Waiting on Wednesday: Vicious

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and is a meme to share what future books we're most excited about.

I just got back from BEA and while I have tons of WoW books sitting on my shelves, I thought I'd pick a book that didn't get.  Because you can't get all the books, it's just not possible.  Unless I hire assistants... 

Here's what I'm waiting on:

 

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

from Goodreads:

A masterful, twisted tale of ambition, jealousy, betrayal, and
superpowers, set in a near-future world.

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will.

Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

I really enjoyed Schwab's The Archived, and I've been assured that I will love her book The Near Witch- so I'm going to read that first, until I see Steph next month and we do our book hostage exchange.  But more on that later. ;)

What book are you waiting on?  

BEA Blogger Conference Quickie

After a rough start to the morning (details to come on lunch voucher/cocktail hour tickets fiasco when I get back home), I found that I quite enjoyed this year's Blogger Conference. Some things were better, the panels, the books (at least for those of us in the YA panel audience), and the fact that I was more relaxed. Last year I got there so early and waited on line so long because I was just neurotic.

In every big event like this there are going to be some disappointments. I wish there'd been more authors, but one of my favorite authors from last year, Will Schwalbe, was the opening keynote speaker. There weren't many adult books (am I the only one that feels vaguely dirty whenever I use the term "adult books"? Like maybe it requires gloves to read them and a shot of penicillin?) offered, although the happy hour/cocktail party had some good books.

This year I stayed for the Happy Hour, got to chat with some really great writers, one in particular who was super gracious when I spilled red wine all over myself and my white blouse. I came prepared though, and dazzled people with my Tide Pen skills. ;)

Tomorrow is Day One of BEA, and I can hardly wait! Also, I'm very excited to go to the Penguin Bird Bash, especially since they seem to be quite involved in this year's conference.

I met a bunch of wonderful bloggers and authors, and I survived VoucherGate through their kindness- more on who I met to come later!

Sundays In Bed With... Follow the White Rabbit to BEA!

 Welcome to my Sundays In Bed With... Meme! The meme that dares to ask, what book has been in your bed this morning?  Come share what book you've spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today!

This morning I'm reading:

Follow the White Rabbit (Beautiful Madness #1) by Kellie Sheridan

Kellie was one of my roommates last year at BEA.  There were four of us in a tiny room, and once we all started bringing back books from the show, Harry Potter's cupboard under the stairs would have seemed spacious.  Somehow, Kellie manage to squirrel her books away (possibly I had made one too many jokes about stealing them) and surprised on the last day with the magical space she'd found to store them. Then a few months later, Kellie surprised us again- she was publishing a book!  I just found this one the other day, so I thought I'd go ahead and read it because today I'm BEA bound once again! 

I'm so excited, but somehow I actually managed to sleep last night.  So now I just have to finish packing, listen to the last 1/2 hour of Warm Bodies so I can start Joe Hill's NOS4A2 on the train.  It feels weird to just be taking my Kindle and phone on a trip, and not several physical books too, but I'll have tons of books to read while in NY.  

What are your weekend plans?  I won't be online much today, but this year I am taking my laptop, so expect updates on how BEA is going.  

   What are you reading (or wish you had time to read) this morning? Are you reading the book you thought you'd be reading, or has today found you with a surprise? Link up below! I'm going to try running this more like a blog hop, so feel free to add the link in your meme posts!

 

My BEA Two Cents

Some of you might have heard of this little blogger/author/publishing event called BEA, or BookExpo America.  Some of you might be sick and tired of hearing about all of us bloggers who are going to BEA and blowing up your reader with post after post of BEA tips and experiences.  To my readers that fall in that category, I'm sorry, because this is that kind of post.  But I urge you to check out Armchair BEA, which helped me through the years I couldn't go to BEA.

Last year was my first year at BEA and I have to tell you the experience was AMAZING!  I was so fortunate to be able to go- in large part because when I told my friend and fellow blogger, Kim, about the event she literally made it happen.  I've always wanted to go but it seemed too expensive (it is pricey, but the memories are priceless) and too much work to figure out on my own.  With Kim, and our friend Steph, we made our plans.  I found two awesome Canadian roommates, Cindy and Kellie, to share a hotel room with Kim and me.  Suddenly the price for BEA was a lot more within my price range.

4 women, lots of clothes, hundreds of books!

The room was tiny, but the hotel staff and breakfast was awesome.  Plus it helped that even though we had a small room, we all hit it off really well.  Pick good roommates.  If you don't know them ahead of time, get to know them.  The four of us skyped several times before BEA, and in that way Kim and I were already friends with Cindy and Kellie before arriving in NYC. This year I get to stay with an amazing friend and blogger, Pam, of Midnyte Reader.  I am so lucky!!!

The Javits Center is huge, and you will be overwhelmed when you walk in.  But no fear, because there are thousands of your people there.  That's right, we are book bloggers, sisters and brothers of the BOOK.  Those who have been there before are happy to share tips with you.  It's the closest thing to utopia that you will experience on earth.  Just don't be an ass and you should be fine.  Smile, be polite, and I promise you that you will meet people that will reaffirm your faith in humanity.  Bookworms are the very best kinds of people.

So, what do you need to survive BEA?  Here's a list:

• COMFORTABLE shoes. Everyone says this, and everyone is right.
• Some cash- to park your rolling suitcases and to use in the non-ticketed signing area.
• Business card- bring a lot, pass them around.  Also, there are apps you can download on your phone so that you can scan business cards, which I plan on using if some bloggers only have a few cards. 
• Rolling suitcase- check it in, and fill it up throughout the day.  I should have made more stops last year but I was worried I would miss stuff on the floor.  Here's the thing- you are going to miss stuff unless you've got a timeturner.  The beautiful thing about this is that other books will find you when you least expect it. 
• Play nicely!  There are always going to be some snobduches at BEA, don't let them get you down!  Keep on smiling, 99% of people there will be awesome, so you be awesome too.
• Bring snacks and a small water bottle- especially if you're on a budget.  The prices are high at the Javits Center, but it's the same if you go to any event.  Last year I brought a big bottle of water and it weighed a ton.  There are water fountains, so it's fine to bring a small bottle and re-fill. 
• Wear comfortable clothes!  I suggest going business casual, especially if you're planning on talking to any of the publishing professionals.  Just like a job interview, they will take you more seriously if you're not wearing a tank top and shorts. Unless you have a body like Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Aniston and can make a torn sheet look classy....
• BEA is a marathon, not a sprint! Don't panic, even if you miss a book drop one day, another chance may come along.  There is never, ever, ever, any reason to run, shove, or frog leap over your fellow BEA attendees... unless you're playing leap frog, but honestly, I wouldn't do that on the floor. 
• Apologize when you bump into people.  Apologize if people bump into you.  It never hurts to be overly polite. Also be nice to the Power Readers that come the last day of BEA, even if they're clueless.  Some of them are librarians and teachers, most just really love books and don't understand how BEA works.  One Power Reader did me a solid last year, and it really helped my attitude.
• If you don't know, ask.  Sometimes it's hard to know if a book is available to be picked up, so it's better to ask.  If the book isn't available, try to chat up the publisher, show interest and you never know what will happen! 
• If you're mailing books, unless you have money to burn, just take it to the post office.  Bring lots of tape!!! Send it media mail, which is ridiculously cheap.  I was dreading the trip to the post office, but it was actually a great experience.  We ran into some fellow bloggers, the employees were really helpful, and it was easier than I could have imagined.  It's hard to let your book babies go, so I suggest traveling with your must read ARCs.  But seriously, tape the shiz out of those boxes like you were preparing them for mummification.  
• The first day at BEA will be crazy and you'll get lost a million times if it's your first time there.  By the third day, the venue will seem small and you'll know where everything is.  I promise!
• Listen to everyone's tips and advice, and then do what works for you! 

And finally look for me!

S'up?

I've been soooo neglectful lately of my blog.  I'm reading, but I haven't been keeping up with reviews or other blogs like I should.  I've been working a lot, and... I've been watching a lot of HLN and following the Jodi Arias case because I am a trial junkie and I can no longer deny it. The downside is that this trial has been going on for months now, and even though it's in the penalty phase, it's still being drawn out. 

But as of today, and thru the rest of this month, I will be posting something book related EVERY DAY!  It's okay, you can be impressed. ;) Consider it a countdown to my BEA trip, when I get to hang with so many of you bookish lovelies!!

So, I'm sort of doing Bout of Books, although my goals have gone out the window.  Here's what I'm reading: 

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, which is amazing! 

I'm listening to The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.  I'm going to be featuring it as part of my Book STD feature, which you have to check out.  There's a giveaway and only 2 entries so far!  All you have to do is review a book that a friend made you read, or feature a book you want everyone in the world to read.  This will be a monthly giveaway.

This week I need to pack for BEA, because a week from tomorrow I head to New York!! I'm taking my very first train trip, so I'm very excited about it (let's ignore the train accident that happened up North recently, okay?). 

I'm also turning 36 this month, on May 22nd.  I am less excited about this, but I do love birthdays. 

So, dear ones, what is up with you? 

The Innocents Review

The Innocents
by Lili Peloquin
Genre: YA
Format: ARC (picked up at BEA)
Midnight Minute: Two sisters find themselves in Cruel Intentions meets Gossip Girl meets Rebecca with a small helping of The Great Gatsby.
From Goodreads:

Nothing ever came between sisters Alice and Charlie.
Friends didn't.
Boys couldn't.
Their family falling apart never would.
Until they got to Serenity Point.

In a town built on secrets and lies, it's going to be hard to stay innocent.
They're sucked into a strange and seductive world—a world they can't help but hate, and can't help but love. A world that threatens to tear them apart, just when they need each other the most.
The Innocents is the first in a new series of young adult novels that weave a saga of nail-biting drama, breathless romance, and Gothic mystery.

Midnight Thoughts:

~There are just not enough books featuring sisters.  I really liked the relationship between Alice and Charlie, it was complex and realistic. 
~What is it with all the granola eating, hippy moms in YA books?  Fortunately, or unfortunately as the case may be, Alice and Charlie's mom adapts pretty quickly to being rich.
~Even though it's not set in the Hamptons, it felt like it was set in the Hamptons.  If that makes sense?
~The parents of the teens are fairly liberal with their children's freedom- they are allowed to drink openly but are expected to not get in trouble.  I rather like that idea, because I think part of the problem with teen drinking is that it's so taboo that kids make a big deal out of drinking.  Then again, most teenagers are idiots and can't be trusted, so I'm torn.  
~There's a quote from the book about how the house the sisters are now living in is devoid of any pictures of their stepfather's former family- his deceased wife and daughter, but that by the complete and utter absence of items, they've become a presence.
~ When I picked up this book from BEA, I totally thought it was going to be a historical YA like Venom (which I picked up at the same time).  I loved the cover with the picture frames (and I've seen the official hardcover book and it's got great texture to the frames), they felt ornate and antique, but the book is very much a contemporary novel.  But-
~ There's a lot of stuff going on in the novel- there's mystery, romance, and the basic theme of growing up and dealing with change.  I'm actually glad the novel wasn't what I thought it'd be.  
~ I expected that I'd dislike Charlie, because I'm totally an Alice, and while Charlie makes a lot of stupid mistakes, as does Alice, I was able to identify with both of them.  I found myself rooting for both of them, despite the different dreams the girls had.  
~ I don't care how hot a guy is, if he's messing around with his cousin in a sexual way, you need to stay away from him.  Okay, I guess it's okay if he's really hot.  Just, have some standards, ladies!
- One of the notes that I wrote in the beginning: Alice is stuck in a gothic Rebecca like storyline, while Charlie is the Gatsby figure to Jude as Daisy, and The Great Gatsby is referenced several times in the book.
~ I was a disappointed by Alice's complete dismissal of her long-distance boyfriend.  However, teens do not always end relationships the right way, so it's realistic.  Not to say that people get better at ending relationships as they get older, because they really don't.
~ The one thing both sisters have in common is how freaking naive they are when it comes to the boys they like- both put up with a lot of crazy shiz from Tommy and Jude, and both ignore the guys who are actually willing to pay them the attention they deserve.  Sadly, this too is pretty realistic.  

Timeless Characters:

Alice- the older sister, quiet and content to be a bookworm. 
Charlie- younger and wilder, she is drawn to the bad boy with the very messed up relationship with his cousin. 
Richard- stepfather.  A common nick name for Richard is "Dick".  Sometimes character's names are very important and descriptive. 
Margaret (Maggie)- former granola mom, now a country club mom.  Her name perhaps should have been Richard too.
Camilla- Richard's dead daughter, Alice becomes pretty obsessed with her.
Tommy- Camilla's ex, Alice becomes pretty obsessed with him too, mostly, I think, because of his connection to Camilla. Tommy is practically a Kennedy, and by that I mean the scandal ridden Kennedys and not the idealistic "Camelot" Kennedys. 
Jude- he's the bad boy who Charlie is interested in. He's hot, he's troubled and he's unavailable.  So, expect to swoon. ;)
Stan- the token poor boy who works at the country club, is cute and decent and likes Charlie.  At first I was troubled why any author would name a potential hottie love interest Stan (no offense to those named Stan, married or dating Stans, or anyone who has named a kid, Stan- I'll just assume it was a family name), but his full name is Stanislav which is much hotter.  So, if you're name is Stan, just add an "islav" to the end to up your Hotness Number.
Cybil- Jude's cousin and It Girl. Both friend and rival to Charlie.  She actually grew on me... like the bathroom mold you just learn to live with even though it might kill you because you're too lazy to just hose it down with bleach.
Bianca and Sasha- friends of Cybil, whom she finds fairly interchangeable, which you will too.
 

Midnight Moment:

The conversation Alice overhears her mom having with her stepfather.  I knew some poo was up, but wow!  I often say it and it's true: people are interesting.  They have layers, some are onions like Shrek, and some are delicious parfaits, like Donkey.

Stop The Clock:

I really enjoyed this book.  The cover (and the ones I've seen of the future books) are gorgeous!  I will be continuing with the series because there's still a lot to uncover and I'm invested.  As much as I like reading series, I've given myself permission to break up with a series if it's not grabbing my attention.  The Innocents grabbed my attention.



Lili Peloquin — Goodreads | I could not find an official website for the author

The Innocents gets a Midnight Book Rating of: 

Sundays In Bed With... BEA Edition

Welcome to my meme, Sundays In Bed With... where we share what books we're curled up in bed with today, or which book we'd like to stay in bed reading if only we had the time!  You can participate by adding your blog link, or simply comment and tell me what you're reading.  Better yet, take a picture of your book in your bed and upload it. 

No doubt many of you are sick to death of all the BEA posts, but I haven't actually gotten around to really sharing all the awesome bookness I got in New York, so I thought I'd do it now.  Here's what's in my bed this morning:

Ten and The Spindlers are two of the books I've already read.  I got Ten signed by the amazing Gretchen McNeil, and both were Midnight reads. My review for The Spindlers is already up, and Ten will be coming soon.  Also pictured here is a tote that I actually bought (and not just one of many that I gobbled up greedily at BEA) at The Strand.  I love it, and I take it everywhere I go. 

These were the 3 books that were on my MustGetOrIMightDie list.  Bitterblue doesn't have a cover, but there's an interesting story behind how I got my copy (a story I won't share here, but buy me a drink at BEA next year and I'll tell you). Odd Apocalypse was the number one, and I didn't get it until the very last day despite my awesome blogger friends who were on the look out for it.  Fortunately Kim shared my sob story to a Power Reader who was happy to get me a copy since they were just handing them out wily nily to the Power Readers. Shadow of Night, sequel to A Discovery of Witches, was the very first book I got autographed and I cannot wait to read it!  Deborah Harkness was so wonderful, and was very understanding about my sudden ability to make sense while speaking and my general squeaky fangirl excitement.

 I stumbled upon Croak, which I really wanted to read.  I didn't see the sequel on the floor, but there's lots of books I missed.  Bared to You, which is supposed to be similar to Fifty Shades of Grey, but actually written for publication, Legend, Chosen Ones (love the cover!) Darker Still, Unraveling (signed! Norris is amazing!), The Farm, Me Before You (one of the first books I grabbed), Seed, and After Life.

 Kim picked up When It Happens to You for me, since I'm a huge brat pack fan, Memoirs of and Imaginary Friend, Carnival of Souls, Ashen Winter (actually a sequel to Ashfall which I haven't read but will because the publisher was so super excited about this series), Origin, Twelve Patients (which I picked up because it reminded me of Kingdom Hospital), Hemingway's Girl (met the author at the Blogger Conference and she was wonderful so I'm glad I got the chance to get her book!) and Techno-Mancer which just looks cool.

 The Raven Boys (I actually have two copies of this, and I'll be using the other one in a giveaway, but it's the only book I took more than one of, on purpose at least, and it was different days.  As you can tell, I'm having a little guilt over taking two), The Naptime Chef, God Loves Ugly, The Digest Diet, the new Captain Underpants novel that I'll probably give to my nephew (uh, after I read it!), Drama (which looks cute!), Kiss & Make Up, Beta, and Black City.

 Pushing the Limits (so excited about this!), Prodigy, Insurgent (signed!) Hourglass (signed, and I have to say the author is wonderful, and we actually talked about the cover and how it the girl in the photo's took them herself and I managed to not sound too much like and idiot), Destined (signed- I haven't read the series, but I'll at least read this since Pike was generous enough to hear me gushing over the other three authors she was sitting with), Schroder, The Last Dragonslayer, and Motherland (again, met the author and she's hilarious and swears a lot).

 Zom-B (which Kim picked up because she knows me well), False Memory, Monster Hunter Legion (another author at the breakfast that I met and have a slight author crush on now), The Beautiful Mystery, City of Women, Escape, Syndrome E and The Prophet, the other book I have two of, but that was an honest mistake, I didn't know he was signing the next day, and so I have a signed copy.

 The Innocents (LOVE the cover), Skinny, which the wonderful rep at Scholastic was very excited about), Summer and Bird, Where'd  You Go, Bernadette (signed), Time Between Us, Venom (the Penguin reps were very enthusiastic about this one, and it's at the top of my list as Tara, the rep I spoke to the most, was genuinely gushing over it), Son, Magisterium (another fav of the Scholastic rep), Regine's Book (totally reminds me of Go Ask Alice), and Breed.

The Wishing Spell (Chris Colfer is glowing, hilarious and truly passionate about books), Masque of the Red Death (signed!), Then Came You, Let's Pretend This Never Happened, The Iron Knight, The Fault in Our Stars, An Abundance of Katherines (signed by John Green and the young woman who won the cover design contest), Agorafabulous!, Merits of Mischief, and The Passage (I already own this on my Kindle, but I met Justin Cronin and he was fantastic.  Sadly, I did not get the sequel, but it's a book I was already planning to buy so I honestly can't complain).

Black Mask (audio), Stirred, Code Name Verity (very excited about the buzz on this!), The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Seriously, Just Go to Sleep, Against the Grain (signed and linked to Amazon since I could not find it on Goodreads), Sky Color, a graphic novel sample for The Infernal Devices, False Impressions and The Stooges (signed graphic novel).

I got a few audio books too, ParaNorman, Anna Dressed In Blood (hello, audio re-read in October!), Criminal, and Dreadtime Stories.  Also I got Bob Harper's new book for my mom because she loves him (although she does not need to diet!) and a cool graphic book about Economics.  Just check out my BEA shelf on Goodreads.

Phew!  Hope you got through all that, but if not hopefully you at least made it to the end so that you can add your link!

BEA Book Look

Here's a quick look at the preciouses I picked up at BEA. I'll post my BEA adventures tomorrow, complete with pictures and book titles.  Hope ya'll are reading something good!

Sundays In Bed With... # I Don't Even Know Because I Am Over Tired From My Trip Home Last Night And BEA.

I'm back, Midnighters!  Although I plan on spending most of today wallowing in my bed (seriously the trip back from New York sucked as our bus was filled to the brim with crazy!), I also hope to get a little bit or reading done.  And laundry.  Sadly the Fluff and Fold elves did not visit my suitcase in the middle of the night, so it looks like I'll have to wash it myself.

Sundays In Bed With... is a meme to share what book you're curled up in bed with this Sunday morning (okay, I realize it's late afternoon already, but I had a birthday party to attend as soon as I woke up) or what book you'd like to spend the day reading, if only you were able to.  So here's what I'm reading today:

Ten by Gretchen McNeil!!  I was lucky enough not only to get a copy of this ARC at BEA, but it's signed by the awesome Gretchen McNeil herself!!  Gretchen was so awesome to meet, and she hasn't the cutest laugh ever.  The fact that she's writing about a killer stalking teens only adds to her awesomeness. I've only read a few pages so far, but I'm already enjoying it.  There's a line early on in the book which is similar to the "I'll be right back" lines in a horror movie, which made me laugh hard.

I'm so wiped out from this last week, but I had a blast at BEA, so I'll be sure to share all the good times soon.  And look for my guest post on Kim's site soon... as in "as soon as I write it".  Until then, let me know what you're reading today!  Even better, take a picture and upload it to your blog! Just add you link below.

Bringing the Crazy to BEA

I may have mentioned this a time or ten, but I'M GOING TO BEA!!!  The time can be counted in hours now, even for a math challenged gal like me.  

I said it on Facebook, but I'll sum up my expectations here too:  it's kind of like Sex and the City, but with far less sex and lots more books... still that same amount of alcohol though!

For the last two years, BEA was a dream that my heart dared not speak aloud.  But you know what?  That was stupid! Because all I had to do was mention to my friend Kim from On the Wings of Books, and presto, changeo, magic! We were going to BEA!  We met and plotted with our friend Steph from The Fake Steph, we ordered business cards and discussed what baked goods to tempt Maureen Johnson with when we meet her and finally make her our friend. Kim and I found two awesome bloggers to share our hotel room with: Cindy of Cindy's Love of Books and Kellie of REAWrite.  Thankfully Cindy is a veteran of BEA, so Kellie, Kim and I will be clinging to her like baby kangaroos climbing out of their mama's pouch.  We may have to give Cindy and honorary "K" name.

So, what's the point of this post?  Well, like many of my blog posts... there really isn't any point.  But lots of other bloggers are posting a getting to know me, or how to NOT act like a spaz at BEA, or what they're packing.  Since I'm a newbie I can't really say what to pack, and it's a foregone conclusion that I'll be acting like a spaz at BEA, so I thought I'd post some pictures so that you can recognize me.  Feel free to say hi, or ask for my business card since I bought a butt load of them (depending on the size of your derriere, but trust me it's a lot!).  You can call me Kate or Katie.  I go by both, and I'll probably introduce myself as both.  I normally say Katie, but write Kate.  You can also call me Hey Girl, especially if you look like Ryan Gosling, or you know Ryan Gosling.

So here's me:

 

 

See, I can somewhat hide my crazy (biggest tip, narrow the eyes, nothing says crazy like BIG CRAZY EYES).  My hair might be straightened, but I doubt it since I'm lazy and that would require a lot more work.  Plus it's supposed to rain and my hair will end up a frizzy, fly-away mess anyway.  But here's what I look with straight hair and a smile/sneer (I guess the sun was in my eyes? And what the hell was I thinking in trying to squeeze my ass into a playground swing?)

Here's what I'll look like if I get a copy of Odd Apocalypse or Shadow of Night:

There will be stars and happiness and probably birds bursting out in song.

It'll be all Sad Panda Face if I don't get a copy of new Odd book, but there's few books I'm going in with the expectation of getting my grubby paws on, so hopefully any books I do get will send me into a state of pure euphoria. 

I'm leaving Sunday morning at the UNGODLY hour of 4:10am, but the upshot is we'll be in NYC by noon.  I'm taking MegaBus, which is a cool double decker bus.  I'm staying through Saturday, so if you want to hang out, I am available.

I'll be going to Blogger Convention on Monday, I'm going to the John Green breakfast, and I'm doing a cocktail party for Laura Moriarty, author of the amazing book The Chaperone, and then later that night The Penguin Bird Bash on Wednesday.  I'm doing Teen Carnival too.  Not quite sure what else I'll be doing, other than I know I'm hitting The Strand at some point!  I have to buy Courtney from Abducted By Books a little something, and perhaps leave a note from her somewhere in the stacks for another book lover to find.  

Also, for some reason I appear to be packing lots of black and blue clothing for the trip.  So, look for the blogger who looks like a bruise, and there this Midnight Book Girl will be. There's still so much to do before BEA, and I can't wait to meet all of you.  And for those of you who aren't going to be at BEA, or can't be there, there's always Armchair BEA, which is a blast as well.  

Before I started book blogging it didn't feel like I had that many people I could really talk books with, even my bookish friends didn't read as much, or the same books book as I did.  Our book blogging community has changed a habit that used to isolate me from others into something that allows me to connect to so many other people. And because of all of you, I'm going to New York, baby!

The Chaperone Giveaway!

Okay, Midnighters, I'm happy to announce a giveaway for a signed, personalized copy of The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty!!! 

From Goodreads:

 A captivating novel about the woman who chaperoned an irreverent Louise Brooks to New York City in 1922, and the summer that would change them both. Only a few years before becoming a famous actress and an icon for her generation, a fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita to make it big in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old chaperone who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle is a complicated but traditional woman with her own reasons for making the trip. She has no idea what she's in for: Young Louise, already stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous blunt bangs and black bob, is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention. Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will change their lives forever. For Cora, New York holds the promise of discovery that might prove an answer to the question at the center of her being, and even as she does her best to watch over Louise in a strange and bustling city, she embarks on her own mission. And while what she finds isn't what she anticipated, it liberates her in a way she could not have imagined. Over the course of the summer, Cora's eyes are opened to the promise of the twentieth century and a new understanding of the possibilities for being fully alive.

Here's what I thought about The Chaperone.  It was a full on Midnight Read for me. Which is saying something for a book that contains no serial killers, no zombies and no revenge driven ghosts.  The Chaperone is just a great book, I can't wait to discuss it with other bloggers who've read it- it's make a fantastic book club read!

Here's what a lot of  smart people thought about The Chaperone:

• "It's impossible not to be completely drawn in by The Chaperone. Laura Moriarty has delivered the richest and realest possible heroine in Cora Carlisle, a Wichita housewife who has her mind and heart blown wide open, and steps--with uncommon courage--into the fullness of her life. What a beautiful book. I loved every page."--Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife
• "What a charming, mesmerizing, transporting novel! The characters are so fully realized that I felt I was right there alongside them. A beautiful clarity marks both the style and structure of The Chaperone."--Sena Jeter Naslund, author of Ahab's Wife and Adam & Eve
• “The Chaperone is the best kind of historical fiction, transporting you to another time and place, but even more importantly delivering a poignant story about people so real, you'll miss and remember them long after you close the book."--Jenna Blum, author of Those Who Save Us and The Stormchasers
• “THE CHAPERONE is the enthralling story of two women... In this layered and inventive story, Moriarty raises profound questions about family, sexuality, history, and whether it is luck or will - or a combination of the two - that makes for a wonderful life."  -O, the Oprah Magazine
• “A fun romp” –Good Housekeeping

 What You've Got To Do To Win:  

Entering is insanely easy, just comment below with your email address and what you'd like the author to address you as when she signs it.  You don't have to be a follower (although it'd be nice!) . Winner will be picked on May 31st, so don't wait to get your entry in! 

Please take the time to give Laura a Like on her Facebook page!

<--- This is the nice author who will be signing your book whilst she's in New York for BEA- so even if you can't attend you can have a little piece of BEA for yourself!

Sundays In Bed With... #11

Good morning, readers! It's time for my Sundays In Bed With... Meme! 

Is Blogger being temperamental for you too this morning? I hate when Blogger is moody. Thankfully I'm spending this morning in bed with some good books. Okay, I actually really slept in this morning and haven't read much other than some posts on Twitter, BUT here's what I wish I were spending the day in bed reading:

I may have said this a million times, but BEA is now just a week away!!! Well, my leaving for BEA is just a week away. And so the urgent bout of reading is pretty much done with. I would like to get to Why We Broke Up, which was a birthday gift from Kim, and Boy's Life, which Midnyte Reader was so awesome to get signed for me. On the way up I'll be finishing up A Storm of Swords and hopefully I'll get to The Scorpio Races, which Steph got me on my Kindle for my birthday. I'm only taking my Kindle and my Nook Color to New York, all books are staying at home! Which is a bit weird because even with ereaders I usually still bring a few paperbacks while on vacation. Hopefully BEA will send me home with lots of awesome reads! So what book or books are you curled up in bed reading this morning? And if you can't be in bed with a book, just let me know which book it would be if you had the time! Even better, take a picture and upload it to your blog. Answer below, or link to this post. Can't wait to see what you're reading!

Divergent, Insurgent, Somethingrgent.

Divergent
by Veronica Roth
From Goodreads:

 Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

My Thoughts:

As the last blogger in the known universe to read Divergent I shall dispense with a full review.

Here's what you all knew but I now know.

That I was wrong not to have sold the promise of my first born child's soul in order to get a copy of Divergent sooner.

That Four is truly swoon worthy.

And that Veronica Roth is amazing.

That by not reading this book you aren't being anti-bandwagoney, you're just missing out on the awesomeness of Four. And that makes this bookworm sad. :(  Don't make me a sad bookworm.  Read Divergent!

That the name Tobias... is not that sexy.   Sorry, but it's not.  Toby as a nickname is kind of cute, for those under the age of seven or so. 

Did I just lose all my followers named Tobias?

Plus, my friend Kim is amazing for lending me Divergent (which she handed over LIKE she was handing me the promise of her first born child's soul).  Thanks, Kim!

And thanks to our friend, Andrea, for getting the song Like A Virgin, only with Divergent in it's place, looping endlessly in my already overcrowded and weird brain.  It is firmly stuck, and I'm currently drafting a letter to Madonna to just go ahead and change the lyrics already!

Divergent gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

The cover gets a Midnight Book Cover Rating of:

It's okay, but it didn't make me swoon. I like it better in context with the cover of the second book though. 

And now from the same blogger who brought you that wonderfully insightful review of Divergent that you just read above, comes her equally insightful and quote worthy review of Insurgent! That's right folks, no wait, instant book reviewing gratification coming your way!

Insurgent
by Veronica Roth
From Goodreads:

 One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

My Thoughts:

Four is even hotter, if possible.

The name Tobias has NOT gotten any hotter.  Although I am sure the name is rising in popularity amongst new born babies.  Because it's still the name of an awesome character.

Peter is kind of growing on me.  Like a fungus that isn't helpful for penicillin or anything, but isn't completely toxic either.

Wait, did I just loose a few more followers?

Seriously, I know, he's awful.  But he's kind of like Loki in Avengers.  He shows up and causes a lot of death and destruction... actually, you know, I don't have a good argument here.  I just sort of like Peter now.  Go ahead and judge me.  I can deal with your Candor.  (haha)

The only downside to Insurgent is that I was reading a lot of other books at the same time and there's all these characters to keep straight in my head, but I finally managed to pull it together towards the end and it didn't take away at all from the story.

Tris took me on a roller coaster ride in Insurgent.  One minute I wanted to slap her, and the next I wanted to be her (especially when it came to her time with Four).   But I like that she's not perfect, and I even like that there's parts of her I don't like.  She's no Mary Sue.

Which is a literary term for a perfect character, just so you real life Mary Sues don't stop following me.  Like how Edward Cullen is a Gary Stu, because even his "faults" are kind of a turn on- wait, you only killed really awful humans and drank their blood before becoming a "vegetarian" vampire? How sexy vigilante of you, Ed!  That said, I don't care that Edward Cullen is a Gary Stu, I still think he's hot.

But back to Insurgent:

I like how Tris really struggled with the fall out from her actions in Divergent.  It's nice to see that no matter how strong you are, no matter how right you are to take action to defend yourself, you're still going to have nightmares and guilt over it.  I'd be more concerned if Tris didn't feel horrible.

Tris and Four totally need to STOP NOT TELLING EACH OTHER THEIR SECRET SHIZ.  Seriously, confide, people!  Stop being dark balls of dark secrety thingys.

Did I mention that Four was even hotter in this book?  Because he was.  I'm pretty sure the third book is going to burst into flames once I open it. 

By the way, any guesses on the name of the next book?  I'm going with Convergent. 

Now my main goal of BEA is to convince Veronica Roth to be my new bff and to send me an ARC of the next book so that for once I won't be behind in the series.  Obviously, I won't mention my dislike of the name Tobias to her.  It'll be our little secret, okay?

Insurgent gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

The cover gets a Midnight Book Cover Rating of:

Now that it's kind of a theme, I'm liking the covers of this series.  I especially dig the green. 

The Chaperone Review and Book Tour

The Chaperone
by Laura Moriarty
Expected Publication: 06.05.2012
From Goodreads:

A captivating novel about the woman who chaperoned an irreverent Louise Brooks to New York City in 1922, and the summer that would change them both. Only a few years before becoming a famous actress and an icon for her generation, a fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita to make it big in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old chaperone who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle is a complicated but traditional woman with her own reasons for making the trip. She has no idea what she's in for: Young Louise, already stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous blunt bangs and black bob, is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention. Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will change their lives forever. For Cora, New York holds the promise of discovery that might prove an answer to the question at the center of her being, and even as she does her best to watch over Louise in a strange and bustling city, she embarks on her own mission. And while what she finds isn't what she anticipated, it liberates her in a way she could not have imagined. Over the course of the summer, Cora's eyes are opened to the promise of the twentieth century and a new understanding of the possibilities for being fully alive.

My Thoughts:  When I got the email inviting me to be on the blog tour for The Chaperone and an invite to meet the author at a cocktail party in New York, I immediately was excited. 

Like many of you, I get a lot requests to review books, although most of mine seem to indicate that the person requesting my review hasn't bothered to even look at my blog.  So even though I was super excited, I was also worried that it wouldn't be a book I'd like.  I read the summary, was sold on the idea of Louise Brooks since I love old movies and yes, I subscribe to the Turner Classic Movie Guide. 

I admit to feeling a bit daunted by the size of the book when it showed up.  If it turned out to be a slow or boring read, then I'd be in a bind.

Thankfully, The Chaperone is easily one of my favorite reads this year. 

I loved Cora!  I especially loved the flashbacks to her time in the orphanage and growing up with the Kaufmans. When we first meet Cora she seems to have the perfect life, and the perfect marriage. As her past unfolds, all the things that lead to later choices by her character are easier to understand.  The courtship between Cora and Alan was at first something out of a fairy tale.  But when Cora learns just why Alan wed her, a reason I suspected, I was still amazed by how she handled it.  I kind of wanted her to throw that in Louise's face to show the modern young lady how worldly Cora really was, but of course, ever the lady, Cora refrains.

Two scenes that had me in tears: Cora discovering the truth behind her marriage and when she reads the letter to the orphanage sent from her adoptive mother.  There is so much love and simple strength in that wonderful woman's words, and you could feel what a labor of love it was from the hands of a farmer's hardworking wife.  Tears, people, tears. I don't really mind crying though, because it makes my normally hazel eye's look super green. 

I wanted to smack Louise Brooks.  Seriously, smack her superior attitude right off her face.  I also wanted to smack her parents.  Basically, early on in the book I was calling for an out and out smackdown on the Brooks family (even though the kids seemed to be taking care of business themselves).  As I read on, Louise kind of grew on me... but like some kind of mold that you really don't want to like but can't help but be fascinated by it. Even though I'm a movie fan, I really didn't know that much about Louise Brooks (and I'm going to be honest and admit I had her confused with other bright and beautiful leading ladies who died at a tragically young age).  Unable to wait to find out her background, I immediately ran off to Wikipedia, because I'm impatient and hate to wait for information. Plus I kind of wanted to see how closely Moriarty followed her life in a fictional account.  And after reading about her life, it was hard not to feel sorry for her.  Both in reality and in The Chaperone it's clear that unconditional love is not something Louise Brooks grew up with.

 And I learned that Louise Brook's mother's maiden name was Rude, which says a lot. Like Cora, I was horrified at some of the things Mama Brooks chose to allow and ignore when it came to her beautiful, head strong daughter.  If her mother was alive today I have no doubt she'd be a pageant mom on Toddlers and Tiaras.

The Chaperone, and Cora, continued to surprise me.  Louise didn't end up surprising me (mostly because I cheated and wikied her), but instead made me sad with her choices.  While Louise seemed to impact Cora during their time together, she seemed to take Cora and the lessons she had to offer for granted.  It's not until later that she seems to finally understand Cora even a little bit.  But as much as this book is touched by Louise Brooks, the story belongs to Cora.

Seeing New York through Cora and Louise's eyes was wonderful. The trips to the theater, including the eye-opening experience that forces Cora to ponder racial segregation, left me longing for the days when theater was popular everywhere.  Even the little soda shop Cora and Louise go to frequently left me envious. This June will be my first real New York trip, and as excited as I am to see it, I'm a bit disappointed that it won't be the same New York City Cora walked through. 

Hopefully NYC 2012 will smell a bit better though. 

As much as I loved the time Cora spends in New York, and her flashbacks to the orphan train, it's the ending of the book where Cora really comes into her own.  The mind blowing, life changing, decision she makes in New York (which I totally saw ending horrible, possibly because I watch entirely too much Criminal Minds and the ID channel), kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last. 

The Chaperone is just an amazing read, a book I'd really love to discuss at book club.  Hopefully I've done an adequate job of explaining how good it is, although I fear I've fallen short.  To sum up: read The Chaperone.  Then come and find me so we can discuss!

The Chaperone gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

The cover gets a Midnight Book Cover Rating of:

I love the 1920's, and this cover captures the era perfectly.  You know exactly what era you're about to be transported to!  The only thing that would have made it perfection would be to have both Cora and Louise (and her trademark bangs!) on the cover.

Author Laura Moriarty

Doesn't she seem like someone you'd want to have cocktails in New York with?

Find her on Facebook or at her website.












***Disclaimer: I received a copy of The Chaperone in exchange for my honest opinion.  I did RSVP to the cocktail party for Laura Moriarty, but only after reading the book.  I didn't want to say yes if I ended up disliking the book.  No, this isn't your average disclaimer.  That is all.***