Book Blogger Hop

Time for the Blogger Hop from Crazy for BooksWhat a great idea! I love following readers blogs almost more than I like blogging myself.What a great way to get out there and meet new people who share the same interests as you.

This week’s Question: "What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?"

I’m not sure if any book has changed my life. There have been books I’ve loved and have meant a lot to me at certain times in my life, but I cannot pin point one single book. Sorry for the lack of answer, but I’m really looking forward to what other people say this week about the books that influenced them.

From the Desk

One of my favourite things about being a Children and Youth librarian is that every morning someone puts on my desk all the new books that have arrived at our Branch for me to look over. It’s a really great way for me to know what we have in our collection, and I’m learning about all kinds of great new books.

Considering I don’t have time to read everything, I thought I would highlight some of the books that I find on my desk that look really interesting.

Pluto’s Ghost by Shree Fitch (2010) - Jake Upshore has loved Skye Derucci since before he can remember. Volatile, complex and frustrated (he's got a label disorder from all the labels he's been given) at the best of times, Jake's on a desperate quest to find Skye before she aborts the baby he believes is his. As he hurtles headlong toward certain tragedy, Jake relives the fatal choices he's made and the powerful forces that have led him to this to end.

From the Desk

One of my favourite things about being a Children and Youth librarian is that every morning someone puts on my desk all the new books that have arrived at our Branch for me to look over. It’s a really great way for me to know what we have in our collection, and I’m learning about all kinds of great new books.Considering I don’t have time to read everything, I thought I would highlight some of the books that I find on my desk that look really interesting.

Wildwing by Emily Whitman (2010) - When Addy is swept back in time, she couldn't be happier to leave her miser-able life behind. Now she's mistaken for Lady Matilda, the pampered ward of the king. If Addy can play her part, she'll have glorious gowns, jewels, and something she's always longed for—the respect and admiration of others. But then she meets Will, the falconer's son with sky blue eyes, who unsettles all her plans.

This seems like a really cute romantic historical fiction. I might just have to read it eventually.

Coming Soon to a Library Near You

Coming Soon to a Library Near You is a weekly feature inspired by Jill at Breaking the Spine that looks at upcoming books.

This Week’s Book: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Release Date: May 2011
Summary: In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

I do love Dystopians, and this one has a bit of a City of Embers feel to it. Plus it’s also a start to a series!!

Infinite Days

Infinite Days
By Rebecca Maizel
2010
325 Pages

Summary: Lenah has been given a second chance at life. Having been a Vampire for decades, she receives the gift of life through the sacrifice of her partner Rhodes. Now she must navigate the modern world while being a teenager, and she must begin to let go of her past before it comes to destroy her once again.

Review: Infinite Days will be enjoyed by the hoards of Vampire fans that exist in the YA world. However, there is lot more depth and charisma that set it apart from the ample collection of paranormal stories. Infinite Days is slower paced and there is a lot of emphasis put on history and legend. Having the rich flashbacks to Lenah’s life as a Vampire create an interesting balance with the typical high school plot. It really is the best of both worlds, creating a good read for a wide audience. For those who enjoy romance, there is a lot, as most of the characters are romantically linked to Lenah in one form or another. The style of writing makes it well suited for an older audience and has an Interview with the Vampire feel to it (which I loved).

Also by Rebecca Maizel: Stolen Nights (2011)

If you liked Infinite Days, you might also enjoy: The Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice and Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

Author website: http://rebeccamaizel.com/

Rating: W4/4 C4/4 P3.5/4 O3/4 PP3/4 CR4/4
Grade Level: S

Paranormalcy

Paranormalcy
By Kiersten White
2010
335 pages

“I hate the vampire jobs. They think they’re so suave. It’s not enough for them to slaughter and eat you like a zombie would. No, they want it to be all sexy, too.”

Summary: For Evie, the odd and strange are normal. Her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a troublesome faerie and the guy she is crushing on is some sort of shape-shifter. Sometimes with all the paranormal around, being human is the thing that feels strange. That is until paranormals start to die and Evie finds herself at the centre of a dark faerie prophecy that promises that not everything is normal.

Review: This quirky and charming tale had me laughing out loud and falling in love. Evie is my favourite kind of main character; witty, sarcastic and a little bit dark. Her ability to rationalize the abnormal was perfection. White does a really great job of balancing the strange aspects of the paranormal with the every day life of being a teenage girl who feels a little left out and lonely. Humor, action and an adorable romance move along this hilarious and compelling story, leaving the reader hanging in the end. Overall, a great addition to the paranormal genre.

If you liked Paranormalcy you might also enjoy: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, Spells by Aprilynne Pike, The Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead and Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Additional Information: Paranormally will be part of a trilogy, with the next one set to come out in the fall 2011. There could also be a possible movie in the works.

Author website: http://www.kierstenwhite.com/home

Rating: W4/4 C3.5/4 P3.5/4 O3/4 PP4/4 CR4/4
Grade Level: JS

Trash to Treasure

Each month there are several books that I start to read but for one reason or another I just can’t get into. I have a fairly low tolerance for the books I read, usually only giving them between 50-100 pages before I quit. There are just too many books to read and not enough time to “trudge” through something I’m not enjoying. However, I recently realized that I never mention them on here. So I’ve decided to do a monthly feature looking at some of the books I just couldn’t get into and why.

Entwined by Heather Dixon (2011) – read 57 pages. I have a very low tolerance for fantasy books (although I am getting better). I just find them too confusing and they don’t really hold my interest. If there isn’t a great amount of time devoted to world building I often get lost. This was the case for me with Entwined. There wasn’t enough world building and after 57 pages I couldn’t tell where the book was going so I quit. I thought the characterization was strong and I liked the dynamic of the sisters, but beyond that I was mostly just confused. Probably better suited for those who enjoy fantasy or are familiar with the original Grimm tale.

Cry Havoc Reviews, The Bodacious Pen and The Elliot Review all have positive reviews that you should check out.

Torment by Lauren Kate (2010) – read 157 pages. I really enjoyed Fallen, the first book in the series, so it was a big surprise that I couldn’t get into this one. I think the biggest reason I stumbled was that I had difficulty remembering the first book and no longer felt connected to Luce and Daniel’s story. Kate’s writing can also be slow at times, which also made it hard to connect. There is a lot to like in this series (angels, mystery, timeless romance, war) and I’m not in any way surprised by the success. I’m more disappointed in myself than the book and I’ll likely give the whole series another go at some point down the road.

Novel Novice, Amy Reads and For What it’s Worth all have positive reviews that you should check out.

Empty by Suzanne Weyn – read 48 pages – While I love dystopian novels, I cannot handle apocalyptic books, even if they have hopeful endings. Empty is a book about what would happen if/when our oil supply ran out. While I think it’s a very interesting topic, the reality of it was too scary for me to continue reading. The book is well written with a fast paced plot. The world building was also incredibly well done in its subtleties. So while I thought it likely would have been a great book, it freaked me out too much to continue.

Fiction Addict, All about {n} and Dreaming in Books all have positive reviews that you should check out