Four MORE books..

Okay, today I received more books today. So if you can answer this question (and be the first one to do it!) you'll get Prada and Prejudice. When Elizabeth visits Pemberley, she's with her aunt and uncle. What is their name (last name please) Okay, go ahead. First one to answer correctly gets the book.

In my mailbox today... I'm still... AGOG!!!

First of, I need to give thanks to Deanna at HarperCollins, Canada. She is awesome and sent me some amazing books today!: Jolted, Arthur Slade Starclimber, Kenneth Oppel Night Runner, Max Turner (she RAVED about this one) From my Penguin contact: Along for the Ride, Sarah Dessen Lipstick Apology, Jennifer Jabaley Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson (my second copy, but given away already) And from Macmillan (aka Feiwel & Friends): Eyes Like Stars, Lisa Mantchev I am so excited because I'll probably give them all away! My real-life bookshelf is a mess and I need to start cleaning it out! Give me a few weeks to read them and then we'll have contests galore!

Head over to...

Wintergirls Myspace http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=444236575 To win a copy of Wintergirls! Good Luck!

Yes, I've been a busy bee; however...

I still need ONE more response! My contact at Penguin is offering up two (2) copies of *drumroll* please: Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson. And they've asked ME to hold the contest. But my question is: What kind of contest? How can I do this fairly? I'm going to moderate the responses to make this very fair. Be numbers 3 and 6 on the comments (and please leave your e-mail address as well, I will not spam you.) If you're a winner, you'll get an e-mail from me asking for your address! Okay, peeps. Be commenters Three and six and you get the books! And no posting three times... Emily:) You're still allowed to post, one post per person!

Envy: A Luxe Novel, Ana Godberson

This is more of a non-review. But all I have to say is that Henry Schoonmaker is an ass. I love this series and liken it to Dynasty at the turn of the twentieth century. All the backstabbing, blackmail and a former maid now living the high life in 1900 NYC. I was a big proponent of Diana Holland and Henry Schoonmaker, but the end of Rumors destroyed that when he married Penelope Hayes to keep her from telling the world that Henry deflowered sixteen year old Diana. A pretense he thinks is protecting his true love. Yep, Henry is an ass... 5 bookmarks and possibly the most gorgeous of covers... I want the dresses and the bodies!

Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter, R. J. Anderson

Faery Rebels tells the story of Bryony aka Knife. She is faery who lives in the Oakenwyld. In her world, the faeries have lost their magic and are not allowed out of their home, a big Oak tree. Knife has always wanted to know what was out there and how they lost their magic. During a rebellious bout, Knife goes outside and is spied upon by a human. Fast forward a few years, and Knife is know the hunter of the Queen Amaryllis and is one of the few able to leave the Oak. The human world has always fascinated Knife and her disobedience leads her to the house not far from the Oak. She goes in search of metal that she can use to protect her minions from a black crow that would eat the Faery in a heartbeat. The relationship between Knife and the human, Paul really pull this story together. Knife finds humanity and Paul finds a friendship unlike anything that he could ever imagine. The world that R.J. creates is brilliantly realized and fully realized. She creates a faery world that once was and hopefully can be with the help of Knife and the human. This book entranced me, enthralled me and was perfectly written. I want to know more of the Oakenwyld and more of Paul and how he deals with an issue that I will not mention here. One thing that I really enjoyed was the relationship between Bryony/Knife and her 'foster' mother, Wink. When a Faery passes on, she leaves an egg daughter (all the faery are female) and the Queen is the one who appoints mothers to the newly-born faery. When the Queen assigns a task to Knife merely to keep her away from the human, Wink is right there to help her in anyway possible. Always remembering how much she loved taking care of Bryony. This book gets a deserved 5 bookmarks and I look forward to more books in the series!

What My Mother Doesn't Know/ What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know, Sonya Sones

I adored these two books. Both of these are told in verse and the style makes them a very quick and engaging read. The first one, "What My Mother Doesn't Know" is told by Sophie, a typical 14 nearly 15 year old, who has to deal with boyfriends, two best girlfriends and being Jewish in a primarily Christian community. Sophie's home life is difficult at best. Her mom is a depressed housewife whose life is watching horrible soap operas and chain smoking cigarettes. Her father travels--a lot. School life at Cambridge High has your typical jock lot and nerd lot. Sophie feels sorry for the kid known only as Murphy. A kid whose last name is used derogatorily. You're such a Murphy. With subtlety and humor, Ms. Sones, takes us through the many emotions that sophie goes through while dating and breaking up and finally finding the one person who makes her feel really special. I loved that the stories take place in Cambridge, MA and Ms. Sones mentions some very historic landmarks in the Boston area. But when she mentions Pearl in Central Square, I was hooked. This is the best place for any artist to get their wares. Girlfriend tells us Robin's side of the story. Robin is Sophie's boyfriend. Robin is also Murphy. Finally getting the girl of his dreams should make Robin's life all better, but it doesn't because with his dating Sophie, her social status takes a nose dive and she loses her two best girlfriends. Robin loves that he has Sophie all to himself, but he knows that she is suffering in silent. With wit and humor, and some bits of self-degradation, Robin grows and realizes that the people who have always made fun of him, are just shallow people who don't realize that there is a life out there. When Robin is accepted to audit an art class at Harvard University, his world opens up. He meets people who treat him as an equal and don't realize that his name has been synonymous with jerk. Through ups and downs and happiness and sadness, Robin's story is heartfelt. He and Sophie understand each other and help each other through some trying times, but his breaking through the cocoon may also threaten his relationship as well. Both stories get a 5 bookmarks and I highly encourage everyone to pick up these books and be prepared to fall for these characters.

I've been quiet

Only because I've been sick and fluish and just not able to stay on computer for long periods of time. For those of you awaiting books, I FINALLY sent them out yesterday. So sorry for the delay, but head cold and bad sinuses just wasn't allowing me to run to post office. I've been reading thru the recommendations for the Sarah Dessen and Meg Cabot books. I still haven't decided which one yet. But just so you know I'm leaning toward Just Listen and Size 12 isn't Fat. Still debating. Anyone else on the blog been sick and would like to rant about it? I'm all ears... Also, I'm still reading Faery Rebels. Headache does NOT allow me to read, so my review of that will be coming soon. My next contest will be A Match Made in High School! Kristin Walker and I will come up with a cool contest and hopefully a SIGNED copy of the book! (I read the book back in October and STILL need to review it, but I need to REREAD it! I did LOVE it! and Kristin has a character in the book who is APTLY named and I remarked to her about it and she didn't even put 2+2 together when she wrote the book!) Okay that's what's going on the Laura front (plus 5 year old issues including poop that you really don't want to know about!) :)

Thursday Thoughts

I've never read Meg Cabot or Sarah Dessen. The Princess stories never really interested me and I really never knew enough of Sarah Dessen, although I followed her blog for a while. And I know she has a beautiful daughter, Clementine. So as my readers of this blog, recommend a Meg Cabot Book AND a Sarah Dessen book that you think I will enjoy. I'll read it, and if I love it, perhaps a prize will be given out! It will go to the FIRST person who recommended the book. Hmmm... this should be fun!

Willow, Julia Hoban

With only a driver's permit and a bad rain storm, Willow takes the plunge and drives her parents home after they've shared a bottle of wine at dinner. Unfortunately, for Willow, she crashes the car and both her parents are instantly killed. And so begins the story of Willow. Having trouble associating with people since the accident, she thinks everyone knows that she is a 'murderess', and when she spies cuts on the arms of people, also suspects them of being 'cutters'. Willow is now living with her brother, who is 10 years her senior. With a wife and baby to also look after, Willow senses that being thrown into this mix is not what her brother anticipated. Willow's brother get's her a job at the university library; a university where he is a junior professor. While at this job she meets, Guy. Who is taking college courses for extra credit in high school. The same high school that Willow attends as a junior. I really wanted to like this book. But I guess what I couldn't associate with was Willow's use of a razor to emit the pain that she suppresses so deep. She feels like a murderer and tells Guy flat out that she killed her parents. Expecting him to disappear and leave her be. But Guy doesn't, he sticks around to the point where he finds out her secret. That she uses a razor to cut herself to deal with the pain and depression of losing her parents in a horrific accident. Willow just annoyed me more than anything else. I found her whiny, belligerent, and in dire need of anti-depressants! Guy was too perfect, no faults (hence, my earlier post on faults in characters), nothing to make me care remotely for him as well. Why he puts up with Willow's behavior is perhaps beyond me. I understand that one wants to be the good guy and help out the person who is hurting, but if that person refuses the help-- then what is there? Willow deludes herself into thinking that her brother hates her for ruining his life and killing their parents, and when she can't handle anything, she locks herself away to cut. Yet, she carefully swabs antiseptic on the cuts so she doesn't get an infection? I'm giving this 3 bookmarks I've pondered this for nearly a week now... I might be a bit harsh, and will ponder this some more, but right now, migraine is settling in, and my bed is calling for me. PPS: 5 years ago when I was pregnant with Lily, my daughter, Rebecca (then 13) started cutting herself. Not with razors, but glass. It was her guidance counselor who told me and her stepfather. I'd never heard of such a thing and was amazed that she would even want to do something so disturbing, but she was mad at me for having another child (understandable), but when she told me and hubby that EVERYONE was doing it, I nearly flipped a lid! I read Patricia McCormick's Cut to better understand the allure of it. It still escapes me to this day.

Different Kind of Contest!!!!

I need more people to look at my blog, so I'm offering up Willow by Julia Hoban AND Lauren Myracle's, Peace, Love and Baby Ducks So the 50th person to follow my blog will get these two great books. All you have to do is add me to your blogroll. Easy peasy, eh?

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Mandy has picked a winner and I whole-heartedly agreed with her. And now with out further ado! Drumroll please.... Lauren! you're $250 shrinking jeans won! because as Mandy said "OMIGOD, I totally understand that one!" Mandy is tall and her dryer is constantly shrinking her jeans! So, Lauren just e-mail me your address at lauram68 at gmail.com and I'll get that out to you ASAP! Congratulations to Lauren! I completely forgot to add this (see what happens when I have a headache???) check out Mandy's blog on Livejournal to see what other ones were her favorites. http://mandywriter.livejournal.com/162162.html

And for something completely different.

As I think about my review for Willow, by Julia Hoban. I was thinking of faults in characters. But what really struck me was how even though characters have these flaws (well because if they didn't, we wouldn't really be into their story, now would we?) So that got me thinking, Elizabeth Bennet calls Mr Darcy on his faults. And so begins a famous tête-à-tête that is world famous and perhaps made Austen a star. I'm going to quote from perhaps my favorite scene in all of Pride and Prejudice "But upon my honour I do not. I do assure you that my intimacy has not yet taught me that. Tease calmness of temper and presence of mind! No, no -- I feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter, we will not expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a subject. Mr. Darcy may hug himself." (Caroline Bingley speaking) "Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!" cried Elizabeth. "That is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintance. I dearly love a laugh." "Miss Bingley," said he, "has given me credit for more than can be. The wisest and the best of men -- nay, the wisest and best of their actions -- may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke." "Certainly," replied Elizabeth -- "there are such people, but I hope I am not one of them. I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies, do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without." "Perhaps that is not possible for any one. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule." "Such as vanity and pride." (Elizabeth speaking) "Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride -- where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation." (Mr Darcy speaking) Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile. "Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume," said Miss Bingley; "and pray what is the result?" "I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise." "No," said Darcy, "I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding -- certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offences against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost is lost for ever." "That is a failing indeed!" cried Elizabeth. "Implacable resentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. I really cannot laugh at it. You are safe from me." "There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil -- a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome." "And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody." "And yours," he replied, with a smile, "is wilfully to misunderstand them." How can you NOT love that? Elizabeth's faults are to see what she wants to see. She's been snubbed by Darcy once (at the Meryton assembly), but notice how Darcy pays particular attention to her when Jane falls ill at Netherfield. When Caroline notices, she uses Elizabeth as a prop to walk around the room so that Darcy may watch her, but in fact, by using Elizabeth, she is showing off-- Elizabeth! Caroline has her own faults, jealousy, vanity, vexation. Elizabeth's faults are perhaps jumping to the conclusion because of the slight. Darcy's faults are (and if I hear he's shy, I'll scream, because Darcy is ANYTHING but!) a propensity to misunderstand and miscommunicate. He's proud, he's very rich and being in a country-type setting isn't what he's about. We see a very different Darcy when Elizabeth visits Pemberley with her aunt and uncle. He is charming, affectionate and clearly in love. Elizabeth is now the one who must overcome the prejudices of what she knows about him. We know that he IS a good man, a just owner of his lands and a just owner over his tenants. So where does his fault fall in to place here? Does Elizabeth start to see a new and improved Darcy? or is this the same Darcy who slighted her a few months earlier? Yeah, I'm deep. Let's move on to Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester... Jane's faults is that she's poor and was abused growing up. She doesn't really trust anyone. Mr Rochester's faults are similar, with the exception that he grew up wealthy. He was a second son who never should've inherited, but with the death of his elder brother and owing a plantation in the West Indies brought him wealth as well. He is forced into a marriage by his father and the woman's brother. Why should he trust anyone? His wife goes crazy, then he's dumped with an orphan that may or may not be his. Obviously, Mr Rochester's faults outweigh Jane's by 100, but isn't his most biggest fault falling in love with Jane? Knowing that he cannot, should not have her, because he is still married and keeping the woman locked away in a secluded part of the house? But does he see reason? Does anyone see reason when they are in love? I was going to also use Fanny and Edmund from Mansfield Park, but they annoy the hell out of me so much! Fanny would rather do what is easy and good than what her heart tells her she should do. Edmund is blah. No romanticism in his bones. Or Cathy and Heathcliff, but they are probably the two worst characters in all of literature. Self-indulgent Cathy and self-hating Heathcliff, ooh, how in the hell did they love each other when their world was so miserable? Let's get a debate going about faults and character's that you love what you perceive is their faults. If you're an author, what are your character's faults that you tried to highlight in your book? Why do you think it IS a fault? If you haven't read Austen's Pride and Prejudice or Bronte's Jane Eyre, I highly encourage you to do so. They really are wonderful and romantic and beautifully written.

Graceling, Kristin Cashore

This is actually a non-review, but I LOVED this book so much that I just want to make sure that people put this on their to read list. It is gloriously written, action packed, just the right amount of love story and has killer (literally) heroine and hero! I could go on and on about how good this book was, but I want other people to read it an enjoy it as much as I did. Kristin Cashore is the author and she has a blog on blogger as well. So borrow it, buy it, do what you can to get your hands on this fantastic story! (and the names in the book are awesome!)

Because I Am Furniture, Thalia Chaltas

Anke's story is horrifying terrifying putrifying mesmorizing Satisfying Dad uses chooses abuses his older children but not Anke she is the wall she is the floor she is the furniture Anke tries out for volleyball makes team grows becomes loud sees things around her Mom does nothing Yaicha (older sister) does nothing Darren (eldest) does nothing Anke screams "My Ball" loud louder loudest Jed takes naps kisses Anke that is all Kyler soccer player cute boy keen on Anke One problem Dad Angeline Angeline Dad Anke grows like the hemlock in the yard only to be taken down when it is said to be sick Volleyball is Anke's life Home is not she grows expands expends demands depends on her team gets her voice and is taken down for it Okay, this is my horrible way of trying to review in verse (ta da!) Thalia's debut novel is beautiful as it is heartbreaking and exhilarating and disturbing. She creates a monster of a father and doesn't stop there. Anke, a freshman in high school, grows and learns to become more vocal with her volleyball ability. Even though she isn't physically abused; she feels left out. She seeks comfort in a senior who lives across the street, Jed. But it's Kyler that Anke is crushing on. This book told in poems is gorgeously written and I hope that people take the time to read it and become enriched by it. Thalia has quite a career ahead of her (and she's a friend of Sonya Sones!) I highly recommend this debut novel. I just can't say enough about it. I originally read it for the title, which I thought was really cool, but the story behind it is even better. I wonder if we'll get more Anke? 5 Bookmarks Because I Am Furniture is out in April of 2009 and is published by Viking a subsidiary of Penguin, USA

Wondrous Strange, Lesley Livingston

Kelley Winslow is a shy, off, off, off-Broadway actress who is an understudy in the magical Shakespearean play, A Midsummer's Night's Dream, when the lead actress breaks her leg (HAHAHAHAHA!), it is up to Kelley to pull it together and play Titania. But what Kelley doesn't know, is that she is about to live the life of the craziness in the play. Central Park has been home to Faeries since time began, but when a human when into the faery realm to steal a Faery baby, King Auberon had to close the realms. It was okay for the Faery to steal human babies, but not the other way around. Sonny Flannery is a Janus Guard, who is sent to the mortal realm every Samhain to guard against the opening of the gates because of a flaw in King Auberon's closing. Sonny is also a changeling. Every nine years the exposure of several Faery Gates in Central Park are exposed to opening for nine nights leading to Samhain (October 31). On one of those nights, after Kelley has been berated by her director for not remembering her lines, she walks through the park and and crumples in on park bench in despair. Sonny, who is granted gifts from King Auberon, can sense Kelley. From there on, Kelley's world is not what it seems. Lesley Livingston creates a world within a world, a play within a play and pulls it together marvelously. Puck, Robin Goodfellow, he's there, a Roan Horse, he's there, a beautiful love story, yep, it's there. Queen Mabh, yep, she's there too! I absolutely ADORED this story, when I first read about it, I thought it would be too much like Wicked Lovely, I was so wrong. It couldn't be any different. I'm salivating for the second book and the third one too (yep, it's a tril!); Lesley's Shakespearean background gives her great fodder for a 'real' Faery Tale. The writing is tight and it doesn't slow down one bit, I was on the edge (of my couch, bed, chair, car, etc) reading this book. Kelley is a heroine who is special, but normal as well. Sonny is a protector who finds himself drawn to the 'firecracker' that is Kelley. And revelation after revelation keep this story going strong. I highly recommend it for EVERYONE. Some bad language, lots of laughs and lots of sighs... I'm such a romantic at heart! 5 Bookmarks! :) Wondrous Strange is published by HarperCollins, CA and is out in stores now!!!! (I'm keeping this copy!)

Prada & Prejudice Giveaway

Happy New Year Bookshelf Readers!

As promised, today is the start of the Prada & Prejudice contest! On the sidebar are two P&P Widgets for you to grab.

The other part of the contest is to tell us what was the most expensive thing you've purchased that you really didn't have to purchase. Please keep it to a small paragraph.
The contest ends one week from today and Mandy Hubbard will pick the winning story.

This is my ARC and it was sent from the publisher so IT IS NOT SIGNED.

Good luck and have fun!