Waiting on Wednesday (140)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on Passenger by Alexandra Bracken (1/5/16):

Description on Goodreads:

Violin prodigy Etta Spencer had big plans for her future, but a tragedy has put her once-bright career at risk. Closely tied to her musical skill, however, is a mysterious power she doesn't even know she has. When her two talents collide during a stressful performance, Etta is drawn back hundreds of years through time.

Etta wakes, confused and terrified, in 1776, in the midst a fierce sea battle. Nicholas Carter, the handsome young prize master of a privateering ship, has been hired to retrieve Etta and deliver her unharmed to the Ironwoods, a powerful family in the Colonies--the very same one that orchestrated her jump back, and one Nicholas himself has ties to. But discovering she can time travel is nothing compared to the shock of discovering the true reason the Ironwoods have ensnared her in their web.

Another traveler has stolen an object of untold value from them, and, if Etta can find it, they will return her to her own time. Out of options, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the mysterious traveler. But as they draw closer to each other and the end of their search, the true nature of the object, and the dangerous game the Ironwoods are playing, comes to light -- threatening to separate her not only from Nicholas, but her path home... forever.

Why I’m Waiting:

First off, I love this author. I loved the first two Darkest Minds books. I still haven’t read book 3…I really want to/need to, but for some reason have been postponing it. I sort of have this habit of postponing the finishing of series. But, I’ll get there soon. This author knows how to write action, suspense, and plot twists. So, I know this one will be good too. I also adore the cover. And, to top it all off, it’s a book about a journey across centuries and continents! This sounds right up my alley, and I’m so excited for it to come out.

What are you waiting on this week?

Re-Read 2015: The Sea of Monsters (audiobook) by Rick Riordan and read by Jesse Bernstein

Summary (from Goodreads):

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson—a six-foot-three, mentally-challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any "normal" friends.

But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders which protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner by the Cyclops Polyphemus on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia—only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name the Bermuda Triangle.

Now Percy and his friends—Grover, Annabeth, and Tyson—must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family—one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

Review:

I’m just buzzing through these audio books.  It’s the first time I’ve re-read this particular book. I remember it being my least favorite in the series. I believe it took me the longest to read, back in the day. It took me a while to like Tyson. And I think I remember telling myself I might not read the rest of the series if book 3 didn’t catch me. Thank goodness, book 3 was my favorite…Now, here I am (maybe 10 years later) re-reading them all. And I actually think I enjoyed this second installment better on audio.

I think part of my initial problem with Tyson was his dialect. It was such a pain to read his dumbed down Cyclops English. On the other hand, listening to his language was no problem at all! I was never taken out of the story I was reading to put it all together. Also, when I was younger I think I found Tyson too one-dimensional and cheesy. And now, I kind of love him. There were moments in my car where I’d go, “Awww,” out loud after hearing about something he did. I also kind of love what he stands for in regards to families, friends, and realizing that different can be good.

There’s still all the action and over-the-top humor of book one. Also, there’s some insane Greek mythology mixed in with the modern day retelling again too. Seriously, if you like Greek mythology at all, I can’t see you not liking these books. They are a little far-fetched in their believability, but really, they are just so much fun to read and revisit again.

I still think book 2 is my least favorite. But, this is only because the real juice of the story isn’t really introduced until the last few pages. The big, major theme of the rest of the books is introduced for books 3-5. And I guess I can kind of see books 1-2 as the sort of fun, fluffier stories made to setup the darker stuff to come.

All in all, I still loved the adventure and the humor. And I guess a little fluffy isn’t bad. Everything from arranged marriages, to giant Cyclops’, to murderous monster sheep, to best friend dream connections, to rescue missions, to epic battles come into play in this book, and there never really was a good place to stop reading/listening.

I’m already on the second disc of book 3 (my favorite), and I’m remembering why it was my favorite. Any way, all of these books are fun and action-packed. I highly recommend them to Greek mythology fans. And I highly recommend the audio to those who want a re-read. I give book two an 8/10.

A Good Week in Books (106)

I had a great book week! I got lots to review (special thanks to Hachett and Macmillan)! I also went to the annual MLA (Massachusetts Library Association) conference to present on an intergenerational project I helped start at my library. While I was there, I of course had to attend the panel about MA authors. I picked up two new books there too, and got them signed. Speaking as someone who has been to many conferences, that was the calmest, most organized one I have ever seen. Hopefully, it’s foreshadow for BEA?

On a side note: I entered the YA book I wrote this past year into a contest, and if it wins it will be published. Cross your fingers for me?

Being Henry David by Cal Armistead (signed)
Against Football by Steve Almond (signed)
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein
Before Tomorrowland by Jeff Jensen and Jonathan Case
Watch the Sky by Kirsten Hubbard
The Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz
The Second Guard by J.D. Vaughn

How was your week in books?

Ms Marvel Volume 2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson

Summary (from Goodreads):

Who is the Inventor, and what does he want with the all-new Ms. Marvel and all her friends? Maybe Wolverine can help! Kamala may be fan-girling out when her favorite (okay maybe Top Five) super hero shows up, but that won't stop her from protecting her hometown. Then, Kamala crosses paths with Inhumanity for the first time - by meeting the royal dog, Lockjaw! Every girl wants a puppy, but this one may be too much of a handful, even for a super hero with embiggening powers. But why is Lockjaw really with Kamala? As Ms. Marvel discovers more about her past, the Inventor continues to threaten her future. The fan-favorite, critically acclaimed, amazing new series continues as Kamala Khan proves why she's the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is!

Review:

I literally read this in one sitting. There was never a good moment to put it down. I loved volume 1 and as soon as I heard this was out, I knew I had to get my hands on it. There’s just something amazing about a teen Muslim girl superhero learning her powers, fighting evil, and surviving the ordinary family/school/romance problems of any teen. I kind of wish this was a tv show that I could watch on a weekly basis. I liked this second volume even more than the first.

Add a giant/human sized, teleporting bulldog, an extensive Wolverine cameo, some outer space travel/aid, a bad guy shaped as a bird, a whole generation of teenagers needing a rescue from sacrificing themselves, and some crazy cool and better practiced super powers to the mix of the already great setup of volume 1, and can you see why I never put this down?

I like that Kamala has people in her ordinary life that tell her not to stop doing what she is doing, but to get advice and do what she is doing to the best of her ability. I 100% loved the dog. I want one. Also, I love think the whole concept of what the Inventor was doing to be so fascinating, and not really something I’ve seen before.

I want more! I just checked to see when Volume 3 comes out, and it’s relatively soon. Thank goodness. But still. This would make for an awesome tv series. Any way, I loved this book. I give it a 10/10. I recommend it to all graphic novel and comic book fans. Even if you’re not a big graphic novel/comic book reader, but you like YA novels with strong female leads, you’ll also like this one. Give it a try.

Waiting on Wednesday (139)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (10/6/15):

Description on Goodreads:

Rainbow Rowell continues to break boundaries with Carry On, an epic fantasy following the triumphs and heartaches of Simon and Baz from her beloved bestseller Fangirl.

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters.

Why I’m Waiting:

Oh my God. I have to tone down my fangirl-esque excitement at the moment enough to write a coherent paragraph. I love this author. She is, in my opinion, one of the best YA contemporary writers out there. Fangirl is one of my all time favorite YA books (and my number one book of 2013. Eleanor and Park was in my number four spot (of the same year!). And while I also enjoyed both of Rowell’s adult fiction novels, her designated spot is so in YA for me. Her YA books are magic. When I first heard the fanfiction the main character in Fangirl was writing, was itself going to be a book, I screamed with joy. I screamed with joy again just now, finally having read the delayed description. I wish the cover got a scream from me too, but it was a little boring for my taste (too adult fiction looking in my opinion). Though, I honestly can’t say there is a book I’m more excited for this year than this one. I need it. If you have not read this author, what are you waiting for? Do it now.

What are you waiting on this week?

Re-Read 2015: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling

Summary (from Goodreads):

Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His best friends Ron and Hermione have been very secretive all summer and he is desperate to get back to school and find out what has been going on. However, what Harry discovers is far more devastating than he could ever have expected...

Suspense, secrets and thrilling action from the pen of J.K. Rowling ensure an electrifying adventure that is impossible to put down.

Review:

So, this is my new least favorite in the series. It’s funny that my favorite has remained the same (book 3), but my least favorite has gone from book 2 to this one (book 5). And I must say right away that even though this is my least favorite, I still 5-starred it on Goodreads. Even the least good in this series is by far superior to most other books out there. Just saying.

It took me a couple of weeks to get through this! Harry is just so whiny/angry/angsty in this novel. I literally finished 3 or so other books in the time it took me to get through this one. And while I knew angst to be a problem in past readings, it’s only really bothered me now. He just kept complaining about Dumbledore not paying him attention, about his best friends not breaking all the rules to fill him in on news over the summer, about the Dursleys, and then about schoolwork, and quidditch, and Umbridge. The complaints never stopped. However, they became much more manageable in the second half of the book when the pure level of action increased tenfold and could distract a re-reader from the whining.

And okay, I may have been purposely postponing getting to a certain point in the end where a certain favorite character of mine dies –giving Harry even more time/reasons to complain. But despite, all this angst, there is so much amazing in this book that I completely forgot about! I forgot about Hagrid’s brother! I forgot about St.Mungo’s and a mini reunion with Professor Lockhart. I forgot about how amazing Dumbledore’s Army was. And of course the best school exit in all literary history: Fred and George’s goodbye to Hogwarts.

There were things I thought I remembered correctly, but loved being re-introduced to and forced into seeing how much more awesome it all is in book format. I thought I remembered how awful Umbridge was. I was wrong. She is way worse in the book than in the movie. I thought I remembered all the crazy amazing moments at the Department of Mysteries. But I was wrong. It was way cooler (again in book format). Why couldn’t the movie have shown all the rooms? Also, why is the longest book (oh yea, this was a monster at 870 pages) the shortest movie? Oh, and all the awkwardness with Cho was a million times more awkward in the book!

Despite all of Harry’s whining, this book still had so many great things going for it. The ending battle at the Ministry between Dumbledore and Voldemort was crazy intense. We finally learn too why Voldemort went after Harry all of those years ago. Also, so much of the O.W.L.S test anxiety was just so spot on for testing time in school. I loved witnessing the magical version of test anxiety. It was worse.

Between Umbridge, mysteries learned about Snape, battles at the ministry, flying across London via thestral, Voldemort mind connecting nightmares, new characters like Luna, Dumbledore’s Army, an amazing exit by my favorite twins, the ever present fear of Voldemort’s return, the test anxiety, the first dates, the sadness, and the anger, there really was just so much going on in this book. And again, there was so much foreshadow of what is to come. I could have used a little less whining, but I still have to give this a 10/10.

A Good Week in Books (105)

I had a nice, little, good week in books. I received two new-finished pretties for review. Thank you, Macmillan! I’ve been pretty good lately at holding back my book purchasing. Mostly, this is due to the fact that I work in a library. But, there are some must-haves I will need to purchase soon that come out in May. And good news of all good news: I’m going to BEA again! So lots of good books are coming soon.

Flirty Dancing by Jenny McLachlan
The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

How was your week in books?