Thursday, March 31, 2011

Elsewhere Online: March 2011

As you may have guessed from my In My Mailbox posts, I review for another website (bookloons.com). As I cannot post my reviews there and here, but I would still like to count the books I read for the challenges, I am going to have a post like this at the end of the every month listing the books I reviewed and what challenges the went towards.

Author: Robert Jay
Challenges: Mystery & Suspense, YA Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year


Author: Sarah Blakely-Cartwright
Challenges: Debut Author, iChallenge, 100 Books in a Year

Title: I Am J
Author: Cris Beam
Challenges: Debut Author, Young Adult Contemporary, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Summer
Author: Eden Maguire
Challenges: Mystery & Suspense, YA Series, Horror & Urban Fantasy 100 Books in a Year

Monday, March 28, 2011

Once Upon a Time Challenge

I love books that have a "once upon a time" feel, so I was absolutely giddy when I saw Stainless Steel Droppings's Once Upon a Time Challenge. This is a three-month challenge, but there are many ways to participate. Even though I love these type of books, I can only think of one on my immediate TBR shelf that fits, so I am going to do The Journey (at least 1 book).

1. Huntress by Malinda Lo

Pride and Prejudice

Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Publisher: Kobo (I think)
ISBN: eBook
Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: E-Book, Book Blogger Recommendation, Classics, International, Show Me the Free (Borders.com), 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I had no desire to read Pride and Prejudice until I read the Marvel graphic novel version. And then I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. When my book club picked Pride and Prejudice, I was actually looking forward to now reading the real thing. I enjoyed it. Some parts - mainly the pacing - did make it seem like a classic, but it is just a great story all around.
Rating: 4 stars

Note: Cover featured is not of the free Borders edition.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

In My Mailbox 3/20-3/26

For Possible Review Elsewhere Online:
Spellweaver by Lynn Kurland
Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson
The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper
Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes by Amber Kizer
The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
Department Nineteen by Will Hill
Missing Persons by Clare O'Donohue

Won:
Ravenous by Sharon Ashwood
The Attitude Girl by Mila Bernadkin
Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut
Foresight by Sherry D. Ficklin
Pucker Up by Rhonda Stapleton

Swaps on Swap-Bot:
Washington Square by Henry James

Second-Hand from My In-Laws:
The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.
All images come from Goodreads.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Over Sea, Under Stone

Title: Over Sea, Under Stone
Author: Susan Cooper
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 978-1-4169-4964-0
Why Read?: For fun
Challenges: TBR Pile, 1st in a Series, YA Series, Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I had forgotten how much I love older - British - fantasies until I started reading this. The mood set with the twisty, secretive Grey House is just right for a fantasy adventure, especially when you through in the enigma of a great-uncle and the mysterious strangers. An excellent read, but slower than more modern YA fantasies.
Rating: 4 stars

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Cozy Mystery Challenge

What? I'm signing up for another challenge! I love cozies and the Cozy Mystery Challenge is only a six-month challenge, so I thought why not? I only have one currently in my TBR pile, so this will probably be an epic fail, but I'll try the Only Required Amount level (6 books).

1. Missing Persons by Clare O'Donohue
2. Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber
3.
4.
5.
6.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Lucky Leprechaun WINNER!

Random.org has spoken and a big congrats go out to...

MEMRIE H.!

An email has been sent. Winner has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Alice in the Country of Hearts 2

Title: Alice in the Country of Hearts Volume 2
Author: Soumei Hoshino & Quinrose
Publisher: Tokyopop
ISBN: 978-1-4278-1770-9
Why Read?: For fun
Challenges: Manga, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I think I may have enjoyed the volume more than the first one simply because the story became more complex and takes a very dark turn at the end of the volume - great cliffhanger. I highly recommend this series to anyone who is looking for a slightly twisted take on Alice in Wonderland.
Rating: 4 stars

Saturday, March 19, 2011

In My Mailbox 3/13-3/19

For Review Elsewhere (bookloons.com):
The Hunt of the Unicorn by C. C. Humphreys
Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Huntress by Malinda Lo
Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong

Won:
Hex by Ramona Wray
The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Swaps on Swap-Bot:
Men of the 9th Ohio by


84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.
All images come from Goodreads.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Mini-Challenge COMPLETED!

I just completed Lazy Girl Reads' Mini-Challenge today!

1. Something Old - The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
2. Something New - Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff
3. Something Borrowed - Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
4. Something Blue - Maid Sama! 4 by Hiro Fujiwara

Cleopatra (Audio Book)

Title: Cleopatra: A Life
Author: Stacy Schiff; read by Robin Miles
Publisher: Hachette Audio
ISBN: 9780307877383
Why Read?: For fun
Challenges: Audio Book, Non-Fiction, Mini-Challenge, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This was an interesting biography. However, having read and reported on both Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and Dryden's All for Love multiple times throughout my college career, I found the second half not nearly as engaging as the first as I already knew the "story". What fascinated me the most where the parts that related more to life at the time rather than specifically Cleopatra's. I am glad I listened to this rather than read as I did so faster, but the track and disc breaks were rather odd, some almost seeming to stop mid-paragraph.
Rating: 3 stars

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop - CLOSED

St. Patrick's Day and Ireland always make me think of fantasy, so for the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop, I will be giving away an unread copy one of my favorite fantasies - Jonathan
Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark.
(This is a very heavy book, so US only.)

To enter, fill out this FORM.
+1 for becoming a GFC follower
+1 for following my onGetGlue
+1 for friending me on Goodreads (see sidebar)
+1 for telling me your favorite fantasy novel

Don't forget to check out the other great giveaways:

Saturday, March 12, 2011

In My Mailbox 3/6-3/12

Bought a lot at Borders this week (so sad that the one closest to me is going out of business :( ).

For Possible Review Elsewhere Online:
Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best by Maria Padian
Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
The Queen of Water by Maria Virginia Farinango & Laura Resau
The Dark-Hunters 4 by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Western Classics by Graphic Classics
Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber
The Haunted by Jessica Verday
Secrets in the Attic by Damian Serbu
Fire by Robin McKinley & Peter Dickinson

Won:
Eve by Elissa Elliott

Swap on Swap-Bot:
When You Go Away by Jessica Barksdale Inclan

Bought at Borders:
Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer
Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson
The Hound of Rowan by Henry H. Neff
The Second Siege by Henry H. Neff
Eragon by Christopher Paolini

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.
All images come from Goodreads.