Ten Books I want to give as gifts...

I wish people in my life loved literature as much as I do, but...
1. Connor: my fiance's son will do anything to get out of reading so I picked The Boxcar Children for him. Everyone I talked to, including the guys, loved these as kids.
2. Maddie: my fiance's neice has so many toys she doesn't know what to do with herself. I think the lessons in Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle would be perfect for her.
3. Shane: My Fiance who doesn't like reading anything fictional, I think, would be more open after trying American Gods.
4. Nikki: My cousin (I know I gave her a copy before that she didn't bring to college) should have the ultimate love books book, Fahrenheit 451.
5. Marissa: My cousin (Nikki's little sister) I want her to love words and Ella Minnow Pea ia a sweet story about words.

A new phase in life
6. Deacon: My best friend just had a baby and I think Love You Forever should be that little boy's first book.
7. Randy: The new dad (who I have gotten to read some great books) should have Shit My Dad Says because when I listened to the audio book I wished that guy was my dad.

I wish I could get a message across
8. Verna: I wish my fiance's mom would love learning and read Ella Minnow Pea, and then a lot of other books.
9. Claudia: I want my mother to realize the bad feelings you contribute to dont just go away when you stop talking about them, so I'd give her 13 Reasons Why.

I don't know who I would be without her.
10. For the person who made me love boks I would give Denise Anna Dressed in Blood because it was a favorite read this year and something different than I usually see on her (virtual) shelves.

*TBTB Top Ten Tuesday

Review: Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker

Published: 2011, Sourcebooks,Inc.
Pages: 358
Part of a Series: #1
Read For a Challenge: 2011 Debut Author's Challenge**
Teaser: "I unbuttoned the top buttons on the shirt of my uniform, adjusted the "girls" to achieve maximum attention, and licked my lips. ... 'I'm going in.'"
In a sentence or so:  After Grace dies in a fire her best friend, Kate, sends emails to remember their connection and keep getting through each new day alone; then one day, about a year later, Kate receives a response.
*Rating: 7.5/10
GoodReads Description:

Kate Lowry didn’t think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, who died mysteriously a year before, she’s not so sure. When the emails continue, Kate is forced to confront her school’s resident druggie, a sketchy administrator, and even her own demons.

As Kate moves closer and closer to the truth, she teams up with a couple...moreKate Lowry didn’t think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, who died mysteriously a year before, she’s not so sure. When the emails continue, Kate is forced to confront her school’s resident druggie, a sketchy administrator, and even her own demons.

As Kate moves closer and closer to the truth, she teams up with a couple of knights-in-(not so)shining armor–the dangerously attractive, bad boy, Liam and her love-struck neighbor, Seth. The three uncover an ancient secret lurking in the halls of their elite private school with the power to destroy them all.

But the truth doesn’t always set you free. Sometimes it’s only the beginning.

1. Type of story: YA mystery (Free 1 point)
2.Consistency: the authors time table's are distracting. They do that past-present switch thing and then lose track of their days in the present... it's distracting. First Kate tells nerd boy I'll see you on the bus tomorrow but then tomorrow turns out to be a Saturday and then the next day in the present is a school day. (0 Points)
3. Flesh: Kate is moving through a grief that keeps kicking her the ribs with the unknown and she just wants someone who can understand and help her through her journey but she no longer knows how to trust. And she's a decent detective, following the clues and staying on her toes, a little ahead of others; at least until the end when the entire character profile falls apart leaving loose ends for a viable sequel. (1/2 point)
4. Flow: The story reads pretty quickly. This is good and bad. Good because the pace kept things light and entertaining, but bad because the relationships could have benefited from more development. (1/2 point)
5. Character Growth: Kate's story is about living with grief and survivor's guilt, and she makes strides to reclaim her life in this story. The growth is believable and well expressed. I felt for her in the beginning and was proud of her as the story went on. (1 point)
6. A Point/ Purpose/ Journey: Working through grief by investigating the truth.In my opinion the truth always helps, so this is  very worthy journey for Kate to take. (1point)
7. Witty Dialogue: Did you read that teaser? Kate's inner monologue is sardonic, dark, intelligent, and all of this is tied together inside a sincere and sweet personality. (1 point)
8. Love: Since her best friend, Grace's, death Kate has been weary to let anyone in. All of a sudden there is a rush of contenders for her attention and she has to work through who is sincere and worth her time (1 point).
9. Evoke Realistic Images: The ladies have done very well with spatial awareness. They describe the details of a scene just enough, most authors who try this go to far and become tedious but the Roecker sisters have got it right. (1 point)
10. Writing/Story telling: Thought it would be more exciting and less predictable. But I have no idea what's coming in the next installment, and I'm still intrigued enough to find out. I guess that's what mystery writer's aim for. I have to say though, I'm not hungry for the next book, only curious so other books may push it down in the TBR. (1/2 point)

Reread Worthy: No, this is only OK. I don't wish I never read this but once was enough.  
Recommendation: Mystery junkies.

*Click Rating to see post about my 10 aspects of a great book.

Eight Childhood Favorites*

1. Black Beauty: I read this over and over in 1st grade.

2. A Light In the Attic: I still own this. I carried it around and read the poems to other children so they could love them too. I still love this work, and I remember crying as a child when I learned of Shel Silverstein's death.

3. Falling Up: See above. (Also, this was given to me by the nicest old lady who ever rode a bus one Christmas holiday that wasn't turning out very merry until that moment.)

4. Where The Sidewalk Ends: See #2. (My first Shel Silverstein book.)

5. Wayside School Stories: enormously amusing.

6. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle: After a stint of not reading a friend shared her favorite childhood set with me. These are whimsical and have great lessons hidden in the fun.

7. Oh, The Thinks You Can Think: I love all Dr. Seuss, but I think this one is fun and inspiring. As an adult the message is still valid.

8. Joan Of Arc: I think this was the last bonding moment I had with my mother growing up. This was the last book she read to me, she read it 3 times in a row. I found Joan's strength inspiring.

Did you read any of these? Know any childhood favorites that are still valid to your life today?
*TBTB Top Ten Tuesday

Mini-Review: Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard*

This is a mini-review: I did not write full review but I still want to warn tell everyone about this book.

The narrators voice often sounds much younger than 17, then there is talk about sex to make him seem older. Sometimes his thoughts remind me of an 8 year old. Also the timeline began to degrade with his flashbacks. That could be the author trying to show the discontinuous thoughts of someone feeling grief and guilt.

 As far as the "journaling/noveling" goes this writer apologizes for her bad writing far too often through the narrator and tries to use her extensive knowledge of the "great books" to brush over it. Over and over it's like, "Hey, I kind of suck, but these guys don't, if you don't like me just read them." I'm paraphrasing, but I want to say to the author if you think you suck that badly, and point it out repeatedly, your story will suck, and all of us will agree with you.

pg.79 "You could write about that, a poem about writer's block." I love the idea of turning your problem into your solution. This is said by the English teacher in the story, Haley Avis Dovecott. She is also the focus of the main characters affection. She is fresh out of college and has intense interaction with the lead character, she is much better written than Is Male.

Also what is this hidden identity thing. While journaling he says just call me Is Male, but he paste in papers from his English class and repeats comments from peers with his actual name. What is the point of making up an identity if you constantly reveal yourself?

The only other line worth remembering in the book: "You have to stop and freeze the moment..." You have to make yourself remember by repeating it in your head over and over. You have to write to preserve your sanity." There you go, now you don't have to read it. Skip this because all that's left is  baseless guilt, a self-effacing and ingenuine narrator, and better secondary characters.

*This is a 2011 Debut Author Challenge book, click here for more information about The Debut Authors in 2011

Review: Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

Published: September 2011, Tor Teen
Pages: 316
Part of a Series: #1
Read For a Challenge: 2011 Debut Author's Challenge**
Teaser: "Smashing. You'll be just like those four chaps in the movie. You know the one, with the over sized marshmallow."
In a sentence or so: Cas kills dangerous ghosts, and Anna is a very dangerous ghost who has been killing anyone who enters her former abode for the past sixty years, but when they meet something is different. Cas's world turns upside down the night he doesn't kill Anna Dressed in Blood.
*Rating: 9.5/10 (-.5 point for potentially pointless sequel)
GoodReads Description:
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

1. YA -- Fantasy/Paranormal, Horror (Free 1 point)
2.Consistency -- The mythology that built this world was encompassing, Anna was one bad B until she met Cas and is able to explore her new level of control growing and discovering along the same timeline as Cas's growth. (1 point)
3. Flesh -- The narration by Cas is amazing in this story, with his dark humor and inquisitive nature I can't think there could be a better character to lead the way through this story. Anna's snark collides with Cas's wit in a way that makes this story unforgettable. (1 point)
4. Flow --This was my most anticipated read this year and it definitely delivered. From beginning to end it was thrilling, enthralling, captivating. I was never bored with the pacing and I was satisfied at the end. (Even though this is growing into a series this volume was good enough to stand on its own.) (1 point)
5. Character Growth -- Cas grows to remember his father as a man; not an infallible being, and be truly grateful of the people that are in his present life. He has a great journey. (1 point)
6. A Point/ Purpose/ Journey -- This has all the elements of a great YA paranormal: supernatural beings and a strong set of mythologies; shocking appearances, dangers, and reveals; and all capped off with the classic coming of age -- finding self and first love. (1 point)
7. Witty Dialogue*** I was trapped by the first paragraph. Cas is witty, digging, in-your-face, and just everything I love in a narrator. (1 point)
8. Love -- The synopsis hints at the love story, and at first I was weary of a budding ghost-ghost killer star-crossed lover thing. I had no reason to worry. It turns out Anna and Cas are perfectly matched in maturity and personal development. Ms. Blake unfolds the relationship hesitantly and it paints a beautiful couple that fits the world she built. (1 point)
9. Evoke Realistic Images -- I got completely lost in this story. I wouldn't say the story is actually scary but it is creepy enough that when your in the middle of a scene you jump at any movement your peripheral vision catches. (1 point)
10. Writing/Story telling -- Right off the bat funny, witty, and strait-forward and darkness and gruesome murder -- no, for the killers. AND there are some great story drops, references to novels, myths, and movies.The kind of things that let you know the author is a bookish type and proud when you recognise the tales. (1 point)


Reread Worthy: Definitely, I loved it, but it was over so fast. It would be interesting to see if it stands the test of time.
Recommendation: Anyone who enjoys coming of age novels and isn't easily scared.

*Click Rating to see post about my 10 aspects of a great book.