Top Ten Bookish People I Want to Meet

Posted September 19, 2012 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 17 Comments

This week’s topic is all about the bookish people I want to meet. They could be bloggers, authors, characters, etc. I have a feeling it’s going to be hard to keep this list down to just 10 people, so you might find me cheating a little bit!

1. My Broke and Bookish Crew
I have been writing at The Broke and the Bookish for over 2 years now, and I have only met Kimberly! And I almost met Daisy when I was in Holland over the summer. I got extremely sick, though, and spent the day I was supposed to have lunch with her in bed with pneumonia. So, I want to meet alllll of them! Jamie, Lori, Daisy (we need to go shopping for sparkly things!), Jen, Julia, Kelly, Paula, Tahleen, and Bridget. Girls, we need a huge getaway. Like a cruise or something.

2. Alexa of Alexa Loves Books
I adore this girl! We’ve had fun discussing books and life… and I designed her blog for her, which was way fun. She’s one of my best clients ever. And we have the same kind of taste in books! Plus, she’s one of the sweetest people ever.

3. Estelle of Rather be Reading
I met Magan at ALA, which was so much fun! I adore Estelle. She’s so much fun to talk books with, plus her reviews are amazingly well done and her vlogs are very fun to watch. I just know we’d be great buds with lots to talk about!

4. Tracey Garvis Graves, author of On the Island
Tracey and I have become great friends over time as her book went from self-published, to Penguin published, to MGM movie rights and beyond. She’s an extremely nice person, and I think we’d get along wonderfully!

5. Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games
The movie version just did not do it for me. I want to meet the Katniss from the book and ask her all about her life. Her story is fascinating.

6. Mandee from Vegan YA Nerds
I love Mandee! She’s so sweet and so much fun to talk to. I want her to teach me all the yummy vegan recipes too!

7. Sam from Incarnate
Seeing as how he has been reincarnated so many times, I’d love to sit down and talk with him about the evolution of the world. Plus, he’s got so much life experience. I’d love some advice!

8. Lauren Oliver, author of the Delirium Trilogy
She seems awesome, and like such an amazingly funny person! I LOVE the Delirium trilogy, and would love to hear her talk all about the development of the story, the characters, and how she plans to end it all with the final book!

9. Amy from Following the Reader
We’ve chatted on Twitter many times, and I know she and I would get along SO well!

10. YOU.
Hey, you’re awesome! And I LOVE it when you stop by my blog! I know we’d have so much fun chatting about books and bookish things.

So, which bookish people do you hope to meet someday? Link me up and I’ll come visit!

Ten by Gretchen McNeil (Book Review)

Posted September 17, 2012 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 4 Comments

Ten by Gretchen McNeil
Published by Balzer + Bray on September 18, 2012
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Pages: 296
Format: ARC
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It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

Sometimes I enjoy being scared. I’m a major chicken, so I don’t read many scary books, but this one sounded too good to pass up! I was also majorly intrigued when I found it’s a retelling of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. This was totally worth being scared for. As always, my main points are bolded. :)

1. The location is really ominous, and a character all its own. It has the power to be a breezy, sunny escape or a stormy, treacherous nightmare. In this case, it was the latter and I loved it. The descriptions had me snuggling under my blankets, hiding from murderers.

2. Gretchen is amazing at writing suspenseful passages. All of a sudden, I was a speed reader with this book. It was not because I was bored or because there were too many details. It was because everything flowed and ran into the next story elements so nicely that I almost absorbed the words rather than having to shove them in my head. It was effortless reading.

3. Now, I have not read Agatha’s original version of this story, but the reviews I have read lead me to believe that this version sticks very closely to the original. I didn’t read anything about it having the crazy weather like Ten does, which I loved. It reminded me of Stephen King’s Storm of the Century. Very creepy, and it added a lot to the story. Just like the location, the weather was a character.

4. There were a lot of people to keep track of. Meg is the main girl and her best friend is Minnie. I had a hard time keeping track of who was who in the beginning, just because they each had an “M” name. And all the other characters blended together a bit for me, except for T.J., the love interest. Even though everyone was being murdered, though, the story focused more on the scare factor and less on the characters. I actually enjoyed that, just because it was fun to be immersed more in my feelings and reactions than the characters’ stories.

5. The murders form and are all wrapped up into a pretty crazy web of details. We learn more and more and solve the mystery right along with the characters. I was just as confused as they were. And I figured things out at about the same pace as they did, which was fun. I enjoyed that the reasoning and resolution weren’t easy. I love my details!

6. SO many twists and turns and events. It never calmed down! It just got creepier.

7. I was so scared! I could not read alone or at night, or I started to get really paranoid. This is a great book for autumn, especially for around Halloween.

All in all, everyone needs to read a creepy book every now and again. I really enjoyed this one, and would recommend it to pretty much anyone who loves a good scare. It wasn’t my favorite book in the world, but it’s definitely worth a read. And it seems to be great for all ages, since my dad just stole it from me when I was done! I really want to read Agatha Christie’s version now!

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally (Book Review)

Posted September 14, 2012 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 4 Comments

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks #2
Also in this series: Racing Savannah
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on October 1, 2012
Pages: 242
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher (ALA)
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Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

*NOTE: I read this book without reading its companion, Catching Jordan, and was totally fine. There were no spoilers or confusing moments. Jordan and Sam do get mentioned, but it’s minimal.

I witnessed all the raving reviews for Miranda’s Catching Jordan, and was very excited to find this companion novel at ALA. I got to meet Miranda, who is extremely nice and fun to chat with. I wish I loved her book as much as I loved her, but that’s ok. I always worry that, after meeting an author, if I do not end up liking their book that it will make them feel like I did not like them. That’s totally not it. The author is great. I just did not like the book, and I’m really sad it turned out that way. As always, my main points are bolded. :)

1. It is brought up many times in this book that Parker is a good Christian girl. Religion is actually a very big theme in the book. Since I am also a good Christian girl, it bothered me how many times Parker went against her beliefs, and then got upset that her prayers were not being answered. She wasn’t even trying. And it’s not that I mind that she went against her beliefs. I totally get the whole “question your religion” thing. It happens a lot with everyone. It bothered me that she continually did it, though, and then got mad at others for her choices. I’m not going to go deeper into this point, just because I don’t want to spawn a religious discussion or anything.

2. I didn’t like Parker very much. Of course, a part of that is because of my first point, but I also because she came off as being a broken individual with no real desire to put the effort into piecing herself back together. There was a lot of moping and continuous bad decisions that ended up making her feel worse about herself. PLUS to compensate for her mother becoming a lesbian, Parker has decided to create a reputation for herself that marks her as a slut who “hooks up” with everyone. She’s not a strong character, and she’s not even one that young girls can look up to.

3. Brian, the assistant coach that Parker has a thing for, is completely unlikeable. I get that he’s attractive, and that getting attention for an older man is appealing and exciting. But he’s going against school rules to be with Parker, plus he is walking a very thin line legally as well. And for nothing. He’s totally using her, and she’s totally letting him. You can tell that very early on, so don’t worry. I haven’t spoiled anything. Really, this whole storyline just bugged me. I understand that age does not always matter, but when you’re dealing with the LAW and you’ve got an adult and a minor, it’s just not something I enjoy reading about.

4. I liked the supporting characters on the baseball team, and her best friend Drew. Corndog/Will (the third side in this semi love triangle) is really sweet I absolutely loved him from the very beginning.

5. I appreciated that this book tackled some heavy issues, like homosexuality. I enjoyed watching Parker and her family go through the healing process, and I really liked Parker’s mom.

6. This book is too graphic for younger readers. There were some pretty steamy scenes that I wish had been watered down more. (I mean, we read about specific body parts and descriptions of what those body parts are up to.)

Overall, the elements of this story just did not gel with me. There were so many names and things going on all over the place. I didn’t really like either of the main characters, and the supporting ones were not given a ton of attention. When all was said and done, I wasn’t even very satisfied with the ending. It was very anti-climactic. I wanted to love this one a lot. I really did. I’m still intrigued by all the hype surrounding Catching Jordan, so hopefully I enjoy that one more. :)

Top Ten Books that Made Me Think

Posted September 11, 2012 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 8 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the other blog I write at, The Broke and the Bookish. We LOVE lists over there, and hope you do too!

This week’s topic discusses books that made me think about something regarding my life, my future, the world, etc. Some of these books caused silly epiphanies, whereas others made me really re-evaluate my life. I love it when a book makes me think.

1. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This book is terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. I mean, the main character’s job is being a fireman who actually STARTS fires. His job is to burn books and the houses those books are found in. A world without books? Not only is that scary, but think of a government with that much power.

2. Night by Eli Wiesel
This is an extremely detailed and heart-wrenching look into the concentration camps during the Holocaust. I always knew that that event in history was horrific and inhumane, but my understanding was deepened even more with this book. They say history repeats itself, and I sincerely hope that “they” are wrong in this case. I felt this same way with The Diary of Anne Frank.

3. Matched by Ally Condie
If any government ever tries to tell me who I’m allowed to marry and what pills I’m supposed to take and what food I can eat I will seriously open up a lunar community and leave the planet. If you think blind dates are bad, just think of blind marriages.

4. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

This book made me realize that I’m pretty awesome. The main girl found out so many col things about herself on her trip, that I was actually inspired to go on one of my own. I spent 6 weeks in Europe over the summer, and let me tell you… it totally works. I never would have learned what I learned about myself without that trip.

5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I swear, this book is not far off from the reality of today. It’s scary to think about kids killing each other for entertainment, but the reality of the situation is that it’s already happening.

6. The Giver by Lois Lowry
Another book where people are not allowed to make their own choices. The world is perfect, with no war or pain. But then there’s Jonah… the one who is going to have to carry the burden of the truth alone. How would that even feel? To know all that pain and pleasure, but not be able to experience it or convey it to anyone? Wow. Talk about courage.

7. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

I loved watching these two broken people bring out the best in each other and change into better versions of themselves. It reminded me that I need to enrich my life with people who make me happy and forget trying to please those who are not worth the effort.

8. A Train to Potevka by Mike Ramsdell
The author of this book tells his story about what it was like to come from a strong moral background and go into a career as an American intelligence agent. He discusses the choices he had to made and the compromises he had to consider. I ended up thinking a lot about whether I could ever do any job that made me settle for less than my beliefs and morals.

9. Unbreak my Heart by Melissa C. Walker

This book made me really think back on my time as a teenager and how I wish I had had this book back then. I’ve identified with this books heroine so many times over the course of my life, and this book took me down a darker memory lane than usual. It was good for me, though, because it reminded me what I want out of my life and the people who are in it.

10. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
I love the way the idea of reincarnation was discussed in this book. I loved the idea of being able to retain memories from a past life and use those memories to enrich a current lifetime. I don’t believe in reincarnation at all, but I did have fun thinking about the “what-ifs?”

So! Which books keep you up at night? Did you choose any of the same ones I did? Link me to your lists, and I’ll stop by and visit!

Hidden by Sophie Jordan (Mini Book Review)

Posted September 5, 2012 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 1 Comment

Hidden by Sophie Jordan
Series: Firelight #3
Also in this series: Firelight
Published by HarperTEEN on September 11, 2012
Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance
Pages: 260
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher (ALA)
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Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

You know… I’m not sure I’ve ever read a concluding book in a trilogy and ended up really loving that book. The first book leaves you in love, because it’s the first book and that one is always the best. The second book is always a bridge to book 3, and I don’t know about you, but I always find myself not really knowing what to think of it. I always close book #2 with hope that book #3 will blow me away. It doesn’t always end up that way, though. Usually, things get wrapped up too easily or people end up with the wrong people, or people die/get hurt/change. Sadly, Hidden did not check off all the boxes on my list of wishes and hopes for the ending of the Firelight series, and I was left with empty feelings. I just felt “meh” about it. Perhaps my hopes were just too high.

Now, I’m not saying the book was bad at all! It was adventurous and suspenseful, and I really enjoyed it. New characters were introduced and old characters were expounded upon. I really enjoyed reading about the time Jacinda spent as a prisoner in the facility where draki are tested and researched. It was exciting and extremely interesting. During her time there, I got to meet draki from other clans and learn more about the species. The love between Jacinda and Will felt forced and unbelievable, and I don’t think I felt that way with the other books. Then again, I’ve always been team Cassian.

The writing was done very well, and I did enjoy the story. It just didn’t end the way I would have hoped, but trilogies/series rarely ever do. I’m definitely SO glad I got the opportunity to read this book early, though, and am definitely glad I read this conclusion to the trilogy.