Little Known Blog: The Paper Reader

Once a month I will be hosting a new feature Little Known Blogs, in order to give the spotlight to blogs that I love that deserve a little more attention. In order to be considered for this feature you must have less than 200 followers and have great content. If you’d like to be considered for this feature please fill out the form!.

This month’s feature:

 
Why did you start your blog?


When I initially started my blog, in February, I was reading a book that had a pretty huge impact on my life (Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn) and I wanted a place to be able to share everything that I was feeling about it. That never quite panned out the way I had wanted, and I abandoned things for awhile. But on my initial post I mentioned a little book called Divergent that I was really looking forward to. While looking for more information about Divergent I found tons and tons of blogs that were just about books and it was almost like puzzle pieces falling into place. I have always loved books, but never have had much of an outlet to discuss them and this sort of seemed like a dream. So in April I restarted things and have been chugging along ever since and haven't looked back!

What is your favorite part of blogging?


Meeting you guys! While it was nice for me to be able to have a forum to discuss books and characters and all sorts of fun things, the best part is being able to share that with people. Having a book blog would not be worth it if it weren't for you, and I mean that 100%. Intelligent conversation, fun, crazy book jokes - each one of you are amazing. I know, I'm a sap. But it's true! Twitter is a huge part of this, so, thanks Twitter!

What book is your current obsession? (The one that you're so in love with at the moment)


I want to say Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. I went to three bookstores to find it, and actually made a poor (but incredibly sweet!) B&N bookseller go into the depths of the Union Square store to squirrel out some copies. It made my day. That said, I love anything and everything Stephanie Perkins does. You might say - just how can Cricket compare to Étienne? Stephanie made this initially unknown boy come out of the woodwork, with the reader having every right to side with Lola, and fall utterly and hopelessly in love with him. Cricket is real and awkward and steadfast and that is the power of this book, its relatability. It's just so good. I would buy you all a copy if it were plausible!

I'm going to cheat a little bit. When I began filling this out a few days back I hadn't read Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me, and, well, the words in that book are absolutely stunning. She describes things how I wish that I could and every sentence seems like its sculpted out of my favorite words in the best possible order. I literally took pictures of quotes with my phone while reading so I could keep them in mind. I was entirely blown away.

What do you when you aren't blogging or reading?


I'm a student, studying political science and human rights. I absolutely love learning, which is probably why I love books so much. Or perhaps the inverse? :D I also work and so when I'm not on the train reading or highlighting I'm doing pretty neat things at my job. And if there is any time left after that I run, cook, and play with my kitties. (I love animals. A lot.) It's definitely appropriate to have kitty pictures, y/y?

Tigger helps me study.   

My kitties are BFFs.

Some favorite posts over at The Paper Reader

Fill in the Blank: An occasional series where I come up with a question and people get to fill in the blank with their answers, to see how close and far apart they can differ. It's really interesting and the responses I got for the first post so far were fantastic. I'd like to see this grow!

Unwind by Neal Shusterman: This book is one of my absolute favorites, and searches for Unwind are probably one of my top referrers so far to my blog. Still, the message in this one is terrifying and worth every single word.

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: Another one that's on my list of overall favorites, and definitely in the top 5 of favorites for this year. While this book is not necessarily YA, it is truly a story for people who love words. Magical in every sense.

Read More

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

August 30 2011, Tor Teen
316 Pages, Hardcover
Purchased from Amazon
Anna #1
YA Horror

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

 
Opinion:

O, How I must gush forth my love of this book like big arterial vein spurts of hot red blood! Too melodramatic? So I liked it a lot cut me a little….slack.

Blake’s writing style drew me in immediately from page one – with our first ghost, a sweet yet vengeful hitchhiker.  We learn that the ghosts Cas spends his time dispatching are more often than not the unfortunate victims of horrible murders.  Knowing they were the victims in life makes you want to sympathize with them.  There is some excellent skills here in the descriptive writing department that I feel give you just enough without being too much. Kudos to the Editor as well.  I hate it when an author over does it; but Blake writes in such a way that I ate it all up.  No, she’s grabs you by the eyelashes and forces you to see every little bit. 

The character development was done well for the main character and supporting cast – though I wish there were more for Anna. I think the romance element could have been delved into a bit deeper. The latter half of the book went by so fast that I had some issues keeping straight just how much time had passed.  So much so that when I finished I was already contemplating reading it over again.  Though this is considered horror, I liked the open ending for the reason that it gave me that feeling like maybe there could be a “happy” ending to come.  My favorite thing about this book was that it was serious yet still had plenty of humor.   These moments helped keep the book from sinking into creep you out, horror.

Odd Thoughts while reading: The name Carmel kept making me want to eat a Twix, I had the urge to fill a mason jar with salt then stick it on my windowsill and I wondered what dried chicken feet looked like.  Oh yes, and I felt like watching Hocus Pocus.

Rating:
5 out of 5!!

Here’s a peak at the cover for the next book Girl of Nightmares!

Pabkins

Countess of Crazy, Insane babbler, Giver of the Evil Eye, Walking Hazard Zone, Maker of Monsters, but above all Lover of a Zombie and those things that are creepy crawly.  Step in to my library my pretties…

Read More

Week in Review

Giveaways:

Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast

All Hallows Read Zompacolypse Giveaway

Posts from this week:

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Fiction Sidekicks

Waiting on Wednesday: Girl of Nightmares and Biting Cold

Daring You to Read….Tyger, Tyger

The Pearl Wars by Nick A. James

Ribs, Grandmas, Zombies, and Ghosts

What We’re Reading:

Rie:

Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Pabkins:

Earthbound by Richard Matheson

Tommy Nightmare by JL Bryan

The Hollows Insider by Kim Harrison

Awesomeness outside MTR:

Pabkins’ Picks:

Kim Harrison’s Costume Contest

Twenty Must-Read Fantasy Epics

Rie’s Picks:

1o Book Blogging Myths Debunked

Top 5: Books I Feel I Should Read

                       Rie and Pabkins       

Essentially, we are two sides of the same coin. We both love to read but have tastes that range to such opposite ends of the Fiction spectrum!  Rie our blonde haired smoothie perhaps is the light and lovey side of us, Pabkins the chocolate haired one brings us the darker delights.

Read More

Tyger, Tgyer by Kersten Hamilton

November 15th 2010, Clarion Books
308 pages, Hardcover
Won from The Bookish Type
First in Goblin Wars Series
Young Adult Fiction

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

    Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

Opinion:

I’ve had this book sitting on my bookshelf since March. I kept putting it off, because I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it. I was pleasantly surprised.

The characters were delightful, the action was fierce, and the prose was beautiful. I truly enjoyed this book. It was action packed in most places and I got seriously freaked out by the cat-sidhe. Those are some freaky little buggers.

My favorite character was Finn. He was brave, caring, and so loving even in spite of legendary enemies. The love story between them seems like one the most natural love stories I’ve read in awhile. Teagan was so caring about her little brother. She seemed to easily step into the roll of caretaker, which isn’t surprising with her love of animals. She was a very goal orientated character and I appreciated the fact that she kept her goals in mind at every stage of this book.

The only issue I had with this book was the pacing was a bit off. It would have a ton of action and then not really resolve the action and then everything would simply slow down. The pacing didn’t throw me off enough to disrupt my reading pleasure.

The mythology was painted beautifully from page one. The characters all had ancestry links to the world in which this book was set. Mag Mell is a place I’d really like to see with my own eyes. It simply seems so magically beautifully dangerous. 

Rating: 4/5

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

Read More

Follow Friday

This Week’s Question:

If you could have dinner with your favorite book character, who would you eat with and what would you serve?

Rie’s Answer:

I would most like to have dinner with Jonah, (heck if Merit is gonna take advantage of the hotness I will)! And what would I eat? Hmm… how about a huge platter of ribs and natural greasy fries. No, judgment from this boy!

Yum!

Pabkins’ Answer:

My answer… graciously supplied by my husband…I would have a meal with the Wolf…of roasted grandmothers and a side of sautéed red riding hood.

This Week’s Question:

Spooktacular Reads: Which books do you consider festive Halloween reads? Which stories have chilled you to the bone?

Pabkins’ Answer:

Pretty much any zombie book would make a good festive Halloween read.  I own plenty of those - and I still haven't read them all yet - so I've just been having a crazy zombie filled past few months.  I might be hitting burn out mode sometime here soon though on zombies - might have to take a break from them for a few months *chuckles*.  So as for naming one specifically I've already read - I'll give you a break today as well from the zombie goodness.  Instead, in honor of Neil Gaiman attempting to start a new Halloween tradition called "All Hallows Read" - where you give one scary or spooky book to someone on Halloween I plan to read  I will be reading Neil Gaiman's The GraveYard Book. 

Rie’s Answer:

Zombies no…ghosts. Want me completely and UTTERLY freaked out mention ghosts. Yeah, I freak out. Complete with girlie shrill that can be heard counties away. Zombies, just gross me out. Vampires, make me swoon. But ghosts oh, yeah completely utterly freak the shit outta me.

Some my favorite ghosts novels from this year:

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Ghost Files by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson

                       Rie and Pabkins       

In one corner we have Rie - Oh Rie – of my sweet sugar and spice and everything nice! On the flip side there is Pabkins – maniacal, she’ll eat your books, this lover of all things creepy crawly.

Read More

All Hallows Read Zompacolypse Giveaway!

In honor of All Hallows Read and my EXTREME love of zombies I, your resident Crazy, Pabkins, am hosting my first giveaway here on Mission to Read! Now, Halloween can not only be a time of giving candy that rots your teeth – but also spooky books to ROT YOUR BRAIN!! 

To make this even more fun we’ve linked this giveaway up to a super fun Zompacolypse – Trick or Treat hop because I’m most certainly infected with the zombie craze!!

Now Minions! - Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions! as well as the individual Rafflecopter entry instructions – for there be a way to get another entry, if you so please the Zombie Queen!

Contest entries open until Midnight November 4, 2011.

 

Pabkins

Countess of Crazy, Insane babbler, Giver of the Evil Eye, Walking Hazard Zone, Maker of Monsters, but above all Lover of Zombies and things creepy crawly. Step into my library my pretties…

Read More

The Pearl Wars by Nick A. James

September 8th 2011, Flux
384, Paperback
Won from Publisher
First in the Skyship Academy Series
Young Adult Fiction

A devastated Earth's last hope is found in Pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers—political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth's stratosphere—and the corrupt Surface government.

Jesse Fisher, a Skyship slacker, and Cassius Stevenson, a young Surface operative, cross paths when they both venture into forbidden territory in pursuit of Pearls. Their chance encounter triggers an unexpected reaction, endowing each boy with remarkable—and dangerous—abilities that their respective governments would stop at nothing to possess.

Enemies thrust together with a common goal, Jesse and Cassius make their way to the ruins of Seattle to uncover the truth about their new powers, the past they didn't know they shared, and a shocking secret about the Pearls.

  
Opinion:

Recently, I’ve been reading more science fiction.  As soon as I heard of this new YA Sci-Fi book I had to have it!  Last month when it released I was lucky enough to win a copy from the Publisher - which is funny considering I had also overnight ordered a copy – which I ended up giving to my sister.

The story takes place in post-apocalyptic America (and in the skies above it).  The view points toggle back and forth between the two male teenagers Jesse and Cassius.  Jesse is a Skyshipper who grew up in the skies and Cassius is a government goon who was raised in one of the “Chosen Cities” that are spread across what’s left of Northern America.  Outside these Chosen Cities people still live and try to survive – though it is a blasted wasteland – they are called Fringers.

The two factions of people Jesse and Cassius belong to are in competition for Peals which fall from the sky.  They use them to power their skyships and Chosen Cities.  These two kids meet when out in the fringes and fight over a pearl.  Now, I really did enjoy this book and I definitely plan on reading the rest of what I hear is planned to be a trilogy.   There are are a few things however, that I nit picked at while reading.  Mainly in the first few chapters with Jesse he used the word ‘mass’ a lot.  I get that it’s a slang word and I even know a few kids that do the same thing – they latch onto that slang word and use it until you want to smack them.  That’s how I felt about Jesse for a little while.  Of course that wasn’t how it was the whole book, so if you are like me in that easily annoyed respect don’t worry.  I thought the first 100 pages was a tad bit low on the action, but I have to admit that might have been because I was expecting that only based on the first chapter.  My bad – don’t go in expecting just enjoy the ride.   It led you in giving you little tid bits here and there of history and the current state of things in the world, I would definitely have loved to know more, but I’ll just have to wait for the next book.

There is a definite surprise in store for readers at the end of the book, things just hinted at through the second part that just smacked me unawares.  I like being taken by surprise. 

Rating:

4/5

Pabkins

Countess of Crazy, Insane babbler, Giver of the Evil Eye, Walking Hazard Zone, Maker of Monsters, but above all Lover of a Zombie those things that are creepy crawly.  Step in to my library my pretties…

Read More

Daring You to Read…Tyger, Tyger

Tynga’s Reviews is a blog I’ve always loved and now she is starting this kick-ass meme, so I figured I’d go ahead and try it out. She's hosting a giveaway for those that sign up for the first two week's of this meme!


Also if you want to win a copy of Tyger, Tyger I found an awesome Guest Post with Kersten Hamilton and International Giveaway 
at
Books and Things

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

 Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

Why I choose Tyger, Tyger:

This book is full of rich mythology, a quirky family, and so much love and loyalty that it is one of my current favorites. The next book just came out so now is a great time to get caught up on this series!

My full review of this one is coming soon!

Rie

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

Read More

Waiting on Wednesday

Button from Bewitched Bookworms

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme by Breaking the Spine that allows us bloggers a chance to spotlight upcoming books that we are dying to read!

Pabkins’ Pick:

2012, Tor Teen
Hardcover
Anna #2
YA Horror

There is no Goodreads description yet! – so let’s theorize – It’s hopefully going to involve more ghost hunting with Cas and hopefully we’ll see some of the supporting characters from Anna Dressed in Blood – as well as none other than Anna herself.  Guess we’ll have to wait for the official description to know more for sure.

Why Pabkins can’t wait:

For those of you who haven't read Anna Dressed in Blood it is a ridiculously good read - so go out and buy it right now - because ordering online wouldn't put it in your hands quick enough.  Be warned though this has plenty of death, blood and gore.  Just how I like it!  Ok, with that said - this is book two - the cover was only recently revealed this month and I love it!  I'm such a cover whore - sometimes I buy books based on that alone.  This is not one of those occasions.  I know this book is going to be the package deal of awesome content and cover because Kendare Blew my mind away with Anna Dressed in Blood.  My review will go up in a few days – just in time for Halloween! 

Rie’s Pick:

AUG 2012, NAL Penguin
Chicagoland Vampires #6
Adult Paranormal

Turned into a vampire against her will, twenty-eight-year-old Merit found her way into the dark circle of Chicago’s vampire underground, where she learned there was more to supernaturals than met the eye—and more supernaturals than the public ever imagined. And not all the secrets she learned were for sharing—among humans or inhumans.

Now Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest, tailing a rogue supernatural intent on stealing an ancient artifact that could unleash catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit is also the prey. An enemy of Chicagoland is hunting her, and he’ll stop at nothing to get the book for himself. No mercy allowed. No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on.

Why Rie can’t wait:

This is the 6th in a series I'm loving. Review for the 5th coming up shortly.

                       Rie and Pabkins       

*evil laughter* I have hijacked the signature line! In one corner we have Rie - Oh Rie – of my sweet sugar and spice and everything nice! On the flip side there is Pabkins – maniacal, she’ll eat your books, this lover of all things creepy crawly.

Read More

Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast- Giveaway

Winner: Working for the Mandroid

In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa's House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.

 

But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness? Find out what s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

US/Canada only; Ends November 4th

Read More

Who are some of your favorite Fiction Sidekicks?

Today, I want to talk about sidekicks.  Essentially, where I’m coming from when I say sidekicks is someone or something that is not of the same species as the main protagonist.  Who are some of your favorites and what do you feel they add to the story?  Please share in the comments – come on let’s hear it!

One of my favorites is Bob the talking skull from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series.  If I remember correctly he is a spirit of knowledge trapped inside the skull.  Harry can let him out from time to time on errands but wooohoo baby when he does Bob gets into trouble.  Why does he get into trouble? Because he’s a horn ball ladies – that’s right – think panty raids on sorority houses type hornball.  He’s hilarious though and I love his character.  He spends most of his time stuck in the skull sitting on a shelf in Harry’s lab reading smut novels.  He brings even more comedy to an already funny series.  If you haven’t read the Dresden Files check it and Bob out!  Series starts with Storm Front.

Now, my second sidekick of note – he’s quite the unwilling prisoner, by name of Mogget.  He is an elemental spirit that has been trapped in the body of a cat and forced to serve a particular family, the Abhorsens.  The trilogy is by Garth Nix, Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen are the books (yes in that order).  I can’t help it I like cats – trust me if you like YA fantasy you’ll like this trilogy.  There is also and awesome “dog” in the last book of this trilogy for you dog lovers. You can’t help taking a shining to this character though – even though sometimes you wonder what’s really going on in that rascally mind of his.  He has to help his masters, but does he want to or doesn’t he? Sometimes you can’t tell – which makes it great.  Isn’t there some sort of syndrome…ahh nevermind…

So tell us – do any of you have any books of note that you want to recommend that have an awesome sidekick of some kind? If so I want to hear about it!  *Oh also special shout out to Jinx of Kim Harrison’s Hollows series!! – “Tink’s a disney whore” baby!!

Pabkins

Countess of Crazy, Insane babbler, Giver of the Evil Eye, Walking Hazard Zone, Maker of Monsters, but above all Lover of a Zombie and those things that are creepy crawly.  Step in to my library my pretties…

Read More

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

September 6th 2011, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
354 pages, Hardcover
Received from Publisher
First in the Birthright Series
Young Adult

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Opinion:
Although, I have never reviewed a Did Not Finish, I wanted to review this one because it’s me not the book.

This a dystopian-like novel placed in a world much like our own. Bring back rations and outlaw something everyone adores, such as chocolate, and you have the world that this book plays out in. And it stresses me out.

This is not a world like the one Hunger Games, Divergent, etc play out in. Meaning a world I can’t see America going in anytime soon. This is our own world gone wrong. This is 1940’s Germany mixed with today’s economy.

Anya is in charge of her family at a young age and you can literally feel the stress she is under trying to take care of her little sister and mentally handicapped brother.

Another aspect of why I didn’t finish this book wasn’t action packed in order to alleviate the stress and when I wasn’t stressed I was bored.

I read to escape and this book brought the current political climate and economy to me in a way that I can’t quite explain.

Rating:
DNF

Reviews of those who have finished:

Sophistikated Reviews

Starting the Next Chapter

Icey Books

Rie

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

Read More

Read-a-thon mini-challenges

Reading Currently:

Rie:

Time: 5:34 CST

Finished: Drink Deep

Title: If I Stay

Page: 0

Mood: Stopping for awhile.

Pabkins:

Time: 6:44 PM PST

Title: Maskerade by Terry Pratchett

Page: 6 of 358 (this one I might have to switch from)

Mood: My neck hurts and that sammich I had earlier was soggy and terrible!!

Pages Read or Books Finished: 196 from Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan (finished)

10 from The Nyphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo (gave up, now DNF)

223 from Earthbound by Richard Matheson (finished)

59 from Side Jobs by Jim Butcher (HC of shorts, still reading)

Make a Sentence from book titles Challenge:

Pabkins:

The exquisite graveyard flats the rocky Nympho corpse from the book of something nightside.

Something from the Nightside by Simon R Green

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Nymphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo

Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite

Titles used are pictured in our readathon post HERE.

Character Photo:

Here is my pic of Merit! From the Chicagoland series!

-------------

Pabkins character photo  above is representing Jenny Pox from J.L. Bryan
It's supposed to look disgusting its pox and boils (actually left over pizza in the fridge)

Sharing Books:
Rie's: I don't really share so much anymore, but usually when my sister comes to visit she'll take a few of my books. She even steals the one I'm currently reading. *I kill you*

Pabkins: I force *cough* mean share my books by gifting copies to people I think will really love them.  Usually thats my cousin in law, sister, BFF or brother in law.  My book soul mate has a tendency to overbuy books like I do and we tend to just auto buy what the other is reading.

Top 5:

Rie's
Changeling Dawn by Dani Harper

Everneath-Brodi  

Hemlock- Kathleen Peacock

A.C. Gaughen -Scarlet

Cat Hellison- When the Sea is Rising Red

Pabkins' Top 5:

Above - Leah Bobet

Born Wicked - Jessica Spotswood

ExtraNormal - Suze Reese

The Diviners - Libba Bray

Incarnate - Jodi Meadows

Pabkins' Mid-Event 24HR Dewey Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? 
- Side Jobs by Jim Butcher
2. How many books have you read so far? 
Two complete, two bits of other books and 2/3rd of another I had started before the THON
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? 
- The Graveyard book
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
 - the man had to be convinced to feed me throughout the day
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? 
- hehe none that I'm gonna share *wink*
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
 - I haven't moved from the same spot most of the day - I thought I would change spots
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? 
- the 24 hour one has too many challenges I think - one every 2 hours instead of every hour
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? 
- hmmm I don't know if I can handle another one of these!!
9. Are you getting tired yet?
 - Yes my neck is killing me! - I don't think I'll make the 24 hours
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?
- I haven't noticed too many cheerleaders the hubs has asked me about page count a few times

Read More

Dark Eden by Patrick Carmen

November 1st 2011, HarperCollins Children's Books
336 pages, Paperback ARC
From Publisher for honest review
Young Adult

Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Patrick Carman's Dark Eden is a provocative exploration of fear, betrayal, memory, and— ultimately—immortality.

 
Opinion:


While I enjoyed this book it didn’t live up to it’s potential.

Will should not be presented as a 15 year old. 12 or 13 yes. 15 no. I know that there are studies show that children will only read a book if a main character is older than them. An easy fix for this is to never give him an age and let the reader decide his age.

One of the unique things is that the book will be accompanied by a downloadable app. I haven’t gotten a chance to take a look at the app, mainly because it’s not out at the time I’m writing this review, but I can imagine how much it will enrich this book. I’m excited to see what exactly the app will be.

The plot surprised me, but left me unfulfilled. It started slow, when it finally picked up I was hooked. I was full of tension for the scary situations that Will found himself in. When the first plot surprise was revealed (which I could see coming from the very beginning) I was holding my breath for the safety for the characters. Then it gave an ending that didn’t give us any vindication. Nothing was done to the villain of the story. He was left there and allowed to continue to do as he had done again. This showed no courage or growth from Will.

The premise could have held so much power for me, but it failed to deliver. I’ve had my own phobias that I have conquered now and going through that process has left me empowered, but this was not an empowerment book. There was no fighting against the system, there was no vindication, there was nothing to make this a story to help these kids get through the fear.

I’m sorry to say this fully failed to deliver on what could have been a masterpiece.

Rating:

Rie

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

Read More

Read-a-thon

Me and Pabkins are participating in Wonderfully Wicked Read-a-thon and Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon this weekend, so double the reading fun!

Rie’s Reading Pile:

I’ve fallen behind on some of my reading and really should have gotten many of these already read.

What’s in my pile?

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

The Vineart Series by Laura Anne Gilman

She Loves You, She Loves You Not by Julie Anne Peters

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

and not pictured above the hubs just came in with the mail which held (it’ll probably be read first.)

Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

If I get these done I have some books on my ereader awaiting my attention including:

The Pledge by Kimberely Derting

and

Ecstasy Untamed by Pamela Palmer

1)Where are you reading from today?


Bed as always!

2)Three random facts about me…


I so sicky!
I'm in love with Chicken and Noodle Soup.
Codeine has weird affects on me.

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?


12ish?

4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?


Not really, just to read.

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?


If you get bored, get on twitter for like 20 min. , but make sure to use the hashtag #readathon.

Pabkins' Reading Pile:

Currently Reading:

Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan

Stack for the Read-a-Thon that I'm sure I won't get through - but I like to have plenty of options as I am a total mood reader!  So, I've got some Horror, comedy, start of an urban series, graphic novel, etc - lots of stuff.  Please note all these on the list are at the whim of whatever I fancy at the moment and might get bumped off if I happen to be sitting in my library and start staring *lusting* after another book for some reason.  It's the chances a book takes when it comes through my door.

Tommy Nightmare & Alexander Death by J.L. Bryan

Muzz by FSc

Clockwise by Elle Strauss

Maskerade by Terry Pratchett

Something from the Nightside by Simon R Green

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Nymphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo

Vengeance and God's Eye by A.J. Scudiere
Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite
Earthbound by Richard Matheson

1)Where are you reading from today?
- all over my house and maybe while taking a stroll to the park and swings?
2)Three random facts about me…
- I can wiggle my ears, had a alice in wonderland wedding this year, hate coffee
3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
- 11 (i know it’s only because i need options)
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
- no just to read as much as I can without my eyes bleeding
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
First timer

Read More