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Showing posts with label Rae Carson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rae Carson. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: And Still They Sit...
Note: I'm late to the TTT party this week. I got sidetracked from finishing my post by a bookish event. My husband was supposed to go see Rainn Wilson talk about his new book, Soul Boom, with a buddy. His friend wasn't able to make it, so I went instead. Wilson was funny and charming as he discussed how a mental health crisis in his 20s led him on a spiritual journey that eventually brought him back to the Baha'i faith in which he had been raised. After the chat, we stood in line for an hour to meet the actor/author and get our books signed. It was a fun evening out.
This photo is a tad blurry and it's definitely not a very flattering angle for me, but alas, it's proof that I met Dwight Schrute (I mean, Rainn Wilson) :)
Anyway...
You know the drill: you're SO excited to buy or receive a new book that you can't wait to read, you stick it on your shelf "just for now," and then, ten years later, there it still sits. The poor baby is dusty, forgotten, neglected, alone, and still unread. Why do bad things happen to good books? It's a downright travesty, one that plays out constantly (in my home at least). Once I acquire a volume, it seems to lose its immediate allure, dooming it to out-of-sight-out-of-mind territory. Does this happen to you or is it just me? I suspect my bookshelves are not the only ones where lonely tomes sit year after year, just waiting to be remembered...
Good news for those sad, abandoned books! Today's TTT (hosted, as always, by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl) is all about these sad, forgotten titles. We're being asked for the Top Ten Unread Books On My Shelves I Want to Read Soon. I'm going to tweak the prompt just a tad to feature some of the physical review books that have been lingering on my shelves for—wait for it—10+ years! Yikes. When I downsized homes back in 2022, I culled my massive book collection by donating over 1000 books. The titles in my list today made the cut and yet, I still haven't managed to read them. I want to, make no mistake; I just haven't gotten around to it. One of these days weeks years decades I'll actually do it.
Top Ten Oldest Physical Review Books On My Shelves That I Want to Read Soon Eventually
1. Anne Frank: The Book, the Life, the Afterlife by Francine Prose (acquired September 2009 from HarperCollins)—This volume of literary criticism examines the history and significance of the famous diary as an important, enduring piece of art.
2. The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain (acquired May 2010 from Meryl Moss Media)—Maya and Rebecca Ward are sisters who witnessed the brutal murder of their parents when they were teenagers. Always the more dynamic of the siblings, Rebecca persuades her timid sister and her husband, Adam, to join her in providing medical relief to victims of a North Carolina hurricane. When Maya is involved in a helicopter crash, she is presumed dead. In their grief, Rebecca and Adam find comfort in each other's arms, not realizing that Maya is alive, but struggling to survive in a remote wilderness...Will Maya make it home? What will happen then?
3. Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of 50 Years of To Kill a Mockingbird by Mary McDonagh Murphy (acquired June 2010 from HarperCollins)—In this commemorative book, Murphy, a filmmaker, interviews a number of prominent people, including Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brokaw, and Anna Quindlen, about the impact To Kill a Mockingbird has had on their lives.
4. Hidden Things (later changed to A Hidden Affair) by Pam Jenoff (acquired July 2010 from Atria)—The second book in a duology, this novel features Jordan Weiss, an intelligence officer with the U.S. State Department. A decade ago, she was a coxswain at Cambridge when her crewmate and boyfriend, Jared Short, drowned the night before the team was to compete in their final race of the year. When a former classmate asserts that Jared's death was no accident, Jordan launches her own investigation into the incident. In this second book, she is still looking for answers. This time, she reluctantly pairs up with a handsome stranger whom she's not entirely sure she can trust...
5. Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons From My Grandmothers by Adriana Trigiani (acquired December 2010 from HarperCollins)—I've enjoyed a number of Trigiani's novels as well as her family cookbook, so I'm not sure why I haven't read this one yet. In it, the writer pays tribute to both of her grandmothers, who lived their remarkable lives with humor, wisdom, and grace.
6. No Way Down: Life and Death on K2 by Graham Bowley (acquired August 2010 from HarperCollins)—On August 1, 2008, eleven climbers died on K2, the second highest mountain on Earth. It was the deadliest day on the mountain to date. Bowley, an investigative journalist, recounts the disaster in this detailed account.
7. South of Superior by Ellen Airgood (acquired May 2011 from TLC Book Tours)—This heartwarming debut novel revolves around a woman who leaves the bustle of Chicago behind for a quiet life in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She is charged with caring for two elderly sisters, one of whom is sweet, the other sour. As she navigates her new job and life in a small town, she finds healing, friendship, and love.
8. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (acquired June 2011 from HarperCollins)—Prophecy says that each century, a great one is chosen. Elisa is supposed to be the chosen one, but she feels more like the princess of failure, with nothing special about her. With everyone counting on her to save them, she has to find the greatness within herself in order to save not just her people, but also her heart.
9. The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott (acquired March 2012 from Penguin Random House)—An aspiring seamstress, Tess is ecstatic when she secures a job as a personal maid for the wealthy, well-known Lady Duff Gordon. Not only is she working for an influential woman, but she will be traveling with her on the elegant H.M.S. Titanic. When the ship goes down, Tess witnesses some questionable actions taken by her employer. As Lady Duff Gordon becomes subject to suspicious questioning, Tess is caught in the media whirlwind as she comes to terms with her own feelings about what she experienced on the ship.
10. The Cottage at Glass Beach by Heather Barbieri (acquired April 2012 from HarperCollins)—When Nora Cunningham's well-known husband is caught in a scandalous affair, she runs from the spotlight with her two young children in tow. They retreat to a remote seaside town on the coast of Maine, a place the locals say is touched with Irish magic. After Nora spends a lonely evening on the shore sobbing bitter tears into the ocean, she discovers a handsome, mysterious fisherman shipwrecked nearby. Is he really a selkie, summoned by her sadness, like her superstitious friends believe? Or is he simply a heartbroken soul like Nora, someone who could help her heal?
There you are, ten review books that have been sitting on my review shelf for a very long time that I still haven't read. Have you read any of them? Which forgotten titles on your shelf do you still want to read? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Top Ten Tuesday: Serial Starts and Ends
Do you want to chat about your favorite series with a bunch of other passionate book lovers? Of course you do! You can get in on the TTT fun by clicking over to That Artsy Reader Girl, then making your own list. It's a good ole time, I promise.
Top Ten Completed Series That I Wish Had More Books
(covers are for the first book in each series)
1. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling—I'm betting this series is the first one that came to a lot of people's minds for this topic. I adore the world of Harry Potter and would love to sink back into it via more novels, be they prequels, a spin-off series, whatever...just not screenplays!
2. The Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson—Up until yesterday, I thought this YA series featuring a teenaged true crime aficionado who uses her unique skills to solve cold cases, was complete at four books. Then, I noticed a new installment being promoted on NetGalley. Yay! I love this series, so I'm thrilled it's going to continue on. Even though it doesn't really fit this prompt, I'm keeping it on the list because I'm so happy it's not over.
3. The London Shades series by Maureen Johnson—Speaking of Johnson, I'm still irritated that she hasn't finished this YA series about a young woman who gained "the sight" when she almost choked to death in her school cafeteria and subsequently became part of a London "ghost squad" that investigates supernatural crimes. There were supposed to be four books in the series, but The Shadow Cabinet (#3) came out in 2015 and there's been no action since. All I can say is, this series better not be finished! I'm holding out hope that Johnson will pen that fourth book, even though I can barely remember who's who and what's what in the series. I'll happily re-read them all if Johnson can just do me a solid and bring the series to a satisfying close.
4. The Al Capone series by Gennifer Choldenko—This MG series is set in the 1930s and features a boy who lives on Alcatraz Island, where his father works as a security guard. I loved all four of the books in the series and would gladly read more adventures starring the lovable Moose Flanagan.
5. The Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer—I'm not sure how many installments were planned for this YA series about an orphaned girl who goes from living rough on the streets of London to becoming the most notorious pirate on the high seas, but her adventures ended with the death of her creator in 2014. The series is all kinds of entertaining. I'm sad that Jacky Faber's tale had to end and that Meyer will never write another book.
6. The Good Girl's Guide to Murder series by Holly Jackson—Although I didn't like the direction this story took in the last book, I still very much enjoyed the trilogy as a whole. I would read more books about Pip, especially if they were in the upbeat style of the first two installments.
7. The Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson—I adored this YA historical/supernatural series about a young woman with the ability to sense the presence of gold. Her adventures kept me totally enthralled. I would love to read more of them.
8. The Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness—It's been a long time since I read this YA trilogy (well, three full books and three novellas) of dystopian thrillers, so I honestly can't even remember what the books are about. I only know that I loved the trilogy when I read it and would gladly reengage with its characters and their world.
9. The Lewis Trilogy by Peter May—This adult mystery series set in the Outer Hebrides features Fin Macleod, one of my favorite May characters. More books featuring him would make me very, very happy.
10. The Big Stone Gap series by Adriana Trigiani—I loved all four of the books in this series and would gladly read more featuring the same setting and characters. The novels are full of warmth and charm. I'm definitely going to need to re-read them at some point.
There you go, ten series I wish would be extended. Have you read any of them? Which series do you wish had more books in them? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Friday, October 01, 2021
New YA Post-Apocalyptic Novel Not Super Memorable, But Still Entertaining
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Once upon a time, Paige Miller had big plans for her life. She was going to rock her last year of high school basketball, accept a full-ride athletic scholarship to UConn, then aim for a career in the WNBA. That was before everyone got sick, before she herself fell ill. When she wakes up in her bedroom attached to an IV, Paige realizes she's been in a coma and that everything—not just her world, but the entire world—has changed completely. Not only has her family been wiped out by the lethal flu, but there are few, if any, other people still alive. Life is no longer about basketball. Now it's about survival.
When Paige decides to venture out into the empty world, she's ecstatic to encounter another teenager. Trey Dawson is also an athlete, also alone. Although he has more answers than Paige, neither knows exactly what's going on. As they navigate their way through their strange new reality, they make some shocking discoveries about what's happening and why. Armed with this knowledge, they have a slim chance to save what's left of humanity. Can they succeed against a threat that's much, much worse than a deadly virus?
I enjoyed Rae Carson's Gold Seer trilogy, so I was excited when I learned she had a new book coming out. And a YA post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel at that. Yes, please! Although as it turns out, there's nothing super original or memorable about Any Sign of Life (available October 12, 2021), I still enjoyed the read. It's tense, fast-paced, and exciting. The characters are likable despite not being very complex or fleshed-out. I definitely wanted them to be victorious, even if they didn't quite feel like real live people. While I generally prefer realistic doomsday scenarios, this more sci-fi version still appeals. I assume Any Sign of Life is the beginning of a series and, while I can't say I'm chomping at the bit for the next installment, I'm always here for an entertaining end-of-the-world novel.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a half dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Any Sign of Life from the generous folks at Greenwillow Books (a division of HarperCollins) via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
TTT: The Ones That Got Away
Before we get to that, though, I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun. It's easy peasey. All you have to do is click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read few a few guidelines, make a list of your own, share it, then start visiting other blogs. It's a great way to find new blogs, add great-looking reads to your own TBR mountain chain, and just spread the love around Ye Ole Book Blogosphere. It's a good time, I promise!
Okay, here we go with Top Ten Books By My Favorite Authors That I Still Haven't Read (not including books in series—mostly):
1. J.K. Rowling—Harry Potter is one of my all-time favorite series, but I've never read any of the books by Rowling's alter ego, Robert Galbraith. I've seen mixed reviews, so I haven't rushed to check them out. I will though. Eventually.
2. Maeve Binchy—I adore this Irish author who died in 2012. I thought I'd read all her books except the last three: Minding Frankie (2010), A Week in Winter (2012), and Chestnut Street (2014). Turns out, she's also written a half dozen non-fiction books. Who knew?
3. Liane Moriarty—With the exception of Truly Madly Guilty, I've loved everything I've ever read by Moriarty. There are a few on her backlist that I still need to get to: Three Wishes (2013), The Last Anniversary (2005), and The Hypnotist's Love Story (2012). She also has a children's series, but I'm not sure it's really my cup of tea, so I'll probably skip it.
4. Jodi Picoult—I've long been a Picoult fan, but I haven't read all her books yet. What's missing? Sing You Home (2011) and The Storyteller (2013), plus the two she wrote with her daughter, Samantha van Leer: Between the Lines (2012) and Off the Page (2015).
5. Jacqueline Woodson—I love Woodson's books, but there are plenty I have yet to read by the newly-crowned National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. I'm especially interested in Harbor Me (2018). I also heard her read her newest picture book, The Day You Begin (2018), at the National Book Festival earlier this month and I'd love to re-read it.
6. Rae Carson—I adore Carson's Gold Seer trilogy, but I have yet to give her Fire & Thorns series a go.
7. Neal Shusterman—With the exception of Scythe, I've loved everything I've read by this prolific author. He's tough to keep up with, though, so I have lots of catching up to do with him. I'm not even sure where to start. What's your favorite of his?
8. Julia Keller—I read every Bell Elkins book as soon as I can get my hands on it, but I haven't given Keller's newest series a try yet. The Dark Intercept series has a futuristic/sci fi setup, which isn't my usual thing. Still, I'm going to give it a whirl one of these days.
9. Susan Meissner—Meissner's gentle dual-timeline novels are right up my alley. I've read all of them from 2011 on. The author's got a fairly extensive backlist, though, and I'm definitely planning to check it out. I'm especially interested in The Shape of Mercy (2008), a novel about a college student whose studies of the Salem Witch Trials go a little too deep ...
10. Emily Carpenter—I just discovered this author and while I'm not sure I can call her a favorite yet, I have been enjoying her twisted psychological thrillers. Her newest (which sounds amazing) doesn't come out until March 2019, so I have plenty of time to read the only one of hers I haven't delved into yet—Burying the Honeysuckle Girls (2016). It's sitting on my Kindle, just waiting for me to open it up.
There you go, all (well, some) of the books I still need to read from some of my favorite authors. Have you read any of them? Where should I start? How about you—which books are you missing from your favorite authors? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment and I'll gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy Top Ten Tuesday!
Saturday, February 03, 2018
Gold Seer Ender Offers a Smashing, Satisfying Finale to a Favorite Series
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Into the Bright Unknown, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from previous novels in the Gold Seer trilogy. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
Ever since she fled her home in Georgia, life has been one big adventure for Leah "Lee" Westfall. The 16-year-old has survived innumerable threats, accumulated more wealth than she could ever have imagined, and found a happy home among friends who feel more like family. Now that Glory has become a more established town, Lee's ready to settle down to a simple life with her childhood best friend and husband-to-be, Jefferson Kingfisher, by her side. Despite all the hardships she's been through, she's more content than she's ever been.
Of course, peace can never last in the Wild West. The riches Lee and her friends have made have attracted the attention of a greedy, unscrupulous billionaire. While the group from Glory is in San Francisco, he keeps a sharp, suspicious eye on Lee, making her fear that he knows her secret. With a mysterious companion whose uncanny abilities feel very familiar, James Henry Hardwick may be an even more sinister foe than Uncle Hiram. Several of Lee's friends have troubles of their own in The Golden City. Can the merry band survive their woes and make it back to Glory in one piece? After more trials and tribulations than any person should ever have to encounter, will Lee finally get her happily ever after?
It's no secret that I adore the Gold Seer books by Rae Carson. They're clean, exciting, well-crafted, and just all kinds of enjoyable. Into the Bright Unknown, the final installment in the trilogy, is no exception. It wraps up the series with a smashing, satisfying conclusion. My only complaint with it is that I'm now forced to say goodbye to these characters whom I've come to love so much. It's been a delightful ride and I cannot wait to see what Rae Carson does next.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, scenes of peril, mild sexual innuendo, and brief, non-graphic references to prostitution and rape
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, May 02, 2017
TTT: Fall/Winter, I've Got You Covered
If you like books and you dig lists, then you're going to love Top Ten Tuesday, my favorite bookish meme. If you've never participated, what are you waiting for? All you have to do is click on over to The Broke and the Bookish, read the instructions, make your own list, share it on your blog, and click around the book blogosphere to find new blogs, get great reading recommendations, and just have fun.
Each week, we're given a topic on which to base our list. Our topic du jour is a freebie about book covers. You can interpret it any way you like and be as creative as you please. I couldn't think of anything clever, so I'm going to share the covers of the Top Ten Books I'm Excited to Read When They Come Out in Fall/Winter 2017 (I'm not a summer person; I'd willingly skip right over June - August if I could):
1. Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson—I loved the first two books in this trilogy, so this final installment is a must-read for me.
2. The Good People by Hannah Kent—This story, about three women who come together in 19th Century Ireland to save a special child from a superstitious community, sounds intriguing. Available September 19.
3. Friend Request by Laura Marshall—This tagline is pretty darn irresistible: "Maria Weston wants to be friends with you on Facebook. But Maria died twenty-five years ago. Didn't she?" Available September 5.
4. There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins—A teen slasher tale sounds like perfect Halloween reading, doesn't it? Available September 26.
5. The Best Kind of People by Zoe Whittal—This novel about a beloved teacher who's accused of a heinous crime against a student and the effects of the impending investigation on his family and community looks compelling. Available September 19.
6. If You Knew My Sister by Michelle Adams—A debut psychological thriller, this one is about a woman who was placed for adoption as a young child, while her twin sister was kept by their biological parents. When the adoptee returns to her family home, she and her sister are reunited, but it's not a happy reunion ... Sounds good, no? Available October 3.
7. All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater—I don't know a lot about this one, but it's by Maggie Stiefvater, so it's got to be good, right? Available October 10.
8. The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman—Did you love the book Practical Magic? I did, so I'm excited for this prequel. Available October 10.
9. Renegades by Marissa Meyer—I'm not big on teens-with-superpowers books, but I'll read anything by Meyer. Maybe she'll change my mind about the genre? BTW: I'm cheating on this cover. The above is only a temporary version. Available November 7.
10. This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis—I've enjoyed other books by this author, so I'm excited for this one—another evil twin story. Available October 10.
So, there you go, my take on this week's topic. What was yours? Leave me a comment and I'll happily return the favor.
Happy TTT!
*I discovered most of these upcoming books from the ultimate list of 2017 books at Reading Like a Boss.
**Book images from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and authors' websites.
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