COMING SOON: Music Book Mosh Pit Week!

So I wanted to start a week dedicated to the two things I love the most in the world and celebrate how they collide together in the most wonderful ways.

So from 15th August for one week I'll be doing my very own theme week here at Sisterspooky: Book Fangirl

So for this one week my blog will be taken over by music themed books and stories reviews, a special music book based Top Ten Tuesday, a few special posts from my personal love of these two things, a How To on making Book Fan Mixes and more.

So if you want to take part; that's great!  Let me know and you can either submit something to guest post here or if you are posting something on your own blogs then you can use the above banner to link back to the blog and the tag label: BOOK MOSH PIT

I hope this will be really awesome and if you have any regular posts that you host or reviews that relate to the theme coming out between now and then then send me a link as I'm hoping to make a Mega Post with links to other blogs and reviews to spread the love around the blogverse!

HAPPY READING AND KEEP ROCKING

XO

IMM: In My Mailbox [28]

In My Mailbox is an epic feature run by The Story Siren and my links go to Amazon UK but other book sellers are out there too!

Bought 

 

Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway

I Wanna Be your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert

Geektastic by Various Authors

Beige by Cecil Castellucci

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Dancing  Jax by Robin Jarvis

OK; so it seems that I have a minor book buying addiction habit.  Damn

Also the lovely Emma from at Bloomsbury Publishing sent me this book to read in advance of my Music in Books Week  (details to come SOON).  It sounds really good too!

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

HAPPY READING

XOXO

Review: The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar

I hadn’t heard of this book before coming across it by chance in a second hand bookshop and being struck by the unusual title that literally just says what you’re going to get in the book.  It’s about good (or good heartened at least though not always good in behaviour) fairies in New York.  So you have mythical supernaturals and a big city full of people and the possibility of trouble.  Sounds pretty simple a title and yet the boldness of it made me giggle and read the blurb.  It had an introduction by Neil Gaiman so I basically had to buy it because if Neil Gaiman was willing to have his name on the cover and write an intro then it must be worth a go at the very least.  Big time cool people writers just don’t go round handing out introductions like jelly beans don’t you know?!

On a slightly stranger note; I really liked how floppy the book is.  That is probably the dumbest thing to a) notice about a book and b) comment about on a book but it just felt usually nice to read because it was easy to hold and the pages flipped really well.  Ok, now moving on to something that doesn’t make me sound like some weirdo book nerd that strokes books and sniffs them to get a buzz (I don’t do that...STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!)

The story follows several character both human and fairy and their overlapping lives and misfortunes in the Big Apple.  The city is so large and yet so full of people that the idea that all these people so randomly keep colliding or have interweaving lives is not so strange really.  A group of Irish, Scottish and English exile fairies wake up to find themselves scattered over New York City and have to both make their way in the city as well as try and figure out how to stay alive.  They’ve all either run away from their clans or been chased out for some reason and are terrified of returning or being found so it’s in their best interest to make friends and learn the ways of a New Yorker.  New Yorkers and well known as tough and hard edged people as well as the few warm hearted folk you find mingled in between and Dinnie and Kerry are prime examples of the two so it’s a perfect balance for Heather and Morag to find them within the same small block of the city.  You also have Tulip and Petal and their band of acquaintances stuck within Central Park, the King and their father, Tala, back in the UK who rules with an iron fist and visions of fairy trade and power and the various New York fairy factions.  Like the city the fairies are spilt into smaller groups from Chinese to Italian fairies and none of the castaways seem to be making any fast friendships.

 

The fairies intermingled with the human lives and we see a huge blend of characters and sub plots bloom in a city made up of thousands and thousands that all overlap and blur between each other like watercolours.

The book was overall very funny and enjoyable and I totally loved the mix of the traditional fairy folklore with modern day because let’s face it; how often do you get to read about Scottish fairies with hangovers and swearing and the fact that fairies seem to go at it more than rabbits do!  The flip flopping between character stories was at first jarring to read because you weren’t quite sure if they were interlinked at all and having to remember and follow several characters at once isn’t an easy task.  Though once you got used to the style and how the characters linked up or didn’t then it was quite easy to get to grips with.  A grown up humorous tale of fairies in the big city living it up and trying to understand that the world is bigger than the small villages they come from and not everyone cares for their “helpfulness”.

Rating: 7.5/10

Published by Soft Skull Press (US Edition that I had but Piatkus Press has released a new UK edition) and is available here and selected shops.  I found this edition in a second hand book shop so I've linked to the UK edition on amazon.

Top Ten Books Tackling "Tough" Issues (social, cultural, etc.)

 Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman: Deals with issues of racism and social class in a wonderful and unique way.

Entangled by Cat Clarke:  One of the few books that I’ve read that have dealt with issues of self harm and mental problems as well as teen underage drinking without being patronising or “talking down” to the audience it’s trying to speak to.

Rockoholic by C.J.Skuse:  Dealing with death of a loved one and how life changes and can spiral out of control in the aftermath.  It also looks at teen isolation and the loneliness young people can feel and how they find solace in the family like networks of other fans and in music

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman: Hard hitting issues of religion, philosophy and science versus faith are but a few examples of topics that are brought up in this book whilst being clever interwoven in a story of magic and adventure.  

1984 by George Orwell: Another classic book that gets past around at schools and colleges but really is a great read and deals with issues of corrupting power and oppression.

Animal Farm by George Orwell: This is one of those books I had to study at school and thought at first that it was just a book about farm animals that could talk but clearly I was wrong because there is no way that my school were going to let us study a book like that for a whole term.  It’s really about power struggles and the fine balance between greed and power and how power can corrupt.

Before I Die by Jenny Downham:  Teenager Cancer and having to face your own mortality is the driving force behind this story as a young girl comes to accept her failing health and live the short life she has left in the best way she can.

You Against Me by Jenny Downham:   One of those real taboo subjects only because it’s so difficult to talk about without it being so terribly emotionally affecting and this book is written so well that the issue is handled with the same care and attention that you would expect and hope it would do.

The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger: This is just quite simply a love story that tells you how harsh life can be when it comes to taking away happiness when you just want to be happy.  Deals with bereavement, strained family life and how hard true love can be because it’s not all magic and fairytale endings sadly.  

I am Legend by Richard Matheson:  The real ‘tough issue’ this book tackles is isolation and being alone.  It’s about the breakdown of society and humanity and yet it always comes back to just how awful being alone and cut off is and this is the biggest fear that anyone can face

Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

This is going to be a real bittersweet review because no matter how much I love this book, the series, the author and the lovely publishers I just can’t express my sadness at seeing such a wonderful series ending.  I’m going to really miss Mercy Falls and all its residents no matter what species they are.  I’ve loved this world and so I was very excited to not just read this but to have a good goodbye with all the characters and see them shine in the way they really deserved after all the great work Maggie has put into these books.

This follows on from the heart wrenching events and cliff hanger in Linger (so spoilers abound my dears) and when I say heart wrenching I mean that Maggie Stiefvater basically wrote a book that made my heart all soft and fuzzy and then gave it to Shelby the wolf as a chew toy.  It’s not Maggie’s fault that she writes so good because like an addict I keep going back for more because the mega lows are worth it for the truly wonderful highs.  Grace’s life is in turmoil now that everything has changed the shoe is on the other foot for Sam as he waits for his Summer Girl and becomes a shadow of himself while bad boy rocker Cole St. Clair (swoooon, I don’t care that Maggie says he isn’t a good boyfriend type; I WANT HIM LIKE WHOA!) is trying to play scientist and solve the wolf problem and not be too much of a stalker to Isobel.  Mercy Falls is still the picturesque and haunting town that lingers in your mind just as much as the biting cold weather.  

This book is really a race to find solutions and a race for time against all the odds for these four.  I just adored every second that I got to spend with these characters and by the third book the writing style and details have been established so you know what to expect really.  It is just so well written and the details of every breaking moment are FANTASTIC. Okay, okay; I’m gushing a tad too much but seriously these books are kick ass.  I’m a big Cole fangirl moment and I loved seeing him find his place in the world and working out what he really wants in life.  Plus there is one moment he has with Isobel that made me physically swoon like a damsel in a 1920s movie.  It bloody killed me and I feared reading more in case something awful happened within the next page or two to ruin the moment.

This was a perfectly woven ending to a series that is loved and had loved put into it and it was by no means faultless but the good outweighed any downsides you may find (if you can).  The final conclusion left me....not confused as such but wondering if there should be more but in a way being left to wonder and paint your own picture of what you think would happen or how things continue from where it ends.  You get answers to questions, action, romance, humour and more but still left with questions but that is probably the best way to leave such a well known and adored series and not disappointing fans.  Giving them some of what the fans want, giving them stuff they probably are less than happy with and giving them things you knew even thought you’d want but really REALLY do.

Farewell Sam, Cole, Grace and Isobel.  So long Mercy Falls and Thanks Maggie

Rating: 9/10

Published by Scholastic UK and is available to buy from here and all good book shops now

IMM: In My Mailbox [27]

In My Mailbox is an epic feature run by The Story Siren and my links go to Amazon UK but other book sellers are out there too!

Library

Sweet: A House of Temptation by Tim Richardson:  Bought for 80p in the Library.  I'm really interested in the history of sweets and chocolate mainly because of work and stuff and I get asked lots of strange and wonderful questions by customers so it's nice to have answers!  BUY FROM LIBRARIES!!!

English Fairy Tales and Legends by Rosalind Kerven:  I'm always interested in myths and fairy tales and thought I'd have a look at a book like this because of all the YA books I read that have myths and legends in their backstories.  It's nice to do research sometimes : )

Bought

Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr: Bought in the every wonderful The Works.  Last in the series and I've been dying to get my hands on it to complete the set!

Review: Hollowstone by Dennis Upkins

It’s quite thrilling to see a debut book released when you’ve seen from the very beginning how it started, the writing process and the continual stages of shipping out to publishers etc and to finally see the end product makes you feel all gooey and warm inside.  I felt like this book had a lot to live up to for me because I’ve known the author for some years and followed his online writing even before Hollowstone was created and had a certain amount of good hopes that this would live up to my self-imposed hype.  I hate putting things on a pedestal even before I have them in my hands but all I can say is it’s like the cliché of judging a book by its cover; cliché are there because they are generally true so I get excited by a book and have to de-hype it in my head so I can give it a far chance to be judged and enjoyed.

Set in the foreboding halls of Hollowstone Academy, Noah starts a new school year after getting a music scholarship out of his state education and into one of the most elite schools in the country.  Noah has had a hard life fitting social judgement and losing both his parents in the Hurricane Katrina tragedy and still maintaining good grades and being a violin prodigy even though most would assume he’s a jock or just someone that got lucky to get into the school.  Noah is a highly intelligent guy and he uses his brain before jumping into fights and going against the grain even more he is a dedicated church goer and doesn’t jump into bed with every pretty thing going.  He’s by no means average and so his placement at Hollowstone and sharing a room with Cal, class rebel and party man legend, isn’t going to make his life much quieter.

The story goes onto to explore the underground and darker side of life at this elite school from homophobia, social injustice and social politics.  However the story takes a huge shift about a third into the book after a death means Noah’s world changes forever and the paranormal seems into his “normal” life more than just the odd sci-fi TV show or creepy horror movie.  I won’t give away too much because there is a lot that I could potentially ruin but it a supernatural mystery of sorts with the backdrop of current real life social injustices and crimes.

The writing was smart and interesting and I think the mix of reality and fantasy was well balanced to make the story seem believable but still have that element of extra – ordinary flair.  I liked the characters and the fact that Dennis doesn’t shy away from “big issues“ and in facts he tackles them head on.  This is an appealing touch for a supernatural YA that deals with reality as reality and the fantasy is a complete separate animal.  My only thought was the amount that was tackled seemed like a bit much for just one novel and in fact if some of the social issues could have been saved for a follow up novel because with so many characters and plots interweaving it at times felt a bit much to handle.  All in all I really liked the story, characters and setting but felt that it was almost two books combined and could have been divided in two or focused on a few subject matters rather than several.

For a debut novel Hollowstone shows real promise and genuine sparks of talent that I hope to see more of in the future to see how this debut author’s career takes shape.

Rating: 7/10

Published by Parker Publishing and is available on Amazon US in paperback and Kindle

Review: Entice by Carrie Jones

This is the 3^rd in the series so as usually this review will likely have spoilers from the previous two books because if it didn’t all I’d be to say was where it was set and if it was good or bad. So from this point on I accuse you of being a Silly Billy Bean if you keep reading and then claim I spoilt either Need or Captivate.  So on to the review

So this book picks up pretty much straight away from where the last one left off and the Zara and her friend’s are left in a bit of disarray after the Nick situation and Astley’s now permanent fixture in Zara’s life and so they deal with things in the best way they can.  By going to a school dance to shake and sway the night away.  I jest but they do go to the dance to try and keep up the pretence of normalcy and until they can work out a plan of action it’s all they can do.  Nick had always been their leader of sorts and the man of action so without his presence they have to take on new roles in the group and form a plan to protect the town and get back what they have lost without the world at large finding out the truth.  The pixies roam this small town and are looking for a way to win this war of wills and the only thing that is protecting them is a group of teens with supernatural forces on their side.

This story looks further into the mythology behind the pixie and supernatural world which I really took pleasure in because it gave a look more validity to the characters and the history of the pixie and shape shifters world and it was just interesting to see how the old and new worlds collided.  I also enjoyed finally seeing Zara as her own person and separate from everyone else.   She had become her own person at the end of Captivate and in Entice she explores what that really means and without Nick there to comfort her and her family and friends having no real idea of what it feels like she has to trust people and ideas she never thought she would and also trust herself.

On a more dampening note I find as this book series continues I still don’t overly love it as I thought I would after reading the 1^st book.  The idea in Need was interesting and the story kept me gripped well enough to read the next book and invest in more but in truth I had Entice on my reading pile for 6 months or so and just didn’t really “want” to read it with a real passion like other books and then when I did read it I found I enjoyed it but just not quite enough to make me mentally kick myself and say ‘Stupid Laura; Why didn’t you pick this up and read it sooner’  I was an enjoyable read and an interesting premise but I can’t say I’d reread the books soon or rush out the second the next book is released.  

It's just my own personal tastes but even though I like the ideas in the books I just can't seem to connect with the characters enough to make me rush out to buy the next book but I liked them enough to say that I would probably read more at some point but I'm sitting on the fence at the moment to see if things turn around in future releases.

Rating: 6.5/10

Published by Bloomsbury and is available here and all book sellers

Top Ten Books You Believe Should Be Required Reading For Teens

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!

 

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare:  Such an excellent series that has so much going for it and I’m pretty sure LITERALLY grabs you are the throat and forces you to read the next book as soon as physically possible.

Noughts and Crosses by Maroline Blackman:  Not only a well written and wonderfully told story but deals with important issues of judgement, race and gang warfare.  It’s a new and enlightening manner that I would be shocked if anyone didn’t think it was worth reading even if they don’t love it as much as I did.

Shakespeare (read as a group and/or performed):  I know that every teenager dreads the days in English and Drama classes when they hear they have to study Shakespeare but I think that perhaps it’s because it is about work and exams and not the story being told.  I read a few other plays aside from the ones given to study at school and then years later I read Romeo and Juliet and it’s not until you read for yourself or enjoy as a group and/or performance some of the humour and clever works that Shakespeare puts into play.  It’s worth a try if nothing else!

Goosebumps books/Point Horror books:  I ADORED these books and I think every teen generation needs these or a version of these to indulge that need to scare and push the limits of fear that thrill seeking teens tend to go for.  Plus they are just good fun scary reads

Entangled by Cat Clarke:   An insightful and raw look at dealing with self harming and mental issues from an interesting point of view for a reader.   As well as the complex relationships that can arise in modern life from strained parental relationships, friendship and romance and teen drinking are all dealt with.

One Seriously Messed Up Week in the otherwise mundane life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson:  I hope this is what life is really like for teen boys because it was funny as hell and not only would I say that it’s a must for boys so they can read about someone like themselves in a BRUTALLY honest way but also for girls to see what it’s REALLY like being a boy.  Plus it’s one of the funniest books I’ve read in ages!

Harry Potter by J.K.Rowling:  It’s a modern fixture in every teen’s reading library because it is adventure, magic, romance and friendship tied up with a great thrill ride of a story.

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman:  As a counter part to the Harry Potter series; these books have all the same elements as you may find in a Harry Potter book but with a bigger emphasize on the philosophical side of life and the magic within.  A fantastic tale and a wonderful step onwards for Harry Potter fans to a wider range of books and ideas.

You Against Me by Jenny Downham: A real eye opening look at the effect of what sex and relationship can have on two people and those in their lives as well as big issues such as rape, truth in the legal system and family life in modern Britain.

Animal Farm by George Orwell: I read this at school and think it was one of the 1st books I was 'asked' to read for my studies and really enjoyed and also found it made me thing about "big ideas" and consider things like context and social history and how it reflects on writing.