tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37483973803811645732024-03-13T09:33:50.982-04:00Hughes Reviews (and other wordy stuff)Middle Grade and YA Reviews Along With Posts About WritingLHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-51890934971781804882013-07-28T20:32:00.003-04:002013-07-28T20:40:05.458-04:00Moved to Wordpress<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X536904-p_4/UfW4EahvxQI/AAAAAAAABRY/Xtnkrwz6Txw/s1600/Hughes+Reviews.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X536904-p_4/UfW4EahvxQI/AAAAAAAABRY/Xtnkrwz6Txw/s1600/Hughes+Reviews.jpg" /></a><br />
I’ve been wanting to make the change from Blogger to WordPress for awhile now. I use WordPress for my teacher website and found it to be more user-friendly and to have a more streamlined appearance.<br /><br />The new site can be found at:<br /><a href="http://wordyhughes.wordpress.com/">http://wordyhughes.wordpress.com/</a><br /><br />There are a couple other ways you can follow my new site: <br /><ul>
<li>Liking my new Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wordyhughes">https://www.facebook.com/wordyhughes</a> </li>
<li>Following me on Twitter @wordyhughes </li>
</ul>
I apologize for disappearing of the face of the internet. Between my job, grad school, illness, dating, and just life in general... things became too chaotic to blog.<br /><br />But I'm done with graduate classes, have a new job, and am healthy. I am happily returning to sharing my love of books!LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-32065065419458991672013-02-26T00:00:00.000-05:002013-02-26T18:32:42.991-05:00Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors<br />
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<strong>Top Ten Tuesday</strong> is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. For more information about Top Ten Tuesday and a list of upcoming Top Ten Tuesday topics, <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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<strong><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors</span></u></strong></div>
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<b>These are in the order that they occurred to me...</b><br />
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<b>J.K. Rowling<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(Harry Potter series)</i></span></b><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Does this need any explanation?</b></span></div>
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<br /><b>Shannon Hale<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(Books of Bayern series, Princess Academy)</i></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Every single book that I've read by Shannon Hale, I've loved. She writes beautifully, and I'm always enchanted.</b></span></div>
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<br /><b>Scott Westerfeld<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(Leviathan series, Uglies series)</i></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Westerfeld is a master at world-building. Period.</b></span></div>
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<br /><b>Lois Lowry<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(The Giver, Number the Stars)</i></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Lois Lowry is a children's lit legend. I've bought many of her books, though these two are my favorites.</b></span></div>
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<br /><b>Marissa Meyer<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(Lunar Chronicles series)</i></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>I'm thoroughly engrossed in this series, and I love what a huge scope the story has and such a wide cast of characters. Confident I will enjoy anything Marissa writes.</b></span></div>
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<br /><b>Laini Taylor<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Days of Blood and Starlight)</i></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Laini Taylor's writing is so beautiful and captivating. And her imagination is amazing.</b></span></div>
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<br /><b>Maggie Stiefvater<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(Wolves of Mercy Falls series, Scorpio Races, Raven Boys)</i></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>I've enjoyed all of Maggie's books for their originality and gorgeous writing.</b></span></div>
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<br /><b>Kristin Cashore<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(Graceling, Fire, Bitterblue)</i></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Cashore writes fresh, original fantasy with strong heroines.</b></span></div>
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<br /><b>Cynthia Hand<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(Unearthly series)</i></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>I can't wait to see what Hand does next because I loved her blend of contemporary and fantasy, as well as her emphasis on positive family relationships.</b></span></div>
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<br /><b>Stephanie Perkins<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door)</i></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>This is the first contemporary/realistic fiction author that I can honestly say I ADORE.</b></span></div>
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<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Who are your auto-buy authors? Do we have any in common???</span></b></div>
LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-74865495936205158962013-02-23T21:00:00.000-05:002013-02-23T21:11:45.127-05:00Love-a-Thon Mini-Challenge #5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>The Book Blogger Love-a-Thon is is an online event that spends one whole day celebrating book blogging, book bloggers and book blogs all over the world. This event is hosted by Alexa at <a href="http://www.alexalovesbooks.com/" target="_blank">Alexa Loves Books</a> and Katelyn at <a href="http://www.talesofbooksandbands.com/" target="_blank">Tales of Books and Bands</a>.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mini-Challenge #5:</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Top Blogging Moments</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Three big moments stand out to me:</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Being in the Cinder Paperback</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was so incredibly excited when I heard my blog would be mentioned in the back of the Cinder paperback. I've never had my blog recognized by an author, much less in print, and by one of my FAVORITE books. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Blog Post: <a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/cinder-paperback.html" target="_blank">Cinder Paperback</a></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My First RT and over 100 Hits</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am pretty new to twitter, but have definitely realized that I should have joined a longggg time ago. My blog has grown so much since I joined twitter and it has allowed me to connect with fellow bloggers even more than before. The first post that got retweeted was my post on <a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-its-critically-important-to-see.html" target="_blank">why you should see Brave on opening weekend</a>. And it was my first post to go over 100 hits. I love to think that something I wrote had an impact and was worth sharing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>When My Bro Made Me My Blog Button</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was so darn excited to have my own blog button. And it came as such a surprise. I had no idea my brother was working on creating a button for me, and when I saw it... it was perfect. I loved how he incorporated both owls and typewriters. And it makes it extra special that my blog button was made for me by someone I love.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Can't wait to read other people's best blogging memories!</b></span>LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-18278397067212099462013-02-23T17:00:00.000-05:002013-02-23T20:58:00.082-05:00Book Blogger Love-a-Thon Mini Challenge #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJKHxr07BKw/USjEi0rCsxI/AAAAAAAABEk/TcX286yNOxs/s1600/love-a-thon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJKHxr07BKw/USjEi0rCsxI/AAAAAAAABEk/TcX286yNOxs/s1600/love-a-thon.png" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>The Book Blogger Love-a-Thon is is an online event that spends one whole day celebrating book blogging, book bloggers and book blogs all over the world. This event is hosted by Alexa at <a href="http://www.alexalovesbooks.com/" target="_blank">Alexa Loves Books</a> and Katelyn at <a href="http://www.talesofbooksandbands.com/" target="_blank">Tales of Books and Bands</a>.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mini-Challenge #4: </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Letter to my Beginning Blogger Self</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Dear Lauren,</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I know you've been toying with the idea of expanding your blog. You should totally do it. There are so many good things that will come from book blogging:</span></b><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>You'll meet fantastic people who love to read as much as you do!</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>You'll learn about great new books that you otherwise wouldn't have picked up on your own.</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>You'll get in a habit of writing daily.</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>You'll become a stronger critical reader of books and figure out what you like and what you don't.</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>You'll improve in your technology skills and want to learn more about web design.</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>And... again... you'll meet some great people!</b></span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>I know you're worried that blogging might take the place of your fiction writing. But you'll be okay. If you need to go on hiatus because you get too busy with grad school and writing, don't worry. The bloggers you make friends with will still be there when you get back. </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>You'll find a balance with blogging. You don't have to post every day. You don't have to read a gazillion books a week. Just do what you can handle.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Write thoughtful and honest reviews. Write thoughtful and honest comments on fellow blogs. Share your love of books and have fun.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Best Wishes,</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Your Future Self</b></span></div>
LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-39671815646909657992013-02-23T09:37:00.001-05:002013-02-23T09:37:37.717-05:00Love-a-Thon Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>The Book Blogger Love-a-Thon is is an online event that spends one whole day celebrating book blogging, book bloggers and book blogs all over the world. This event is hosted by Alexa at <a href="http://www.alexalovesbooks.com/" target="_blank">Alexa Loves Books</a> and Katelyn at <a href="http://www.talesofbooksandbands.com/" target="_blank">Tales of Books and Bands</a>.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Update</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>I plan to spend some time commenting and spreading love to other blogs today... But my birthday is February 24... so I have plans with family and friends this weekend.</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>I wanted to participate in the Love-a-Thon, and will be spreading some love, it just might be a bit belated love. Hopefully I'll be online later tonight!</b></span>LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-50146779280235442752013-02-23T03:00:00.000-05:002013-02-23T19:54:11.835-05:00Book Blogger Love-a-Thon Mini Challenge #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJKHxr07BKw/USjEi0rCsxI/AAAAAAAABEk/TcX286yNOxs/s1600/love-a-thon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJKHxr07BKw/USjEi0rCsxI/AAAAAAAABEk/TcX286yNOxs/s1600/love-a-thon.png" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>The Book Blogger Love-a-Thon is is an online event that spends one whole day celebrating book blogging, book bloggers and book blogs all over the world. This event is hosted by Alexa at <a href="http://www.alexalovesbooks.com/" target="_blank">Alexa Loves Books</a> and Katelyn at <a href="http://www.talesofbooksandbands.com/" target="_blank">Tales of Books and Bands</a>.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mini-Challenge #1: Favorite Blogs</span></b><br />
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<b>Yay! I get the chance to spread the love of my favorite blogs! These are all blogs that I adore and read regularly. I usually bombard them with comments all at once on weekends when I set aside commenting time. And you should read and comment on them too ^_^</b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><u>Best Reviews:</u></span></b><br />
<b><a href="http://realmenreadya.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Real Men Read YA</a>: </b>If you haven't checked this guy out, you should because he's hilarious. It's so refreshing to get a guy's perspective on our favorite YA titles (he loved Anna and the French Kiss!) and he always gives his reviews a funny twist.<br />
<b><a href="http://www.thefakesteph.com/" target="_blank">Fake Steph</a>: </b>I love her "WTF Moments" towards the end of all her reviews. They often make me laugh because I agree with her. Whether it was "Whoa... that was weird" or "OMG... can't believe that just happened", we've all had those moments when reading a book, and I love that Steph has found a way to feature that in her reviews!<br />
<b><a href="http://smallreview.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Small Review</a>: </b>I love how she breaks down her reviews into subheadings and her explanations of what worked for her and what didn't are always supported and well-written. I also love that she does a decent amount of middle grade in addition to YA. Middle grade love!<br />
<b><a href="http://abackwardsstory.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Backwards Story</a>: </b>I love how Bonnie always dedicates part of her review to a book's cover. She often makes me notice things about the cover that I wouldn't have otherwise noticed.<br />
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<b>Best Book Discussion Posts:</b><br />
<b><a href="http://theoverstuffedbookcase.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Overstuffed Bookcase</a>: </b>She has done some great events, readalongs, and discussions. Several posts for the His Dark Materials readalong and several more for Lauren DeStefano's Chemical Garden series. Her discussion posts are always well-written, thought-provoking, and worth checking out!<br />
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<b>Best Blog Layout:</b><br />
<b><a href="http://novelsounds.net/" target="_blank">Novel Sounds</a>: </b>Their layout is lovely and their attention to the graphics in each post makes everything they write also a colorful treat for the eyes!<br />
<b><a href="http://recoveringpotteraddict.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Recovering Potter Addict</a>: </b>I love everything about her layout. From the Harry Potter that looks like a Powerpuff girl to her buttons in the "Harry Potter Font."<br />
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<b>Best Author Blogs:</b><br />
<b><a href="http://maggiestiefvater.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The World According to Maggie</a>: </b>Maggie Stiefvater's blog, my favorite posts are always her ones about writing, but she often does other funny posts. And sometimes some angry ones... I certainly don't want to cross her when she's mad.<br />
<b><a href="http://oinks.squeetus.com/" target="_blank">Squeetus Blog</a>: </b>Shannon Hale's blog, another author blog I enjoy. I especially liked some posts she did on the absence of female characters in animated movies.<br />
<b><a href="http://www.loislowry.com/index.php?option=com_easyblog&view=latest&Itemid=194" target="_blank">Lois Lowry's Blog</a>: </b>I adore the legendary Lois Lowry, and she keeps a lovely blog. Maybe it's stalkerish of me... but I especially love when she posts pictures of her office and house. I love picturing where she works!<br />
<b><br /></b>LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-42087905540420373572013-02-23T00:00:00.000-05:002013-02-23T08:51:05.583-05:00Book Blogger Love-a-Thon Interview Swap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">The Book Blogger Love-a-Thon is is an online event that spends one whole day celebrating book blogging, book bloggers and book blogs all over the world. This event is hosted by Alexa at <a href="http://www.alexalovesbooks.com/" target="_blank">Alexa Loves Books</a> and Katelyn at <a href="http://www.talesofbooksandbands.com/" target="_blank">Tales of Books and Bands</a>.</span></span></div>
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<b>My first post for the Book Blogger Love-a-Thon is an interview with Dana from <a href="http://www.littlelovelybooks.com/" target="_blank">Little Lovely Books</a>. I was instantly charmed by Dana's blog because of all the adorable owls! Dana is a mom of 2 who enjoys blogs, reading, all things entrepreneurship and growing her faith in God. We sent each other questions about books and blogging. Here are Dana's answers to my questions:</b><br />
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<b>1. What inspired you to start blogging? </b><br />
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Like many bloggers I know, I started blogging as a way to update friends and family on my kids. That turned into me posting about many different things. In an effort to keep it all straight I started my book blog so that all mybook related posts would be there. <br />
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<b>2. What would your ideal cozy reading spot look like? </b></div>
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Curled up on my couch with a freezing cold Diet Coke within arms reach. <br />
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<b>3. What are three things you look for in a good book? </b></div>
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I am huge on believable dialogue. interesting characters and a great setting.<br />
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<b>4. Were there any blogs, friends, or resources that helped you when you just started blogging? </b></div>
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Unfortunately, no. Very few even knew what a blog was. I just learned by reading other people's blogs and figuring out what I liked about theirs. <br />
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<b>5. What are a few of your favorite book blogs? </b></div>
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When I saw this question I checked my Google Reader and I currently have 35 bookblogs that I follow. I hate to pick favorites but I love Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner (<a href="http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/">http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/</a>), Alexa at Alexa Loves Books (<a href="http://www.alexalovesbooks.com/">www.alexalovesbooks.com</a>), Gillian at Writer of Wrongs (<a href="http://gillianeberry.blogspot.com/">gillianeberry.blogspot.com</a>), Kat at The Aussie Zombie (<a href="http://theaussiezombie.blogspot.com/">theaussiezombie.blogspot.com</a>) and Eva from A Striped Armchair (<a href="http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/">astripedarmchair.wordpress.com</a>).</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To see what questions Dana asked me, and how I answered them, take a minute to stop by Dana's blog at <a href="http://www.littlelovelybooks.com/2013/02/book-blogger-love-thon-interview-swap.html" target="_blank">Little Lovely Books</a>!</span></b></div>
LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-55700332505059217472013-02-21T21:27:00.002-05:002013-02-23T09:59:18.666-05:00Meeting Marissa Meyer (Scarlet Tour)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Tuesday, February 19, I had the pleasure of meeting Marissa Meyer on her last stop of the <i>Scarlet Tour</i>. I was so incredibly excited because <i>Cinder</i> is one of my favorite books, and I've heard that Marissa is a wonderful person. <br />
(She is. Love her.)<br />
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Marissa was a fabulous speaker. She was charming and funny and energetic, despite a quiet and kind of mellow crowd of mostly adults and only a few teens. I was a little sad for Marissa because the library and bookstore who hosted the event didn't do anything for her birthday. I have experience in event planning, and was definitely thinking of some easy ways we could have spruced up the event and made it more festive. If only I'd been in charge of planning instead of just a guest! I did bring Marissa a card, which I like to do for author events anyways. But in this case it doubled as a birthday card as well! Wish I'd brought a cupcake, too!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F9Rcdem-AYQ/USbVK9s_z2I/AAAAAAAABD8/AWFoQU190uA/s1600/Marissa+Meyer+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F9Rcdem-AYQ/USbVK9s_z2I/AAAAAAAABD8/AWFoQU190uA/s320/Marissa+Meyer+2.jpg" width="208" /></a>I'd read a smattering of interviews with Marissa and knew some of her story: her <i>Sailor Moon</i> fanfiction background, her NaNo participation, and her quick publishing contract. However, these tidbits didn't make up the whole story and it was fun to hear more about where the idea of <i>Cinder</i> came from. I love how a lot of authors are able to trace back the root of their story to other things they love. Marissa was able to talk about how her love of science fiction, <i>Sailor Moon</i>, and fairy tales all came together to inspire her <i>Lunar Chronicles</i>.<br />
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After she spoke abut the inspiration for <i>Cinder</i>, Marissa read a bit from <i>Scarlet</i> and shared the true gruesome fairy tales of <i>Cinderella</i> and <i>Red Riding Hood</i>. Then, there was a question and answer period. <br />
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I liked Marissa Meyer's answers to two of the questions during her Q & A. The first was in response to the question "Are you a mechanic?" Where she answered she doesn't, but she did a lot of research. For my own novel, my main character is a blacksmith, and I've never hammered a piece of iron in my life. But I've done a lot of research. So hearing her answer this way was encouraging that I'm going about my book the right way. <br />
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The second was in response to a question asking how she manages to write different voices for the characters. She said how some characters would just come to her and how others would take some time. I had a similar experience when I was writing my angel short story, where it took awhile before I found my main character's voice. She said she had trouble finding Scarlet's voice, but when it came to her, it worked. I like hearing writers who have similar processes as my own. Makes me feel not so crazy and alone in the writing process!<br />
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The event ended with book signing, and Marissa's husband went down the line of people writing our names on Post-Its to help with personalizations. It was fun to chat with him, and it was clear he was so proud of Marissa.<br />
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I was extremely smiley and star struck and flustered when I had my chance to talk to Marissa. I forgot to grab any swag that they had laying out on the table. Agh! But I told Marissa how much I loved that she blended two seemingly unlike genres (sci-fi and fairy tales) and how it was something I was working on in my own novel. I also told her how much I loved that Cinder was a mechanic. Yay for women in traditionally male occupations! She was a great listener, recommended a book for me to read, and wished me luck with my writing.<br />
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I got both my hardback copy of <i>Cinder</i> and my hardback of <i>Scarlet</i> signed. Yay! Hopefully, I'll have a complete signed collection someday because I'm confident this is going to be one of my favorite book series.<br />
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I just finished re-reading <i>Cinder</i> this evening, and I'm going to go start <i>Scarlet</i>... NOW! Watch for a review in the next week or so!LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-54229519630611380542013-02-19T00:00:00.000-05:002013-02-19T21:06:37.222-05:00Top Ten Favorite Characters in Harry Potter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Top Ten Tuesday</strong> is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. For more information about Top Ten Tuesday and a list of upcoming Top Ten Tuesday topics, <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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<strong><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Top Ten Favorite Characters in Harry Potter</span></u></strong></div>
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<b>Today's Top Ten Topic is technically "Top Ten Favorite Characters in ______ Genre" but I decided I didn't want to do a single genre, and instead would like to do Harry Potter. Last year, at this time, I was in <a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/02/harry-potter-world-hogwarts-castle.html" target="_blank">Harry Potter World</a> down in Orlando, Florida. And I'm feeling quite homesick. I need some HP in my life right now...</b><br />
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<b>These are in order. With my number 1 being my MOST FAVORITE.</b><br />
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<b>10. Hagrid</b><br />
I was so worried that Hagrid might die in the last book, and was so relieved that he didn't. Hagrid loved Harry so much. It was a genuine, total, complete kind of love. Between his dialect and his distinctive appearance and quirks, Hagrid was such a memorable character from the series.<br />
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<b>9. </b><b>Mrs. Weasley</b><br />
We all loved Mrs. Weasley's shining moment against Bellatrix in the last book. I both laughed and cheered. But Mrs. Weasley was also that perfect mom. Stern but loving. Held the family together. I have a super wonderful mom, but if I had to have a wizard mother... I'd want Molly Weasley.<br />
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<b>8. </b><b>Fred and George</b><br />
This series wouldn't have been as fun without the Weasley twins. From their epic departure from Hogwarts in Order of the Phoenix to their "Holey" jokes, they provided comedic relief when we needed it most. They showcased Rowling's brilliant sense of humor, and I adore them.<br />
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<b>7. </b><b>Minerva McGonagall</b><br />
Do I have a soft spot for McGonagall because she's played by Maggie Smith in the movies? Very likely. But when she commands the knights and gargoyles to defend Hogwarts in the last book, I couldn't help but cheer. McGonagall was such an image of strength and loyalty throughout the series.<br />
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<b>6. </b><b>Severus Snape</b><br />
The complex character. The double agent. I predicted early on that Snape was a good guy and connected to Harry's mother. Rowling did a lovely job of leaving us hints about Snape throughout the series, and his backstory was so beautifully revealed. <br />
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<b>5.</b><b> Albus Dumbledore</b><br />
I loved everything about Dumbledore. He is everything you want in a classic wizard: long beard, swirling robes, wise words, powerful magic. But it was the twinkle in his eye, his love of lemon drops, and his wish for new socks that bumped him to near the top of my list. I loved that he was a great and powerful wizard, but also so very human, too.<br />
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<b>4. Dobby</b><br />
I cried harder for Dobby than I did any other character in the series. And he's a house elf?!?! Am I crazy? No, I don't think I am. I loved Dobby for three reasons. He had ambition. He refused to aid evil. He was loyal. And as I've said before on my blog, sacrifice is one of those things that really gets to me. Giving your life for another person is something that is sure to make me bawl.<br />
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<b>3. Hermione Granger</b><br />
I love Hermione, probably because I completely understand her. I've had people get annoyed with me because I've come off as a know-it-all. I love books and would be more than happy to spend all my time in the library. And my solution to most problems would be to do research. Bonus points for Hermione for also being brave, strong, loyal, and loving.<br />
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<b>2. Luna Lovegood</b><br />
I have Luna's wand! It's shaped like a tulip! <br />
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Luna made me laugh and I loved her quirky personality. Luna is another character who is exceptionally loyal. She is a great example of someone who is brave by going against the crowd and believing in something even if it's not popular. I admire that.<br />
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<b>1. Sirius Black</b><br />
What wouldn't I give for a seven book series about the Marauders, preferably from Sirius' point-of-view? J.K. Rowling, that would make me the happiest girl in the world. I wrote some Sirius Black fanfiction back in the day because I was so fascinated by Sirius' rebellious backstory. Being put in Gryffindor when his entire family was Slytherin. Him running away from home. His flying motorbike. Everything about Sirius fascinates me, and I loved visiting Grimmauld Place or his visits with Harry. Was not a huge fan of Gary Oldman though... pictured Sirius as more devilishly handsome. But I do think Gary Oldman had the godfather role down. And Sirius was a great godfather.<br />
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<b>And as a side note... Did you hear about the 15th Anniversary covers? I heard Kazu Kibuishi speak at the <a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2011/09/national-book-festival-2011.html" target="_blank">2011 National Book Festival</a> (writer and illustrator of the <i>Amulet</i> graphic novels) and I think his covers are GORGEOUS. I love the detail, and I think he picked such a iconic, memorable moment to feature on the cover of <i>Sorcerer's Stone</i>.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kazu at the 2011 National Book Festival</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 15th Anniversary Cover</td></tr>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I know I left out some lovely characters from Harry Potter... (Neville, Ginny, Lupin, Tonks, Mad-Eye, Arthur Weasley, Kreacher, Dudley) It was so hard! Who would have been your top picks? What do you think of the 15th Anniversary cover for <i>Sorcerer's Stone</i>?</span></b>LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-45998453153633607462013-02-11T05:00:00.001-05:002013-02-11T05:00:00.951-05:00Book Review: Boundless<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>Boundless</u></b><br />
<b>by Cynthia Hand</b><br />
<b>Published by:</b> HarperTeen<br />
<b>Form: </b>Purchased eBook via Kobo<br />
<b>Big Themes:</b> Angels, Destiny, Love Triangle, Family, College<br />
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-unearthly.html" target="_blank">Review of Unearthly</a><br />
<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-hallowed.html" target="_blank">Review of Hallowed</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13049981-boundless" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Some minor spoilers for earlier books in the summary, but I did NOT include spoilers in the actual review.</span></b><br />
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<b>Summary:</b><br />
This book begins after the death of a loved one and at the start of Clara's freshman year of college. Clara, Angela, and Christian are all having new visions. They can't figure out what their visions are telling them, so they focus on navigating college life. Clara tries to move on and forget about Tucker, but even when she's around Christian... it's challenging to forget her first love.<br />
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<b>Excellent World-Building:</b><br />
The angel mythology that Hand created for this series is so excellent. I'm sad this is the last book because I want more of this world she's created. In the first book, I was skeptical about Hand's world-building. I didn't understand the visions or what a purpose was. But that's because Clara didn't understand yet. <br />
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And now, having finished the series and seen Clara's growing understanding of her purpose as an angel, I can say that Cynthia Hand does a marvelous job of tackling a topic of having a "purpose" in life. This was one of my favorite parts of the series: seeing how everything fit together and how the visions played into each character's choices and destiny.<br />
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Bonus: Angels have awesome abilities. They make logistical sense, and we see them in action in <i>Boundless</i>. There's some awesome angel training scenes.<br />
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<b>Action Packed:</b><br />
I was really surprised at how much action and suspense was in this book. I had a moment where I thought that surely I was at the end of the book, but then I wasn't! I'm always a big fan of conflict and tension and this book delivered on that.<br />
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<b>Family Relationships:</b><br />
One of the things I praised highly about <i>Hallowed</i> was Clara's relationship with her mom. It's so refreshing to see positive parental relationships in a YA book. I'm not saying Clara doesn't have conflict with her parents, but it's clear that they love each other and can talk to each other. This book continues the positive parental bonds by giving us more of Clara's dad. And interestingly, Clara's dad still felt quite dad-like despite being an angelic being.<br />
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There's also a great subplot with Clara's brother that further shows that family bonds are important. While their sibling relationship is rocky, it's also clear that they love each other. It reminded me of my own relationship with one of my brothers, where we feel this need to compete with each other and be right all the time.<br />
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<b>Love Triangle:</b><br />
Gosh. What can I say that won't spoil anything? Some people are very disappointed with how things ended. And I can understand where they are coming from. With a love triangle, readers can't help but predict and imagine how something might turn out. I think I could have ultimately been happy with Clara choosing either Christian or Tucker. I was a big fan of Tucker after <i>Unearthly</i>. However, both the books and other reader's arguments have also swayed me to see Christian as a good choice for Clara.<br />
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Ultimately, I was happy with the book's ending. I cried. And ultimately was happy. I have read reviews and discussions where people are disappointed with the results of the book's love triangle. But I can't deny that my emotional reaction upon completing the book was joy and satisfaction. I understand other's issues with the ending, and do wonder if I could have been equally happy if Cynthia Hand had written the love triangle differently.<br />
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<b>Overall Rating:</b><br />
I did not expect to enjoy this series as much as I did. The books read like contemporary novels with great world-building based in angel mythology. I would have readily continued this series past three books, and will miss the world and characters that Cynthia Hand created. I give this final book in the series five stars.LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-37522325813209606462013-02-07T05:00:00.000-05:002013-02-07T05:00:11.829-05:00Behind the Story: Writer's Block<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/73780897@N06/6727804331/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Owl & White/Red Book by lhughe1, on Flickr"><img alt="Owl & White/Red Book" height="200" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6727804331_0495638101_m.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="188" /></a><b><b><u>Behind the Story</u></b> posts will be about what goes on behind the scenes as a writer creates their story. I'll be writing about my own writing process and sharing any tips or advice I've discovered on my own or gathered on the topic. Hopefully both readers and writers find these posts fascinating!</b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This week's topic:</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><u>Writer's Block</u></b></span></div>
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I'm going to surprise a few people with my opinion, but...<br />
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I don't believe writer's block exists. <br />
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I don't believe there's any mystical force that takes hold of your brain and prevents you from churning out words. <br />
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I don't believe in muses or creative juices running dry. <br />
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Instead, I believe there can be things you're not doing as a writer that inhibit your ability to create. But I think this inability to create is self-inflicted and can also be self-cured. Below are reasons I've identified for why writers find themselves unable to write:</div>
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<b>1. Exhaustion or Poor Health</b><br />
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Even if you're just sitting at a desk, writing takes energy. Your brain has to be rested and fully-charged in order to take part in the creative process. If you're not taking care of yourself, then your ability to create can be affected. <br />
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Are you getting enough sleep? Are you drinking enough water? (Your brain is 80% water and dehydration can cause headaches and sluggishness.) Are you exercising and getting fresh air? <br />
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I understand that sometimes taking care of yourself can fall to the back-burner when you have a full-time job or deadlines to meet, but taking care of your health is important. I'm not perfect in this area either. I definitely stay up too late, much too often. But I've also noticed that I do my best writing when I'm rested and healthy.</div>
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<b>2. Lack of Brainstorming, Planning, Outlining</b><br />
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I don't know why writers think they can always sit down at a computer and words will magically flow out of them. That the story and the characters will mystically take control.<br />
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Of course, I've been writing and had a scene surprise me, or a character behave differently from what I've planned. But you can't rely on your subconscious brain to tell the <i>whole</i> story. The story is coming out of <i>your brain</i>. Therefore, if <i>your brain</i> has neglected to think about where the story is going to go next, then of course you're going to get stuck. <br />
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Sometimes you have to sit down and think about what's coming next in your novel. When I get stuck, I make lists. I make lists of conflicts or bad things that could happen. I make lists of things my character still needs to learn before the end of the book. I make lists of what I know still needs to happen before the climax. Always, before I'm even done with my list, I get unstuck and know what I want to write next. <br />
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Brainstorming, people. It's awesome. I make my middle schoolers do it. You should, too.</div>
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<b>3. Lack of Research/Too Much Research</b><br />
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I kept research separate from brainstorming because I think it's an entirely different beast. I've seen writers get burned on both ends by this one. <br />
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Research can help get your creative juices flowing, whether it can inspire a setting or give you ideas of conflicts your protagonist might encounter. If you aren't doing any sort of research, then you're limiting yourself. You're limiting your writing to your own experiences. There are countless times where a little research has gotten me unstuck creatively. <br />
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However, at the same time, some people end up doing a whole lot of research and very little writing. You have to limit yourself in your research. I like to come up with a set list of questions that I need to answer, and if I catch myself straying too far in my research, I can easily get myself back on track as well as know when I'm done looking stuff up. I also try to not research when I'm in the middle of a writing session because it will interrupt my groove. I've taken to leaving comments/notes to myself in my story of things I need to look up when I'm done, rather than pause to search the internet.<br />
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<b>4. Laziness and Lack of Self-Motivation</b><br />
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"I don't feel like writing today. I'm not in a creative mood." Sound like a writer you know? <br />
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I love writing. If I could do it full-time, I'd be the happiest girl in the world. However, are there days that I don't feel like writing? Of course. Are there days where I'd rather watch a Downton Abbey marathon or curl up with a book I've been dying to read? Yes. Writing is still hard work, and sometimes I just want to relax. <br />
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However, I make my butt get in the chair, even when I don't want to, and I write. Usually the first twenty minutes are rough. But after I've gotten down a couple hundred words, I will usually make it to a full hour and maybe even a thousand words. If you want to be a writer, you have to write more often than just "when the mood strikes you." And there's seriously no better feeling as a writer than to sit down thinking "you're not in the mood" and then to crank out a scene that you LOVE.<br />
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If you struggle with motivation, there are several things you can do. You can set up a reward system for yourself. I love buying myself a bouquet of flowers for my desk when I've met my word count goal for the week. You can set up a calendar and give yourself a sticker for every day that you sit down to write. You can allow yourself a favorite warm beverage or piece of candy... but only if you're writing.<br />
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Some people work better by limiting something until they are done or rewarding themselves with activities. For example, I'm not allowed to go to this website until I have this many words. Or I can't watch this TV episode until I finish this scene.<br />
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I also find that setting up a schedule to write at the same time each day, and then recording in my planner how much I accomplished is helpful. I like routine and I like keeping track of my progress. I'll record my word counts for the day as well as time spent brainstorming or researching. I've also recently started recording time spent blogging, in part to make sure I'm balanced in how much time I'm spending on writing vs. blogging.<br />
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I hope this post helped you in offering strategies for being successful as a writer, especially if you find yourself struggling in any of the above "blockages."<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">What are your opinions on writer's block? Do you disagree with me? Did you find any of my tips or self-cures helpful?</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Let me know what other writing topics you would like to see on Behind the Story!</span></b><br />
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LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-51948051640806258472013-02-05T00:00:00.000-05:002013-02-05T00:00:07.589-05:00Top Ten Best Bookish Memories<br />
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<strong>Top Ten Tuesday</strong> is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. For more information about Top Ten Tuesday and a list of upcoming Top Ten Tuesday topics, <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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<strong><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Top Ten Bookish Memories</span></u></strong></div>
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<b>(And I promise not all of them are Harry Potter memories! Just four of them...)</b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Persuading my Little Brother </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">to Read <i>Harry Potter</i></span></b></div>
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I'm beginning with my Harry Potter memories. I wish I had more documentation of this part of my life in photographs, but I don't think I realized at the time how much this period of my life would end up meaning to me. I began reading <i>Harry Potter</i> in 8th and 9th grade. And after plowing through the first three books, I wanted other people to read them. Especially my younger brothers. <br />
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I'm pretty sure I got one younger brother to read them fairly easily. But my other brother, who is four years younger than me and would have been in 5th or 6th grade was a much tougher audience to persuade. I think Harry Potter might have been too challenging for him to read at the time because he was still reading mostly <i>Magic Treehouse</i> books. <br />
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But I was relentless. I turned to bribery. <br />
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My brother is going to be a magnificent game designer someday, and even back then at age 11, he was creating made-up games for us to play. His favorite made-up game at the time was called "Pokémon LIVE!" Which pretty much involved him acting like Pokémon and me being the trainer and acting out the video game. I hated playing this game because every time we played I had to start from the beginning again because we didn't have a good method of recording our progress in Pokémon LIVE! <br />
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So my form of bribery was that I would play one whole hour of Pokémon LIVE! for every chapter of <i>Harry Potter </i>that he read. I was such a good sister. And it turns out... I converted him... As you can see from the evidence below...<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire</i> </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Book Release</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">I actually wasn't allowed to go to the midnight release party for <i>Goblet of Fire</i>. We were at my grandparents' house at the beach, and my parents told us they would go and pick up the book at midnight so that it would be waiting for us in the morning. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Well, we might not have been allowed to go to the release party, but we definitely didn't go to sleep like we were told. My brothers and I shared one bedroom at my grandparents' house, and we spent the night talking. It is one of my favorite childhood memories: staying up with my brothers, rebelling against our parents' wishes, too excited to sleep over a <i>Harry Potter</i> book. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">When we heard our parents get back, we all pretended to be asleep. They put the book on our bedside table, and as soon as they were out of earshot, we crowded together to read the first chapter. We didn't do more than the first chapter because I think we got frustrated that we all read at different speeds (and we couldn't read aloud because our parents would hear us). But that excitement and bonding moment with my brothers is definitely one of my favorite bookish memories.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows </i></span></b><br />
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This is another memory that involves the beach, my brother, and <i>Harry Potter</i>. Notice a trend? This summer, I spent entirely at the beach with my youngest brother (the one pictured above). <br />
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And this time, we did attend the midnight release party at the same bookstore that my parents had purchased <i>Goblet of Fire</i>. We made a whole evening of it. First going out to dinner and then strolling the boardwalk and buying huge bags of Jelly Belly's to eat while we waited in line (and pretend we were eating Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans). We didn't dress up, though I distinctly remember a Bellatrix being near us in line. <br />
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I accidentally drove North instead of South for several miles on the way home that night because I was so distracted by my excitement. But I treasure that I got to spend this final book release with my brother at one of my favorite bookstores, munching on jelly beans. Good times.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Harry Potter World</span></b><br />
I made the trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter last year for my birthday. My whole family went with me, and we experienced the magic together. I chronicled my trip in a series of blog posts (with lots of pictures!) below:<br />
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<li><a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/02/harry-potter-world-hogwarts-castle.html" target="_blank">Harry Potter World: Hogwarts Castle</a></li>
<li><a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/02/harry-potter-world-ollivanders-wand.html" target="_blank">Harry Potter World: Ollivander's Wand Shop</a></li>
<li><a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/02/harry-potter-world-three-broomsticks.html" target="_blank">Harry Potter World: The Three Broomsticks</a></li>
<li><a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/03/harry-potter-world-hogsmeade.html" target="_blank">Harry Potter World: Hogsmeade</a></li>
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Rereading these posts makes me want to go back! Can you be homesick for a theme park? Because I am... sigh.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">National Book Festival 2009</span></b><br />
I am a Washington D.C. native, which makes me one very lucky girl. Why? Because every year I'm able to go to the National Book Festival and hear amazing authors speak for free.<br />
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In 2009, it was freezing cold and rainy. I was not a veteran Book Festival attendee back then, and silly me brought a whole backpack of books to be autographed. Backpacks full of books are heavy. My shoulders were sore by the end of the day, and most of my books had some sort of water damage from the rain soaking through my backpack.<br />
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Nevertheless, this was the year that I met Lois Lowry and Shannon Hale for the first time. Lois Lowry was such a trooper signing for hours in such cold, damp weather. Shannon Hale was so incredibly cheerful and adorable and delightful, that after this meeting I went on to read all of her books. (I'd only read <i>Princess Academy</i> when I met her, but her <i>Books of Bayern</i> series is outstanding!)<br />
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Below is a picture of me (with wet hair and my heavy backpack of books) with the legendary Lois Lowry:<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">National Book Festival 2010</span></b><br />
This year was probably my favorite in my National Book Festival experiences so far. I learned my lesson about lugging around books, and this year I didn't bring any. Instead, I brought snacks and water, which was incredibly smart of me because this year it was <i>hot</i>. And instead of standing around in lines all day, I parked myself in the Children's/Teen Tent all day and heard so many fabulous authors speak. (This is the way I recommend doing the National Book Festival: find a good seat and stay there all day.) Some of my favorites of the day include Suzanne Collins, Phillip Hoose & Claudette Colvin, Rebecca Stead, M.T. Anderson, and Michael Buckley. <br />
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Below is a picture of the wonderful Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal winner for <i><u>When You Reach Me</u></i>.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">National Book Festival 2011</span></b><br />
This year I was really a pro at the Book Festival, and so was my mom, who is a fabulous photographer. So for the 2011 National Book Festival, I actually did an entire blog post on the day with clear photographs (I didn't really have many good photos from the previous years). Authors include: Sarah Dessen, Katherine Paterson & John Rocco, Jack Gantos, Gordon Korman, Cassandra Clare, Brian Selznick, Rita Williams-Garcia, Kazu Kibuishi, and Rachel Renee Russell. You can read my full post with details on each of the authors:<br />
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<li><a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2011/09/national-book-festival-2011.html" target="_blank">National Book Festival 2011</a></li>
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And here is a picture of Brian Selznick because he was my favorite of the weekend:<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">National Book Festival 2012</span></b><br />
This year I didn't see quite as many authors speak because my friend, Caroline, was visiting and she really wanted to get autographs, and I stood in line with her. But I did hear John Green (and I had just finished <i><u>The Fault in Our Stars</u></i>), so that was especially amazing because I'd never had the pleasure of hearing John Green speak. The crowd reacted to him as if he were a ROCK STAR. Screaming and shrieking. And it was 10am. Pretty wild. <br />
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I also heard Lois Lowry speak about her new book, <i><u>Son</u></i>, which is a sequel to <i><u>The Giver</u></i>. She was wonderful. You could tell she really enjoyed writing this book, and she seemed so happy to be there and in a much better mood than the rainy day I first saw her on in 2009.<br />
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The last speaker I heard this year was Maggie Stiefvater, who I've seen before. She was energetic and entertaining and brilliant as always.<br />
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Below is close-up of John Green that my mom took:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGM0itZ2wVA/URBdgj9gqaI/AAAAAAAABB8/viLoFHaL8e4/s1600/John+Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGM0itZ2wVA/URBdgj9gqaI/AAAAAAAABB8/viLoFHaL8e4/s320/John+Green.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Meeting Kristin Cashore</span></b><br />
I just met Kristin Cashore this past year when she was touring for <i><u>Bitterblue</u></i>, and it was extra special because she was in part responsible for how I managed to find my MFA program in Children's Literature. If you want to hear the whole story, you can check out my post on meeting her:<br />
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<li><a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/05/meeting-kristin-cashore.html" target="_blank">Meeting Kristin Cashore</a></li>
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And here is a picture from the event:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ovb6KWWsBA/URBeqMxSiSI/AAAAAAAABCE/8J2fcW75Yto/s1600/Me+and+Cashore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ovb6KWWsBA/URBeqMxSiSI/AAAAAAAABCE/8J2fcW75Yto/s1600/Me+and+Cashore.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Meeting Maggie Stiefvater (the first time)</span></b><br />
Maggie is one of my favorite authors, and I first met her when she was on tour for <i><u>Scorpio Races</u></i> in 2011. Maggie lives in Virginia, so she's actually in my area quite often, but I kept missing her because I'd always have things going on when she'd have an event. She is such a great speaker, and you should definitely hear her if you get a chance. Not only was meeting her great, but I also won a doodled on copy of <i><u>Scorpio Races</u></i> at this event. You can check out the whole post on meeting Maggie here:<br />
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<li><a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2011/10/meeting-maggie-and-scbwi-fall.html" target="_blank">Meeting Maggie</a></li>
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And a picture from the event:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UUHjcPEY-6w/URBgOSp2YvI/AAAAAAAABCM/iYo47h-Rf84/s1600/Lauren+&+Maggie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UUHjcPEY-6w/URBgOSp2YvI/AAAAAAAABCM/iYo47h-Rf84/s320/Lauren+&+Maggie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I'm so excited to read about other people's best bookish memories! Feel free to share in the comments or leave me a link to your post!</span></b>LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-70303224943707737642013-02-04T05:00:00.000-05:002013-02-04T05:00:04.011-05:00Book Review: Long Walk to Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DLYUMIlgXew/UQsjXrB9xQI/AAAAAAAAA-8/2Kb0vd2Py6c/s1600/Long+Walk+to+Water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DLYUMIlgXew/UQsjXrB9xQI/AAAAAAAAA-8/2Kb0vd2Py6c/s320/Long+Walk+to+Water.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<b><u>Long Walk to Water</u></b><br />
<b>by Linda Sue Park</b><br />
<b>Published by:</b> Clarion Books<br />
<b>Form:</b> Text for School<br />
<b>Big Themes:</b> True Story, War, Refugees, Water, Family, Disease, Leadership<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7981456-a-long-walk-to-water" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
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<b>Summary:</b><br />
This book is a dual narrative about two children in Sudan: a boy named Salva in 1985 and a girl named Nya in 2008. When civil war reaches Salva's home, he is separated from his family when he must run for his life. Salva walks thousands of miles as a refugee, and most of the book chronicles the true story of his grueling travels. Nya's story reveals the state of current life in Sudan in 2008. While violent and heartbreaking to think of what these children have endured, the ending of this book is hopeful and inspiring.<br />
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<b>Kid Approved:</b><br />
My students LOVED this book. The book we read previously was <i>Hoot</i> by Carl Hiaasen, which is hilarious and has tons of kid appeal. But most students said they liked <i>A Long Walk to Water</i> better, despite it being a much more serious book. I had students getting upset when I'd announce that we were done reading for today, and many students would sneakily read ahead. I've never had students so engaged in a book before. They couldn't believe it was a true story and loved seeing videos of the real Salva when we were finished reading.<br />
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<b>Fast Read:</b><br />
You could easily read this book in just a couple of hours. I read the first two chapters one night, and when I sat down the next night to read a little more... I ended up finishing the entire book instead! The story is gripping, especially knowing it is a true story. But it's also a slim book at 128 pages. If you need a quick, but worthwhile read, definitely check this one out.<br />
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<b>Dual Narratives:</b><br />
The dual narratives do a beautiful job of accentuating certain themes in the book and drawing parallels between Salva and Nya's lives. I don't want to spoil the book's ending, but the ending is wonderful in how it connects the two narratives. (My students LOVED the ending.)<br />
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<b>Educational and a Reminder of How Lucky We Are:</b><br />
I didn't know anything about the country of Sudan before reading this book, and now my ears perk up whenever I hear mention of it in the news. I have a better understanding of this region of the world now. <br />
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This book is also a great reminder of things we take for granted here in the United States, especially water. We are so incredibly lucky to have access to clean water from the tap inside our homes. I've taken to drinking less bottled water and more tap water since finishing this book. There's really nothing wrong with tap water where I live, and it's much better for the environment for me to drink from the tap.<br />
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<b>Overall Rating:</b><br />
This is an excellent book for ages 11 and up (due to some violence). This amazing true story will leave you inspired. I give it 4 and a half stars.LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-48690757031996088852013-02-02T05:00:00.000-05:002013-02-02T05:00:10.101-05:00Book Review: Raven Boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0yA8I1Bzmf4/UQsjrhCHdUI/AAAAAAAAA_E/_7TG8owe_GI/s1600/raven+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0yA8I1Bzmf4/UQsjrhCHdUI/AAAAAAAAA_E/_7TG8owe_GI/s320/raven+boys.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<b><u>The Raven Boys</u></b><br />
<b>by Maggie Stiefvater</b><br />
<b>Published by:</b> Scholastic Press<br />
<b>Form:</b> Autographed Hardback<br />
<b>Big Themes:</b> Death, Psychics, Magic, Legends, Ghosts, Mystery<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13449693-the-raven-boys" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
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<b>Summary:</b><br />
Blue lives in a house full of psychics, including her mother. And while Blue doesn't have any special psychic abilities herself, that doesn't mean her life is normal. In fact, she's been told that if she kisses her true love... he'll die. But what will happen when she is irrevocably drawn into the lives of four boys on a quest to find a lost Welsh king?<br />
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<b>Autographed Copy:</b><br />
I seriously love Maggie. I've heard her speak several times, follow her blog, and have read every book of hers... except <i>Scorpio Races</i>... which I promise I will get to! (I've started this book twice and... well... I don't know what's wrong with me!) I pre-ordered this book from <a href="http://www.fountainbookstore.com/autograph-maggie" target="_blank">Fountain Bookstore</a> and received a beautiful autographed copy, pictured below:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NT3wQoGVJIY/UQyYN_MLCrI/AAAAAAAABAE/zFaNawBbDiA/s1600/raven+boys+autograph.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NT3wQoGVJIY/UQyYN_MLCrI/AAAAAAAABAE/zFaNawBbDiA/s320/raven+boys+autograph.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<b>Originality:</b><br />
This is probably the book's biggest strength, and I think something we can come to expect from Maggie. Especially with her two most recent books, Maggie is fresh and original in every possible way. This book is so different from anything you've read before. I can't say, "It's kind of like this book combined with elements of this book and fits inside this genre." You could even go so far as to say this book is a little strange, and even a fan like me wouldn't disagree with you. Before reading <i>Raven Boys</i>, would I have ever heard of ley lines? Nope. Would I have thought teenage boys with legendary Welsh king obsessions are hot guy material? No way. Even the names of characters in this book (Blue, Gansey, Ronan) are completely unconventional. If you want to read something fresh and different, then Maggie is your girl.<br />
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<b>Maggie makes me feel smart and edgy and cool:</b><br />
Just look at the cover. It's not the kind of YA book cover I'm ashamed to walk around with. That brushstroked raven is cool. The title is serious with a no-nonsense font choice. There's no half-naked men or girls with hair blowing in the wind or dramatic dresses made of smoke or flowers or butterflies. Even though I read books with those covers, they don't make me feel like an intellectual when I'm out in public. (Oh the wonders of the eBook and hiding what you're reading!) <br />
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And, not only is the cover cool, but this is also a smart person book because Maggie is a phenomenal writer. She's the kind of writer who makes me weep a little inside because her writing is so beautiful and eloquent and purposeful. I feel smarter after having finished one of her books, like I've absorbed new writing techniques and observed a master writer. And I am pretty proud of the fact that I've been reading Maggie's books since before she hit the NYT bestseller list. I've loved watching her find success and knowing before the rest of the world that she was a superstar.<br />
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<b>Vivid Characters:</b><br />
This was the strongest pull of the book for me. I felt like these characters were real people, despite their very unrealistic names... Blue? I'm a teacher, and I've seen some CRAZY names. But I've yet to have a kid named after a color. <br />
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There were several reasons why these characters came to life for me. The first was the multiple points-of-view. A novel with multiple POVs is tough to write, but this isn't the first time Maggie has done it. In Raven Boys, we see the story from several characters, and I think getting inside their heads and each having a different outlook on the world really brought you closer to them as a reader. <br />
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The second reason why I felt these characters came to life was because Maggie does a brilliant job of showing instead of telling. She doesn't tell you that Gansey is obsessed with a Welsh King. She shows you. With Gansey's notebook. With his conversations. With his actions. She puts her characters in conflict and shows you who they are by how they deal with conflict. One of my favorite characters was Adam, and he was a character who was revealed slowly through the conflicts he faces.<br />
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<b>Pieces to the Puzzle:</b><br />
Maggie has woven a complex story around lesser known mythology. There is a lot we don't know in the beginning, and as this is a series, still a lot we don't know at the end. I'm impressed with the story and mystery she's created weaving together a legend, a murder, and a prophecy. I adore books that deal with fate and strange coincidences and this book is full of them. It makes me so happy.<br />
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At times there were things that happened or things characters said that I'm still not sure if I'm supposed to understand yet. (Chainsaw the raven being one thing I don't understand.) As the first book in a series, this is probably to be expected. But it is holding me back from rating this a "five star favorite." I reserve the right to come back later and bump up the stars. But for now, I want to wait and see how everything pans out.<br />
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<b>Overall Rating:</b><br />
This is a fresh and original story that is beautifully crafted by one of my favorite authors. If you love a good mystery or legend and great characterization, then this is a must-read! I give it four and a half stars.LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-23102864071330457332013-02-01T05:00:00.000-05:002013-02-01T05:00:03.651-05:00February Debuts 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://hobbitsies.net/debut-author-challenge/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p_0lNVytvjM/UOCslOO7-mI/AAAAAAAAAuk/xL7h3msbpVc/s1600/Button3.png" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p_0lNVytvjM/UOCslOO7-mI/AAAAAAAAAuk/xL7h3msbpVc/s1600/Button3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Each month I'll be doing one post to highlight book releases by debut authors that I have my eye on. Check back at the end of the month for reviews! Or feel free to try to sway my opinion to read other debuts as well!<br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Debut Author Challenge:</span></u></b><br />
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">February Releases</span></u></b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hg__M4H-Brw/UPI1_GihODI/AAAAAAAAA1g/t8K2sjXjidc/s1600/Pantomime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hg__M4H-Brw/UPI1_GihODI/AAAAAAAAA1g/t8K2sjXjidc/s200/Pantomime.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15797050-pantomime" target="_blank">Pantomime</a></b><b> </b><br />
<b>by Laura Lam </b><br />
<b>Release Date: Feb. 5</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>R. H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass—remnants of a mysterious civilisation long gone—are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.<br />Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.<br />But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.</i></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">What grabbed me:</span><br />
This sounds like such an imaginative and unique story, and I love the cover!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5663BwjlRlY/UPI2UsGd0CI/AAAAAAAAA1o/ZlNYUnjqfJI/s1600/City+of+a+Thousand+Dolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5663BwjlRlY/UPI2UsGd0CI/AAAAAAAAA1o/ZlNYUnjqfJI/s200/City+of+a+Thousand+Dolls.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12084278-city-of-a-thousand-dolls" target="_blank">City of a Thousand Dolls</a> </b><br />
<b>by Miriam Forster </b><br />
<b>Release Date: Feb. 5</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>An exotic treat set in an entirely original, fantastical world brimming with deadly mystery, forbidden romance, and heart-stopping adventure.<br />Nisha was abandoned at the gates of the City of a Thousand Dolls when she was just a child. Now sixteen, she lives on the grounds of the isolated estate, where orphan girls apprentice as musicians, healers, courtesans, and, if the rumors are true, assassins. Nisha makes her way as Matron’s assistant, her closest companions the mysterious cats that trail her shadow. Only when she begins a forbidden flirtation with the city’s handsome young courier does she let herself imagine a life outside the walls. Until one by one, girls around her start to die.<br />Before she becomes the next victim, Nisha decides to uncover the secrets that surround the girls’ deaths. But by getting involved, Nisha jeopardizes not only her own future in the City of a Thousand Dolls—but her own life.</i></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">What grabbed me:</span><br />
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This sounds like a gripping and suspenseful read set in a fantastical world. Add a dash of romance to the adventure and mystery, and this sounds like my ideal read!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CRdeKQryKn0/UPI27QdPCSI/AAAAAAAAA1w/EnxfqOI9C9o/s1600/Pivot+Point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CRdeKQryKn0/UPI27QdPCSI/AAAAAAAAA1w/EnxfqOI9C9o/s200/Pivot+Point.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11988046-pivot-point" target="_blank">Pivot Point</a> </b><br />
<b>by Kasie West </b><br />
<b>Release Date: Feb. 12</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.<br />In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.</i></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">What grabbed me:</span></div>
<div>
I love this concept of two completely different lives stemming from a single choice and how intriguing that she can see the possibilities and both options have serious pros/cons. I love everything about this premise!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WiuluNydypA/UQr9CI1ZVKI/AAAAAAAAA-M/tpYEeblc_kM/s1600/dance+of+shadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WiuluNydypA/UQr9CI1ZVKI/AAAAAAAAA-M/tpYEeblc_kM/s200/dance+of+shadows.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12788061-dance-of-shadows" target="_blank">Dance of Shadows</a></b><br />
<b>by Yelena Black</b><br />
<b>Release Date: Feb. 12</b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .</i><i><br /></i><i>Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . . </i><i><br /></i><i>Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed . . .</i></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">What grabbed me:</span><br />
The cover is creepy but beautiful. I did ballet up until middle school and will always have a fondness for it. I love to read books that take me back to that past love. Plus this sounds like a suspenseful read!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDtL76yxwjc/UPI3t_d1NrI/AAAAAAAAA18/3Hzd8ZO10WQ/s1600/Dualed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDtL76yxwjc/UPI3t_d1NrI/AAAAAAAAA18/3Hzd8ZO10WQ/s200/Dualed.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13401993-dualed" target="_blank">Dualed</a> </b><br />
<b>by Elsie Chapman </b><br />
<b>Release Date: Feb. 26</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.<br />Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.<br />Elsie Chapman's suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.</i></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">What grabbed me:</span><br />
Yikes! Killing your twin?!?! Definitely sounds similar to Hunger Games. Looks like a fast-paced and exciting read!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Some debut novels <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">from January</span> that I purchased and also plan to read:</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Lf8xBY34Lg/UQr_LL-rA3I/AAAAAAAAA-U/FINqSV_cYck/s1600/Jan+Debuts+to+read.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Lf8xBY34Lg/UQr_LL-rA3I/AAAAAAAAA-U/FINqSV_cYck/s400/Jan+Debuts+to+read.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Which debut novels are on your list?</span></b></div>
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LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-15424310390103023342013-01-31T05:00:00.000-05:002013-01-31T05:00:15.576-05:00Hughes Reviews January '13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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January was a big month! I <b>came back from hiatus</b> and posted almost every day! Woot! I probably won't be able to keep that up because I don't normally read that quickly, but I should still manage 1-2 book reviews a week.<br />
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I also have to <b>thank my brother, Patrick</b>, who created a bunch of new pretty graphics for my blog this month. He designed the new background (which is similar to the old one but with photographs instead). My mom is an amazing photographer and photographed the typewriter I got for Christmas (from my other brother) which is now featured in the background images. Patrick also designed a button and the "Hughes Reviews Seal of Approval." The first book to be honored with the Hughes Reviews Seal of Approval was <a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-leviathan.html" target="_blank">Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld</a>.</div>
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Here's what went down on <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><u>Hughes Reviews</u></span></b> this January:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Reviews:</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/overdue-book-review-soulless.html" target="_blank"><i>Soulless</i> by Gail Carriger</a><br />
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/overdue-book-review-fault-in-our-stars.html" target="_blank"><i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> by John Green</a><br />
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/overdue-book-review-hex-hall-series.html" target="_blank"><i>Hex Hall</i> series by Rachel Hawkins</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-statistical-probability-of.html" target="_blank"><i> Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight </i>by Jennifer E. Smith </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-statistical-probability-of.html" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-level-2.html" target="_blank"><i>Level 2</i> by Lenore Appelhans</a><br />
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-leviathan.html" target="_blank"><i>Leviathan</i> by Scott Westerfeld</a></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-behemoth.html" target="_blank"><i>Behemoth</i> by Scott Westerfeld</a></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-goliath_19.html" target="_blank"><i>Goliath</i> by Scott Westerfeld</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-obsidian.html" target="_blank"><i>Obsidian</i> by Jennifer L. Armentrout</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-onyx.html" target="_blank"><i>Onyx</i> by Jennifer L. Armentrout</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-opal.html" target="_blank"><i>Opal</i> by Jennifer L. Armentrout</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Behind the Story Posts:</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/behind-story-pacing-description-part-3.html" target="_blank">Pacing and Description Part 3</a></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/behind-story-emotion-part-1.html" target="_blank">Writing Emotion Part 1</a></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/behind-story-emotion-part-2.html" target="_blank">Writing Emotion Part 2</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/behind-story-emotion-part-3.html" target="_blank">Writing Emotion Part 3</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Debut Author Challenge:</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/january-debuts-2013.html" target="_blank">January Debuts</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-level-2.html" target="_blank">Book Review: Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans</a></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-ten-2013-debuts-i-want.html" target="_blank">Top Ten Debuts I'm Looking Forward To</a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Top Ten Tuesdays:</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-resolve-to-read.html" target="_blank">Books I Resolve to Read in 2013</a></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-ten-bookish-goals-for-2013.html" target="_blank">Bookish Goals for 2013</a></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-ten-2013-debuts-i-want.html" target="_blank">Debuts I'm Looking Forward To</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-ten-settings-i-want-to-see-more-of.html" target="_blank">Settings I'd Like to See More Of</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-ten-most-frustrating-characters.html" target="_blank">Most Frustrating Characters</a></div>
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LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-5426068410830617942013-01-30T05:00:00.000-05:002013-01-30T18:16:53.337-05:00Book Review: Level 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>Level 2</u></b><br />
<b>by Lenore Appelhans</b><br />
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<b>Published by:</b> Simon and Schuster for Young Readers<br />
<b>Form:</b> Kobo eBook on iPad<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Sci-Fi / Dystopian<br />
<b>Big Themes:</b> Memories, Death, Reconciliation, Friendship, Love, YOLO<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10861195-level-2" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
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*Debut Author Challenge*<br />
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<b>Summary:</b><br />
Felicia died, and now she's in Level 2 where she can play back memories of her life as well as share her memories with others. But what she doesn't know is that there is a war going on that is preventing humans from moving on to the next level.<br />
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I'm going to start my review on a positive note, and tell you the things the author did well. But overall, I was disappointed with this debut because of its unrealized potential.<br />
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<b>Memory System:</b><br />
This was the most interesting concept that Appelhans came up with. Each memory could be played like a Youtube video. It had tags, user ratings, and number of views. I loved this concept and what it revealed to you as a reader when you saw what each memory was tagged as and what the ratings were. This was a great intertextual detail and a fresh idea. You also learn as the story progresses that users earn credits for each time their memories are viewed, and people with the best memories become "rich." This was sad for one particular character who didn't have many positive memories to share, and thus was broke. I even wish this idea had been explored even more because it was so fascinating.<br />
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<b>Initial Mystery:</b><br />
I was extremely intrigued for the first four chapters as to what Felicia had done wrong and how she'd managed to ruin her life. The author gives you all these hints and clues as to Felicia having made huge mistakes that she regretted in her life, and as a reader, you understood not wanting to face the worst parts of your life. It sort of set Felicia up as an unreliable narrator who wasn't telling you everything, but with the memory system, you figured that you would find out eventually.<br />
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<b>Vivid Flashbacks:</b><br />
Flashbacks can often screw with pacing, but I found that the flashbacks were by far my favorite moments in the book. Often the settings in the flashbacks were beautifully described and sensory experiences. Some of my favorite scenes: musical goat trip, hearing Neil sing, the church game, and sushi with Autumn.<br />
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<b>Problems I Had:</b><br />
All my notes for the first four chapters were so positive, but as the story continued you can see my notes get more and more frustrated. I'm going to try to divide my problems into categories. I don't necessarily blame the author for these issues. These are things that editors and beta readers should have questioned and given her time to work on.<br />
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<b>Lack of World Building:</b><br />
I'm very confused because I've read reviews that praise Appelhan's world-building. I'll admit that the flashbacks are vivid and beautiful. I'll concede that her memory concept is very cool. But I found the actual world of Level 2 to be lacking in both detail and logic. The only things I can tell you about Level 2 are that there are: never-ending hives, a lot of white, grooves, and crevices. Here is a sampling of questions I had while I was reading:<br />
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<ul>
<li>How do people find their way around? This is never clearly explained.</li>
<li>How are the hives organized?</li>
<li>What is the key difference between life on Earth and Level 2?</li>
<li>Why do people have no hair?</li>
<li>How does materialization work?</li>
<li>If you can't feel anything, because you're dead, than why would you feel the after effects of being drugged? Same with going off the drugs, why should you feel deprived?</li>
<li>Why can you feel some things and not others?</li>
<li>Why can you be wounded if you're dead?</li>
<li>Why can you die? If you're already dead...</li>
<li>How can people be erased if their memories are accessible via the computer system they have?</li>
<li>Why do characters need rest if they're dead?</li>
<li>If they can materialize anything they want, why would they choose an antiquated bow and arrow instead of say... a machine gun?</li>
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Appelhan chose a super tough setting to tackle in her debut novel: the afterlife. But I'm not going to give her a free pass on logic just because it's a mystical place. I think if people had asked her some of these questions, and she'd been forced to think about the rules of her world, then we might have gained a clearer understanding of this fascinating vision of the afterlife.<br />
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<b>Lack of Connection to the Rebellion:</b><br />
I had so many problems with the rebellion. First was the total lack of threat. All we see in the beginning of the book are these blinking scanner things that don't actually do anything to harm them. And there's people hiding and saying to be careful. But we don't actually see any of these scanners do anything threatening... ever. <br />
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Then we're told there are these evil Morati angel people. But we don't actually see them... until chapter 19 (of 21). We don't know what they look like or have seen them actually do anything. All we have to go on is what three people tell us about them. You can't keep you main antagonist off-screen like this for the whole book. It doesn't work. If you want me to be invested in a rebellion, then I have to understand who/what I'm rebelling against.<br />
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We do get these weird zombie things. They were kind of scary, but their appearance was brief (and not until chapter 17 of 21). There were two zombies. Two. And they chopped their heads off, no sweat. That was the biggest threat in the whole book. Two zombies.<br />
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And my final issue with the rebellion is that we don't meet many rebels. We meet three: Julian, Mira, and Eli. That's it. But then, at the end of the book, it says, "I see Mira and Eli leading a charge of several thousand rebel troops against the Morati palace." What?!?! We only saw three rebels the entire book and suddenly there are THOUSANDS. And this epic, huge battle... is only one paragraph and told to us from off-screen. Felicia isn't there. Nor did we know of any plans of an epic battle to attack the palace. And what is this palace? Why would you keep this action off-screen? You're completely keeping your reader isolated from this rebellion. I wasn't invested in it at all. I had no emotional ties to what was going on.<br />
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<b>Felicia's Role:</b><br />
I get the vibe that Felicia was some sort of chosen one, and they needed her energy... to power the world? I really did not understand. Many times we are given really obvious hints that Felicia is super powerful and extra special. Think like the Matrix and Neo being the One. But I still don't understand all the energy stuff or why she's so coveted by both sides of the rebellion. <br />
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I was excited at the beginning of the book because I thought what made her special was that she had mad computer hacking skills. And I thought she'd be able to use those skills in this world of Level 2. But that never happened... Instead Felicia has some special energy... and can materialize stuff really well... and gets over drugs fast... (I still don't understand the materialization process which seems to require no skill and has no limitations.) If you're going to make a character into the Chosen One, then I better understand why they're so special, and in Felicia's case... I didn't.<br />
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<b>Repetitive Structure and Writing Techniques:</b><br />
I began to get really tired of cliffhangers at the end of every short chapter. I felt like I was constantly getting splashed with ice cold water. Ha! Bet you didn't see that coming! Actually, after the first few times, if you toss ice water at me enough, I will expect it. The cliffhangers grew repetitive. There are other ways to end a chapter and still get the reader to keep reading. You don't have to always throw out a surprise. Mix it up.<br />
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And there were some cliché similes that kept popping up at the end of paragraphs, such as:<br />
"I almost feel like I'm a lab rat in some futuristic sci-fi maze."<br />
"...like a starving person begging for crumbs."<br />
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<b>Other Things that Bugged Me:</b><br />
-Characters disappearing for pages and suddenly reappearing.<br />
-When things were revealed.<br />
-The big reveal about Autumn at the end.<br />
-The big reveal about Julian at the end.<br />
-The big reveal about Neil at the end.<br />
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(Don't want to discuss the reveals because that would mean spoilers, but if you want to discuss, let me know.)<br />
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<b>Overall Rating: </b><br />
I was really looking forward to this book, and while there were some things it did well, overall I was disappointed. On goodreads, I gave the book 3 stars, but it would probably be more like a 2 and a half.<br />
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<br />LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-58696242603998139402013-01-29T00:00:00.000-05:002013-01-29T06:22:43.379-05:00Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters<br />
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<strong>Top Ten Tuesday</strong> is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. For more information about Top Ten Tuesday and a list of upcoming Top Ten Tuesday topics, <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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<strong><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters</span></u></strong></div>
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<b>These are in the order that they occurred to me...</b><br />
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<b>1. Umbridge from <i><u>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix</u></i></b><br />
She was the first person to pop into my mind, likely because she's so evil... yet so pink... and a cat lady... She made all those rules and called Harry a liar. And yet there was nothing we could do to stop her. She wasn't your traditional villain that you could fight back against, and so she was FRUSTRATING. You wanted to fight back and couldn't.<br />
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<b>2. Rita Skeeter from <i><u>Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire</u></i></b><br />
This was another frustrating character because she was a liar. I must not like characters who lie. I understood Harry's frustration as she kept publishing false articles about him. And just the image of her sucking on her Quick Quotes Quill makes me want to seethe. And who wears lime green all the time? Really?<br />
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<b>3. Bella Swan from the <i><u>Twilight</u></i> series</b><br />
Oh, Bella. You frustrate me in so many ways. I'm sure she is going to be on a lot of people's lists. I wish she'd been a stronger character. I wish she stood up to Edward when he was being a manipulative boyfriend. I wish she hadn't just moped for months when Edward left her. I wish she hadn't been so focused on having sex with Edward. I wish she had some interests outside of becoming a vampire. I wish she had a vampire power that was better than making protective bubbles.<br />
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<b>4. Seth from the <i><u>Fablehaven</u></i> series</b><br />
I seriously LOVE this middle grade fantasy series, but I don't think I reviewed it here on the blog... Need to remedy that! Seth is a GREAT character, but I found him frustrating because he was a rule breaker. If you tell him not to do something, he'll do it. If you tell him "SERIOUSLY! DON'T DO THIS OR YOU'LL DIE!" Seth will still do it. He was the perfect balance to his rule following sister, but he still drove me nuts with all his rule breaking. Though he made for great conflict and tension.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5RgnuyNS0Y/UQSDQp4FIcI/AAAAAAAAA9U/6FEZM3K88Ic/s1600/DownloadedFile.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5RgnuyNS0Y/UQSDQp4FIcI/AAAAAAAAA9U/6FEZM3K88Ic/s400/DownloadedFile.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I seriously LOVE this series. The later books are so, so good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>5. Romeo from <i><u>Romeo and Juliet</u></i></b><br />
Gah! Romeo! You are so emo and mopey and moody. And you jump from girl to girl. And then you do stupid stuff like kill your wifey's cousin. And then even stupider things like buy the most deadly poison to kill yourself. You pretty much ruined your own life as well as Juliet's in my opinion. Poor Juliet. She was by far the stronger character.<br />
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<b>6. Tris in <i><u>Insurgent</u></i></b><br />
I did not understand why Tris was making certain choices in <i><u>Insurgent</u></i>. I don't have my copy of the book because it is loaned out, and my memory isn't good enough to cite specific examples. But allow me to quote my review:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Four keeps showing Tris that he stands by her and cares about her, and honestly, I don't know if I would have put up with some of the things Tris did. Granted she just lost her parents and killed someone she didn't want to kill, but some decisions she made caused my brain to scream a little in frustration."</blockquote>
<b> 7. Miranda from <i><u>This World We Live In</u></i></b><br />
Miranda went through so much in book one, and grew so much as a person, and then in book three she seemed to revert to her self-centered, immature self. I was incredibly frustrated by this, and it kind of ruined the book for me. A book I'd really looked forward to.<br />
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<b>8. Cassia in <i><u>Matched</u></i> and <u><i>Crossed</i></u></b><br />
Cassia frustrates me because I don't understand what she sees in Ky. I like Xander, who is handsome, clever, and loyal. But for some reason Cassia likes Ky the martyr. I still haven't read <i><u>Reached</u></i>, and I am still debating whether I want to invest time in finishing this series because I had a hard time with book two.<br />
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<b>9. St. John Rivers in <u><i>Jane Eyre</i></u></b><br />
St. John Rivers is such a cold and emotionless character. He has the makings of a good man: how he wants to be a missionary and how he looks after his sisters and Jane. But he is so strange and cold. When he is asking Jane to be his wife and to go to India with him, I wanted to scream at Jane because she couldn't possibly be happy with such a cold man. So I was probably mostly frustrated by him because I didn't want Jane to end up with him!<br />
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<b>10. Miss Havisham from <i><u>Great Expectations</u></i></b><br />
On the one hand, she's a very memorable character. On the other hand... GET OUT OF YOUR FREAKING WEDDING DRESS ALREADY. Don't you want to shake her and tell her to live her life??? Being jilted at the alter is terrible, but wasting your whole life because of one event is an even bigger tragedy.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>I'm so excited to see everyone's lists this week! What characters were you frustrated by?</b></span>LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-72541242112873757622013-01-28T05:00:00.000-05:002013-01-28T05:00:06.608-05:00Book Review: Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight</u></b><br />
<b>by Jennifer E. Smith</b><br />
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<b>Published by</b>: Poppy<br />
<b>Form</b>: purchased/paperback<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Contemporary Fiction<br />
<b>Big Themes</b>: Love, Travel, Divorce, Fate<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10798416-the-statistical-probability-of-love-at-first-sight" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
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<b>Summary:</b><br />
Hadley is on her way to her father's second wedding, and she's not happy about it. But then she meets Oliver, completely by chance, because she missed her flight. Their chance meeting might make you believe in fate... and love at first sight.<br />
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<b>Love the Cover:</b><br />
Very rarely do I bring up covers in my reviews. But I adore this cover. I love the black and white with red accents. I love the font choice. I love the couple kissing as the rest of the world seems to fly by them. I wish I could give a bonus to the person who designed this cover because they probably pushed me to pick up this contemporary read.<br />
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<b>Hadley and Oliver's Chance Romance:</b><br />
I love that they met as a result of a missed flight. I love the setting being in a busy airport. I love their hushed conversations on the plane ride. I love everything about their 24 hour romance. Probably because I'm a sucker for the idea of fate, and I'd love to meet someone in this way. Being out and about and suddenly being blindsided by love at first sight. I could totally go for more contemporary books in this vein.<br />
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<b>Hadley's Parents and Family Issues:</b><br />
On the one hand, I liked that Hadley had this inner conflict going on. It gave her character depth and provided an emotional journey that I'm sure a lot of teens can connect with. However, I found myself being frustrated by the frequency of flashbacks and emphasis on family drama because I really just wanted to read about Oliver and Hadley's romance. So my frustration was entirely selfish in nature because I just wanted to read the happy mushy stuff. So the pacing felt slow when I was reading about the family drama, but I recognize that this content added depth to the story.<br />
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<b>Overall Rating:</b><br />
I gave this book three stars. Keep in mind that I don't really enjoy contemporary fiction, especially books that deal with real life problems (such as divorce and split families). But the premise of meeting someone in an airport and the romance was lovely. Most people adore this book, and I did enjoy it, but not enough to bump it to four stars.<br />
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<br />LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-82637018416828924262013-01-26T10:53:00.001-05:002013-01-26T11:39:59.078-05:00Book Review: Opal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>Opal</u></b><br />
<b>by Jennifer Armentrout</b><br />
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<b>Published by</b>: Entangled Teen<br />
<b>Form</b>: purchased/paperback<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Paranormal Romance<br />
<b>Big Themes</b>: Love, Aliens, Twins, Bad Boy, Super Abilities<br />
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-obsidian.html" target="_blank">Review of Book 1: Obsidian</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-onyx.html" target="_blank">Review of Book 2: Onyx</a><br />
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<b>Summary</b>:<br />
Opal has to deal with the aftermath of Onyx. After the death of one character and the betrayal of another and the return of another character, Daemon and Katy must figure out what their next move is and how to handle the Department of Defense. It's kind of impossible to write a summary that doesn't spoil the other books so pardon me if I'm vague. <br />
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<b>Relationship Growth:</b><br />
One thing that I love about this series is how Katy and Daemon's relationship is steadily growing and changing with each book. In the first book, their relationship is playful and fiesty. In the second book, they are truly getting to know one another and they begin to take each other seriously. In the third book, Katy and Daemon are working on more mature aspects of a relationship: communication, trust, and plans for the future. Maybe I don't read enough romances to speak on this, but I haven't seen this kind of growth from book to book in a romance series before. But I definitely like watching Katy and Daemon grow as a couple, and this is a major plus of the series for me.<br />
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<b>Secondary Characters with Major Problems Not Easily Solved:</b><br />
This is another area that I refuse to give away spoilers, but will be a challenge to articulate. There is a large cast of characters, and Armentrout adds depth to each of them by giving them their own challenges and desires. Armentrout doesn't hold back at throwing REALLY tough situations at her secondary characters. And then she also doesn't allow these problems to be solved in the blink of an eye. This is something I really respect because I get enormously frustrated when problems are solved too easily. I also respect that her secondary characters are more than just names and faces. I'm becoming quite the critic of books where there's no depth to secondary characters because I see how much it adds to the story to give each character some depth.<br />
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<b>Action and Pacing:</b><br />
The action and pacing were different from the first two books in the series. It wasn't so much physical battles and explosions as it was reconnaissance missions and gathering intel, which created a different sort of tension. I know that some readers stated that there was less action in this book, but I did not feel like the pacing suffered. I still flew through this book just as quickly as I did the others.<br />
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<b>Cliffhanger Ending:</b><br />
For some reason, I thought this series was a trilogy, so when I got to the ending, I was doubly shocked by the cliffhanger. Thank goodness there will be five books. However, this is one of the cruelest cliffhangers ever. EVER.<br />
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<b>Overall Rating: </b><br />
This series has been a solid four stars across the board for me. I really enjoy these books as fun, easy, quick-paced reads. And I'm gaining a lot of respect for Armentrout because of how much thought she puts into her large cast of characters.LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-73716695813647630212013-01-24T05:00:00.000-05:002013-01-24T05:00:15.271-05:00Behind the Story: Emotion Part 3<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/73780897@N06/6727804331/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Owl & White/Red Book by lhughe1, on Flickr"><img alt="Owl & White/Red Book" height="200" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6727804331_0495638101_m.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="188" /></a><b><b><u>Behind the Story</u></b> posts will be about what goes on behind the scenes as a writer creates their story. I'll be writing about my own writing process and sharing any tips or advice I've discovered on my own or gathered on the topic. Hopefully both readers and writers find these posts fascinating!</b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This week's topic:</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><u>Emotion</u></b></span></div>
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The past two weeks I've been discussing emotional plots and emotional journeys from a writer's perspective. For previous posts:</div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/behind-story-emotion-part-1.html" target="_blank">Behind the Story: Emotion Part 1</a></div>
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/behind-story-emotion-part-2.html" target="_blank">Behind the Story: Emotion Part 2</a></div>
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What the Experts Have to Say</div>
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<i><u>Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies</u></i></div>
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By Deborah Halverson</div>
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Pages 98-99 examine the differences between plot driven stories and character driven stories. </div>
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Plot driven stories “put the action first” and “have an episodic feel to them as the characters move from event to event” and are often described as “page turners.” Plot driven stories tend to appeal to boys and are often the following genres: adventure, fantasy, mystery, crime, thriller, and sometimes historical fiction. One warning about plot driven stories is that characters can sometimes become stereotypical because the author wants to move the pace along instead of spending time on characterization.</div>
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Character driven stories “spotlight your main character’s emotions and psychological development” and “what happens isn’t as important as how the character reacts emotionally to what happens.” The following genres are often character driven: contemporary-issue books, chick lit, multicultural stories, and coming-of-age themed books. Some warnings for character driven stories are to beware of telling instead of showing, not to be afraid of action because it can reveal more about your character, and to beware slow pacing from too much emotional wallowing and self-analysis.</div>
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<i><u>The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression</u></i></div>
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By Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi</div>
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This is a very cool book. Emotions are arranged alphabetically into entries similar to a dictionary or encyclopedia. You can look up an emotion and it will give you:</div>
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<li>definition</li>
<li>physical signals</li>
<li>internal sensations</li>
<li>mental responses</li>
<li>cues of acute or long-term feelings</li>
<li>what this emotion could escalate to</li>
<li>cues of suppressed feelings</li>
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It’s really an amazing little book. Especially if you feel like you are overusing the same response for an emotion. For example, your character keeps having stomach fluttering when she’s nervous. If you look up nervousness, you get 33 physical signals and 11 internal sensations that indicate nervousness. So awesome!</div>
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<u><i>The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers</i></u></div>
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By John Gardner</div>
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Gardner presents an interesting exercise for using description of setting to convey the emotions of the character. His exercise: “Describe a barn as seen by a man whose son has just been killed in a war. Do not mention the son, or war, or death. Do not mention the man who does the seeing.” Gardner says that a talented writer should be able to conjure a powerful image that evokes everything the man is feeling using the barn as a focus.</div>
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<i><u>Second Sight: An Editor’s Talks on Writing, Revising, & Publishing Books for Children and Young Adults</u></i></div>
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By Cheryl Klein</div>
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Klein has a short but wonderful chapter in her book titled, “Four Techniques to Get at the Emotional Heart of Your Story.” My favorite part of the chapter was where she said, “Every scene has to have a point, and often it is an emotional point.” When you’re revising a manuscript, and perhaps asked to cut scenes, you can ask yourself if this scene is a plot point or an emotional point. She even goes so far to say that writers will often cut off after the action and right before the emotional point is reached. This made me wonder if I had any scenes where emotions weren’t dealt with because I cut out too early.</div>
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<i><u>How to Write a Damn Good Novel</u></i></div>
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By James N. Frey</div>
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Frey has a great section titled, “Inner Conflict and the Necessity Thereof.” Basically, he writes that inner conflict is necessary for good fiction. He gives several classic literary examples to illustrate his point. He says that Godzilla doesn’t have the makings of dramatic fiction because there is no inner conflict. Giant green monster tearing up your city, of course you kill him. There is no internal battle of wills. In Hamlet on the other hand, the prince wants to kill his father’s murderer but has an internal struggle against it. This internal struggle is what grips the reader and makes great dramatic fiction.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hope you've enjoyed this series of posts on emotion! Let me know in the comments if you have another writing topic you'd like to see featured!</span></b><br />
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<b>Links to Previous 'Behind the Story' Posts:</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/12/behind-story-pacing-description-part-1.html" target="_blank">Pacing and Description Part 1</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/12/behind-story-pacing-description-part-2.html" target="_blank">Pacing and Description Part 2</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/behind-story-pacing-description-part-3.html" target="_blank">Pacing and Description Part 3</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2012/01/behind-story-choosing-character-names.html" target="_blank">Choosing Character Names</a></b></div>
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LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-81662725964300881502013-01-23T05:00:00.000-05:002013-01-26T11:38:24.476-05:00Book Review: Onyx<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfaTF8q7Qh8/UPs7Q1KISAI/AAAAAAAAA4g/iKxqQkJPyPU/s1600/onyx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfaTF8q7Qh8/UPs7Q1KISAI/AAAAAAAAA4g/iKxqQkJPyPU/s320/onyx.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<b><u>Onyx</u></b><br />
<b>by Jennifer Armentrout</b><br />
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<b>Published by</b>: Entangled Teen<br />
<b>Form</b>: purchased/paperback<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Paranormal Romance<br />
<b>Big Themes</b>: Aliens, Twins, Bad Boy, Super Abilities<br />
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<a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-obsidian.html" target="_blank">Review of Book 1: Obsidian</a><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">*This Review Contains Some Mild Spoilers*</span></b><br />
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<b>Summary</b>:<br />
After Daemon heals Katy, there's some sort of connection between them. And Katy can suddenly do things that she couldn't before. And suddenly Daemon has decided that he wants to be with her? He was such a total jerk, that Katy is having a hard time believing that he has true feelings for her, that aren't just their special alien connection. And then there's the new boy... And the new threat of the Department of Defense which might be worse than the Arum...<br />
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<b>Daemon Black:</b><br />
In <i>Onyx</i>, "Jerk Daemon" becomes "Sweet Daemon" and I love it. Don't get me wrong, I like the whole bad boy thing, but when Daemon turns on the charm as he tries to woo Katy and prove his feelings for her, I was smitten. There were some seriously sweet moments that melted my heart, but I don't want to give even one of them away. Part of the fun was seeing what Daemon had up his sleeve.<br />
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<b>Raising the Stakes:</b><br />
So the evil alien Arum were scary, but Armentrout introduces a bigger, badder villain in Onyx: The Department of Defense. Actions in the first book have unforeseen consequences that up the stakes in the second book and put many characters in serious danger. The action in this book is unbelievable. You don't know who to trust. People DIE. I praised <i>Obsidian</i> for being a page-turner, and <i>Onyx</i> is just as good if not better. You won't be able to put this book down.<br />
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<b>Love Triangle?</b><br />
I never wanted Katy to be with anyone but Daemon, but at the same time, I understood why Katy considered seeing the new guy Armentrout introduced in this book. Daemon is complicated. He's an alien. He's been a jerk. And when Armentrout brings in new guy Blake, with the blonde surfer guy look, I do understand why Katy considers seeing someone normal. Though I still thought she was being an idiot because who wouldn't want to be with Daemon... but whatever. While it can be frustrating because second books always seem to introduce "another guy" I did feel like Armentrout justified and executed this love triangle pretty well.<br />
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<b>Overall Rating:</b><br />
This was an excellent second book in the series with growth in the characters, high stakes, and a plot with lots of twists, turns, and consequences. Luckily, you don't have to wait to pick up book three, <i>Opal</i>, because you'll definitely want to start the sequel as soon as you finish <i>Onyx</i>. Four stars.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>My review of <i>Opal</i> will be posted on Saturday... Stay tuned!</b></span>LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-1122527448656155132013-01-22T00:00:00.000-05:002013-01-26T11:38:43.218-05:00Top Ten Settings I Want to See More Of<br />
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<strong>Top Ten Tuesday</strong> is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. For more information about Top Ten Tuesday and a list of upcoming Top Ten Tuesday topics, <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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<strong><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Top Ten Settings I Want to See More Of...</span></u></strong></div>
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<b>These are in the order that they occurred to me...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>1. Alternate History</b><br />
After finishing Scott Westerfeld's <i><a href="http://www.hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-leviathan.html" target="_blank">Leviathan</a></i> series and being in total awe of how he created his own story within the context of history, I want more stories like this! I love the idea of looking at how history could have turned out differently.<br />
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<b>2. Time Travel</b><br />
I love the idea of time travel and think there are so many possibilities to explore. Not only could this encompass a variety of different settings, but I also love the idea of what you do in one setting impacting the future setting. Butterfly effect.<br />
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<b>3. Ancient Times</b><br />
Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Ancient China... I want to go back to these great empires. No doubt these were exciting times. I'm a fan of escapist fiction and any of these ancient times would make for a great escape from our technology driven reality.<br />
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<b>4. Victorian Era</b><br />
This somewhat translates into my desire for more steampunk. This period fascinates me, from the style of dress, to the fascination with spiritualism and natural history, to industrialization. It was such an exciting time of growth and discovery with so many possibilities.<br />
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<b>5. World War I</b><br />
This probably comes from my current love of Downton Abbey. I see plenty of literature focused on World War II, but far less about World War I. I can see strong tragic romance possibilities because so many young men died.<br />
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<b>6. Futuristic, but not Dystopian/Apocalyptic</b><br />
I'm a huge fan of dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction, but it might be fun to explore a less grim view of our future. I still want conflict and challenges, but maybe something that isn't "the government is out to get us" or "the world is ending." Perhaps something with awesome gadgets and mystery and adventure.<br />
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<b>7. American Revolution</b><br />
This is another time period that I think is really exciting and inspiring. Felicity was my favorite <i>American Girl</i>, and I loved how exciting her stories were. I'd love to see some spunky heroines, perhaps on both sides of the Revolution.<br />
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<b>8. Wild West</b><br />
Trains, cowboys, pioneers in the rough and expansive landscape of the Wild West are full of possibilities. This is a unique setting that we see little of in YA. And hot cowboys? Yes, please.<br />
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<b>9. During Travel (Trains, Planes, Zeppelins, Ships)</b><br />
There's something romantic about long trips because it's just long enough to establish a connection, and then there's the threat of what to do when you arrive at the destination. Titanic is an obvious one, but I also read this book a long time ago called <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/688908.Hindenburg_1937" target="_blank">Hindenburg, 1937</a></i> that was a romance aboard a doomed zeppelin (with Nazis) and it was such an engaging setting! I'd also love to see some stories aboard trains. I really like trains.<br />
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<b>10. Sports Arenas</b><br />
I want more books featuring girl athletes. One of my favorite movies is <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286499/" target="_blank">Bend It Like Beckham</a></i>. I played on travel volleyball teams and even though that movie was about a soccer team, it still resonated with me. I can't think of a single book I enjoyed about a girl athlete... So clearly we need more!LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-23840236378037374862013-01-21T05:00:00.000-05:002013-01-21T05:00:04.107-05:00Book Review: Obsidian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>Obsidian</u></b><br />
<b>by Jennifer Armentrout</b><br />
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<b>Published by</b>: Entangled Teen<br />
<b>Form</b>: purchased/paperback<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Paranormal Romance<br />
<b>Big Themes</b>: Aliens, Twins, Bad Boy, Super Abilities<br />
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<b>Summary</b>:<br />
Katy moves to a small, obscure town in the middle of West Virginia after her father dies from cancer and her mother needs a change of scenery. Her next door neighbors happen to be incredibly attractive twin teenagers: the bubbly, friendly Dee and her arrogant, rude brother Daemon. Katy and Dee become friends, but Katy isn't sure what to make of Daemon. Most of the time she wants to slap him, but then she learns he has a secret... he's an alien. And Daemon's alien abilities have put Katy and his family in danger.<br />
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<b>Characters</b>:<br />
This may sound a little too similar to <i>Twilight</i> in it's premise, but the characters make this paranormal romance much more enjoyable and interesting. If you want a paranormal romance with a teen girl heroine who actually has interests/hobbies and doesn't let herself be pushed around just because a guy is hot, then Armentrout wrote this book for you.<br />
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The main character, Katy, is an enthusiastic book blogger. I found it refreshing to have a main character who has a passion and interest outside of the romance. And when hot next door neighbor, Daemon Black is a total jerk, she dishes it right back at him. Katy is a spitfire and doesn't hold back the insults just because her target has washboard abs. Katy and Daemon's fiesty relationship makes the soft, tender moments even stronger. <br />
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I've always been a fan of relationships that start off fiesty between characters, and it takes awhile before the characters admit that they like each other. Examples: Elizabeth Bennet/Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) or Mary and Matthew (Downton Abbey) or Ron/Hermione (Harry Potter). Katy and Daemon have this kind of relationship. <i>Obsidian</i> is very much rooted in how they can't stand each other but have this underlying chemistry.<br />
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Armentrout has a definite strength as a writer in creating chemistry between characters, and this sets her books apart from many of the other paranormal romances out there. If you haven't checked out this series... there is a reason so many readers are swooning over Daemon Black. He's far too swoonworthy for his own good... or Katy's.<br />
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<b>Snappy Dialogue</b>:<br />
Another strength of this book is the dialogue. It's snappy. Quick. Real. And totally fun. I laughed out loud a few times. And the characters sounded like totally authentic teenagers. I wish I'd taken better notes as I was reading of some of the dialogue that made me laugh out loud (I'm much better at highlighting/note-taking when I'm reading eBooks instead of physical books). Here's a few lines that I managed to find as I flipped around:<br />
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Example of Katy and Daemon spitting fire at each other:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Oh, you're an expert in crazy people now?" [Daemon]<br />
"A month with you, and I feel I have a master's degree in the subject," I snapped. (pg. 105)</blockquote>
A friendly chat over boys:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I don't think he meant to kiss me," I said finally.<br />
"What? Did he slip and fall on your mouth? Those things are known to happen." (pg. 301)</blockquote>
And Daemon calls Katy "Kitten" and I sort of LOVE it:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"See something you like, Kitten?" (pg. 91)</blockquote>
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<b>Action and Pacing</b>:<br />
Whew! There's action <i>throughout</i> the book. <i>Not just at the end</i> like a lot of paranormal romances. Life in danger, things exploding, powerful evil aliens, and more. The book is chunky at over 300 pages, but I easily finished it in just 2-3 days because it was hard to put down.<br />
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<b>Cool Aliens:</b><br />
I know there's probably a lot of people who are skeptical about the whole alien bit. Especially the idea of "hot aliens." I don't want to spoil anything, but I really liked the explanation of the aliens and thought the world-building was really solid. The abilities of the aliens make sense, and their backstory makes them sympathetic. It's a fun twist on the paranormal romance category (in fact I wasn't even sure if I should place this series in that category because I wasn't sure if aliens fell into paranormal, but whatever.)<br />
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<b>Criticism:</b><br />
These books are intended as a guilty pleasure sort of read. Bits of the story are quite predictable and follow the format of paranormal romance. Girl meets extra hot guy, notices something is off about him, discovers he's not human, has special powers, he saves her, and they fall in love. That's the formula, right? If you're going in expecting this to be different from that formula, you'll be disappointed. <br />
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<b>Word of Caution:</b><br />
I'd say this is a book for the older YA set. I wouldn't recommend this to my middle schoolers. Lots of profanity and sexiness. A totally fun read for more mature readers though.<br />
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<b>Overall Rating:</b><br />
The characters are strong and interesting, the romantic chemistry is excellent, the dialogue is super fun, and the aliens are a fresh twist. If you enjoy paranormal romances, this one is a standout and worth adding to your collection. I gave it four stars.LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748397380381164573.post-72152738006375321802013-01-19T05:00:00.001-05:002013-01-19T11:17:35.601-05:00Book Review: Goliath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>Goliath</u></b><br />
<b>by Scott Westerfeld</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Published by:</b> Simon Pulse<br />
Purchased/Hardback<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Alternate History/Steampunk<br />
<b>Big Themes: </b>World War I, Air Travel, Genetically Engineered Species, Machines, Heroism, Secrets, Loyalty, Peace<br />
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<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-leviathan.html" target="_blank">My Review of Leviathan</a><br />
<a href="http://hughesya.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-behemoth.html" target="_blank">My Review of Behemoth</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>*Some mild spoilers in the summary, but tried to keep spoilers out of the review*</b></span><br />
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<b>Summary:</b><br />
Alek returns to the Leviathan after Deryn's persuasion, and they leave Istanbul and the revolution behind them. While Alek feels he's made a difference in the war, he still desperately wants peace. Their travels lead them across the world, first to Russia, then Japan, then finally to the United States with a pit-stop in Mexico. Deryn continues to thrive as an airman, but struggles with keeping her biggest secret from Alek.<br />
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<b>What I Loved:</b><br />
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This final book in the series definitely earns the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Hughes Reviews Seal of Approval</span></i></b>. Scott Westerfeld completes this series with such satisfaction. There is a line at the end of the Afterword that just filled me up so completely like few books ever have. I'm in love with the idea of alternate history novels now. Paired with the brilliant illustrations by Keith Thompson, you will be mesmerized by this series. Definitely check these books out!<br />
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<b>World-Building/Setting: </b><br />
I was not expecting so much travel in this book! That was such a pleasant surprise! The Russian Bears were eerie and terrifying. Japan's kappas revealed the gruesome nature of war, but the descriptions of food in Tokyo made me hungry! The United States didn't have the same wonder and flavor of some of the other places, but the climax and reappearance of old characters more than made up for it.<br />
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<b>Characters: </b><br />
This book had some of my favorite moments between Deryn and Alek. Westerfeld does such a wonderful job of showing their friendship and growing feelings for each other through their actions. Both Deryn and Alek are conflicted about their relationship, but so clearly care for each other and would do anything to protect each other. They are probably my favorite book friendship/relationship ever. <br />
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<b>Plot:</b><br />
While not quite as fast-paced as Behemoth with action and battles, the travel kept the pacing quick and Alek and Deryn's interactions kept me turning pages. The ending is quite literally shocking, and I flew through the last 50 pages. And you must read the afterword in each book because it gives such insight into the plot and how/why events unfolded as they did. Westerfeld explains what parts of history he was inspired by and what events were altered for the book. It brings a whole new perspective to the plot.<br />
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<b>BONUS! Gorgeous Illustrations:</b><br />
It was hard to pick images that weren't spoilers for <i><u>Goliath</u></i> because so many are... These aren't! Again, illustrations are by Keith Thompson and are throughout the book, making these a joy to read!<br />
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<b>Overall Rating:</b><br />
Five big, brilliant stars. <i><u>Goliath</u></i> is a wonderful and perfect end to the series. I can't recommend this series highly enough for fans of fantasy, science-fiction, or historical fiction. It is a must-read!LHugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.com4