Tuesday 4 September 2012

Teaser Tuesday: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

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!   
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book - Bloomsbury

“Does it work? Are they happier dead?”
“Sometimes. Mostly, no. It’s like the people who believe they’ll be happy if they go and live somewhere else, but who learn it doesn’t work that way. Wherever you go, you take yourself with you. If you see what I mean.”
 -- Chapter 4

There were people you could hug, and then there was Silas.
-- Chapter 5


I'm about halfway through The Graveyard Book and I'm enjoying it immensely. It's got illustrations as well - even in my ebook edition - of important scenes accompanying the text. The reader follows the story of the boy Nobody Owens: from escaping a murder to his life on the graveyard, were he lives with his adopted ghost parents and his guardian Silas. I especially like Silas' silent, clipped nature and wonder what kind of creature he is. And then there's still the threat of the man Jack who wants to finish what he started at the beginning of the book ...

I think I'll indulge my curious nature and go find out what happens next. :)
What's your current read? Tease us in the comments.

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?