November Confessions

Sanibel Island, Florida 11/2010

Well, I learned a lot this month.  I signed up for NaNoWriMo and was so hopeful until I got behind. Once I got behind, it snowballed horribly. I felt it was no longer fun to write, because I was more worried about word count than I was quality. At that moment, I knew it was over for me. But don't get me wrong, I got over 17,000 words written in the first two weeks and for me during this busy month of November filled with report cards, conferences and a trip to Florida, I figured that it isn't half bad! 


NaNoWriMo did remind me that I love to write and could actually enjoy it if I had more time. I definitely plan on trying it again next year, but with more of a plan in mind!  Maybe there should be a NaNoWriMo in July for us teachers! Consequently, I was so focused on writing the first two weeks, I fell behind in my reading, but I did get some reviews posted. Here's my November wrap-up:


Books Read in November:
1.  Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein
2.  Delirium by Lauren Oliver
3.  Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
4.  Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
5.  Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
6.  Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins


My November Top Five:


1.  Favorite Book: 
This was a tough choice as I've been on an awesome book kick lately, but I have to go with Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I'm obsessed!


2.  Biggest Surprise:  
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly- I heard that this book was good, but I had no idea how awesome it was going to be. Jennifer Donnelly is a new author (to me!) that I now love.


3.  Biggest Letdown: 
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick- Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book and thought it was extremely entertaining, but sadly, it wasn't as good as Hush, Hush. I still gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars though, because it's pure mind candy.


4.  Favorite Post: 
My "Must Read" Classics


5.  Favorite Part of November: 
My mini-vacation to Florida and of course, Thanksgiving.


I hope everyone has had a great month! I can't believe December starts tomorrow. It feels just like yesterday when I was on the beach with a good book basking in the summer sun. Time flies! One thing is for sure though....I am excited for the holiday season!

Teaser Tuesday #42

This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

• Grab your read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and the author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

"It all started with a letter. A letter that had been lost a long time, waiting out half a century in a forgotten postal bag in the dim attic of a nondescript house in Bermondsey.  I think about it sometimes, that mailbag: of the hundreds of love letters, grocery bills, birthday cards, notes from children to their parents, that lay together, swelling and sighing as their thwarted messages whispered in the dark." (page 7)

*I've read so many good reviews about this book and despite the enormous size, I am excited to read it. I only started it the other day, but I think this book will be the perfect break from all the young adult literature I've been reading lately.  I have a feeling that this one will take me awhile to get through though!

Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Pages: 372

Genre:  YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: December 2, 2010

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

Anna is a typical senior until one day her father, a famous author, decides to send her to boarding school in Paris.  He tells her it will be life changing, she'll become worldly and experience something she won't forget.  She is less than excited to go and leave her best friend as well as possible boyfriend behind.  However, once at the boarding school, she meets a new group of friends and one person, Etinne St. Clair, catches her eye.  He's pretty much perfect, except for one small thing: he's taken! Plus, Anna just started sort-of seeing someone back at home.  Readers will follow Anna throughout her many adventures in Paris, the ups and downs of living life away in a new city, and what happens back at home while you are gone. Simply said, Stephanie Perkins' debut, Anna and the French Kiss, is an unforgettable read.


Perkins truly knows how to portray a friendship that COULD be something more.  She really captured the hot/cold moments, the romantic tension, and the unspoken words that are inevitable when two friends are attracted to each other, but deny their feelings.  I've never read a novel that does this better than Perkins. Seriously.  Anna and St. Clair's relationship was spot on.  Who doesn't love a guy with killer looks, an accent, and happens to also be nice? Their relationship felt authentic and they encountered realistic problems; it wasn't all rainbows and cartoons, which added to its credibility.  Plus, I definitely have a literary crush on St. Clair. (My apologies, Mr. Darcy!) He instantly became one of my favorite male characters!


Also, Anna is the type of character that's the girl next door.  I have a feeling that most young adults will be able to relate to her quite easily.  She's got brown hair, not very athletic, and a less than perfect smile, which St. Clair happens to love.  I also enjoyed her metamorphosis.  At first she was afraid of the city, but by the middle of book, she was navigating around by herself.  Throughout her stay in Paris, she blossomed and evolved, which was one of the best parts of the book. 


This book made me want to book a trip to Paris immediately. Perkins describes Paris and the attractions so well; I felt like I was there. The city became a character itself and it was the most incredible setting for this story.  I wish my review could do the setting justice, but I know I'm falling short....just know that it was picture perfect.


Normally I will pass along books like this to my students, friends or families, but this one is special. It's going on my bookcase with some of my other favorite reads, which shows you just how much I LOVED this book!  Anna and the French Kiss shouldn't be missed this holiday season; I will be recommending it to all of my friends.  Also, I was so excited to hear that there will be two companion novels!  The first one is called Lola and the Boy Next Door, which will be out in late 2011 and Isla and the Happily Ever After, which will be published in late 2012.  After reading Perkins' debut, Anna and the French Kiss, I'll absolutely CANNOT wait to read these companion novels; in fact, I'll read anything that this talented author writes!

*Buy Anna and the French Kiss

In My Mailbox #39

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
*I was immediately interested in this book after reading some early reviews out in the blogosphere and those reviews were right!  This book is incredible; I'm glad I pre-ordered it. Expect my review this week.

Goodreads says, "Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?"

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen
*Quirk Books sent me a copy of this monster mash-up.  I am intrigued and even though zombies terrify me, I thought I would give it a try and see what it's all about. A big thank you to Eric at Quirk Books!

Goodreads says, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy.  What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead.  Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read."

Blankets by Craig Thompson

*I've never read a graphic novel before and my co-worker lent me this one. In fact, he just started a new blog called Walk the Walk.  He highly recommended Blankets and I look forward to reading my first graphic novel hopefully over the holidays! 

Goodreads says, "Wrapped in the landscape of a blustery Wisconsin winter, Blankets explores the sibling rivalry of two brothers growing up in the isolated country, and the budding romance of two coming-of-age lovers. A tale of security and discovery, of playfulness and tragedy, of a fall from grace and the origins of faith."

What did you get in your mailbox?  Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you think.   This meme is hosted by The Story Siren.

Book Review: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: May 4, 2010

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's o ...more

Goodreads says, "Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road -- diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself."

Amy's life has taken a turn for the worse.  Her dad recently died in a car accident, her mom is moving the family from California to Connecticut in order to start over, and her twin brother is in re-hab for his drug addiction.  It's the summer of her senior year and she should be having the time of her life, but instead she has to drive her mom's car out to Connecticut.  But the problem is, she doesn't drive.....anymore.  Her mom has enlisted her friend's son, Roger, to come along with her, but Amy is freaked out by the whole thing; she barely knows Roger!  However, on this road trip, Anna finally comes to grips with her father's death, learns to forgive herself, connects with Roger in a way that she didn't expect, and most importantly, starts living again. Morgan Matson's debut took me by surprise and quickly became one of my favorite novels.

One aspect of the novel that I thoroughly enjoyed is the fact that I felt like I was on Amy and Roger's journey with them.  Matson included receipts, pictures, menus, postcards, and even their playlists.  It felt so real and authentic.  By the end of the novel, I wanted to leave it all behind and go on a life altering road trip, too.  Who doesn't love to travel, especially a road trip?  I know the power and healing capabilities of traveling and Matson captures it perfectly.

I also enjoyed Amy and Roger's budding romance.  Matson made it believable; it wasn't rushed.  It developed slowly and realistically.  I hate novels where the characters have an instant connection and all of a sudden they can't live without each other.  Amy and Roger's relationship was like a fresh breathe of air.

This book is about much more than a blooming young adult romance and a road trip. It's about death, forgiveness, healing, and moving on.  It's a powerful debut about a young girl finding peace and the journey to find herself.  With that said, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour is one of my favorite books of 2010.   

*Buy Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

*Read an excerpt

*Watch an interview with Morgan Matson

Happy Thanksgiving

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the 

highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by 

them.”  ~ John F. Kennedy

Here's a Wordle, or a word cloud, of what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. If you aren't familiar with Wordle, you can write as much or as little text as you want and it pinpoints the words that you use most often. I thought I would share mine with you.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving,

2011 Debut Author Challenge

The Story Siren is hosting this fabulous challenge for 2011 and although I didn't join last year, I read twenty debut novels for 2010! So, I thought why not participate this year?  Check out her post for more details.




Here are the debuts that I am thinking of reading for 2011, but keep in mind this list is subject to change. I've included twelve, but I'm hoping I can read more! Also, you might have seen some of these titles as the subject of my "Waiting On Wednesday" post, because I have had my eye on some of these debuts for awhile! 2011 is looking like an exciting year!

1.  Timeless by Alexandra Monir

2.  Across the Universe by Beth Revis

3.  Angelfire by Courtney A. Moulton

4.  The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

5.  Wither by Lauren DeStefano

6.  Entwined by Heather Dixon

7.  Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

8.  Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

9.  Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

10.  Awaken by Kate Kacvinsky

11.  The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

12.  Divergent by Veronica Roth

Book Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Pages: 472

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: October 12, 2010

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.  PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.  Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present."

Andi is not your stereotypical rich teenager.  Yes, she does attend a prestigious private school and is overflowing with mandatory teenage angst, but she is much more than that. She is a talented musician who is seriously depressed and only finds happiness in her music.  She's not really living, but rather going through the motions ever since her younger brother, Truman, died.  Her mother is the same way; she hides in her brownstone prolifically painting pictures of her dead son and not really interacting with Andi, let alone the outside world.  They both have never allowed themselves to get over his death and to make matters worse, her father, a genius Nobel Prize winning scientist, has moved on and is never home.  That is until he gets wind that Andi is not going to graduate unless she completes her senior thesis, which she could care less about.  Her father demands that she come to Paris with him over break and work on her thesis there while he sends her mother to a much needed rehab facility.  Andi goes along with her father, kicking and screaming, and while in Paris she finds a diary from the French Revolution amongst her family friend's (historian) artifacts.  Andi connects to this diary and the girl's story even though it happened over two centuries ago.  Ultimately, the diary ends up changing her life forever.  Jennifer Donnelly's Revolution is one of the best historical fictions I've read and is, in my opinion, one of the best books of 2010.


Revolution, for me, really encompasses what historical fiction is all about.  Andi's tale was weaved effortlessly and was well researched.  At times the story was fun and whimsical, but there were some very dark parts as well, which in turn, took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Also, I felt the theme of this novel was important and focused on lessons surrounding love, life, death, and forgiveness.  Unlike a lot of the other young adult historical fiction novels that I've read recently, this book was intelligent and profound.


Revolution is first book that I've read by Donnelly and I am extremely impressed.  She truly has a way of capturing the human condition and while I would have probably wanted to strangle snarky Andi if she were written by another author, Donnelly, surprisingly, made me feel sympathetic towards her. Revolution truly spoke to me and even though a lot of the story's details were focused on events that occurred many, many years ago in the diary, readers can still identify with the story and Donnelly's message.  I'd say that, in itself, is the mark of a great novel.


Jennifer Donnelly has easily become one of my favorites and I will be getting my hands on a copy of A Northern Light as soon as possible. With that said, if you sit down to read only one book this holiday season, make it Revolution.  This is a book you do not want to miss!

*Buy Revolution

*Read the first four chapters

*Watch an interview with Jennifer Donnelly

Waiting on Wednesday: Queen in Exile

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch

Pub. Date: March 23, 2011

Goodreads says, "Rumors of war hang over Princess Jeniah's peaceful country of Arden, a land that shuns both magic and warfare. Following a lifelong dream, Jeniah forms a telpathic bond with a revered creature called a chayim, who is prophesied to save her kingdom. But when a Darborian knight comes upon Jeniah with her chayim, he sees only a vicious monster about to devour a maiden, and he slays the beast. Devastated by the loss of her chayim, and fearing that her own magic is evil, Jeniah doubts her destiny. When an enemy invades Arden City, they slaughter the people, storm the castle, and execute the entire royal family except the princess. Rescued by the knight who slew her chayim, Jeniah is now heir to the throne of Arden and the only hope for freeing her people from tyranny. On the run and hunted by enemy soldiers, Jeniah must place her life and the fate of her kingdom in the hands of this trained killer. Torn between embracing her destiny as queen of Arden, and her love for a mere knight, she must ultimately rely on her magic to save herself and her people from death and tyranny."

*This sounds like the perfect fantasy novel.  For fans of fantasy, what is not to love?

Winner of The Hollow

The winner of the signed copy of The Hollow by Jessica Verday is......

#33 Elise

On the giveaway form, I asked the following question: 

If you could be any literary character for Halloween, who would you be?

She responded with Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz

Congrats, Elise! 

 I have a few giveaways in the works and one special one coming up for my first Blogoversary, which is on December 21st. I can't believe it has been a year already!   

In My Mailbox #38

To Serve a King by Donna Russo Morin

*I love historical fiction and when Donna contacted me to review her book, I took her up on her offer immediately! Thanks, Donna!

Summary says, "In Donna Russo Morin's new historical novel, a young woman is caught in the rivalry between two powerful kings- Henry VIII of England and Francois I of France- creating a story that teems with compelling drama and vibrant details."

Firespell by Chloe Neill

*I've always wanted to read this series and when I won this book over at The Bookologist, I was very happy!  Thanks for the contest!

Goodreads says, "As the new girl at the elite St. Sophia’s boarding school, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most monstrous things she’ll have to face…When Lily’s guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she was shocked. So was St. Sophia’s. Lily’s ultra-rich brat pack classmates think Lily should be the punchline to every joke, and on top of that, she’s hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building.  The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate, Scout, but even Scout’s a little weird—she keeps disappearing late at night and won’t tell Lily where she’s been. But when a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout running from a real monster.  Scout’s a member of a splinter group of rebel teens with unique magical talents, who’ve sworn to protect the city against demons, vampires, and Reapers, magic users who’ve been corrupted by their power. And when Lily finds herself in the line of a firespell, Scout tells her the truth about her secret life, even though Lily has no powers of her own—at least none that she’s discovered yet…"

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

*I bought this book after reading so many great reviews. It's a huge novel, but I am excited to pick it up over the holidays.

Goodreads says, "This long-awaited novel by the author of The House at Riverton begins with a long lost letter. Its contents compel young Edie Burchill to journey to the eerie realm of Millderhurst Castle, where her mother, then just 13 years old, waited out the London Blitz. What Edie learns about those distant hours in that faraway place will forever change her view of her mother and herself. A subtle, artfully constructed story about place, the past, and time's reverberations."

What did you get in your mailbox?  Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you think.   This meme is hosted by The Story Siren.  

My "Must Read" Classics

Every year, right around the holiday season, my friends ask me, "What classics should I read that I haven't already read or pretended to read in high school?" I guess because I am an English teacher and a self-proclaimed book nerd, I always am being asked for book recommendations.  If people ask me about classics, I will respond with the following list. I'm sure some may think I am leaving out an essential book or two, but this is just my opinion. The following list is in random order.

1.  The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (or The Lord of the Rings series)- If you love fantasy, you must read this book.  Plus, there is a moving coming out in 2012 based on The Hobbit, which means it is going to gain even more popularity.


2.  The Aeneid by Virgil- Many claim that this epic poem is a masterpiece.  Even T.S. Eliot agreed by saying it is "the classic of all Europe."


3.  The Odyssey by Homer- I student taught this classic and would love to teach it again. Who doesn't love all the mythological creatures in it and Odysseus' incredible journey?


4.  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott- This is a book that I would love to re-visit this holiday season.  One word that describes this book: heartwarming.


5.  Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare- I like most of Shakespeare's plays, but this tragedy is one is my favorites.  

6.  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens- This timeless tale is still popular today.  It is hands down my favorite holiday story.


7.  The Awakening by Kate Chopin-  Many consider this controversial novel as a foundation for feminism.   Need I say more?


8.  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- Everyone knows my love for TKAM.


9.  Persuasion by Jane Austen- I feel like this novel gets overlooked a lot, but I think it is just as good as Pride and Prejudice, which leads me to number ten.


10.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen- If I could have a literary boyfriend, Mr. Darcy would be it. In fact, I have a shirt that says Mr. Darcy is my boyfriend. Nerd alert.

11.  The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway- This tale is one of my favorites and many say it truly captures the Lost Generation.  It's no secret that I adore Hemingway's writing style.


12.  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith- I read this book in high school and thought it was ok, but then revisited it as an adult and fell in love with it. I love this coming-of-age tale.


13.  The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas- Many say this tale is one of "obsession and revenge" and for me, it's the perfect story.


14.  The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald- Who doesn't love the Jazz Age?  I believe there is a Great Gatsby movie coming out soon with a lot of great actors already signed up, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan. I'm happy, because a good movie always reignites an interest in old an classic.


15.  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- Jane is one of my favorite heroines and I think this book will become even more popular, because of the movie coming out in 2011.





Honorable Mentions:
1.  Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
2.  Emma by Jane Austen
3.  Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
4.  Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
5.  A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
6.  Middlemarch by George Eliot
7.  Hamlet by William Shakespeare

What are your "must read" classics? I hope you get to read or revisit some of these classics this holiday season!

Book Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Pages: 427

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: October 19, 2010

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Gooreads says, "Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn’t pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it. But Patch has been acting anything but angelic lately. He’s more elusive than ever and, even worse, he’s started spending time with Nora’s arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who’s moved back to town, if Patch hadn’t been acting so distant. Even with Scott’s totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him – despite her lingering feeling that he’s hiding something.  Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her Nephilim bloodlines has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly dangerous situations as she searches for answers. But some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything – and everyone – she trusts."

Hush, Hush was one of my favorite reads of 2009, so I was very excited to read the sequel, Crescendo.  Thankfully, I was not disappointed!  It starts off with Nora Grey, surviving all of the horrific events in Hush, Hush, and Patch, who is now her guardian angel.  She still has her feisty and spunky best friend, Vee and she still loathes her enemy and resident mean girl, Marcie Millar.  As the story progresses, Patch starts to distance himself from Nora and she has no clue why.  This puts a major strain on their relationship, not to mention how he is now hanging out with Marcie of all people.  A childhood friend, Scott, reemerges and there is more than meets the eye to him.  Nora also tries to get some answers surrounding her dad's murder and as she is on this quest for truth, learns a lot of upsetting details.  So, needless to say, readers will learn more about Nora's past as well as her father.  Becca Fitzpatrick's Crescendo is sure to please; fans of Hush, Hush won't be disappointed by this captivating sequel.


One of my favorite things about this series is the character of Vee.  She's Nora's determined and in-your-face side kick that really spices things up in the story.  I like how dedicated both Nora and Vee are to their friendship; it's nice to see that in YA, which, as I'm sure you know, is filled with many mean girls.  Speaking of mean girls, Marcie is back in full force and she is as insufferable as ever.  It was hard to imagine Patch and Marcie hanging out, because Fitzpatrick does a really good job of getting her readers to hate Marcie and all of her crazy antics.  Additionally, readers can really connect with Nora and her unsettling feelings surrounding her father's death; it's easy to sympathize with her.  On the other hand, there is one character that I cannot stand and that is Nora's mom. She wins worst mom of the year award. Hands. Down. She's horrible. She's the epitome of an absent mom; I was so over her array of crap during this novel.  One thing is for sure: Fitzpatrick is successful as she creates such a rich variety of interesting characters, including some new ones like Scott.


Nora and Patch (the ultimate bad boy) have an up and down relationship that was hard to deal with at times in Crescendo. I got frustrated with them, because I just wanted these two characters to sit down and talk, but then I remembered she's a teenager and that's why things are blown out of proportion.  But for fans of Patch, you won't be upset. He's still the elusive, dreamy Patch from Hush, Hush that most of us have learned to love.  A lot of readers said they didn't like him because he's a jerk, but that, unfortunately, is what makes him a bad boy.


My only problem with the novel is the fact that, like Hush, Hush, I found it a tad predictable at times and unbelievable at parts. Now this could be me, but I just wasn't buying a lot of the action scenes this time around or the fact that Nora can break and enter homes quite easily.  Don't get me wrong, the action was incredible, but I felt it was unconvincing at parts.  That's my only gripe and it won't stop me from stating that Crescendo will be on my list for Best Books of 2010.  


All in all, I found Crescendo to be entertaining and the ending??? Insane!  I can't wait to find out what happens in the third and final book, Tempest, which comes out next October.  Without a doubt, I will be pre-ordering it; plus, just like the other books in the series, I'm sure it will have an awe inspiring cover.

*Buy Crescendo

*Watch the Book Trailer

Waiting on Wednesday: Divergent

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Pub. Date: May 3, 2001

Goodreads says, "One choice One choice decides your friends, defines your beliefs, and determines your loyalties . . . forever. Or, one choice can transform you. In Veronica Roth's debut novel, Divergent, a perfect society unfolds into a dystopian world of electrifying decisions, stunning consequences, heartbreaking betrayals, and unexpected romance."

*I think this one sounds really captivating; plus, I've been loving a lot of dystopian novels out there lately, so I definitely have to look into Divergent. What are you guys waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday #41

This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

• Grab your read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and the author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

"What had I been thinking? No. What was Patch thinking now? Had he driven off to escape responding? I was pretty sure I knew the answer.  And I was pretty sure it explained why I was left staring at the back of his Jeep."  (page 28)

*I'm almost done this novel and I must admit that I am enjoying it as much as Hush, Hush. I'm hooked! Crescendo took a turn in a direction I didn't see coming. Plus, how fabulous is the cover? It's one of my favorite covers of the year.

Books on the Big Screen (2)

There are some bookish movies coming out soon that I'm pretty excited about!

For starters, I'm sure most of you have seen the trailer for Jane Eyre, but in case you haven't, here it is! I remember the first time I read Jane Eyre. It was brilliant and I fell in love with the story. This movie looks promising!  It comes out March of 2011.

There's also a movie coming out based on Hemingway's novel The Garden of Eden. I'm a huge Hemingway fan, but I've never read this novel. I'll definitely have to read it prior to seeing the movie, which comes out this December. Here's the trailer.

There's also The Tempest, which comes out in December. Obviously, it's based on Shakespeare's play.  I'm not a big fan of The Tempest, but the combination of actors is pretty interesting....Helen Mirren and Russell Brand? Need I say more?  Here's the trailer.

Also, there is Prada to Nada, which is based on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. It's a modern take on this much loved classic. I think it looks like a lot of fun! It comes out this January and you can check out the trailer here.

Lastly, I am SO very excited for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, which comes out next weekend. I already posted the trailer awhile ago, and being a huge Harry Potter nerd,  I want to share an article that I recently read at EW.com.  J.K. Rowling mentions that she isn't against writing another book with some of  the same characters from the Harry Potter series in it, but she doesn't think that Harry would be a central character.  Who do you think she'll focus on? I've got my ideas!

Hope you are having a great weekend,