S.O.S Book of the Week

The S.O.S Book of the Week  is where I'll let you in on what new releases I'm looking forward to!  S.O.S comes from the term 'Strict on Sale'.  It's bookseller speak for a title that you can't sell before a specific date-- think Harry Potter.  While the books I have here may not be S.O.S titles specifically, they are all new!

The S.O.S. Book of the Week is:

August 31st saw the release of 'The Haunted' by Jessica Verday, sequel to last years supernatural romance 'The Hollow'. You may remember my review of that here. The overall storyline of the series is loosely based on 'The Headless Horseman' or at least takes place in Sleepy Hollow and includes some dead folks.

Here's a blurb from Goodreads:

"After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with by the bridge where her best friend drowned - the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead - Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, determined to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into schoolwork, perfume-making and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be able to help her get over Caspian once and for all. 

But Abbey is never going to truly be able to move on from Caspian and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side: for Caspian is a Shade and Abbey is his destiny. The two are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow and the famous legend that binds their fates - a legend whose true ending and dark truths they are only just beginning to guess..."

I'm hoping this sequel starts off a little quicker than the last and am looking forward to seeing more of Caspian.  'The Haunted' is definitely going on my hold list at the library!

 And that's it for this weeks S.O.S Book of the Week!  Check back next week for my next S.O.S title!

We got another award-- One Lovely Blog Award

I'd like to thank Danya over at 'A Tapestry of Words' for giving me this 'One Lovely Blog Award'!

Rules:


1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.


2. Pay it forward to 15 other bloggers that you have newly discovered.


3. Contact those blog owners and let them know they've been chosen.


So, this award gets passed on to the following great blogs I've recently discovered:

These are all blogs found on the most recent 'Blog Hop'! Yes, I only listed 10... 

http://theknow-it-all.blogspot.com
http://readingthebestofthebest.blogspot.com
http://www.emmaandbooks.blogspot.com/
http://booksforbears.blogspot.com/
http://superlibrarian-super.blogspot.com/
http://wouldyouliketea.blogspot.com/
http://the-book-girl.blogspot.com/
http://booksake.blogspot.com/
http://thatbookishgirl.blogspot.com/
http://bookishinabox.blogspot.com/

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Spoiler Free)

Title: Mockingjay (Book 3 in the Hunger Games Trilogy)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA, Post-apocalyptic, romance, action
Perfect for: those who have read the series, starting with 'Hunger Games'.

NOTE: This review is spoiler-free. Comments on this should be spoiler-free, as well!

Katniss has been thrown into the Hunger Games twice now and each time has survived, mocking the governing power called The Capital. On the brink of war with the districts, the Capital doesn't like that one bit. No one is safe as the rebellion that was only just beginning in 'The Hunger Games' is now at full force in 'Mockingjay'.

Without going into spoiler-ville, let me just say that I loved this conclusion to the Hunger Games Trilogy. The whole series has been pretty dark and this book definitely followed suit. That being said, Collins ended this series perfectly. It is heartbreaking, gut wrenching, gasp making, and pretty much a whirlwind of a read.

'Mockingjay' starts off a bit slower than the other two novels, but rest assured, picks up quickly once it reaches part 2 of the story. Because the focus of 'Mockingjay' isn't just another Hunger Game, 'Mockingjay' has a lot of surprising turns and allows for plenty of character development, specifically in the case of past Hunger Games contestants and best friend Gale.

One of the best things about 'Mockingjay' is that Collins keeps everything real. Nothing is sugar-coated, all the way down to the hunger games impact on the psyche of the heroes we've grown to love. This is truly a story that people will remember.

'Mockingjay' is available online and in stores now!

Fantasy Cast: The Hunger Games

Back in 2009, movie production company Lionsgate bought the rights to a book called 'The Hunger Games' vowing to make a movie trilogy once the three book series was released. Now that all three books are out, they can get to making it.

Here's my fantasy cast for 'The Hunger Games'!!!

Paul Wesley (credits: Fallen, Vampire Diaries) as Gale:

I adore Paul Wesley.  He fell on my radar when he starred in the ABC Family mini-series 'Fallen'.  If you haven't seen it, check it out!!!  Anyway, he seems like a pretty perfect Gale.  Strong, manly, and hot.

Elle Fanning (credits: Because of Winn-Dixie, Astro Boy) as Prim:

Dekota Fanning is too old to play Prim, so the role has to go to her sister, Elle.  If she has even half the talent of her famous sister, she should be able to pull at our heartstrings in the role of Prim!!!

Alex Pettyfer (credits: Alex Rider, Beastly) as Peeta:

I'll be honest here... I haven't seen this kid act yet.  He just really looks like Peeta and I think he'd match up pretty well to my Gale.

Robert Downey Jr.  (credits: Iron Man) as Haymitch:

The actor who plays Haymitch needs to have the ability to make us love him, even with his addiction to the bottle.  Robert Downey Jr. could totally do that.

James McAvoy (credits: Shameless, Penelope) as Cinna:

Oh, James McAvoy, how I love thee.  Really, he's talented and pretty.  Those are two things an actor playing Cinna needs to be!

And playing the title role of Katniss?  In my opinion, it should go to an unknown or at least relatively unknown actress.  Bring in someone we viewers won't associate with any other major roles; someone who the audience will really see as Katniss.  (Not in the crazy way Twilight fanatics see Kristin and Rob as Bella and Edward, but in a less obsessive sort of way!!  Sorry, Twi-hards, you have to admit, asking someone to 'bite' you or 'growl' at you at a signing is weird!) 

So there you have it-- my 'Hunger Games' movie cast.  Agree?  Disagree?  Let me know!  Remember, keep comments spoiler free!!!

Book Blogger Hop

Do you use a rating system for your reviews and if so, what is it and why?

I've thought about starting some sort of rating system here, but lack the computer graphic skills to get anything cool set up.  Right now, you can see a 1-5 star rating on my  Goodreads account for every book on here and more!

Eventually I'll set something up here...  But a new layout trumps ratings!

S.O.S Book of the Week

The S.O.S Book of the Week  is where I'll let you in on what new releases I'm looking forward to!  S.O.S comes from the term 'Strict on Sale'.  It's bookseller speak for a title that you can't sell before a specific date-- think Harry Potter.  While the books I have here may not be S.O.S titles specifically, they are all new!

While 'Mockingjay' would have been a great choice for this piece, I've already read it, so it doesn't fit the criteria.  Finished it in two sittings, though,  and loved it!  (I'll write a review for it later.  I'm still digesting it all!!!)

This weeks S.O.S. Book of the Week is:

'Monster High' by Lisi Harrison, release date September 7th, 2010, will be a first for me.  I've never read a 'Clique' novel, or any other 'Gossip Girl'-esc story for that matter. The reason I want to read this has all to do with the marketing, specifically the Monster High toy line.  You must have seen these dolls at a toy store near you by now.  Well, those dolls are the characters in this novel, minus the LA transfer student.

Taken from Goodreads:

They prefer to call themselves RADs, but some call them monsters. So far, the "monster" community has kept a low profile in Salem, Oregon, but this year two new girls enroll at Merston High School, and the town will never be the same.

Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's lonely formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and friends. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters stalking the halls, Frankie finds that life in the "normi" world can be rough for a chic freak like her.

She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver--but can a normi be trusted with her big secret?

Will I love this title?  I highly doubt it.  However, I'd love to enjoy this novel for what it is-- a fun, popcorny toy tie-in.  Of course, when I do finally read this, you all will the be the first to know how it goes!!!

For your enjoyment, here's a mini video based on the toyline!
(*NOTE: if your video is cut off on the right side, click and watch straight from youtube!)

Happy Mockingjay Day!!!!

Happy Mockingjay day to all you fans who rushed to the bookstore to pick up the last installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy!!!

I know my store had quite a few visits from excited fans ready to whip open 'Mockingjay'.  We also had quite a few staff members practically counting down the hours, minutes, and seconds till they could go home and start reading.  (Yes, I was one of them!)

I just wanted to state here that I promise not to spoil 'Mockingjay' for those reading it.  When I do write my review, I'll be sure to post it under a cut if spoilers are present!  I monitor all my comments, so there won't be any crazy spoilers creeping up there, either!!!

Review: City of Ships by Mary Hoffman

Title: City of Ships, Stravaganza #5
Author: Mary Hoffman
Genre: YA, fantasy, slight romance, adventure
Perfect for: young and old YA readers who have read the past books in this series

Isabel always feels like the runner up when it comes to her and her brother. She's not as smart, athletic, or popular as him. When she falls asleep with mosaic tiles she found in an italian style bag at school and suddenly wakes up in Classe, a Talian town, all that changes. Classe is in danger of being attacked and it seems Isabel is the only one who can save them.

You know those books that stay with you, even when you've closed them for the night? 'City of Ships' by Mary Hoffman is a perfect example of a book that does just that. 'City of Ships' is written drastically different from the other books in the Stravaganza series.

With the number of London based Stravaganti growing, the story is based as equally in Talia as it is the real world. This change, while startling at first, made for an interesting look at the current Stravaganti in London. I couldn't imagine having the power to go from Talia each night and not have it effect regular, daily life. It was nice to see the relationships between those who have traveled to Talia and how those travelers related to those who haven't traveled to Talia. And, I have to say, I always get a kick out of when the old Stavaganti figure out who the 'current' one is (in this case Isabel), leaving the 'current' Stravaganti to figure out why they're so interesting all of a sudden. It still makes me smile. And that little bit of romance between Isabel and another Stravaganti? Loved it.

Isabel wasn't annoying. Quite the opposite, I liked her perspective. She could have come off as whiny, as characters usually do when jealous of a sibling, but she doesn't. She has quite a grown up air to herself, actually.

As always, the characters in Talia are fantastic. Flavia and her son, the rogue pirate Andrea, were engaging characters. I almost suspected some sort of romantic storyline between Isabel and Andrea, but we'll see what happens with that in future books. (Though I doubt anything will now!)

I found the story to be a little less focused on Isabel's 'issue at hand', in this case her feeling second fiddle to her twin brother, but still enjoyed the storyline for this fifth installment of the Stravaganza series. The role her brother did end up playing in the story was unexpected and very different from something typically found in this series. I did find some odd loose ends in this novel. I'd like to see what comes of Flavia's son and Isabeb's pirate friend Andrea. And also, the biggest question on my mind after finishing: what did Luciano's mother want to tell her son? It's probably nothing big or surprising, but I want to know! Seriously, I'm waiting for the day when the Mulholland's travel to Talia to see him, to perhaps see a wedding or at least meet Arianna.

I really enjoyed 'City of Ships'. I loved the friendships, the hints of romance, and Talia in general. This series as a whole is one of those that everyone should read. So, if you haven't picked up this series yet, check it out!!!

'City of Ships' is on store shelves now and available at your favorite online bookshops!