A Decision

Okay, it is official. I am so very uninterested in reviewing books and blogging lately. I think I got a bit burnt out or I am feeling overwhelmed in other avenues of my life... or something. So, I am taking a computer break! I will be checking my email, but otherwise I am going to take some time and clear my head. Maybe get caught up on some reading! I have no idea how long this is going to last. It could be just a couple days or even longer than that!

Until then, hope all is well with everyone!

(And, Chris, I will still read Charlaine Harris and all that jazz. Ditto to Drood and Tender Morsels, Vasilly!)

Bad Bloggers - The End of April

One of these days I am going to write a review...

In the meantime, these are the books I picked up at the library:

One for Sorrow by Christopher Barzak - Point for Nymeth

Larklight by Philip Reeve - Point for Becky

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - Where do I even start...

What it is by Lynda Barry - Point for Iliana

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman - Point for Carl

Miki Falls 1: Spriny by Mark Crilley - Point for Darla D. (Wasn't going to read because the library only has the first two books, but I changed my mind... )

Seven Things About Me As A Reader

Okay, so I have just been too busy/distracted lately to write book reivews. I hope to reenter catch-up mode soon! In the meantime, Vasilly did this meme of sorts and I thought that I would give it a try!

Seven Things About Me As A Reader:

This might not be things people don't know...

1. I have often wondered where I come from because there are very few readers in my family. Even when my parents were younger, they only read once in a while. My grandmother started reading when she retired, but otherwise it was little old me. My sister goes through periods where she will ask me for a few books to read, but that's about it. I have always read. It is my main hobby, and that has never really ever changed!

2. I hate a lot of description in books. I just want to know what is going on. If the dress is green, the dress is green. I don't need to have a sentence long explanation on the green dress. Sometimes it gets so bad that I will actually skip to the next talking portion. I make the joke that I am a 'meat and potatoes' sort of person. I don't need any of that fancy stuff!

3. My TBR pile is so much bigger than other people's. I read posts where people have such large piles and I laugh because, well, mine is always bigger! That being said, I am still not going to admit the size because I haven't counted in years. Joining the library is NOT helping my TBR pile.

4. I hated young adult fiction when I was a young adult. I have a lot of the stuff that was 'popular' for my age range during that period because that is what my parents would buy me, but I either only read it because I wanted to fit in or I just pretended to read it. I would just read my mother's books (romance novels. yuck!) or Star Trek. I would never have admitted the Star Trek books to people at school, though.

5. I actually hate my library. I do a really good job, but if anyone has noticed it is mostly young adult novels... I am going through a catch-up phase, because I went so many years hardly reading them. Once I get tired of them, I will go back to my fantasy novels and the library sucks for fantasy. It also takes like three months for inter-library loans. I just got a book that hadn't been checked out since 2008, but it took me three months to receive it!

6. I am the sort of person that will stop people and ask them what they are reading. I have had book discussions in malls, airports, at bus stops, etc. etc. I recommend books to random strangers all the time. I have a book radar it seems. If someone is reading nearby, I will see them.

7. I will in truth read just about anything. I say I don't like this, that, or the other thing, but there are always exceptions. I do have issues with buying books from the romance section of the bookstore, though. I have only done it five times... The five Colleen Gleason books. Now that the series is done, I am back to my anti-romance section thing. It drives me crazy that female fantasy and historical fiction authors are getting more romance-type covers because it is like I am going to the romance section without actually stepping foot in them... I am a book snob, huh?

Bad Etiquette

There have been a lot of posts lately about why people blog, author pet peeves about bloggers and their reviews, publicity, whether blogs help sales, etc, etc. I had largely stayed out of the debate, but you know what.... I actually have something to say: Be nice to bloggers. They might not be paid to write reviews, but they still have a voice that will carry! So, if you are a 'cranky' author, you are entirely entitled to your opinion, but don't comment on a blog post. Everyone can read it, and really, that would be an example of bad publicity.

That being said, bloggers should have a good reason to be 'cranky', too. If you are going to bad mouth an author, actually have a reason to do so. There are lots of authors that I don't love that other people worship. It's all about personal preference and freedom of speech, right?

Why am I going on about this? See these two posts for much better explanations!

Once Upon a Bookshelf
a Fair Subsitute for Heaven

See, these bloggers, they have a reason for boycotting an author.

I also should point out that it is really late, so hopefully this post actually makes sense! Off to bed with me, now!

Bad Bloggers

I long ago lost track of what week this is!

Anyway, I got:

Silk by Alessandro Baricco - Point for Chris.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo - Most recently, point for Nymeth

The Magic Half by Annie Barrows - I so do not remember... Someone from the read-a-thon I suspect!

Moon & Sun: The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle - Annie gets a point for this one!

The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech - Debi gets a point

And... *drum roll please* I bought Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder! So excited. I loved her trilogy! Hopefully I find time to read it this weekend...

Okay, I really have to go finish doing the dishes because I have no clean spoons and I need counter space to cook supper! Have a good night, folks!

A Nerdish Post

The entire time that I have been hanging around with the charming comedian, I have known a very shocking fact: He has never watched all six Star Wars movies. When he told me that, I think I looked at him like he had three heads! I love the older movies. I have watched them so many times over the years it is sinful! Now, he has seen the older ones, but he thinks probably only once or twice. He is like me, though, he is a Trekkie first. But still! Anyway, this week he has decided that it is time to watch them all. We watched the first movie on Tuesday and the second movie last night. I imagine that the third movie will probably be watched tonight.

It is absolutely amazing to watch these movies with someone that has not only not seen them before, but hasn't seen the old movies enough time to have them memorized! Not that I don't know plenty of people that haven't watched the movies before. They just wouldn't let me demonstrate the fabulousness of them! The charming comedian is, though, and it is just, well, baffling to me! It got me thinking. I grew up on the old movies. Now there are the new movies, though, so people of later generations are actually going to be able to start at movie one and end at movie six, instead of starting at movie four. I cannot even comprehend what that would be like! I mean, there is a little bit of mystery in the first three movies, but if you have watched the last three you pretty much know what is going to happen. The charming comedian obviously knows the basics, but there is still so much he doesn't know that it is fun to see this side. It is really the closest I can come to watching the movies 'the new way'.

So, now, what do I think of the movies? I still hate the new movies. Compared to the classics, they are not even in the same class. I actually was telling the charming comedian that with the exception of watching bits and pieces when they aired on television, I have probably only watched the new movies once at the theatres and then once when they came out on DVD. (I am so sure on this fact that when the first movie skipped I knew exactly who to blame!) So, I don't have them memorized like I do the older ones (and even that is probably slipping because I haven't watched them in a couple years). Nothing has changed with the passing of time, though. Jar Jar Binks still drives me insane, I still don't like either actor that plays Anakin, I really don't understand the purpose of Samuel L. Jackson (though, I do like him generally), I still think they were too concerned with special effects and lots of things look very fake, etc, etc. The worst thing of all is I love Yoda's fight scene, and since I got like no sleep the night before... Guess who slept through it! Any other time the charming comedian wakes me up, but not this time, and this time I actually wanted to watch the movie!

Anyway, even though I still don't like the new movies, I have to say that it is really fun to watch them with someone that has never seen them before. I also have quite demonstrated my nerdish qualities when I would pause the movie to tell him a random piece of trivia. What does he think of the movies? So far he doesn't like them because they make fun of Star Trek. Funny, huh, that is exactly why for years I wouldn't admit to liking them. I have got passed it, though. I don't mind. He so graciously told me last night that I can get him tickets to see the new Star Trek movie for his birthday! I never saw Nemisis in theatres, so it was Inserrection the last time I saw a Star Trek movie in theatres. I am very excited! The movie better not suck, is all I can say. The charming comedian is a way bigger fan of the Original series than I am, so it will be interesting to see what each of us thinks.

Next up, we are going to be watching The Lord of the Rings. He's seen those, but we have never watched them together. Plus, he has never read the books, while I think Tolkien is a literary god. It should be an interesting experience!

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (Skulduggery Series, Book 1)

Books Completed: 88
Completion Date: March, 2009
Pages: 400
Publication Date: April, 2007

Reason for Reading: Rachel recommended it!

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant

Ace Detective
Snappy Dresser
Razor–tongued Wit
Crackerjack Sorcerer
and
Walking, Talking,
Fire-throwing Skeleton

—as well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old.

These two alone must defeat an all-consuming ancient evil.

The end of the world?

Over his dead body.

First off, I should add that I had never heard of this book before until Rachel mentioned it. I am surprised it does not get more blogging press because it is a really fun book! I read a lot of fantasy, so it can get a bit like the same thing over and over again. Landy has managed to write a very fresh novel that has great characters, a fun storyline, and the potential to be a great series. While his author do suffer a bit writing-wise from the whole 'first novel syndrome', it does not take away from the story at all!

Yesterday I did a meme and one of the questions was what fictional character am I secretly in love with. At the time I took the question literally, but I got to think that I probably shouldn't have! I wouldn't say I am 'in love' with lots of characters, but I love lots of characters. That includes both men and women. If you didn't love the characters, you wouldn't go back and read the book, right? Anyway, Skulduggery Pleasant is one such character. He makes the entire book, I must say! The other characters are good, don't get me wrong, but the book would not be the book without him. I love him, so as long as he is a character in the series, I will be reading the books!

The story, though, is told by Stephanie Edgley. Her uncle has just died and when she attends his funeral, her whole world is changed forever! She is an engaging character and she narrates her story well. It turns out that there is more to her family than meets the eye, but it takes the death of her uncle for her to fully understand just what she has been born into. Then, she meets Skulduggery and things are never the same again! Of course, when she first meets him she doesn't know that he is a skeleton. He is just a rather strange friend of her deceased uncle, but as she learns his story we learn more and more about him, too. It will make you love him, I promise! He is funny, entertaining, and compelling. He has also gone through a lot during the course of his, um, life? Okay, so, yes, I love a skeleton! Is that not a good enough reason to read this book? You can check to see if I am crazy or not, right?

There are also secondary characters in this book. Stephanie's parents are both rather loving, but her father is very scatter-brain. When he enters a scene you know that you are going to wind up smiling. Then, there are the people that Stephanie meets through Skulduggery. There is the boxer and tailor that makes Stephanie's 'heroine' outfit: Ghastly Bespoke. There is China Sorrow who has the ability to make everyone that meets her fall in love with her, but I think most people that read this blog will fall in love with her because of the items in her house! Tanith Low is another character. She is a kick-ass fighter that gives a whole new meaning to girl power. Actually, Landy does a very good job of having both great female role models and male characters. It's a nice assortment, so the book can easily work for both sexes.

The thing is, I have only touched on the 'good guys'. There are also the evil forces that are the focus of the entire adventure. The bad characters are just as entertaining as the good, so you have that to look forward to! And, while the characters may not all stay the same, the central theme of what Skulduggery and his friends are trying to accomplish will. So, really, all there is left to be said is you should read this book! I have since read the sequel, so I will review that at some point and time. It is supposed to be a series, so I am really excited! I think I will end up buying them instead of relying on the library. I enjoy a fresh fantasy series for young adults, and as long as it stays like this book, I really am in for a fun series!

Harper Collins Canada has an audio excerpt! You can experience Stephanie's first glimpse of Skulduggery!

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site

This SHOULD be a Book Review...

I came on here determined to catch-up on book reviews, but then I noticed that this is my 1000th post! It seemed a little bit special, so I figured that I would acknowledge that and further procrastinate on book reviews. Not like I need many excuses to do so, though... Anyway, some notes:

• I really wish I was sleeping right about now! It is only 7:30 in the morning, but I have already been up for two hours! I don't think I got very many hours of sleep last night, so I thinking today is going to be a coffee day! As soon as I 'wake up' I am going to go put the slow cooker on.
• I am finally caught up on blog reading. Yay! It makes me feel so much better when I am because I can actually comment on posts instead of flipping through quickly. It's not like I stay caught up for long, but I do try...
• Last night I did a very brilliant thing and renewed all the books I have out from the library. I didn't even know I had done it until it told me 27 books were renewed. I had meant to renew the book that was due back that I had not had a chance to read... I now have 27 books due back on the 12th of May... I have more than 27 books out from the library, I might add.
• The fact that I am up so early and do not have anything planned for like 12 hours would make for a perfect day to read and write reviews. I have read 15 books this month, down from previous months, but I am more than 15 reviews behind!
• I have Life as we Knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer out from the library right now. I had planned to read it next, but since I accidentally renewed it, I decided to hold off and read books due back before it. Why I am mentioning it is because the charming comedian actually picked it up and read some of it! I should leave books laying around more often, I guess. He has been on about dystopian-type stuff lately, anyways. He asked me if it was a quick read... It's not that he doesn't like to read, he just doesn't make it a priority, so when he takes an interest I can't help being excited by it!

Okay, so there are my rambles for the moment! What's new in everyone elses life? I am off to see if I have any Cheerios left and then I think I am going to try and get some reading done!

The Voca People

Cool Israeli group that uses no instruments.

Bad Bloggers!

Okay, so I am rather late in posting this, I usually do it on Monday, but that's okay!

Books picked up from the library:

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix - Drawing a blank. I know there is a reason for it, too... hm...

Stop Pretending: What Happened When my Big Sister Went Crazy by Sonya Sones - Becky is to blame.

Skellig by David Almond - For the Herding Cats Challenge.

Gossamer by Lois Lowry - Now that I have finally finished The Giver trilogy, I figured I should read something else!

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman - I had been meaning to read a young adult book by Hoffman, but wasn't sure what, then Nymeth recommended this one for the read-a-thon, so I added it to my list!

Just So People Don't Forget About Me!

A Meme:

1. What author do you own the most books by?
um.... hm... Douglas Coupland, Isabel Allende, Madeleine L'Engle, Lucy Maud Montgomery, etc. Then, there are the 'big' series, like J.D. Robb and so on.

2. What book do you own the most copies of?
*cough* A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I don't know why...

3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
No.

4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
hahaha! I don't know about secretly in love with, but I quite enjoy lots of characters!

5. What book have you read the most times in your life?
um, probably A Wrinkle in Time... Or, Anne of Green Gables.

6. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
A Wrinkle in Time? lol I also think this is roughly around when I read all of the Anne of Green Gables novels one summber. I think I also started reading V.C. Andrews around this age, so Flowers in the Attic is a possibility.

7. What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
I don't know. I have read mostly good books this year.

8. What is the best book you've read in the past year?
One book? Are you crazy? If I had to pick, and I mean HAD to... The Time-Traveler's Wife. I reread it this year.

9. If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Forcing people to read sort of takes the fun out of it... I think everyone should read Patricia Briggs... But then, most people that read my blog know that already!

10. Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?
You know what, I really could careless. I am a fantasy nerd and fantasy authors don't win...

11. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
I am so not a movie person. It is not even worth saying...

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Most books that I really like...

13. Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
Nothing comes to mind. I rarely remember my dreams

14. What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
That's an interesting idea. It depends on how you look at things. I have read a lot of fantasy and young adult books this year, and to many people, that is considered lowbrow.

15. What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
hm... I don't know actually. If there was one, I blocked it out of my mind. When I was in university and I HAD to finish books I hated, that was difficult enough!

16. Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
French

17. Roth or Updike?
I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't got around to either author yet.

18. David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Eggers (but, well, haven't read Sedaris yet)

19. Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Okay, this is a very complicated question for me. To avoid a very long rant, I am going to abstain from answering.

20. Austen or Eliot?
Austen (Which isn't fair because I haven't read Eliot yet...)

21. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Classics. I probably should read more, but oh, well.

22. What is your favorite novel?
One book? Are you crazy... A Wrinkle in Time, The Time-Traveller's Wife, Phantom, Daughter of Fortune, Mists of Avalon, etc, etc, etc.

23. Play?
Angels in America.

24. Short story?
um... Angela Carter or Susan Carroll write good stuff. (I don't read a lot of short stories...)

25. Epic Poem?
Yeah... I really don't do poetry. Probably Shakespeare's Sonnets, though. I like his poetry more than his plays.

26. Short(er) poem?
See above. Although, I do really like Emily Dickinson.

27) Work of non-fiction?
How can you pick just one! um... 28: Stories of AIDs in Africa...

28. Who is your favorite writer?
Probably Madeleine L'Engle. Me and her go way back!

29. Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
oh, good lord... I am going to be killed... J.K. Rowlings and Stephenie Meyer. No competition.

30. What is your desert island book?
The Complete Works of Charles Dickens... Not that it exists, but anyways...

31. And ... what are you reading right now?
I don't know. I have books started but not sure if I want to finish them or start something else!

Howdy Folks!

Okay, I have been commenting my little fingers off for several hours now! I hope it was worthwhile! I have a very uncomfortable chair, so it was not really that enjoyable by times! Anyway, to anyone that stops by my little neck of the woods, good luck on the last few hour!

I have been an observer of the read-a-thons since the first year. One of these times I really am going to have to read, but cheer-leading is fun! I read all the time anyway, so it is nice to do something a little different. I will be checking in a bit more tomorrow to see if I want to become a regular reader at all the blogs I visited tonight... I didn't have a lot of time to look around earlier! Also, there is the whole wrap-up posts... which, well, means more books on my TBR pile! *ahem*

HAPPY READING!

A Bookish Day!

Today turned into a book day!

From the library I got:

I Was a Rat by Philip Pullman - Point for Nymeth!
The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby - FINALLY! I have been waiting so long for this book I can't remember who to blame... I had just decided to buy it, too!
The Yankee Years by Joe Torre & Tom Verducci - Curiousity... I am not a Yankees fan, but I love baseball! Bet you didn't know that!

On Tuesday I picked up:

The Garden of Eve by K.L. Going - Point for Debi, who hasn't even read it yet! (But, she should! I felt like I had read it before, but in any case, I really liked it!)

Then, in the mail I got:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - No points because when I ordered this, it was not even out yet... I think it got lost in the mail!
Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie

And, then, I actually bought a book!
Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr - It is Heather's fault that I bought it instead of waiting for it to come in at the library!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Books Completed: 79
Completion Date: March, 2009
Pages: 272
Publication Date: April 2008

Reason for Reading: Dewey's Challenge, New Author Challenge

Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?This fascinating novel represents a stunning new direction for acclaimed author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity. Mary Pearson's vividly drawn characters and masterful writing soar to a new level of sophistication.

Dear Dewey,

I am pretty sure that I can date the wanting to read this book back to you. I am so glad that I did because I loved this book! It was very much the sort of read that I enjoy, so thank you for the recommendation, even if it took another review for me to actually get around to getting it! When you reviewed the book you answered questions from Alessandra in a mini-review.

1) What does the title (The Adoration of Jenna Fox) really mean? Who adores Jenna? Or maybe is Jenna adoring someone/something?
- The problem with these questions is that I really cannot think of anything different to say... So, I guess I will just be repetitive. So, anyway, we are both in agreement that it is Jenna's parents that adore her. This becomes more and more apparent as the story plays out. I like how you went on to talk about words:

Since she lost her memory after an accident, she frequently looks up words. This serves a couple purposes. First, the character will keep using words she looks up later in the book, showing in a way how she has to use repetition to learn new things you might expect a girl of seventeen to have mastered. Second, it shows the reader, at times, some of the more obscure meanings of certain commonplace words. Adoration is not just the noun for the verb adore, to love, but can also be a religious term, mean a demonstration of worship.

If I had reviewed this book back in March, I might have thought to mention that, but it has been like a month since I read this book and it is not very fresh in my mind! Isn't it interesting how we don't really always understand the words we are saying? They just become common words and when people ask you what they mean, I know that I can't always give a very good definition. For 'adoration', I could easily see myself saying, well, 'it means to adore'! Yep, you would never know I have a degree in English!

2) What’s interesting about the main character of Jenna?
-I really enjoyed watching Jenna discover who she was all over again. This book is a bit obvious, but at the same time it is a mystery. We don't really know who Jenna is, so we are figuring it out as Jenna does. It makes the book a page-turner! Jenna is in essence discovering who she is all over again! I like how you summed it up:

There are more interesting facets to this character that I can’t really even approach without spoilers. So I’ll just say this is a novel full of surprises, suspense, and the potential for spoilers.

What she said!

3) How does the author bring about the theme of recovering lost memories?
- Like I said above, this book is a bit obvious, but at the same time it is a mystery. We learn about Jenna as Jenna learns about herself, and the author handles things really fresh. I like that you agree with me, so I am just going to steal your paragraph:

This isn’t your typical recovering-lost-memories novel. Jenna does gradually remember some things, especially events her parents don’t expect her to remember. One thing that is typical is that the biggest, most important (to her) memory of all is recovered toward the end of the book. Jenna experiences flashbacks now and then, and gradually memory fragments become whole.

To sum up, I loved this book! I don't even know if I know why I did, but it was really one of my favourite reads of the year so far. I am so happy that I got it from the library, but now I of course want to own it! You considered it one of your favourite books published in 2008, so I think we are in agreement! I really enjoy these letters. I hope you do, too!


Until next time...

Printz Project

Jessica and Suey are hosting The Printz Project. It is a challenge with no time frame, so I think I am going to join in! You can either just read the winners, or you can read the honour books too. Since I have several of the honour books out from the library or on hold, I think I am going to aim to do both! Below is a list with the books I have read crossed out.

Michael L. Printz Winners & Honor Books

2011

The Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick

Nothing by Janne Teller

2010

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Punkzilla by Adam Rapp
Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973 by John Barnes

2009
Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation; Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves, by M.T. Anderson
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart (Have out from library)
Nation, by Terry Pratchett
Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan

2008
The White Darkness, by Geraldine McCaughrean
Dreamquake: Book Two of the Dreamhunter Duet, by Elizabeth Knox
One Whole and Perfect Day, by Judith Clarke
Repossessed, by A.M. Jenkins
Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath, by Stephanie Hemphill

2007
American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation; Volume I: The Pox Party, by M.T. Anderson
An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green
Surrender, by Sonya Hartnett
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak (Own)

2006
Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Black Juice, by Margo Lanagan
I Am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak
John Lennon: All I Want Is the Truth, a Photographic Biography, by Elizabeth Partridge
A Wreath for Emmett Till, by Marilyn Nelson

2005
how i live now, by Meg Rosoff
Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel
Chanda’s Secrets, by Allan Stratton
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, by Gary D. Schmidt

2004
The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson
A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly
Keesha’s House, by Helen Frost
Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler

2003
Postcards from No Man’s Land, by Aidan Chambers
The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer
My Heartbeat, by Garret Freymann-Weyr
Hole in My Life, by Jack Gantos

2002
A Step From Heaven, by An Na
The Ropemaker, by Peter Dickinson
Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art, by Jan Greenberg
Abrams Freewill, by Chris Lynch
True Believer, by Virginia Euwer Wolff

2001
Kit’s Wilderness, by David Almond
Many Stones, by Carolyn Coman
The Body of Christopher Creed, by Carol Plum-Ucci
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, by Louise Rennison
Stuck in Neutral, by Terry Trueman

2000
Monster, by Walter Dean Myers
Skellig, by David Almond
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
Hard Love, by Ellen Wittlinger

Really Must Blog!

I haven't been in a very bloggy mood this week. There was a lot going on, and I cannot believe the week is over! Hopefully next week I will resume trying to catch up on my reviews... Anyway, so, still alive! I received another award, though! Cool, huh, I am getting awards for being a slacker! People are encouraging me!

Coversgirl gave me the Splash! Award:

The Rules:

1) Put the logo on your blog/post.
2) Nominate up to 9 blogs which allure, amuse, bewitch, impress or inspire you.
3) Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4) Let them know that they have been splashed by commenting on their blog.
5) Remember to link to the person from whom your received your Splash award.

Another cool award! Thanks!

Blogging Awards

Okay, I am probably going to forget some... I really need to develop better organization skills, but anyways...

I got the Zombie Chicken Award! Finally! I really wanted it because, well, it is a cool idea! And, I got it not just once, but twice! Becky and Iliana were so kind to bestow it on me. Iliana also said:

She’d engage in a reading contest with the zombie chickens and we know who’d win that. She reads a lot.

I had to laugh at that! Anyway, the award:

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

I am going to risk the wrath because I think most bloggers have received this award all ready...

Then, Dolce Bellezza gave me the 'I 'heart' your Blog' award. Thanks Bellezza! I love lots of blogs... That's sort of the problem, really! If I loved less my feed reader would be under-control once in a while!

I'm Back!

Okay, so I was only gone for two days, but I am so behind on everything all ready that it is crazy! You people post too much, you know! Anyway, did I miss anything exciting? I am very happy that the funeral is over with. It was family-overload, that's for sure! It's sad, but I probably only see a lot of those people at funerals... I also had to do a reading and I managed to get through it without coughing! I was very impressed with myself and people said that I read really well, so hopefully that was true...

As to the book front. I have only read one book so far this month... After I finish this post I am hoping to have a 'reading evening', but we will see how that works out. I had to thin out my library books because I haven't finished one in like a week. I'll just have to take them out again when the library pile gets smaller. I didn't have time to go to the library on Monday, but I do have books waiting for me that I am very excited about:

Chariots of the Gods by Erich von Daniken - Rather strangely the charming comedian thinks I should read this... Since he isn't one for book recommendations, I decided to give it a read!

Evernight by Claudia Gray - I have see lots of reviews of this book. Not sure who is really to blame!

Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson - I have wanted to read this since it came out...

Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce - Nymeth gets a point.

Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis - Okay, so I was curious! The library bought this book for me, too, so I am going to be the first person to read it...

Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson - Nymeth. I have wanted to read this book for a while and she chose it as one of her books for the Herding Cats challenge.

The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi - Carry on with the series...

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci - I can't remember where I heard about this.

Fruits Basket - Volume 5 - Carry on with the series.

Robot Dreams by Sara Varon - Robin just recently reviewed this.

Chobits Volume 5 - Carry on with the series.

One Piece Volume 3 - Carry on with the series.

An Anthropolgist on Mars by Oliver Sacks - Another point for Nymeth.

Ahem, normally books come in on Monday and Thursday, but I guess books came in today! I didn't check the website all day, so I went on expecting only five books and, well, that's way more than five!

JPod by Douglas Coupland

Books Completed: 83
Completion Date: March, 2009
Pages: 448
Publication Date: May, 2007

Reason for Reading: It's Douglas Coupland... Enough said...

A lethal joyride into today’s new breed of technogeeks, Coupland’s forthcoming novel updates Microserfs for the age of Google.

Ethan Jarlewski and five co-workers whose names start with J are bureaucratically marooned in jPod. jPod is a no-escape architectural limbo on the fringes of a massive Vancouver game design company.

The six workers daily confront the forces that define our era: global piracy, boneheaded marketing staff, people smuggling, the rise of China, marijuana grow ops, Jeff Probst, and the ashes of the 1990s financial tech dream. jPod’s universe is amoral and shameless. The characters are products of their era even as they’re creating it.

Everybody in Ethan’s life inhabits a moral grey zone. Nobody is exempt, not even his seemingly straitlaced parents or Coupland himself, as readers will see.

Full of word games, visual jokes and sideways jabs, this book throws a sharp, pointed lawn dart into the heart of contemporary life. jPod is Douglas Coupland at the top of his game.

All hail the brilliancy that is Douglas Coupland. I have loved his books for years now. I still haven't read all his books, because why rush, but I think he is by far one of my favourite Canadian authors (actually, author period) of all times. His books are just awesome! I can plot him out in my mind. I don't think I have read a book by him that hasn't stuck with in some way. The first book I read by him was All Families are Psychotic. As it was the first book I read by him, it remains pretty much my favourite. I don't know if that would change with a reread or not... I also love Girlfriend in a Coma, that is a fantastic book! Sadly, I read both of those books years before I started blogging. Excuse to reread, maybe? I don't love all of his books, though, but that is me. I am really a very critical person! For example, Nymeth considers Life as God her favourite, while when I read that book a few years ago I hated it! (I am planning a reread, though.)

Anyway, Chris just recently started reading Coupland. Nymeth challenged him to read Hey Nostradamus! I read that back when it first came out in paperback and I consider it another one of my favourites. It's another example of a Coupland book that has stuck with me, actually. JPod is actually a sequel of sorts to Microserfs. I haven't read Microserfs yet, so I am not sure how comparable it is. Two of my friends read JPod and said it was really good, though, so I decided I needed to see what I would think of it. Plus, it has been a while since I read Coupland. That's a major offense! Anyway, I have to say I really liked this book. I have been going back and forth on where it fits, for me, in my Coupland list. I don't know if it is my favourite, and nothing can beat Girlfriend in a Coma. All I know is that I really enjoyed it. It was a fun book that looked at so many issues! I was a little worried when Coupland wrote himself into the book, but I must say he really pulled it off!

Ethan Jarlewski is the narrator. He is a great character! Coupland is totally giving the nerd his day in the limelight. It is very entertaining, really. Ethan works as a gaming programmer, but it really seems that all he does is pointless procrasinating activities that are pretty entertaining! I mean, he works with a bunch of rather smart people, so their idea of 'fun' is not exactly my idea. The new girl in the office actually makes a hugging machine! I thought that whole process was really fun. Thrown in with the fun, though, are a lot of issues present in todays society. I mean, when we first meet Ethan's mother it is because she just called to tell him that she killed someone! Then, we see her grow-op. The book just goes on from there in every possible direction. One thing that happens in the book that I laughed my head off at was they are making a game, that is what they are doing for a living afterall, and they have to include a turtle in it somehow. The whole idea is pretty ludicrous, but I don't want to give a lot away. Anyway, so they have to model the turtle on Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor. The best thing is I could totally see that...

This book will make you laugh, but it will also make you think. I mean, when you hear just someof the topics presented in the book you will find yourself trying to figure out how it can possibly all work together, but it does! I'm sorry, I have to say it again, but jPod is brilliant and Coupland is brilliant for making it all work. The characters are a bit stereotypical, but it works for the story. I am really gushing here! I honestly didn't find a lot wrong with the book. I picked a perfect time to read it and, well, I LOVED it! If you haven't read Coupland you seriously have to. This book is totally him at the top of his game, but it is just one great book by a fantastic author. It's been a while since I had my Coupland fangirl moments, so you are just going to have to humour me!

Bottom line, I know for a fact that jPod will be on my best of list at the end of the year. Also, isn't the cover great? Okay, I really ramble when I really like a book...

Black Hole by Charles Burns

Books Completed: 89
Completion Date: March, 2009
Pages: 368
Publication Date: January, 2008

Reason for Reading: Graphic Novels Challenge, New Author Challenge

Winner of the Eisner, Harvey, and Ignatz Awards

The setting: suburban Seattle, the mid-1970s. We learn from the outset that a strange plague has descended upon the area’s teenagers, transmitted by sexual contact. The disease is manifested in any number of ways — from the hideously grotesque to the subtle (and concealable) — but once you’ve got it, that’s it. There’s no turning back.

As we inhabit the heads of several key characters — some kids who have it, some who don’t, some who are about to get it — what unfolds isn’t the expected battle to fight the plague, or bring heightened awareness to it , or even to treat it. What we become witness to instead is a fascinating and eerie portrait of the nature of high school alienation itself — the savagery, the cruelty, the relentless anxiety and ennui, the longing for escape.

And then the murders start.

As hypnotically beautiful as it is horrifying, Black Hole transcends its genre by deftly exploring a specific American cultural moment in flux and the kids who are caught in it- back when it wasn’t exactly cool to be a hippie anymore, but Bowie was still just a little too weird.

To say nothing of sprouting horns and molting your skin…

Nymeth asked the following question about this book:

Charles Burns said that the plague can be seen has a metaphor for adolescence itself. Does this interpretation make sense to you? Why or why not?

- This interpretation totally makes sense to me! All of us have been in school, so I think that most people know what high school is all about. There were the popular students, the students that slipped through the cracks, and the students that were ridiculed. Obviously, there are little sub-groups in all the major groups, but that was what high school was. In this book, Burns has it so that the people that have the plague are the 'unpopular' students. It is changing a bit now, but in most high schools the administration and teachers are aware of the fact that students are picked on, but they don't do anything about it. That's contributing factors to why students come to school with guns or commit suicide. The plague is the same thing. Instead of figuring out what is wrong, the students are shunned and they are forced to run away because they are different. This is a perfect example of how things are not done to to help those in need. Burns just turns the popularity contest into a real sickness.

In normal high schools, students are often treated badly for minor things. Burns makes it a major thing- with the students growing tails and molting their skin. I bet, though, many people who read this book had more sympathy and outrage for the treatment of these plague sufferers than they had for the picked on when they were in high school... In this book there is also the depressed and a little crazy student that carried a gun. I can see so many comparisions between what high school was like and what school was like for these plague sufferers. It was a learning experience. It reminded me what high school could be like, that's for sure! It was also interesting that there was really no adults present in this book. The story was told from the point of view of the students, it showed their reactions to the plague, and we saw them suffer from it, but we were never really shown the adult point of view. None of the students told their parents they were sick, either. It is like when you are being bullied, it takes a lot to go home and tell your parents. People are ashamed when they are bullied in some cases, and the students in this book were ashamed that they were sick.

The other thing to think about in regards to this book is that this plague was actually a sort of STD. Now, think about all the illnesses present in our society that are transported sexually. We are aware of them, but many people still have unprotected sex. This was the same case in this book. The students were scared of the plague, but even knowing how it was spread they didn't do anything preventive. They still had sex unprotected. This is obviously a very clear message in this book. You try reading it and not think 'How stupid can you be?' Well, we might not have the same diseases, but we do have the same reactions... And then, when you get the diseases you are shunned and treated terribly for them. Like AIDs... As you can see, Burns has a lot going on in this book.

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

Books Completed: 77
Completion Date: March, 2009
Pages: 232
Publication Date: April 18, 2009

Reason for Reading: Graphic Novel Challenge, New Author Challenge

In this groundbreaking, bestselling graphic memoir, Alison Bechdel charts her fraught relationship with her late father. In her hands, personal history becomes a work of amazing subtlety and power, written with controlled force and enlivened with humor, rich literary allusion, and heartbreaking detail. Distant and exacting, Bruce Bechdel was an English teacher and director of the town funeral home, which Alison and her family referred to as the "Fun Home." It was not until college that Alison, who had recently come out as a lesbian, discovered that her father was also gay. A few weeks after this revelation, he was dead, leaving a legacy of mystery for his daughter to resolve.

Chris, Nymeth, and Vasilly all wanted to hear my thoughts on this book, so here goes!

It is sort of fitting Nymeth wanted to hear my thoughts because she was actually one of the reasons why I added this book to my wish list! The reason that I own it, though, is because I won it from the New Author Challenge hosted by Literary Escapism.

Vasilly asked two questions:

What did you think of Fun Home?

- When I read books like this I am always left wondering: What is wrong with the human race that people can write such depressing and revealing accounts of themselves and people flock to the bookstores to buy them? Does it make us feel better because we can always find an aspect of their life that is worse than ours? And, along the same lines, what makes people write such revealing books about themselves? Is it for their five minutes of fame, or some deep psychological issues? Like, really, why did I find myself reading a book about some random woman that created a graphic novel about her childhood, her relationship with her parents, her fathers' sexuality, her sexuality, and on and on... What is it about our culture that we need to tell everyone everything? Even if we are not writing books about it, look at the popularity of sites like Facebook, Twitter, or one of the various blogging programs. I write a post and I might say something about my personal life, several people read it and comment on it... But, why? What has changed in even the last ten years that people feel the need to be so impersonal. To hang their 'dirty laundry' out for everyone to see... It boggles the mind, really...

As to the actual question, I am not really sure what I thought about this book. I have actually being staring at the question for a few minutes trying to decide what I wanted to say. (That and my computer fan is making a weird noise that is just about driving me crazy!) The truth is, I remember what the book is about and I remember what happens in it, but I don't think the book is going to have a lasting effect on me. It was good. It was just not fantastic. I didn't find myself caring for the characters, it was more like I was just reading the book to read the book. I hate saying stuff like that because I am really not heartless... Anyway, this book is about Alison and her slightly dysfunctional family, but then, aren't most families dysfunctional nowadays? Okay, I did like this book, don't get me wrong!

Have u read any strips from Bechdel's "Dykes to Watch For" series?

-This answer is easy: Nope! Not because I don't want to, but because I never thought about actually doing it.

Not one of my better reviews... Did I mention the noise my computer is making is driving me crazy? I am going to go see if I can find some air and maybe that will shut it up!

Bad Bloggers - Take Nine, Part Two

The amazing Maurice and his educated rodents by Terry Pratchett - Debi gets a point for sure for this one!

Slaughterhouse-five by Kurt Vonnegut - My friend Vanessa is to blame for me wanting to reread this...

A coalition of lions by Elizabeth Wein - Sequel to The Winter Prince

One piece. Vol. 1, Romance dawn by Eiichiro Oda - Point for Renay... for the Herding Cats Challenge

One piece. Vol. 2, Buggy the Clown by Eiichiro Oda - Point for Renay...

Four and twenty blackbirds by Cherie Priest - Point for Chris... for the Herding Cats Challenge. (I have wanted to read this book FOREVER)

Betrayed : a House of Night novel by P.C. Cast - Point for Stephanie... That was fast! They had to replace it, so I guess I picked a good time to request it!

Among the Mad: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear - Continue on with the series.... I have been blaming these books on Danielle and Iliana, so I will continue.

I'll add the links tonight and update the sidebar! In my defense I am bringing seven books back...

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Books Completed: 92
Completion Date: March, 2009
Pages: 352
Publication Date: May, 2008

Reason for Reading: Once Upon a Time III Challenge, New Author Challenge

Mibs Beaumont is about to turn thirteen, which in the Beaumont family means her "savvy"-her special power-is about to strike. Her brothers' savvies let them create hurricanes and spark electricity, but Mibs has yet to learn what her savvy is. Then, two days before her birthday, her father is in a terrible car accident. He is sent to a hospital two hours from their isolated small town, and Mibs determines that she must get there, adamant that her savvy is going to help save him. She ends up on a traveling bible salesman's pink bus with all her siblings and the preacher's children, including the preacher's son, Will, who has a crush on her. The story chronicles the ups and downs of their journey to the hospital-where, in the end, Mibs's savvy (she can hear the thoughts and feelings of people with ink on their skin) helps her hear Poppa's tattoo speak and, ultimately, save his life.

Vasilly asked a few questions about this book, so I am going to answer them:

What did you think of Savvy?
- I found this book enjoyable. It wasn't as good as other books I have read so far this year, but still recommendable in its own right. It could have been confusing. While Mibs tells the story, there are a lot of characters included in her narrative. When she hops on a bus determined to get to her comatose father, she brings the preachers two children and her two brothers with her. Then, there is the bus driver and the woman whose car is broke down on the side of the road and ends up hitching a ride with them. That's a lot of characters for such a short book, but Law pulls it off. We learn about Mibs, but we also learn about everyone else. Some of the characters develop during the novel, whether because the adventure of the road has changed them or because Mibs sees them differently, though, is debatable. She was looked at with scorn in school and never really fit in, so she does have a high opinion of her local townsfolk. Her older brother is struggling with his Savvy and her younger brother is a bit of a recluse. He hardly says a word during the entire novel.

Who was your favorite character?
- Very predicatable, but I think Mibs was probably my favourite character. Sometimes children narrators annoy me. I do a lot better when the narrator is an adult, but this year I have been reading a lot more young adult novels and with them comes a lot more young narrators. The mark of a good character for me is one that can tell the story from a child's point of view and not drive me crazy in the process! If the narrator is too immature, the story does not flow very well for me and I either get annoyed or lose interest. Mibs was a good character. She has her moments, but generally she tells the story really well. She is a very determined little girl and it really comes across in the book. She has to be larger than life, though, with a name like Mississippi!

Was it believable?
- This book is a fantasy novel that takes place in the regular world. Mibs and her family have the ability to do extraordinary things, but there is a little Savvy in all of us. Mibs family just cannot ignore their powers, but even the people that she meets along the way have abilities that they just take for granted as part of who they are as people. When you think of it like that, it makes for a very believable novel. You could almost imagine that a family like this exists in our own world. We have the people that can do extraordinary things, so why can't there be people that can change the weather or cause static electricity. That is not to say that there is, but Law writes in such a way that you can believe it is possible. She does not press the boundaries too far and it makes for an enjoyable book.

Would you read the next book Law writes?
- Maybe. I did enjoy this book, but not as much as others. If I notice she has a new book out and the library has it, I would probably request it, but this was not a book that makes me want to rush right out and buy everything that she has. So, while I liked it and recommend it, there are better books that I have read and other authors that I would be quicker to read.

Some Book Porn... Of the Wordy Nature!

A few people mentioned how Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon sounds good. Well, I decided to ignore my scary library pile and start it tonight... I hope the whole book is as good as the first paragraph:

I loved arriving at the bookstore first thing in the morning, when the streets were still quiet, the sun half risen, and the whole place felt like a secret meeting room. I liked walking through the still-dark city, as if I were wading through air--the buildings like shadows looming on either side of me, the streets rushing forward in black rivers. There was something about the empty store, too, the books piled all around, that made you want to whisper and walk as slowly as you could. The city was always on top of you, pressing in, but the moment you stepped inside Daedalus Books, it felt like you'd closed your eyes and gone to sleep.

(Chapter 1, Page 1)

I don't want to get my hopes up too high... but I think I might be in love!

A Question and A Challenge and Another Challenge Wrap-up

Okay, folks. The problem with reading all the books that I have read in the last three months is that I am entirely hopeless at keeping up with reviewing them! So, is there anything that I haven't reviewed that you would like to see me review? And, please say something... I am hoping it will 'spice' up my reviewing a bit and inspire me to catch-up! It's one of those things where I am so far behind I am starting to feel a bit overwhelmed! So, I am going to be bitchy and say PICK SOMETHING! lol And, well, say why... Yes, that's fun.. The bitchy part isn't so much, but hey, you can just ignore lovable ole me, right?

Moving on! I joined another challenge because I wrapped up several yesterday. It's the Arthurian Challenge. You might not know it now, but I actually really like Arthurian literature. I haven't read very much of it lately, but I am going to try and remedy that!

When: April 2009 through March 2010
Goal: To read books starring characters found in or inspired by Arthurian legends. (King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin, Lady of the Lake, etc.) There are no set amount of books. Read one or two. Or read a dozen. You set the amount that feels good to you!

So, I am only planning on 1-3 books. Mainly because... I don't really know what I want to read! This gives me a chance to think and if I read more, great, if I don't, that's okay, too!

1.
2.
3.

Any suggestions?

I didn't notice yesterday, but I have actually read five books for the Once Upon a Time Challenge. I will continue to add on to the list as I go along, but in the meantime:

1. The Winter Prince by Elizabeth E. Wein
2. Dingo by Charles de Lint
3. Savvy by Ingrid Law
4. Marked: A House of Night Novel by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (Book 1)
5. Pay the Piper: A Rock 'N' Roll Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple (Book 1)
6. The Golden Phoenix and Other Fairy Tales from Quebec Edited by Marius Barbeau & Michael Hornyansky

The not surprising fact is that I STILL haven't reviewed any of them...

March Wrap-Up

March was a good reading month! A strange one, though. I am reading a lot of young adult books, manga, and graphic novels. In previous years I hardly read any!

The first seven books I read this month were the seven volumes of the manga series Emma:

• 67. Emma - Volume 7 by Kaoru Mori
• 66. Emma - Volume 6 by Kaoru Mori
• 65. Emma - Volume 5 by Kaoru Mori
• 64. Emma - Volume 4 by Kaoru Mori
• 63. Emma - Volume 3 by Kaoru Mori
• 62. Emma - Volume 2 by Kaoru Mori
• 61. Emma - Volume 1 by Kaoru Mori

I read the first two books in J.H. Sweet's Fairy Chronicles series. While I thought they were cute, I probably won't read the rest of the series because the library doesn't have them.
The Fairy Chronicles - Book One - Marigold and the Feather of Hope, the Journey Begins by J.H. Sweet
The Fairy Chronicles - Book Two - Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams by J.H. Sweet

Other manga:
Chobits Vol. 1 by Clamp
Chobits Vol. 2 by Clamp
Chobits Vol. 3 by Clamp
Chobits Vol. 4 by Clamp
- A cute series! There are eight volumes in total. If I review the series, I think I will probably wait until I have finished it. I find it hard to review otherwise!

Fruits Basket Volume 1 by Natsuki Takaya
Fruits Basket Volume 2 by Natsuki Takaya
Fruits Basket Volume 3 by Natsuki Takaya
Fruits Basket Volume 4 by Natsuki Takaya
- Like above, I find manga hard to review. Also, while I like this series, I also find it a bit confusing at times... I like the idea behind it and the characters, so I will probably carry on with it, but it is not my favourite manga I have read this year!

X/1999: Prelude by Clamp (Volume 1)
X/1999: Overture by Clamp (Volume 2)
- Chobits and Fruits Basket drew me in just with two volumes. This series... I haven't really decided what I think of it yet! I will probably carry on with it, but it might not be my thing. Only time with tell!

I am going to start one more manga series this year. Renay recommends the One Piece series by Eiichiro Oda. I am going to read it for her challenge. Otherwise, no more new mangas until I finish one I have on the go. Probably Chobits because it is the shortest one.

Graphic Novels Read:
Alice in Sunderland: An Entertainment by Bryan Talbot
Rose by Jeff Smith
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Epileptic by David B.
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon & Dean Hale
A Distant Soil - Volume 1 - The Gathering by Colleen Doran
A Distant Soil - Volume 2 - The Ascendant by Colleen Doran
Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi
The Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot
Black Hole by Charles Burns

Favourite: Black Hole by Charles Burns. It surprises me to say that because it was so weird, but... I think that is why I liked it. I will never forget it! I also liked both books by Bryan Talbot a lot and Shannon Hale's books are always good!

Disappointments: I could not get into Epileptic by David B. I don't know why... I also did not like Colleen Doran's books. I probably won't bother to read the third one.

Novels:
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (1/2 series)
The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme - Book Two - The Thief Queen's Daughter by Elizabeth Haydon (2/3 series)
Messenger by Lois Lowry (The Giver Trilogy, Book 3) (3/3 series)
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
JPod by Douglas Coupland
Bogus to Bubbly: An Insider's Guide to the World of Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Well, it could also be seen as non-fiction)
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (Skulduggery Series, Book 1) (1/2 series)
The Winter Prince by Elizabeth E. Wein (1/2 series)
Savvy by Ingrid Law
The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine by April Lurie
Old Man's War by Johm Scalzi (1/3 series)
Marked: A House of Night Novel by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (Book 1) (1/5 series)
Pay the Piper: A Rock 'N' Roll Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple (Book 1) (1/2 series)

I didn't read very many adult books... hm... This is a strange reading year for me!

Top Five (in no particular order)
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
JPod by Douglas Coupland
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (Skulduggery Series, Book 1) (1/2 series)
Old Man's War by Johm Scalzi (1/3 series)
The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine by April Lurie

Disappointment: The only book I was not a HUGE fan of was The Winter Prince by Elizabeth E. Wein (1/2 series). It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't fantastic either. Otherwise... I am not sure if I liked the end of The Messenger. Frankly, I could have just read The Giver and been happy. I don't think the last two books match up at all!