Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Book review: Pretty Bad Things by C.j. Skuse


My summary:
Sixteen year old twins Beau and Paisley Argent lost their mum years ago and their dad went to prison and after that they didn't hear from him. Since then they lived with a cruel and selfish grandmother who cares more for money than her grandchildren. Good old grandmother sent Paisley to boarding school(several actually) because she was to difficult to handle but Beau have always been a good little boy never causing any trouble.. That is until the day Beau figures out that their grandmother has been keeping secrets, a whole box of secrets containing letters from their dad. It's showtime and the reader is taken for a ride to Las Vegas robbing candy stores with the twins.

My thoughts:
Beau and Paisley is such a great pair of siblings, they are just such opposites; one calm, the other one a bit crazy never really stopping to think about the consequences of their actions. The twins will take you for a fun ride that's for sure.

The chapters alternates between Paisley and Beau telling us about their adventure and it works quite well for me. I'm was not always overjoyed by Paisleys voice because it didn't always seem that authentic but she grew on me as she developed throughout the book.

All in all a entertaining read and I want more, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel.



The cover:
Lovely and pink just like some of the candy being stolen.


My rating of this book:
3.9 stars out of 5.

Want to know more?
Read about author C.j. Skuse 
  

Full disclosure: Purchased.

I bought Pretty Bad Things after reading a splendid review over at Jenny's blog Wonderous Reads. 


Tuesday, 28 September 2010

Finding Sky - Waiting on Wednesday




Finding Sky by Joss StirlingRelease date: October 5th 2010. Published by Oxford University Press(OUP).

I first discovered this book yesterday over at Caroline's blog Portrait of a Woman, Caroline wrote a most excellent review of Finding Sky and I just knew that I have to read this book someday. I'm so eager to get a chance to find out more about the paranormal world of Falling Sky and of course to meet Sky and Zed and the other characters.

Synopsis
 borrowed from Goodreads:
When Sky catches a glimpse of Zed for the first time, lounging against his motorbike at school, she is drawn to him just like every other girl in Wickenridge. But Zed sees something special in her that the other girls don't have. Zed tells her they are both Savants - people with special powers like telepathy and the ability to see into the future. Not only that, she is a Savant too, and his soulfinder - meant to be together. When a soulfinder speaks telepathically to her partner, it's like all the lights coming on in a building. You lit me up like Vegas. But for Sky it's just not that easy - she's a mystery to herself, haunted by nightmares from her past before she was adopted, and riddled with doubt and insecurity. Just when Sky is slowly coming round to the idea of being with Zed she is kidnapped by a family of criminal Savants. In a chilling twist, Sky and Zed's relationship is put to the ultimate test and the fate of those she loves lie in Sky's hands. Will Sky have the strength to embrace her power and be brave enough to control her own destiny, or will the dark demons of her past prevent her from realising her true potential?

Check out the book trailer:



Want to know more about the author or the book?


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This event spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. Please visit Jill's blog to find out what other book bloggers are waiting for.


Monday, 27 September 2010

The Secret of Ka - Teaser Tuesday

I kept glancing down, expecting a crowd to form on the sidewalk below. Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's the Carpet of Ka!

This weeks teasers is brought to you from The Secret of Ka by Christopher Pike, Kindle location 3270.


My review for this book will be up later this week. The part of the quote that is written in italic is, for those of you not familiar with Superman, taken from the intro from the old Superman cartoons. I'll let you in on a little secret; this is a story about an American girl, a Turkish boy and a flying carpet.


MizB of Should Be Reading host this meme called Teaser Tuesday . Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
    BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


Sunday, 26 September 2010

Book review: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus


First of all I'm so sorry for being late with this review. I read it as a part of the International Book Tour, it was right before my exam so it was all a bit too much at the time so I actually forgot all about writing the review(but better late then never, right?).

I'm not writing my own synopsis for Shadow Hills, instead I leave you to watch the wonderful trailer made by VLC Productions(book blogger Vania from Reverie Book Reviews):


My thoughts:
Sometimes I wonder what is wrong with me, why can't I love the books that everyone else seems to love? I expected to fall head over heels for Shadow Hills but somehow I just couldn't and ended up with mixed feelings. That probably makes it sound like I disliked this book, well I didn't.

Author Hopcus has created a good and creepy boarding school setting with a mysterious old graveyard nearby. The main character Phe has a special
(original idea from the author I must say) reason for starting school in Shadow Hills; she is looking for answers for her sisters mysterious death. Phe has taken her most precious things with her and that's her sister's diary and bracelet, the reader soon understands that there is something odd about both items.

Ingredients that makes Shadow Hills a good read : Mutated and secretive inhabitants in the town of Shadow Hills, hot guy, hot creepy guy, sneaking out at night to parties in the dark of the woods, sounds at night, nightmares and scary dreams. I liked it and I won't hesitate to read the sequel if I have opportunity .

The cover:
I think it is alright but I wouldn't pick up the book based on the cover alone.

My rating:
3.9 stars out of 5 - well worth reading.

Want to know more?
Visit Anastasia's homepage
Read the first chapter of Shadow Hills
Read Anastasia's blog
Follow Anastasia on Twitter

Full disclosure:
ARC received from author via International Book Blog Tours for honest review. Book was passed along to the next reviewer on the list.

Saturday, 25 September 2010

In my mailbox - Week 38



In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kirsti over at The Story Siren. Head on over there to find out what other book lovers received this past week.



Purchased:
The Invisible Mountain by Carolina De Robertis - I've purchased the Norwegian translation of this book but it is also availble in English. I've heard wonderful things about this one so I'm longing for a chance to pick it off the shelf.


Mooched:
The Eight by Katherine Neville

That was it for me this week and I bet my wallet is glad it wasn't more LOL ;) So what did you get in your mailbox?

Friday, 24 September 2010

Book review: Majix: Notes from a Serious Teen Witch by Douglas Rees



My summary:
Kestrel Murphy's name is really Susan, but she doesn't like anyone calling her that. Kestrel is a name with a meaning, it suits a witch. Kestrel's mum and dad shipped her off to live with her aunt in boring little Jurupa, Southern California, after Kestrel's dad had a heart attack. B.D.(big daddy) needs peace and quiet to recover. Kestrel doesn't know a thing about her aunt really because of family problems B.D. barely speaks to his sister. It turns out she is a famous white witch.

At first Kestrel finds Jurupa a boring place and she struggles with fitting in to the local school. Some of the kids there are pretty mean to her, unfortunately the school's principal blame Kestrel. It is not easy making friends in a small town when all the kids thinks your a witch practicing the dark arts.

My thoughts:
I must admit that I felt a bit fooled by the summary of this book, I thought this was a story about a teenage witch when really it isn't, at lest not the paranormal kind like I expected. There is some magic here but the kind of magic that's Kestrel stopping to listen to the universe, finding out what it wants her to do.

This is a author Douglas Rees has created a good story about coming to age with a witty main character. This is also a novel who reminds you to try to see people for who they really are behind their outer and protective shell, I liked that. Young people behaving badly has isn't necessary bad people but quite often they have problems but no one to turn to for help.

Kestrel, her mum and her dad loved each other but they were an dysfunctional family, the parents were never there for Kestrel. It was quite the change for Kestrel moving to her aunt Ariel, Ariel supported and guided Kestrel in the right direction whenever Kestrel needed her.

The entire story is written like a book in a book, Kestrel is writing a book about magic(or Majix as she calls it) for the coming generations - it's kind of a diary. I think the book would have worked out just fine with Kestrel just telling the story from her point of view without the "I write a book" part, it's getting a bit old because it is mentioned quite a few times.

Kestrel finally gains some new friends, well written supporting characters which I come to love. I would have liked to know each and everyone of them a bit better, but perhaps Rees will explores this characters further in another novel? If that happens I would love to read more about Kestrel, her family and friends.

The cover:
I think the cover is awesome, I love the afternoon sun shining through the trees and the crows flying in the background.

My rating of this book:
3 stars out of 5 - enjoyable.

Want to know more?
Visit Douglas Rees homepage

Full disclosure:Review copy from Harlequin via Netgalley.

Book published: July 1st. 2010

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and on-line book stores such as 
Amazon or The Book Depository(I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store does by the way have free shipping to about 100 countries.    

Thursday, 23 September 2010

This weeks addition to my wish-list - Friday Finds

AKA Friday Finds.

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! Please note that these are all books from my wish-list, I don't own any of these titles.

This weekly meme is hosted by mizb17 at Should be reading. Follow the link and join in on the fun or take a look at all the wonderful books that others have discovered this week.

If you're interested in any of the books I just wanted to let you know that if you click the titles it takes you to Goodreads. That way you can easily add to your own wish-list ;)

Wednesday, 22 September 2010

Book review: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card


Let the preparations begin:
"I've watched through his eyes, I've listened through his ears, and I tell you he's the one. Or at least as close as we're going to get."
A summary of sorts:
The earth barely made it through two attacks from an alien race called the buggers. The armed forces fear that a possible third attack might wipe out the entire human race. Now the military is out scouting for young children, children who has the potential to lead their army safely through the next bugger attack. 

Meet six year old Andrew Wiggin, called Ender, and his siblings, Valentine and Peter, and their parents. When we first meet them Ender has just removed his monitor, it has been inserted in his brain for several years as a tool for the military, making it easier for them to spot potential soldier. And so begins little Ender's journey towards a career in the military. It is going to be hard, training both physically and mentally, it's no game, even if the soldiers are no more than children.

My thoughts:
Ender's Game  is unlike anything I've ever read before, this is science fiction at it's best, I'm sure(even if this is only my second scifi novel). Ender is taken from his home and family to be trained to be one of the greatest military leaders the world has ever known. A young boy bereaved his right to normal childhood and his freedom. Sounds kind of depressing, don't you think? In many ways it is, but at the same time it's a brilliant novel, this is a must read really.

I had some issues with a couple of things that Ender chose to do, but he wasn't supposed to be a normal six year old, he was a genius. Even if Ender was a genius some of the adults used him as a piece in their puzzle, he still trusted adults to some extent and was sometimes easy to lead.  

The story alternates between Ender's life at battle school and his siblings life at home. This works quite well and his siblings has their part in this story as well.

Ender is a good three dimensional character and he has a nice development throughout the book, we all know how much children changes from childhood into their teens.

I'm looking forward to continue with the next book in this series; Speaker for the dead. By the way did you know that Orson Scott Card won both The Hugo- and the Nebula-award for Ender's game?

There has been talk about turning Ender's Game into a movie but so far it doesn't look good. The author has been very involved in the processes and one of his main worries was that they would cast a 16 year old boy as Ender and give him a love interest like in any typical Hollywood movie.I'm glad that Card has been so strickt about this, a 16 year old would just not do as Ender. 

My rating of this book:
4.5 stars out of 5.

Want to know more?

I know that Orson Scott Card has been criticized for a lot of his opinions but still Ender's Game is a brilliant novel. So I won't go into any debates about the author but I will definitely continue reading his saga about Ender.


Speakloud - international giveaway, two winners.





In honor of the SpeakLoud movement brought together by fabulous authors, bloggers and readers as a reaction to Mr. Scroggins suggestion to ban these books from schools in Republic, Missouri, USA. I've shown my support and blogged about this article from my point of view as a Norwegian citizen but I want to do more. That's why I'm having a giveaway where you could win a copy of two of the books Mr. Scroggins wants to ban. If you would to read Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson or Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler here's your chance.

This contest is open for all, as long as you live on the same planet as I do :) You don't have to be a follower to enter this contest just put your name, address, email and book of choice in the form below. There will be two winners and each of them gets to chose one of these books. Contest
ends October 29th.





I borrowed this idea from two fabulous bloggers; Natalie from Mindful Musings and Eleni from La Femme Readers. Do check out the links to their blogs for another chance to win one of these books.


Tuesday, 21 September 2010

Clarity - Waiting on Wednesday



Clarity by Kim HarringtonRelease date: March 1st 2011. Published by Scholastic Point.

Clarity is author Kim Harrington's debut novel and the synopsis sounds great, here it is
 borrowed from Goodreads:

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch an object and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case — but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother — who has supernatural gifts of his own — becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?



Want to know more about the author or the book?
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This event spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. Please visit Jill's blog to find out what other book bloggers are waiting for.


Monday, 20 September 2010

Changeless - Teaser Tuesday


The Lady of Kingair reached off to the side of the darkened stairwell and clanged a bell hidden there. It made a noise halfway between a moo and a steam engine coming to an abrupt halt, and suddenly the hallway was filled with large men, most of them in skirts.

This weeks teasers is brought to you from Changeless by Gail Carriger, page 209.


I've been reading for almost four(!) weeks now. The story isn't boring or anything it's just that this is the book that I have on my nightstand and I've been so tired lately that I almost always fall asleep with the book over my face. So I try to just read a few pages at the time and just enjoy the book.


MizB of Should Be Reading host this meme called Teaser Tuesday . Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
    BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Speakloud - banning books from a Norwegian perspective






First of all I have to say that I'm quite shocked after reading all the well put posts in the book blogging community about Wesley Scroggin's article in News-leader.com and Laurie Halse Anderson's young adult novel Speak. Obviously I had to read it and I was left speechless. I haven't read Speak myself but now I just ordered it to support the author and the case in general.

I think it is very important that young adults has the choice to read about life and banning books who addresses serious subjects like drugs, alcohol or sex is only done for the sake of the adults. Do these people really think that banning these books will make bad things go away? Will it help young adults in any way? Isn't it better that young adults learns that condoms is used to keep them from getting pregnant or getting sexual-transmitting diseases than knowing nearly nothing about sex and having it still but unprotected? I wouldn't want my young adults to go out and have sex with someone but it is impossible to watch their every step. A novel might actually make the young person think twice before making a bad decision.

A book is a great source of comfort for many and I'm sure that books like Speak might be of help to girls who has experienced abuse. Reading about a person that has had the same experience might lessen the feeling of shame and guilt and let them know that when they are ready there are people out there to offer their support, listen and help them get through a difficult situation. I cannot find one good argument to keep young adults in the dark, bad things happen to people all over the world every day and if they don't read it in a book they will hear about it from one place or another.

A Norwegian perspective
I live in country that isn't in the habit of banning books, that is in no way meant as an offense to those of you who live in countries were that happen, and I'm very grateful for that. I do think that the definition of freedom of speech varies a bit from country to country when it comes to legislation, for all I know many Norwegian titles might be banned if they were published in another country. As far as I know no young adult novel has ever been banned in Norway and almost no adult books (no novels banned here now as far as I know). In 1957 a book by the Norwegian author Agnar Mykle was banned due to the sexual content, which was the first ban in Norway in over 70 years. Mykle and his book were acquitted already in 1958. A lot of books were banned by the Germans during World War II, but that was not under normal circumstance.

For those with a special interest I'm quoting a section about this subject in Norway, the quote is from an article about banned books in Norway on Beacon For Freedom of Expression:

Selected cases of freedom of expression versus blasphemy and pornography

The most noteworthy challenge of religious tolerance occurred in 1933, when the prominent poet Arnulf Øverland held a lecture on "Christianity - the tenth plague" ("Kristendommen - den tiende landeplage") in the Students Society at Oslo university. The trial against Øverland remains one of the most outstanding trials on freedom of expression in Norwegian history in peace time. Even though Øverland was acquitted, Parliament tightened the penal code on blasphemy a year later.

The public notion of decency was most notably challenged in the late 19th century by two authors; Hans Jæger ("Fra Kristiania-Bohêmen" 1886) and Christian Krohg ("Albertine" 1887). Both novels were confiscated, though only Jæger was sent to prison. 70 years passed before the authorities once more took penal action against authors on behalf of public decency. In the 1950s and 60s the authors Agnar Mykle ("Sangen om den røde rubin", 1957)(2), the American author Henry Miller ("Sexus" (Danish edition) 1957-59 )(3) and Jens Bjørneboe ( "Uten en tråd", 1966)(4) were all subject to criminal prosecution and the novels confiscated. In each case the sentence of the County Court was appealed to the Supreme Court. In Mykle's case, the majority of Supreme Court voted for acquittal and lifted the confiscation. In Miller's case the majority of the Supreme Court sentenced the booksellers to accept confiscation of the novel, and for the first time in 70 years a novel was prohibited in Norway. From USA Miller wrote a "Defence of the Freedom to Read: a Letter to the Supreme Court of Norway", published in English and Norwegian by J.W. Cappelen Forlag. In 1995 "Sexus" was published by the Norwegian publisher Den norske Bokklubben as part of the series " Library of the Century". In the case of Bjørneboe and his publisher, the majority of the Supreme Court ruled to uphold County Court's sentence of fines for both author and publisher and the order of confiscation. J. Bjørneboe's novel "Uten en tråd" thus became the second - and last - novel in the 20th century to be prohibited.
Today, these mid-20th century criminal trials against outstanding and internationally renowned novelists may seem like tales of the dark ages. At the time and long thereafter, these cases created heated public debate, thus contributing to extend public tolerance, and also helped shift the authorities and judicial system's focus of prosecution from fictional artistic expression to the vastly more serious crimes of child pornography and speculative violent adult pornography.

If you got this far I would like to thank you :) I'm sorry for this long, ranting post but as you might understand this is a subject that makes me want to speak up.






Sunday, 19 September 2010

Book review: Glass Houses(Morganville vampires #1) by Rachel Caine


A summery of sorts:
Claire Denvers is a freshman, living on her own for the first time, she is very intelligent and she is younger than all the rest of the freshman's at school. Even though Claire is smart she has a problem she doesn't know how to fix, the schools toughest group of girls, Monica and the Monickettes, have Claire on their hate-list. Monica and the Monickettes are not your average bullies, they are really, really mean(not that bullies are nice at all but these girls are dangerous) like if you value your life you stay far away from them. For Claire the only choice seems to be to move out of the dorm and rent a place or to move back home,

Claire is no quitter so she doesn't want to go running home to her parents. Luck has it that Claire finds a place but the house owner says she is too young to rent there, still she gets to stay until she finds something else. So Claire finds herself living with two very handsome and mysterious guys, Shane and Michael, and a nice goth girl named Eve. Eve tells Claire about mysterious things that happens in the city and she mentions vampires. Claire wonders if Eve is a bit weird, vampires doesn't exist do they? And why does Michael sleep all day and stay up all night?

My thoughts:
Claire is a fairly strong character, she is both stubborn and smart, but sometimes I felt like she did things she ought to have been smart enough not to have done. Settling down in that dark and ominous city one must be quite a though one to do so.

I loved Claire's new her roomies Shane, Michael and Eve and I felt that Rachel Caine did a good job letting letting the reader getting to know them without being peppered with information, sometimes that happen in the first book of a series. Understandably many authors spend much time establishing their characters and world building in the first book but sometimes that interferes a bit with the pace of the book, for Glass Houses that is not the case.

The ending left me wanting more so I need to get a hold of the second installment of this series. When I closed the book I was so mad at myself for not having bought the second book along with the first.


My rating of this book:
4 stars out of 5 - go read it.


Want to know more?
Visit Rachel Caine's homepage

Follow Rachel on Twitter
Check out Rachel's My Space page
Read Rachel's blog
 
Full disclosure:
Purchased myself.


Saturday, 18 September 2010

In my mailbox - Week 37




In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kirsti over at The Story Siren. Head on over there to find out what other book lovers received this past week.




I've bought myself a copy of Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I should have thrown myself over it but I'm so afraid to be disappointed(and if I love it The Hunger Games trilogy is finished once I've closed the book). I'm weird, I know.


Friday, 17 September 2010

TV-series recommendation - Being Human


I love me some supernatural series but I usually have to watch them alone as my hubby isn't all that interested. He has watched some Supernatural episodes with me and he thinks the show is ok, but then I discovered a BBC series called Being Human. My experience with tv-series from BBC is very good so it was no doubt in my mind, I had to try this. To my luck both I and hubby loved the first episode.

Being Human is such a great combination of action, drama and humor(I really love it that it is humorous without being a comedy). It's well worth checking out, both the first and the second season is available on DVD and a third season is in the making. Have a wonderful Saturday and do check out the trailer below.


Thursday, 16 September 2010

This weeks additions on my wish-list

AKA Friday Finds.

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

This weekly meme is hosted by mizb17 at Should be reading. Follow the link and join in on the fun or take a look at all the wonderful books that others have discovered this week.

If you're interested in any of the books I just wanted to let you know that if you click the titles it takes you to Goodreads. That way you can easily add to your own wish-list ;)

Now let's start out with books that have not yet been released:



I don't read much contemporary fiction but in this weeks Waiting on Wednesday meme Step Su spotlighted a YA novel titled Ten Miles Past Normal written by Frances O'Roark Dowell which immediately caught my interest. 

Lori over at Pure Imagination chose Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan as her WoW this week and I tought it sounded like a cute story.



Christina over at Confessions of a Book Addict chose The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal has her WoW this week. A girl who has lived her entire life as a false princesses(without knowing it) get's thrown out of the castle when the real princesses can come home. What is the false princesses supposed to do with her life now?


Almost last on the list over coming books I have Where She Went by Gayle Forman. This is the sequel to a YA novel, which I loved, called If I Stay (if you haven't read it then you really should give it a try)so this one is really a given on my list, I cannot wait for a chance to read it.



Rebecca over at Rebecca's Book Blog spotlighted a YA novel, first in a series, set in the US in the 1920's called Vixen(Flappers #1) by Jillian Larkin. Somehow "The Roaring Twenties" have always appealed to me.



Books that's available:


Vivienne over at Serendipity wrote a wonderful review of The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. I have seen this book around but I've never really been sure if I would want to read it or not. Now I'm leaning towards yes, it sounds very good.


Yesterday the lovely Adel over at Persnickety Snark wrote a BBAW post about forgotten treasures in which she mentioned a book by Mark Zusak. Zusak might be best known for The Book Thief but  he has written other books as well(I'm sorry to say I haven't read a single one yet). Adel wanted to share her love of Zusak's novel called I Am The Messenger and she persuaded me that this must really be a forgotten treasure.



Kirsten over at Bookworming in the  21st century also did an excellent BBAW post about forgotten treasures that had me adding two new books on my wish-list; Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer, pirates(yay!), and Dangerous angels by Francesca Lia Block.                                      





I also added the first book in the Quantum Gravity seriesKeeping it Real by Justina Robson, after reading about the series on a fellow Norwegian bloggers blog, Lesekaninen. I mean who can resist a series that has demons, fairies and other supernatural beings along with robots in it?!