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- Top Ten Tuesday: Book-Related Problems
  
  Posted at 7:30 am by Laura, on February 17, 2015
  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 Book-Related Problems I Have.
  
  Oh, must it only be ten? This is why I created resolutions!
  - I buy books when I have more at home to read. I mean, seriously, let’s get cracking on the books I own and haven’t read yet before spending money on new ones.
  - I sniff books and touch the spines of those I own and love. I can’t help it. I try not to do this when other people are around, but I know I’m not alone in this. Just the other day, I caught a customer in the store with their nose literally shoved in the middle of the new Sarah Addison Allen book.
  - When I borrow from the library, I borrow more than I can read. It’s just like going to the bookstore. I walk in, see ten books I want to read, think I can read all ten in three weeks, and end up only reading two!
  - Constantly running out of shelf space. I don’t see this as a bad thing. Just that I need to get another bookcase. And a larger room to put the bookcase. And forge on with the Beauty & the Beast library dream.
  - The Beauty & the Beast library dream. Nothing can compare.
  - I don’t like packing books. Not because it can be a pain to pack and haul and unpack in the moving process, but because it feels strange putting them inside cardboard boxes and out of sight, no matter how short the time frame.
  - I want to go to ALL THE BOOK EVENTS. BEA, YALLfest, YALLwest, author signings, writers’ conferences, book tours, you name it and I want to be there. The problem? Hotel fee, food, travel expenses. Why must things cost money? Why can’t my smile take me places for free? (I’m only slightly kidding.)
  - When I’m off Twitter for a day, I feel disconnected. Twitter keeps me updated on authors, publishers, editors, bloggers, all things books. If I’ve gone a full day away from it I feel like I’ve missed out on an online inside joke or first-hand news source. (It pays to be friends with a handful of bloggers who always manage to link you up with the latest news. Looking at you, Lindsey, Morgan, Stacey, and Hannah!)
  - The internal fight of re-reading versus reading something new. Thank goodness this little blogger has an excuse with Hannah’s #ReRead2015 challenge! Sometimes blogging can feel overwhelming, like a pressure to read the newest and most-anticipated books. Honestly, it comes down to not being able to decide what to read next.
  - There is always a book within an arm’s reach. A Nook in my purse, a book at my bedside table, a book on the couch, and an emergency read in the car. Even if I’ll never get a chance to read when I’m out and about, there’s always a book with my cell phone and chapstick.
  What are some of your book-related problems?
  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 34 Comments | Tagged book hoarding, books, personal, top ten tuesday
- Finding Yourself in YA Contemporary
  
  Posted at 7:55 am by Laura, on February 14, 2015
  
  YA offers so many great stories across all genres and I’m constantly pulled in. Lately, it’s within contemporary realistic fiction. Why is that? Well, I have a theory…
  
  As readers, we want to see a bit of ourselves in a story, even when we’re actively escaping our world. How many of you have read a book and loved it on some level because of a shared personality trait with the main character? You didn’t have to like the character, or relate to their situations — in fact, their personal circumstances could be vastly different from your own. But you still feel a connection.
  
  We want validation of our experiences here and now or from when we were younger. Seeing another character experience something we experienced/are experiencing reminds us we’re not alone.
  
  So what prompted this post in the first place?
  
  I just finished reading The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord, out in stores the end of March. I thought it would be impossible to top my Book Boyfriend Matt Finch from Lord’s debut, Open Road Summer, but it happened. Max Watson is it. He reminded me so much of my type in high school (and now, let’s be real): well-dressed but slightly dorky, a nerd and proud of it without being condescending (he’s all about Firefly and Quiz Bowl, but he’s not arrogant or a brainiac), a great listener and down for conversations and activities with you and your friends. Just…good, smart guy.
  
  But before I continue to gush about him, there’s Paige, the protagonist in Lord’s novel. She constantly plans ahead, creates a list of happy things to get her out of her grief, is a bookworm and a bit of a nerd herself, and fancies the idea she could date the charismatic boy in her grade. Um…me. All me. Toss in the fact this book is basically set in my hometown (literally — its rival schools are my high school’s rivals) and I was locked in and in love.
  
  The reality of YA contemporary fiction: finding pieces of yourself in modern books.
  
  I’ve said this before about several books, though, haven’t I? That I loved the book because the character reminded me of me. But that’s exactly the appeal of contemporary fiction. Several books come to mind that reveal different parts of who I am and who I was. And I love them dearly for it.
  
  Shyness, racing thoughts, writing letters to express emotions. Lara Jean was me at fifteen. I was shy around boys, my thoughts constantly jumping to conclusions, alternate realities, and worst-case-scenarios. Because of that, I always wrote things down. Every little thing that happened each day was written in a notebook, most especially the things I wanted to say to the guys I crushed on.
  
  Nostalgic, not-so-spontaneous, dependable. Allyson was stuck on a big event in Paris while she went abroad and it left her hanging for a year. But that worry and concentration over one particular day is a sense of nostalgia. I’m very much a nostalgic person, especially when it comes travel. And, like Paige in The Start of Me and You, I prefer to have whole weeks planned out. Allyson was the same way. Because of that, she’s seen as a dependable person. I never saw that as a bad thing, but it’s certainly a character trait we share.
  
  Fandom immersion, social anxiety. Cath was and is me in these respects. While I am better than most introverts in social situations, I’m still sweating and shaking underneath it all. A friend of mine in college summed up this introvert-who-can-work-a-room quality perfectly: “I hate crowds and small talk, it makes me feel sick. But it’s a survival tool. If you told me I had to be the fastest runner in the world in order to get away from that bear, then by God I’m gonna be the fastest runner in the world.” Now put me in a room full of people obsessed with my own obsessions, and this little fangirl is as happy as a clam!
  
  Overanalyzing, awkward, obsessively clean. Anna was like my giggly spirit, tapping into my girly side. But at the same time, she could be very awkward (and recognize it, but still dig deeper, more awkward holes), and she was constantly assessing the tiniest situations. Not to mention straightening things without realizing it. That, right there, is me my entire life.
  
  YA contemporary connects us to others, fictional or otherwise, that remind us who we are and what we can do about our own lives. What steps can we take to achieve our goals? What Would [Your Favorite Character] Do? How would we do something different in a similar situation? The more YA I read, the more I find myself drawn to contemporary fiction because it helps me on my own personal journey — recognizing and accepting my flaws, making sense of my past and forging my future.
  
  What are your thoughts on YA contemporary fiction? Which character is most like you? Does this happen to you across other genres?
  
  Posted in books, Update Post | 4 Comments | Tagged books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, personal
- Book Review: “A Touch of Stardust” by Kate Alcott (ARC)
  
  Posted at 6:30 am by Laura, on February 12, 2015
  
  A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott
  
  Publisher: Doubleday
  Publishing Date: February 17
  Genre: historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780385539043
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★
  
  When Julie Crawford leaves Fort Wayne, Indiana for Hollywood, she never imagines she’ll cross paths with Carole Lombard, the dazzling actress from Julie’s provincial Midwestern hometown. Although the young woman has dreams of becoming a screenwriter, the only job Julie’s able to find is one in the studio publicity office of the notoriously demanding producer David O. Selznick—who is busy burning through directors, writers and money as he begins filming Gone with the Wind.
  
  Julie is given a front-row seat to not one but two of the greatest love affairs of all time: the undeniable on-screen chemistry between Scarlett and Rhett, and off screen, the deepening love between Carole and Clark. Yet beneath the shiny façade, things in Hollywood are never quite what they seem, and Julie must learn to balance career aspirations and her own budding romance with outsized personalities and the overheated drama on set.
  
  Julie Crawford dreams of becoming a screenwriter, and what better place to go than Hollywood. Her arrival is perfect, because the intimidating perfectionist David Selznick is in the beginning stages of filming Gone With the Wind. Originally placed in publicity, Julie’s luck changes when she meets Andy Weinstein, Selznick’s assistant, and Carole Lombard, the soon-to-be-wife to Clark Gable and Hollywood’s hottest female actress. Together, these two help Julie inch closer to her goal, while the whirlwind of the biggest movie of all time coincides with whisperings of a second world war.
  
  I’ve been an Alcott fan from the start (Dressmaker, Daring Ladies of Lowell), and this book is just as wonderful as it is different from her previous publications. Julie, fresh from college with big dreams, is eager and determined to make her way through life without the help of her stifling Midwestern parents. She’s young, naive, and starry-eyed, and thus falls into several Hollywood holes on her journey. But her awe ceases once she meets the actors, the humans behind the characters they play. Shy Clark, energetic Carole, poised Vivienne, humorous Hattie — even the eye-gauging-inducing producer, David (oh my LORD that man drove me insane). And on this journey is someone who challenges her and supports her: Andy.
  
  Andy, working as Selznick’s right hand man, is constantly under pressure and works hard to keep publicity from freaking out and Selznick from blowing a gasket. He’s also Jewish, which poses a problem whenever the glamor of a movie set fades away and real world politics leaks in. With family in Berlin, he’s watching the papers and listening to the radio, waiting for the right moment to head off to Europe.
  
  I liked how Julie interacted with Andy. (With all the characters, really, especially Carole. Those two were more than boss and assistant — they were genuine girlfriends always ready to rush over and save the day during a crisis.) She was believably shy and quick to become jealous — hard not to be when he’s an older man and in the business and city of artful lies — which felt authentic for her age and upbringing. I felt connected with her as a mid-twenties Midwestern girl. At the same time, watching her grow with him, stand up for herself and demand respect and equality in the relationship, that was wonderfully empowering. My only wish was for Andy to be less of a downer with her. He felt more real and promising at the baseball game than at any other time. Yet, of course he’s a bit on the down side — he’s stressed in several areas of his life, has a decade more in experience and reality, and knows that Julie is only just beginning. I didn’t love him the way Julie did — but I could certainly see why she did.
  
  Do not be fooled by the jacket summary! This novel is far more about a girl’s journey in the magic of Hollywood during the filming of the greatest American films in history than it is about love affairs — and thank goodness for that!
  
  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this copy from Doubleday for review!
  
  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, review
- Book Review: “Daughter of the Forest” by Juliet Marillier
  
  Posted at 2:18 pm by Laura, on February 10, 2015
  
  Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
  
  Publisher: Tor Books
  Published: February 2002 (originally April 1999)
  Genre: fantasy
  ISBN: 9780765343437
  Goodreads: 4.28
  Rating: ★★★★★
  
  Lovely Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her. Sorcha is the light in their lives, they are determined that she know only contentment.
  
  But Sorcha’s joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift-by staying silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set to her by the Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her brothers forever.
  
  When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once. Sorcha despairs at ever being able to complete her task, but the magic of the Fair Folk knows no boundaries, and love is the strongest magic of them all…
  
  Sorcha is surrounded, protected, and loved by her six older brothers. She’s a talented healer for such a young lady, and thrives helping the sick and wounded or tending in her garden. But an evil woman, an enchantress, enters their household at Sevenwaters, and the children are cursed. Sorcha seeks help from the Fair Folk, and is set to accomplish a task alone and silent. But her task is disrupted when three Britons take her across the water to their land in Harrowfield. An outcast in enemy lands, Sorcha’s task is her only solace, and a deep bond forms between her and the master of Harrowfield. But with everything seeming to fall apart around her, Sorcha begins to wonder if her task served any purpose at all.
  
  I ran until I was dizzy and breathless, until I reached the far end of the beach,
  where the rocky headland rose from the white sand. There I leaned my back
  against the stones and listened to my heart pounding and drew in breaths of
  wild sea air. I had not realized, had not known how painful a burden had been
  laid on me, until now, when for a single day I was free.
  
  What lush, vivid, unhurried writing. This is storytelling at its finest. Marillier is brilliant and I bow to her. I read her Shadowfell trilogy and really enjoyed it, and this book was given to me by a friend. All I needed was a push with the #DOTFreadalong to reenter Marillier’s world and fall in love all over again. She takes her time to tell a story. We experience Sorcha’s journey in every minute detail — every joy and pain, happiness and sorrow. We feel it as if it’s our own. I loved each of her six brothers, all with varying talents and interests — and even their propensity to speak for her even though she can speak for herself — and I loved watching her change from a young girl with simple joys to a young woman with a lifetime of experience guiding her intuition and heart.
  
  Another thing Marillier masters is creating different obstacles and side stories often enough to make it more life-like. They don’t feel like plot devices inserted here and there to keep the character on their toes. Every moment of happiness wasn’t suddenly jolted with terror or horror, or vice versa. The story unfolded slowly, a gradual rise and fall, building tension and release. Reading it was like breathing. With the occasional choked-back sob, of course.
  
  But oh my GOD that scene, the test, Red’s test in Sevenwaters. That scene. I died. My heart broke and mended a million times over. There were so many of those scenes, both heart-pounding and gut-wrenching. I want to read these passages over and over and over and over.
  
  ~
  
  See reviews of Shadowfell, Raven Flight, and Caller.
  
  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 6 Comments | Tagged book review, books, DOTFreadalong, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: romance, goodreads, readalong, review
- Top Ten Tuesday: Romances in Books
  
  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on February 10, 2015
  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 I Like/Dislike When it Comes to Romances in Books.
  
  What an interesting topic! A lot of what I enjoy about romances in books can also be things I dislike as well. Sometimes it all boils down to the writing — how the characters and their situations are portrayed. We’ll start with Dislike so that the post ends on a high note!
  
  Five Things I Dislike* When it Comes to Romances in Books
  *It all depends on the writing
  1. Insta-love — Sometimes this works. Most of the time it’s just annoying.
  2. Bickering — When the dialogue is all “witty banter” and suddenly it’s love, I roll my eyes and close the book. That’s not witty. That’s bickering, and it’s unoriginal.
  3. All Sex, No Depth — Don’t get me wrong, sex scenes are great, but that’s not enough to constitute love and romance. That’s just pure physical fun. It’s extra frustrating in YA when it happens too quickly into the story.
  4. Love Triangles — Just…why? Sometimes I understand if the protagonist has a long-time crush at the start of the novel and about halfway she likes someone else, but…do we need to have love triangles all the time? YA is notorious for this.
  5. Totally Hot Guys — Why is it (again, notorious in YA) when she meets the guy, he’s always super chiseled and muscular and beautiful? I mean, there were some hot guys when I was a teenager but they definitely weren’t marbled gods. (I just about cried when I met Levi in Fangirl. What a relief!)
  Five Things I Like When it Comes to Romances in Books
  1. Depth — Several of my favorite romances begin with an established friendship, comfort, honesty and understanding. Whether or not the romance blossoms slowly or rapidly, if it has depth, I love it.
    Discovery of Witches, Winter Witch, Outlander, Letters from Skye
  2. The Rush — You know the feeling! Your heart’s beating fast, you’re rooting for the couple, it feels just like your very first crush. Heck, it feels like that very first time you meet any love interest, so full of possibility.
    Anna and the French Kiss, Just One Day, The Bronze Horseman
  3. Total Honesty — When the characters are completely honest with one another, whether or not they’re together at the time…it just makes my heart flutter.
    Fangirl, Rebel Belle, Seraphina
  4. The Tension — Cause heck, who doesn’t love tension? Sexual tension, repression, emotional tension, all brilliant.
    A Mad, Wicked Folly, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Clockwork Angel
  5. Teamwork — When the couple works together as a team, not necessarily putting their love before anything else but at least making it just as equal as whatever else they’re passionate about, that’s when you know it’s real.
    The Night Circus, The Truth About Forever, Shadowfell
  What do you like most about romances in books? What grates your nerves? Do you notice differences in adult and YA?
  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 22 Comments | Tagged books, genre: romance, top ten tuesday
- Book Review: “I Remember You” by Cathleen Davitt Bell (ARC)
  
  Posted at 8:10 am by Laura, on February 4, 2015
  
  I Remember You by Cathleen Davitt Bell
  
  Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
  Publishing Date: February 10
  Genre: young adult, romance
  ISBN: 9780385754552
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★
  
  Lucas and Juliet couldn’t be more different from each other. But from the moment Lucas sees Juliet, he swears he remembers their first kiss. Their first dance. Their first fight. He even knows what’s going to happen between them—not because he can predict the future, but because he claims to have already lived it.
  
  Juliet doesn’t know whether to be afraid for herself or for Lucas. As Lucas’s memories occur more frequently, they also grow more ominous. All Juliet wants is to keep Lucas safe with her. But how do you hold on to someone you love in the present when they’ve begun slipping away from you in the future?
  
  Lucas is paying attention to Juliet all of a sudden, and she doesn’t know why — but she’s not bothered by it either. Hockey guys rarely speak to bookish, debate club girls like her. He’s nothing like she expected, and she thrills in his attention, devotion, and thoughtfulness. But there’s something else going on too, and it’s hard for him to explain and for her to understand: Lucas “dreams” of the future and “remembers” the present. It’s as if his future self is inhabiting his current self, urging him to change his future and the future of his relationship with Juliet. But with these dreams come fearsome headaches, and Lucas would do anything to not only stop the headaches, but stop the insight to the future.
  
  The publisher summary isn’t quite what I read, and I did my best to give my own summary as well — and even that doesn’t quite explain what happened in this book. But it’s certainly a puzzle of a read, and I was interested enough to keep on reading to figure out what was happening to Lucas — and how he’d change after his serious accident, an attempt to get rid of the headaches and “dreams.” Told through Juliet’s perspective as if writing in a journal, the reader works through the mystery of Lucas’s mind just as Juliet is reflecting on the events.
  
  But if the mystery of Lucas’s mind isn’t enough to compel you to read the book, you can definitely read it on a maturity standpoint. Lucas tries to describe what’s happening to him as if it’s his future self inhabiting his current (or “past”) self. And it shows. He reminded me very much of a man rather than a teenage boy. It became more apparent as the book progressed that this was definitely the case. Watching Juliet fall in love with that side of him was heartbreaking and wonderful all at once.
  
  This is a primarily a romance, but it’s also dark. Lucas isn’t exactly predicting the future, and he’s not having visions or hallucinations. But he tells Juliet things that end up happening — a friend’s house burning down, the Christmas gift Juliet gives him, George W Bush’s election into office, the war in Iraq — and Juliet attempts to make sense of it all.
  
  Believe me, you’ll try to as well.
  
  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Knopf for review!
  
  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: romance, genre: young adult, goodreads, review
- Top Ten Tuesday: Haven’t Read These YA Fantasy Books
  
  Posted at 10:15 am by Laura, on February 3, 2015
  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 I Can’t Believe I Haven’t Read From X Genre. You know what I’m most ashamed about? Working in a bookstore, reading all the book reviews from fellow bloggers, and contributing to conversations and getting excited about books I haven’t read. It always feels like I’ve read the books because I hear so much about them, but I haven’t read them. Part of it is because I want to stay away from the hype, and part of it is because I have a hard time believing I’d pick up the book for any other reason apart from, “I heard about it.” Half the time when I’m browsing, I’m really just looking for books I’ve heard about. Would I really pick any of these up blindly? Maybe. Maybe not. But these are the top ten in YA fantasy I haven’t read. Please don’t throw tomatoes at me!
  
  Why I Haven’t Read These Yet
  - Falling Kingdoms — four perspectives? YA Game of Thrones? I mean, reading the jacket summary makes it seem daunting, and yet so very intriguing. I’m curious. And scared.
  - Cinder — cyborgs? I dunno. I’m not much of a sci-fi / space person. So many of my friends have read this, friends who were just in it for fairy tales, friends who definitely are not sci-fi people, and they’ve enjoyed it. So I really do need to give this a chance.
  - Throne of Glass — no excuse. I own the book (and Crown of Midnight), so I need to get cracking!
  Why I Haven’t Read These Yet
  - Legend — dystopia. I’m over it. But this looks so good. So maybe I’m not over it. Have you read it? What’s your take on it?
  - A Thousand Pieces of You — So much pre-pub hype. Back when I was browsing upcoming releases, before there was any hype, before print and digital proofs were sent to bloggers, I wanted to read this. And the moment I received my digital ARC, I avoided it like the plague. Sometimes when something gets so much hype, I run the opposite direction and wait a year or two.
  - Shadow and Bone — It all began with Russian names on the wrong gender or used incorrectly. That’s so nitpicky, because the story is apparently fantastic! And reading the jackets for the trilogy gets me all excited.
  Why I Haven’t Read These Yet
  - Graceling — no excuse. I want to read this.
  - The Iron King — no excuse. FAERIES!
  - Shatter Me — I’ve heard mixed reviews about the lyrical writing. Every quote I’ve read sounds so beautiful, and yet it’s also up for ridicule. I’ve actually no idea what the series is about, just that the writing is poetic. And, um, major cover love.
  - Life As We Knew It — the whole concept of a moon knocking us out of orbit is totally possible and has me terrified. But I want to read it. But I don’t. But I do.
  Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts on them? What are some of your favorite YA fantasy books?
  Posted in books, Top Ten Tuesday | 24 Comments | Tagged books, genre: fantasy, genre: young adult, top ten tuesday
- Advance Excitement at a Glance XI
  
  Posted at 2:45 am by Laura, on January 28, 2015
  
  A monthly meme to keep up with the latest publications, featuring at least two advance copy reviews to look forward to reading.
  
  February looks like another huge month for publishing, and I’m really excited about The Price of Blood by Patricia Bracewell. Even though I received an ARC, I wanted to set that aside and read the published book instead — really immerse myself back into Emma’s life. Hopefully a review will come soon for that!
  
  Until then, take a peek at these featured books I’ll review on the blog this month!
  
  I Remember You by Cathleen Davitt Bell
  (Knopf Books for Young Readers, February 10)
  
  Lucas and Juliet couldn’t be more different from each other. But from the moment Lucas sees Juliet, he swears he remembers their first kiss. Their first dance. Their first fight. He even knows what’s going to happen between them—not because he can predict the future, but because he claims to have already lived it.
  
  Intriguing. Seeing the future, but not exactly predicting it. Curious to see where this one goes!
  
  A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott
  (Doubleday, February 17)
  
  Although tensions run high on the set, Julie finds she can step onto the back lot, take in the smell of smoky gunpowder and the soft rustle of hoop skirts, and feel the magical world of Gone with the Wind come to life. Julie’s access to real-life magic comes when Carole Lombard hires her as an assistant and invites her into the glamorous world Carole shares with Clark Gable—who is about to move into movie history as the dashing Rhett Butler.
  
  I’m a Kate Alcott fan. I’ll read just about anything she puts out there. What really entices me about this book is that this doesn’t appear to be focused on fashion. Her other two books were — fashion and fabrics mixed with court rulings — and this one is about a girl’s journey in Hollywood during the filming of Gone with the Wind. How amazing would that be?
  
  Which books are you looking forward to in February?
  
  Posted in Advance Excitement, books | 3 Comments | Tagged advance excitement at a glance, ARC, books
- Book Review: “Alistair Grim’s Odditorium” by Gregory Funaro
  
  Posted at 7:35 am by Laura, on January 24, 2015
  
  Alistair Grim’s Odditorium by Gregory Funaro
  
  Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
  Published: January 6, 2015
  Genre: middle grade, fantasy, steampunk
  ISBN: 9781484700068
  Goodreads: 3.97
  Rating: ★★★★
  
  Grubb, age twelve (or thereabouts), has never known anything beyond his miserable existence as a chimney sweep, paid only in insults and abuse by his cruel master.
  
  All of that changes the day he stows away in the coach belonging to a mysterious guest at the inn that he is tasked with cleaning. Grubb emerges from Alistair Grim’s trunk and into the wondrous world of the Odditorium. Fueled by a glowing blue energy that Grubb can only begin to understand, the Odditorium is home to countless enchanted objects and an eccentric crew that embraces Grubb as one of their own.
  
  There’s no time for Grubb to settle into his new role as apprentice to the strange, secretive Mr. Grim. When the Odditorium comes under attack, Grubb is whisked off on a perilous adventure. Only he can prevent the Odditorium’s magic from falling into evil hands-and his new family from suffering a terrible fate.
  
  Grubb knows he’s no hero. He’s just a chimney sweep. But armed with only his courage and wits, Grubb will confront the life-or-death battle he alone is destined to fight.
  
  Grubb (spelled like the worm but with a second b) is an orphaned chimney sweep working for a very large, very grumpy Mr. Smears. An accident at the local inn drives Grubb to hide in a trunk stowed in a carriage — and the next thing he knows, he’s a stowaway granted permission to live in the dark, mysterious, glowing Odditorium. He stumbles across several enchanted and mechanical objects, all running off this strange blue or red energy. But Mr. Grim instructs Grubb to not ask questions, to not cause trouble, and to not touch anything. A small mishap with a tinkered pocket-watch sends Grubb on a wild journey across time and space with a sorcerer, a banshee, a witch, a business investor, a fairy, and countless Odditoria to save Victorian London and prevent the Odditorium’s magic from falling into Prince Nightshade’s hands.
  
  What a witty and fun adventure! I thought Odditorium was going to be a quirky Victorian Gothic book, but it’s not. It felt like a child Dickens mixed with Potter mixed with Snicket — and yet wholly unique. A mixture of Roman mythology and Celtic lore, with a dash of Victorian culture, and a dollop of magic, Odditorium is definitely a whirlwind of a read. I especially loved the illustrations by Vivienne To — it really added to the story!
  
  From the character names to their personal catch phrases, their hidden talents to their mysterious stories, it was enjoyable to watch Grubb’s world change in a matter of days from a skinny, starving, dirtied chummy to that of a sorcerer’s assistant risking life and limb to save a remarkable collection. The little academic inside me cheered.
  
  The story ended on a good note with a hint for a sequel. I do hope one comes out. This was a great mini Dickens-meets-fantasy read.
  
  This qualifies as book #1 in my resolution to read 10 library books in 2015.
  
  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, genre: sci-fi, goodreads, review
- “Daughter of the Forest” Readalong!
  
  Posted at 10:51 am by Laura, on January 22, 2015
  During one of our many Twitter and text conversations, Morgan and Lindsey told me about their idea to have a readalong for Juliet Marillier’s of Daughter of the Forest. I’ve owned this book for a while — it was a gift from a grad school friend — and found this to be the perfect opportunity to join in on the readalong. So we decided to do this together, where we would each update our progress on Goodreads every 50 pages, talk about what we liked and what we wanted more of, and include a gif (Lindsey was adamant about the gif).
  
  Word spread (as it does in the blogging community), and now we’re hosting a readalong for everyone! This is the perfect opportunity for those of you who are…
  - participating in the Fairytale Challenge hosted by The Daily Prophecy
  - participating in the Flights of Fantasy Challenge hosted by Alexa Loves Books and Hello Chelly
  - participating in the ReRead2015 Challenge hosted by So Obsessed With and Belle of the Literati
  - going through your TBR shelves
  - in need of a great fantasy read
  Sign up and read the rules over at Bring My Books! We’re so excited about this and hope you enjoy Daughter of the Forest.
  
  Be sure to tweet and instagram your readalong posts with #DOTFreadalong!
  
  Twitter
  Morgan || Lindsey || Laura
  
  Instagram
  Morgan || Lindsey || Laura
  Posted in books, readalong | 4 Comments | Tagged books, DOTFreadalong, genre: fantasy, readalong
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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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