2011 December

In My Mailbox!!!

December 31, 2011 By Lori 25 Comments

In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie and created by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I apologize for the horrible color of this video. I think I am going to start insisting hubby leave me the laptop from now on…

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Gifts:
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley from Candace
Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard from Angela
Breaking Dawn Collector’s Edition from my Mom & Dad
RAKs:
Ordinary Beauty by Laura Weiss from Barbara at Basia’s Bookshelf
Ashfall by Mike Mullen from Adam at Roofbeam Reader

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Wolves, Boys, and Others Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler
How it Ends by Laura Weiss
The Comeback Season by Jennifer E. Smith
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinly
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Happy New Year!!!

Filed Under: In my Mailbox

Saturday Situation: Link up your reviews & giveaways!

December 31, 2011 By Lori Leave a Comment

Happy Saturday everyone! It’s time for a new Saturday Situation, hosted by Candace at Candace’s Book Blog and myself. So, here’s the scoop: I’m going to set up two Mister Linky’s. One for Giveaways that you want to promote and one for Posts that you want to promote. The posts can be reviews, discussions, rants, events you are planning, anything that you want people to read! I know there’s so many great posts out there that often go unread. Here’s your chance to tell the world! Feel free to link up to other bloggers posts as well! Let’s spread the love!

Reviews/Posts Linky!

In this Linky please link directly to any posts you want to share with the world! Example: Name: Fallout Review URL: http://www.pureimaginationblog.com/2010/09/review-fallout-by-ellen-hopkins.html

Please do not post giveaways in this Linky! They go in the bottom one!

Book Related Giveaways Linky!

In this Linky please link directly to any book related giveaways you have! Example: Name: Middle Grade Giveaway-It's Raining Cupcakes and other Ends 9/30 URL:http://www.pureimaginationblog.com/2010/09/middle-grade-giveaway.html

Filed Under: Saturday Situation

A Year in the Life of…

December 30, 2011 By Lori 12 Comments

I did one of these posts last year and I had fun doing it, so I thought why not do it again this year. Unfortunately 2011 wasn’t as happy go lucky as 2010, but there were a few spectacular things.

The first noteworthy (and nerdy…) thing would be this:

Back in February my husband and I got iPhones, and I can say with a completely straight face that it changed my life. What did I ever do without that thing? Man I love it.

The most defining thing from 2011 all happened on April 27th. For over 12 hours the south east was hit by super cell storms over and over. It was the scariest day of my life. No exaggeration. The storms started at 9am and they didn’t end until well after 10pm. Most of that day was spent in here with my husband, my sister, my niece, a dog and six cats, and then later after the first tornado my parents trekked through the downed trees and came over.

We were extremely lucky. These were the same storms that hit Tuscaloosa and did unimaginable damage. Two tornadoes within 5 hours of each other came directly over my house. The first was a EF1 and we didn’t even really realize it was a tornado, but the second happened at about 9pm that night. It was an EF4 and we certainly realized that it was a tornado. Thankfully by the time it reached us it wasn’t completely on the ground or I would have had nothing left. Sadly it had already been on the ground for miles and destroyed so many things. Nine people died in my county. My road and yard were unrecognizable. There were probably 100 trees down for every mile. I really can’t even explain it. Houses just a mile away were gone. It was just crazy and scary.

Now back to happy things, huh?

We didn’t do nearly as much hiking in 2011 as we did in ’10 (I’m going to change that next year) but we did see a few pretty places:

These llamas are carrying supplies to a lodge at the very tippy top of the tallest mountain in TN. The only way to get there is by hiking or helicopter. There is also no electricity at this lodge…I must go someday.

In July we went to Charleston, SC. It was the first time I had ever been there and the first time I had been to the ocean since I was 16! It was beautiful and I can’t wait to go back.

In August we bought a new car! It’s my first brand new car ever and it was the one I had been wanting for years, a Mazda 3.

I also met some amazing authors and bloggers again this year:

Picture 1: Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, Jeaniene Frost. Picture 2: Maggie Stiefvater Picture 3: Angela from Reading Angel

Lisa McMann & Maureen Johnson

Beth Revis, Stephanie Perkins, Angela, Me

Authors & Bloggers at the Decatur Book Festival
Alma Katsu, Kelsey, Sasha, Stacy, Elizabeth Eulberg, Myra McEntire, C.J. Redwine, and Me
second row Alli, Elizabeth, Victoria Schwab, and Shannon

Went to some football games again…

I read 117 books. Which is a lot less than the 146 from last year, but I spent much more time with my amazing husband so I’m not complaining.

2010 Year in the Life of…

Feel free to steal this idea if you want! Leave me a link if you do. I would love to see your year.

Filed Under: 2011, A Year in the Life of

Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

December 29, 2011 By Lori 11 Comments

Release Date: February 14, 2011
Age Group: Young Adult
Received From: NetGalley
IBSN: 9780375869532
Blurb:
Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she’s going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He’s out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy’s stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she’s managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they’re suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.

First I saw that cover. Then I saw the glowing reviews. I knew that I had to read this book. The premise sounds very intriguing, right? There are probably no other books out there about a graffiti artist. There’s something utterly romantic about the idea of a boy illegally spray painting art. Add a 24 hour adventure in the vein of Nick & Norah, and you have one fantastic book on your hands.

It has been a really long time since I read a book where every single character is completely likeable. Lucy was determined and witty. Ed was tough but also kind of sensitive. I really loved their friends too. It seems like more often than not I don’t like friends in books, but these were hilarious. They had their own side stories too.

The book is told from alternating perspectives. You get a glimpse inside both Ed and Lucy’s heads and I must say that Cath Crowley is a master of complex and realistic characters.

All of that being said the book did lack just a tiny bit of something that would have made it amazing for me. I’m not sure what it was, but I ultimately still adored it. It was a fun and quick read, but it also had a lot of heart. I recommend it.

Filed Under: Cath Crowley, Young Adult

2011 End of the Year Book Survey!

December 28, 2011 By Lori 7 Comments

The End of the Year Book Survey is hosted by Jamie at Perpetual Page-Turner

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?
Hands down The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. It was the most compelling book I have read all year. It was impossible to put down. Plus it’s filled with creepy mystery and Noah Shaw is amazing. I loved everything about it.

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?
Probably The Fox Inheritance. I loved The Adoration of Jenna Fox so I was really anxious for the sequel when I heard about it, but I was pretty disappointed with it. I guess it really didn’t need a sequel.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children! It seemed so….odd. I thought it would be a okay story filled with cool, creepy pictures, but it turns out it was a amazing story with awesome, creepy pictures! It even ended up on my Favorites of ’11 list.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. What with all the Mara Mondays and Twitter gushing. Two other books that I have recommended a lot this year are Chime by Franny Billingsley and Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty.

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

Jessica Darling! Why did I wait so long to read these? I love them so, so much. I still need to read books 4 and 5, but I’m sure I’ll take care of that soon.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?
Can I just say all the really amazing debut authors I read this year? There are lots, though. To name a few: Lorraine Zago Rosenthal, Tessa Gratton, Myra McEntire, Ransom Riggs, Michelle Hodkin, Rae Carson, Erin Morgenstern, Ilsa J. Bick, Hannah Harrington, Marissa Meyer, Marie Lu, and Jessica Spotswood. And I read a lot of great follow-ups or sequels that put those authors straight on my favorites list. They are: Sarah Ockler, Cynthia Hand, Maureen Johnson, Leila Sales, Laini Taylor, Sarah Mlynowski, Lindsey Leavitt, and Gayle Forman. I really should have just said ‘all of them’ huh?

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
I read just about every genre so I feel like I don’t read outside my comfort zone often, but if I had to pick one I would say Between Shades of Gray was probably just a little outside my comfort zone. It’s a very hard book, but it done so beautifully that once I started reading it I couldn’t stop.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?
Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick! I read the first 300 pages of it in 3 hours. I was scared out of my mind (and I don’t scare easily) but in a awesome kind of way. The book is uber intense and impossible to put down. I loved it so much!

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?
The Near Witch, The Scorpio Races, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I really, really had to have those three!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?
Mara Dyer again…I really love that cover! I also love the cover for Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma.

11. Most memorable character in 2011?
Jessica Darling, definitely! She has a voice that must be heard and she’s sarcastic and hilarious. I want to be her when I grow up. Noah Shaw was also very memorable. He’s so…*swoon*

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?
It would have to be The Lover’s Dictionary. David Levithan is just utterly amazing and that book is so powerful.Chime by Franny Billingsley and The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern were also gorgeous.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?
Hmmm… Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. It made me feel things that I didn’t think were possible. Then it completely broke my heart. This book is amazing.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. This book has been out for years and I don’t know why I waited until this year to read it.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?
Everything in The Lover’s Dictionary! Every single page.

16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?
I don’t reread often anymore so I would most likely reread a book before its sequel came out and the two that come to mind are Daughter of Smoke and Bone and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver…that’s all I’m going to say. (But the book is incredible!)

2012 Here I Come!

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?
Any and all of the Fantasy novels I wanted to read. I think I am going to kick 2012 off with lots of YA Fantasy, The Demon King, Eon, Witchlanders, Silver Phoenix etc.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?
So many…Mara 2, the sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Isa and the Happily Ever After, BITTERBLUE! And Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton, Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson, Shine by Jeri Smith Ready….just to name a few.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2012?
First and foremost I want to stay ahead in both reading and blogging, but I also don’t want to get stressed out if I’m not. Does that make sense? 2011 was difficult. I was used to staying 2 or 3 weeks ahead on posts and that was almost impossible all year. I’m doing good now but I know something will come along and screw it up eventually and I don’t want to stress about it. I would love to get to a place where I feel like I don’t have to post every day, but I just can’t bring myself to do that right now.

I would really love to read some more adult books 2012. There are some adult series that I have neglected lately and I would love to get caught up.

Filed Under: 2011, 2011 Book Survey

My Top Ten Favorite Books of 2011!!

December 27, 2011 By Lori 44 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the awesome people at The Broke and the Bookish

This week’s topic is: Top Ten Books Favorite Books of 2011. I post my favorite books every year, but I have never once narrowed it down to ten. This was hard for me, but here they are in no particular order (except for the first two):

1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
This was the one book that left me with that consuming ‘Wow’ feeling this year. It really blew my mind. I absolutely loved it and I can’t wait to reread it and read book 2.
My Review

2. Chime by Franny Billingsley
This book was just gorgeous. The writing and the story were delicious. It was lyrical and captivating. I just loved everything about it.
My Review

3. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
This book is just…WOW. It’s incredible. The taboo storyline and the connection I felt to the characters is what got this book on this list. It really is an amazing book.
My Review

4. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
I had no idea what to expect going into this story, but it turned out fantastic. It’s so unique and delightful.
My Review

5. The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern
This is the most amazing book. Everything about it sucked me in.
My Review

6. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Lola! I love you! I could not put this book down and I was grinning the entire time.
My Review

7. The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan
This is such a little book filled with such meaning. It’s heartbreaking and heartwarming. I feel like I could read it every day and never get tired of it. It’s powerful.
My Review

8. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
It’s Lauren Oliver…what do you expect.
No review yet…

9. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
I LOVE THIS BOOK!
My Review

10. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
I debated on putting this book on my list because I LOVED the first half but not the second half. That first half kept me so on the edge of my seat and just in awe of the creepiness that I had to include it.
My Review

And because it’s so hard for me to stop at 10 here are some others that almost made this list:
Forever, Blood Magic, Other Words for Love,Past Perfect, Where She Went, The Scorpio Races, and Saving June.

My Favorites of 2009
My Favorites of 2010

Filed Under: 2011, Favorites, Favorites of 2011, Top Ten Tuesday

Review: There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

December 26, 2011 By Lori 4 Comments

Release Date: January 24, 2012
Age Group: Young Adult
Received From: Publisher
IBSN: 9780399257643
Blurb:
Meet your unforgettable protagonist: God, who, as it turns out, is a 19-year-old boy living in the present-day and sharing an apartment with his long-suffering fifty-something personal assistant. Unfortunately for the planet, God is lazy and, frankly, hopeless. He created all of the world’s species in six days because he couldn’t summon the energy to work for longer. He gets Africa and America mixed up. And his beleagured assistant has his work cut out for him when God creates a near-apolcalyptic flood, having fallen asleep without turning the bath off. There is No Dog is a darkly funny novel from one of our most delightfully unpredictable writers.

What a strange, strange little book. I mean that in the best way possible. There is No Dog is quirky, creative, and very unique. I promise you, you have not read anything like it. This is only my second book by Rosoff. The first being How I Live Now. This one is very different from that, but it is still the same mesmerizing writing.

Bob aka God is really your typical teenage sullen boy, with way too much power. He doesn’t use it for good. No, he seduces girls and leaves the general heavy lifting of his hob to his assistant, Mr B. The entire book is filled with odd and delightful characters. Not all are likeable, but they were all enjoyable.

There is No Dog probably isn’t for everyone, but that has nothing to do with the premise. It’s a work of fiction and not at all offensive. The reason it’s not for everyone has more to do with the strangeness. If you like to read outside your comfort zone, read this. If you want a delightfully strange book, read this.