Top Ten Tuesday: Words/Topics That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish Every week focuses on a different topic and you make a top ten list from it. This week: My Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book

This list was harder than I thought it would be...it's not something I really think about. Probably because it's not the words that provoke me to pick up a book, but a feeling.

1. Ancient Rome
I used to want to be a historian for Roman history, but went in another direction. Doesn't mean I'm not still obsessed with ancient Rome.

2. Swords
I love them (Yes, that's me).

The best way to clean up after a party.
"Die, streamers!"

3. Zombies!
Editors and agents may be tiring of zombies, but I don't think I will. So they should still publish them.

4. London
I'll take any place in the UK, really. I'm a huge anglophile.


5. Secrets
I love people with secrets, but I love towns with secrets even more.

6. Magic

7. Quarantine

8. Elite/Rich
I'm always interested in that kind of world and where it can lead someone. I especially enjoy when a person who is poor gets mixed up with a wealthy group. Cliche idea? Yes, it sure is.

What's your top ten?

Review: Code Name Verity

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Publication date: February 6, 2012
Publisher: Egmont

I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end no matter what I do.

That’s what you do to enemy agents. It’s what we do to enemy agents. But I look at all the dark and twisted roads ahead and cooperation is the easy way out. Possibly the only way out for a girl caught red-handed doing dirty work like mine — and I will do anything, anything, to avoid SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden interrogating me again. He has said that I can have as much paper as I need. All I have to do is cough up everything I can remember about the British War Effort. And I’m going to. But the story of how I came to be here starts with my friend Maddie. She is the pilot who flew me into France — an Allied Invasion of Two.

We are a sensational team.

Immediately after finishing CODE NAME VERITY it was added to my list of favorite books (and that list is not long). This novel is stunning. The writing is stunning, the characters are stunning, and the story is touching and raw (I didn't say stunning! Tricked you!). CODE NAME VERITY grabbed me from the beginning and had me until the end. I'm usually not one for historical fiction unless it's a period of history that interests me. Even then, I may not read it sometimes, but I'm glad I didn't let this one pass by.

Elizabeth Wein writes this story with so much detail and gorgeous prose. It's clear that a lot of research was done for the novel, so kudos for making everything feel as real as possible. I'm usually not one for World War Two history, but Wein made me want to pick up non-fiction books about how females were used during the war. I knew to some extent and the basics, but had no idea that girls were used as spys. Ignorant much, Angie? Maybe...Okay, yes...

Seriously, there are so many twists and turns (so good) to keep the reader invested, but in the end, this book is about an amazing friendship and the solid connection two girls from two different backgrounds make as they try to survive through the war.

Where I've Been...

I've returned from the dark depths called life. I know I don't need to, but I want to explain where I've been:

I had a big move, so that was tough to start with. Especially since I had to start completely over in a big new city. Stressful much? I may have lived here before, but after five years of being away a lot can change. I got an internship at a literary agency in the children's department which I fell in love with. This is a great thing, but the majority of what I did all day was read submissions (think eight hours a day of reading), so when I got home I didn't really want to read anymore. I will admit it was hard to find a balance between reading for work and pleasure, but I eventually did it. Anyway, with the internship added to my work schedule, I was working seven days a week which also makes it difficult to find reading time. Well, now the internship is done and I've found more time to begin blogging again! Yay! I've been missing my readers all day every day. I know it will take me a while to build up the readership I had previously, so please be patient with me as I return to form. But I am back.

On a side note, I mention the lit internship to explain my situation. Please don't email me with submissions of anything because I will delete them and not pass them on. I also will not tell you which agency. It's the internet where all information is available, but I'd still like to keep as much privacy as possible. ;)

EDITED TO ADD: I think I will begin reviewing middle grade books on this blog along with YA. I read a lot of it and my reviews may be helpful to some people! I'll just need to change my graphic at the top...

Review: Through To You

Through To You by Emily Hainsworth
Publication date: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray


THROUGH TO YOU is a fascinating concept and I am all for a different kind of story and setting, especially in a YA novel. But (There's a but?), the main character kind of ruined it for me.

I didn't like Camden. I'm fine with teen angst, I understand his reasons for emoting, but not when it takes up the entire book and he doesn't change. Also, he doesn't seem like the brightest crayon in the box. Half the time, I wanted to smack him upside his head. It took him forever to figure out things that were happening. A book is not fun for me if I've figured something out chapters before a character and then have to read along as he comes to the incorrect conclusions, even when it was just explained to him. Yes, denial plays a big part in this, but I felt like it was there as a plot device that eventually became annoying. I just couldn't connect with him.

I also couldn't feel the connection that Camden had to Viv. About nine-five percent of the time, when Camden remembered Viv, it was about her body or a moment where they made-out, or a place or thing that reminded him when they made-out. It felt more like obsession and lust than actual romance. At one point, I thought maaaaybe that was the author's intention, but I still don't know. And even if that was the author's intention, why would I want to root for the protagonist, or feel pity for him, if it's not about love? Isn't that the point? It doesn't make sense, which is why I felt, and still feel, really stupid; like I translated his feelings incorrectly. I usually consider myself extremely empathetic (I cried during the movie Elf!!), but I just didn't connect. Who knows, maybe I was right the whole time. I don't know.

In spite of the disconnect I felt with Camden and his relationships, the book still had me reading until I got to the end. I may have guessed a lot of the twists, but I couldn't really predict some of the choices that would be made. Also, I really was fascinated by the idea of parallel worlds and enjoyed the author's interpretation of them (I'm kind of a quantum physics geek.).

On a side note: Cam's best friend, Mike. What a freaking amazing friend.

Review: Draw the Dark

Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bick
Publication date: October 1, 2010
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

There are things in Winter, Wisconsin, folks just don't talk about. The murder way back in '45 is one. The near-suicide of a first-grade teacher is another. And then there is 17-year old Christian Cage. Christian's parents disappeared when he was a little boy, and ever since he's drawn and painted obsessively, trying desperately to remember his mother. The problem is Christian doesn't just draw his own memories. He can draw the thoughts of those around him. Confronted with fears and nightmares they'd rather avoid, people have a bad habit of dying. So it's no surprise that Christian isn't exactly popular. What no one expects is for Christian to meet Winter's last surviving Jew and uncover one more thing best forgotten the day the Nazi's came to town. Based on a little-known fact of the United States' involvement in World War II, Draw the Dark is a dark fantasy about reclaiming the forgotten past and the redeeming power of love.

I love the ASHES trilogy, so I was expecting to love DRAW THE DARK, but I ended up being a little disappointed (Not too much, though.).

This is a “Bick” book, so don't expect rainbows and pony rides. Like ASHES, DRAW THE DARK takes place in a pretty dark environment: a murder mystery, deaths, blood, Nazis, intense bullying that borderlines on evil. Okay, it's not borderline. It's evil. Christian has the power to draw people's nightmares for crying out loud. I, for one, always enjoy a setting of a small town where everyone knows everyone's business and townspeople keep secrets secretive. Christian, the outcast of the town, due to a suicide he was blamed for as a child (and some other accidents), finds himself in the middle of an old murder case. It has apparently been solved and no one wants to talk about it. Through Christian's “special skill” he discovers clues piece by piece that tell him the murder is anything but a closed case. Now here is the only big issue I had with the book: when an information “bomb” would be dropped, I already knew what the information was before the characters discovered it. I'm not saying these discoveries were predictable in the sense of “Pssh, I figured that out pages ago.” The problem was that I was surprised, most of the time, that the big reveal was an actual big reveal. It was more like, when there was a reveal, I thought to myself, “Oh. I thought we already knew that.” It left me scratching my head because I knew those moments were supposed to make me gasp or raise my eyebrows in surprise, but I assumed the reader would already know this info from signs or previous conversations between characters. I wish I could give examples, but I like to keep my reviews spoiler free and that's the best way to enjoy this book. I just hope what I explained makes sense...

Other than that, I enjoyed the story and the characters. Christian is a good example of how to write teen angst and not over do it. He is also a very complex principal which adds something extra to the story. The secondary characters weren't so bad themselves; I found each of them just as interesting. Along with the main mystery, I liked the added mystery involving the sideways place and sometimes found myself wanting to learn more about it at the times when, well, we weren't.

It's a quick read with plenty of surprising moments (yes, I could be surprised!). If you're looking for a good, dark and grisly mystery, check this one out!

Review: Stormdancer

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
Publication date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.
A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her. But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

I finished Stormdancer a little more than a week ago. I guess I could have written a review for another book before now, but I didn't want to lose my focus on this one. I'm making all of this sound very serious with a dash of mystery. My apologies. There is something I had an issue with and I've been trying to figure out a respectful way to explain it. Basically, here's what my thoughts and feelings come down to:

I thought the book was just okay.

One of the things I enjoyed, is Jay Kristoff's steampunk Asian world; a world of war, politics, pollution, and advanced machinery. I enjoyed a lot of the characters, but mainly Buruu--oh my goodness Buruu, he steals the show, in my opinion. And while I like Yukiko well enough by herself, it's the relationship between her and Buruu that make the book for me; I found the progression of their relationship to be well done. Also, I loved the history and folklore that Kristoff created for Shima

I've always been drawn to Japanese history and culture (It's second to my Anglophilia.); I've always found it fascinating. Now, I realize that this is a fantasy book, and for that, I believe liberties can be taken. But I do not believe liberties can be taken when they can be considered disrespectful to a culture. The world of Stormdancer is a mishmash of Asian culture. From some other reviews, people have had issue with this, but I'm okay with it. If that makes me an ignorant white westerner, then so be it. Out of this cultural mishmash, I think it is clear that Kristoff mainly chose to use Japanese influences, i.e., the language, the country of Shima, the clothing, weapons, etc. Herein lies the problem for me. If an author is going to draw upon a culture that is not their own, I would assume that they would use the language and terms from said culture or country correctly. Kristoff does not (I could go into details, but that would make this review very long and there are other reviewers, and angry ones at that!, that have explained how.). In fact, I lost respect for him as an author when I found out he got all of his information from anime/manga and Wikipedia. That, to me, is what I find the most disrespectful and rather lazy. Wikipedia is not the be-all and end-all of information. I use it too, but not for, what should be, in-depth research.

Stormdancer is also extremely verbose and overly so. I get wanting to set up environment and surroundings, but Kristoff goes so far as to repeat things he's already described in the scene. The information is just phrased differently each time. I actually found myself skimming passages and this is something I rarely do. Other than that: I found the characters interesting, the invented machinery creative and fascinating, BURRU!, but ultimately it's not a book that's going to stay with me. It could be a book that could stay with you, though! From all the reviews out there, I'm apparently in a minority, but I'm used to being there so...

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine which asks what book we're most looking forward to.

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

Publication date: April 2013

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world). Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot's dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth. As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unraveling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds -- through an accidental gap that hasn't appeared in centuries. But even greater mysteries are unfolding on both sides of the gap: dangerous weather phenomena called "color storms;" a strange fascination with Isaac Newton; the myth of the "Butterfly Child," whose appearance could end the droughts of Cello; and some unexpected kisses...

I love her Ashbury High books, so I'm really looking forward to this one!

What are you waiting for?