Friday Fabulous! (13)

Friday Fabulous is back - and I have a lot to talk about today, so let's jump right in!

1. Book Blogger Appreciation Week is back for its' second year. Last year, Presenting Lenore was a finalist for Best YA Blog! Want to make sure your favorite book blogs make the list? Just head over to the official BBAW site and submit your nominations in dozens of fun categories.


2. I'm kind of surprised by this since I don't post that many reviews there anymore, but amazon invited me to be a part of their Vine program! I haven't gotten offered any free video cameras yet, but I should be getting LABOR DAY by Joyce Maynard and SWIMMING by Nicola Keegan (hey if Judy Blume said it was good...) soon.


3. You know, these days, most airline travel news is BAD - free baggage allowances are being cut, you increasingly have to pay for on-board food, and Ryanair even talked about charging to use the toilets - so I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that Delta had given me 10,000 free miles (that qualify for medallion status) as part of a campaign to increase loyalty among their elite status customers. With all the traveling I'm doing this year, I might even earn Gold status this year. Thanks Delta!


4. Speaking of Delta, I was able to upgrade the Atlanta-Frankfurt leg of my August/Sept trip to the states to business class using miles. That's always the worst leg for me, so I'm thrilled!


5. And speaking of my trip to the states, I'll be having a bunch of book contests in August since I'll be able to send them out cheaply once I arrive. Which is a perfect opportunity for all you authors out there! I can send your bookmarks and promotional swag out with my prize books, and if you take advantage of this window, you'll be able to send to my stateside address - YAY! (I'll be back to the states again at Christmas if you need more time). Just contact me at lenoreva at hotmail dot com to get my address.


6. And finally, one of Daniel's good friends, Rafael Esquer, who I finally got to meet while we were in NYC this May, has designed a line of awesome graphic t-shirts depicting the seven deadly sins in hand-drawn dragon form. There is Lujuria (lust), Gula (gluttony), Avaricia (greed), Pereza (sloth - which is what Daniel says I should get), Ira (wrath - which is what Daniel got...hehe), Envidia (envy - perfect for everyone with book envy) and Soberbia (pride). You can see the different designs and colors at the online store (http://www.alfalfa-seeds.com/) and if you want to order one, you can use the special discount code Rafael gave me for 20% off. The coupon code is: Lenore. (I've always hoped my name would one day be used as a coupon code, woohoo!)

So tell me, what are YOU excited about this week?

Book Review: Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I own a pair of Prada boots. Not heels. Never heels. I’d instantly fall on my face like Callie, the main character, does, but I’m pretty sure doing so wouldn’t transport me back to 1815 where I’d get to live in a mansion with a hot, green-eyed duke and wear fabulous dresses. So yeah. I’ll stick with my boots (even if they are several seasons ago by now).

Since I love time travel stories, Prada, and Jane Austen, this was a slam dunk premise for me. But the execution didn’t entirely win me over. I’m all about suspending belief, but I like the story to at least try to offer some logic as to the whole time travel component, and this one did not. It was bam!, she’s in the past, and bam!, she’s back. Are the red heels magic like in THE WIZARD OF OZ? Was it all a dream? I guess the fact that there were no rules frustrated me to the point that I had a hard time really enjoying the novel despite its undeniable charm.

Callie is a more complex character than you’d usually find in such a confection. Sure, she’s a clumsy, and at times clueless, blonde. But she’s also smart in math and science with a penchant for regaling her 19th century pals with all sorts of scientific trivia while they are riding around in elegant carriages on their way to fancy balls. She may not think things through all the way, but her heart is in the right place, and her brand of Girl Power just might start an Austen era revolution of sorts.

PRADA AND PREJUDICE just came out this week. Visit the author at http://www.mandyhubbard.com/.

Book Review: Darling Jim by Christian Moerk

Three sisters - Fiona, Róisín and Aoife – and their aunt all fall under the spell of “Darling” Jim, a storyteller in the Irish seanchaí tradition who speaks of wolves and predatory men. The result of this enchantment is that at the start of the novel, most of the main characters are dead and the rest are missing. It is up to mailman Niall, who finds Fiona’s diary in his dead letter bin, to find out what really happened.

The foreboding but fascinating fairy tale Jim tells over successive nights (which we read about in Fiona’s diary) permeates this mystery story. Is there something paranormal afoot or is Jim simply a really nasty human specimen? Especially impressive is the very authentic Irish atmosphere – amazing, really, when you consider Author Moerk is Danish and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

As far as the characters, we get a good sense of Fiona and Róisín by reading their diaries, but Aoife, the aunt and even Jim remain slippery, their motivations somewhat understandable but still quite puzzling. Unfortunately, the mailmain, Niall, seems more like a device to hold the narrative together than a fully formed, relatable character.

Things may wrap up a bit too neatly for such a haunting premise, but the story sticks with you. I’d recommend it to readers of “darker” novels such as John Connelly’s THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS or Michel Faber’s UNDER THE SKIN.

Thanks to the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program for providing me with an ARC of DARLING JIM. You can visit the author at http://www.christianmoerk.com/ and buy the book in hardcover.

New York City in Books

I still have a couple more NYC posts in me, and today I wanted to give a quick shout out to some of the books I used as reference for my trip.

First up, the full color New York City guide 2009 from Fodor's. I didn't get this in time to actually plan my trip with it, but I did browse through while I was there. It is organized by area and provides a great overview of things to do as well as places to stay, eat and shop. There is a nice balance of information and entertainment in the writing and I especially enjoyed the "close up" features such as the one on the history of Times Square. I will definitely use this to plan my next trip!

At BEA, I grabbed a copy of Lonely Planet's New York City Encounter, which claims to allow you to discover twice the city in half the time. It is a small format, 280 pager that can be easily carried with you when you are out and about. Organized by neighborhood, it presents a few must-sees as well as some "hidden gems". No listing for The Strand bookstore, so it loses some points with me. I liked the interviews with NYC residents and would have like to have seen more of these.

Speaking of The Strand, we picked up a copy of the classic children's picture book This is New York by M. Sasek. It give a lot of fun stats about NYC then and now such as how many elevators operate in the city, how many churches there are, and how many miles of streets need to be policed (6,000 miles). I love the illustrations - especially of the squirrels in Central Park.

We also bought a copy of the recently released A Walk in New York by Salvatore Rubbino. In it, a father and son spend a day in Manhattan starting in Grand Central Station and moving downtown visiting The New York Public Library, The Empire State Building and Union Square Park (all places I visited as well). It's both fun and full of interesting trivia.

What are your favorite NYC guidebooks or books set in NYC? I'd love some recommendations!

Book Club Report: The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos

I met with my new book club for the second time on May 27th to discuss The Night Gardener.

Short summary:

When a teen is found murdered in a Washingtion DC garden, it reminds veteran police officer Gus Ramone of a case he worked on as a rookie cop. Could the same killer, dubbed The Night Gardener, be on the loose again?

The group verdict:

The group is all women and we agreed that this novel seems more suited to men. Not only is there is grusome premise and a gritty setting, but the focus is on the male characters, the pages are full of men bragging about their sexual conquests in colorful language, and there is a primarily action driven plot.

We all expressed our frustration at the lack of real closure and the introduction of ancillary characters that had nothing to do with the main story. Perhaps they were there to show that the author has some familiarity with the DC criminal scene, but all the superfluous characters were just confusing to most of us.

I did enjoy the interogation scenes, and specifically that those being interogated always asked for the soft drink Slice and had to make due with Mountain Dew. I guess Slice is the criminal drink of choice in the DC area.

Up next:

Undecided. The next meeting is a movie night to watch Slumdog Millionaire.

Waiting On Wednesday (32) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

This has been my most anticipated read since I first heard about its' sale to HarperCollins in May 2008. Not only does it have a cool do-over/groundhog day meets the afterlife premise, it is also represented by super agent Stephen Barbara who has excellent taste. It doesn't come out until sometime in Spring 2010, but it has a cover, so I have to feature it!

Summary from Lauren Oliver's MySpace page:

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

Lauren also has a very interesting post up about her inspiration for BEFORE I FALL.

I will read this the very moment I get my hands on it.

Book Review: 20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

“It’s my mission to make you care about these words, Anna. About these people and everything they say and everything they were. Every story is part of a whole, entire life, you know? Happy and sad and tragic and whatever, but an entire life. And books let you know them.” (p. 167 ARC edition, may vary from final published version)

The title makes you think this is going to be a light and frothy summer vacation story about girls meeting a bunch of cute boys. And there is that aspect to it, but this is book that goes deeper than that, a book that gives you a front row seat to all the giddiness, sadness, and messiness that is first love, second love and close friendship – and most of all, a book that makes you care about the characters as if they were real people.

Anna has been best friends with Frankie and her older brother Matt since she was born – and she’s been secretly in love with Matt almost that long too. When Matt kisses her on her 15th birthday, they begin a romantic relationship that they keep hidden from Frankie for weeks. And before he can tell Frankie, he dies. Fast forward a year, and a still-grieving Anna joins a still-grieving Frankie on her family vacation to California. They make a pact to have the best summer ever, which includes a competition to see who can get the most boys. But is Anna really ready to let go of Matt? And can she ever tell Frankie just how much Matt meant to her too?

There's some romantic window dressing, but the fully realized friendship between Anna and Frankie lies at the core of this novel. I like how Ockler focused on them instead of diluting the narrative with a bunch of side characters. Of course there are the parents (abnormally permissive and unquestioning) and the California boys they meet and sneak out with on a nightly basis (Sam and Jake), but these take a back seat to exploring the nature of friendship and the nature of grief.

For example, Anna says, “Sometimes I think if she knew about Matt and me, it would bring us closer. If I could make her understand how much I cared about him, she’d let me into the exclusive club where all the members have a right to be irrevocably sad. Instead, I am an intruder. I look into the windows and see them crying, but I’m outside in the dark, and they can’t see me.” (p. 76-77 ARC edition)

There was one aspect that bothered me though, and it was the way virginity was referred to an “albatross” that should be cast off as soon as possible, preferably to someone you don’t care about and will never see again. I mean, ok, feeling like a reject because you’ve never been kissed at 16, that I get. But if kissing someone you don’t care about is icky (and it is*), then sharing the most intimate act of human bonding with some random guy just to get it over with? At 16? That’s just…there are no words for how wrong I find that. Fortunately, the “albatross” plotline is resolved in a semi-responsible way though that does make sense for the story.

Release date for 20 BOY SUMMER is June 1st, though many copies have already been spotted in the wild. Hunt one down now! Visit the author at http://sarahockler.com/




* Khy wanted me to write about about a 20 boy kissing competition I had with my best friend, alias M*Girl. The idea was to see who collect kisses from 20 nationalities first. I made my way pretty well around the South American countries, but M*Girl won. And this was when I learned that kissing guys you don't care about is icky.

Book Review: Swoon by Nina Malkin

“Eventually all stories must be told. People simply aren’t built to hold them in. …. [It’s a] matter of finding the right person to tell it to. Since a story, even a sad one, is a gift.” (p. 417-418, ARC edition – may vary from the final published version.)

It may seem odd that I’m starting this review with a quote from the second to last chapter of the novel. And although the quote refers to a minor subplot, the truth of it really resonated with me and sums up my feelings about this superbly written book about impossible love and unimaginable loss.

But basic plot before I go any further – NYC transplant Candice (known as Dice in the nickname-loving, cookie-cutter Connecticut community of Swoon) meets 18th century transplant Sinclair (known as Sin, because he sins with abandon and causes others to sin as well) when he possesses the body of her hot but prissy cousin Penelope (known as Pen because …err… elope would sound weird?). Sin was strung-up by Swoon’s denizens’ snobby ancestors, so he’s out to get revenge. Only Dice is aware of what he’s capable of, but swept up in the spell of his charm, she’s very reluctant to stop him…

I really did feel like this story is a gift – and judging by the polarizing reviews on GoodReads and across the blogosphere – it’s one that’s not right for everyone. I can understand that some readers are turned off by the all “lustful” scenes Sin leaves in his wake, but these are strictly dreamlike in quality (think Patrick Susskind’s THE PERFUME), and in no way explicit or eyeball scalding.

Ok, I’ll allow that the paranormal plot is rather convoluted and does tend to meander at times, but the writing is so stellar, I honestly didn't mind the detours. I took a week to read this, not only because I had only stolen moments to devote to it, but also because I wanted to savor Malkin’s delicious turns of phrase. The story is told in first person, and Dice is so wry in her observations and so conflicted in her loyalties and desires I found myself identifying with her (despite our differences). I don’t know…maybe you have to have a certain maturity level (and I'm not talking about age, though this is more appropriate for older teens), and/or a certain familiarity with tragedy, to really connect with this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and not only will it stay on my shelf, I know I’ll go back and read passages from it again and again.

SWOON was released last week in hardcover. Visit the author at http://www.ninamalkin.com/

Book Review: Red by Jordan Summers

I see so many reviews for paranormal romances around the blogosphere that I thought I’d try expanding my reading horizons and see what all the fuss is about. I chose RED (Dead World, Book 1) by Jordan Summers because I liked the tagline (What if Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf turned out to be the same person?) and because it is set in a dystopian future where the ozone is gone, the Earth is scorched, and most of the population lives in highly monitored republics.

Summers dedicates the book to her readers saying, “I wrote RED with the belief that there were other readers in the world like me who enjoy a grittier love story.” Guess that should have clued me in that I was about to have my eyeballs scalded by explicit werewolf sex – in the first chapter, no less.

But I persevered. And I found myself quite liking this story of Gina ‘Red’ Santiago, a field officer with an elite tactical team, who stumbles upon a gruesome crime in Nuria, a border town which is also a hangout for “Others” (super soldiers created during the last world war who turn into paranormal creatures when agitated). As she investigates the crime, she gets romantically involved with the town’s alpha male, Sherriff Morgan Kane. I personally would’ve liked less of the romance and more of the fascinating world-building, but this IS paranormal romance after all!

Strangely enough, Summers plots the story so that the answers to the big questions – who the killer is, Gina’s true nature, will Mike and Raphael’s reunite –are extremely and frustratingly obvious. But her characterizations are surprisingly deep for genre fiction, and I rooted for Gina throughout.

Book 2, SCARLETT, comes out next month. And I just might be a little bit excited to pick it up.

Find out more at www.jordansummers.com

Top 100 Children's Picture Book Poll and my Top 10

Elizabeth Bird at Fuse 8 held a 100 top picture book poll at the beginning of March and asked for our top 10 picks. She's been revealing the top vote getters bit by bit on her blog and now all 100 (101 actually, due to an error) are up in a concise list of Top 100 Children's Picture Books.

Here are my picks and my comments (with where they ended up on the master list in parenthesis):

1. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1963). The art direction, the story, the writing, everything is just perfect. (also #1)

2. The Three Robbers by Tomi Ungerer (1961). Great atmosphere and story. I picked this one because it is one of the few Tomi Ungerer books on sale in the US. But I could have also picked Zeralda's Ogre or others. (not on list)

3. Not a Box by Antoinette Portis (2006). What a great idea for a book. So simple and so creative. (#90)

4. Wild about Books by Judy Sierra, ill. by Marc Brown (2004). My favorite rhyming book. So clever! (not on list)

5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1979). Lovely illustrations and art direction. (#3)

6. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (1964). Makes me cry everytime! But not for the reasons you might think. (#93)

7. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (2003). Interactive and silly. (#5)

8. Hondo and Fabian by Peter McCarty (2003). Gorgeous illustrations and Fabian has fun just like my cat does with the toliet paper. (not on list)

9. Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola (1975). This is so fun to read to kids aloud. (#44)

10. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, ill. by Betsy Lewin (2000). Hilarious. (#32)

And here are others I own and enjoy that made the list (links lead to descriptions on Elizabeth's blog):

#22: The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone, ill. by Mike Smollin (1971)

#26: Corduroy by Donald Freeman (1976)

#46: Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt (2006)

#56: Frederick by Leo Lionni (1967)

#57: Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, ill. Harry Bliss (2003)

#60: Chicken Soup With Rice: A Book of Months by Maurice Sendak (1962)

#65: Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner (2003)

#68: The Arrival by Shaun Tan (2006)

#88: Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (1993)

#99: Little Pea by Amy Krause Rosenthal, ill. by Jen Corace (2005)

There are a bunch more that I've read but don't own, and also some I didn't know and want to buy now.

What are your favorite picture books? Did you participate in the poll?

Lisbon and OFFF Design Conference Highlights

I was in Lisbon last week for 4 days of sightseeing and 3 days of the OFFF design conference featuring some of the world’s leading designers including Stefan Sagmeister (best known for carving text into his body with a knife for a poster about suffering for your art), Paula Scher (amazing corporate identities), Joshua Davis (the most purely entertaining speaker), and Kyle Cooper (creator of over 150 movie titles including Gattaca, the remake of Dawn of the Dead, and Seven).

Sightseeing highlights included the Lisbon Aquarium (Oceanario de Lisboa), Lisbon Barrio Alto (where we had our apartment and drank 10 year old tawny port wine most evenings), the Botanical Garden in Belem, Roca Cape Cliffs (the western most point of continental Europe) and Historic Sintra (a UNESCO World Heritage site) including Pena Palace, Pena Park, and Sintra National Palace.

Sagmeister was the biggest highlight for me at the OFFF. He came out wearing a swingy dress over jeans and immediately launched into a story about being at an aquarium and seeing a perverted fish. He talked about happiness and what makes him happy as a designer. He also talked about his project Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far which includes a series of art installations, a book (pictured at left, and yes I own it and enjoy looking through it), and a website where users can upload their own life lessons. He also introduced the logo and corporate design he developed for La Casa de Musica in Porto, Portugal as well as some furniture he is designing while on his one year sabbatical in Bali.

Paula Scher introduced some of her recent projects including the new corporate identities for MoMA and the New York City Ballet. Another highlight was the customized LED newsticker she developed for the Bloomsburg building.

Former professional skateboarder Joshua Davis uses programming tools like Bezier curves and perlin noise to create his colorful designs. He leapt all over the stage during his presentation and talked about his work and inspirations with such a high energy level, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He said he’s been recently inspired by Spanish and Portuguese tiles (such as the ones found in Sintra), Japanese wallpaper, and WWII airplane, especially the leopard print Italian planes (quote: “We go to war, but we go BEAUTIFUL”).

Kyle Cooper introduced many of the main title sequences he’s done for feature films with his former agency Imaginary Forces and his new agency Prologue. He told little stories about each one. My favorite was that for the Mimic titles, a woman from an animal protection agency was paid $500 a day to make sure he didn’t impale any bugs!

Digital Kitchen is another agency that does main title sequences, mainly for television. They did Dexter, House and True Blood, among others. They screened the titles for True Blood and then spent the hour talking about the making of. Apparently the baptism scene was filmed in a lake infested with snakes.

PES showed us many of the innovative short films he does in stop motion animation. I really liked the film where a peanut is drowning in a sea of peanut butter and his film Western Spaghetti where he used everyday objects in place of food (butter = post it notes, sea salt = googly eyes, boiling water = bubble wrap, dry spaghetti = pixie sticks, cooked spaghetti = rubber bands). Go to eatPES.com to watch all the videos. Totally worth it!

Multitouch Barcelona showed their Human Interaction box and Guten Touch - an interactive wall where you can play Space Invaders by throwing rubber balls at the screen (I tried this and failed miserably). They also talked about twitter, saying WARNING: Twittering a moment may reduce your enjoyment of the moment. Ha, ha. So true.

Karsten Schmidt from Toxi introduced socialcollider.net, an online tool which reveals cross-connections between conversations on Twitter. He also talked about Faber Finds, a fully automated print on demand service from publisher Faber + Faber that prints unique covers for out-of-print books.

Jason Bruges Studio showed some interative stuff he's developing for the 2012 London Olympics, such as Fast, Faster, Fastest, an installation that lets you run against the moving world record line.

Champagne Valentine mentioned their upcoming show about the Facebook/Internet stalking phenomenon called My Lover the Server which will premiere in Amsterdam and then travel to other international cities.

There were a bunch of other speakers as well, but those were the highlights for me.

And now, here are a couple of pictures.

Roca Cape Cliffs

Pena Palace in the mist

Book Reviews: Generation Dead and Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters

KISS OF LIFE, sequel to last year’s GENERATION DEAD, came out on Tuesday and I read both of them last week in Lisbon. Since plot points are running together in my mind, I’m just going to review them both as one with no major spoilers.

All over the US, newly dead teens are reanimating. But these aren’t your typical zombies – they are merely “differently biotic” and they just want to continue living with their families and going to school. For whatever reason, there are ton of them at Oakvale High School and non-dead goth girl Phoebe becomes their number one sympathizer and supporter. But not everyone is so accepting of the “living impaired”…

GENERATION DEAD got very mixed reviews – some praised it for its themes of tolerance while others derided it for its stereotypical and one-dimensional characters and overtly preachy tone. KISS OF LIFE is really more of the same, though it does add some novelty with long passages straight from the mind of a zombie (choppy and annoying to read, but certainly innovative). While the whole concept is intriguing, 800 pages of zombie inaction prove there just isn’t enough inherent drama in a bunch of peaceful zombies who yearn to be loved.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t some bright spots. Waters humorously skewers goth culture and marketers by inventing a whole line of products ostensibly for zombies but really for zombie wannabes. The Slydellco products include t-shirts with snappy sayings, Z (the body spray for the active Undead Male), Lady Z, and Kiss of Life lip gloss worn to great effect by highly functioning zombie Karen who “passes” as alive to keep her salesgirl gig at the Oakvale Mall.

Speaking of Karen, she was probably my favorite character. See that model on the GENERATION DEAD cover? That could be Karen. But I guess it isn’t – because Karen isn’t a cheerleader. In fact, no zombies go out for cheerleading (false advertising!) which was kind of disappointing, really. In any case, Karen was the most lively and entertaining of all the characters and I would have preferred to have her as the main character instead of dull Phoebe (though I did love Phoebe’s bright wardrobe phase). Oh, and the KISS OF LIFE cover is inaccurate as well, just so you know.

KISS OF LIFE ends on a cliffhanger which has to mean there is a third book on its way. Not sure I am really up for another 400 pages of this story though.

Waiting On Wednesday (31) Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I've been seeing this one around for a few weeks, and I have to say I love the cover and the fairy tale quality of the story.

Then I got an e-mail from Elise at Reading Rocks alerting me to the fact that someone has put an ARC of the book, due in hardcover on August 1st, up on ebay (read the whole story on Maggie's blog).

I am completely against selling ARCs (though should I make an exception for NYC's The Strand bookstore since I hear publishers themselves actually dump ARCs there?) and though it can be hard to figure out what to do with ARCs you don't need anymore, I try to either pass mine on to other reviewers, give them to friends, or donate them to charity. I know some say you should destroy them, but I am incapable of hurting a book!

In any case, here is the summary of Shiver:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

You can pre-order SHIVER from Amazon by clicking here. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can pick up a copy of this at BEA. Maggie is signing at the Scholastic booth on Saturday from 3:30-4:30 pm so hopefully I can fit that in!

As always, Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Hot Topic: Deep Sea Monsters

I know I can't be the only one fascinated by the incredibly strange creatures roaming the depths of Earth's oceans. Most of them look like something straight out of a horror or science fiction movie. As scientists and explorers have been able to go deeper than ever before in recent years, we are just starting to really discover the wealth of very unusual species that lurk below...

That's why I'd like to share two of my favorite books on the subject. The first is actually a picture book by Steve Jenkins just released this week called DOWN DOWN DOWN: A JOURNEY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. It's a beautifully illustrated introduction to all of our ocean's inhabitants, starting at the surface with sharks and dolphins and progressively going deeper through the sunlit zone, the twilight zone and the dark zone until reaching the abyssal plain and then spotlighting the Marianas Trench. There is a lot of helpful scientific information presented in an easy-to-understand and fun way. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

The second is a book of extraordinary underwater photography by Claire Nouvian called THE DEEP. In addition to the jaw-dropping pictures of ferocious sea beasts (many of which are tiny in real life), there are essays by top oceanographers and marine biologists. So not only is it a blast to flip through and look at the pictures, you also learn a lot by reading the text. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Book Review: Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley + 5 of my Rhodes memories

The year is 227 B.C., shortly before the earthquake occurs that destroys The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Tessa of Delos has been enslaved 10 long years as a hetaera (a Greek courtesan) to the island's most powerful men, and she wants nothing more than to end her life. But when her current owner's rival plots to take over the island, Tessa is drawn into a web of political intrigue as well as an unlikely romance with a stranger (who just might find a way to finally set her free).

My stepmother read this last September and she liked it so much, I just bought her the newly released book 2 in the Seven Wonders series about the Pyramids at Giza called CITY OF THE DEAD.

The story and the character interaction held my interest well enough, but the real star of this show was the setting - and the fact that I was actually in Rhodes while reading this. Although all traces of the Colossus are long gone, I did visit the harbour area and Jewish quarter where a lot of the action takes place.

SHADOW OF COLOSSUS is available in paperback now.

So now I can finally share a few "highlights" from my Rhodes trip (one for each day I was there).

1. Most memorable was my friend Heather driving our rental car into the sand on the beach and getting stuck. We didn't panic though. Soon enough, a whole group of Greek men was helping us try to dig it out and pushing with all their might. When that didn't work, a man with a tow-line was called in and our car was pulled to safety. My other friend Tracy has a ton of pictures which I hope to be given one of these days (hint, hint!).

2. My sightseeing highlight was walking along the wall that surrounds Rhodes Old Town. You get great views of the city and the ocean, and it just feels cool to walk around on something so ancient.

3. I also very much enjoyed just walking through the tiny, winding alleys of both Rhodes Old Town and Lindos Old Town. There are a ton of cute little shops and restaurants with very friendly yet polite propriators.

4. We visited a couple of very nice beaches as well that were practically empty. The water was too cold for me to swim (though Heather took a dip) but the sun was warm (and shining - unlike Frankfurt) and the general atmosphere was very relaxing. Low season rules!

5. I think I mentioned that the food was amazing. There wasn't one thing I put in my mouth that I didn't just want to rave about. Rhodes is known for its delicious Thyme flavored honey and let me tell you, the resulting baklava is to die for.

Book Review, Author Interview and Giveaway: Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin

What if when you turned 13, instead of just getting your period, you got a cycle each month where you endured a painful physical transformation into a boy for four days? Well, that's Jill's fate in this edgy, high concept novel. Jill finds out it's not easy sharing a body with her alter ego Jack. According to Jack, Jill is a “lame goody-goody” and according to Jill, Jack is a porn-loving annoyance.

The basic plot, Jill wants a date to the prom and hopes Jack doesn’t mess it up for her, seems a bit tame for such an innovative premise. And the parents are pretty one note – the yoga-loving, basement dwelling father and the “prison warden” mother could have been more fleshed out considering how much face time they get. But the VOICE! It’s amazing and it makes this book. Jill’s sections are just so much fun to read. She’s really hilariously clueless in a lot of things and she had me ROTFL more than a few times, especially in her misguided attempts to capture the attention of the new, mysterious hottie in town. Jack’s sections are completely different in tone – creepy, crass, and yet also utterly fascinating. And it all seems so effortless.

And because I think you too should give this novel a chance, I’m pleased to welcome Author Lauren McLaughlin to my blog for a Q & A as well as to host a giveaway for 5 signed hardcover copies!

In Cycler, the two sides of your main character are named Jack and Jill, just like the nursery rhyme. Is there a particular symbolic reason for this?
I did like the sound of the names Jack and Jill. There's a nice rhythm to it. But also, if you recall the words to that nursery rhyme, Jack and Jill do not quite make it over that hill with their dignity intact. There's a bit of slapstick and some bruises. That made it seem all the more appropriate for Cycler.

Jill's BFF Ramie is really into fashion, constantly trying to start new trends such as "Chubby Chic". Your husband is a fashion photographer (who shot the excellent cover for Cycler). Any connections there?
I've learned so much about the fashion industry from my husband. Though I've always loved clothes, my understanding of the industry itself has given me a new appreciation for the mystery and complexity of it all. In particular, I love the whole feedback loop cycle of it, the way people take what comes off the runway and mix and mash it up. Then designers will take inspiration from what "the street" is doing and use that to create new designs. And on and on. Also, I really wanted Ramie to be one step ahead of Jill and the rest of her peers. I wanted her to be the kind of high school senior who's mentally already graduated, already begun her career. The only careers I felt qualified to write about were film (which is my background) and fashion (which is my husband's).

Cycler has been out in hardcover since August 2008 and is coming out in paperback this August, at the same time as the sequel, (Re)Cycler. How has your experience with the published book been? Any fun anecdotes come to mind that you'd like to share?
It's been a fascinating adventure since the hardcover came out. Reading reviews and emails from fans (and non-fans) has given me a whole new perspective on the experience of reading. I've always been an avid reader, but it's been a solitary experience. Once your own book is out there in the world, you read all the reviews, all the feedback, and you realize that one book will resonate in a thousand different ways for different readers. There have been readers who deftly picked up on every social critique I layered into the novel, as well as readers who believed I was endorsing a sexist paradigm of rigid gender differences. There have even been readers who uncovered layers of psychological complexity that somehow snuck in there purely via my own subconscious. I think my favorite reaction was from a gay teenage boy who thanked me for creating a positive bisexual character. He was anxious to share the novel with his friends. That really warmed my heart.

As someone else with a foot on both sides of the pond (Wichita, KS and Frankfurt, Germany), I am fascinated that you live in both NYC and London. How does that work for you? What do you like most/least about the arrangement?
Wichita and Frankfurt? That sounds like fun. I really enjoy straddling the pond. My husband and I have apartments in both London and New York, along with a full complement of friends in each city, so we feel at home in either place. Since I'm a full time writer, all I need is my laptop and some wifi. When my husband is called to London or Paris on assignment, we pack up and go. I write in hotels, cafes, wherever. Sometimes, when I wake up, it takes a minute to figure out where I am, but I don't mind. If I've been in one city for more than a month, I find myself looking up at planes flying overhead and thinking, hmm, this is boring, let's move.
On other days, I dream about having a single home with a garden, and a greater sense of permanence.

I've been asking a bunch of YA authors (Julia Hoban, Jennifer Banash, Susane Colasanti) for NYC tips since I am making my first ever trip there this summer. What are your NYC recommendations?
Oh boy. That's a tough one. I've lived in New York since 1990 so it's hard sometimes to step back and look at it through the eyes of a first time visitor. Other than the obvious landmarks, I would suggest venturing out to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Take the L train to Bedford Avenue and check out the cafes, bars, and boutiques. If you like vintage clothing, Beacon's Closet on North 11th Street between Berry and Wythe is a must see (and also a key setting for (Re)Cycler). If you're looking to splurge on state of the art molecular cuisine (and if money's no object) WD50 is amazing. For excellent cheap pizza, try Rosario's in the Lower East Side and, if you're into meat, you can't beat Katz's deli. Central Park is lovely, but the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens are spectacular in the spring and summer. And if you're here on a Saturday, don't miss the Union Square Farmer's market. Amazing food and great people watching

Thanks Lauren! And now onto the big giveaway...

To enter to win one of 5 signed hardcovers of CYCLER, simply answer one of the following questions in the comments:

1. Describe a fashion trend you'd like to start

OR

2. What would your opposite sex alter ego be named if you had one? Mine would be named Leonard0 ;)

+1 entry for posting a link to this contest on your blog or social media site and telling me so in a separate comment.

You have until May 21st at 11:59 CST, and since I have 5 copies, I am going to offer up one of them to the first person with a mailing address in the US or Canada who responds. (If you've had an INSTANT WIN before, you are ineligible, and I know who you are!) Sorry that none of my current contests are international, but I'll have one soon to make up for it.

Waiting On Wednesday (30) The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson

Ok, so I haven't read any recent Katherine Paterson, though I adore her classics Jacob I Have Loved and Bridge to Terabithia. But I saw this on the list of ARCs to look out for at BEA and the cover and short description (A Muslim family of Albanian refugees starts over in Vermont) just grabbed me. I once did an overnight global village immersion program at the Heifer Project International in Arkansas where I drew the short straw and had to "play" a refugee (no shelter, no food for 18 hours) and it gave me a new awareness of the plight of refugees.

Summary from amazon:

Meli Lleshi is positive that her drawing of her teacher with his pelican nose started it all. The Lleshis are Albanians living in Kosovo, a country trying to fight off Serbian oppressors, and suddenly they are homeless refugees. Old and young alike, they find their courage tested by hunger, illness, the long, arduous journey, and danger on every side. Then, unexpectedly, they are brought to America by a church group and begin a new life in a small Vermont town. The events of 9/11 bring more challenges for this Muslim family--but this country is their home now and there can be no turning back. A compassionate, powerful novel by a master storyteller.

THE DAY OF THE PELICAN comes out on October 19th, but if I'm lucky I can grab it at BEA.

Speaking of BEA...I'll have to do a wishlist next week with the signings I hope to go to and the galleys I hope to find. It's just a shame that some of the signings are at the same time. How am I supposed to pick between having Justine Larbalestier sign LIAR and Sarah Zarr sign ONCE WAS LOST?! Maybe the lines will be short? We'll see! I am just super excited to go. CATCHING FIRE, here I come!!

Susane Colasanti Waiting for You Blog Tour Stop #2 + Giveaway!

So, I've only read the first three chapters of WAITING FOR YOU that are available in this Susane Colasanti sampler, but I'm totally hooked on her breezy writing style, so I will have to get a copy pronto!

Today I have Susane's second of ten myths about high school, three interview questions & answers, and a giveaway of a signed hardcover of WAITING FOR YOU. So read on...

Myth #2. You’re going to use this later.
As I’m sure you already know, you’re learning a lot of useless stuff. When are you ever going to have to know what endoplasmic reticulum is in the real world? Unfortunately, the curriculum for most of your classes is decided upon by people who don’t really have a clue about what’s best for you. It would be awesome if the topics you had to learn were both interesting and meaningful. Schools need to be improved in ways that most of the people who can implement those changes are ignoring. I worry that these improvements will never be made. It’s a disgrace that so many kids hate school.

The thing is, classes aren’t really about interpreting what some line of Shakespeare is supposed to mean, or determining the value of x, or memorizing all the state capitals because you already did that in sixth grade but no one can remember so everyone has to memorize them all over again. Classes are about acquiring skills. As you’re learning all of these random things, you’re establishing a skill set that will make you more successful when your better life starts. You learn about astronomy so when you watch I Love You, Man, you get the “Tycho Bro-he” reference. You learn about psychology so when someone refers to a “Pavlovian response,” you know what they mean. You can interact with society in a more meaningful way. You can also make sure that you receive the correct change at ShopRite.

So yeah. You don’t need to know most of the stuff you’re learning. But exposure to these things will help make you a functioning member of society. Which is, you know, a good thing.

And now for my mini-interview with Susane...
If you could pick any day of your life to relive, what day would you pick and why?
September 10, 2001. After many years of working towards achieving inner peace, I finally felt this overwhelming calm that summer. I felt better than I had in my entire life, like I could finally believe that anything is possible. Although I still believe, everything is different now. After September 11, that euphoric feeling of loving life to its fullest disintegrated. I’m sometimes cynical now in a way I never used to be. And I really miss feeling that pure happiness. I’d love to return to that blissful time in my life, even if it’s just for a day.

Your books are classified as realistic teen fiction. Do you ever think of trying your hand at another genre - say dystopian fiction or an illustrated book about birds?
Oh, I think I would suck at either of those! The fun part of writing for me is focusing on what I’m passionate about. I feel that my purpose is writing for teens because my goal is to improve their lives as much as I can. I want to reach out to my readers and let them know that they’re not alone, that things will get better. All of my ideas for books are exclusively for teens. Plus, I get to write about soul mates, which I find extremely fascinating.

I'm going to New York City this summer and I've already gotten great tips from Authors Jennifer Banash and Julia Hoban. What are your NYC recommendations?
I took a look at their recommendations and must agree with the Strand! It’s the absolute best bookstore featuring both used and new books you will ever experience. Luckily, the Strand recently renovated to include air conditioning, so you won’t swelter in there the way I have during many past summers Since summer is hot and humid here, I definitely recommend visits to lots of cool places in between your walks. Cones on Bleecker Street has excellent homemade gelato. The Angelika movie theater features all the hot indies, but you have to get there early for a good seat (which is fine since they have a nice café inside). Oh, that reminds me – you will find the ultimate cupcakes at Crumbs, which has several locations. They have buttercream icing and come in a wide variety of delicious flavors.

One thing I love to do is just walk around the West Village. There’s a lot of interesting history here and the brownstones are gorgeous. You can make your way west down Perry Street, Charles Street, or West 11th Street to Hudson River Park. It’s refreshing by the water. I love sitting there at sunset, watching the city lights blink on. If you go at night, look for a building across the river in Jersey City with a slanted top. It has cool light stripe shows!

Thanks Susane! I am so excited about my trip to NYC, especially now that I am signed up to go to Book Expo America for the first time.

Read the rest of the myths on these blogs:
Friday – 5/1 Myth #1
Taylor – For the Love of Books
Tuesday – 5/5 Myth #3
Khy - The Frenetic Reader
Wednesday – 5/6 Myth #4
Kristi – The Story Siren
Thursday – 5/7 Myth #5
Carol – Bookluver-Carol
Friday – 5/8 Myth #6
Kelsey – Reading Keeps You Sane
Monday – 5/11 Myth #7
Lauren – Shooting Stars Magazine
Tuesday – 5/12 Myth #8
Alea – Pop Culture Junkie
Wednesday – 5/13 Myth #9
Laura – Laura’s Review Bookshelf
Thursday – 5/14 Myth #10
Tirzah – The Compulsive Reader

Win a hardcover of WAITING FOR YOU signed by Susane Colasanti herself!
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you learned in high school that you have used later/think you might use later (because you know, you DO use SOME of it). Or, if you don't want to do that, leave any comment that relates to the myth or Susane's interview. Just so I can tell you read it and didn't scroll down only for the giveaway ;)

Contest ends May 19th at 11:59 PM CST as is open to US and Canadian addresses only.

Book Review: Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

We all think we know the myth. Hades kidnaps Demeter’s daughter Persephone and takes her to the underworld and in her grief, Demeter lets the Earth go barren. Only when Zeus intercedes is Persephone allowed to return for part of each year, thus creating our seasons of spring and summer.

But then comes along RADIANT DARKNESS and with it, Persephone’s chance to set the record straight. You see, in reality, Persephone yearns for her independence from a mother who still sees her as a little girl. Demeter has Persephone locked away in a vale with no men, no humans, and no fun. So when Hades shows up, Persephone takes up his offer of escape eagerly, and without really thinking about the consequences.

This was a very clever and thoughtful spin on the Persephone myth, which even offers up a touching subplot involving a young mother Persephone meets in the underworld and her undying love for the daughter she left behind. I didn’t buy that Persephone and Hades are soul mates though. He’s depicted as a very manipulative, selfish guy (not untypical for men, ha!) and Persephone is so naïve and desperate, she probably would’ve run off with ANY guy who showed up (though maybe that’s the point?). In any case, this is an excellent read for fans of Greek mythology and those who’d like to know more about it.

RADIANT DARKNESS just came out in hardcover.

Book Giveaway: Signed Copy of No One You Know by Michelle Richmond

One of my favorite reads from last year, Michelle Richmond's NO ONE YOU KNOW, is coming out in paperback on May 19th. To celebrate, Michelle is offering a signed paperback copy to one of my readers!

I reviewed this last July and you can read my review here.

Or here's the summary:
All her life Ellie Enderlin had been known as Lila’s sister. Until one day, without warning, the shape of their family changed forever. Twenty years ago, Lila, a top math student at Stanford, was murdered in a crime that was never solved. In the aftermath of her sister’s death, Ellie entrusted her most intimate feelings to a man who turned the story into a bestselling true crime book—a book that both devastated her family and identified one of Lila’s professors as the killer.

Decades later, Ellie is given a notebook that Lila carried everywhere, a piece of evidence not found with her body. She explores the mysteries of Lila’s notebook, filled with mathematical equations, and begin a search that has been waiting for her all these years. It will lead her to a hundred-year-old mathematical puzzle, to a lover no one knew Lila had, to the motives and fate of the man who profited from their family’s anguish—and to the deepest secrets even sisters keep from each other. As she connects with people whose lives unknowingly swirled around her own, Ellie will confront a series of startling revelations—from the eloquent truths of numbers to confessions of love, pain and loss.

A novel about the stories and lies that strangers, lovers and families tell—and the secrets we keep even from ourselves—Michelle Richmond’s new novel is a work of astonishing depth and beauty, at once heartbreaking, provocative, and impossible to put down.

All you have to do to enter is answer one of the following questions in the comments by May 19th at 11:59 PM CST:

1. Ellie, the narrator of NO ONE YOU KNOW, is a coffee buyer, and the author happens to be a coffee addict. What's one thing you couldn't give up?

OR

2. NO ONE YOU KNOW is a novel about sisters, but it's also about storytelling. What's one story that you and a sibling or parent remember very differently?

For a second entry (leave a separate comment) link to this contest on your blog (sidebar is ok) or a social networking site and tell me you've done so.

This contest is for the US and Canada only.