With the start of Bout of Books 5.0 just around the corner, I figured this would be entirely appropriate. Especially because I’m horrible at read-a-thon prepping. (Procrastinator alert!)
1. Wake up early. Or late, depending on how you want to tackle this. I prefer to wake up early in order to start early. But I have known some to sleep late and start in the afternoon/evening.
2. Set aside a few hours of time, even if you have to do it in shifts. Just one hour won’t do it. If you’re really good, you’ll go all Harry Potter and block off an entire eight or so hours. (Of course I say this in reference to when the Harry Potter books were still being released and everyone would set aside an entire day for reading the latest release nonstop until they finished.)
3. Keep your books handy! If you finish one book and don’t have the next one all ready to go, you’re going to get up to look for it, get side-tracked, and end up…you know…not reading.
4. Have snacks and drinks handy! It’s no fun when you look up from the page of your book, snap out of your own little world/reading zone, and hear your stomach grumbling and feel like you haven’t had anything to drink for days.
5. Put your computer on lock-down because you will check Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, and all the internet has to offer. Only go on when you want/need to update/track your read-a-thon progress or participate in scheduled read-a-thon chats.
6. Alternate between e-books and actual paper/hardbacks, if possible. Your eyes will thank you.
7. Don’t forget advil. Sounds crazy, right? But, if you’re anything like me, reading for hours on end and straining your eyes sometimes results in major headaches (or worse, migraines) that throw off your entire groove and pacing.
8. Don’t forget bookmarks. If you end up having to leave your reading spot while in the middle of a book, you’re going to need to mark your place. Even if you think you’ll remember the page number. (You’ll thank me when you end up being dragged away for a significant amount of time.)
9. Get comfortable. If you’re going to be reading for hours on end, you won’t want to be in a stiff, back breaking chair. Claim a spot and stay there. Or multiple spots and switch it up!
10. Most importantly, have fun! No stressing allowed. Read-a-thons are meant to be fun, not competitions. If you don’t meet your own goals, no biggie! If you end up chatting more than reading, who cares? It’s all about what you get out of it. Maybe you’ll read two, five, ten books – that’s good! Maybe you’ll meet two, five, ten new blogger/reader friends – that’s good, too! There’s no way to lose. You can only win.
What did I miss? is a feature here at The Grammarian’s Reviews showcasing weekly updates and highlights from both here and other bloggers. So let’s get on with the recap!
How do you read…classics? — A new mini feature in which I ask you how you read various types and genres of literature. This week it was all about tackling the classics.
[review] Beauty Queens by Libba Bray — Satire meets pageant girls meets tropical island.
[review] City of Bones by Cassandra Clare — FULL of surprises!
Whip it Up Mondays — Doughnuts made easy!
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I really shouldn’t be typing this right now, having just spent seven hours in a car — and about two of those hours in horrendous traffic — but oh well! It was worth it. I finally managed to squeeze in a mini vacation.
Unfortunately there was no time for reading, and I didn’t get in much before leaving. So my slacking streak is at an all-time high. I’m promising myself I’ll read tomorrow while I’m taking it easy and NOT spending any time in the car. Unsure whether I’ll continue with the Mortal Instruments series right now, or start my first Book Sessions book, Second Chance Summer.
Also, if you didn’t know already: it’s August. This is very, very disappointing for me, because that means school is starting again soon. How is it that I always feel like I never really get a summer vacation?
Bout of Books 5.0 — The official BoB sign-up and schedule were posted! I’m super excited to be hosting one of the challenges!
WP Plugins — New to WP? Not utilizing your plugins effectively? Amanda’s got a nifty list of her favorites for you.
[Not much else seemed to be happening in my Reader this week. Did I miss something? Please feel free to leave links in comments!]
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Teen beauty queens. A “Lost”-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to emall. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.
400 pages | Published: May 24, 2011 | Scholastic, Inc.
MY THOUGHTS:
Satire meets pageant girls meets tropical island.
Beauty Queens, while hilarious at its beginning, tapers off as the story progresses. I couldn’t handle the repetitive snark, sass and mocking; it came across very pushy. It’s overall very witty though, and at times the hilarity I’d enjoyed reappeared to keep me satisfied to keep pushing forward. But it ultimately wasn’t enough to leave me feeling like I’d read something great.
While I love the diversity of the characters, I never felt too attached to any. It got to the point that I’d either forgotten one of the contestants were still around, or I’d forgotten their name(s). And the ones I’d started to care for didn’t stay true to their initial personalities. (I’m mainly looking at you, Adina.) And some simply had/found no resolution. (Case and point: Taylor.) It was as if just as Bray got me to become invested in some of their stories, it all fumbled.
The second half of Beauty Queens, to me, pushed its wit to the limit. It wasn’t funny anymore – it was ridiculous. More ridiculous than its first half, I mean. I just wasn’t buying it anymore. I was no longer invested.
Even though this is one clever, funny story, I expected more from it – more sustenance, progression, and resolution. I wanted more of a cohesive story, and because of this, Beauty Queens felt like it was lacking that magical something.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know….
512 pages | Published: October 15, 2011 | Margaret K. McElderry Books
MY THOUGHTS:
Talk about attention-grabbing! City of Bones begins as if it were a contemporary read, then quickly derails into exciting territory. It doesn’t allow you to warm up to the characters or the action – you’re either with it or without it, because the tension isn’t about to dissipate and wait for you to catch up.
Part of this tension stems from the love triangle that sets itself up early on. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. Simon’s intentions are easy to see, but I was actually rooting against him. For me, he pales in comparison to Jace. But this opens up another can of worms: Clary is only fifteen. After so much buildup of romantic tension, Clary’s age is mentioned in passing again and that’s when it felt like a slap in the face. She’s FIFTEEN! That’s really young. (Or maybe I’m just old?) Either way, the romance stopped working for me. I wished for her to age quickly.
Also, the vampire/werewolf standoff seems a bit too…staged? It doesn’t fit well enough into the overall plot, in my opinion; it’s a distraction. I ended up forgetting what their Big Purpose was, and what they were supposed to be accomplishing. But I like that the fight/action scenes are detailed. It’s not simply a case of “he punched” and “he fell.” The details really amped up the suspense and my investment in the story, even if it seemed to be getting off track.
I’m warning you, though. Nothing will prepare you for its ending. Nothing. Even if you guess part of it. Your brain will still explode and leave you no choice but to move on to book two, City of Ashes. If you want surprise, Clare brings surprise – with a punch!
What did I miss? is a feature here at The Grammarian’s Reviews showcasing weekly updates and highlights from both here and other bloggers. So let’s get on with the recap!
Blogging for yourself: a response — Amanda @ On a Book Bender posed a really great question about what it means to blog for yourself. This was my response to her question.
Deanna reviews… Future of Us by Jay Asher — Introducing a new co-reviewer!
TGR’s 2nd blog birthday! — That’s right. I’ve been running The Grammarian’s Reviews for two years now. Where did the time go?
[review] Dante’s Girl by Courtney Cole — A cute, breezy vacation read.
Whip it Up Mondays — Let’s ogle some whoopie pies. Yummm.
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Well guys, I’ve been slacking. I haven’t picked up a book in over three days. I always do this to myself — book burnout. Last week I plowed through a handful of books and felt like I was on a good, productive track. This week? Not so much. But that’s okay! I have time to get back into the swing of things. Plus, Bout of Books is fast approaching, and that will definitely get me in the mood to read.
In other books news, everyone but me has read The Evolution of Mara Dyer. This makes me sad.
The highlight of my week was the start of the Olympics. (It was killing me that I had to wait until Friday for it!) Since it’s started, it’s been taking up most of my time. I’m a sucker for the gymnastic and swimming bits. If you’ve been missing out on any of it at all, check my Twitter feed. I’ve been live-tweeting about a ton of the events with Mandi!
Blogging for you — Amanda hosted a thoughtful discussion about what it means to blog for you.
Team _____! – Nafiza discusses the breakdown of literary romances.
Looking for a good read? — Liz has a long list of awesome Contemp reads to try (picked by bloggers!).
50 Shades of Grey — WORD for Teens discussed in length the issues with the popular erotica book.
Let’s Talk — Melissa discusses book to film versus book to TV adaptations.
The Future of Us by Jay Asher
Josh and Emma are about to discover themselves—fifteen years in the future
It’s 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They’ve been best friends almost as long—at least, up until last November, when everything changed. Things have been awkward ever since, but when Josh’s family gets a free AOL CD-ROM in the mail, his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they’re automatically logged onto Facebook . . . but Facebook hasn’t been invented yet. Josh and Emma are looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
Their spouses, careers, homes, and status updates—it’s all there. And every time they refresh their pages, their futures change. As they grapple with the ups and downs of what their lives hold, they’re forced to confront what they’re doing right—and wrong—in the present.
320 pages | Published: November 21, 2011 | Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
DEANNA’S THOUGHTS:
The plot of The Future of Us is initially captivating (especially to me because I generally like futuristic/historical genres), but turns out to be a letdown. I figured there would be a greater focus on the kids’ futures and how Facebook changed social networking and communication so greatly from the 1990s. However, the whole plot revolves around their (Josh’s and Emma’s) individual lives. Nothing really happens to contribute to the premise. Josh and Emma only care about how their love lives turn out and how that affects the other aspects of their lives (occupation, number of children, mood, location, etc.). Emma is almost always complaining and comes across as being very self-centered – she’ll do anything to alter her future in a way that’s better for her, not even considering the harm it does to Josh and everyone she’s met (or will meet). It is because of her negative personality that I couldn’t empathize with her. Josh is the more personable character.
The story itself moves smoothly, its pace steady. And even though you get to see both Emma’s and Josh’s viewpoints, the thoughts aren’t repetitive. When one of them discusses something, the other doesn’t rehash the same events. This keeps the plot moving, rather than straggling.
The Future of Us is a cute and easy read, but more on the lovey-dovey side, rather than the mysterious side, and doesn’t tackle the complications of the future I hoped it would.
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*Deanna is a close friend and new co-reviewer at TGR. As a lover of historical, mystery and fantasy reads, she’ll be helping expand TGR’s reading tastes!
Dante’s Girl by Courtney Cole
I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.
Until this year.
And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:
1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.
2. If I hear the phrase, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.
3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.
5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference?
But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.
My heart just might be crazy.
365 pages | Published: June 21, 2012 | Lakehouse Press
MY THOUGHTS:
Dante’s Girl is a surprising read that kept catching me off guard, right from the beginning.
Cole wastes no time in getting you right into the heart of the story. But even though I was lost as to what was happening, immediately both Reece and Dante were personable characters that I wanted to get to know. And, as crazy as it sounds, they “clicked” right from the get-go. Normally the love-at-first-sight notion comes off stale or rigid to me, but it feels right for these two. What spoils their romance, for me, is the unbelievability factors. Reece ends up being taken care of by Dante, his family and his friends. And they’re not in London. And she’s allowed to stay with them. And intern. It’s all a little too convenient, and because of this, certain plot points feel forced and unnatural.
But the descriptions of Dante’s “Mediterranean paradise” of a home are enough to fawn over. Cole paints a very alluring picture of the swank and old world charm of Caberra. (You’ll be wanting to visit a paradise of your own, that’s for sure!) It’s nice to see both sides to the country, to see it from both a visitor’s and indigenous person’s perspectives.
A mixture of puppy love, beautiful scenery, good luck (and a touch of political unrest) make Dante’s Girl a cutesy, breezy read lacking the “glue,” or sustenance to carry out its story.
What did I miss? is a feature here at The Grammarian’s Reviews showcasing weekly updates and highlights from both here and other bloggers. So let’s get on with the recap!
Cover talk: The Casual Vacancy — I discuss what I like/dislike about the cover of J.K. Rowling’s upcoming release.
[review] Black Heart by Holly Black — An amazing end to an extremely gripping series. I’m sad to see it end!
Charging for reviews? — I discuss what I think is the unreasonable act of bloggers charging authors for reviews.
Dante’s Girl by Courtney Cole — A release note, part of the Kismet blog tour.
Whip it Up Mondays — Truffles! (No, not the chocolate kind.)
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Where do I begin? This week sucked, to be honest. A lot of work drama really had me wanting to spend time by myself. And spending time by myself resulted in extra reading time! I plowed through Black Heart, the last installment in the Curse Workers series by Holly Black. And then I spent time wishing it hadn’t ended. The Curse Workers series is the first series in a while that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. It’s hard to find a series in which you enjoy each and every book – especially when it’s a genre you don’t typically read.
Because I enjoyed them so much, I decided to take a chance and go for another popular series that’s not typically a genre I read: The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. I’m currently finishing up City of Bones and OMG IT IS AMAZING AND WHY DIDN’T ANY OF YOU MAKE ME READ THIS SOONER?!
Oh, and there’s still nothing planned regarding my two-year blog birthday this week. Yep. I’m slacking.
Road Trip Playlist — Liz shares some perfect road trip songs, in honor of YA road trips.
Blogger ethics — Nafiza addresses some of the issues making their rounds through the blogosphere.
Ash teaser! — I think a lot of us were upset that Ash didn’t win in his round of the YA Crush Tourney, but Kagawa treated us all to a cute little teaser anyway!
Social media — Kat discusses the pros and cons of social media and the appropriate etiquette.
Black Heart by Holly Black
Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.
But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.
296 pages | Published: April 3, 2012 | Margaret K. McElderry Books
MY THOUGHTS:
I need this series to not be over. Partly because it’s so good, and partly because I still need answers. At the same time I understand that there could never be enough answers to Cassel’s life. Black could keep writing this series and it would result in me craving more, more, more.
Point blank: Black Heart – and, generally speaking, the Curse Workers series – is addictive.
This book was the one that had me on the edge of my seat the most. I really, really feared for Cassel and wanted everything to work out for him. He took hold of my feelings like no male character has been able to do in a while. He’s not the nicest or brightest kid. I mean, let’s just say it: he’s done many illegal things. And yet I still wanted things to work in his favor. He proved he could change; he proved it to me and himself. And the greatest thing is that his growth is taken yet another step further than seen in Red Glove. I won’t spoil anything, but he shares quite a touching moment with Sam. (I went and re-read it. It’s that cute.)
I think the only disappointment with Black Heart is its predictability, which I’d learned to spot in the past two books. The denouement is thrilling and gripping, but it didn’t leave me in the dark. I think, this time, Cassel’s story is missing that extra oomph, that extra con magic. (I say con “magic” because this time the cons seem sloppy.) If the cons matched the personal elements, it would’ve been absolutely perfect.
But this doesn’t change the fact that Cassel Sharpe stole my heart. (Or that I’m letting him keep it.)
Dante’s Girl by Courtney Cole
I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.
Until this year.
And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:
1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.
2. If I hear the phrase, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.
3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.
5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.
Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference?
But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.
My heart just might be crazy.
Release: June 22nd by Lakehouse Press
goodreads | amazon | B&N
1ST CHAPTER EXCERPT:
“Don’t worry,” Dante says quietly, unpeeling one of my hands and grasping it within his own. “It will be fine.”
The feel of his hand distracts me. Strong and warm, it cups my own carefully, like he is holding something very fragile. I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling. I only have a couple of minutes to soak it in, however.
As the plane moves down the runway in preparation for take-off, something happens. Something isn’t right.
Our plane rocks a little, then quivers, like it is being moved by a strong gust of wind. I feel it a brief moment before Dante tightens his grip on my hand, a split second before light explodes from outside of my eyelids. I open them to discover fire tearing down the runway past my window. Before I can react or even scream, all hell breaks loose.
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This is the moment that had me hooked. Going by the summary, I wasn’t expecting any sort of thrill so early on. Sure, it’s hinted at, but nothing like this!
Stay tuned for my review in the coming weeks.
About the Author
website | twitter | facebook | facebook fan page
Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could.
She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds.
Every Last Kiss is her debut novel and she followed it with the rest of The Bloodstone Saga (Every Last Kiss, Fated, With My Last Breath and My Tattered Bonds).
Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.
Learn more about Courtney and her books at www.courtneycolewrites.com
