:

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus - (From Amazon) Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - I've been seeing this all over and have read people talking about it.  The sequel is set to come out 10/23/12, so I figured I should read book 1 and see what it is all about myself.

Books purchased from the book store:

Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa - I have the stories in ebook format, but I can put this one on the shelf with the other books.

In Your Room by Jordanna Fraiberg - Two families swap houses for the summer.  One family has a teenage girl and one a teenage boy.  The two are staying in each other's rooms and learn about each other by  what is in the rooms.  I thought it sounded intriguing.  Enought to give it a try.

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt - This one sounded even more intriguing.  Payton finds out her father has MS, but because her family didn't metion anything to her for the 6 mos that they've known, she decides she's not going to talk to them and it's been two weeks.  Now her parent's have gotten her guidance counselor involved.  She will be required to go to mandatory counseling sessions, but in order to help her to get in touch with her feelings and open up, her guidance counselor has given her a journal she can enter her focusing excercises in.  What does she decide to focus on?  Sean Griswold's head.  I like the idea of becoming completely obssessed with a single feature of someone's appearance and not being able to focus on anything else.  Like the mole in Austin Powers.  I think this one will be amusing and I'm looking forward to seeing how she deals with her family crisis by focusing on some boys noggin.  


Lastly, I had to buy my own copy of The Decoy Bride because I liked it that much and because I can put it in the DVD player when I am on the eliptical.  We don't have Netflix in my niece's room.  So, it's all telly or DVD while I am doing cardio.


That's it for now.  I swear I will get some reviews posted this week, but the boxes are draining my life force.

BTW, in case you were wondering, Dr Who was awesome!!!