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  • Author Archives: Laura

    • ttyl Series Tops List of Most Challenged Titles – PW

      Posted at 8:45 pm by Laura, on April 9, 2012

      ttyl Series Tops List of Most Challenged Titles – Publisher’s Weekly

      The ALA has released its list of the Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2011. The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received 326 reports regarding attempts to remove or restrict materials from school curricula and library bookshelves.

      ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle topped the list for offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group content. Some other surprising (and not so surprising – Brave New World, anyone? Why are we still battling that?) books and series make the list.

      Posted in books, library, Link | 0 Comments | Tagged books, library, news
    • Upcoming Books! [12]

      Posted at 4:24 pm by Laura, on April 8, 2012

      Title: Angels of Vengeance
      Author: John Birmingham
      Genre: sci fi
      Publisher: Random House
      Publishing Date: April 10
      Summary: When an inexplicable wave of energy slammed into North America, millions died. In the rest of the world, wars erupted, borders vanished, and the powerful lost their grip on power. Against this backdrop, with a conflicted U.S. president struggling to make momentous decisions in Seattle and a madman fomenting rebellion in Texas, three women are fighting their own battles—for survival, justice, and revenge.

      ~

      Title: The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human
      Author: Jonathan Gottschall
      Genre: nonfiction
      Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
      Publishing Date: April 10
      Summary: Humans live in landscapes of make-believe. We spin fantasies. We devour novels, films, and plays. Even sporting events and criminal trials unfold as narratives. Yet the world of story has long remained an undiscovered and unmapped country. It’s easy to say that humans are “wired” for story, but why?
      In this delightful and original book, Jonathan Gottschall offers the first unified theory of storytelling. He argues that stories help us navigate life’s complex social problems—just as flight simulators prepare pilots for difficult situations. Storytelling has evolved, like other behaviors, to ensure our survival.
      Drawing on the latest research in neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology, Gottschall tells us what it means to be a storytelling animal. Did you know that the more absorbed you are in a story, the more it changes your behavior? That all children act out the same kinds of stories, whether they grow up in a slum or a suburb? That people who read more fiction are more empathetic?

      ~

      Title: Paris in Love: A Memoir
      Author: Eloisa James
      Genre: nonfiction
      Publisher: Random House
      Publishing Date: April 3
      Summary: With no classes to teach, no committee meetings to attend, no lawn to mow or cars to park, Eloisa revels in the ordinary pleasures of life—discovering corner museums that tourists overlook, chronicling Frenchwomen’s sartorial triumphs, walking from one end of Paris to another. She copes with her Italian husband’s notions of quality time; her two hilarious children, ages eleven and fifteen, as they navigate schools—not to mention puberty—in a foreign language; and her mother-in-law Marina’s raised eyebrow in the kitchen (even as Marina overfeeds Milo, the family dog).

      ~

      Are you a mystery fan? Simon & Schuster’s Atria Mystery Tour information is up – follow the authors and books on their tour across the country!

      ~

      ABA announced their Indie Choice winners!

      • fiction: The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
      • nonfiction: Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton
      • debut: The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht
      • YA:Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

      Happy reading!

      Posted in Upcoming Books | 0 Comments | Tagged genre: adult fiction, genre: fiction, genre: nonfiction, genre: sci-fi, upcoming books
    • Book Review: “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins

      Posted at 3:39 pm by Laura, on April 8, 2012

      Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

      Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are still alive. Katniss should be relieved, but now there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol – a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

      As the nation watches Katniss and Peeta, the stakes are higher than ever. One false move and the consequences will be unimaginable.

      Spoilers ahead.

      I have heard and read many reviews about the second book accusing it be a “repeat” of book one, or “duller in comparison,” and even the worst, “falls into the second-of-every-trilogy-sucks category.”

      Let me just say that I completely disagree. The seconds in trilogies, I’ve noticed, build tension and anticipation, leaving the reader hanging at the end, anxiously awaiting the next and final installment. As I type this, I would much rather begin Mockingjay than wait till tomorrow when the book is in my presence! So as far as an unresolved plot, as many suggest, yes it’s there but we should keep in mind this is a trilogy, not a stand-alone.

      Also, it most certainly is not a repeat. If anything, the only concept that’s a repeat is that Peeta and Katniss are back in the Games. We’re introduced to the day-to-day life after the first Games, the suffering that comes with the success within a starving District. In Hunger Games, the brief glimpse of District 12 life is enough for us to sympathize and root for Katniss to win. Changes occur, rebellions begin, knowing who to trust and who to talk to (and where!) threatens Katniss’s life.

      The Games are entirely different as well – new characters (among them is a favorite of mine, Finnick Odair) bond with Katniss and Peeta and form alliances that have never happened before. The second book truly reveals the heightened sensations of rebellion, anger, madness, struggle, love, and hate – each a step up from the game of survival that encompassed the first book.

      Rating: ★★★★★
      Goodreads: 4.38 of 5

      Posted in Reviews 2012 | 3 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: dystopian, genre: young adult, goodreads, review
    • Hunger Games and Harry Potter: fandoms worth discussing!

      Posted at 1:13 pm by Laura, on April 6, 2012

      I think it goes without saying that I’m a massive Harry Potter fan – very fervent in arguments and debates as well – and the same can be said for Hunger Games. Well, assuming you are interesting in one, if not both, I thought I’d share two different articles about the fandoms!

      1. A Radical Female Hero from Dystopia – New York Times – A.O. Scott & Manohla Dargis
        This article dissects and discusses Katniss Everdeen’s character, her strengths and flaws, and the universality she appears to have with boys and girls alike.
        “KATNISS EVERDEEN, the 16-year-old “Hunger Games” warrior who has torn through the box office, is one of the most radical female characters to appear in American movies. The film’s stunning success can partly be explained by the print sales of Suzanne Collins’s trilogy of young-adult novels, which jumped to more than 36.5 million in March from 16 million in November, suggesting that the anticipation for the film was feeding demand for the books. At the same time there’s more to Katniss fever than page-screen synergy. Manohla Dargis and A. O. Scott, the chief film critics of The New York Times, examine this complex, at times contradictory character. “
        It’s an incredibly fascinating read! Be sure to read both pages. There are many points various critics bring up that I think are important for both curious readers and avid fans.
      2. Theatrical Parody of Harry Potter Books to Open in New York – New York Times – Patrick Healy
        A summertime, two-man show with tons of costume changes will appear Off Broadway, titled “Potted Potter.” Think A Harry Potter Musical only…without the StarKids. Should be entertaining!
      Posted in Link, Update Post | 0 Comments | Tagged books, news, newspaper
    • Google Ends eBook Agreement with Indies – PW

      Posted at 12:48 pm by Laura, on April 6, 2012

      Google Ends eBook Agreement with Indies – Publisher’s Weekly – Judith Rosen

      On Tuesday representatives of Google contacted the American Booksellers Association and Powell’s Books to announce that it will end its Google eBooks reseller program worldwide. In February, it had seemed as if independent booksellers were getting a reprieve when Google reinstated some affiliate stores that had low sales. But in yet another sign of industry consolidation, Google will start selling e-books solely through its recently launched Google Play beginning January 31, 2013.

      If you rely on Google ebooks, don’t worry. They will still be available on bookseller websites. This is still pretty sad news.

      Posted in books, Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged ebooks, magazine, news, publishing
    • The ___’s Daughter – The Millions

      Posted at 3:10 pm by Laura, on April 4, 2012

      The ___’s Daughter – The Millions – Emily St. John Mandel

      An interesting essay about the trend in book titles. First, we’re given examples of trends (like secret lives) and then the process by which the author of this essay took to find several Daughter titles. Goodreads makes an appearance!

      Next, she spoke to booksellers and they provided further insight to the trends – that having similar titles provides comfort and familiarity to readers. Fun Fact: those the essayist interviewed had said that none of the customers in their experience have ever confused one Daughter title from another. Neat, eh?

      It may not be publishing news, per se, but it’s definitely worth a read! There are more points she covers as well. Take a look!

      Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments
    • Book Review: “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

      Posted at 7:29 am by Laura, on April 4, 2012

      The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

      In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.

      When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister’s place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

      I had read this last June – the entire trilogy in four days – and after I saw the movie I had to re-read it. I wanted to absorb the book once more, and at a slower pace. This way, I could appreciate the story more and focus less on how tense and anxious I felt while reading the thriller.

      What makes Hunger Games so successful as a young adult novel is its first person, present tense narrative. The immediacy of the plot and the obsessive thoughts bring the reader straight into the moment, down to every single decision Katniss makes in the Games. Her honest mental contemplations, straight-forward descriptions, and skepticism in trusting others is refreshing. Sometimes, this sort of writing lacks in literature. There can be an overabundance of descriptions but little development of character. Other times, there is no sustenance of much of anything.

      The characters – most especially Katniss and Peeta – are well-rounded as well as flawed. Katniss has strength, survival instincts, and unconditional love for her family. She’s a fighter. However, she is blind to true kindness, and at times can be cruel to others due to this weakness. Peeta is the opposite: he’s open and honest, wears his heart on his sleeve, and while he lacks survival instincts, he is honorable and understanding. The problem, though, is that he is rather naive, and too trusting of others’ intentions. These characteristics will play out across the trilogy, but I just want to point out that while both characters are flawed and may not be the absolute best of role models, we must keep in mind that the situations they are in and the fully developed attributes lend to excellently formed personalities to which a reader can relate.

      This dystopian narrative also lends itself to the possibility of where this country (and even this world) may be headed. Like Brave New World, 1984, and Lord of the Flies, these scenarios could actually happen. Consider society’s obsession with reality TV. I’m not just speaking of “Jersey Shore” and “Housewives of ___” but also “Survivor” and “American Idol.” Shows that follow real people around in a game, where the winner gets money, fame, and recognition, even if only temporarily. Toss in our political unrest domestically and internationally, and we’ve the perfect recipe for Hunger Games.

      Back to the book – I would highly recommend this for everyone, especially new readers. The immediacy of the narrative easily prevents the reader from putting the book down, flipping page after page, soaking up the story, begging for more.

      Rating: ★★★★★
      Goodreads: 4.54 of 5

      Posted in Reviews 2012 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: dystopian, genre: young adult, goodreads, review
    • Upcoming Books! [11]

      Posted at 8:18 pm by Laura, on April 2, 2012

      Apologies for the lateness. Many papers sneaked up on me this weekend! (PS I definitely thought “snuck” was a word. This is terrible.)

      ~

      Title: Triggers
      Author: Robert J. Sawyer
      Genre: sci-fi, thriller
      Publisher: Penguin
      Publishing Date: April 3
      Summary: On the eve of a secret military operation, an assassin’s bullet strikes President Seth Jerrison. He is rushed to the hospital, where surgeons struggle to save his life. At the same hospital, researcher Dr. Ranjip Singh is experimenting with a device that can erase traumatic memories.
      Then a terrorist bomb detonates. In the operating room, the president suffers cardiac arrest. He has a near-death experience-but the memories that flash through Jerrison’s mind are not “his” memories. It quickly becomes clear that the electromagnetic pulse generated by the bomb amplified and scrambled Dr. Singh’s equipment, allowing a random group of people to access one another’s minds.
      And now one of those people has access to the president’s memories- including classified information regarding the upcoming military mission, which, if revealed, could cost countless lives. But the task of determining who has switched memories with whom is a daunting one- particularly when some of the people involved have reason to lie…

      ~

      Title: Dorchester Terrace
      Author: Anne Perry
      Genre: historical mystery
      Publisher: Random House
      Publishing Date: April 3
      Summary: Thomas Pitt, once a lowly policeman, is now the powerful head of Britain’s Special Branch, and some people fear that he may have been promoted beyond his abilities. He, too, feels painful moments of self-doubt, especially as rumors reach him of a plot to blow up connections on the Dover-London rail line—on which Austrian duke Alois Habsburg is soon to travel to visit his royal English kin.
      Why would anyone destroy an entire train to kill one obscure Austrian royal, or are the rumors designed to distract Pitt from an even more devastating plot? He must resolve this riddle at once, before the damage is done.
      Meanwhile, in a London sickroom, an old Italian woman—at the end of a romantic career as a revolutionary spy—is terrified that as she sinks into dementia, she may divulge secrets that can kill. And a beautiful young Croatian woman, married to a British power broker, hoards her own mysteries. Apparently all roads lead to the Continent, and Pitt suspects that between them these two fascinating women could tell him things he desperately needs to know. But as the hours tick by, it seems that the only woman Pitt can count on is his clever wife, Charlotte.

      ~

      Title: Death Comes Silently
      Author: Carolyn Hart
      Genre: mystery
      Publisher: Berkeley Hardcover
      Publishing Date: April 3
      Summary: Winter has arrived in Broward’s Rock, South Carolina, and business has slowed for Annie Darling, owner of mystery bookstore Death on Demand. So when the island’s resident writer publishes the latest in her popular mystery series, Annie jumps at the chance to host a book signing, even though it conflicts with her shift at the local charity shop, Better Tomorrow.
      Luckily, fellow volunteer Gretchen Burkholt agrees to sub for her. The signing goes well, but Gretchen interrupts the event multiple times, leaving voice mails about scandalous news she’s dying to share. Even though Gretchen tends to be excitable, Annie heads over to Better Tomorrow, where she finds Gretchen dead on the floor, an axe by her side.
      Annie enlists the help of her husband, Max, to piece together a puzzle involving an overturned kayak, a stolen motorboat, a troubled love affair, and a reckless teenager. And she must tread carefully in her investigation, because a killer is on the loose, and that killer works well in the foggy days of winter.

      ~

      Title: Grave Mercy
      Author: Robin LaFevers
      Genre: young adult, fantasy
      Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
      Publishing Date: April 3
      Summary: Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
      Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

      ~

      Happy reading!

      Posted in Upcoming Books | 0 Comments | Tagged genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: history, genre: mystery, genre: young adult, upcoming books
    • Book Review: “The Thirteenth Tale” by Diane Setterfield

      Posted at 4:39 pm by Laura, on March 28, 2012

      The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

      Biographer Margaret Lea returns one night to her apartment above her father’s antiquarian bookshop. On her steps she finds a letter. It is a hand-written request from one of Britain’s most prolific and well-loved novelists. Vida Winter, gravely ill, wants to recount her life story before it is too late, and she wants Margaret to be the one to capture her history. The request takes Margaret by surprise–she doesn’t know the author, nor has she read any of Miss Winter’s dozens of novels.

      Late one night while pondering whether to accept the task of recording Miss Winter’s personal story, Margaret begins to read her father’s rare copy of Miss Winter’s Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. She is spellbound by the stories and confused when she realizes the book only contains twelve stories. Where is the thirteenth tale? Intrigued, Margaret agrees to meet Miss Winter and act as her biographer.

      As Vida Winter unfolds her story, she shares with Margaret the dark family secrets that she has long kept hidden as she remembers her days at Angelfield, the now burnt-out estate that was her childhood home. Margaret carefully records Miss Winter’s account and finds herself more and more deeply immersed in the strange and troubling story. In the end, both women have to confront their pasts and the weight of family secrets. As well as the ghosts that haunt them still.

      I read this book a few years ago and was absolutely in love with it. This is a novel for bibliophiles and neo-gothic lovers! The narrator, Margaret, is constantly lost in books and stories, and is more interested in fictional or dead lives than those of living, breathing humans. So when she accepts Miss Winter’s request, little did she know that she would come to care more and more for human companionship and stories outside of bound pages.

      There are so many elements of gothic literature within this work. Even though Miss Winter and Margaret blatantly state and share passions for Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Woman in White, The Turn of the Screw, and Dickens and Austen, each of these novels come into play within this book. I read this novel before I’d read Woman in White or Turn of the Screw, and I could still follow along just fine – there is nothing to fear! But after having read all the novels referenced, I had an uncanny feeling every time I noticed the parallels and similarities. It’s shocking, and so subtle that it is woven into the text brilliantly.

      The great thing about returning to this novel after a few years was that, once again, I was sucked into the mystery. I could not remember what the explosive ending was. I remembered twins and burning libraries and haunted governesses, and that the author really had something to say and needed to say it before her death. I remembered that Margaret experience episodes similar to that of Victorian women, and that the doctor politely laughed during her condition. And, of course, I remembered all the book love. Everything that is said about books, I wholeheartedly relate to. I’m sure other bookworms can, too.

      But the ending! Oh, all the tension and build-up was worth it! To experience that same shock and horror and heartbreak was wonderful. (Can you really say that?)

      Rating: ★★★★

      Goodreads: 3.9 of 5

       

      Posted in Reviews 2012 | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: fiction, genre: gothic, goodreads, review
    • Harry Potter ebooks now available! – Pottermore

      Posted at 7:24 am by Laura, on March 27, 2012

      Check them out!!! Buy them!!! Enjoy the magical world again, digitally!

      Pottermore is the only place to buy them, as of right now.

      Confirmed by Publisher’s Weekly and Shelf Awareness. Go here to shop.

      Posted in books, Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged ebooks, ereaders, news, publishing, technology
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    • 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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