Tuesday 22 September 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Court of Fives by Kate Elliott.
I’m a very sporty person ... when it comes to spectator sports. And reading is a very good way of establishing spectatorship (almost wrote spectator-ing there. Oh well, you know what I mean. Right?) The Fives are actually a very sophisticated five tier obstacle course where the player runs against three opponents. Think Takeshi’s Castle meets American Gladiators but without the safety nets, breaks or soft foam ground.This might be fun to watch, minus the possibility of being crushed and falling to your death of course. I enjoyed the description of Jes running through the courses and felt that this was a very immediate and action-packed part of the book. I also liked the background story of Jes’s family and their cultural struggle.
My only complaint is that I don’t quite get the attraction between Jes and Kal. If it weren’t for the kissing this would be a perfectly fine friendship between the two and the impact of what happens at the end would have had a similar impact. This will maybe play a bigger role in the books to come, but for this book it felt more like an afterthought. This doesn’t necessarily deduct from the main story, especially if you’re actually looking for a book that doesn’t seem to have a glowing love story at its centre.
Are you a sports spectator? Be that via television or reading. I find that if such a scene is well-written the reading experience is definitely comparable to watching a match on TV. Leave your thoughts and teasers in the comments.
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!
Court of Fives by Kate Elliott.
 |
| Court of Fives – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
“I don’t want to be your son! I want to be your daughter who matters to you as much as a son would.”
— Chapter 24
My enemies have weapons and magic and riches and ships and all the might of kingdoms at their disposal. But they don’t have me.
— Chapter 35
I’m a very sporty person ... when it comes to spectator sports. And reading is a very good way of establishing spectatorship (almost wrote spectator-ing there. Oh well, you know what I mean. Right?) The Fives are actually a very sophisticated five tier obstacle course where the player runs against three opponents. Think Takeshi’s Castle meets American Gladiators but without the safety nets, breaks or soft foam ground.This might be fun to watch, minus the possibility of being crushed and falling to your death of course. I enjoyed the description of Jes running through the courses and felt that this was a very immediate and action-packed part of the book. I also liked the background story of Jes’s family and their cultural struggle.
My only complaint is that I don’t quite get the attraction between Jes and Kal. If it weren’t for the kissing this would be a perfectly fine friendship between the two and the impact of what happens at the end would have had a similar impact. This will maybe play a bigger role in the books to come, but for this book it felt more like an afterthought. This doesn’t necessarily deduct from the main story, especially if you’re actually looking for a book that doesn’t seem to have a glowing love story at its centre.
Are you a sports spectator? Be that via television or reading. I find that if such a scene is well-written the reading experience is definitely comparable to watching a match on TV. Leave your thoughts and teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 15 September 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Firewalker by Josephine Angelini.
Remember that I talked about that Rowan character a couple of weeks ago? Well here you get the second feature length book he’s in and we don’t actually get to see things from his perspective, because that would make things so much easier to understand ... at least for the reader. For the characters to understand each other they would have to communicate and do so without lies by omission and assuming to know what’s best for another person. All that does is make things especially messy. But then we’d have no plot and the whole thing would be kind of pointless. So miscommunication it is.
This is a solid second book which picks up right where the first left off and offers new and interesting twists ... and also some really gut-wrenching ones. I’m still not over what I call the pronoun-differentiation-solution. And that other thing I won’t spoil for you which is also driving me nuts and will for another year. On a logical level, I understand that books take time to write and edit and print, but I doubt that my brain will ever convince my heart that this is more than torture on an emotional level.
There is another quote in this book (aha, you say, more teaser material) that has me thinking quite a bit:
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!
Firewalker by Josephine Angelini.
 |
| Firewalker – Feiwel & Friends |
I’ve been called crazy for years, but do you know what crazy is? Crazy is being able to see what your daughter is going through, and not being able to do anything about it.
— Chapter 4
“Well, I’m glad I didn’t completely ruin your life.”
“Oh, you still ruined it,” he said, breaking into a huge grin. “I mean, I’m in a tent in a hole in the ground. Not exactly a step up.”
— Chapter 10
Remember that I talked about that Rowan character a couple of weeks ago? Well here you get the second feature length book he’s in and we don’t actually get to see things from his perspective, because that would make things so much easier to understand ... at least for the reader. For the characters to understand each other they would have to communicate and do so without lies by omission and assuming to know what’s best for another person. All that does is make things especially messy. But then we’d have no plot and the whole thing would be kind of pointless. So miscommunication it is.
This is a solid second book which picks up right where the first left off and offers new and interesting twists ... and also some really gut-wrenching ones. I’m still not over what I call the pronoun-differentiation-solution. And that other thing I won’t spoil for you which is also driving me nuts and will for another year. On a logical level, I understand that books take time to write and edit and print, but I doubt that my brain will ever convince my heart that this is more than torture on an emotional level.
There is another quote in this book (aha, you say, more teaser material) that has me thinking quite a bit:
Love is being willing to become the villain so that the one you love can stay a hero.In this case the villain part is pretty drastic, and I suppose people are willing to endure and do a lot for the ones they love. If only you knew of all the choices and consequences, would you choose to be (perceived as) a villain in order to protect someone else? Share thoughts and teasers in the comments.
— Chapter 11
Tuesday 8 September 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready.
Without delving too deeply into religious matters, because a) it’s not my place and b) you don’t want to know about my opinion, this book is really great no matter what your point of view is ... well unless you were really disappointed that the world didn’t end at some point during the last few years. But with that exception, there is no one I wouldn’t recommend this book to as the topic of religious beliefs is dealt with in a very nuanced way. (I almost wrote critically, but the cultural conses at the moment seems to be that criticism is always negative and trying to tear someone/something down ... no, to examine something critically actually means to look at it from all angles without a pre-defined opinion ... but that’s a different kettle of fish so therefore nuanced).
What I really admire about this book are the two timelines at work that perfectly dovetail. Just not at the point where you think they would and I think this is very clever. And I love the slow unravelling of two mysterious plots in each timeline even if they are directly connected and one cannot exist without the other.
So do not balk at this book just because there is religion in it. In the end it’s just a book with a really good story. And quite a bit of baseball, which can also be a sort of religion I suppose.
In accordance with the main character’s misdeed (as he is basically late to get home and therefore misses the moment of salvation): Which is the single most important or memorable thing you have ever been late for? Share your stories and teasers in the comments.
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!
This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready.
 |
| This Side of Salvation – Simon Pulse |
That first year, while my family wandered around in the fog of grief, was the best of any year since. We were all lost together in the same way. During the Fog Year, nothing made sense to anybody.
— Chapter 4
“Ugh, is it possible to have a hangover without ever going to sleep?”
“You’re asking the wrong guy.”
“Yes, because for once you are the B-E-T-T-E-R child. Congratulations.”
— Chapter 7
Without delving too deeply into religious matters, because a) it’s not my place and b) you don’t want to know about my opinion, this book is really great no matter what your point of view is ... well unless you were really disappointed that the world didn’t end at some point during the last few years. But with that exception, there is no one I wouldn’t recommend this book to as the topic of religious beliefs is dealt with in a very nuanced way. (I almost wrote critically, but the cultural conses at the moment seems to be that criticism is always negative and trying to tear someone/something down ... no, to examine something critically actually means to look at it from all angles without a pre-defined opinion ... but that’s a different kettle of fish so therefore nuanced).
What I really admire about this book are the two timelines at work that perfectly dovetail. Just not at the point where you think they would and I think this is very clever. And I love the slow unravelling of two mysterious plots in each timeline even if they are directly connected and one cannot exist without the other.
So do not balk at this book just because there is religion in it. In the end it’s just a book with a really good story. And quite a bit of baseball, which can also be a sort of religion I suppose.
In accordance with the main character’s misdeed (as he is basically late to get home and therefore misses the moment of salvation): Which is the single most important or memorable thing you have ever been late for? Share your stories and teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 1 September 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Storm by Amanda Sun.
It’s time to finish another series and say goodbye to a cast of characters that has grown on me over the last books ... and years. But before that, they’ll still have to do something as insignificant as stop ancient powers from taking control over them and the world. All in a day’s work. Not really, This is something I appreciate about this series: That you get a sense of time passing, of Katie getting used to the idea of living in a foreign culture and adapting as best as she can during that time. And of course all the wonderful impressions from Japan ... second hand travel and all that. I’m not quite certain what to wish for at the moment as I am at a point in the book where a happy end seems sort of possible, but at what cost? I’m very curious to find out how all of this will be resolved.
Which end of a series has impressed you the most? This could be a happy end or a bittersweet end. Let’s hear from you in the comments.
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!
Storm by Amanda Sun.
 |
| Storm – Harlequin Teen |
“Funny,” I said. “But I don’t think Goodnight Moon will cut it.”
— Chapter 1
“Well, how many puppies are we talking about?”
“A basketful.”
“It was nice knowing you.”
— Chapter 13
It’s time to finish another series and say goodbye to a cast of characters that has grown on me over the last books ... and years. But before that, they’ll still have to do something as insignificant as stop ancient powers from taking control over them and the world. All in a day’s work. Not really, This is something I appreciate about this series: That you get a sense of time passing, of Katie getting used to the idea of living in a foreign culture and adapting as best as she can during that time. And of course all the wonderful impressions from Japan ... second hand travel and all that. I’m not quite certain what to wish for at the moment as I am at a point in the book where a happy end seems sort of possible, but at what cost? I’m very curious to find out how all of this will be resolved.
Which end of a series has impressed you the most? This could be a happy end or a bittersweet end. Let’s hear from you in the comments.
Tuesday 25 August 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Bitter of Tongue by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan.
Usually, I don’t think that writers actually sit down and hatch a plot (ha!) with the intent to break a reader’s heart. And then there are authors of the ilk of Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan ... and woe if the two of them plot together. There must be a health condition of heart palpitations named after them for caring too much about their fictional characters.
I love how this mini-series is a bridge between the much beloved Mortal Instruments and the coming Dark Artifices. It’s so hard to let go of characters who have accompanied you for so long and this way there are still glimpses of them. Their main story might be over but it’s so good to see them alive and reasonably well or on the way to getting there. It’s also a great way to get to know new characters before officially meeting them as main characters for the first time in their own series. At the same time the stories are independent enough that you won’t have not a clue of half of what happened if you pick up the next book without reading the bridge. You’re just missing a really great story in itself. I really want Simon to succeed at the academy and to get his memories back. Team Good is not complete without him. And I really want to know since when Jace is a hugger ... just for research purposes of course.
Which authors do you suspect collects their readers’ tears to sustain them? And I mean this in a totally loving and respectful way. I know that my previously mentioned fragile reader’s heart is in the best hands to be delicately handled and only mildly tortured with my best interests in mind ... right?
Let’s hear from you and your teasers in the comments.
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!
Bitter of Tongue by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan.
 |
| Bitter of Tongue – Margaret K. McElderry Books |
Songs aren’t blood. Blood is all that matters to Shadowhunters and faeries alike. The songs matter only to me.
— Chapter 1
What is a Shadowhunter made of, if they desert their own, if they throw away a child’s heart like rubbish left on the side of the road? Tell me, Simon Lewis, if that is what Shadowhunters are, why would I wish to be one?
— Chapter 1
Usually, I don’t think that writers actually sit down and hatch a plot (ha!) with the intent to break a reader’s heart. And then there are authors of the ilk of Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan ... and woe if the two of them plot together. There must be a health condition of heart palpitations named after them for caring too much about their fictional characters.
I love how this mini-series is a bridge between the much beloved Mortal Instruments and the coming Dark Artifices. It’s so hard to let go of characters who have accompanied you for so long and this way there are still glimpses of them. Their main story might be over but it’s so good to see them alive and reasonably well or on the way to getting there. It’s also a great way to get to know new characters before officially meeting them as main characters for the first time in their own series. At the same time the stories are independent enough that you won’t have not a clue of half of what happened if you pick up the next book without reading the bridge. You’re just missing a really great story in itself. I really want Simon to succeed at the academy and to get his memories back. Team Good is not complete without him. And I really want to know since when Jace is a hugger ... just for research purposes of course.
Which authors do you suspect collects their readers’ tears to sustain them? And I mean this in a totally loving and respectful way. I know that my previously mentioned fragile reader’s heart is in the best hands to be delicately handled and only mildly tortured with my best interests in mind ... right?
Let’s hear from you and your teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 18 August 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Rowan by Josephine Angelini.
How often have I wondered was was going on in some other person’s mind or how something looked from their perspective. Books already allow you the unique possibility to experience something from inside someone’s head who is not you. And still you wonder if that singular point of view doesn’t miss something. Sometimes, authors will give you the opportunity to delve into another character for a while and I think this can greatly enhance the understanding of the plot or as in this case add another level to the story. Sure, Lily could discern a lot of what happened, but it is quite different to actually experience it from Rowan’s perspective. And I like that more publishers and authors are beginning to use the possibility of e-shorts to enrich their books. Sure, some might think of this as rip-off and that the author better write on the actual book. However, I think that authors sometimes need to do these character studies anyway to get to know them better and then why not use this exercise? Okay, maybe we could talk about the cost-benefit ratio a little ... nevertheless, it’s a really great way to bridge the last few days of waiting until the second book is released. And I for one can barely wait to get my hands on it!
This e-short won’t make any sense if you haven’t read book one, Trial by Fire. But if you have and liked it, then I recommend you take a look at this. It may be short and basically just tells the same plot as the first few chapters of the first book, but I’m certain that you’ll glean quite a bit of additional information from it and that you’ll be able to understand Rowan so much better ... also considering his relationship to Tristan and general outlook on life as a whole.
Which character would you like to have an additional perspective from and from which book? I’ll be happy to hear from you in the comments.
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!
Rowan by Josephine Angelini.
 |
| Rowan – Feiwel & Friends |
Sleep has never been easy for me, not like it is for city folk. I’ve never met an Outlander who couldn’t wait to open his eyes and see the day. To know he made it through one more night.
— Chapter 1
Above ground and out in the open and I feel like I can breathe again. Danger is immediate and basic in the woods, and I’ve always been more comfortable with that than with the hidden barbs and double speak of the city.
— Chapter 1
How often have I wondered was was going on in some other person’s mind or how something looked from their perspective. Books already allow you the unique possibility to experience something from inside someone’s head who is not you. And still you wonder if that singular point of view doesn’t miss something. Sometimes, authors will give you the opportunity to delve into another character for a while and I think this can greatly enhance the understanding of the plot or as in this case add another level to the story. Sure, Lily could discern a lot of what happened, but it is quite different to actually experience it from Rowan’s perspective. And I like that more publishers and authors are beginning to use the possibility of e-shorts to enrich their books. Sure, some might think of this as rip-off and that the author better write on the actual book. However, I think that authors sometimes need to do these character studies anyway to get to know them better and then why not use this exercise? Okay, maybe we could talk about the cost-benefit ratio a little ... nevertheless, it’s a really great way to bridge the last few days of waiting until the second book is released. And I for one can barely wait to get my hands on it!
This e-short won’t make any sense if you haven’t read book one, Trial by Fire. But if you have and liked it, then I recommend you take a look at this. It may be short and basically just tells the same plot as the first few chapters of the first book, but I’m certain that you’ll glean quite a bit of additional information from it and that you’ll be able to understand Rowan so much better ... also considering his relationship to Tristan and general outlook on life as a whole.
Which character would you like to have an additional perspective from and from which book? I’ll be happy to hear from you in the comments.
Tuesday 11 August 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Jesse’s Girl by Miranda Kenneally.
Sometimes you just need to listen to some good old country music to relax to ... or at least read about it and a girl who is decidedly not into this music, but still falls for the prince of country. Reluctantly. Very reluctantly. And in case you haven’t heard of the song this title alludes to, you should check it out. I won’t judge you if you prefer the version made popular by Glee a while back. What is great about Miranda Kenneally’s series is that you don’t necessarily have to read the books as a series, but if you read all of them you get to check in with beloved characters from earlier books. In this case we get to see Jordan and Sam again and I adored catching a glimpse of their matured but certainly not entirely mature relationship. And still this doesn’t take away from the two new main characters at all and I have to say that I loved that the focus was on something other than sport for a change but still heavily on the realising and following one’s dream ... all in the course over falling in love, of course. I appreciated Maya’s attitude of wanting to make it on her own, but finding the strength to rely on her support system. And her determination to in a way save Jesse from himself and the ideals he was chasing.
A very sweet read that rings true and authentic in its character development (even if in some instances forgiveness seems to come too easily, but one girl can only bear so much drama over the course of one book). I recommend this with a good bowl of ice-cream and a shadowy place beneath a tree on a hot summer day.And now I want a friend like Dave ... and Casper, the cat. (Great, I’ll be the cat lady Maya has now avoided becoming ...)
What do you think about same universe but not quite sequels book series? Love to stay in the familiar environment with cameos of former main characters or would you rather not look at them? Share opinions and teasers in the comments!
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!
Jesse’s Girl by Miranda Kenneally.
 |
| Jesse’s Girl – Sourcebooks Fire |
That’s when I remember to check my cell—I don’t think I’ve ever gone so long without checking it—and discover four missed calls from the school number I dialed earlier, two missed calls from my mother, a text from Dad telling me I’m grounded (I wasn’t aware he knew how to send texts), ten texts from my brother demanding an explanation for why I went off the grid on shadow day, and one from Jordan telling me to disregard everything my brother says and enjoy myself.
— Chapter 6
Family can’t always help fix a difficult situation, and everybody makes mistakes. We shouldn’t expect perfect. But we can hope that the people we love love us enough to try to make it right.
— Chapter 15
Sometimes you just need to listen to some good old country music to relax to ... or at least read about it and a girl who is decidedly not into this music, but still falls for the prince of country. Reluctantly. Very reluctantly. And in case you haven’t heard of the song this title alludes to, you should check it out. I won’t judge you if you prefer the version made popular by Glee a while back. What is great about Miranda Kenneally’s series is that you don’t necessarily have to read the books as a series, but if you read all of them you get to check in with beloved characters from earlier books. In this case we get to see Jordan and Sam again and I adored catching a glimpse of their matured but certainly not entirely mature relationship. And still this doesn’t take away from the two new main characters at all and I have to say that I loved that the focus was on something other than sport for a change but still heavily on the realising and following one’s dream ... all in the course over falling in love, of course. I appreciated Maya’s attitude of wanting to make it on her own, but finding the strength to rely on her support system. And her determination to in a way save Jesse from himself and the ideals he was chasing.
A very sweet read that rings true and authentic in its character development (even if in some instances forgiveness seems to come too easily, but one girl can only bear so much drama over the course of one book). I recommend this with a good bowl of ice-cream and a shadowy place beneath a tree on a hot summer day.And now I want a friend like Dave ... and Casper, the cat. (Great, I’ll be the cat lady Maya has now avoided becoming ...)
What do you think about same universe but not quite sequels book series? Love to stay in the familiar environment with cameos of former main characters or would you rather not look at them? Share opinions and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 4 August 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella.
Some authors, who are enormously successful on the adult side of publishing, sometimes get it into their heads, maybe egged on by their publicist, to try their hand on writing for a younger audience. In most cases the result reads like a mix of what they seem to remember liking when they were young and what they think a book for this age group should sound like. And if it’s not patronising, you’re in luck.
However, Sophie Kinsella managed this transition with an elegance that is admirable. Her voice is neither bland nor does the story seem shallow. I think she has found a very relevant topic and put it into a story that speaks to readers off all age groups ... possibly mostly the female percentage, but you can’t expect a tiger to change its stripes altogether. And why not address the audience you have anyway and organically expand it downwards? That’s certainly healthier than forcing out a book that should have never seen the light of day.
Audrey is in her own way a very relatable character. Maybe not every girl feels the need to hide from the outside world behind large sunglasses, but everyone has experienced situations where they would have rather run away than stay just a second longer. I like the characterisation of our lizard brain and I also like that the problem isn’t magically resolved completely, but that the reader gets to see steps of improvement as well as setbacks.
Do you know of other adult authors who have published books for a younger audience that you can recommend? Share them and your teasers in the comments.
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!
Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella.
 |
| Finding Audrey – Delacorte Books for Young Readers |
They talk about “body language,” as if we all speak it the same. But everyone has their own dialect. For me right now, for example, swiveling my body right away and staring rigidly at the corner means, “I like you.” Because I didn’t run away and shut myself in the bathroom. I just hope he realizes that.
— Chapter 11
He didn’t say anything. He stopped mid-sentence.
Except that stopping mid-sentence is the worst thing people can do. It’s, like, totally passive aggressive, because you can’t take issue with anything they’ve said. You have to take issue with what you think they were going to say.
Which then they deny.
— Chapter 14
Some authors, who are enormously successful on the adult side of publishing, sometimes get it into their heads, maybe egged on by their publicist, to try their hand on writing for a younger audience. In most cases the result reads like a mix of what they seem to remember liking when they were young and what they think a book for this age group should sound like. And if it’s not patronising, you’re in luck.
However, Sophie Kinsella managed this transition with an elegance that is admirable. Her voice is neither bland nor does the story seem shallow. I think she has found a very relevant topic and put it into a story that speaks to readers off all age groups ... possibly mostly the female percentage, but you can’t expect a tiger to change its stripes altogether. And why not address the audience you have anyway and organically expand it downwards? That’s certainly healthier than forcing out a book that should have never seen the light of day.
Audrey is in her own way a very relatable character. Maybe not every girl feels the need to hide from the outside world behind large sunglasses, but everyone has experienced situations where they would have rather run away than stay just a second longer. I like the characterisation of our lizard brain and I also like that the problem isn’t magically resolved completely, but that the reader gets to see steps of improvement as well as setbacks.
Do you know of other adult authors who have published books for a younger audience that you can recommend? Share them and your teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 28 July 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Paper Towns by John Green.
Here is how I found myself re-reading John Green, an exercise in two steps. One: In preparation for seeing the movie (which I haven’t yet, because it only opens here this week) I re-watched the trailers and found myself wondering about a few of my favourite quotes. Time to verify! Two: My weekend is mostly gone and I have re-read and highlighted four books. I find that I now liked different aspects and passages than the first time I read them (I’d still always highlight the first-read bits, but I now have even more). I suppose that it is true that quote we like and share in the end tell more about us than about the person who said or wrote them.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing the movie and comparing it to the book. I don’t think that movies have to be a one to one adaption of a book, because they can’t be; but they have to be truthful to the character if they want to call themselves book to movie adaptions. Otherwise they’re just movies. And a good one, I think, can expand the book’s universe because both media can show and do things that the other can’t.
What are your thoughts on book to movie adaptions? Share movies that were you liked – or didn’t in the comments along with your teasers. And let me know if you’ve been to the cinema or plan to go to see Paper Towns.
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!
Paper Towns by John Green.
 |
| Paper Towns – Speak |
The first shall be last; the last shall be first; the meek shall do some earth-inheriting. But before we can radically reshape the world, we need to shop.
— Part 1 / Chapter 2
We don’t suffer from a shortage of metaphors, is what I mean. But you have to be careful which metaphor you choose, because it matters.
— Part 3 / Chapter 22
Here is how I found myself re-reading John Green, an exercise in two steps. One: In preparation for seeing the movie (which I haven’t yet, because it only opens here this week) I re-watched the trailers and found myself wondering about a few of my favourite quotes. Time to verify! Two: My weekend is mostly gone and I have re-read and highlighted four books. I find that I now liked different aspects and passages than the first time I read them (I’d still always highlight the first-read bits, but I now have even more). I suppose that it is true that quote we like and share in the end tell more about us than about the person who said or wrote them.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing the movie and comparing it to the book. I don’t think that movies have to be a one to one adaption of a book, because they can’t be; but they have to be truthful to the character if they want to call themselves book to movie adaptions. Otherwise they’re just movies. And a good one, I think, can expand the book’s universe because both media can show and do things that the other can’t.
What are your thoughts on book to movie adaptions? Share movies that were you liked – or didn’t in the comments along with your teasers. And let me know if you’ve been to the cinema or plan to go to see Paper Towns.
Tuesday 21 July 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard.
If anyone asked me which Teams I am on, I’d possibly say Human, Vampire, Werewolf, Good, Unicorn ... or something like that, depending on mood and book. You would probably never hear Zombie. I’m not a Zombie reader and the undead are one of the few things to freak me out (and spiders, but that’s another kettle of fish). So a plot with zombie hunters and possible voodoo has a hard time to make it onto my radar. This is most likely why I haven’t read this series yet, but I’m very much in the process of rectifying that omission. Because creepy zombies aside, this historical setting is decidedly fascinating and don’t get me started on mysterious shenanigans. Add to that an exasperatingly stubborn and crafty main character and this promises to be an entertaining read.
Which aspect would make you hesitant to pick up a book? Share team affiliations and teasers in the comments!
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!
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard.
 |
| Something Strange and Deadly – HarperTeen |
“Miss Fitt, you know curiosity gets men killed.”
I grinned. “Then I daresay it’s good I’m a woman.”
— Chapter 7
“If you interfere in my affairs again, I’ll personally feed you to the Dead.”
I scoffed. And if you ever get in my way, I’ll personally feed you to my mother.
— Chapter 10
If anyone asked me which Teams I am on, I’d possibly say Human, Vampire, Werewolf, Good, Unicorn ... or something like that, depending on mood and book. You would probably never hear Zombie. I’m not a Zombie reader and the undead are one of the few things to freak me out (and spiders, but that’s another kettle of fish). So a plot with zombie hunters and possible voodoo has a hard time to make it onto my radar. This is most likely why I haven’t read this series yet, but I’m very much in the process of rectifying that omission. Because creepy zombies aside, this historical setting is decidedly fascinating and don’t get me started on mysterious shenanigans. Add to that an exasperatingly stubborn and crafty main character and this promises to be an entertaining read.
Which aspect would make you hesitant to pick up a book? Share team affiliations and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 14 July 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Rogue by Julie Kagawa.
The positive effect of starting a series late is that often you get to read two books in a row, maybe more if you were really holding back. I enjoyed this second instalment well enough, but I think that it’s good that we’ll now spend some time apart. Otherwise I might consider having words with a stubborn dragon girl about several things and I don’t think that I’m fireproof. I also have a serious problem with that Riley/Cobalt character as I can only understand part of his motives and I don’t think that he is actually fit to be a companion for anyone. And let’s not even talk about the two organisations at play. Something is very rotten ... and not in the state of Denmark.
In summary: Can everyone please get their act together until 2016 for book three? No? ... That’s what I thought since this will be a five book thing. Thanks for that. Until then I’ll invest in some sort of fire proof gear in case that I have to have words with several potentially fire-breathing creatures about how to handle things ... like poor, breakable human hearts. Poor human(s).
Do you binge-read series or authors? If you, after how many books do you feel that you might need a break or change of flavour? Let’s hear from you in the comments!
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!
Rogue by Julie Kagawa.
 |
| Rogue – Harlequin Teen |
“Yes, well, for future reference,” I said, thumping the spade-tip of my tail against the ground, “when someone decides to save your life, for whatever reason, the proper response is thank you. Guilt and groveling optional but highly encouraged.”
— Part II / 4
“No dragons in the kitchen. The neighbors would have a fit.”
— Part II / 4
The positive effect of starting a series late is that often you get to read two books in a row, maybe more if you were really holding back. I enjoyed this second instalment well enough, but I think that it’s good that we’ll now spend some time apart. Otherwise I might consider having words with a stubborn dragon girl about several things and I don’t think that I’m fireproof. I also have a serious problem with that Riley/Cobalt character as I can only understand part of his motives and I don’t think that he is actually fit to be a companion for anyone. And let’s not even talk about the two organisations at play. Something is very rotten ... and not in the state of Denmark.
In summary: Can everyone please get their act together until 2016 for book three? No? ... That’s what I thought since this will be a five book thing. Thanks for that. Until then I’ll invest in some sort of fire proof gear in case that I have to have words with several potentially fire-breathing creatures about how to handle things ... like poor, breakable human hearts. Poor human(s).
Do you binge-read series or authors? If you, after how many books do you feel that you might need a break or change of flavour? Let’s hear from you in the comments!
Tuesday 7 July 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh.
Potentially leading question: Have you ever been to an Arabian style palace or its remains? My family took me on a trip to southern Spain when I was younger where we visited the Alhambra palace. I vividly remember that my imagination was running wild in that amazing place and I was thinking how life must have been there. I also remember that I was fascinated by the idea that women were this prized possession that had to be kept away from prying eyes ... and I remember wondering if all those women actually liked being such a possession. All these and many more memories came to mind during this book which is so refreshingly located in a culture so very different from my own but still has this incredible mix of inspiring characters.
There are a few aspects that make this story great but not awesome. I would have liked a little more emotional insight in certain moments instead of a tactful fade to black or character cut. And if the retelling of some of the Arabian Nights myths is such an important part of the story, I wish it would have had more prominence regarding Shahrzad spinning those tales. But apart from that I have to say that I absolutely adored how she slowly but surely dug through the caliph’s defences ... and her own reservations as well.
I also really liked the side characters. I want a Despina and a Jalal ... and possibly a Tariq, but I’m not quite convinced that he isn’t a stubborn and possibly blinded fanatic. I’ll have to see what happens in the continuation of the story ... which won’t be out until next year. Oh cruel world!
Are you going on any summer travels? This might be via books or in person. Share your destinations and teasers in the comments!
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 Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh.
 |
| The Wrath and the Dawn – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers |
“Are you a good spy?”
“The best.”
“A good spy would hide her identity.”
“The best spies don’t have to.”
— Chapter 5
“You can’t foresee the future. And there’s nothing you can do about the past.”
“You’re wrong. I can learn from it . . .”
— Chapter 9
Potentially leading question: Have you ever been to an Arabian style palace or its remains? My family took me on a trip to southern Spain when I was younger where we visited the Alhambra palace. I vividly remember that my imagination was running wild in that amazing place and I was thinking how life must have been there. I also remember that I was fascinated by the idea that women were this prized possession that had to be kept away from prying eyes ... and I remember wondering if all those women actually liked being such a possession. All these and many more memories came to mind during this book which is so refreshingly located in a culture so very different from my own but still has this incredible mix of inspiring characters.
There are a few aspects that make this story great but not awesome. I would have liked a little more emotional insight in certain moments instead of a tactful fade to black or character cut. And if the retelling of some of the Arabian Nights myths is such an important part of the story, I wish it would have had more prominence regarding Shahrzad spinning those tales. But apart from that I have to say that I absolutely adored how she slowly but surely dug through the caliph’s defences ... and her own reservations as well.
I also really liked the side characters. I want a Despina and a Jalal ... and possibly a Tariq, but I’m not quite convinced that he isn’t a stubborn and possibly blinded fanatic. I’ll have to see what happens in the continuation of the story ... which won’t be out until next year. Oh cruel world!
Are you going on any summer travels? This might be via books or in person. Share your destinations and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 30 June 2015
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.
To play along just do the following:
Talon by Julie Kagawa.
Do you hear that whooshing noise? That’s my good intentions going out the window, don’t mind them if they rush past you. I wanted to wait until the trilogy was complete before I started this book even if I already had it on my shelf, because I know what the author will most likely do to me again ... two series have taught me that. But then I found out that there are going to be five books and there is no way that I was going to wait that long. So emotional roller coaster torture it is.
I really like Julie Kagawa’s kind of humour. It’s not always laughing out loud funny (though it can be that, too), but also surprised snort laughing. Kind of like what Ember does to Garret the first time they meet. I predict disastrous heartbreak with wrongful accusations and terrible misunderstandings. Maybe even a severe dose of triangularity. And don’t correct me, if I’m wrong. In that case, I’d like to be surprised.
Whom could you have eaten for breakfast lately? Alternatively tell me if you’re giving a series a head start before you catch up to it at the moment.
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!
Talon by Julie Kagawa.
 |
| Talon – Harlequin Teen |
“I’ll be back at 0500. If you don’t hear from me in a couple hours, I’ve probably been eaten by a dragon.”
“Fine. If you don’t hear from me by then, it’s because I hope you were.”
— Part I/10
“Kristin, I swear, if I have to watch you try on shoes for an hour, I’m going to eat your boyfriend. With a fork.”
— Part I/19
Do you hear that whooshing noise? That’s my good intentions going out the window, don’t mind them if they rush past you. I wanted to wait until the trilogy was complete before I started this book even if I already had it on my shelf, because I know what the author will most likely do to me again ... two series have taught me that. But then I found out that there are going to be five books and there is no way that I was going to wait that long. So emotional roller coaster torture it is.
I really like Julie Kagawa’s kind of humour. It’s not always laughing out loud funny (though it can be that, too), but also surprised snort laughing. Kind of like what Ember does to Garret the first time they meet. I predict disastrous heartbreak with wrongful accusations and terrible misunderstandings. Maybe even a severe dose of triangularity. And don’t correct me, if I’m wrong. In that case, I’d like to be surprised.
Whom could you have eaten for breakfast lately? Alternatively tell me if you’re giving a series a head start before you catch up to it at the moment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)