Want. Need. Must Have NOW!

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

"Lori should have known better than to date a pirate.

After finally getting together and going out on their first real date, only Lori and Adam could manage to fall asleep and wake up seven hours past Lori's curfew. Their parents forbid them to see each other. So Lori takes it upon herself to date boys scarier than Adam until her dad gives in.

But Adam won't play along. He's afraid Lori might fall for these scary boys. And when she goes out with the scariest boy of all Adam's own brother and her ex-crush even the threat of being sent away to military school can't keep Adam from swashbuckling his way back into Lori's heart.

Can this forbidden love stay afloat, or will it sink in the watery deep?"

{Insert extremely high pitched scream}
!!!
Everything this lady writes is gold, so it's an understatement when I say, I can't wait to read this! This is actually the sequel to The Boys Next Door (which was awesome and you should read it if you have not already).

Interview

Hey guys, if you're interested check out my first interview over at Climbing Rose. It was lots of fun.
-amy

Music Mania Part 2

I just got Julian Casablanca's solo album, Phrazes For The Young. I liked it, though I do prefer his guitar-based songs.
11th Demension is really upbeat and catchy.
Julian Casablancas could be in a rock band, or a folk band. I don't care. Whatever he writes simply works.
At first I didn't even like The Strokes, believe it or not. It's an acquired taste.
For instance, the song Little Girl. At first I found it odd, but after a couple listens, I began noticing how interesting it was. He has awesome vocals, and superb songwriting skills to boot.

I've been a Stars fan for years now, but I just recently started listening to their early work. They're probably one of the most underrated bands I know. Nightsongs is my favorite album. It has a very ethereal feel to it. It's so hard to list just a few of my favorites, but here's the shortened version:

Counting Stars On The Ceiling (the intro is the best part)

On Peak Hill

Night Starts Here (slightly repetitive, but still lovely)

Calendar Girl

My Favorite Book

I'd heard of Tegan and Sara before, but I never particularly liked them until I saw then playing on Conan. They have very distinct singing voices. So far, I'm listening on loop to:

Hell (fast-paced and love the lyrics!)

Back In Your Head (can't get it Out Of My Head)

Music Mania

As anyone who reads my blog should know, my musical obsessions change from week to week. This time though, I'm not just obsessed. Obsessed is not a strong enough word. I am engrossed in The Strokes! I am fixated on them, gripped by their songs, infatuated by the lead singer, and I can't get this band out of my head!
They are probably the best musicians in my generation. I don't say things like that lightly.
Every single album is just awesome.
Is This It is my favorite record of theirs' so far. Every single track is amazing.
In an interview, Julian Casablancas was talking about that feeling that you get when you hear your favorite song, and how it just hits you so strong no matter where you are. That's what his band aims for in their music, and they acheive that.
This is exactly how I felt even before I heard him put it into words. It's the purpose of music really. For something to touch you emotionally is true art, and that is why the Strokes are so great. They understand this....
He goes on to talk about how "that feeling gives you the joy and understanding that you don't have in reality, and it's not like a shortcut to reality, it's more like an expansion on the understanding of what's going on."
I just find him to be so smart, yet humble. I would love to meet him or at least go to one of their concerts.
I'm waiting desperately for his solo album, which will no doubt be phenomenal. I love his voice, his talent, his humor, his intelligence... Frankly, I just like his style. ;)
A (few) of my favorite songs by them:
12:51
You Only Live Once
The End Has No End
Hard to Explain
Is This It
The Modern Age

Cool new books

Here's some cool new books I've found while book browsing. Finnikin of the Rock has a US cover! Zen & Xander is by the author of Vibes, looks good.

The Princess Diaries

I watched the movie way back when in my Disney phase. It really turned me off on reading the books. Let me tell you though, the book is nothing like the movie!!! I kept waiting for the dad to die (which would have been depressing) and I figured the book would be filled with letters to her dead dad. I just can't imagine Julies Andrews with eyeliner tattooed on. Anne Hathaway is not how I picture Mia at all, either. I have definitely learned to not judge a book by its' horrid movie.
Many YA books talk about how, this isn't another one of those books where the girl gets a makeover and suddenly life is great. I must confess though, I like those kind of books. These instances rarely occur in reality, but that's why it's called fiction! It's the type of book you'd read to be entertained. You don't have to think about serious issues. There's so much more than just the princess plot. I just adore Meg Cabot's characters. Mia is relateable and funny. I suck at Algebra too. When am I seriously going to need to use a logarithm in real life? Michael Moscovitz is also AWESOME!
I already knew what would happen, yet I still wanted to see it play out. That's good writing. It was never boring once.
I didn't get her not wanting to be a princess. Yeah, it could be overwhelming, but totally cool! There's way more pros to being royal than cons.
I've already read the first three, and can't wait to get into the fourth. Princess In Love is my favorite book so far. There are many heart-swooning moments.
Overall? Fantastical, but fun.

Books I'm excited about...

So many books, So little money :-(
Can't wait!

Winner

Okay, so the winners of the Cirque Du Freak contest is...
WilowRaven
and
Martha Flynn
Congrats, and please send along your addy...

5/10 Book Reviews

As you've guessed by the title, this post will be my reviews for books I gave 5/10 ratings to.


Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
I was really hoping I'd like this! I know the majority of book bloggers love this book, but I was never engrossed in it. I thought, fallen angels-that's an idea that has not been done before. Sadly, Patch did not have enough depth and I never felt like his and Nora's connection was real. I really didn't care for any of the characters. Vee was especially annoying. Hush, Hush has a moderately good plot, but no chemistry and not enough depth in the characters to hold my attention.
All paranormal fanatics are sure to adore it, so check it out for yourself. I am definitely in the minority on this one.


Candor by Pam Bachorz
This book was such a disappointment. :-(
It had such an original premise, yet it did not deliver. Sure, I liked the characters. There was just something vital missing. The plot was not that frightening. I mean, a perfect teen is not that horrible. It doesn't do the world any harm. You lose your free will and will potentially die without the "music". Even so, I was never that convinced or into it. I guess, in my mind, a dystopian should be action-packed, thought-provoking, and scary to imagine. This society wasn't all that freaky. The founder, Oscar's dad, wasn't some evil guy without any humanity. Additionally, this point has been done so many times in dystopians. Perfect people = boring people. She didn't bring anything new to the genre. Check it out if you have not read so many dystopians just yet that you're desensitized by them. Just doesn't reach The Hunger Games caliber, which is a high standard, but it is what it is.


Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
Overall impression? Boring and very slow moving.
I really hate posting negative reviews, but I must be honest. It was hard to get through the first 50 pages. I kept hoping it would get better, but it never did. I've come to realize that if I don't care for a character right off, usually I will not grow to care for them. I know this author started with writing romance novels, and this one is not too different. The unicorn bit did not intrigue me as I'd hoped, and what was left was a mediocre romance. It was more a lust at first sight kind of thing.
The concept was a bit too far out for me. Much of the tension is based on the fact that hunters must be virgins. The way she explained it was just not believable to me. The unicorn folklore failed to impress, as did the characters.


I have a whole bunch more 5/10 book reviews, but I think that's enough for one day.

Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials

Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman
Pages:288
Genre:Social situations
Rating:6/10
Summary:
"Looking for a new beginning after a terrible mean girl past, Charlie Healey realizes there’s no escaping high school drama.
Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle school was brutal. But high school is Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day she runs into Will, her ex–best friend, who had moved away. Now a varsity athlete and hotter than Charlie remembered, Will hangs with the crowd running the school. But Charlie doesn’t understand their power until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank.
Torn between doing what’s right and her secret feelings for Will, Charlie must decide whether to turn in her very best friend or live with the guilt of knowing what he did."
My Review:
It's a given that any book I read right after the splendid Catching Fire will not receive as favorable a review. 50 dollars doesn't look quite as good next to 100.
I featured this book in Waiting on Wednesday and was so psyched to read it. Sadly, it was a letdown.
It was too predictable, he said/she said for me. The characters were typical, the plot wasn't exciting, and the overall book did not have any real depth or meaning. What meaning it did have was so overdone already (resisting peer pressure, judging, and the need to be accepted).
To clarify, I did not dislike the characters, yet I did not like them at the same time. I felt like they were too stereotypical and their personalities were limited by the lackluster plot. There was a self conscious main character, a gorgeous jock, the boy next door, and the mean popular girls.
Overall, ehhh. See if you like it for yourself, but it just was not for me.

Waiting on Wednesday 24

A Most Improper Magick Stephanie Burgis

"Her mother was a scandalous witch, her brother has gambled the whole family into debt, and her Step-Mama is determined to sell her oldest sister into a positively Gothic marriage to pay it off--so what can twelve-year-old Kat Stephenson do but take matters directly into her own hands? If only her older sisters hadn’t thwarted her plan to run away to London dressed as a boy and earn a fortune! When Kat makes a midnight foray into her mother’s cabinet of secrets, though, she finds out something she never expected. Her mother wasn’t just a witch, she was a Guardian, a member of a secret Order with staggering magical powers--and Kat is her heir.

Of course, there’s no chance of Kat choosing to join the Order that forbade her parents’ marriage...but Mama’s magical mirror doesn’t seem to understand that. It keeps following her wherever she goes, even when the family travels to Grantham Abbey to meet the sinister Sir Neville, her oldest sister’s chosen fiancé. And what with Sir Neville showing a dangerous interest in Kat’s untapped powers, her mother’s old tutor insisting that she take up her mother’s position as a Guardian, and her sister Angeline refusing to listen to her about anything, *as usual*...well, it’s a good thing Kat kept her boy’s clothing, because she may well have to use it--especially if the rumors of a highwayman are true."

Love the cover, love the synopsis, so there's a good probability I'm going to love the book.

Cirque Du Freak Contest

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

http://vampiresassistant.net/

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

In theaters October 23rd

Cirque Du Freak:
The Vampire’s Assistant, based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, is a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT and Other Tales from the Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

Do you love to be scared? Then don't miss the terrifying adventure that begins when Darren and his best friend, Steve, get tickets to the CIRQUE DU FREAK, a wonderfully bizarre and creepy freak show. Brace yourself for thrills and chills as the boys witness a parade of grotesque creatures and face their deepest fears by entering the darkest world of the vampire. In the blood-curdling tradition of Anne Rice and Stephen King, CIRQUE DU FREAK will have you shrieking for the next horror show!

PRIZING:

Two (2) winners will receive:

* Cirque du Freak book Set (3 titles in one book)
* Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant Locker Mirror

Shipping Guidlines:

The Vampire’s Assistant giveaway is open to legal US residents who are at least 13 years of age as of October 1st. Prizing is only available to United States mailing address only. (International readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Pages:400
Genre:Science fiction
Rating:100+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/10
Summary:
"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge."
My Review:
My little sister once asked me how it was, and I replied, fake insulted, "It's phenomenal. That's without question."
For a time, I was worried I had gotten my hopes up too high, but I was dead wrong. This book met my unbelievably high expectations and more. My only complaint is that it went by too fast!
It's crazy clever, action packed, filled with unexpected twists, suspense, romance, and just enough complexity. I'm just astounded at how well it was written. J. K. Rowling has got competition. Just like HP, this book's plot could hold my attention even without the romance. I can count the number of books that have that ability on my hand. Of course, the romance is very welcome! I ADORE Peeta! He's so selfless and amazing.
Katniss too, is an extraordinary character. To be frank, I usually don't care much for the main girl character, but I truly love Katniss. It was easy to identify with her.
It's so hard to write this review. Not many books can dumbfound me so. It would take me hours to write a review that does it justice. You can't break down or analyze perfection. There's just too much to cover.
I, unfortunately, read a spoiler. I hate it when people do that, so that is why my reviews are spoiler-free. Thankfully, it did not ruin the book for me.
Overall, this series is the best dystopian society. The Hunger Games was my favorite book last year, Catching Fire is my favorite book this year, and I'm betting the third book will be my favorite next year. Everyone should read this inventive, marvelous, stupefying, woundrous, spectacular, unique book.

AHHH!!!

Ohmygoodness

Ohmygoodness

Ohmygoodness

Ohmygoodness

New. Runaway. Cover.

Cannot. Flippen. Wait.

Contents Under Pressure

Contents Under Pressure by Lara M. Zeises
Pages:256
Genre:Social issues
Rating:10/10
Soundtrack:Blue in Green by Miles Davis
Summary:
"Lucy Doyle is about to explode. She's sure her name might as well be Loser because she‘s never, ever been kissed. To make matters worse, nearly all of her friends have left her behind for boys. Even Lucy's favorite brother doesn't seem to have time for her anymore. He's just moved home from college with a distant new attitude and a big-haired girlfriend Lucy can't stand. Freshman year is definitely not off to a good start.
So when Lucy attracts the attention of Tobin Scacheri, the junior everyone wants to date, she can barely believe her luck. Tobin's cute and funny, and he might like Lucy as much as she likes him. But Lucy's brother has a secret that will turn her already mixed-up world completely upside down. Now, Lucy must figure out how far she's willing to take her relationship with Tobin—and how to deal with a brother who's not as perfect as she thought."
My Review:
I thought the characters names in this book sounded familiar, and after about 2 chapters, I realized that Lucy's' brother Jack was also in Bringing up the Bones! I love it when authors do this. The setting is the same, but now we get to read another characters story.
This book should be mandatory reading for all pre-teens and teens. It depicts the transition into teen life perfectly. At that age, friends look to find their identity, and in doing so, they may desert you. At that age, innocence is no longer bliss. It deals with the effects of discovering that someone you admire may not be not as solid as you thought. It's risky to build up some one in your mind, because people are human, and the crash that invariably follows will shake you up. Everyone is growing up so fast and it feels as if you're far behind. At that age, emotions are in full swing.
I especially love this author, because I keep finding wonderful songs!
The overall message was to stay true to you. It was sweet, it was genuine, and I adore it.

Winners

This post is loooong overdue.
The winner of the 4 book contest is:
Amy! :-D First time that's happened...
The winners of the Maximum Ride promotion are:
Mishel and Kat O'Keeffe!
Congrats and thanks to all who entered.

Bringing up the Bones

Bringing up the Bones by Lara M. Zeises
Pages:224
Genre:Tragedy/romance
Rating:50/10
Soundtrack:China by Tori Amos
Summary:
"Bridget Edelstein is taking a year off before she goes to college, to try to recover from the the recent death of Benji, her longtime best friend-turned-reluctant boyfriend. Rather than accept support from her friends or family, Bridget turns to Jasper, a wonderful guy willing to nurse her broken soul–when she lets him. As she comes to terms with life without Benji, and the truth about their relationship, Bridget learns that being able to love deeply and truly is essential, even if the one you love doesn't feel the same. More importantly, she discovers that happiness pinned to another person is only an illusion–now it's time to find happiness on her own."
My Review:
This book pulls you in from the very first sentence and I hated to put it down.
The characters could literally walk right off the pages. They are filled with such touching, emotional depth. Their relationships with one another are complex psychologically, easy to relate to, and real. Bridget and Jasper have a backward relationship. Usually in books, the characters are friends first, so it was interesting to see this unique romance progress the other way around. It's the first time I've seen it done-very original.
I was able to stomach the sadness. I loved a character who was dead. That is how phenomenal the writing is. Normally, I despise depressing books, but this one was more than that. I have said, this book was heartbreaking, or, that book was heart-wrenching, but BUTB is the very definition of heart-wrenching. You will be sad, but it is part of the story. I felt glad after I read it.
Whenever I read about a song I immediately look it up. I have found many great artists this way. China fits the mood and theme of the book perfectly, almost as if it were written specifically for it. It's melancholy, yet beautiful. Just like the book.
Overall, I was amazed at how intricate and subtly profound it was. This is definitely an underrated book. Lara is my new favorite author. I have only read one of her books before this, but I never forgot it. I have a feeling I won't be forgetting this one anytime soon either.

I am a bad blogger...

...I truly am. My standards are unrealistically high, having read so many books, that it takes a lot for me to really get into a book. They say be careful what you wish for, because I now see that it was better when I could read only what I wanted to read. Now I am bound by obligations (I blame no one but myself) and I realize, too late, that the book is not for me.
I have a short attention span and when I don't care for a book, if I find it boring, it's hard for me to say anything good about it. There's usually no middle ground. So I simply don't post the review. Book bashing does not make for a satisfying post. I just don't know- is it better to post a negative review or no review at all?
Which brings me to my next problem. I don't post everyday. If I'm constantly reading in order to review, it takes away from my real life. I think books are good for enriching your imagination, but too much, and fantasy will take over reality. I don't comment as much as I wish I could either.
So anyway, I'm going to just see how things go, and try to read books I want to read. I want blogging to be fun again. I miss the feeling of falling in love with a book and wanting to talk about it endlessly. I miss the feeling of looking forward to reading. Hopefully Catching Fire (finally got it!!!) will help, and I'll be posting every other day. Hopefully.

Check it out:

Guest review over at Rhiannon Harts' blog...here.

VERY excited for:

Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

"Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle School was brutal. Mean girls were all around her. But High School’s going to be Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day who does she run into? None other than Will, her ex-best friend, who had moved away. Now he’s back, looking a lot cuter and hanging out with a questionable crew. But Charlie doesn’t understand just how questionable until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank.

All Charlie wanted to do was have a drama-free freshman year, but now she must decide whether to turn in her very best friend, who just told her he loves her, or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

Rosalind Wiseman’s first novel for young adults is a fresh, funny, and juicy read about friendship, betrayal, and how far some will go to be accepted."

Been wanting this one fora while now, and I have to say, the new cover is awesome! I LOVE the sound of this.