Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Waiting on Wednesday (7)
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that invites readers to share the unreleased books they're most excited for.
I haven't been much of a weekly participant, but once again a soon-to-be released book has caught my attention:
Betrayal, by Gillian Shields, which is the sequel to Shields's Immortal. I really liked Immortal, and I'm curious how the story will continue to play out in Betrayal.
It's set to release on August 3rd, 2010--next week! More info from HarperTeen, the publisher.
It's set to release on August 3rd, 2010--next week! More info from HarperTeen, the publisher.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Anti-Musical Monday (2)
I have no song to share this week because:
1. I've just been camping, and I can't share the sound the of crackling fire wood, crickets, and lake waves with you, but they're lovely noises if you ever get to hear them.
2. I would rather finish reading this book and catch up on Facebook than think of one.
3. I'm almost done with my first attempt at sewing an apron. Fun pictures will probably come sometime :)
1. I've just been camping, and I can't share the sound the of crackling fire wood, crickets, and lake waves with you, but they're lovely noises if you ever get to hear them.
2. I would rather finish reading this book and catch up on Facebook than think of one.
3. I'm almost done with my first attempt at sewing an apron. Fun pictures will probably come sometime :)
Wishing you a Marvelous Monday,
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Book Review: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Publisher: Dial Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery sister Bailey. But when Bailey dies suddenly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding. (From Jandy Nelson's website)
________________________________________________
This is a beautiful book. For about the first half, however, I thought differently.
Lennie spends a lot of time obsessing about her tragically dead sister--I get this, and it's even well done. My problem was Lennie's constant marvelling at her sudden awareness of boys and her new sexy thoughts. What really took the cake, though, was Lennie's repetitive whining about her guilt over kissing Bailey's (the dead sister's) boyfriend, Toby, while developing a relationship with a new boy named Joe and shutting her family and friends out of the whole sorry mess.
I contemplated putting the book down several times, but I kept reading out of a mad desire to know how and if Lennie's various train wrecks would be sorted out and because, for a story with such loss and grief in it, it's surprisingly funny. Also, Joe. He's handsome, musical, and a good reason to keep reading anything.
At one point, I wanted to put the book down not because Lennie was annoying me, but because I couldn't stand the pain she was about to go through in the Toby-Joe climax. That's when I knew this was a well-crafted story; I was starting to care about Lennie. I was uncomfortable and embarrassed and falling apart inside with her, for her.
From there the book becomes amazing. Everything deepens from the first to the second half, and I couldn't put Part Two down. The increasingly sophisticated plot threads and relationships between characters reflect Lennie's growth. Beyond first love and agonizing loss, Lennie also gains insights into her family. She lives with her Grandma and her Uncle Big, who are both strong characters. It's a book that starts narrowly and becomes--to be corny here--as big as the sky.
There's something here for teens through senior citizens; death impacts everyone. The Sky is Everywhere is an incredible book, and I get chills looking back on it. It's a love story, a family drama, and a great read. I'm slightly upset that it didn't occur to me to read it sooner.
Lastly, here's the delightful UK book trailer for The Sky is Everywhere. The U.S. one is okay, but this one is too gorgeous to beat:
Publisher: Dial Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 288
Book Source: My local library.
Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery sister Bailey. But when Bailey dies suddenly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding. (From Jandy Nelson's website)
________________________________________________
This is a beautiful book. For about the first half, however, I thought differently.
Lennie spends a lot of time obsessing about her tragically dead sister--I get this, and it's even well done. My problem was Lennie's constant marvelling at her sudden awareness of boys and her new sexy thoughts. What really took the cake, though, was Lennie's repetitive whining about her guilt over kissing Bailey's (the dead sister's) boyfriend, Toby, while developing a relationship with a new boy named Joe and shutting her family and friends out of the whole sorry mess.
I contemplated putting the book down several times, but I kept reading out of a mad desire to know how and if Lennie's various train wrecks would be sorted out and because, for a story with such loss and grief in it, it's surprisingly funny. Also, Joe. He's handsome, musical, and a good reason to keep reading anything.
At one point, I wanted to put the book down not because Lennie was annoying me, but because I couldn't stand the pain she was about to go through in the Toby-Joe climax. That's when I knew this was a well-crafted story; I was starting to care about Lennie. I was uncomfortable and embarrassed and falling apart inside with her, for her.
From there the book becomes amazing. Everything deepens from the first to the second half, and I couldn't put Part Two down. The increasingly sophisticated plot threads and relationships between characters reflect Lennie's growth. Beyond first love and agonizing loss, Lennie also gains insights into her family. She lives with her Grandma and her Uncle Big, who are both strong characters. It's a book that starts narrowly and becomes--to be corny here--as big as the sky.
There's something here for teens through senior citizens; death impacts everyone. The Sky is Everywhere is an incredible book, and I get chills looking back on it. It's a love story, a family drama, and a great read. I'm slightly upset that it didn't occur to me to read it sooner.
Lastly, here's the delightful UK book trailer for The Sky is Everywhere. The U.S. one is okay, but this one is too gorgeous to beat:
Monday, July 19, 2010
Musical Monday (42)
Every Monday I post whatever song I can't get out of my head or just can't get enough of, because Mondays can often be less than marvelous, and music is happy--even when it's sad. If you'd like to join the party, just make your own Musical Monday post and leave a comment!
This week's song is "Sadie Hawkins Dance" by Relient K. If you've been following Musical Mondays, you know I can't get enough of them. I had no bright ideas about what to post this week, so I fell back on an old, silly favorite. Because silliness makes Mondays better. This video appears to be a school project, and I think these kids did a great job. Enjoy!
This week's song is "Sadie Hawkins Dance" by Relient K. If you've been following Musical Mondays, you know I can't get enough of them. I had no bright ideas about what to post this week, so I fell back on an old, silly favorite. Because silliness makes Mondays better. This video appears to be a school project, and I think these kids did a great job. Enjoy!
Wishing you a Marvelous Monday,
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Book Review: The Ghosts of Ashbury High by Jaclyn Moriarty
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Publisher Arthur A. Levine Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 496
Book Source: Bought.
(I'm not a fan of the U.S. cover; everytime I see it I want to pull that girl's shirt down, although I do think the color scheme fits.)
Summary:
Dreaming of Amelia (or The Ghosts of Ashbury High, in the US and Canada) is the story of Amelia and Riley. They're bad kids from the bad crowd at bad Brookfield High, and they've just transferred to Ashbury.
Brilliant, mysterious and probably evil, they have the rich kids at Ashbury spellbound. But just who are Amelia and Riley? Tantalisingly aloof, they are somehow managing to have an extraordinary impact on all the HSC Ashbury students, and the staff.
Told through memoirs written as part of the gothic fiction elective in the HSC English exam, Dreaming of Amelia is a story about ghosts, secrets, madness, passion, locked doors, femme fatales – and that terrifying moment in the final year of high school when you realise that the future's come to get you. (From Jaclyn Moriarty's website)
Brilliant, mysterious and probably evil, they have the rich kids at Ashbury spellbound. But just who are Amelia and Riley? Tantalisingly aloof, they are somehow managing to have an extraordinary impact on all the HSC Ashbury students, and the staff.
Told through memoirs written as part of the gothic fiction elective in the HSC English exam, Dreaming of Amelia is a story about ghosts, secrets, madness, passion, locked doors, femme fatales – and that terrifying moment in the final year of high school when you realise that the future's come to get you. (From Jaclyn Moriarty's website)
_________________________________________________
At 496 pages, The Ghosts of Ashbury High is a lengthy novel. The main storylines--the mystery of Amelia and Riley and an apparent haunting in Ashbury's Art Rooms--unfold slowly behind the details of each character's life, including romance and the stress of the HSC exams (The Higher School Certificate, which, according to Jaclyn Moriarty, "is a series of exams taken by students in New South Wales at the end of their final year of school") as well as the interesting tale and slice of Australian history in the story of an Irish convict sent to Australia in the early 1800s.
The story is told entirely in written documents, including gothic fiction themed HSC essay questions, blog posts, and e-mails. All the documents, which range from businesslike to historical fiction-esque, piece together a smart, involving tale.
More importantly, though, this book is funny. Screamingly, and often subtly, so. (I.e., if I'd been drinking milk while reading this book, I would've snorted it out my nose about a bajillion times. So obviously I didn't drink milk while reading it, but if I had...) The gothic themed questions and evidence of a ghost at Ashbury High also make for delicious, creepy storytelling that takes intelligent and deep turns. Adults receive some stage time in the book, and I think this title has cross-over appeal.
When the story came together in the last third of the book, I was satisfied, surprised, and spellbound.
The bottom line? This book is genius. I recommend reading it if you like laughing, thinking, and books with originality. Also, if you've read the other books in Moriarty's Ashbury series (Feeling Sorry for Celia, The Year of Secret Assignments, and The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie) you won't want to miss this one. Em, Cas, Lyd, Toby, and many other characters are back, and their voices are as hilarious and enjoyable as ever.
The story is told entirely in written documents, including gothic fiction themed HSC essay questions, blog posts, and e-mails. All the documents, which range from businesslike to historical fiction-esque, piece together a smart, involving tale.
More importantly, though, this book is funny. Screamingly, and often subtly, so. (I.e., if I'd been drinking milk while reading this book, I would've snorted it out my nose about a bajillion times. So obviously I didn't drink milk while reading it, but if I had...) The gothic themed questions and evidence of a ghost at Ashbury High also make for delicious, creepy storytelling that takes intelligent and deep turns. Adults receive some stage time in the book, and I think this title has cross-over appeal.
When the story came together in the last third of the book, I was satisfied, surprised, and spellbound.
The bottom line? This book is genius. I recommend reading it if you like laughing, thinking, and books with originality. Also, if you've read the other books in Moriarty's Ashbury series (Feeling Sorry for Celia, The Year of Secret Assignments, and The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie) you won't want to miss this one. Em, Cas, Lyd, Toby, and many other characters are back, and their voices are as hilarious and enjoyable as ever.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The secretary, the designer, and the missing cat poster.
One of my friends recently pointed out this office e-mail thread. I don't know if the e-mail exchange is real, and if it is, I feel sorry for the cat.
But thoughts of missing cats aside, it's ohmigosh sooooo funny.
But thoughts of missing cats aside, it's ohmigosh sooooo funny.
Waiting on Wednesday (6)
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that invites readers to share the unreleased books they're most excited for.
I haven't participated in awhile, but The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff was recently brought to my attentnion...and now I reallyreally want to read it.
The eerie and intriguing book trailer:
Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, Mackie comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement—left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is slowly dying in the human world.
Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with an oddly intriguing girl named Tate. But when Tate’s baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.
Coming from Razorbill/Penguin Group September 21, 2010.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Musical Monday (41)
Every Monday I post whatever song I can't get out of my head or just can't get enough of, because Mondays can often be less than marvelous, and music is happy--even when it's sad. If you'd like to join the party, just make your own Musical Monday post and leave a comment!
This week's song is "Needle and Haystack Life" by Switchfoot. I like the imagery of the song title, and the song's not bad either. Enjoy!
This week's song is "Needle and Haystack Life" by Switchfoot. I like the imagery of the song title, and the song's not bad either. Enjoy!
Wishing you a Melodious Monday,
PS: Reviews to post and contests to enter this week, oh my! (But not on my blog. I haven't held a contest yet, and am considering it for a little summer fun. Hmm.)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
A macabre and strangely sweet news article.
Widow lives with corpses of husband, twin
From the article:
"I could see him, I could look at him, I could touch him. Now, some people have a terrible feeling, they say, 'Why do you want to look at a dead person? Oh my gracious,'" she said.
"Well, I felt differently about death."
From the article:
"I could see him, I could look at him, I could touch him. Now, some people have a terrible feeling, they say, 'Why do you want to look at a dead person? Oh my gracious,'" she said.
"Well, I felt differently about death."
ZombieFit classes in Chicago.
So not kidding.
Quoted in the article, bold formatting mine:
And so, two nights a week in a gymnastics studio in St. Charles, five to a dozen people gather to run, jump, climb and vault up, over and around obstacles that stand in for the features of a city in the grip of a zombie infestation. They also undergo strength and conditioning training because zombies are relentless.
Quoted in the article, bold formatting mine:
And so, two nights a week in a gymnastics studio in St. Charles, five to a dozen people gather to run, jump, climb and vault up, over and around obstacles that stand in for the features of a city in the grip of a zombie infestation. They also undergo strength and conditioning training because zombies are relentless.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Happy (early) Fourth of July!
I'm off to go camping with my family. I took summer school Biology this June so I could take some other courses in the fall, and the final was this morning. The teacher is a little eccentric--which made it as fun as this Art and English major can find Biology--but I'm thrilled to be done, and I'm looking forward to boating, roasted marshmallows, fireworks over a lake, and--on the 4th--my dad's birthday. Plus, I have books, and reading while camping = super fun.
How are you celebrating? (Or not celebrating, if July 4th means nothing special where you live?)
These are fireworks from last year. Beautiful, no?
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