Wednesday 29 August 2012

Waiting on Wednesday: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan.
Publication Date:  January 8th 2013

The Tragedy Paper - Knopf Books for Young Readers

Tim Macbeth is a 17-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is, “Enter here to be and find a friend.” Tim does not expect to find a friend; all he really wants to do is escape his senior year unnoticed. Despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential “it” girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving’s most popular boy. To Tim’s surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, and she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone finds out. Tim and Vanessa enter into a clandestine relationship, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher.

The story unfolds from two alternating viewpoints: Tim, the tragic, love-struck figure, and Duncan, a current senior, who uncovers the truth behind Tim and Vanessa’s story and will consequently produce the greatest Tragedy Paper in Irving’s history.
Synopsis from goodreads.com

So you start at a new school and fall in love with the most popular girl there, who moreover is in a relationship with the most popular guy in school? Not good. Definitely the worst idea ever for "escaping unnoticed".
I'm curious how that will work out, especially when Tim and Vanessa try to date secretly.
What I'm even more curious about - and what caught my eye at first reading - are the alternating viewpoints from which the story is told. Both are guys and it seems only one of them is a major character. I'm rather fond of some male voices, I read lately, so let January come fast and hand me some tragedy (on paper, please)! ;)

Which book are you waiting on this week? Tell us in the comments.

Monday 27 August 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Endlessly by Kiersten White

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!  

Endlessly by Kiersten White.

Endlessly - HarperTeen


You never seem to realize how hard it is to keep you alive, especially with you so constantly trying to achieve the opposite goal.
-- Chapter 13
“There’s a problem,” he said. People needed to stop saying that.
-- Chapter 34



There is hardly a heroine in YA, or in fiction, quite like Evie. And even if I don’t count myself as a big fan of the colour pink, I can appreciate a sparkly pink Taser. As this is the final book in a trilogy I won’t say anything about the content. Evil potential *bleep* spoilers. But it’s good to see Evie again and I believe that this is a good close to the series.

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Waiting on Wednesday: The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
The Archived by Victoria Schwab.
Publication Date: January 22nd 2013


The Archived - Hyperion
Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous—it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.
Synopsis from goodreads.com

This sounds absolutely amazing in my opinion. The dead telling their stories like books? And altering histories and a general sense of mystery? Right up my alley, I can’t wait to get my hands on this. What do you think of that cover? I’m quite partial to it for some reason.

Let me know what’s on your waiting list. I’m about to need a major round of "books to look forward to" after I hand in that thesis. :)

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!  

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder.

Touch of Power - Mira Books



I grew up with two brothers. I can handle harmless teasing. Besides, laughter heals the soul. You should try it sometime.
-- Chapter 10
The bull’s eye hovered right above the Healer’s Guild.
-- Chapter 16



I only wanted to read a couple of pages yesterday. I only have time for a couple of pages ... that’s what I told myself. Suffice to say I’m on page 310 as of this moment and only stopping to make this post. This is so good! Seriously, I know I’m late to the party, but if you haven’t had a look at this yet, you should consider it. Nothing mushy so far, clean and engaging writing, and a really great story.

What are you reading that you can hardly put down?

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Waiting on Wednesday: The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett.
Publication Date: March 5th 2013

16-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare. Literally. Dusty is a magical being who feeds on human dreams.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder. The setting is Arkwell.

And then it comes true.

Now the Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.
Synopsis from goodreads.com 

Seriously, this book sounds like a lot of fun! I think I've never heard of the concept before: a nightmare being personalized and all. Also "He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing." made me laugh out loud, and it's only the synopsis. Topped up with some murder mystery, that's a can't wait for sure!

What has you on tenterhooks for release this week? Tell us in the comments!