Book Review- Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

I don't know what took me so long to read this book after finishing Wicked Lovely so long ago. I was a little lost at the beginning, having forgotten a bit about the characters from the first book, but was soon pulled back into Melissa Marr's wonderfully imagined world filled with faeries that walk amongst humans unseen. This book focuses on characters that had smaller roles in Wicked Lovely, Leslie- Aislinn's mortal friend and Niall, Keenan, the king of the Summer Court's adviser.

Leslie is trying to escape the pain and fear she feels at home by getting a tattoo that she hopes will help her change, become stronger. Unfortunately, she gets more than she bargained for when she chooses the mark of the king of the Dark Court.

One of the things I love about these books are the descriptions of the different fey. I would love to see them made into movies or TV show. Okay, now I really want to read Fragile Eternity. Anyone know when it comes out in paperback?

4/5


Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

Teaser Tuesday-4/28/09

I picked up a copy of Melissa Marr's Ink Exchange on Sunday and devoured it Monday while home sick. I thought I would share a bit today of what I love of these books. The images of the faeries that are so surreal and different. I truly enjoy getting lost in this world for a little while.

"His bones weren't quite right, like there were extra lengths or joints where she had none. His cheekbones were too severe for a human's face, too angular, and his skin glowed as if illuminated by a light inside him, as if his skin were too sheer, like parchment over a flame." page 235. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr.

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.



Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

Don't judge a book by its cover (Tuesday Thingers)

Questions: Do you have any missing covers (they show as a plain gray book)? Did you have a favorite view (title, author, date entered)? Do you have any favorite covers? If so, is there anything they have in common?

You know, I just went to look and I don't have any gray books. All my covers are there. Of course I change the cover if it does come up blank. I love the cover view. It is not what I usually use but I like it. I choose books by their covers a lot of the time so I definitely have favorites. I think the covers of Melissa Marr's books are beautiful. They are my favorites right now. 

I picked up The Perks of Being a Wallflower because of the simplicity of the cover and the size of the book.  Small, simple on the outside-quiet like the main character in the book. I loved the cover even more after reading.

The covers of The Rossetti Letter and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks are very similar. A letter closed with red seal wax. I hadn't realized they were so alike until looking at my covers for this post. 

Tuesday Thingers is hosted my Wendi of Wendi's Book Corner.



Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

IndieBound iPhone app

Have you all heard of IndieBound? It is a great site dedicated to helping people locate great independent booksellers. Well, they just came out with an iPhone App that I downloaded this week. It puts book lists, a book search, and a store finder all in the palm of your hand. How handy is that? This is great for any book loving person. I am definitely putting it to use this summer during my travels. 


Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

More Books in the House

There were more books in the mail this week. I finally got myself a copy of a book by Maureen Johnson. I have been reading her blog for awhile now but hadn't read any of her books! I bought The Bermudez Triangle and am looking forward to reading it soon.

Also purchased this week...Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr. That one was not planned but I wanted something to read while I ate my lunch at Panera yesterday. I forgot to bring my current read with me. I hate eating alone unless I have a book to keep me company.

One more. This one from the author for review. Crossed Wires by Rosy Thornton. I haven't read a romance novel in awhile so am looking forward to reading it.

And that is about it. What books came into your home this week?

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page

Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

Book Review- Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

This is the story of three teens from very different backgrounds who are in a psychiatric hospital for attempting suicide. Vanessa has a family history of mental illness, Tony grew up being abused by his mother's boyfriends, and Connor seemingly has it all but looks can be deceiving.

Told in first person by all three characters, Impulse has quite a powerful impact. You feel what they are feeling, you sometimes understand their pain other times you don't. You are there to see their recovery and their fall backs.

I received the audiobook through Library Thing's Early Reviewers Program and listened to it on my drive to and from work for the past two weeks. Heavy material but I am glad to have had a chance to hear it. I think audiobook format was perfect for me. I am not much of a poetry reader so I have stayed away from these books for that reason. The book is a collection of free verse poems, as I believe all of the author's books are. The actors really brought Ellen Hopkins' words to life in a way I may not have appreciated as much in reading. It was like listening to someone's private journal with the good and the bad all shared. So real and raw, this book leaves you reeling.

I will be thinking about this one for awhile.

4/5

A to Z Challenge

YA Book Challenge

Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

Book Review- Austenland by Shannon Hale

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Austenland is a book written for any girl who is obsessed with the lives of those found in the pages of Jane Austen's books. Who of us has not imagined going back to Regency-era England and meeting our own Mr. Darcy?

Jane Hayes gets a chance to vacation at an English estate where she will live the dream for a couple weeks. She gets to dress up in corsets and empire waist gowns. She gets to play whist and take turns around the gardens always accompanied by the handsomest of men. Actors all of them, but part of the illusion. Can she really find love here when the men are being paid to court them and make them fall in love?


You will have to read it to find out, but we all know how Austen books always end- with a happy ending.

4/5



Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

Knotty problems

Do you remember these? I started them so long ago, I barely remember them. I haven't worked on them in months. I messed up the cable on these and have been putting off continuing on them because of it. Everyone I showed them to don't see the wrong cable direction and said to ignore but I just can't. I am a bit anal about my knitting. I think I will be frogging this down past the bad cable.

DM tonight!

Depeche Mode will be on Jimmy Kimmel tonight! You know what I will be doing.

Their album Sounds of the Universe came out earlier this week.

Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

Book Review- How to be Popular by Meg Cabot

How to Be Popular by Meg Cabot

Steph is tired of being the butt of jokes. She has put up with it for 5 years since spilling a Big Gulp sized Big Red soda on the skirt of one of the popular girls, who has never been able to just let it go. Steph's plan for her 11th grade year is to become popular. And, well, it works... kind of.

This was a fun read. My first Meg Cabot book. I couldn't believe I hadn't read any of her books before. I love the lesson of not needing to be popular to have great friends and a fun high school experience. I was also very happy to see Steph not make too many mistakes during her short rise to popularity. She was able to keep her head on straight for the most part.

3/5

YA Book Challenge

AtoZ Challenge


Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

Let's Be Friends

Since beginning my book blog I have found so many wonderful, like-minded people. Just this weekend I was awarded twice with the Let's Be Friends Award! How sweet is that? I would like this to be a friendly place for you all to visit so thank you Harvee of BookBirdDog and Jessica.Marie of BooksLoveJessicaMarie! Everyone should go and visit their blogs!

"Blogs that received the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers."

Here are some really wonderful and friendly bloggers to go and visit.

Biblioaddict
Garden in my Pocket
The Eclectic Reader
Devourer of Books
Socrates Book Reviews
Drey's Library
Serendipity
She Reads and Reads

Be sure and visit all these great blogs!

I also received the "One Lovely Blog Award" from Jessica Marie. Thanks so much! I think yours is as well. :)

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link. 2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I am passing this one on to all of you listed above. Because as well as being very friendly you all have lovely blogs that I truly enjoy visiting daily. :)



Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

Show Me Your Bookmarks Contest!

 

Come over and check out my current contest at MariReads. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st to enter!

Prizes! Want to see?

I have come to entice more people to enter my Show Me Your Bookmarks Contest going on right now. How else, but with pictures of the prizes! Some of the prizes, anyway. 

You can win Bookmarks! 

      

You can win Books!

Click on the link (above or below) and go enter! It's easy. Just show me or tell me about your bookmarks.

Bookmark love: Nymeth pointed me to Ma Petite Papeterie's when I gushed over one of her bookmarks. I absolutely love all of the bookmarks in her shop Go take a look! 

Also, make sure to go take a look at all the really beautiful handmade bookmarks Nymeth has made.


Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

Mailbox Monday-04/20/09

On Monday I made a trip to Border's and raided the bargain bins. I came home with two books for me and two books for the classroom. I have read the two other books by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus so am looking forward to reading Dedication. Here Kitty Kitty by Jardine Libaire just sounded interesting and it was $3.99.


I found this in my mailbox. The third book in the Temperance Brennan Series by Kathy Reichs. It was the one book I was missing. This one came through BookMooch.

Friday was the biggest book delivery I have had since my last visit to B&N.com. Lots and lots of great books. Two of which have already been read. They were perfect for the Read-a-thon. Just a list this time.

How to be Popular by Meg Cabot

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Nocturnes by John Connelly

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

All I Want is Everything (Gossip Girl 3) by Cecily von Ziegesar

The River King by Alice Hoffman

It was a good week for books. :)

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page


Be sure to check out my current contest. Go here to see the prizes. You have until May 1st!

Never Again: What You Do Matters

Today marks the beginning of the Days of Remembrance, "America's annual commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust".  This year's theme is "Never Again: What you do Matters". Please visit the site, remember the victims, the survivors. Never forget.

How will you remember?

Go here and see what you can do.

For a list of books pertaining to the Holocaust and/or WWII, there is a very good list provided at the War Through The Generations Challenge site.

Book Review- Drawers and Booths by Ara13

Drawers & Booths by Ara 13

I was a little hesitant about this book when I agreed to review it. I wasn't sure if it was going to be a book I would like. It is very different from what I usually read but the concept sounded very interesting. I am so glad I agreed to review it because it is truly the most creatively written book I have read in awhile.

The book begins on an island following a Marine combat journalist around a military base. You start getting very comfortable in this setting and start getting interested in the characters when the narrator jumps in and takes over the story. Yes, the narrator. He takes the reader with on his search for the person behind all the horrors that happen... child molestation, genocide, war. It begins to read like a mystery novel. When the person is caught the book becomes a court room drama, ala Law & Order and you will never believe who is on trial.

Such an interesting way of discussing and analyzing the horrors we see and who is responsible for what man does. This was my first truly metafictional book and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more books by Ara13. Thanks for sending it my way.

4/5




Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

Sunday Salon (Read-a-thon Recap)

I ended up sleeping through the last four hours as I did the first four. But no worries, I did manage to finish 3 books! That is quite a feat for me. I made much better choices for books this go around. So to finish off this great event, here is the End of Event Meme (just a little late)...

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Hour 20. That was when I finally called it quits
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Anything under 300 pages, fast paced and an easy read.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I think all went very well!
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? The dedicated site was great to figure out which mini-challenges were happening, what hour we were in, etc. The hosts did a wonderful job. :)
5. How many books did you read? 3!
6. What were the names of the books you read?

Drawers & Booths by Ara 13, 215 pages
How to be Popular by Meg Cabot, 287 pages
Austenland by Shannon Hale, 194 pages

Total pages read: 696

7. Which book did you enjoy most? Austenland
8. Which did you enjoy least? I actually enjoyed them all but Drawers & Booths did take a little longer to get through.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? They did a wonderful job. Very encouraging!
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Very likely! Reader and/or cheerleader. :)

Now it is time to recover from staying up until 3:30 am! can you believe I still want to just sit around and read? :)

Happy Sunday!



Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

Read-a-thon (5th Update)

It seems to be getting quieter. Not as many readers about. I am still hanging on here at 1:30am. Not sure how much longer, though. I am 42 pages into my third book and, thankfully, am getting sucked into Austenland. I don't think I could continue if the book didn't grab me.

Books finished:2
Book Currently Reading: Austenland by Shannon Hale
Pages read since last post: 118
Total Pages read:545
Time spent reading: 11hrs 00 mins
Time online: 55mins
Readers visited: 11
Mini Challenges: 5

Jessica's Rereading MiniChallenge

All my books for the read-a-thon are new for me. No rereads. I actually am not much of a rereader in general. There are very few books that I will reread. The only books I have reread a lot are the Harry Potter books. Every time a new book in the series came out I reread the previous books. Sam thing with the movies. There is just something about these books that I never get tired of. There is always something I catch during the rereads that I missed before.


Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

Read-a-thon (4th Update)

I was on;y able to read 100 pages before heading out to a friend's birthday party for a couple hours. I am home now, though, ready to finish How to be Popular. I only have about 70 pages to go. Then it will be on to my third book of the night. Woot. Not bad for not starting on time and having to leave the house twice. :)

Thank you all for the encouragement and kind words. I have not been very good at responding to everyone's comments but I will, I promise, it just might not be until tomorrow. :)

Happy reading to everyone!

Books finished:1
Book Currently Reading: How to be Popular by Meg Cabot
Pages read since last post: 100
Total Pages read:427
Time spent reading: 9hrs 00 mins
Time online: 55mins
Readers visited: 8
Mini Challenges: 4






Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

Read-a-thon (3rd Update)

Along with taking a shower, going to dinner and visiting the bookstore (getting some bookmarks for contest prizes) I also started my second book. Reading is going very quickly with this one. Should be finished with it by my next update, I hope. :)
How are you all doing so far?

Books finished:1
Book Currently Reading: How to be Popular by Meg Cabot
Pages read since last post: 112
Total Pages read:327
Time spent reading: 7 hrs 30 mins
Time online: 45mins
Readers visited: 8
Mini Challenges: 4

Mini-challenges below.

Shannon's Letter to the protagonist

Dear Steph,

I know you hate being the butt of jokes and wish you were popular, but it isn't all it's cracked up to be. Really. Having a close group of friends who support you and have your back is so much more important. Love who you are, love the friends you have and your last years in high school will be just perfect. No need to worry about what the A-listers think.

Love, Mari

Jessica's Local Library Challenge
What is the name of your local library? What city is it located in?

Austin Public Library, Old Quarry Branch in Austin, TX

How often do you go to the library? If you're a regular, do the staff know you?

I was going pretty regularly for awhile but have stopped since buying and receiving so many books to read. I must get through the ones I have before getting more.

Do you browse while you're there or just pick up items you have placed on reserve?

I am a browser. I could spend hours in the library.

What is your favorite thing about your local library?

It is so close to home. It is in walking distance, it is en route to work for easy drop offs to avoid over due books. :)




Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

Read-a-thon (2nd Update)

I finished my first book. Yay! What hour is this anyway? I have no clue. Okay, back to reading. Next book up- How to be Popular by Meg Cabot.

Now I am really off to take a shower. Didn't get to that before. :) Hoping to finish this next book before going to a friend's birthday party.

Books read:1
Pages read since last post: 118
Total Pages read:215
Time spent reading: 4 hrs 15 mins
Time online: 30mins
Readers visited: 3

Happy reading!


Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

Read-a-thon Hour 6 (first update)

I am so late in starting my reading today. Late night out kept me asleep way past the start time. So, it is already noon and I am only about half way through my first book. After this post, I will finish the book before getting back online.

My stats so far (very pathetic compared to the rest of you, I know).

Book Curently reading:Drawers & Booths by Ara 13
Pages read: 97
Time spent reading: 1hour30min
Time online: 19 mins

Just ate a slice of cold pizza, now it is back to my reading and hopefully a shower. :)

Hope you are all having a much more productive read-a-thon. :)





Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

A Couple Thank You's

So many wonderful bloggers have been kind to me lately, giving me such sweet awards. I added a slideshow of them over in the sidebar. You have to click on it to see who gave them to me but please do and go visit them!

Today I found I had been given 2 more!

Sunshine of Garden In My Pocket has given me the "One Lovely Blog" Award. Thanks so much Sunshine! Go and check out the other bloggers she awarded it to.

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link. 2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Also, Teddyree of The Eclectic Reader has given me the Splash Award. Thanks, Teddyree!

The Splash award acknowledges alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive & inspiring blogs -Splashy blogs with that little something. I love visiting The Book Resort.

The Rules:1) Put the logo on your blog. 2) Nominate up to 9 blogs which allure, amuse, bewitch, impress or inspire you. 3) Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. 4) Let them know that they have been splashed by commenting on their blog. 5) Remember to link to the person from whom your received your Splash award. 6) Have F~U~N

I wanted to say thank you to Teddyree and Sunshine before the weekend. I am sorry to not choose individual blogs to give this to but I am going to say that everyone that visits and everyone I visit are all worthy of these awards. I give them to all of you. :)

Have a wonderful weekend and if you are participating in the Read-a-thon tomorrow, Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

24 Hour Read-a-Thon Book List

Since signing up I have been trying to figure out what books to get ready for Saturday. So, here is a tentative list for my 2nd attempt at the Read-a-thon:

Here Kitty Kitty by Jardine Libaire
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

And, if my B&N order gets here in time...

Austenland by Shannon Hale
How to be Popular by Meg Cabot
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

Hopefully I can get through at least a couple of these. :)

Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

Book Review- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

When I started reading the book I was a bit worried that it wasn't going to live up to the hype. It was hard for me to get into despite truly loving the idea of it. I explained the story of Bod to my husband. That he was a boy being raised by spirits in a graveyard. He agreed that it was such an original and interesting idea, so why was I having so much trouble with it?

Each chapter reads like a short story. Small snippets of Bod's life in the graveyard. An adventure here, another there five years later. There is very little information about what happened to his family and why. It was the second half of the book when I started to realize that I was really enjoying it. When Bod grows up and begins to search for answers. The last chapters are definitely the best.

This very imaginative, dark and sometimes creepy book will be reread very soon. I feel like I dragged myself through the first half without realizing what I was reading. I have to go back and see what I missed.

3.5/5

YA Book Challenge

Be sure to check out my current contest. You have until May 1st!

Whiskers on Wednesday- 4/15/09

It has been awhile since my last Whiskers on Wednesday post. I just haven't been taking many pictures lately. This week I thought I would share an old photo. One of my favorites is this one. She just looks so regal and poised. I will try and be better at posting the Joey pics. :)

As for my knitting, well, I need some motivation on that too.  That is my plan for tonight. Continue work on my socks. :)

Happy Wednesday!