Top Ten Books On My TBR List For Winter

A meme by the Broke and the Bookish

1) Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver- 
AHHHHHH. I'm dying for this book. Delirium was FANTASTIC and with the biggest cliff hanger ever (as I said in my last post) and this is my most anticipated book for 2012!


2) Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Don't judge a book by its cover? ummm well about that... This cover is just so pretty it drew me in, but I have to admit the summery sounds just as good to! Can't wait to get this one! 


3) Tempest by Julie Cross
I've heard some great things about this debut author and can't wait till this one it released! Plus time travel? Nothings better then that. 


4)Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
Witches? YAY! I haven't read a book about magic and witches in awhile. This is another one that I've read some great reviews from other bloggers. 


5) Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton
Angelfire was such a great book and I can't wait to see what happens next in Wings of the Wicked!


6)Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
I've heard this is one of the best books ever from so many other bloggers and with praise like that how can I not want to read it? Hopefully over break I'll find sometime to dig into this one. 


7) Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Anna and the French Kiss was one of my favorite books that I read over the last winter, so of course I want to read this one too!


8) A Million Suns by Beth Revis
Across the Universe was just so good! It was different and intense, A Million Suns has to be one of my most anticipated books for 2012 (Along with Pandemonium of course)


9) Wither by Lauren DeStefano 
The sequel to Wither is coming out this winter so I decided I should finally read Lauren DeStafano's first book. I've actually taken Wither out of the librarry a few times I just never had time to pick it up. Hopefully during winter break I'll be able to fix that. 

Cliffhangers

This post is a bit random but it's a topic that popped into my head that I wanted to talk about and see if anyone  shares my opinions on.

A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction. A cliffhanger is hoped to ensure the audience will return to see how the characters resolve the dilemma. (Wikipedia)

Cliff Hangers. Everyone has ran into one at some point, whether in a book, movie or TV show. I have come to the conclusion that I despise them. Maybe it's because I just read a book ending with one (Daughter of Smoke and Bone) and I just really want the sequel but honestly I think I'm just getting tired of cliffhangers.


For example, Delirium by Lauren Oliver, and Divergent by Veronica Roth are two books that I enjoyed immensely. Actually they are my two top favorite books of 2011. The story line, plot, and writing in both were just exceptional and I just couldn't get enough. Both of these novels ending in the worst cliff hangers I've ever read. When I finished the last pages of these books, I just wanted to scream. It's just torture waiting to see what's going to happen to these characters next.

Since I love both novels so much, I would go back for the sequel no matter what. The writing, characters, and story is what addicted me to these series. The cliff hanger is not the reason I'll be picking up the sequel. Okay, that's a lie the cliff hanger is a part of the reason I'm going to pick up the next book, however either way I would have bought the next installment just for my love of the book alone.

Now I do understand why authors leave books at these impossible cliff hangers. They want to keep their audiences interested, and they need a place to stop. Now that I'm thinking about it anywhere Veronica Roth stopped in Divergent would have been a cliff hanger. The whole time I was reading the novel I was flew through the pages needing to know what was going to happen. Yet it would be nice to read a series without these crazy cliff hangers at the end of them. For once I want to be happy putting a book down and actually wait patiently for the next.

Oh, if you haven't read Divergent or Delirium I highly suggest you do...just maybe wait till the sequels come out...

What do you think of cliff hangers?

--Danielle

Breaking Dawn Part 1

This is a book blog and Breaking Dawn is based off the book by Stephanie Meyer so I thought it would be appropriate to write a review, and well I'm a huge fan of Twilight. Yup, I know half of you are going to roll your eyes but I'm not going to deny that I LOVED this series.

Now the movies sometimes aggravate me, they are really not that great and it made the fan base INSANE. However it is so much fun to see your favorite characters on the big screen. Characters that you've just fallen for over the years how could you not have fun seeing them being acted?

What did I think of Breaking Dawn?

It was the best one yet. The romance, action, and emotion in this installment just hooked me from the start. The director this time is typically a horror movie director so it was a bit different then the others. A bit bloodier, and a little more biting your nail in nervousness.

Now for the acting, everyone had improved. I've never been a big fan of Robert Pattinson but in Breaking Dawn I have to admit he looked better and made a bit more believable Edward. Kristen Stewart also did a much better job as Bella, I feel she got the emotion across much better, compared to the last three movies.

As a big fan of the books I could go on and on about what I did and didn't like. However, I won't do that here first because it would have tons of spoilers and also just because it would be way to long.

If you haven't read the books, theirs a big chance you won't like this movie. The story line is different and a bit cheesy, however out of all four movies this is the most excited and fun movie for someone who hadn't read the books. Theirs much more suspense because you don't know who's going to live or die.


Here's the trailer for the people that live under rocks and have not seen it yet.



If you saw the movie, what did you think?

--Danielle
(I actually loved it so much I'll be going to see it again in a few weeks. Don't laugh at me :b)

Waiting On Wednesday

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine < Check it out 

Summary: 

"Kendra Hilferty, the witch who curses Kyle Kingsbury in Beastly, tells about her immortal existence-how she discovered she was a witch and the various ways she has used her powers to help people throughout the centuries. (Unfortunately her attempts have often backfired.) As it turns out, Kendra has actually had a hand in "Hansel and Gretel," "The Princess and the Pea," and "The Little Mermaid"-but these are not the fairy tales you think you know! Kendra's reminiscences are wrapped around a real-time version of "Cinderella," except the "ugly" stepsister is the good guy. With dark twists, hilarious turns, and unexpected endings, Bewitching is a contemporary read for fairy-tale lovers, fantasy fans, and anyone looking for more Alex Flinn."

Beastly was such a great book, and I can't wait to read more about the witch. I'm addicted to fairy-tales in any form TV, books and movies. I love every Disney princess movie and just can't get enough of them!

Have you read Beastly? Will you read Bewitching?

--Danielle

Review: Between the Sea and the Sky

Between the Sea and the Sky
by Jaclyn Dolamore
Released On: October 25, 2011
Publisher: Bloomsbury

Summary: For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.


Review: I am a big fan of Jaclyn Dolamore's previous book Magic Under Glass, so when I was approached to write a review how could I possibly say no? Then reading the summary it just intrigued me even more. Mermaids, magic and romance, plus just look at the beautiful cover!  Over-all I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read Between the Sea and the Sky, it was a quick (only 240 pages) yet delightful read. 


While reading, everything just flowed, from the writing to the characters and plot. I really enjoyed how Jaclyn weaved the story together it had an almost fairy-tale experience to it, which also comes from the age-less feel Between the Sea and Sky has. The magic and sweet romance only added to that feeling the novel radiated.


This creative story was more then just a mermaid falling in love with a human on shore, which is another reason that made me love it so much. The mermaid doesn't just come up to the shores of our beaches, she goes to a world where things like a 'winged race of people' exist. This added to the enchanted feel that Between the Sea and Sky had and I really, thoroughly enjoyed. 


This is a book you're going to want to pick up, the enchanting magical and fairy-tale like feel of this story will have you falling in love as the characters do as you go on a journey. Anyone who enjoys fantasy or just fairy-tales, will fall in love with Between the Sea and the Sky just as I did. 

In My Mailbox (60)

IMM is hosted and created by The Story Siren.

This is my 60th IMM, only 40 away from 100. It's weird thinking that I've been doing this for so long.....Anyway on to the books from this week.


For Review: I got some exciting books this week that I can't wait to digg into.


This is one that I was not expecting, and I did a happy dance as I opened it. I LOOOOVE Unearthly, it's one of my favorites. I just can't wait to start reading and see what happens next.
*Thanks so much to Harperteen for sending this one out!


This one is "A handbook for teens who like to write." and it includes interviews with T.A. Barron, Chris Crutcher, Lauren Myracle, Stephanie Perkins and more. I've only had time to skim through this one so far but it seems really helpful. It talks about how to get a book published and just overall how to improve your writing.


Also I wanted to let you guys know that my marching band season ends next week. That means you'll be seeing much more of me.

What did you get in your mailbox?
--Danielle

Review: Notes from an Accidental Bank Geek

Notes for an Accidental Band Geek
by Erin Dionne

Summary: Elsie Wyatt is a born French horn player, just like her father and her grandfather before her. In order to qualify for the prestigious summer music camp of her dreams, she must expand her musical horizons and join - gasp! - the marching band. There are no French horns in marching band (what the heck is a mellophone??), but there are some cute boys. And marching band is very different from orchestra: they march, they chant, they . . . cluck? Elsie is not so sure she'll survive, but the new friends she's making and the actual fun she's having will force her to question her dad's expectations and her own musical priorities.

Review: If you follow my blog, you probably know that I am in my high school marching band. When I saw this cover, I couldn't help but be ecstatic. A book about marching band? That has to be the first one I've ran into. Now don't think just because you are not, or have never been in a marching band that you will not understand this book. You will. Erin Dionne does a great job of explaining everything and not throwing every technical marching term turn into the story. I play the piccolo and flute so I did not even know all the brass and horn music terms in here but I understood everything thanks to the author.  

For the story, I wish it focused more on the actions of what Elsie was doing and less about what was going through her head. Elsie is so worried about getting into a prestigious summer music camp then anything else,  and that's what the book mostly focuses on. Other then that I loved Erin's descriptions on music and how it made Elsie feel. I also enjoyed that Elsie was not the best socially, it was her flaw and it made her relatable. Everyone says something at the wrong time or does the wrong thing sometimes, and we get to see how Elsie handles that. 

I would have loved to see more aspects on marching band through out the book, but maybe that's just because I'm a band geek myself. Either way for someone just starting high school, or joining a marching band, this is a great book to pick up. Filled with funny marching band moments yet serious problems, it was a perfect balance.