Author Archives: Laura

• Advance Excitement at a Glance II

  Posted at 5:24 pm by Laura, on February 4, 2014

  

  This year, in an effort to blog more, to become more involved with the blogging community, and to keep up with the latest publications, I thought I’d create a monthly post about the ARCs I’ve received. These ARCs will be read and reviewed a month prior to the publishing date. The Advance Excitement at a Glance posts will feature one or two (or more, depending on what happens this year) books to look forward to, and it will motivate me to keep my to-read list on track.

  Last month I read Tyringham Park (review to come soon) and The Daring Ladies of Lowell (currently reading).

  Panic by Lauren Oliver
  (HarperCollins, March 4)
  

  Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it.

  Panic, a game played by seniors, started in the small town of Carp, where there’s nothing to do and nowhere to go. Heather is surprised she’ll be participating in it, and is even more stunned to find that she has something to fight for. Dodge thinks his secret will make him win, but he soon discovers everyone has a reason to compete to the end. Panic forges new alliances and unexpected journeys, and these two are about to realize they’ll need to face their fears in order to strengthen their resolve.

  I’ll be honest, I genuinely don’t know what this is about. It looks and sounds like a dystopia, but it also sounds like my high school senior game, Assassin. Except those were with water guns and even the police force got involved. This sounds like…Hunger Games meets the Maze from Harry Potter meets psychological drama meets a whole bunch of other things. What I do know is that I love Oliver’s writing, and I’m looking forward to what’s in store for this book.

   

  Savage Girl by Jean Zimmerman
  (Viking Adult, March 6)

  Bronwyn hits the highly mannered world of Edith Wharton-era Manhattan like a bomb. A series of suitors, both young and old, find her irresistible, but the willful girl’s illicit lovers begin to turn up murdered.

  Rough, intelligent eighteen-year-old Bronwyn is plucked from Nevada and adopted by the Delegates, a wealthy Manhattan couple, in 1875. They train her in the art of civilization: etiquette, manners, accomplishments. As she’s introduced to society, men fall head over heels for her — but somehow, they all end up murdered. Told from Hugo Delegate’s perspective, the wealthy son, locked in a prison cell and fully prepared to defend Bronwyn.

  A big thank you to Goodreads and Viking for providing this book for a First Reads ARC review! My first thought upon reading the summary: Wuthering Heights Catherine meets Edith Wharton. I can’t even begin to explain how excited I am to read this. It sounds thrilling, romantic, haunting, and mysterious. I’m getting chills.

  What ARCs are you reading? What books are you looking forward to in March?

  Posted in Advance Excitement, books, publishing | 7 Comments | Tagged advance excitement at a glance, advance reading copy, ARC, books

• Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Will Make You Cry

  Posted at 4:42 pm by Laura, on February 4, 2014

  Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Books That Will Make You Cry. 

  

  These books I distinctly remember making me cry. The kind of ugly-cry full of emotion and sadness (sometimes joy, but mostly sadness) and wailing and half a box of tissues. Some I’ve re-read over and over, others I still need a breather from but love dearly.

  1. One Day by David Nicholls
     WHY must authors create characters that hit too close to home and then WAM. TEARS.
  2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
     The first time I ever truly connected to a book that was perfect for a specific time in my life.
  3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (review)
     OKAY? OKAY.
  4. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (review)
     I’m still in awe. It’s one of those books I want to read over and over and yet…it’s too powerful. It’s like the sun — you cannot stare directly at it, but its presence, its influence on your life, surrounds you.
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
     WHY SIRIUS. WHY.
  6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
     FRED. HEDWIG. LUPIN. TONKS. SEEING PARENTS ONCE MORE. ALL THE TEARS. WHYWHYWHY.
  7. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (review)
     I just had a lot of emotions, okay?

  And then there are books that didn’t make me sob, but certainly made me feel something. One more word, one more turn of phrase, one more stab in the feels, and I would’ve spilled over.

  1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (review)
     The torment, the deaths, the love and tragedy, ugh. Right in the feels.
  2. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
     Honestly, any of Picoult’s books make me emotional, either with happiness, fervor, anger, shock, sadness…this one was especially heartbreaking.
  3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
     THAT PASSION.

  What books made you cry? What books would you suggest I read to give me all the feels?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 9 Comments | Tagged books, top ten tuesday

• Book Review: “Just One Year” by Gayle Forman

  Posted at 6:32 pm by Laura, on February 1, 2014

  Just One Year by Gayle Forman 

  Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
  Published: October 2013
  Genre: young adult
  ISBN: 9780525425922
  Goodreads: 3.88
  Rating: ★★★★

  After spending an amazing day and night together in Paris, Just One Year is Willem’s story, picking up where Just One Day ended. His story of their year of quiet longing and near misses is a perfect counterpoint to Allyson’s own as Willem undergoes a transformative journey, questioning his path, finding love, and ultimately, redefining himself.

  Willem wakes in a hospital, cut and bruised, with no recollection of the last few hours except a nagging feeling that he’s forgotten something, someone, very important. When his memory comes back, he’s desperate to find Lulu, a girl who stopped his heart and changed his world in one day. But she’s not in Paris anymore, and he has no idea how to find her because “Lulu” isn’t even her real name. From Mexican resorts to Indian film studios, from a best friend’s couch to his uncle’s loft, Willem travels the world and looks deep inside himself, his parents’ complex relationship, and Shakespeare to find the answers. And the answers all point to the mysterious American girl in Paris.

  

  While not as breathtaking as Just One Day — and I’ll only say that because I felt very much like Allyson and not like Willem, a spontaneous yet lost traveler — Forman packs another powerful punch in this world-traveling search for love and individual growth. Willem and Allyson were so incredibly close to running into one another throughout the novel, and it pained me to see them turn around or glance in a different direction and completely miss that connection. It was also fascinating to see the other side of the story: what happened to Allyson’s suitcase, how Willem came to find out about her letter, how Willem deduced where Allyson would be. They each, in their own books, pieced things together with scraps of memory, and it just made the whole concept of love — and finding the one — even more powerful.

  Shakespeare’s influence is stronger in this novel than the last, if that’s even possible. While Allyson’s story pieces together various plays to help her explain her life, As You Like It, or more specifically Orlando’s life, takes a hold of Willem throughout the novel. That play is his story, Orlando’s pain his Willem’s pain, and Willem’s role in the play in Amsterdam is intensified ten-fold because he’s no longer acting the role, he is the role.

  Bram and Yael’s story come together as well. Though Forman never states things point-blank, it is clear what Willem wants from love, what he perceived his parents’ relationship to be and his role in it. His parents’ story is so like his and Allyson’s, and it pains him to think that after his father’s death Yael no longer wants to see Willem. While that’s not the case at all, it’s so heartbreakingly beautiful to watch Willem’s childhood perception of his parents change into something else entirely — still an all-consuming love, but not one that blocks out the most wonderful proof of their love.

  Touching, heartbreaking, joyful, and humorous, Just One Year expresses Willem’s side of the year of growth, and how one day can truly imprint and change one’s being for the better.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Just One Day” by Gayle Forman

  Posted at 1:57 pm by Laura, on January 28, 2014

  Just One Day by Gayle Forman 

  Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
  Published: January 2013
  Genre: young adult, romance
  ISBN: 9780525425915
  Goodreads: 4.12
  Rating: ★★★★★

  When sheltered American good girl Allyson “LuLu” Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem de Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

  For three weeks, Allyson and her best friend experience a whirlwind tour of Europe for students post-high school graduation. Allyson is less than enthused with the results, and decides to take up Melanie’s challenge of breaking free from her monotonous routine: they ditch a Royal Shakespeare Company’s version of Hamlet for an underground street version of Twelfth Night. It is here that Allyson meets Willem, a Dutch actor who lives a nomadic life of “accidents.” And the next day, the two have their own “accident” when they run into each other on a train to London. Charmed by Willem’s spontaneity and eager to try something new, Allyson decides to run off to Paris with Willem for just one day. But the next morning, Willem is gone. Allyson thought Paris would be her only adventure, but it’s only just beginning.

  

  I’m sure many people relate to Allyson. And I bet nearly all the raving reviews are about how much they are Allyson — the over-scheduled, straight-A, not-so-spontaneous, somewhat insecure, dependable, reliable good girl. And I am one of those reviewers. I am joining the masses.

  Allyson tried so hard to break free from her parents’ expectations, to be who she believes herself to be, and her time with Willem showed her that she can live her life however she’d like, that she has the capability to make her own decisions. The fear and panic that would rise in her — whether it was when she got lost or when she jumped to conclusions about Willem — is exactly something I’d do. Her depression, empathy, and concern are very real gut reactions to major events that were positive at the time and later colored by some unseen force. She’s so real. And I think it’s because of Forman’s portrayal of Allyson that so many of us see ourselves in her.

  That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the Shakespeare connections littered throughout. Either they’re blatant — like Allyson’s college class and her reading partner Dee’s remarks — or they’re subtle, helping the reader predict the outcome of the novel with themes and familiarity of Shakespeare’s plays. Even the characters showed growth, changing from one Shakespearean role to another as the novel progresses. It was so artistic, so fantastic, that I was excited to see more and more as Allyson’s quest solidified.

  On a different note, this is what I’d imagine New Adult should be. Not the erotica stuff that litters the shelves, but college and post-college experiences that show the growth from dependent teenager to independent adult. Allyson is about to enter her first year of college, and we watch her as she rises in Europe, falls her first semester, finds her footing second semester, and lands on solid ground the following summer. That experience, right there, is so very real and true to the university lifestyle and self-identification.

  I do not have the words to continue. This novel is near and dear to my heart. I’m itching to begin Just One Year (Willem’s point of view!). Trust me when I say that if you want the full human experience, this is it. I should not have to italicize one more word.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 3 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• ALA Midwinter’s Youth Media Awards

  Posted at 3:27 pm by Laura, on January 27, 2014

  Little publishing nerd and bookworm freaked out this morning when the ALAYMA awards — Caldecott, Newbery, Printz, and several others — were announced. I did my best to tone down the fangirl when I posted the information over on my graduate program’s publishing blog, so if you want to see just the facts, hop over there. If you’re in for the fangirling, read on.

  HOLLY BLACK. YES.

  RAINBOW ROWELL. OMGOMGOMG YES.

  KATE DICAMILLO. AGAIN. YES.

  LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY CALDECOTTS!

  HOW MANY MORE BOOKS MUST I ADD TO MY TO-READ LIST?!

   

  Posted in Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged ALA Midwinter, awards, books, personal, publishing, Youth Media Awards

• What’s with the Orphans?

  Posted at 4:22 pm by Laura, on January 22, 2014

  Another Quirk Books post was published on their blog today, wherein I muse about the convenience in middle grade books to not have any parents in the story.

  Have you ever taken a good, close look at Middle Grade fiction? And in that close look, have you noticed that most of the protagonists are orphans? Yes, some may live with grandmothers or uncles, or the main story takes place in a school far from home – but even then, the parents are noticeably absent. Dead, disappeared, out of the picture, gone.

  Why is that?

  What’s with All the Orphans in Kids’ Books? Hop on over or comment here to join the conversation!

  Posted in books, Link, Update Post | 0 Comments | Tagged books, genre: middle grade, quirk books

• Top Ten Tuesday: On My Reading List

  Posted at 1:47 pm by Laura, on January 21, 2014

  Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist — what I’d wish authors could write, such as a specific character, issues, time periods, plots, etc.

  My wishlist is mainly historical, geographical, and racial in YA books.

  

  More Western / Northwest settings
  Where are all the Rocky Mountain stories? Where are all the Dakotas and Plains stories? Where’s Arizona and Nevada and Texas and Oregon and Washington? Where’s Alaska?! I’m tired of Eastern/Mid-Atlantic coastal settings. Let’s get somewhere vastly different, with intense winters and stunning yet cool summers.

  More Southern settings
  Let’s toss in the US South as well. And not New Orleans, that can sometimes be overdone. Let’s add some variety in the Southern states and cities chosen, since each state has their own culture, weather, and geography.

  More historical West settings
  Surely I’m not the only one who enjoyed Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman, or is intrigued by the Oregon Trail and goldmines and Native American/European American relations. That whole portion of American history is filled with great information that can be used for historical books! Heck, toss in Alaska in this — it’s still the frontier state, and I’d love to read more.

  More historical South settings
  Even though no one likes the slavery aspect of American history, I still think it’s something we need to discuss. Anything and everything about the historical South would be great to read — informative and escapist. It’s such a rich culture with quite the turbulent past. It should be explored.

  More pioneers
  See Historical West settings! Just imagine, packing up your family and what few belongings you can fit in a wagon and traveling for miles and miles to an unknown place and literally rebuilding a new life. That’s terrifying and thrilling, and I wish there was more literature out there that plays with this.

  More Victorian England (without steampunk)
  I love Victorian England. I don’t care if the writing style is like that of the literature published in that period or if it’s not — I just want the setting, etiquette, style, social issues, class divide, etc. I know there are some Victorian settings out there, but a lot of it combines with steampunk or fantasy. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy those too, but a good Victorian England book, as it is, would be wonderful to read.

  More of any contemporary or historical setting in Western Europe (royalty or not!)
  I would love to read more books set in Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, etc. Any time period. Any social class. Any war or peace time period. Please. Please please please.

  More of any contemporary or historical setting in Eastern Europe (royalty or not!)
  So little is written about Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, and many many others. I’m aware the borders and names of countries changed repeatedly throughout history, and the drastic changes during WWII, but I genuinely know next to nothing else. It would be such a joy to read books set in any of these countries at any time.

  More POC protagonists in contemporary fiction
  I have a feeling I’m going to get a list of books that others have read in for a class — but I want something beyond that. Those books are overdone as classroom books. There’s no need for any section of fiction to be so white-washed. Let’s be more diverse, let’s get some more representation.

  More POC protagonists in fantasy
  See POC protagonists in contemporary fiction. I’m noticing a few more Asian protagonists, some Hispanic, and very very little black. Why can’t POC wield swords, fight dragons, explore space, discover new technologies, use magic, or start revolutions?

  What would you like to see more of from authors and publishers? What books would you recommend I read to fulfill these wishes?

  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 7 Comments | Tagged books, top ten tuesday

• Book Review: “Moth and Spark” by Anne Leonard (ARC)

  Posted at 9:00 am by Laura, on January 20, 2014

  Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard 

  Publisher: Viking
  Publishing Date: February 20
  Genre: fantasy, young adult, adult
  ISBN: 9780670015702
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Prince Corin has been chosen to free the dragons from their bondage to the Empire, but dragons aren’t big on directions. They have given him some of their power, but none of their knowledge. No one, not the dragons nor their riders, is even sure what keeps the dragons in the Empire’s control.

  Tam, sensible daughter of a well-respected doctor, had no idea before she arrived in the capital that she is a Seer, gifted with visions. When the two run into each other (quite literally) in the library, sparks fly and Corin impulsively asks Tam to dinner. But it’s not all happily ever after. Never mind that the prince isn’t allowed to marry a commoner: war is coming to Caithen.

  Torn between Corin’s quest to free the dragons and his duty to his country, the lovers must both figure out how to master their powers in order to save Caithen. With a little help from a village of secret wizards and a rogue dragonrider, they just might pull it off.

  Though educated in politics and skilled at charming the courtiers, Prince Corin would rather be out with the soldiers, protecting and defending his kingdom. Tam, sent by her father to be with her sister-in-law at court, would much rather read and explore the gardens than wile away with idle gossip. A chance encounter in the library draws Corin and Tam together, an intense love at first sight that changes the course of Caithen’s future forever. With Corin’s quest to free the dragons and prevent destruction of his kingdom, combined with Tam’s rising powers of Seeing the future, not all is splendid for the lovers. The fate of the kingdom rests heavily on their shoulders.

  While the ARC did not have a map to help with the geography and politics and names dumped within the first few chapters, Anne Leonard helpfully linked to a map that was immensely useful while reading the book. When the final print is published, readers may often turn to it for footing. After the first few chapters of groundwork, the fun aspects of the story begins — and it was quite thrilling!

  Tam is such a powerful female character, I couldn’t help but fall in love with her from the beginning. Her love for Corin does not dampen her strength at any moment — she’s quite an individual, very unique and confident and a breath of fresh air to read (and, apparently, fresh air for Corin too!). Corin was entertaining, clearly burdened by his duties but still young and playful without being rude or misleading. The two characters complimented one another, which is excellent because they certainly rushed everything in war-torn haste.

  Name-dropping and info-dumping at the beginning of books tend to bother me, but it was key for this fantasy. Without it, the rest of the book would be lost on the reader. Pay attention to the name, the politics, the events, because it all comes back later to haunt and threaten Corin. It made the world feel real, almost like an Arthurian legend. Throw in the dragons and the hidden magic, and it’s quite an adventure!

  A very difficult book to put down, exciting from start to finish with war, magic, battles, love, and courtly amusements!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Viking for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 6 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: action/adventure, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Latest Penguin Random House Merger

  Posted at 4:52 pm by Laura, on January 15, 2014

  Last summer, Penguin and Random House merged their companies and gave themselves a generic name (why not Random Penguin? Or Penguin House? Where’s the sense of humor? Kidding. Kind of). In an announcement made this morning, the UK Penguin and Random House publishers decide to merge their children’s divisions into one entity.

  “We passionately believe in children’s publishing and plan to invest significantly in this area over the next few years. We are determined to capture the readers of tomorrow. We believe that having one really brilliant and dynamic children’s division will allow us to compete even more effectively on behalf of all our authors, illustrators and licensing partners for the attention of young readers in an environment which now offers them an unlimited choice of entertainment and information.”

  For more information, head over to Book2Book.

  When do you think this will happen to the US division (if it happens)?

  Posted in Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged news, publishing

• Book Review: “The Winter Witch” by Paula Brackston

  Posted at 10:08 am by Laura, on January 13, 2014

  The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston 

  Publisher: St Martin’s Griffin
  Published: December 2013 (originally January 2013)
  Genre: historical fiction, fantasy, romance
  ISBN: 9781250042705
  Goodreads: 3.58
  Rating: ★★★★★

  In her small early nineteenth century Welsh town, there is no one quite like Morgana, who   has not spoken since she was a young girl. Her silence is a mystery, as well as her magic.  Concerned for her safety, her mother is anxious to see her married, and Cai Jenkins, a widower from the far hills, seems the best choice.

  After her wedding, Morgana is heartbroken at leaving her mother, and wary of this man, whom she does not know, and who will take her away to begin a new life.  But she soon falls in love with Cai’s farm and the wild mountains that surround it. Cai works to understand the beautiful, half-tamed creature he has chosen for a bride, and slowly, he begins to win Morgana’s affections.  It’s not long, however, before her strangeness begins to be remarked upon in her new village.  A dark force is at work there—a person who will stop at nothing to turn the townspeople against Morgana.  Forced to defend her home, her man, and herself, Morgana must learn to harness her power, or she will lose everything.

  Morgana hasn’t spoken a word, not a single sound, ever since her father disappeared. Her mother, ailing and worried for Morgana, encourages her to marry Cai Jenkins, a drover and widower from a far town. As Morgana and Cai try to adjust to their awkward situation, the town and its inhabitants are suspicious of Morgana and her strange, otherworldliness. But Morgana is determined to prove herself, to make her new husband proud, and to protect the town with her powers before an evil destroys them all.

  

  The stunning cover grabbed my attention, followed by the 1830s Welsh setting and the raw magic the heroine possesses. Morgana is a witch, and people have their suspicions of it, but she is not one that brews potions or shouts incantations (or shouts in general) or waves a stick in the air. She is a “wild” one, a woman bonded with the earth and all its creatures, with the ability to control her surroundings, the elements, and animals’ emotions. Cai senses this in his new wife, but is never fearful of her. He sees no harm in what she does; he finds her abilities merely a way for her to express herself without words.

  The landscape, the lush language, the interaction with animals and townspeople, the dangers of farm life and drovers’ work, and the horrible Reverend Cadwaladr and Mrs Isolda Bowen all build upon one another to create a fantastic story. It’s as if I was reading a Bronte novel, with the wild landscape, the high winds, the juxtaposition of peace and danger in seclusion. Brackston’s language was so perfect, I truly felt like I was helping Morgana, Cai, and his drovers with the livestock; that I was there with them in the kitchen attempting to cook something before Mrs Jones lost all hope and took over the task; that I could smell the evil emanating from the town’s most respected people.

  Brackston also uses two engaging perspectives that pushes the reader to keep reading till the end. Cai’s portions were written in third person, outside of his head to allow for the best possible view of his surroundings, his opinions, and his observance of Morgana. Morgana’s portions were written in first person, to best allow for the reader to join her on her witchwalks, to feel her pain and sorrow, to understand her joy. These perspectives alternate within chapters, and I grew to love each one. But once a big event happens in one perspective, I became anxious to see the other’s take on the event, and scrambled to finish one portion so I could move to the next. Such an interesting style, and one that certainly propels the reader forward.

  Ultimately, the three vastly different witches in this novel, coupled with Welsh farm life and the dazzling hills, and the sweet, budding romance between Cai and Morgana, will keep the reader craving more till the whole book is completely devoured. An absolutely stunning book.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2014 | 9 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, goodreads, review

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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