Nov 21, 2011

Happy release day to The Future of Us, by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler!

It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.

Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.

Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.

Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

Loved the summary the first time I read it; I know this is a book I'll end up loving :) 

The Future of Us is now in bookstores and is available through online retailers. 

Nov 19, 2011

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1), by Michelle Hodkin

Michelle Hodkins's blog - website - goodreads - twitter

Release Date: September 27th, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Age Group: Young Adult
Overall: 5 Stars 
Categories: (I don't want to spoil it for you.)
Read in November 2011

Summary:
Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

My Opinion:

If you haven't read any other reviews for this book, and all you know about it is what you've read in that summary, then Mara Dyer's story is not something you'll be expecting to read. It begins with mystery and ends with madness. 

From the start, you're sucked up into Mara's world, one of hallucinations and tragedies and feel like there's no way out. Michelle crafted her beautifully, showing us the many sides of her personality, building it all up until that big revelation is finally out in the open. And boy, what a revelation! I'm honest when I say I did not see that one coming when grabbing this book! I was expecting something else entirely, and in the middle, I fell for this story. 

What I loved about this book was just that, the surprise we get in the end. Also, its darkness. Mara is a girl with real issues, but with an even bigger problem beneath the surface. It was how getting to that problem was written what I loved most about this book. 

And Noah's character doesn't hurt ;) Who doesn't love a bad boy with a British accent? His role in Mara's story will grow as the book progresses, and believe me, you'll end up loving him and wanting to smack him in the face at the same time. 

I strongly recommend this book to suspense, mystery and paranormal lovers.

Nov 18, 2011

Guest Post: Working Through Writer's Block, by Anthony Garcia


Solutions to Writer's Block

When you have a writer’s deadline, nothing is as frustrating as writer’s block. Whether the “victim” is a student who has a deadline for an assignment in graduate programs online, or whether it is a professional writer with an internal expectation to get a certain amount of work done, writer’s block is incredibly frustrating and intimidating for writers of all ages and experience levels. There are solutions to get over writer’s block so that the blank page or computer screen stop staring back and taunt them with their lack of progress.

Be Prepared

Sometimes writer’s block comes from being under-prepared to write about specific topics. This might mean having to write about a topic they have little knowledge about and haven’t prepared for, or because the topic was assigned and the writer has little interest. If this is the kind of preparation the writer lacks, then a solution for that problem is to research. Whether writing as a student or as a professional, gaining background information can be an integral part of making the brain click so that the words will flow more readily.

Another part of preparation is to think about where the writing will go before you start. You can make an outline before writing, or you might try brainstorming possible topics to include in the writing. Some people can do this by talking through the story, even if the writer is only speaking to herself. Many times getting those main ideas out there, whether on paper or some other manner can lay out what needs to be done so the writer may begin.

Start in the Middle (or the end)

Sometimes the issue for writers is how to start, or even where to start. One solution is to start with what is known. Sometimes we know that something important happened, but it can be the difficult to figure out how to get the reader to that point. One solution for the writer is to ignore the beginning and go the part they know well, the middle, or the end, or wherever the climax occurred. By going to the arc of action, the writer will often better understand what information is left out of the writing, and then the writer will know what to include in the beginning.

Walk Away

There comes a point for anyone suffering through writer’s block that sitting and staring at the blank page or the blank screen elicits diminishing returns. If you have tried other solutions but are still experiencing writer’s block, you may just need a mental break. Breaks help, even if they are short. It is possible that a writer can do too much concentrating, so much so that no original or free-flowing thoughts can penetrate the bullet proof wall that won’t allow the writer to get anything accomplished. Sometimes, taking 15 minutes to think about something unrelated to writing is all that is necessary in order to start writing. If something pops into their head right away, it might not be Pulitzer Prize material, but it can get the writer started.

Talk to People

The writer who still has writer’s block should talk to someone. It is not necessary to talk to people about writer’s block. As a matter of fact, it can be helpful to talk about baseball, a television show, or a song, or anything in the world other than writing. For the writer, there is in the back of their mind no matter what, so it is possible that while talking, or watching television something will click. However, it can also be really helpful to bounce ideas off of others about the writing itself. Maybe someone has an experience with something you are writing about, and could shed light on the topic. Since all of us have different life experiences, it can be really useful to get a multitude of perspectives when you are at a loss for ideas. With writer’s block, almost anything can allow the block to go away and help the writing process to start.

There are few things more frustrating than writer’s block, especially when there is a deadline or a commitment that must be met. However, few people have died from writer’s block, so by trying a few different proven strategies, writer’s block too shall pass. My best advice: just don’t’ give up! 

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Anthony recently completed his graduate education in English Literature. A New Mexico native, he currently resides and writes in Seattle, Washington. He writes primarily about education, travel, literature, and American culture.

Nov 15, 2011

SHATTER ME's Release Day and MARA DYER News!

Today's the release day of SHATTER ME, by debut author Tahereh Mafi! I think I'm right in saying it's one of the most anticipated books of the season. Just look at its cover!
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Or, look at its trailer (which is ah-mazing!):


*drops jaw* 

Happy book birthday SHATTER ME! I shall soon get my hands on you!

And, speaking of awesome books: THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER is on its SECOND PRINT! Just after being on the shelves for 6 weeks! SIX WEEKS! Wow, that's great! 
I'm reading this book right now (as a matter of fact, I'll go and keep on reading it as soon as this post it up) and I tell you, I'm loving it. My review will probably be up next week.
Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

I still have uni to worry about, but classes are ending which means I'll have more time to read soon!

xo,
Ella

Nov 12, 2011

What does 2012 hold in (book)stores for us

2011 is nearly over, and we're all still alive, yay! And thanks to uni, I failed -yet again- to complete any challenges I signed up for this year. It's fun, though, to try and participate, so be sure I'll be signing up for any 2012 challenges I come across!

Uni is also nearly done for me, which gives me time to catch -a little- up on my reading. This year I read less books than last, but I was more busy than I was in 2010, so it's not so bad for me.

A lot of new books are reaching Argentine stores, maybe I'll take some pics and make a special post about that later... But it makes me super happy! Maybe publishing homes are realising Latinamericans expect new books to be published in their home countries just as eagerly as Northamericans and Europeans? Buying books from online reteilers isn't cheap, you know. Apart from the book itself, we have to pay for shipping, which costs nearly more than the book! Crazy... But, moving on!

So, 2012 books! Some great titles are coming next year, take a look -click on the pics to enlarge, and view the covers in all their splendor!- (every link leads to Goodreads):


Look at the pretty covers! AURACLE's is amazing! And it's synopsis is even more so! A Breath of Eyre was one of my WoW's this year, not that long ago. 

Remember these are debut authors, so you can add any of these titles to next year's 2012 Debut Author Challenge!

These are just a few of next year's releases, you can look at the rest here (Goodreads) or here (Class of 2k12).

xo,
Ella

Nov 9, 2011

Root - A new interactive story from Guardian Teen Books

Remember I told you about Michael Grant's new interactive project a few months ago? Well, someone from The Guardian has just emailed me something really exciting, and not unlike Grant's project:
Guardian Teen Books has partnered with Random House for a new interactive, serialised story called Root - a fast-paced thriller set in the shadowy world of computer hacking and espionage. 
ESPIONAGE! I love the Cherub series by Robert Muchamore, I read a few of them -that were not reviewed here-, and ever since I've loved the idea of teen spies.
Every weekday for six weeks a new chapter will be released on guardian.co.uk/teen-books. The content will be directly influenced by readers’ contributions, such as their ideas for characters' personalities and skills.
The story's already begun, it's on its twelfth chapter now. But I'm definitely gonna start reading it as soon as I can!
The heroine Molly Root is a 15 year old computer genius whose friend Danny is killed after being caught stealing priceless data from a ruthless global corporation. Now she's in over her head. So far Molly Root's mission to get to the bottom of her best friend's murder has taken her on a perilous trail across London. Her key lead is a dodgy police detective - and her attempts to expose his shady contacts are testing her ingenuity to the limits.
Yep, I'm loving the summary!
As well as incorporating suggestions from readers, the story will also be brought to life via several social media platforms. For example, Guardian Teen Books' Twitter and Facebook accounts will be providing behind the scenes updates of how Molly is progressing, along with clips on Audiobooks featuring the voicemails that Molly has discovered. This will be accompanied by onsite quizzes and photo puzzles on Flickr.
How exciting is that? I know it's convinced me! You can go and take a look if you want, click on any of the links above to visit the site.

Nov 6, 2011

The ReadIt1st Movement

Right, Doctor? Nerdfighters are cool, he says.
Nerdfighters are among the coolest people on Earth, and they've created something that deserves to be spoken of. 
I only just learned about it, and I already think it's amazing.

Have you ever watched a film based on a book and swore you'd never waste your time reading said book? Well, you might have missed out on reading a really good book, all because of its crappy on-screen adaptation. 

The ReadIt1st Movement (I don't know if it's actually a movement, I just like to call it that) is all for reading the book before watching the film! It's something I've always believed in. I haven't watched the Jane Eyre remake because I still have the book waiting for me in a box (I know, tragic, but I still haven't gotten shelves for my new flat).

I love it when you can see on the big (or small) screen something you've previously imagined in your mind. It's magic, isn't it? Of course, a book's adaptation to a film isn't always accurate (The Vampire Diaries is a series I love, but on TV, the show's taking turns that L. J. Smith didn't even write! And it isn't necessarily a bad thing.) and we must remember that when watching a film or a TV show based on a literary work. 

So, if you also think like me, and you're willing to take the pledge, you can go to readit1st.com and sign up!

Nov 5, 2011

The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire, by Various Authors

The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire, by Various Authors on Goodreads
Release Date: July 28th, 2009
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Age Group: Young Adult
Overall: 4 Stars 
Categories: Vampires, Paranormal, Romance
Challenge: 100 Books in a Year
Finished in November 2011

Summary:
There’s an allure to vampire tales that have seduced readers for generations. From Bram Stoker to Stephenie Meyer and beyond, vampire stories are here to stay. For those fresh-blooded fans of paranormal romance or for those whose hunt and hunger never dies, these stories have what readers want!This collection of original tales comes from some of the hottest, most popular, and best-selling YA writers, including:
• Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Tithe)
• Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty)
• Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Blood)
• Cassandra Clare (City of Bones)
• Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires)
• Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie (Wicked)
• Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof, Queen of Cool)
• Kelley Armstrong (Women of Otherworld)
• Maria V. Snyder
• Sarah Rees Brennan
• Lili St. Crow
• Karen Mahoney
• Dina James
They will make everyone a sucker for eternal kisses.

My Opinion:

Vampires are among my favourite otherworldly creature, and this book didn't disappoint! What an amazing book from such talented authors!

From romances between vampires and their hunters (the drama!), and vampires who've been so for years to people who've just changed or are hoping to be turned, this book has it all.

I seriously can't remember reading a book so full of action as well as sexual tension, and so well written. Because, let's be honest, teens' hormones are all over the place 24/7, it's no use denying it. And these writers use it to their advantage, creating stories that'll leave you pining for an undead boyfriend/girlfriend of your own! Just subtle kisses (hence, the book's title) that make you feel a chill crawling up your spine and keep on reading until the end are what this book is about.

You'll find your typical gorgeous type of vamp and vampires that are anything but glamourous and living in ghettos, surrounded by police guarding them so they don't leave that place.

Many of these authors I'd never heard of, but now, I'm definitely going to start looking into their work.

If you love vampire stories as much as I do, you'll love this book.
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