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"Waiting On" Wednesday (#105) Save Me, Kurt Cobain by Jenny Manzer

8/26/2015

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm picking:

Save Me, Kurt Cobain by
Expected publication: March 8th 2016 by Delacorte Press

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22055480-save-me-kurt-cobain


From Goodreads: 

What if you discovered that Kurt Cobain was not only alive, but might be your real father? This nuanced and bittersweet YA debut will keep you guessing until the end.
 

Nico Cavan has been adrift since her mother vanished when she was four—maternal abandonment isn’t exactly something you can just get over. Staying invisible at school is how she copes—that and listening to alt music and summoning spirits on the Ouija board with her best friend and coconspirator in sarcasm, Obe. But when a chance discovery opens a window onto her mom’s wild past, it sparks an idea in her brain that takes hold and won’t let go.

On a ferry departing Seattle, Nico encounters a slight blond guy with piercing blue eyes wearing a hooded jacket. Something in her heart tells her that this feeling she has might actually be the truth, so she follows him to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest. When she is stranded there by a winter storm, fear and darkness collide, and the only one who can save Nico might just be herself.


Why I'm Waiting:

I am excited about the idea of this book. It looks like it's going to deal with some psychological issues, and I am a big fan of that type of book.  Add in that it's a debut author, and I am eager to read it.


Top Ten Tuesday (#105) (08/25/15) Top Ten Books That Would Be On My Syllabus If I Taught YA Dystopia 101

8/25/2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
 
Top Ten Books That Would Be On My Syllabus If I Taught YA Dystopia 101


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11235712-cinder

Part Dystopian, a lot Sci-Fi, this series is just great.  Cinder remains my favorite of the series, but they are all wonderful and Meyer does a great job of world building.  It's just an interesting take about what would happen to a society that is facing a horrible disease and what would the leaders do to fix it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11614718-delirium

I loved the concept of this series, a society where the ability to love is surgically removed from the citizens is just a fascinating concept.  Unfortunately, I think this is the best book in the series, and it just goes downhill from the first.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13335037-divergent

Another book that does a great job of world building.  It also kept me absolutely riveted and breathless.  It's easy to dismiss it as Hunger Games light, but I think it stands up really well on its own.  It would be interesting to see a comparison paper evaluating Divergent and the Hunger Games.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games

One of the champions of dystopia.  It's probably the most well known and the gold standard.  All other dystopian YA can only wish to have the success as it has had.  I once read an interview with a publisher who said they wouldn't even buy dystopia because it just won't be able to compare to this series.  I think the entire series was expertly crafted and the story so unique to YA at the time it was published.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10637748-the-pledge

Here is the first of the books that has a society that has an instituted caste system.  It also has some very interesting paranormal elements.  I also kind of love that in this world Women hold the power.  It would be interesting to see a comparison of the caste systems between this series and the Selection series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10429045-shatter-me

A very interesting take on a society that's ruled by the military.  The paranormal element takes most of the billing and not so much the dystopian society and how the citizens are dealing with the government.  Even so, it's a great dystopian book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8525590-wither

I love the idea of this series.  Nobody lives past a certain age.  I must confess I haven't read the others in the series to see how it ends, but the first book is so strong and it builds such a fantastic world that it would be worth including.


A series I love to hate. I think the most fascinating aspect of this series is the caste system that's in place. The selection process while entertaining is actually less interesting and fascinating than the world that the characters live in.  The ramifications of going outside your cast was the best part of this series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7735333-matched

This series gets a lot of grief for being as slow as it is.  It's not a fast paced series by any stretch of the imagination.  I also was rooting for the other guy at the end.  However, why I would pick this book/series is the interesting take on how a society has so severely limited creation of art and beauty.  The public only has access to 100 books, songs, etc. This series probably has the most regulated population and it makes it fascinating.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6468718-the-forest-of-hands-and-teeth

I was actually surprised to see this as being dystopian, but by the definition of dystopia it totally fits.  The story is post zombie apocalypse why a small group of survivors that is lead by the church.  The entire village has to live by the rules that the church set up.  It's a fascinating take on how a group reverts back to the morals and rules of a society that in our current day society have been left in the long distant past. 

"Waiting On" Wednesday (#104) Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake

8/19/2015

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm picking:

Suffer Love by
Expected publication: May 3rd 2016 by HMH Books for Young Readers

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23197843-suffer-love

From Goodreads: 

Hadley St. Clair's life changed the day she came home to a front door covered in slips of paper, each of them revealing the ugly truth about her father. Now as her family falls apart in the wake of his year-long affair, Hadley wants everyone-her dad most of all-to leave her alone.

Then she meets Sam Bennett, a cute new boy who inexplicably "feels like home" to Hadley. Hadley and Sam's connection is undeniable, but Sam has a secret about his family that could ruin everything.

Funny and passionate, Suffer Love is a story about first love, family dysfunction, and the fickle hand of fate.



Why I'm Waiting:

This has all kinds of elements that I love in a book.  First love, difficult family situations, so may things. Some people have already reviewed it to positive reviews, and I can't wait to read it myself.  Added bonus of it being a book by a debut author.  I'm in.



Top Ten Tuesday (#104) (08/18/15) Top Ten Of Your Auto-buy Authors

8/18/2015


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
 
Top Ten Of Your Auto-buy Authors


Hi I'm Lisa and I'm a book buying addict.  Seriously, I have had to limit myself to only buying e-books because I can't fit any more books in my house.  I do have some favorite authors though, but while I wouldn't say their books are auto-buys, they are auto reads (always through legal channels, either purchased, reviewed (ARCS), or checked out from the library.)  DON'T download "free" books on the internet.  You are stealing if you do.  Ultimately, they all end up being bought though.  So here are my auto-read authors.


https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/56224.Ally_Carter?from_search=true&search_version=service

I've read pretty much whatever she's written, and I will continue to do so.  Her books are just plain good fun.  I may end up eating my words with her new series, but I just love what she's done so far.  My favorites are her Heist Society books.


https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1330292.Maggie_Stiefvater?from_search=true&search_version=service

I admit I am one book behind on the Raven Cycle books, but I plan to remedy that very soon. My favorites are her Wolves of Mercy Falls books.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2987.Sarah_Dessen?from_search=true&search_version=service

 This one goes without saying.  I have read everything she's written and will continue to do so. She is my favorite author right now and she has been for a while.  My favorite books of hers are The Truth About Forever and This Lullaby.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/137902.Richelle_Mead?from_search=true&search_version=service

 I haven't read any of her adult books, and I am in no hurry to.  Her YA books, I consume them as soon as they come out.  My favorites are the Vampire Academy Series.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2261547.Rachel_Hawkins?from_search=true&search_version=service

I've read all of her books too.  I just love them.  They are just really good fun, and if you are not following her on twitter, I highly recommend checking it out.  She's funny.  She has a middle grade book coming out soon that I'll probably skip, but anything YA I'll definitely read.  My favorite is her Hex Hall series.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/203238.Jennifer_Echols?from_search=true&search_version=service

There are a few of her past books I still need to read, but I read each of her new books when they come out, or sometimes I review them and get to read them early.  She is definitely one of my favorite authors.  My favorite books are Going too Far and Perfect Couple.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173491.E_Lockhart?from_search=true&search_version=service

I think there is one book of hers that I haven't read yet, but I will get to it eventually.  She is an amazing writer, and each time I pick up one of her books I get surprised again by how awesome they are. I just can't pick a favorite of hers, I love them all.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2982266.Jandy_Nelson?from_search=true&search_version=service

She's only written two books, and they were both amazing.  I feel like I waited forever for I'll Give You the Sun, but it was worth the wait.  I will read everything and anything she writes next.  Not going to pick a favorite of hers either.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/295178.Gayle_Forman?from_search=true&search_version=service

I've read most of what she's written, everything but her first book.  I will continue to read everything she's written because I love all her books.  My favorite book of hers is If I Stay.  Loved it.


https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1229281.Jason_Reynolds

He's only written two books too, but they were both awesome.  He has another book coming out at the end of September that I will grab as soon as I can.  He also is writing a middle grade that I don't know if I'll pick up, but I'm sure will be awesome.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (#103) Escaping Perfect by Emma Harrison

8/12/2015

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm picking:

Escaping Perfect by
Expected publication: March 29th 2016 by Simon Pulse

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23734462-escaping-perfect


From Goodreads: 

Gone Girl meets the TV show Nashville in this sultry summer read about a girl who runs away from her high-profile past to live the normal life she’s always wanted.

Cecilia Montgomery has been America’s sweetheart since the day she was born. A member of the prestigious Montgomery family—the US equivalent of royalty—her childhood was cut short after she was nearly kidnapped. Since then, Cecilia has been hidden away, her adolescence spent at an exclusive boarding school.

Her dreams of becoming a professional violinist—dashed.

Her desire to be a normal teenager—not possible.


Why I'm Waiting:

I never saw or read Gone Girl, but I love the show Nashville, and this book just looks awesome. I'm not sure it's set at a boarding school, but books that are set at boarding school are like catnip to me.  I can't wait to check this book out.


Top Ten Tuesday (#103) (08/11/15) Top Ten Authors I've Read The Most Books From

8/11/2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
 
Top Ten Eleven Authors I've Read The Most Books From

I have a tie, so I have to make it a top 11.  I am having to limit this list to full books by authors.  If you add in all the novellas and shorts by authors, the list changes.  Of course this list ends up favoring those authors that have long series that I read all of the books.  I am also limiting this list to YA, and YA I've read in the last 10 years.  The number of books I've read is below their name.  Here's what I came up with.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/62448.Kieran_Scott
 23

She would have made the list twice with the number of books I've read by her under each of her names.  However, I'm combining it into one.  The Private/Privilege series added a number of books to the 23 I've read, however I actually only read 6 of those books, so it's not what elevated these numbers.  It's all the other stuff she's written.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11654.Meg_Cabot
23

A large number of these are between the Mediator series and the Princess Diaries.  However, I've read plenty more that she's written.  I've been reading her books for years, so the number has kind of crept up on me.

14

The Blue Blood series was the main reason why this count is so high even though I haven't read the last book.  I've also read a bunch of her other stuff.  I haven't loved the new stuff as much, but she's still an author I can count on.


14

I don't know if Zoey Dean is even a real person.  I think she is, since she gets writing credits on IMDB.  However, I've never seen a picture.  Most of books I've read are from the A-List series, which was a total guilty pleasure of mine.

12

Needless to say, she would be number one on my list if she'd written more books.  She is a book every other year author, so she hasn't written as many as some other authors.  Each of her books is well worth the wait.  She's written 12 books, and I've read 12 books.  It's the only author on this list that I can say that I've read every thing they've written.

 12

I managed to completely read both the Vampire Academy and the Bloodlines series in it's entirety.  I do plan on reading her new book in the fall, which I am really excited about. I haven't read any of her adult stuff yet.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/40626-house-of-night
10

I read the first 10 House of Night books, and several of the novellas and then I broke up with the series.  I actually have the final two books, I just can't bring myself to read them.

10

I've read almost everything she's written.  I adored the Gallager Girls series, and the Heist Society books are just as good.  I am pretty willing to read whatever she writes.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/203238.Jennifer_Echols
8

She would be higher on the list if I read everything I own by her.  She's one of my favorites, and it's just a matter of time until I read all her books. 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2755160.Kimberly_Derting
 7

I loved the Body Finder series, and I think about it ALL the time when I hear about murders, and there being a question of guilt.  I also enjoyed The Pledge series.  I haven't read her most recent books, but I am still a big fan.

7

She makes it on the list on the seven Harry Potter books she's written.  I haven't read any of her adult books, and I really don't plan on it.  The Harry Potter books were good enough for me.


"Waiting On" Wednesday (#102) The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by C.J. Redwine

8/05/2015

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm picking:

The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by
Expected publication: February 23rd 2016 by Balzer + Bray


From Goodreads: 

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.



Why I'm Waiting:

This is not my normal type of read, but it sounds really intriguing.  I've heard such good things about the author's first series, that I really should check this book out.


Top Ten Tuesday (#102) (08/04/15) Ten Fairytale Retellings I've Read

8/04/2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
 
Top Ten Eight Retellings I've Read


I love a retelling, not just fairytales, I love a retelling of classic literature as well.  However for some strange reason I haven't read a lot of them.  I've read a lot that I didn't love, so I didn't want to include them on my list.  I also have about 50 waiting on my TBR pile, I just haven't gotten to them yet.  Even so, here are my favorites.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18798983-the-wrath-and-the-dawn

So far my favorite book of this year.  This is a fabulous retelling of A Thousand and One Nights.  There are definitely differences, but it was really well done.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9266776-epic-fail

I was very surprised at how much I adored this retelling of Pride & Prejudice. Enough that I pretty much own all of the authors other books.  It was just cute and well done.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8428195-entwined

I really enjoyed this retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses.  It wasn't groundbreaking, but it was sweet and well done.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13541909-nameless

A very lose retelling of Snow White, but I found it to be very interesting and different. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11235712-cinder

I adore this retelling of Cinderella and really all of the other books in this series, be it Little Red Riding Hood (Scarlett) or Rapunzel (Cress), I can't wait to read the final book in the series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9413044-everneath

A retelling of the Persephone myth, I really adored this series.  I just found the books very readable and memorable.  I was never a huge mythology fan, but then I didn't have books like this to read.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8306761-for-darkness-shows-the-stars

 Confession, I've never read Persuasion which is what this book is based on, so I can't really compare.  I just really enjoyed this story, and always loved the cover.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12022765-when-you-were-mine

Romeo and Juliette from a totally different perspective.  I enjoyed this book, and I thought it was a really interesting concept.