Waiting on Wednesday (6)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Today's picks are all about childhood favorites:

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Little, Brown Books for YR (January 2, 2012)

Summary:

I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.

Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

Lemony Snicket was my hero in seventh grade. A Series of Unfortunate Events, enough said. If I had to do a post sometime about books that made me who I am (which I definitely will in the near future), that series would be on there. Daniel Handler is so creative, so snarky, and so witty, I'd marry him if he was 20 years younger. (Well, along with Brian Jacques and Roald Dahl, but again, that's a discussion for another time.) I'm extremely jealous of all BEA attendees as Daniel Handler will be there promoting this book -- so go get him!


 
Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein
HarperCollins (September 20, 2011)

Summary:

Shel Silverstein, beloved author of the acclaimed and bestselling poetry collections Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and Falling Up, will have a brand-new book of poetry published by HarperCollins Children’s Books in September 2011. This is only the second original book to be published since Silverstein’s passing in 1999. With more than one hundred and thirty never-before-seen poems and drawings completed by the cherished American artist and selected by his family from his archives, this collection will follow in the tradition and format of his acclaimed poetry classics.

Generations have grown up with the works of Shel Silverstein, known not only as a poet and illustrator but also for his work as a cartoonist, playwright, performer, recording artist, and Grammy Award–winning songwriter. He has encouraged children to dream and dare to imagine the impossible with his extraordinary poetry and unforgettable characters. Now fans will have a chance to discover even more riches, and new readers will delight in the timeless magic of his works.

Not exactly YA, but if you had asked the younger me who my favorite poet was, I would have immediately responded "Shel Silverstein." His poems are a mix of adorable, funny, and just plain fun, and the illustrations made everything x947542 more awesome. I just pulled out my copies of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic to tutor a little girl, Sophia, last week (I'll see if I can get any pictures of her; she's so CUTE) and was reminded of how much I loved them; she couldn't wait to bring them home and read more. :)

... and her mom gave me a strawberry Asian jelly, but that's beside the point, lol. If you've never had an Asian jelly before though, observe:

I can't really describe how they're different, but they definitely are. Hm, they're kind of fruitier? You should at least try one just to try one, and check out Asian pudding (yellow with a brown bottom) while you're at it. I'm not a fan of rice pudding, chocolate pudding, or anything similar, but Asian pudding has the right subtle and just different sweetness.

... I would be the worst food critic ever, haha, but hopefully I convinced you to expand your jelly horizons.

(And I suck at staying on task.)

So, what are you waiting for? :)

YA Chibi-fied (1)

[banner to come]

Where I take YA -- and chibi-fy it (with a 2B mechanical pencil)! ;)

Chibi (ちび): n. This is a drawing style where anime/manga characters are shrunk into a small, cute, child-like form. This drawing style is sometimes called 'super-deformed' in the west and is pronounced 'chee-be'. [animetion.co.uk]

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Instead of The Saturday Network, I'm now going to be doing a new meme on Saturdays: YA Chibi-fied! I love manga and anime, but with all the busyness of doing things I love to do (reading, making music, playing RPGs) art and my manga love has fallen by the wayside. But, no longer! I'll be doing chibi drawings, definition above, of YA book characters and posting them every Saturday.

Before any flaming, I just want to mention that I know I'm not the best artist, and my dated scanner seems determined to erase much of my shading, grr. I'm starting this feature because I find chibis fun and cute, perfect for a Saturday, and hopefully you will too. I mean, Edward the vampire as a chibi? Let me know if you'd like to see that. ;)

Without futher ado, here's the first chibi on this blog EVER:

...okay, so maybe you noticed that it's not a YA book character, but it's a special exception to celebrate Diversity in YA Fiction! It's been floating around in the blogosphere lately, but I wanted to make my own special mention of it because diversity is that important, not only in YA fiction but also in real life. Growing up, I can't imagine what it'd be like to not have at least 10 different ethnicities in each of my classes -- and the person I'd be like now without such cultural diversity. And I'm Asian American, so shout out to my A-A homies!

Visit Diversity in YA Fiction [here].

Thoughts, criticisms? Any YA character you'd like to see chibified? Let me know in the comments! :)

In My Musical Mailbox (28)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

For Review:

• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness -- I've heard amazing things about Patrick Ness, so I'm extremely excited to read this one. I've read all of two pages, and the illustrations are darkly gorgeous and the pages beautifully glossy. *rubs the pages and smells the book* A Monster Calls will be released in the UK in July but I've been asked to save my review until the US publication in September, so look for it then. :)

• Viola in the Spotlight (Viola #2) by Adriana Trigiani -- I might get around to it already since my little sister owns Viola in Reel Life, but I'll have to read the that one first. Looks very cute though!

Thanks to Walker Books UK and HarperTeen!

And for today's music, a song from Tangled, which I watched a few months ago in the theater with my little cousins and LOVED LIKE NO OTHER. I'm a HUGE Disney fan, and this one was like a Disney classic with updated 2011 graphics.*sigh* It was so adorable I was practically squealing in my seat the whole time and hoping no one would notice. If you haven't taken your child to watch it (or maybe you're an older closet Disney lover like me), I highly, highly recommend it. Please do yourself this favor. ♥

(I See the Light by Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore:)

Sorry for the short IMMM this week, but I'm back to cramming! I'll also announce the In the Shadow of the Lamp winner soon, sorry for the delay.

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (4) & New Covers

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Fix Me by Rune Michaels
Atheneum (December 6, 2011)

Orphaned as a child, terrorized by her abusive brother, and haunted by memories, Leia feels exposed, powerless, and vulnerable. When her tormented mind can stand it no longer, she escapes to the zoo, where she finds shelter and seeks refuge. The zoo is a sanctuary: a protective space for families, and a safe place for the traumatized to forget. But can she ever feel safe? Can she ever forget?

Once again, Rune Michaels brings us a harrowing psychological drama that raises questions about the very nature of humanity. This chilling tale will challenge our preconceptions of family, memory, and self, leaving readers wondering, are we the pinnacle of evolution—or are we just animals on display?

It sounds unique (a zoo) and uniquely beautiful. There are so many directions Fix Me could go, and I can't wait to see where Rune Michaels takes this promising, heartbreaking premise. Not many words this time because I don't know what else to say about it, and hopefully that'll be my awestruck reaction after reading the book.


For drooling purposes, two recently released, stunning covers:

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala (October 18, 2011
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I absolutely loooove the colors used in this cover. Never thought I'd say that about such liberal use of yellow, but I love it beyond words. <3

Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa (June 1, 2011) aka Puck fan-service

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A novella of Puck's story, free starting June 1st! I'm Team Ash, but I'll definitely be reading it because it's: a) Julie Kagawa, queen of the fey world, and b) Puck, who seems to always fall by the wayside. The cover's also just as beautiful as all the others in the series, especially how the words "Summers Crossing" branch into vines.

My reaction: WANT. NOW.

What are you waiting for this warm Wednesday?

In My Musical Mailbox (26)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

Only one book this week, for review:

Thanks to Suzanne Dunlap! And if you missed it, she did a guest post and sponsored a giveaway of In the Shadow of the Lamp earlier this week.

Again, not much, but I'm going to Strand next Saturday. *runs in circles* :D

Anyways, I though I'd also share a picture of some of my pins, since I posted about my love for them on Friday.  (Enter the contest!) The grassland ones I actually bought from Epcot Japan, but they're Japanese, and the ones under that I bought from beanforest. For the record, I don't actually objectify men... really. And I fully support "Respect the dance floor. Stop groping in the club."

For the music, today's theme is relaxing Japanese music. In case you haven't realized, I have pretty electic music taste. xD

The first is part of the soundtrack of Ar Tonelico 3, a Japanese PS3 game. I don't actually play it, but I think the beginning is beautiful.The second is the more well-known Rurutia, who has a high and soft voice -- I'd describe it as ethereal, but I'll let you be the judge. 

Edit// I wanted to put up my favorite Rurutia song but couldn't think of it before posting. BUT, I remember now, so I'd suggest checking out Selenite if you liked Lost Butterfly, above.

Hope these songs put you in the mood for a soothing Sunday! :)

The Saturday Network (31) -- The Last One?

WHAT IS THE SATURDAY NETWORK? The Saturday Network was started in January 2010, and is meant to be a quick, easy way for you to network your blog and, more specifically, get comments! All you have to do is comment on the previous blog and, in return, you're guaranteed a comment by the next participant. We all love comments, right? :)

I also randomly feature a Saturday Networker every week, and it could be you!

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First off, thanks to the three bloggers who participated last week: Ms. Martin Teaches Media, Mindful Musings, and Eating YA Books

Secondly, I'm considering stopping The Saturday Network. Should I? As some of you may know, I started The Saturday Network all the way back in January 2010 and it used to have 20-30+ participants per week. But the number now is down to three as of last week. So I'm wondering if anyone still enjoys it and, if not, perhaps I should be posting some real content over the weekend.

The main reason I'm posting about this now is because I recently discovered the Comment Exchange Program over at YA Addict. It's very similar to TSN but has much more participation than over here... So maybe I should just wave the white flag and give up on my one-year old baby. ):

Anyways, if this is the last one, we're going out with a bang:

The Rolling Stones -- A Bigger Bang CD cover

To Participate:

1. Submit your blog in this format:

Blog Name - Child/MG/YA/Adult/ALL (genres(s) you review)

Blog link to post

 ie. Books At Midnight - YA/MG

http://booksatmidnight.blogspot.com/post

2. Head to the blog listed before yours and comment on his/her linked post. Thoughtful comments are appreciated, but if you really can't think of anything to say, feel free to just drop a line and say "hi!"

3. That's it! I encourage you to visit more blogs and I hope you find a blog to enjoy! :)

The Weekly Debate (17): Responding to Emails

 good ol' communication // source

At some point in every busy blogger’s life (or anyone that has a presence online), I think we all ask ourselves: should I respond to all emails? There is no doubt that responding to emails takes chunks of precious time, so where is the line between obligation, plain courtesy, and simple preference?

Ideally, I would love to respond to each and every email. I know everyone that bothers to email me takes the time to look at my blog and send an email my way and I feel honored that anyone out there would contact me. (Yes, it sounds like I have abysmally low self-esteem, but it still amazes me that people actually like to hear what I have to say. I literally have a mini-adrenaline rush every time I see a new comment pop-up in my inbox. My fellow book bloggers, do you ever get over that?) But… here’s what I’ve been doing:

OTHER BLOGGERS/READERS – I always, always respond. (If I haven’t, it’s probably because I missed your email *is an airhead*, in which case, I’m sorry!) Communication is one of my favorite and, in my opinion, a key aspect to blogging, so it’s extremely important that the connection in the blogosphere and between blogger and reader is established and maintained. I started my blog to share my thoughts, and that’s what I want to keep doing. No homework pile is going to stop me. *dons Catwoman suit*

For the record, if I get mauled by a werewolf, shot by an elven archer, sneezed on by a dragon -- I will die responding. Amen.

AUTHORS/PUBLISHERS – … This is the part I’m really uncertain about. I used to respond to every review request I received, regardless of if I accepted or declined. For ones I declined, I always tried to give specific reasons for why I really didn’t think the book fit the usual types of books I enjoy and/or review. But now that I receive many more requests than, say, I did in early 2010, my most legit reason half-to-most of the time is “I don’t have enough time.” Should I email quickly back just to say that? I'm a bit hesitant on this kind of response because I feel like it might be more offensive than me not responding.

The review requests that I’m really interested in (as in I'm 96.5% certain I'll enjoy), I email back almost immediately. However, for most others, I put them in the starred section of my inbox, telling myself I’ll consider reviewing them... then usually forget.  Despicable, despicable me. 

As for when I email authors and they don't respond, I'm not offended. I realize that we are all busy, busy people, and I know that a lack of response isn't from malicious intent. Or I hope not. *bouts of insecurity*

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So what do you guys think: 

• Is it vital to respond to all emails regardless of the subject matter -- so is it a question of courtesy or self-discretion? 

• For my fellow book bloggers out there, what do you do?

• For readers and authors/publishers, what kind of response would you prefer to see?

communication off trees // source

In My Musical Mailbox (25)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

... Yes, it's Photoshopped. (Because some silly girl lost her cellphone with it's much-needed photo-taking capabilities. And is found between the time of me starting this post and finishing it! xD) I think it's pretty obvious, given that Mblaq's Lee Joon does not arrive wrapped in a box with a pretty red bow -- no matter how much I wish it were so. If anyone wants a celebrity in a box for their birthday/Christmas present this year, let me know and I'd be glad to send some pixels over! ;D

For review:
Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott -- I love, love, love Japanese fairy tales, and Shadows of the Moon is based off of one. Excited! (Thank you to Random House UK.)

Borrowed:
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle -- I've heard it's cute. :3
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher -- I was inspired by Aly's interview with Jay Asher this past week (how awesome is that?) to finally check it out.
The Uses of Enchantment by Burno Bettelheim -- My English teacher actually suggested this one when I mentioned how much I love fairy tales. I've heard iffy things about Bettelheim's credentials, but I'm looking forward to reading his analysis.

Awesome-concentrated:
Mblaq's Lee Joon "In A Box" ♥

I'm going to NYC next, next weekend (weekend of the 15th) to visit some colleges = STRAND. So I'm waiting to splurge. ;)

For this week's music, it's more Panic! At the Disco. They just released the album Vices and Virtue two weeks ago, and I thought I'd share. The first, Hurricane, is my favorite in their new album followed closely by Always; the former is more reminiscent of their older songs whereas the latter is soothing and uplifting. I also recommend Let's Kill Tonight if you like 'em.

What did you get this week?

The Saturday Network (30)

WHAT IS THE SATURDAY NETWORK? The Saturday Network was started in January 2010, and is meant to be a quick, easy way for you to network your blog and, more specifically, get comments! All you have to do is comment on the previous blog and, in return, you're guaranteed a comment by the next participant. We all love comments, right? :)

I also randomly feature a Saturday Networker every week, and it could be you!

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Darn, I should've pulled an April's Fool joke yesterday, but I was too tired and forgot. Instead, I've come armed with some April 1st cheer today:

source

The last man looks suspiciously like me blogging... (and sorry for any trauma caused from slight nudity).

And for vampire fans: What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?
Select text for answer (it's in white): Frostbite! ;)

Anyways, this week's featured blogger is Lea (TSN #4) from YA Book Queen. She writes clear, honest reviews with a touch of humor, and I swear I'm not just biased because she's an awesome affiliate. Lea also put up a contest to win an ARC of The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roeckers today (US only), so head on over and enter!

To Participate:

1. Submit your blog in this format:

Blog Name - Child/MG/YA/Adult/ALL (genres(s) you review)

Blog link to post

 ie. Books At Midnight - YA/MG

http://booksatmidnight.blogspot.com/post

2. Head to the blog listed before yours and comment on his/her linked post. Thoughtful comments are appreciated, but if you really can't think of anything to say, feel free to just drop a line and say "hi!"

3. That's it! I encourage you to visit more blogs and I hope you find a blog to enjoy! :)

The Weekly Debate (16): On Teenagers & Love

So I'm partially digressing from the traditional format of asking an outright question, but I think it's better this way. I ramble on, rant my thoughts, and at the end, find what I was really trying to ask. A type of self-discovery, as you may say. (Just like I do with all my English essays, sigh.)


On to the topic at hand, I've been bringing up Fanfiction and Fictionpress in my posts. Before sitting down and typing this post today, I just wasted a few hours on Inkpop. And I actually mean wasted, because that's how I feel right now. Not wasted time as in time I should have spent doing homework and studying for AP's -- as true as that may be -- but as in those stories weren't worth my time. That sounds unbelievably cold-hearted (especially because it's not true; everyone spends time on their stories and that in itself warrants appreciation), but that's the way I feel after most of these user-posted stories I read, quite a few of which I read halfway then dropped. I'm not saying this feeling occurs exclusively when I read user-submitted stories, as it definitely does happen when I read some other published books, but my recent overdose in these communities has me realizing my problem.

unknown source

Yes, I term it as a "problem," with "it" referring to my reading preferences. I'm a hopeless romantic in every sense of the phrase, and can never resist a story's enticing whisper of romance, whether it be: angsty and grief-ridden type, "cutesy high school" and idealistic, or intense and reminiscent of Bella-Edward. I can never resist an unique dystopian plot. I can never resist a intricate fantasy. And so the list goes on-and-on. But if I'm honest to myself, when reading YA I need romance. Which is incredibly sad, but true.

First, to clarify: Am I trying to imply that YA is shallower than adult books and, thus, I need romance to tide me over? A most resounding no. For me, YA and adult books serve different purposes; they focus on different aspects of relationships, life, etc.. A YA book about rape and an adult book about the same subject have equal potential to be equally gritty and moving. I strongly believe that any flaws stem from author execution, and it makes me sad that some people will write off YA because they think it's "fluff" and "for kids." Then why do I feel a greater need for romance in YA? I often turn to YA for escapism, as it often is more idealistic and relatable to my teenage mind, and since I'm a huge, huge romantic, romance is part of that escapist mentality.

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(Dear writers,)

Why do I end up disappointed? If you ask that question, I'd like to ask in return: Why did you make your characters so stupid, ignorant, [other negative attributes that are teen cliches]? And on a tangent: Why is the romance so idealistic? I am so freaking tired of stories where characters taking a couple APs are geniuses. I'm tired of girls being hot-and-cold and with a never-ending supply of insecurity. I'm tired of girls who throw themselves pathetically over guys after one "true love," aka "true lust," glimpse. I'm tired of when characters continue to hold that Edward ideal, like Platonic Idealism. What's more, I get pissed when that "mousy nerd girl" gets with the "football captain hottie" and still thinks she's not worthy of him. I know I sound like a hypocrite when I say I also like YA because it's idealistic, but god. With someone so insecure, for instance, I don't see that relationship lasting a year, let alone a lifetime.

Yet I can't help myself from reading these books because of the romance. I can usually tell in the first chapter whether I'll like the characters, but the plot is just too damn good to give up. I read a few chapters, reach my breaking point, and the rest of the book is either a battle of wills (if I like the characters enough to want some closure for them) or simply never read. It's like self-torture, but I can't stop.

Ultimately, I pick up a book because of plot, I put it down because of characters. If you're writing about teens, they're generally as smart as you and me plus some volatile hormones (cue the rebelliousness, occasional immaturity, et al). As for high school, there are no gleaming locker banks and spotless courtyards. High school right now is a cruel place, regardless of cliques. Yes, there are teens that get high then go to class, but that's about a few to a few hundred. A much larger number are extremely competitive, back-stabbing, boyfriend-stealing "nerds" that happen to also dress well and like to party. Most teens know that high school is a competition, whether academically or romantically, and it shows. And yeah, I'm also referring to that girl in my AP Macro/Microeconomics class who enjoys parading her UPenn sweater and bitches all the time -- but she does wear cute skirts.

From Taylor Swift's Love Story

Whew, okay, just felt the need to rant. Some questions I have:

·         What’s wrong with the bus? In Maryland, we’re required to take Driver Ed classes if we want to get a permit before 18. I have friends who either don’t have the time or don’t have the money to pay for class, let alone a car. A lot of people at my school don’t drive, or else we’d be seriously lacking in parking spaces.

·         I don’t want high school love to seem like the be-all-end-all, because in almost all cases, it’s not. I’ve sworn off dating until college because it’s just a huge hassle. But how can authors make high school love seem realistic, without the characters seeming pessimistic? What justifies having a high school romance, considering all the statistics that go against you? Talk about ruining the mood: “I love you! But, you know, this relationship will probably end in 4 months and 3 days when I go off to college. We can try long-distance, but there’s a 4.32% chance that it’ll work out.

·         What makes you want to read a book? Continue reading it?

As an additional note, I'm sorry my Weekly Debates can't decide what they want to be: a question, a debate, a discussion, a rant... gah. Oh, and using my superior teen knowledge (and inspired by a cute author on Fictionpress), I declare that you burn .0000001 calories by pushing the comment button. ;)

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

I have not read a single Stacey Jay book. An outrage, I know. I've heard great things, I'm just not much of a zombie fan, sorry. But I just may be able to remedy my void of Stacey Jay with her two awesome, upcoming books (links to goodreads):

 
Juliet Immortal - Releases on September 13th

"These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love. 

Have I said before that I love books based off Shakespeare's plays? Because I do. I really, really do. And Juliet Immortal seems to satiate my Shakespeare-hunger, with an unique twist on the age-old tale of the two starstruck lovers we all know and love. Well, mostly. Romeo and Juliet have always come off as a bit too melodramatic for me, so I'm glad that it sounds like Juliet actually has a backbone; despite betrayal, she continues working for this ideal love that she never had. You go, girl.

As for the cover, it seems to complement the plot perfectly, from the colors to the title text. Very romantic yet with a sense of tragedy and foreboding from the tumultuous waves. Hm, what can I say? "Romeo and Juliet, the greatest love story ever told, is a lie."

Dead on the Delta - Releases on May 31st

Once upon a time, fairies were the stuff of bedtime stories and sweet dreams. Then came the mutations, and the dreams became nightmares. Mosquito-size fairies now indulge their taste for human blood—and for most humans, a fairy bite means insanity or death.

Luckily, Annabelle Lee isn’t most humans. The hard-drinking, smart-mouthed, bicycle-riding redhead is immune to fairy venom, and able to do the dirty work most humans can’t. Including helping law enforcement— and Cane Cooper, the bayou’s sexiest detective—collect evidence when a body is discovered outside the fairy-proof barricades of her Louisiana town.

But Annabelle isn’t equipped to deal with the murder of a sixyear- old girl or a former lover-turned-FBI snob taking an interest in the case. Suddenly her already bumpy relationship with Cane turns even rockier, and even the most trust-worthy friends become suspects. Annabelle’s life is imploding: between relationship drama, a heartbreaking murder investigation, Breeze-crazed drug runners, and a few too many rum and Cokes, Annabelle is a woman on the run—from her past, toward her future, and into the arms of a darkness waiting just for her. . . .

Stacey Jay has a warning on her site before the info on Dead on the Delta: "(May not be appropriate for younger readers. Parental discretion advised. Author recommends 16 and over.)" Clue in for an grittier, action-packed read? I certainly hope so.

Fairy's are always awesome in my book, as are kick-ass redheads. Overall, Dead on the Delta seems a tad dark, a smidgen violent, and a whole lot of bad boy romance. *gives the pass on the criteria for good paranormal romance* I'm not crazy about the cover though...


What are you waiting for this fine Wednesday? :)

The Saturday Network (29)

WHAT IS THE SATURDAY NETWORK? The Saturday Network is meant to be a quick, easy way for you to network your blog and, more specifically, get comments! All you have to do is comment on the previous blog and, in return, you're guaranteed a comment by the next participant. We all love comments, right? :)

I also randomly feature a Saturday Networker every week, and it could be you!

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Technically, The Sunday Network. But semantics, semantics.

Today's featured blogger is Emily (TSN#5) from What Book Is That?, with her spot-on caption: "The question people ask when they see you reading in public." She recently celebrated 600 followers, so drop on over to say a "congrats!" :)
 

To Participate:

1. Submit your blog in this format:

Blog Name - Child/MG/YA/Adult/ALL (genres(s) you review)

Blog link to post

 ie. Books At Midnight - YA/MG

http://booksatmidnight.blogspot.com/post

2. Head to the blog listed before yours and comment on his/her linked post. Thoughtful comments are appreciated, but if you really can't think of anything to say, feel free to just drop a line and say "hi!"

3. That's it! I encourage you to visit more blogs and I hope you find a blog to enjoy! :)

The Weekly Debate (15): Is there such a thing as a "good" book?

Damnit. I am officially wrung dry of creative juices for these weekly debates.
Public Service Announcement: I apologize in advance for any weekly debates that seem more like weekly questions. No trauma is intended.

source

But onto the real issue at hand, does a "good" book really exist? In my IB Theory of Knowledge class, we have internal assessments due next week, in which we give a lecture on a "knowledge issue." Being the music fuh-reak that I am, I decided last week to question what makes music "good." And as I now sit down and begin planning my presentation, why couldn't that theory also apply to books?

The way I see it, the issue lies in whether "good" can be judged objectively. My opinion? No. I think there are obvious similarities between the books that are deemed "good," such as the strong heroine we all seem to admire, the tantalizing romance, and the enthralling writing, yet those don't necessitate that a book is good. A book can be appreciated for its literary features, perhaps being called "strong," "solid," "stunning," but would you say any of those words carry the same connotations as "good?" The greatest critics can call a book "the epitome of English language" and it still might not be "good." *coughHeartofDarknesscough*

I suppose all these quotations on "good" lead me to attempting -- keyword: attempting -- to define the concept of goodness. How much does the media or our surroundings affect us when we try to judge something as "good?" Is there absolutely no doubt in your mind that you can read a glowing Kirkus review, read the book, then review the book/give your thoughts on the book while honestly saying your opinion hasn't been affected by outside sources? I know that for all I try, I can't say that. And if we judge books by emotional appeal, don't even get me started on the subjectivity. So perhaps the key here is that "good" itself is abstract and not inherent; it depends on what standards you define something by.

Yet, if a "good" book is so subjective, what's the use in book blogs? For readers, I would say finding someone with similar tastes to yourself, but that kind of goes without saying. Don't go off trusting that 5+++ star review -- even if it's mine -- because it says a book is "good." For bloggers, that's exactly why I say remain true to yourself. It's not about mob-gushing about how "good" a book is, it's you and the book, then you sharing your opinions. And you know what? We get that. Or I at least hope all authors can.

Anyways, excuse my rambling. What do you think? Am I too pessimistic? Am I just stating the obvious? Do you disagree? Do I ask too many rhetorical questions? If you're wondering, the answer to the last one is a resounding YES.

All-in-all, even if this wasn't quite coherent, I think I have a good idea for where I'm starting my lecture on (definitely opening with clips of Justin Beiber and analyzing whether he's "good"). Now, as for you...

I ask: Is there such a thing as a "good" book?

**Note: Please be aware I am not under the impression that some author and books are not shoot-me-now, pure genius. This "good" concept just gives me an itch.

In My Musical Mailbox (24)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

What have I been doing this week? Why, two main things: 1) reading romance stories off Fiction Press (I have an unhealthy obsession with Lulai) and 2) renewing my kpop obsession and learning the dance to Stay by Mblaq. I don't know why, but I always learn guy dances (aka Lucifer by Shinee and Wedding Dress by Taeyang); girl kpop dances are just... *shudder* so girly.

That doesn't mean I'm good at dancing, by any stretch of the imagination, but I enjoy it and it gets me off my butt and moving. :)

Also, I'm sure many Hunger Games fans are already aware of this, but Jennifer Lawrence (from the movie Winter Bones) is playing Katniss. I can't really say much on the topic since I'd never heard of her prior to this announcement, but, as many of my fellow bloggers have been pointing out, she isn't exactly what I envisioned when I think Katniss. That better be a good hair dye.

So, for the actual IMM portion of this post, I only received on book this week...

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young -- it's awesomeness totally makes up for my lack of books. She's such a fun writer, and I can't wait to see how she tackles a paranormal plot. The cover is GORGEOUS though, even more so in person. I think this win just about used up my luck for the month. Thanks again, Suzanne! :D

And finally, to leave off with my latest kpop song obsession:

Fan girl chant: Park Jung Min, Park Jung Min~ (Yes, he's from SS501.)
I'm happy because it's such an comforting and uplifting song. <333

Now, I'll stop boring you. What did you get this week? As per usual, leave me a link and I'll check it out!

In My Musical Mailbox (23)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

You get a gold star if you noticed the name change. IMM has now become... IMMM! Nothing major, but I'll be including a song on every IMM from now on. My bookshelf is alive with the sound of music... ;)

Anyways, these are a mix of books from this past week and the week before, since I missed IMM then. But first:

The new IMMM mascot. :3

Isn't it ADORABLE? My friend got it for me as an extremely late Christmas present, and it matches my personality perfectly. She knows I like more "emo" clothing and accessories, though I'm not confident enough to wear the clothes (Hot Topic's earrings are my favorites though). AHHHH, Hello Kitty's just so irresistibly cute. I might spotlight my Japanese keychain ones next week...

But before I get too carried away:

For Review:
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton {reviewed}
Blood and Flowers by Penny Blubaugh -- the cover is very vivid and unique and, from what I've heard, the story itself is like that too... I'll get around to this one sometime.
Enclave by Ann Aguirre -- review coming closer to the release date; pretty solid dystopia though! :)
Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan -- love the 60's feel to the cover. It's told in verse, which I don't read often, so I'm looking forward to it.
Sean Grisworld's Head by Lindsey Leavitt -- definitely one of those pick-me-ups after a long span of dystopian/historical/contemporary/sadder things. The blog tour for this one is going on now, and my stop is scheduled for March 23rd - check back then for a review!

Bought:
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins -- guilty pleasures, I tell you.
The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell {interviewed} -- fairly good. Not my absolute favorite, but it has a stunning cover (Saundra does not lie when she says it looks better in person); hopefully I'll find the time to write a review for it.
Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg -- short and sweet. Your eyes do not deceive, that's a paperback version you see there. And, yes, I made my little sister get it for me from her middle school Scholastic book fair for the low, low price of $7.

Whew, I can't help the commentary. As for today's music, it's Daylight Savings Time! And time, well...

Classic.

Muse = awesome, though I like their older songs better. And for the record, I liked them before Stephenie Meyer declared them her inspiration. Starlight was my first, and still favorite, Muse song. :)

(Where does all this time go? What if you scheduled a post during "the missing hour"?)

I'll stop taking up your time and ask: What did you get this week? (Leave me a link and I'll be sure to take a peek!)

Until next time, brave adventurers~

The Saturday Network (27)

WHAT IS THE SATURDAY NETWORK? The Saturday Network is meant to be a quick, easy way for you to network your blog and, more specifically, get comments! All you have to do is comment on the previous blog and, in return, you're guaranteed a comment by the next participant. We all love comments, right? :)

I also randomly feature a Saturday Networker every week, and it could be you!

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*dumdumdum* First featured TSN'er in a long while. And it's Natalie (TSN #6) @ Mindful Musings!

Natalie has an absolutely adorable and whimsical layout that's perfect for relaxing my eyes after a hard day. It amazes me even thinking this far back, but Natalie was literally one of my first few followers. She posted on Bing all the way back in my noob days of 2009 and it was from her that I learned the importance of networking and reaching out to the blogosphere -- I LOVE YOU! Natalie's super friendly and she posts concise yet heartfelt reviews, so I definitely recommend you check her out if you haven't already. :)

And that is all, my lovelies. Sending out my wishes to Japan, and hope your weekend will be better than theirs (if you're interested in supporting Japan, definitely go donate through Maureen Johnson's blog, where you can win an ARC of The Name of the Star as you give back).

To start this weekend on the perfect note: ...get it, "note"? haha. xD

One word: beautiful.
Okay, so I can't resist another one: cuuuute.
Duet's are so sweet. I may have to officially dub Saturday duet days. :3

To Participate:

1. Submit your blog to Mr. Linky in this format:

Blog Name - Child/MG/YA/Adult/ALL (genres(s) you review)

Blog link to post

 ie. Books At Midnight - YA

http://booksatmidnight.blogspot.com/post

2. Head to the blog listed before yours and comment on his/her linked post. Thoughtful comments are appreciated, but if you really can't think of anything to say, feel free to just drop a line and say "hi!"

3. That's it! I encourage you to visit more blogs and I hope you find a blog to enjoy! :)

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Yes, you've read that correctly. Number one. I can't believe I've never done a Waiting on Wednesday before - and I don't know why - but I am happy to claim that I have now joined the legion of "WoW'ers." I can never limit myself to just one book though...


Eve by Anna Carey {goodreads}

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. Wildlife has grown over once recognizable landmarks, and the New America is ruled by a controlling King who will stop at nothing to rebuild the nation—including enslaving its boys and turning its girls into broodmares.

The Eve Trilogy is a breathlessly told story with an unforgettable heroine. Anna Carey has imagined a remarkable and unique world, and brings a compelling new voice to the dystopian genre. Eve offers a haunting glimpse of the global pandemic some scientists say is inevitable, and a world forever altered by its aftermath. Fans of Twilight and The Hunger Games will revel in this epic story of forbidden love, and an unforgettable heroine’s extraordinary adventure

Commentary: For those of you that saw that "T" word and thought sparkling vampire, cross it out now. Is it crossed out? Good. If you're like me and thought "intense romance," then leave it there so you can squeal with me over a new swoon-worthy hero. Now, please proceed to revel in the reference to The Hunger Games.

All I can say is that those are very high standards to live up to. But if Eve lives up to its claims, then I think I'll have a dystopian winner in my hands.

Betrayal by Mayandree Michel {goodreads}

At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.

After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is – a descendent of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for – safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it.

In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.

Commentary: I love Greek allusions, so this sounds perfect. Betrayal definitely sounds like an action-filled whirlwind of myth and romance that I can't wait to experience. And the cover is very, very pretty, especially the girl's dress. :)



Crusade by Linda Press Wulf {goodreads}

Robert: Left on the steps of a church as a baby, Robert was often hungry but never stole food like the other orphans in town. Introverted and extraordinarily intelligent, he knew all the Latin prayers and hymns by heart by the time he was five years old.

Georgette: Her own mother died in childbirth, leaving Georgette with a father who, seventeen at the time, had neither experience nor aptitude as a nurturing parent, and a brother known in town as Le Fuer – The Spitfire – for his terrible temper.

Perhaps to replace something missing from their own lives, both Robert and Georgette are drawn to the news of a crusader, twelve or thirteen, no older than themselves, travelling down through France with thousands of followers – all, unbelievably, children too.

Of those thousands, this is the incredible story of two. A story of hardship, loss and of love.

Commentary: I'm not entirely sure whether I'll read this one since I tend to be wary about novels that deal with very well known events such as the Salem Witch Trials. But I just can't help be intrigued by the fact that Crusade tells of the Children's Crusade. To think how strongly the children must have felt in their cause to leave their families and their comforts, only to meet with gruesome ends... I can't imagine how to go about depicting that. Kudos to Linda Press Wulf for her courage in tackling this, and I'll have my eyes peeled for this one.


So, what are you waiting for? :)

**For Tera Lynn Child Fans: I posted about her $0.99 ebook Eye Candy a while ago, and she just announced another $0.99 chick lit today, Straight Stalk -- available now for Kindle, Nook, and whatever Smashwords is for. When your next TLC and fluffy romance fix is $0.99 cents and a click away, what's not to love?

In My Mailbox (13)

Click to participate!

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In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

Slowly getting back into blogging... I need to get up my awesome new affiliates soon and pick winners for the Light Beneath Ferns and A Match Made in High School's contests. And commenting! I'll get my act together soon, I swear. -runs in circles and stresses-

Anywyas, here are the books I recieved in the past two weeks. They're all for review, though I definitely need to start buying all those awesome early March releases. :D

Split by Swati Avasthi - I won this from Goodreads (yay!) and finished it already. It. was. pretty. freaking. amazing.

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap - I love a good historical romance, and I can't wait to start this one.

Numbers by Rachel Ward - Very interesting premise... hm. I'll also be doing something special with this book in a week or so, so watch out for that.

As for affiliates, I'm so, so sorry that I haven't gotten around to you guys. Please don't hate me? They're awesome though, so check them out with their buttons below (I'll be better and post some real updates next week, I promise):

 

 

And that's it for me. What did you get this week? :) 

The Saturday Network (8)

**Please, please don't comment if you are NOT participating. If you have questions or comment, feel free to email me!**

This week's featured Saturday Networker is SN#6 (again), Ah Yuan! She's a fellow book reviewer over on her blog GAL Novelty, and I absolutely love her fabulous reviews. :)

GAL Novelty

For Bloggers:

1. Comment with a link to your blog and a one or two-sentence description.

2. Head on over to the blog of the blogger that commented right before you; if you're the first commenter, you don't need to do anything.

3. Click on any post on that blog, preferably a recent one, and comment! Thoughtful comments are appreciated.

4. That's it! If you'd like, feel free to comment again and repeat the process (including the link to your  blog). You do not need to give a description again, and please wait until at least one person comments after you to comment again.

For Non-bloggers:
1. Don't worry, you can still participate! Just look for any blog that you like and head on over.
2. Click on any post on that blog, preferably a recent one, and comment! Thoughtful comments are appreciated.
3. Come back and look for another great blog!

Commenting will be closed on Sunday at 9:00PM EST. I hope you discover some awesome blogs in the process and, most importantly, have fun! :D

And if you'd like to grab and post the button anywhere, you can find the code on the right side-bar, thanks!

The Weekly Debate (7): The Curse of the Ugly Cover

This week's question: Why are there bad covers?

I'm really not going into much depth here, because I don't feel that there's much for me to say. I'm not going to point any fingers, but some books have either such boring or just plain ugly covers, there is a .1% chance I'll ever read it, let alone buy it. They either have clashing colors, colors that simply make me want to puke, or, more moderately, images that don't appeal to me. THEY DON'T WORK, period.

There are some books that have had horrid covers but sound interesting, and one in fact that I loved. However, I checked that one out of the library and highly doubt I'd buy it, especially if I were the regular consumer browsing at the book store.

My stance: I simply do not understand why there are plain, boring covers. I understand not being able to hire the best designer, but I highly doubt ugly covers get many buyers. No risk, no gain, as they say. As for why there still are some horrendous covers, I don't know. Agh, please fix it for the sake of those wonderful stories out there with not so up-to-par covers! I hate to think  amazing stories would be bypassed just because they aren't as shiny as the cliche novel beside them. :(

It's your turn to voice your opinions. What do you think?

Interested in more questions, more fun? Check out Eleni's latest Monday's Question of the Day!