September 10, 2011

In My Mailbox(14)

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In My Mailbox is hosted weekly by The Story Siren.  We highlight books we have received  for review, purchased, borrowed, or Won. You can find out more here.
 
 
This week I got some great books to review as well as my library is the best because I was able to get a few books that I was dying to read. I have so many books that I have yet to read, I decided that I will go on a book ban until I can at least make a dent in my TBR pile. If you click on the titles it will take you back to goodreads. *Sorry about the crappy pics I took it with my phone :(
 
 
Review:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Library:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bought:
 
Blood Bound (Unbound, #1)
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you Kensington Publishing, Ominfic Publishing, Candlewick Press, and Little Brown!
 
So what did you get this week? Don't forget to check out my giveaway here.

September 8, 2011

Our Four Cents- Q & A on Divergent by Veronica Roth

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A few months ago Linz (violethourbr)and I were chatting on twitter about books, we ended up talking about how neither of us had read Divergent by Veronica Roth. We decided to read the book together which is awesome because I actually had someone I can chat with about the OMG, WTH, Squee I love the character moments. We had so much fun coming up with the Q & A below that we have decided to a monthly read together. Check out our Q & A and Divergent playlist below.





Now for our Q & A:


There has been so much hype around the book since its release in May, why wait till now to read it?

Neri- I have no clue why I waited; I’m shooting myself in the foot now for waiting so long to read it. Seriously, I should have moved this book up sooner.

Linz- Oh, geez. Because we are DUMB, Neri! None of the answers I'm about to give are sufficient enough to excuse my poor choice lol. Lack of money, library STILL doesn't have it, never got around to it. And I've been KICKING myself for not reading it sooner.

Neri- I agree your excuses are not sufficient-lol J/K. I’m in the same boat as you.



How do you feel about the Main Character Beatrice?

Neri- What else can I say other than she’s freaking awesome! She was such a strong character. It’s like when your kid turns two and they pull the “why card”. That was how she was. In a society where you are only supposed to do as you’re told because “it’s right” she questioned everything, which I totally admire :)

Linz- I really, really liked Tris. She was just like any other 16 year old (or young adult/even some adults) who struggled with what she was expected to be, and what she WAS. I loved that she was able to think for herself throughout the whole story. Like you said, she questioned everything and then figured out the "correct" answer on her own.

Of all of the characters in the book who did you feel most connected to?


Neri- I really connected with Four. You meet his character and then you fall in love with him because you learn so much about his story and the trials that he has gone through throughout his life. You see him as such a strong, determined character but at the same time you see all of the emotion and motivation behind his actions.

Linz- And plus...he sounds really, really good looking! ;) Just kidding! Probably Tris, for me, because she ROCKED.

Neri- haha! Well now that you point that out, he gets brownie points.


Often relationship are rushed in books, did you feel that the relationship between Tris & Four was believable?


Neri- I really felt that their relationship was believable, they really understood things about each other and the situations they found themselves in that no one else could. The relationship wasn’t “I loved you since the first day I met you” and now “I will die for you if you asked me to” type.

Linz- Yes! Unlike A LOT of stories right now, Tris and Four had a TON of things in common. One wasn't better or more 'special'. They were equals, and that is really uncommon in YA literature right now.



About the writing... Was it easy to slip into Roth's new world?


Neri- I think Roth’s writing was excellent and engaging. This was my second dystopian read. The first book I read... I didn’t really like, so I was worried that maybe I wouldn’t like this book. I was totally sucked in from the first line. I felt connected to all of the characters and I became emotionally attached to them.

Linz- I thought so, too! She really knows how to build a solid, almost tangible world. I could clearly picture every aspect, and make connections with her characters.



What did you think about the whole idea of the five Factions?


Neri-I think the concept was really cool and I could see our world divided into the factions. Power is a strange thing and it definitely changes someone if they have way too much.

Linz- If you think about it, we all have to make choices every day that revolve around those 5 things (and more). How we act, our emotions, etc. But to have your whole life revolve around a single character trait...SHEESH. Talk about a boring existence... Unless, of course, you were Dauntless!

Neri- I could totally see Linz and I as Dauntless leaders, oh the trouble we will get into.


If you had to choose a faction right now, which would you pick? [Abnegation (the Selfless), Erudite (Intelligence), Dauntless (Bravery), Candor (Honesty), or Amity (the Peaceful)]?


Neri- Seriously, who came up with these questions, can I say I don’t know. (haha!)

Linz- *hides*

Neri-I think Dauntless is cool but I want my cake and eat it too! So I’ll say Divergent.

Linz- Ugh... That's a HARD question. I have no idea how sixteen year olds were expected to make this decision. It's like being back in the 7th grade when we had to start planning the rest of our education on what we wanted to be. CRAZY. Anyway, part of me wants to say Abnegation, because thinking of others before yourself is an amazing trait to possess. The other part says Dauntless. They took a lot of risks in this book, but man did it look like FUN!



You can check out Linz review here. Mine will be posted this weekend.



Our playlist for Divergent:





Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

September 7, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (17)


Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcase upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.


I am dying to read this book, the books I have been reading lately has changed a lot. I haven't been reading as many paranormal books but it doesn't mean I don't love that genre. I just wanted a change and I've read a few YA contemporary books recently and I'm in love with this genre now. This book looks like it could be a tear-jerker so I can't wait until it's released in January 2012.


Jill MacSweeney just wants everything to go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. You can't lose one family member and simply replace him with a new one, and when her mom decides to adopt a baby, that's exactly what it feels like she's trying to do. And that's decidedly not normal. With her world crumbling around her, can Jill come to embrace a new member of the family?

Mandy Kalinowski knows what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, she knows she wants a better life for her baby. But can giving up a child be as easy as it seems? And will she ever be able to find someone to care for her, too? ~Goodreads


What books are you anxiously waiting for? Leave a link and I'll check it out.

Happy Wednesday!

September 6, 2011

Tune in Tuesday(7)

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This meme is hosted by Ginger at GReads & showcases music that you love and would love to share with everyone. Each week you can post an old or new song so that it gains more interest! So if your a music buff like I am you should head on over to her site and link up.



I can't remember when I heard about this group but I remember where I heard the song and it was at the ending of a Gossip Girl Episode. I fell in love with their music and jumped on Itunes to download their music that night.

The band is called Carolina Liar if you haven't listened to their music before you definitely need to try them out. The album is awesome and I don't think I can say there is one song on their that I don't like.





September 3, 2011

In My Mailbox (13)

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In My Mailbox is hosted weekly by The Story Siren.  We highlight books we have received  for review, purchased, borrowed, or Won. You can find out more here.

This is what I got in my mailbox this week, this week I got some great books and swag. This week I am too tired to post the actual synopsis for each book, but if you click on the title it will take you to goodreads.



For Review:

Dark Parties by Sara Grant

Won:



Received from Author:

Spellbinder by Helen Stringer (signed to my daughter) Thank you Helen!

Swag:




Thank you Erica O'Rourke(Torn), Jennifer Estep (Touch of Frost), and Helen Stringer (Midnight Gate).

September Giveaway-Win a Pre-Order copy of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara DyerMara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.







Okay, so I'm REALLY, REALLY excited about the release of this book. I was lucky that the awesomeYani @The Secret Life of an Avid Reader let me borrow her copy back in July (Blogger friends are the best :). I fell in love with the book it had everything I could possibly want in a book mystery, romance, and a really creepy story. It definitely has the WOW factor and that ending literally was a WTF moment I never saw it coming.

I'm done gushing, I wanted to share this awesome book with you so I am giving away (1) pre-order copy of it. The book will be released on September 27th.

This is my first attempt at using rafflecopter so lets see how it goes *crosses fingers*.

Contest info:

  • You must be a blog follower to enter.
  • The contest will end at midnight on September 16, 2011. 
  • At this time the contest is open to the US only.

September 2, 2011

Follow Friday (8)


This weeks question is:
 
If you could change the ending of any book (or series), which book would you choose? Why and to What?
 
 
Off the top of my head I can't really think of a series that I would change the ending to it. I have to admit like everyone else I hated the ending of Breaking Dawn, I think it was thrown together and  hated the fact that everyone lived happily ever after.
 
 
 
****Spoilet Alert- Vampire Academy****
 
As I was thinking about it I wouldn't change the ending but I hated the way Adrian was treated, I think my heart broke a little when I thought about what he told Rose at the end. At the time I didn't know their was a spin-off series. Now that I know there is one I retract the fact that I didn't like how VA ended in regards to Adrian.

Now I just need to read Bloodlines. :)
 
 
So what books or series would you change the ending to if you could? Leave a link and I'll check it out.
 
HAPPY FRIDAY!
 
 
 
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