Can Art Save Us ? The Plain Janes say yes

Jane Doe gets a makeover in this detailed illustrated graphic novel. Meet MainJane, BrainJane, SportyJane and DramaJane.

Yes, they are all named Jane. At first sight, they look like ordinary girls who care about nothing but their own existence. Not even sharing a conversation with each other. Then MainJane gets the bright idea of bringing them out of their shells through an art project collaboration called P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art in Neighborhoods) and changes the whole town.

It was interesting to see others reactions to their projects. Should a lawn filled with garden gnomes be considered a defecation of property? Or should art be treasured and recognized, inspiring us to be ourselves? The book does make great points on the matter.

But the "triangle" between MainJane, John Doe and Damon kept being pushed aside as secondary plot and was left inconclusive. I also wish the characters wouldn't have been so stereotypical.

Feature & Follow Friday

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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

 Q: We always talk about the books that WE want. Let's turn it on its head. What books have you given other people lately?

Okay. To be honest I always give people books and they don't like it. What do they want? Apparently gift cards so they can go shopping. Where is the logic in that...

So two weeks ago, I told myself it would be the last time I would ever, ever gift literature and bought a copy of Divergent for my aunt. 

The result:

Caught my Arrow # 7

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

These past weeks have been exhausting. I've had too many business meetings to stop and breathe. Let alone to read. But the sky is clearing, and I see peace ahead. 

                                     

In need of some contemporary, I borrowed God is in the Pancakes by Robin Epstein and Boys, Girls & other Hazardous Materials from the author who gave us the basis for the movie Mean Girls. As well as Between the Lines.

Don't ask me why I stored Miss Peregrine's home for Peculiar Children on the shelf after purchasing it. But it is on my night table now, waiting to be read.  

And I received for review

What are you reading this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Cupcake Awards

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten YA Characters

I can't think of a better way to honor my favorite YA characters than by hosting a cupcake award ceremony. And the cupcake goes to:

Most Couragous

Scarlett from Someone Like You. Cupcake for most courageous. Having a baby when your mom is against it and the father dead takes a different kind of courage than jumping through hoops of fire, but it still deserves its merit.

Best Sister

Katniss from The Hunger Games. Cupcake for best sister. I just love a character who fights for what is right and protects the innocent like Prim and Rue.

Most Gifted

Hermione from the Harry Potter series. Cupcake for most gifted. Not only does she have a gigantic heart but she also makes a gigantic brain look sexy.

4. Regina from Some Girls Are for Best Self-Esteem

5. Cole from The Wolves of Mercy Falls for Best Character Growth

6. Marcelo from Marcelo in the Real World for Honesty and staying true to his beliefs.

Best Friend

Jacob from The Twilight Saga. Cupcake for Best friend. Regardless of what happens with Bella he is always there for her.

Best Girl Power

Rose from the Vampire Academy series. Cupcake for Best Girl Power. Yup, women can fight too.

Most Affectionate

Daniel from the Fallen series. Cupcake for Most Affectionate. Constantly kissing, hand-holding and staring at Luce.








And the last cupcake goes to (drum roll) YOU for Best Commentator :p Eat it while it's warm.

Review: Until I Die

All Kate wants is for Vincent to grow old with her until she dies. Romantic, right? But to accomplish that Vincent has to lend his body to some strange experiments, upsetting Kate beyond belief. And me as well, because Vincent is adorable.

This is the second book of the Revenants series and fans won't be disappointed. Kate has grown since we last saw her, becoming less shy and more eager to live her life. One thing that ruins a series is making the second book stall. But Amy Plum maintains the reader on edge and introduces great new characters, such as two of the oldest revenants to date. How will they react to Kate being human? That is something you have got to see for yourself.

The next installment, If I Should Die will be released in May 2013. As a surprise to her fans, Die for her, an eBook novella from Jules point-of-view will be available in April on Amazon.

Feature and Follow Friday: Miss Scarlett

Parajunkee's view / Alison Can read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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

 Q: Write a letter to your favorite character. Rant, rave or gush ... just pretend that they are real and you just want to let them know "a few things". Activity courtesy of author, Kelly Walker. 

Dear Scarlett O'hara,

I send you this jacket to keep you warm on these cold lonely nights. Loving someone to death and not being able to show them is the hardest thing on the soul. It damages our self-esteem and makes hope seem like a punishment.

Worse, are all those people out there saying get over him, he's not meant for you, he belongs to Melanie. Technically, that is true. They did get married. But it doesn't make it any easier to let him go.

I really do hope the jacket fits you. As God is my witness you will never be cold again!!

                                                    your friend,

                                                    Bookcupid

Review: Looking for Alaska

Miles falls in love with Alaska, a beautiful blonde bombshell, who happens to be a heavy drinker and smoker, influencing Miles to follow along. But why does Alaska hide behind drugs; why does she want to destroy herself so badly when all Miles wants to do is love her?

Looking for Alaska is John Green's big debut. Although I am a huge fan of The Fault in our Stars, this book was a bit of a downer. The characters were all brushed upon, but none dissected. Take The Colonel for example: rough on the exterior, grew up in a trailer park and yet he is the smartest kid in school and so heartbroken when his first girlfriend leaves him that he renounces dating. How can such a tough guy be so sensitive? We will never know.

Perhaps that is what John Green was trying to say, that none of us will ever really know one another. I know I surprise myself sometimes.

Happy Valentine's Day

Top Ten Tuesday: Love is in the Air

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

By February, we've said goodbye to the red Christmas stockings and replaced them with red lingerie. The best chocolates are available in stores. And love stories like Warmbodies and Beautiful Creatures premiere in  theaters.

Yes, February is the month to swoon. In case it fleets us by, we can always turn to books and relieve wonderful romantic moments over and over again. Here is my Top Romance Books:

Anna and the French Kiss: Love at first sight isn't always definite or without complications. Anna loves Étienne, and he obviously has feelings for her even though he has a girlfriend. Arrrgh!!! The dilemma.

The Fault in our Stars: If I could give an award for best book couple it would be to Hazel and August. Thanks for making me believe in love again.

Fuentes Brothers

Perfect Chemistry: Who can resist a Fuentes boy? Not me.

Twenty Boy Summer: Such a sad story. It makes you wonder, if your soul mate dies, can you ever find someone else? Oh, Sarah Ockler, please write a paranormal story where he comes back as a ghost.

Going too Far: She's a rebel without a cause, and he is a police officer. Enough said.

Shadow Kiss: Rose and Dimitri. I admit, I kinda of liked him as a Strigoi.

Matched: The last scene ripped my heart out of my chest. Only love can do that.

Review: Shadow of Time

They say love knows no color, no financial or clique boundaries. Even a vampire and a human can fall in love. Still, Hannah fears Josh will stay away from her because she is older, leading to some funny and heartwrenching situations. If only Hannah knew why Josh was keeping his distance maybe her fears would go away?

Or maybe she'd run away?

I admit I enjoyed seeing how their courtship is pulled and taunted with. Especially  when strange dreams begin to plague Hannah. Couldn't help it. Jen Minkman's writing is both energetic and flows without awkwardness, making it easy to loose oneself into the story. Also the research she did on the Navajo people -- words, traditions, even food -- made her characters feel real.

Can't wait to read what she will come up with next.

Jen Minkman

Expect more paranormal romance from Jen Minkman soon as she is currently busy with the release of The Boy from the Woods set in Austria. 

Feature and Follow Friday

Parajunkee's view / Alison Can read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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

 Q: Happy Mardi Gras! If they were throwing the HOTTESTS books off a mardi gras float -- what would you do to have them thrown at you?

A: Whenever you really, really want something, the best thing to do is to think strategically.

1. Arrive early. Most gifts get thrown in the front, plus if I were way in the back taller people would jump and take my prize.

Heidi Klum is a costume Goddess

2. Dress-up. I wouldn't show skin in a sexual way. Instead, I would come in a crazy costume to draw attention. Wouldn't you want to know how many books Heidi Klum could catch in that outfit?

3. Pretend this is a pinata game. I would never take my eyes off the books. It's not an all for one, and one for all situation more of a "move out of my way bead girls that book is mine!!!"

No Books for Valentine's Day

I don't know how many women are in the same shoes as me this year  --  size 8 1/2, very standard -- and find themselves agonizing over one simple horrific question:

What do you do when your husband, boyfriend, or office lover ... tells you that he will not be giving you a book this Valentine's day because you all ready own way too many? 

Of course, my first reaction was to cry out of anger. But after a few teary moments, I came up with a list of what you can give a book lover other than a book. 

1. Book Memorabilia

Bookmarks, pins, you can even buy Harry Potter wands and scarfs. Hmm, collectible and practical.

2. Dolls based on books

Look how dashing Clark Gable is in that white suit. I would definitely give a damn about this doll.

3. Movies of books you postpone reading

For me it's the Count of Monte Cristo. I admit that at 1276 pages, I've postponed reading it for a long time. Also because I can read French and feel like a hypocrite if I don't read it in it's original language.


4. A Bookcase 

An avid reader could always use the extra space.


5. Jane Austen's Monopoly

Oh, wait! That doesn't exist. But Monopoly.com does offer you the chance to build your own and have it shipped. Check it out. 

What would you ask for?

Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder, to quote the book, is about, "Courage. Kindness. Friendship and Character." When I first read the premise, the first thing that came to mind was the movie Mask. It is a favorite of mine, and I couldn't help it. I had to purchase this book. 

It surprised me to see how strong August was, even if he sometimes doubted himself. It must be so hard to be different, when you aren't different. August wasn't an alien or a horse but a little boy, suffering from Treacher-Collins syndrome.

Darth Sidious

Prepare yourself to see some mean bullying. Including some kids who compare him to Darth Sidious. How rude is that!

When asked why she wanted to tackle the subject of bullying, Palacio said, "I hope that kids will come away with the idea that they are noticed: their actions are noted. Maybe not immediately or directly or even in a way that seems obvious, but if they're mean, someone suffers."

You can find more of the interview on her webpage: here.

Also be prepared to switch points-of-view, as the author jumps from August, to his sister, her boyfriend, and other school kids.