Category: books

U is for Unique

6 Comments

I’ve been reading a lot of YA novels lately. With few exceptions, they mostly center around a sixteen-ish year-old girl. She’s smart but a bit awkward. Not drop dead gorgeous. She’s just moved to a new city or school, or she’s a fish-out-of-water for other reasons. She’s got inner strength, that may manifest itself by standing up to someone, punching someone, or simply learning something important about herself. The most interesting thing about this girl is that she’s not a conformist. She’s unique. She either tries exceptionally hard to stand out or that quality is innate in her character. Usually, she’s pretty dang cool.



My favorite example: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 

I would recommend this book to any YA lover. Young and old. I wish I would’ve read something like this while in high school–had it as a How-To handbook, in fact. Back then, I was way too concerned with fitting in completely. Never would I consider showing up to school toting a ukulele. But Stargirl Caraway does. And with such unabashed, unique style.



“She was illusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew.”


“People are afraid of people who are different. That’s what prisons and mental hospitals are for.”


“Nothing’s more fun than being carried away.”

Fly your unique, freak flag, all you Stargirls out there!

U is for Unique

6 Comments

I’ve been reading a lot of YA novels lately. With few exceptions, they mostly center around a sixteen-ish year-old girl. She’s smart but a bit awkward. Not drop dead gorgeous. She’s just moved to a new city or school, or she’s a fish-out-of-water for other reasons. She’s got inner strength, that may manifest itself by standing up to someone, punching someone, or simply learning something important about herself. The most interesting thing about this girl is that she’s not a conformist. She’s unique. She either tries exceptionally hard to stand out or that quality is innate in her character. Usually, she’s pretty dang cool.



My favorite example: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 

I would recommend this book to any YA lover. Young and old. I wish I would’ve read something like this while in high school–had it as a How-To handbook, in fact. Back then, I was way too concerned with fitting in completely. Never would I consider showing up to school toting a ukulele. But Stargirl Caraway does. And with such unabashed, unique style.



“She was illusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew.”


“People are afraid of people who are different. That’s what prisons and mental hospitals are for.”


“Nothing’s more fun than being carried away.”

Fly your unique, freak flag, all you Stargirls out there!

N is for (The) Neverending Story

18 Comments

Not! 
But stick with me….

The Neverending Story (along with The Dark Crystal, The Flight of the Navigator, and The Boy Who Could Fly) were my sister’s favorite movies when she was a little kid. 

Let me tell you about my sister.


She’s awesome
And tough and funny
She sings like a bird and drives faster then me. She’s always had better hair (except when she selfishly volunteers as guinea pig to her friends going through cosmetology school….perms are seldom a good look, sister)

Me & my bestie, doing what we do best,

I gave her The Corrs, she gave me The Backstreet Boys
I gave her Downton Abbey, she gave me Veronica Mars
I gave her Twilight, she gave me Katie Fforde
I gave her The Pimpernel, she gave me Star Wars
We discovered Monty Python, The Marx Brothers and Robert Downy, Jr together
We share love-custody of Gilbert Blythe and Gerard Butler
She gave me Brad Pitt
She understands my fascination (and borderline obsession) of Deb, Ang and Jen
Even though I don’t quite get her enthusiasm for alternative rock and ska
We share a fear of circus freaks and a love for all-you-can-eat buffets and Brit Coms
We’re both going to marry Jedi Knights someday
And Mr. Big

We shared a room in college for one summer and spend those hot nights trying to sleep while cooking up alternate endings to Phantom of the Opera and “What was Mr Darcy really thinking…” scenarios. 


Nicknames: 
(Seinfeld) she calls me “Gammy,” I call her “Mulva.” 
(Gossip Girl) she calls me “Em,” I call her “Es.” 
(Ab Fab) we both answer to “Pats”


I love you mucho, sister! Enjoy your “Day of N.” And I’ll allow you….THIS TIME, to watch one of your crap movies. 
I’ll see you in California tomorrow!!!
ex-oh, ex-oh.

N is for (The) Neverending Story

18 Comments

Not! 
But stick with me….

The Neverending Story (along with The Dark Crystal, The Flight of the Navigator, and The Boy Who Could Fly) were my sister’s favorite movies when she was a little kid. 

Let me tell you about my sister.


She’s awesome
And tough and funny
She sings like a bird and drives faster then me. She’s always had better hair (except when she selfishly volunteers as guinea pig to her friends going through cosmetology school….perms are seldom a good look, sister)

Me & my bestie, doing what we do best,

I gave her The Corrs, she gave me The Backstreet Boys
I gave her Downton Abbey, she gave me Veronica Mars
I gave her Twilight, she gave me Katie Fforde
I gave her The Pimpernel, she gave me Star Wars
We discovered Monty Python, The Marx Brothers and Robert Downy, Jr together
We share love-custody of Gilbert Blythe and Gerard Butler
She gave me Brad Pitt
She understands my fascination (and borderline obsession) of Deb, Ang and Jen
Even though I don’t quite get her enthusiasm for alternative rock and ska
We share a fear of circus freaks and a love for all-you-can-eat buffets and Brit Coms
We’re both going to marry Jedi Knights someday
And Mr. Big

We shared a room in college for one summer and spend those hot nights trying to sleep while cooking up alternate endings to Phantom of the Opera and “What was Mr Darcy really thinking…” scenarios. 


Nicknames: 
(Seinfeld) she calls me “Gammy,” I call her “Mulva.” 
(Gossip Girl) she calls me “Em,” I call her “Es.” 
(Ab Fab) we both answer to “Pats”


I love you mucho, sister! Enjoy your “Day of N.” And I’ll allow you….THIS TIME, to watch one of your crap movies. 
I’ll see you in California tomorrow!!!
ex-oh, ex-oh.

I is for: It’s another cover reveal. . .

7 Comments
I’m so excited to be part of another fun cover reveal from a fellow Entangled Publishing author. . . . . 


While trying to save her brother four years ago, Greta was thrown into the witch’s fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon.

To survive, seventeen-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape.

But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back…

Release date:  November 13, 2012
 

Author, Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she’d at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers.

GRETA & THE GOBLIN KING Links:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13260802-greta-and-the-goblin-king

Barnes and Noble pre-order: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/greta-and-the-goblin-king-chloe-james/1040613977

Additional links to Chloe’s pages:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jacobs_Chloe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChloeJacobsAuthor
Website: http://www.chloejacobs.com

I is for: It’s another cover reveal. . .

7 Comments
I’m so excited to be part of another fun cover reveal from a fellow Entangled Publishing author. . . . . 


While trying to save her brother four years ago, Greta was thrown into the witch’s fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon.

To survive, seventeen-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape.

But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back…

Release date:  November 13, 2012
 

Author, Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she’d at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers.

GRETA & THE GOBLIN KING Links:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13260802-greta-and-the-goblin-king

Barnes and Noble pre-order: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/greta-and-the-goblin-king-chloe-james/1040613977

Additional links to Chloe’s pages:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jacobs_Chloe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChloeJacobsAuthor
Website: http://www.chloejacobs.com

G is for Gatsby

11 Comments

(And while we’re at it, I’m checking off #2 on my LIST)

 

(Okay, F. Scott…..you had me at the title page.)
Bonus:
G is also for gazpacho. Which I made for the first time yesterday. I figured since I’m having one of my characters make it, I should learn too. Check it out:

 
 

brought to you by…..

G is for Gatsby

11 Comments

(And while we’re at it, I’m checking off #2 on my LIST)

 

(Okay, F. Scott…..you had me at the title page.)
Bonus:
G is also for gazpacho. Which I made for the first time yesterday. I figured since I’m having one of my characters make it, I should learn too. Check it out:

 
 

brought to you by…..

Why I can never be a book reviewer

8 Comments
I love reading. I LOOOOVE writing. So then…why do I suck at writing about reading?

Case in point: The other day, I was organizing my GoodReads virtual bookshelves, while also, curiously, reading a few of my “reviews” from books I read a while back.

After laughing/cringing at my obvious incompetence, I thought I’d share some of my more random, half-hearted reviews.
Enjoy. At my expense.
(Book titles have been removed. For your protection and mine.)
(via: blueleah)
This was cute, but the guy needed to be hotter sooner. I was too confused and scared. But in the end it was cute.
The only reason I didn’t give this one star is because I don’t want to go to hell. Seriously though, I was bored to tears.
Predictable and not enough love. Her other books are better. I did manage to learn a thing or two about greyhounds and building a staircase in the Cotswolds, however.
Clever writing, lots of kissing, no sex.  Safe for your mom!  
Meh.

Pretty cute. I liked the beginning and end the best. The middle was a bit annoying. The chick was just so stupid.

I liked thinking about this afterwards more than actually reading it. Still worth the 4 stars. Easy read.

SPOILER: 
Is this a story about a fat girl who hates herself? 
or about a girl getting dumbed? 
or a girl with Daddy issues? 
or a girl who gets knocked up? 
MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!!
Disc 2 got stuck in my cd player. I took that as a sign to stop. Bored anyway.
Are you FREAKING KIDDING ME??? One star was generous! Why put me through all that? And for what? I’m still so annoyed!!!!

Yes!–5 Stars. A perfect book. Exceptional, stunning writing, emotional. I laughed, I sobbed, I wanted to be friends with these boys.

Couldn’t finish this one. Too much weird circus freak naked. And not enough story. Buh-bye.

Interesting concept. But ended up kind of lame.
Whatever. I liked it.
Very cute. However, reminds me SO MUCH of MY book that I’m trying to get published (theme-wise, that is). Weird….
I’ve had better.
Big, stupid cow! Couldn’t relate to her. She was a big, stupid cow!  (My earlier review of same book at the halfway point:  You big, stupid COW! Men aren’t mind-readers, you big, stupid COW!!)
Cute. Some bits were a tad slow because of all the fabric and alpaca talk, but the guy was bossy and hot. I like that in a man. 🙂
Not great but didn’t hate.
This was a 2.5 rating. Could have been higher if the girl wasn’t so annoying and there wasn’t so much “dry rot” talk.
I really loved this. I wasn’t sure where the story was going at first, and I didn’t trust any of the weirdo characters. But then….I fell in love with these weirdos. Great message, nothing disturbing or shocking. To me, it’s kind of a cross between “Fight Club” and “Pay It Forward.” I know….
Bored. Weird.
Creepy good time. Wonder if the movie is any good
Er. I can’t believe she wasted her time on THIS instead of giving us Midnight Sun! This added nothing to Eclipse, but only managed to further tick me off as Stuffy again chose to break her own rules. Blah!
Cool, creepy story. Kind of a combo of “Rebecca,” “Jane Eyre,” and “Wuthering Heights.”
I feel like a failure since I can’t finish this. But…I JUST DON’T CARE! Maybe I’ll rent the movie…

Why I can never be a book reviewer

8 Comments
I love reading. I LOOOOVE writing. So then…why do I suck at writing about reading?

Case in point: The other day, I was organizing my GoodReads virtual bookshelves, while also, curiously, reading a few of my “reviews” from books I read a while back.

After laughing/cringing at my obvious incompetence, I thought I’d share some of my more random, half-hearted reviews.
Enjoy. At my expense.
(Book titles have been removed. For your protection and mine.)
(via: blueleah)
This was cute, but the guy needed to be hotter sooner. I was too confused and scared. But in the end it was cute.
The only reason I didn’t give this one star is because I don’t want to go to hell. Seriously though, I was bored to tears.
Predictable and not enough love. Her other books are better. I did manage to learn a thing or two about greyhounds and building a staircase in the Cotswolds, however.
Clever writing, lots of kissing, no sex.  Safe for your mom!  
Meh.

Pretty cute. I liked the beginning and end the best. The middle was a bit annoying. The chick was just so stupid.

I liked thinking about this afterwards more than actually reading it. Still worth the 4 stars. Easy read.

SPOILER: 
Is this a story about a fat girl who hates herself? 
or about a girl getting dumbed? 
or a girl with Daddy issues? 
or a girl who gets knocked up? 
MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!!
Disc 2 got stuck in my cd player. I took that as a sign to stop. Bored anyway.
Are you FREAKING KIDDING ME??? One star was generous! Why put me through all that? And for what? I’m still so annoyed!!!!

Yes!–5 Stars. A perfect book. Exceptional, stunning writing, emotional. I laughed, I sobbed, I wanted to be friends with these boys.

Couldn’t finish this one. Too much weird circus freak naked. And not enough story. Buh-bye.

Interesting concept. But ended up kind of lame.
Whatever. I liked it.
Very cute. However, reminds me SO MUCH of MY book that I’m trying to get published (theme-wise, that is). Weird….
I’ve had better.
Big, stupid cow! Couldn’t relate to her. She was a big, stupid cow!  (My earlier review of same book at the halfway point:  You big, stupid COW! Men aren’t mind-readers, you big, stupid COW!!)
Cute. Some bits were a tad slow because of all the fabric and alpaca talk, but the guy was bossy and hot. I like that in a man. 🙂
Not great but didn’t hate.
This was a 2.5 rating. Could have been higher if the girl wasn’t so annoying and there wasn’t so much “dry rot” talk.
I really loved this. I wasn’t sure where the story was going at first, and I didn’t trust any of the weirdo characters. But then….I fell in love with these weirdos. Great message, nothing disturbing or shocking. To me, it’s kind of a cross between “Fight Club” and “Pay It Forward.” I know….
Bored. Weird.
Creepy good time. Wonder if the movie is any good
Er. I can’t believe she wasted her time on THIS instead of giving us Midnight Sun! This added nothing to Eclipse, but only managed to further tick me off as Stuffy again chose to break her own rules. Blah!
Cool, creepy story. Kind of a combo of “Rebecca,” “Jane Eyre,” and “Wuthering Heights.”
I feel like a failure since I can’t finish this. But…I JUST DON’T CARE! Maybe I’ll rent the movie…