A Good Week in Books (115)

I had a nice book week. Mostly, I’m shocked as to how many books I read in one week. The things a girl can accomplish when she is between shows on Netflix. Seriously, one week with no tv (besides SYTYCD) and I read 5 books. One was a graphic novel, but still. 5 books in one week! I have a lot of reviews to write. Also, I picked up three new books at Barnes and Noble. It was tax-free weekend in MA this past weekend and the boyfriend and I had a little time to waste before our movie. So of course, we went to the bookstore. I’d been seriously wanting all these, so I gave in and bought them:

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

How was your week in books?

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L.Holm and Matthew Holm

Summary (from Goodreads):

From the groundbreaking and award-winning sister-brother team behind Babymouse comes a middle-grade, semi-autobiographical graphic novel.

Following the lives of kids whose older brother's delinquent behavior has thrown their family into chaos, Sunny Side Up is at once a compelling "problem" story and a love letter to the comic books that help the protagonist make sense of her world.

By sister-bother team Jennifer and Matthew Holm. A 200-page, full-color graphic novel in the vein of Raina Telgemeier's Smile.

Review:

This was not what I was expecting at all. I was expecting a light-hearted tale from the creators of Babymouse. Instead, I got something totally different, a lot more emotional, and completely heartfelt. I can’t talk too much about the plot without giving something major away, but I have to say it was so refreshing to get this perspective (from the younger sibling) in regards to this issue.

Sunny is shipped off to live with her grandfather in Florida for the summer. She was going to spend the summer at the beach with her best friend, but because of something that happens with her big brother, all the plans change. Poor Sunny is stuck in a retirement center, on an uncomfortable sleeper sofa. She’s surrounded by senior citizens and just isn’t having the summer she wanted.

But, then she meets a boy named Buzz, who introduces her to comic books. And the two friends make the best of the situation. The find golf balls, save cats, and even save a person too (like the heroes they read about). And Sunny slowly comes to turns with what happened with her family.

If you’ve read these authors before, the illustrations will come off as kind of familiar. Though, they’re bright and sunny (like the character). And the facial expressions of the characters are spot-on. The illustrations really make this book fantastic.

This book seriously spoke to me. I related to Sunny on so many levels. I have an older brother who went through something similar. And I remember being sent to spend time with my cousins (who I love and am so glad I was able to grow up with). But this sense that things aren’t meant to be talked about, rung true to me. Also, the need to blame yourself for things that aren’t your fault. And then of course came the comic books. I didn’t get into comics until way later in life, but when I was Sunny’s age, I found YA books.

I loved this book. I’m not sure everyone will. It spoke to me on a personal level and I get that it won’t be that way for everyone. I don’t think other people will expect its level of seriousness either. It’s a wonderful intergenerational story. The relationship that grows between Sunny and her grandfather is so sweet. I love her friend for the summer too. I love that reading comics helps Sunny be who she needs to be. I give it a 9/10.

Waiting on Wednesday (152)

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 Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins (4/12/2016):

 
Description (from Amazon –Goodreads needs to catch up):

Just as Harper Price starts coming to terms with her role as David Stark's battle-ready Paladin, protector, and girlfriend—her world goes crazy all over again. 

Overwhelmed by his Oracle powers, David flees Pine Grove and starts turning teenaged girls into Paladins—and these young ladies seem to think that Harper is the enemy David needs protecting from.  Ordinarily, Harper would be able to fight off any Paladin who comes her way, but her powers have been dwindling since David left town, which means her life is on the line yet again.

Now, it’s a desperate race for Harper to find and rescue David before she backslides from superhero to your garden-variety type-A belle.
 
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins brings the fun once again in the finale of this pitch-perfect romantic paranormal comedy series.

Why I’m Waiting:

This series is just so much fun. I don’t like it as much as the author’s first series, but I still can’t get enough of it. Sometimes I just crave a funny paranormal romance, and Hawkins just always delivers. These books have me laughing out loud. And they also have me seriously wishing for more time to re-watch Buffy. I can’t wait to see how it all ends.

What are you waiting on this week?

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

Summary (from Goodreads):

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O'Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. Now that the world knows of her ability to "read" objects, and therefore, read the past, she has become a media darling, earning the title, "America's Sweetheart Seer." But not everyone is so accepting of the Diviners' abilities...

Meanwhile, mysterious deaths have been turning up in the city, victims of an unknown sleeping sickness. Can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld and catch a killer?

Review:

If you’ve read my blog before, you know Libba Bray is my favorite author today. I got to meet her for a second time this year at BEA. She came to do a special talk in the librarian’s lounge just for librarians. And I was in the front row…I’m an extremely lucky person. I love what I do for a living. And I love blogging on the side. I get to meet a lot of authors. For some reason though, I always find myself stumbling in Libba’s presence. I’m pretty sure I said something like, “You’re the best,” and then looked at the floor like an idiot.

All embarrassment aside, I have loved everything this woman has written. Everything is different. And each story has such fantastic characters. I read her books, and wish I could write like her. Needless to say, I’ve been waiting for this one for some time. The pub date kept getting pushed back further and further (it officially comes out in a couple weeks). I practically pounced on this ARC when it was handed to me at that librarian’s lounge. And I’ve definitely hugged this thing a few times.

Again, came this magnificent New York setting. I felt like I was there, listening to the 20’s slang. Everything was Jake while I watched my favorite characters sipping soup in China Town, partying in famous hotels, and sipping sodas in Harlem. The city, itself, is a character, and I never forgot about it.

There were some new characters and more supernatural-related deaths. While book 1 involved a serial killer and I didn’t think this could get much darker, this one involved a ghost who killed people by asking them to dream. People would fall into an endless nightmare and die in the real world.

All the love triangle elements I loved from book 1 were still there. So were the mysteries about an enormous conspiracy. Throw in some seriously creepy folks who have their eye on all the diviners, a diviner radio show, a fake engagement, plenty of illegal booze, budding romances, serious twists, and even more questions about Evie’s uncle and just exactly how he’s involved in everything.

There’s so much I still seriously need to know and I can’t wait for the next book, which I have a feeling will deal a lot more with the conspiracy. It was also great getting to know the other characters better. While the book didn’t center too much on Theta, I feel like I know her a lot better. I certainly know and love Henry more. Ling was an amazing addition to the cast. Sam became even more interesting. And a little more was explained for Jericho’s behavior too. I also can’t forget the amazing Memphis (who has a super evil diviner living in his home and making friends with his kid brother).

There are so many layers to this book. There are so many characters and points of view. I felt like a fan girl by the end when they all got together. I couldn’t believe they were all in one spot. It was such a fun ending. I wish it lasted longer. And that’s saying something. This book is a monster at 690 pages (or at least the ARC is).

This is one fun, beautifully written story. It was hard to put down, yet at the same time I had to put it down after a time to soak it all in. The characters were amazing. The city was amazing. And the mystery has me asking so many questions. I love the darkness and the romance of it all. I can’t wait for the next one. I give it a 10/10.

Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater

Summary (from Goodreads):

From bestselling authors Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pearce comes an exciting new series full of magical creatures, whimsical adventures, and quirky illustrations.

Pip is a girl who can talk to magical creatures. Her aunt is a vet for magical creatures. And her new friend Tomas is allergic to most magical creatures. When things go amok—and they often go amok—Pip consults Jeffrey Higgleston’s Guide to Magical Creatures, a reference work that Pip finds herself constantly amending. Because dealing with magical creatures like unicorns, griffins, and fuzzles doesn’t just require book knowledge—it requires hands-on experience and thinking on your feet. For example, when fuzzles (which have an awful habit of bursting into flame when they’re agitated) invade your town, it’s not enough to know what the fuzzles are—Pip and Tomas also must trace the fuzzles’ agitation to its source, and in doing so, save the whole town.

Review:

Maggie Stiefvater has proven herself to be a trump author for me. I’ll read anything she writes and I’ll mostly likely read it before all the other books in my TBR shelf. I haven’t read books by Jackson Pearce before, though I’ve heard great things. I was excited to see what this duo would do in a middle grade book.

I was not disappointed. This book was adorable! Everything from the illustrations to the weirdly interesting characters was just so much fun. I was expecting more of a fantasy novel and I got more of a contemporary book mixed with fantastical creatures. The mixture provided fantastic humor. This middle grade book had me laughing out loud, sometimes in public. I wasn’t expecting it to be so funny.

I loved Pip. She’s so curious and ready to learn as much as she can. She’s strong and brave too, even though no one takes her seriously. It was weird reading a book that takes place in a world where things like unicorns and griffins are normal, but a girl who can talk to them is not. Most people found Pip to be crazy or childish. And she was a little bit, but she was so smart too. I loved that she learned that not all animals can be classified the same. There are different characteristics about each magical creature she meets.

I loved her friend with all the allergies. He reminded me of the little boy in the movie, My Girl. And I even loved her kind of bratty cousin that complained all the time. I found her to be a very realistic element to the whole story.

The story was good. The characters were great. The humor was fantastic. I just wish there was a little bit more. I wanted a tiny bit more to the resolution. Though, I liked that okay. I wanted to see more of the results of the problem. I know I’m being vague. I just don’t want to give anything away. All in all though, this was great. I give it a 9/10.

Waiting on Wednesday (151)

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 Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan (2016):

Description on Goodreads:

Tell the Wind & Fire is about a young girl called Lucie who lives in a New York very different from the New York we know: the city is torn between two very different kinds of magic, and Lucie’s own family was torn apart years ago by that conflict. Lucie wears magic rings and carries a burden of guilt she can’t share with anyone.

The light in her life is her sweetheart boyfriend Ethan, but it turns out Ethan has a secret too: a soulless doppelganger created by dark magic, who has to conceal the face identical to Ethan’s with a hood fastened by a collar nobody but a Light magician with magical rings can take off… and who introduces himself to both of them by, for reasons nobody can understand, saving Ethan’s life…

Why I’m Waiting:

I will always be waiting for the next Sarah Rees Brennan book. I love her books. I recommend them to teens all the time. And I feel like I have been waiting forever for news of more books. Also, doppelgangers? Yes, please. I like the city setting too. I wish I had a more specific date for its release. But, at least I know it’s some time next year.

What are you waiting on this week?

A Good Week in Books (114)

I had a nice week in books. But, I’ve had an interesting couple of weeks in general. There was one week in July where I was MIA and I wish I could say it was because I went on vacation. Instead, it’s because I had an emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder. I couldn’t blog, or do much reading for a week or so. I did bring up my audiobooks from the car and that helped a lot. I’m all good now. Apparently, we don’t need gallbladders, so no big loss.  I went back to work last week, just in time for our big Harry Potter Birthday Party. This is me decked out and ready to celebrate:

We had edible potion making, a coloring/crossword/sorting quiz station, guess how many jelly beans in jar game, birthday cake, and we watched the first movie. It was a great time.

And I was good enough this past weekend to make it to Boston Comic Con. I have a few pictures to share. I'm a big Wonder Woman fan.

These are some geeky prints I picked up. I’m a big Miyazaki fan so I loved the poster that’s a homage to him. Also, how cool is the Hogwarts Express poster? And I picked up such a fun, candid photo from The Walking Dead set (I’m a big fan of that show too.) Also, so much Sirius love.

I went to the con with my wonderful boyfriend, who picked up these goodies for me. I’m so lucky to have a boyfriend who spots the booth selling Harry Potter jewelry and then says he wants to buy me some. Also, when I was too tired to geek out any more and went to sit down for the last bit of the con, my boyfriend found me a Wonder Woman Lego mini figure. He’s the best.

These are the books I got this week. The two comics are also from the boyfriend. He gave me his copy of the The Walking Dead graphic novel, so I could have Tony Moore sign it! And I’m a big Arrow fan. I’m feeling spoiled. Also, I got two new books to review courtesy of Macmillan.

 How to Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo
Public Enemies by Ann Aguirre
The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirman and Tony Moore
Green Arrow Year One Special Edition

How was your week in books?