Waiting on Wednesday July 28, '10

Hi,

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.








The Thirteenth Chime by Emma Michaels

Goodreads Description:

"No one knew of its existence until it was removed from the attic upstairs.

In a beautiful house that overlooks the sea, an antique clock has the power to change the course of their lives.

The power the clock resonates will not only force Destiny and ex-boyfriend David on a journey into the depths of one man's mind long dead, but into the mind of a man filled with hatred and bent on revenge.

With the only clues to the nature of the clock having disappeared into the sea, Destiny and David must retrace the steps the man had taken into the darkness, before they fall prey to the trap he had set in motion over half a century ago.

Hatred never dies."

Release Date: August 13 2010

Ever since Emma commented on my blog and I looked up what her book was about, I've wanted to read this! It looks right up my alley. I'm so excited for it! I'll be getting it the nearest bookstore on the release date.

What are you waiting for?

Emma Out!

CSN Giftcard Winner Is...

Hiya!

It's time to reveal with winner of the CSN giftcard!

...

...

It's...

Congratulations 14. LIZ. A!

I'll send you an email letting you know you won and someone from CSN will send you the promotional code.

Have fun picking out what you buy!

Emma

TBR/Teaser Tuesday July 27, '10

Hello,

To Be Read Tuesday was started by my friend Korianne.

Goodreads Description:

"In 1940s Chicago, fifteen-year-old Ruby hopes to escape poverty by becoming a taxi dancer in a nightclub, but the work has unforeseen dangers and hiding the truth from her family and friends becomes increasingly difficult."

I saw this one at my bookstore a long time ago. There's not a lot of YA books about the twenties-forties and this looked really great. I hope I come across it again.









Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"I hesitate. I don't want this to end. who know when we can sneak out again? The pride watches me so closely, Cassian is always-

"Jacinda!"Azure ponts out one iridescent blue finger through the air.

I turn and look. My heart seizes."

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

What's your teaser?

Emma Out!

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? July 26, '10

Hey,

This meme is hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Read This Week:

The Mysterious Howling: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Spells and Sleeping Bags by Sarah Mlynowski
No Place for Magic by E.D Baker
Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

Currently Reading:

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Dramarama by E. Lockhart

To Read This Week:

Invisible Things by Jenny Davidson
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Fixing Delilah Hannaford by Sarah Ockler
Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

What are you reading?

Emma Out!

Link A Contest Thursday July 22, '10

Hello!

My awesome blogger buddy Kristen hosts this meme.

I'm hosting a contest for a CSN $60 gift card! (US and CAN Only)

Chick Lit Teens is having a twitter giveaway for What's Your St@tus. (Aug 4) (US Only)

And Anything Bookish is also having a contest for a CSN giftcard! (US and CAN Only) (August 1)

Check them out! What contests are you lusting after?

Emma Out!

Siren Blog Tour

Hiya Followers!

I've been so fortunate as to be a part of the blog tour for Siren by Tricia Rayburn. Here's the description.

Goodreads Description:

Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been ther."Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge. That is, until Justine goes cliff-diving one night near the family’s vacation house in Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day.

Though her parents hope that they’ll be able to find closure back in Boston, Vanessa can’t help feeling that her sister’s death wasn’t an accident. After discovering that Justine was keeping a lot of secrets, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor, hoping that Justine’s boyfriend might know more. But Caleb has been missing since Justine’s death.

Soon, it’s not just Vanessa who’s afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes host to a string of fatal, water-related accidents in which all the victims are found, horrifically, grinning from ear to ear.

Vanessa turns to Caleb’s brother, Simon, for help, and begins to find herself drawn to him. As the pair try to understand the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance—and will change her life forever.

1. What inspired the mystery elements of Siren?

I’m intrigued by—and terrified of—all the things you can’t see beneath the water’s surface, like crabs, jellyfish, sharks, you name it! These mixed feelings made me think about what else might be lurking underwater, and the mystery surrounding Siren grew from there.

2. What do you want readers to take away from your novel?

I mostly want my readers to enjoy a fun, spooky read, but if they take away anything more than that, I hope it’s the idea that if they find the courage to face their fears, they just might find themselves to be stronger than they think.

3. What's your favourite summer read?

Because I first read them on hot summer days, I’m going with The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. But growing up, my all-time favorite summer read was The Baby-Sitters Club #8, Boy-Crazy Stacey. It had everything: good friends, the beach, and a cute older lifeguard!

4. What's your next project?

I just finished the first draft of Siren 2, and soon I’ll start Siren 3. But right now I’m working a new middle-grade project. It’s in the very beginning stages so I can’t say much, but I’m very excited!

Hunger Games is one of my favourite summer reads too. Thanks so much for coming Tricia! I'm so glad I got to be a part of the blog tour.

Next stop on the tour is at One Book At A Time. Enjoy the rest of the tour! I had a blast.

Emma Out!

Book 24 of '10 Take Me There by Susane Colasanti

Hey Followers,

Dust Jacket Description:

"In one short week . . . three lives change.

Rhiannon is devastated after the breakup with her boyfriend and wants him back. Nicole's ex is still in the picture, but she can't help having a new crush. James and Rhiannon are just friends, though he may try to take it to the next level. Will their desire to take a mean girl down a notch bring these three friends what they want . . . and more?"

Characters: There was a lack of realism in the characters in Take Me There. I found the three narrators excessive. Rhiannon's voice was strong and interesting, but it got bogged down with the other two characters. Nicole sounded the exact same as her. I wasn't convinced that James could be a real male. Once I got past the similarities in the characters, I started to enjoy the actual story more. 3 and a half flowers.

Writing: Really pretty, but the dialogue made me cringe. No teen I know would talk the way that the kids do in this book. Dialogue is a very common pitfall, but it was really halting in my enjoyment of the story. Also the constant repetition of days in the different narrators' perspectives got annoying. Beyond that, I enjoyed the descriptions. 3 flowers.

Plot: I got bogged down in subplots and forgot about the entertaining journey to Rhiannon's obvious ending. 3 flowers.

End: Satisfying and predictable. 4 flowers.

Dust Jacket Description: The description attempts to inject more plot than there actually is. But for the sake of selling, it works. 4 flowers.

Cover: An average YA romance cover. The title font and colour annoys me. 3 flowers.

Overall: Fun and entertaining, but disappointing. 3 flowers.

Emma Out!

TBR/Teaser Tuesday July 20

Hiya Readers!

After a busy week at the cottage, I'm back! I've been reading a whole lot, too. To Be Read Tuesday was started by my friend Korianne.

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Goodreads Description:

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of real bad luck. First, her co-worker gets murdered and no one seems to care. Then Sookie is attacked - and poisoned - late one night by some weird and apparently mythical beast. She only survives because the local vampires roll up and graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it). But in return the blood-suckers need a favor.

Which is why Sookie ends up in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire, on the condition that her undead friends don't do anything, well, vampiric while she's there. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly...

I finished the first book in this series, and enjoyed it more than I had originally anticipated. I'm planning on reading the entire series. I should be buying this at the nearest used bookstore!

Teaser Time!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

" 'Dear me Cassiopeia, mind your dress! I realize it may be faster to go on all fours, but I think you will find your stockings will last longer at the knee if you walk upright. Here, allow me to demonstrate.'"

- The Mysterious Howling: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood

What's your teaser?

Emma Out!

Book 23 of '10 Jinx by Meg Cabot

Hello Followers,

Dust Jacket Description:

" It's not easy being Jinx.

Jean Honeychurch hates her boring name (not Jean Marie, or Jeanette, just . . . Jean). What's worse? Her all-too-...more It's not easy being Jinx.

Jean Honeychurch hates her boring name (not Jean Marie, or Jeanette, just . . . Jean). What's worse? Her all-too-appropriate nickname, Jinx. Misfortune seems to follow her everywhere she goes—even to New York City, where Jinx has moved to get away from the huge mess she caused in her small hometown. Her aunt and uncle welcome her to their Manhattan town house, but her beautiful cousin Tory isn't so thrilled. . . .

In fact, Tory is hiding a dangerous secret—one that could put them all in danger. Soon Jinx realizes it isn't just bad luck she's been running from . . . and that the curse she has lived under since the day she was born may be the only thing that can save her life."





Characters: Jinx was a fun, stereotypical chick lit protagonist. Tory maddened me with her idiocy. The boy who was Jinx's love interest who's name I forget was average. Everything I expected from a Meg Cabot novel. But they were all well written. 3 and a half flowers.

Writing: I had never read a Meg Cabot novel before this point. I liked her comedic wit and her writing style. She had been laughing at particular parts. I was sold very early into the story. 4 and a half flowers.

Plot: Somewhat confusing. I still don't know if I should classify this as a fantasy novel. But the writing made the ride enjoyable. 4 flowers.

End: We all knew what was going to happen. But that didn't lessen my pleasure from the story. 4 flowers.

Dust Jacket Description: Average. It doesn't really make me want to read the book. 2 and a half flowers.

Cover: Pretty but misleading. 4 flowers.

Overall: Fun, silly and just what I want from a chick lit novel. 4 flowers.

Emma Out!

The Huge TBR Readathon

Kristen, my first blogging buddy and generally awesome blogger of Bookworming in the 21st Century is hosting a readathon that goes from today to July 25. I am taking part of it! I'm really excited. A readathon is just what I need.

Read:

How To Be Popular by Meg Cabot

Currently Reading:

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Emma Out!

Book 22 of '10 The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan

Hello,

Dust Jacket Description:

"Enter The Realm of Possibility and meet a boy whose girlfriend is in love with Holden Caulfield; a girl who loves the boy who wears all black; a boy with the perfect body; and a girl who writes love songs for a girl she can’t have.

These are just a few of the captivating characters readers will get to know in this intensely heartfelt new novel about those ever-changing moments of love and heartbreak that go hand-in-hand with high school. David Levithan plumbs the depths of teenage emotion to create an amazing array of voices that readers won’t forget. So, enter their lives and prepare to welcome the realm of possibility open to us all. Love, joy, and these stories will linger."






Characters: Although I only get a few pages from each character's perspective, the voice was strong from each POV and I found myself aching and adoring these characters and their worlds all in a very short amount of time. I was on the verge of tears reading about the girl who was in love with the girl who was straight. Levithan used her song lyrics to express her emotions, and they were so beautiful. The girl who was in love with Holden Caulfield really surprised me and became one of my favourite narrators. Everyone was written beautifully and realistically. Levithan is my third favourite writer ever and the characters in this book confirmed my love for him. 5 flowers.

Writing: I'm not usually a fan of verse. Actually, the last review I just wrote contests to that. But Levithan could write about paint drying and I would consider it an exciting piece of prose. These words struck me in the stomach with their power. Levithan just GOT the voice of these characters. I was cast in a spell in the duration of two hours that I read this book. 5 flowers.

Plot: There was no real plot in this book, just a couple of similar motivations with characters that connected on a day to day basis. But it was enough to make me adore it. 4 flowers.

Ending: Just like the rest of Levithan's novels, it ended on a perfect, satisfying, beautiful and loving note. 5 flowers.

Dust Jacket Description: Enough to intrigue people, and that's enough for me. 4 flowers.

Cover: Interesting, but it could be better. 4 flowers.

Overall: My favourite Levithan book. This book is absolutely amazing. 5 flowers.

Emma Out!

Book 21 of '10 The Apprentice's Masterpiece by Melanie Little

Hello,

Dust Jacket Description:

"Fifteenth-century Spain is a richly multicultural society in which Jews, Muslims and Christians coexist. But under the zealous Christian Queen Isabella, the country abruptly becomes one of the most murderously intolerant places on Earth.

It is in this atmosphere that the Benvenistes, a family of scribes, attempt to eke out a living. The family has a secret-they are conversos: Jews who converted to Christianity. Now, with neighbors and friends turned into spies, fear hangs in the air.

One day a young man is delivered to their door. His name is Amir, and he wears the robe and red patch of a Muslim. Fifteen-year-old Ramon Benveniste broods over Amir's easy acceptance into the family."

Characters: One downside of verse is that usually it's hard to get a sense of the characters. This was no exception for Masterpiece. I thought Ramon was slightly obnoxious for fifty pages of the novel, but after I understood his insecurity, it was easier to like him. 4 flowers.

Writing: Verse usually leaves me feeling disturbed. This worked for this novel, though. The beautiful lyricism of the prose was perfect. 4 and a half flowers.

Plot: The story arch went to fast for me. But the writing got me through. 3 flowers.

Ending: Very powerful and gorgeous. 4 and a half flowers.

Cover: It intrigued my interest and it has a wonderful reference to the book. 4 flowers.

Dust Jacket Description: Decent, but doesn't get a good indicator of what occurs after the beginning. 3 and a half flowers.

Overall: Absolutely stunning, but substance is lacking. 4 flowers.

Emma Out!

CSN Giveaway/What Odd Places Do You Read?

Hiya Followers!

When CSN Stores offered to do a giveaway on my blog, it got me thinking about odd areas of my house/back yard where I like to read.

My favourite position to read in, in order to save time is holding the place of the book I'm reading with my foot while I brush my teeth or wash my face at my bathroom vanity. I remember doing this for half an hour before I had a nighttime bath while completing Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse.

I like to hang my legs over the arm of my huge blue armchair and read intently. I also like to hang my head over the end of my bed and contort myself into shapes to get my daily exercise.

My mom is a big reader as well, and our house is truly a reader's paradise. Even our back yard has THREE chair areas. One set is very gothic looking. It's my favourite place to read historical fiction or steampunk. Oh, you don't classify where you read your novels by what genre of book you're reading? How unfortunate for you.

But whatever odd areas you read in throughout your home, CSN can certainly make those areas prettier! That's why I'm giving away a $60 giftcard that is good for any product on CSN Stores' sites including http://www.allbookshelves.com/ and many others.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Hi,

This meme is hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Read This Week:

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Harris
Iggie's House by Judy Blume
Dark Spring by Kathy Stinson
Sarah, Plain and Tall by

Currently Reading:

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
How to Be Popular by Meg Cabot
This Book is Overdue by Marilyn Johnson

To Read This Week:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Firelight by Sophie Jordan

What are you reading?

Emma Out!

Waiting on Wednesday July 21 '10

Hello!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.








Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

Goodreads Description:

"The Sullivan sisters have a big problem. On Christmas Day their rich and imperious grandmother gathers the family and announces that she will soon die . . .and has cut the entire family out of her will. Since she is the source of almost all their income, this means they will soon be penniless.

Someone in the family has offended her deeply. If that person comes forward with a confession of her (or his) crime, submitted in writing to her lawyer by New Year's Day, she will reinstate the family in her will. Or at least consider it.

And so the confessions begin..."

I loved How to Say Goodbye in Robot, so I am really excited to read this book.

PS: Sorry for the distorted picture! It was the only one I could find with the most recent cover.

What are you waiting for?

Emma Out!

Waiting on Wednesday July 7, '10

Hey!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.








Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Goodreads Description:

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Release Date: September 28, 2010

I absolutely adore Jennifer Donnelly. I am so excited for this one.

What are you waiting for?

Emma Out!

Book 19 of '10 The Vanishing Point by Louise Hawkes

Hey,

Vanishing Point was an impulse buy. What can I say? I'm a sucker for historical fiction.

Dust Jacket Description:

"Vini's imperious father, a sixteenth-century Bolognese portraitist, teaches his students the importance of seeing: "Paint first with your eyes." But he can't see what's right in front of him--his 14-year-old daughter Vini's hunger to paint alongside his male apprentices. Earning a place in her father's workshop is just the first of many challenges Vini faces. The other painters regard her as an aberration; measles threatens her eyesight; and her mother's surprise pregnancy causes deep anxiety about Vini's place in her family. In imagining the adolescence of Renaissance artist Lavinia Fontana, a historical figure whose biography is outlined in an endnote, Hawes deftly blends history and invention, introducing a romance that flowers alongside Vini's talent, and giving her a role in resolving a poignant family conflict. At times Hawes projects perhaps too much sophistication into Vini's perceptions (in painting the objects in a still life, she is "a partner to each, a loving consciousness that holds, cherishes"), and the story line relies overmuch on contrivance. Nonetheless, fans of historical fiction will lose themselves in Hawes' sumptuously evoked Renaissance Italy, and aspiring artists will respond to Vini's amazement at "how full of drawings the world is."

Characters: Vini got my attention from my beginning as a strong, capable and talented girl. She was willing to put in the work to become a good artist. Her love interest who's name I forget was surprisingly different from usual romantic leads, which was refreshing. Vini's family life was another fascinating element that didn't get fully formed until the end. I really enjoyed the characters. 4 flowers.

Writing: From the start of the book with the depictions of puppet shows, I fell in love with the writing style. The luscious fluidity and descriptive voice caught me. The discussions of art and the artist's process were well written and beautiful. The style of this novel fit the era, beautiful and rich. 5 flowers.

Plot: Seeing Vini become fully formed as an artist was a delight. 4 flowers.

Ending: Slightly abrupt from the rest of the novel and not as satisfying as I had hoped, but still promising. 3 flowers.

Dust Jacket Description: Fits the vibe of the novel perfectly. 4 and a half flowers.

Cover: Gorgeous. 4 and a half flowers.

Overall: A great story for those who want a good piece of Renaissance YA fiction. 4 flowers.

Emma Out!

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? July 5, '10

Hello!

One Person's Journey Through a World of Books hosts this meme.

Read This Week:

Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier
The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by R.J Anderson
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

Currently Reading:

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
Looking for Alaska by John Green

To Read This Week:

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahme-Smith and Jane Austen

What are you reading?

Emma Out!

Book 18 of '10 Fighting Ruben Wolfe by Markus Zusak

Dust Jacket Description:

"As Cameron and Ruben Wolfe walk home from school one day, a rough bloke awaits them at their gate. "Can we talk inside?" he asks.

"Well, for starters," Rube answers, "who the hell are y'?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," says the stranger. "I'm a guy who can either change your life or smack it into the ground for bein' smart."

The brothers decide to listen. They keep listening, and soon they're embroiled in a ruthless underground world of sleazy amateur boxing, 50 bucks for a win, a decent tip for a loss. The intensity of this kind of fighting goes beyond the obvious violence and danger, though, as Cameron wonders whether he even wants to come out from his brother's shadow and both boys seek an identity beyond that of their painfully harsh working class family's."

Characters: Zusak has immense skill when it comes to character development. I learned to love Ruben and Cameron's relationship, ached over their family situation, laughed out loud at the amusing dialogue. Everything about Zusak's writing is so natural, it feels more like a memoir than a novel. It would be difficult not to be engrossed in Cameron's mind and his world. 5 flowers.

Writing: I always enjoy those moments in books where they explain a feeling or an event that I have felt or I have experienced. Cameron's mind is one big moment like that. The dialogue was realistic and the situation seemed believable to me. Beautiful realism is the best way to describe Zusak's writing style. 5 flowers.

Plot: I wasn't convinced I would like the sport aspect of this novel. While I am a big fan of Zusak, the typical cliche of sports books made me hesitant to read it. Yes, it was predictable in the most important senses, but it was surprising in others. Zusak's writing saved the average cliched story arch. 3 flowers.

End: Predictable, but it made me feel warm and satisfied inside. 4 flowers.

Dust Jacket Description: I would've preferred more description of their relationship and family life. 3 and a half flowers.

Cover: I prefer the newer versions of the cover. 3 flowers.

Overall: Gorgeous. Exactly what I would expect from Zusak. 4 flowers.

Emma Out!

Book 17 of '10 Incantation by Alice Hoffman

Hello,

I got Incantation at a book sale a long ago and delved into for the readathon.

Dust Jacket Description:

"Estrella deMadrigal thought she knew herself: daughter, granddaughter, sister, dearest friend, beloved. She is Star in the Night Sky, Truth in the Darkness. But truth is rare and precious in this cruel and unforgiving century in Spain, when Jews who refused conversion to Christianity risked everything - love, life, family, faith.

Then: A startling discovery shakes Estrella's world to the core. And yet, it is something small and sweet that sets it aflame. A kiss. A kiss from someone she is forbidden to love.

As a new girl emerges from the cocoon of secrets in which she has been shrouded, passion burns and friendship crumbles - and betrayal unleashes a monstrous evil from the very deepest part of the earth. Estrella crosses over to a place she never thought she could be; she is someone she never could have imagined.

Remember the story she is about to tell you."


Characters: I got a really wonderful sense of Estrella by how she saw herself. It took me a while to really attach to her, but once I got to the brunt of the action I knew I was fond of her. I'm sorry I'm not that good with names, so I'm going to have to talk about side characters in their relation to Estrella. Estrella's love interest didn't seem very well developed, but that tends to occur with love interests in YA. The struggle between her best friend and herself seemed realistically depicted. I grew to really care for these characters in less than two hundred pages. 4 flowers.

Writing: Heartbreaking and fluid. Perfect for the subject matter. 4 flowers.

Plot: The separation between people of other faiths and Christians was brilliant and made me very angry. The story arch made sense and surprised me at bits. For less than two hundred pages, Hoffman fit a lot of story in. 4 flowers.

Ending: A bittersweet ending that fit this novel perfectly. I couldn't imagine a better way to finish it. 4 and a half flowers.

Dust Jacket Description: Surprisingly fitting. I still believe it would be better less cryptic, though. 4 flowers.

Cover: Haunting and brilliant. I love this one. 4 and a half flowers.

Overall: Disturbing and beautiful. I'd definitely recommend this to people who enjoy stories about this dark period in history. 4 flowers.

Emma Out!

Long Overdue Awards

Hey Followers!

I haven't done any awards in AGES. I know this is bad, because I've received two. So here I start! The lovely Maggie Desmond-O'Brien gave me this award.

TEN THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

1. My favourite thing in the entire world is writing. It is frustrating and I sometimes become ridiculously insecure but I adore my characters and stories. There is something so RIGHT about writing for me. It just makes sense. I couldn't live without it.

2. My mom. Yeah yeah, I know, I'm a big sap. But my mom is amazing and she's kept me almost sane for as long as I can remember.

3. Reading, of course! I love escaping into new worlds and characters. I love picking apart plots and characters and prose and narration. The community around reading has made me love reading more than ever.

4. My friends. They're crazy and hilarious, and some provide me some really attractive tumblr posts. So I am a FAN of them. I'm quite fond of humans as a whole. My friends are my favourite humans.

5. My kitty. When I get older, I am going to be a writer/YA librarian, but mostly I will be a cat lady. My kitty Clara is this super sassy animal who loves to cuddle and herd me into things. Yeah, true story.

6. Fall and spring. I love the in between seasons.

7. My cootie catcher necklace. There's two stories around it. Ask me about it sometime. It's definitely my most prized possession. Yes, that's including my Gemma Doyle books.

8. Ice cream. NOM NOM.

9. Musicals. I love musicals. You can tell I am in a good mood if I go around my house singing a combo of Spring Awakening, Wicked and Rent.

10. Dancing. I don't do it as often as I would like. But I adore dancing.

Now here are the ten people I give this award to! Although I bet you all have it already anyways.

1. Bookworming in the 21st Century
2. Book Crazy
3. Chick Lit Teens
4. Cornucopia of Reviews
5. Good Books and Good Wine
6. Something Bookish
7. Pirate Penguin's Reads
8. Red House Books
9. Tales of Whimsy
10. Today's Adventure

Thanks to Cornucopia of Reviews for this award! I love the art for this one.

Here is what a prolific blogger is...one who is intellectually productive, keeping up an active blog with enjoyable content.

After accepting this award recipients are asked to pay it forward to seven other deserving blogs.

1. A Flight of Minds
2. And Anything Bookish
3. B. A. M. Book Reviews
4. Bibliophilia
5. Book Crazy
6. Chick Lit Teens
7. My Tea Time is Book Time

Thank you SO MUCH for these awards. I really appreciate them.

Emma Out!

In My Mailbox, July 3 '10

Hello,

Yeah, I know I know. It's been too long since I posted. I don't have any excuse. But I am BACK NOW. The Story Siren hosts this meme.

The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vane

Goodreads Description:

"When Bethany -- self-proclaimed geek girl -- makes the varsity cheerleading squad, she realizes that there's one thing worse than blending in with the lockers: getting noticed. She always felt comfortable as part of the nerd herd, but being a member of the most scrutinized group in her school is weighing her down like a ton of textbooks. Even her Varsity Cheerleading Guide can't answer the really tough questions, like: How do you maintain some semblance of dignity while wearing an insanely short skirt? What do you do when the head cheerleader spills her beer on you at your first in-crowd party? And how do you know if your crush likes you for your mind...or your pom-poms?

One thing's for sure: It's going to take more than brains for this girl genius to cheer her way to the top of the pyramid.



I won this from Friday Book Teens and did a little dance when I finally got it in the mail. I already read it and I really enjoyed it!

Well that's about it. What did you get this week?

Emma Out!

Cinderella Society Swag Contest

I'm so sorry I haven't gotten to this sooner! It's summer and I finally have enough time to catch up on my blog. Anyways, the winner of The Cinderella Society swag is...oh wait, DRUM ROLL PLEASE. No? Fine, I'll do it myself.

Morgan!

Please email me your address and Kay will send it to you!

Emma Out