Feature and Follow Friday: Yay or Nay

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: Which do you prefer: (1) Great characters and plot with lousy writing or (2) Middling character development and plot but gorgeous writing?

Hard to imagine a published book with lousy writing. Before it can hit the printer, a critique partner goes through it, followed by an agent, then an editor... Can so many people produce lousy writing?

Sometimes.

Usually when that happens the characters are filled with potential, not greatness.

My answer: neither. A great author has his/her thinking cap on, and should produce the best of both worlds.

Review: Emily and the Strangers

Win a haunted guitar!

The prize is too good to pass on, especially if the only requirement is performing in a battle of the bands. Although Emily prefers the company of cats, she isn't shy and enjoys spending time with others, as long as she can have creative control. But joining a band means letting go and learning how creativity can go even higher when you find others to contribute to the inspiration.

The illustrations were beautifully done. I had yet to see a graphic book displayed with so many layers. It made Emily look like a badass rockstar. Not having read any other Emily Strange books, I found the beginning strangely peculiar as she rattled on about time machines and odd ideas, but once the radio announced the band search everything fell into focus.

Looking forward to many more Emily comics.

Review: Better off Friends

Why can't we be friends?

Sometimes, when we meet someone as fun and awkward as we are  -- we just click. For Levi it was fast. Macallan took longer to open up, but soon, these two became best friends, finishing each other sentences and sharing family dinners. So why should growing up change everything?

Now, Macallan is angry that Levi spends too much time with the boys, while he's angry over the feelings he has for her. Worse, no one can date them without getting in the middle. It's a fiasco! Why can't they just be friends?

Eulberg wrote an compelling story about the coming of age (first period and kiss), bullying, dealing with a parent's death, and falling in love. It's clear that the most beautiful relationships out there take place between two people who are friends to begin with. It's what being soul mates is all about. But for these two, who refuse to take the risk of rejection, pretending not to be in love is difficult and extremely entertaining for the reader.

Feature and Follow Friday: Snapshot

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: Have you met a favorite author and have a picture? Share. 

Not many authors come to Montreal. How depressing!!

I did, however, get to meet author Karen Avivi at Chapters less than a year ago.

Review: Catch a Falling Star

Late at night, when all the world is watching television stars strut their stuff on the tele, Carter is lost in the sky watching real stars shine bright. Her best friend's Chloe's fangirl obsession over Adam Jakes never appealed to her. Who needs all that media fuss? Not Carter. Ironically, her unimpressed behavior toward Adam, grants her an offer to play the role of his fake girlfriend for a couple of weeks until the press forgets his rehab story.

Paparazzi? Keeping secrets from your best friend? Celebrity ego?

Seems like a lot to handle. But when her brother's life is on the line, and the only way to save him is by raising a heap of money, Carter will have no choice but to take the lifetime offer and risk her heart in the process.

Lots of romantic dates are in the plot. We see so many actors fall in love while working together and wonder what is the exact moment when fiction and reality crashes. Catch a Falling Star is a really great example. Culbertson mixes in the story of Carter's brother's gambling problems, and her Dad's struggle to maintain the cafe alone while his wife travels the world, providing the story with a bit more of a spark. If only the climax would have combine all the subplots.

Top Ten Tuesday: Write Something, I'm giving up on you

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP BOOKS I ALMOST PUT DOWN BUT DIDN'T

Call me old fashion but I just can't DNF (did not finish). As a book reviewer and a virgo, I need to read from cover to cover before I can rate it in any form. Sometimes, the ending makes up for the whole story. Sometimes not.  

1-Go Ask Alice

Anonymous

I hoped it would get better and the character would be taught important life lessons, but she was far too immature for that. 

2-The Scorpio Races

Maggie Stiefvater

Both MC's had too many problems to smile. I felt quite disconnected, but am glad I stuck to it. 

3-Hanging by a Thread

Sophie LittleField

Gorgeous cover and great mystery plot, but I kept putting it down due to the slow pace. 

4-The S-Word

Chelsea Pitcher

The plot lacked depth, leading to several confusing ends. Not for me. 

5-Crash

Lisa McMann

Huge fan of McMann -- this book not so much. The MC has a vision, then has it again, again. And again... Books shouldn't drag like that.

6-Beautiful Disaster

Jamie McGuire

He's jealous of all the guys who approach you because deep down he cares, he just doesn't know how to tell you plot gets tiring after a while. 

7-Demonglass

Rachel Hawkins

Very slow paced, but worth reading. Especially for the end. 

8-Delirium

Lauren Oliver

Oh that ending!! I'm glad I didn't put it down. 

8-Where she Went

Gayle Forman

This book was heavy, emotionally that is. I had to put it down for a while and come back to it later.

9-After

Amy Efaw

I couldn't stand the character, even after getting to know her better. Too bad. Abandoning a newborn was a great topic to focus on for a YA book.

10-Dreams of Significant Girls

Cristina Garcia

There was no need for the lack of dialogue. Sadly, the story never picked up. 

Which book made your list?

Feature and Follow Friday: Full-bodied and Mature

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: What living author would you like to have diner with? 

I would most certainly eat Shakespeare.

Wait, it seems I was too hungry and misread the question.

Let me rephrase that. I would serve Shakespeare to John Green and his wife to celebrate the upcoming film The Fault in our Stars. A perfect occasion to celebrate!!

Review: Fire with Fire

Is karma worth the price of a great revenge?

Reeve bullied Mary when they were younger, and left a void in her heart that time has not been able to mend. So the girls did the best thing they could do -- they drugged him. Vulnerable from the effects, Reeve tumbled off the prom stage and broke his leg, ruining his football career in the process. You'd think this would be enough to stop the sabotage, but the girls hate that he still refuses to apologize to Mary. The best thing to do is make Reeve fall in love with Lilia this time, then make sure he gets humiliated in return. But what happens if Lilia loves him back?

There were so many things going in Fire with Fire that did not involve Kat, causing her to disappear into the background and render her point-of-view quite pointless (hard not to skip those pages). Nevertheless, Mary and Lilia heighten the stakes like never before. Lots of love and jealousy scenes made the book impossible to put down. 

Prepare for a yet another cliffhanger ending. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Paint it bold

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP BOOKS I'D FRAME AS ART

Okay, so I'm a Botero fan. Have replicas all over my place and would love to find similar book covers to match the decor. But alas, there seems to be nothing of the sort out there. 

So my second choice would be:

1-And Then There Were None

Scary and tense. Maybe not in the office but I'll think of something.

2-Marcelo in the Real World

Remove the electric posts and it would be gorgeous.

3-Left Neglected

Perfect for my kitchen.

4-Finale

My idea of sensual art.

5-These Broken Stars

What is it with me and hand-holding pictures?!?

6-The Ring & the Crown

Total must if you live in San Francisco (be sure to wear flowers in your hair)

7-The Beatles in Stripvorm

Love this graphic novel cover. 

Who's your favorite painter?

Review: Adaptation

The sky is falling.

Well, mostly planes and birds, but the horror of it all is too much to go unnoticed. The situation leaves Reese and David stranded at the airport, forcing their debate teacher to drive them home. But when a bird crashes through the windshield their lives are held by a thread. It appears their only hope at survival involves a secret government facility. The scars soon disappear, they have the sentiment they are constantly being watched, and a telepathic power begins to arise. What exactly did happen that night?

Malinda Lo keeps the tension high, adding a sensual back-up story between Reese and her new friend Amber. Although I expected a conclusion in the end, Lo shifted the story around, turning it into a sci-fi that deserves a sequel.

Can't wait to read what happens in Inheritance.

Review: Easy

No means no.

After a late party, Jacqueline is pushed into a car by Buck, a school chum, who desperately tries to have his way with her. Luckily, she is saved by Lucas before things get out of hand. But the nightmare doesn't end there. Now, Buck won't leave her alone, threatening to finish what he started. Can she count on Lucas to save her again?

Rape is not a pleasant topic, at all, and so it's surprising to see an author revolve an entire plot line around it. From self-defence class, to the fear of letting others know, to overcoming everything that rape entails -- Tammara Webber plunges in head on, making sure that readers understand not only the pain that accompanies rape but the consequences it carries on if we don't let others in for support.

Prepare for a surprising plot twist.

Feature and Follow Friday: Latte

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: Have you any pets? Tell us or show us. 

Introducing, Guinea Pig extraordinaire Sir. Latte 

He is cuddly, insists on staying in the cage while I clean it (I know, we fight about that) and of course, he squeaks.


More pictures of Latte on my instagram. If you own a guinea pig and have diet advice please let me know as Latte is about to turn one soon and can start eating veggies.

Review: The Geography of You and Me

Wish you were here!

Sadly, those four little words mean nothing to Lucy and Owen, who are both loners and never travel anywhere exciting. The pair met in an elevator, quickly bonding over several quirks they both shared. But after spending one day together, their parents announce they are leaving -- maybe for good -- and hence begins the pile of postcards that will be sent back and forth.

The tension that culminates in the postcards is sweet. One can't help but hope that these two will meet again on top of a beautiful building. But the reality is another. Distance can really put a damper on a relationship, especially one that wasn't strong enough to begin with. So in comes the replacements such as Liam and Paisley who although good looking don't share the spark that Lucy and Owen shared.

Are long distance relationships doomed? I don't know, I wish Smith hadn't concluded with an open ending. On the plus side, the pov switch are well-paced, and we get to experience Owen's struggle of growing up with a single father.

Caught my arrow #34

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to In my mailbox and  Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

Happy Easter to all!! Don't know how much reading I'll get done this week, but I am looking forward to spend time with family and friends this long weekend. Here's what's waiting for me on my nightstand:

Purchased

The Rising

Borrowed from the library

Desires of the Dead
Better off Friends

Received from Publisher

Catch a Falling Star

The Bridge from me to you

What are you reading this week?

Review: The Ring and the Crown

A huge downside of being a princess is the inability to choose your husband. 

For Marie, a princess desperately in love with a guard, the solution to happy ever after is simple. All she needs is to convince Aelwyn, a young sorceress, to take over her appearance so she and the guard can escape in return for a lifetime of royalty. Add to the cast, a betrothed prince with a jealous mistress, his brother Wolf with a street-fighting double identity, a poor rich girl who desperately needs to wed and you get lots of funny, romantic, and dramatic turn of events.

The chapters constantly change point-of-view, giving us eyes all over the palace. One big plus in the story is De La Cruz's ability to use the right dose of magic without turning the story into fantasy. Alas, the ending might have been too rushed for my taste, but I'm sure the sequel will solve things out.

All in all, a written proof that Melissa De La Cruz was meant to write historical fiction.

Review: Far from you

Far from you takes the theme What happens when you can't be with someone you love? on a whole other level. 

For Sophie, the grief over Mina's death seems unending. The killer is still on the loose, and worse, people suspect Sophie's involvement due to the drugs found at the scene. Tess Sharpe wisely divided the book into three parts: the accident -- a car crash caused by Mina's brother, Trev, which left Sophie crippled and addicted to painkillers, and Trev feeling responsible for her. The events leading to the climax. And lastly, we flash forward to the aftermath of Mina's murder and Sophie's determination to solve the crime.

Although, the investigation is slowly plotted throughout the book to allow the bisexual triangle between Mina, Sophie and Trev to take place, the story felt oddly shaped at times. Either the cuts were too sudden or too repetitive. But mostly, Sharpe did a good job at placing the reader in Sophie's head. The turmoil Mina put her through by wanting to hide their love and practically force Sophie's relationship with Trev. The pity Trev had for Sophie. Her parents anger against her addiction to painkillers. It felt as if everyone devalued Sophie. Including Sophie herself. 

All in all, Far from you had a wonderful conclusion, making sure that every point in the story was addressed. 

Review: Like Moonlight at Low Tide

Sometimes we only see what we want to see. 

Missy was bullied at a young age due to her name. The feeling of unease upon returning to Anna Maria Island is felt throughout the book, as if at any moment people could remember the nickname and send her back to those dark days. The self-esteem issues overpower the bullying, teaching us that sometimes getting the bullies to stop doesn't mean the end. Sometimes we are our own bullies.

Quigley doesn't rest at that. She tackles the topic of suicide in an unexpected way, mixing the plot along with a boy toy loving mother, a deadbeat father, and steps we need to take to open-up to someone and let them in.

Heartbreaking and moving, Like Moonlight at Low Tide is a fair reminder that we shouldn't judge someone until we know their story.

Caught my arrow #33

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to In my mailbox and  Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

Narrowed down my to-read list this week. Shift had been there for too long, and I was happy to find it on sale. Looking forward to Cress.

Purchased

Shift

Unholly

Cress

Borrowed from the library

Easy
Fire with Fire

Received from Netgalley

Emily and the Strangers (graphic novel)

Adaptation

The Rules for Breaking

What are you reading this week?