Follow Friday #50

Thanks to Parajunkee and Alison Can Read for hosing Feature and Follow Friday as always!

This weeks question is an interesting one...

Q: Today’s is the US’ Independence Day. Share your favorite book with a war in it, or an overthrow of the government.

A: First, I know Independence Day was yesterday, but I didn't get around to this yesterday. :-P Second, I don't think I've read many books with war or overthrown government in them.There was War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, but I felt so bad for that horse the entire time I wanted to throw my book out the window every time something happened to that poor animal. Then there's The Hunger Games, which I love, but I don't know if it's my favorite.

I don't know if this is considered either one of those novels, but I would have to go with Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Or maybe that whole series, because I love them. Katsa is usurping the rule of her uncle, King Randa by working with her friends to save people rather than kill them, which is what he thinks she was more or less born to do. Not to mention she has to save Bitterblue from King Leck and then find some way to defeat him.

What's your favorite "war" book? 

Review - Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

I've been out of town for the last few days so I had some reading time. I knocked Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore out in just a few days and I must say I was very impressed. I wasn't sure if I would be because I'd read some negative reviews and some that said it was rather slow paced but I didn't get that at all. It had just enough action to hold me over during the "slower" parts.

I loved the book. It was ALMOST the perfect tie together for the series. I say almost because there were a couple of things I wish would have happened, but I can't tell you what because if you haven't read it already that would just spoil the entire thing.

Bitterblue was an amazing character. Unsure of herself TO herself, but strong and and courageous and the perfect person to focus book three around. She was determined and focused and wouldn't take no for an answer. I was glad to see Katsa and Po back, even if just in "supporting" roles. And I actually liked Giddon's part in the story as well. He completely grew on me.

Saf and Teddy have to have been my favorite additions though. Saf more than anything. Cocky and arrogant on the outside but soft and caring under his hard outer shell. It was great to watch him develop from the common thief I thought him to be to what he ended up as. And Teddy was just a sweetheart the whole way through.

I wasn't sure how Cashore was going to finish out the series, with Leck's demise in Graceling and Katsa and Po going off their own ways to do who knows what. But I was happy with how she completed their stories. Very happy. I REALLY wish there would be a book number four (and heck, a five, six, and seven for that matter) because ending a series is ALWAYS a sad thing for me, but I'm glad it finished the way that it did.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read both Graceling AND Fire, epic fantasies, strong female leads, etc. Go read it. You won't be sorry you did!

In My Mailbox #35

Thanks to Kristi, The Story Siren, for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

It's been a while since I had anything to post for an IMM. However, I have discovered the joy that is Ollie's Bargain Outlet which, thankfully, is just minutes away from my house.

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
If I Stay by Gayle Forman

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

How awesome is that? With the exception of 2 of those books, I got them all from the same store and they cost me, in addition to books for my kids, $36. I mean really? And most of them are hardcover. Most I spent on 1 book from that store was $2.99.

I'm smelling a giveaway in the works! Maybe 2 because Maggie Stiefvater is going to be downtown next month and I'm going to go see her!! More details on those later. Can't wait to see what you guys got this week!



Follow Friday #40

Thanks to Parajunkee and Alison Can Read for hosting FF every week!

This weeks question:

Q: What is one book that you would be nervous to see a movie adaption of because you think the movie could never live up to the book?

A: Probably Graceling or Fire by Kristin Cashore. I would be worried about the type of people picked to play Katsa and Po. Or Fire and Brigan. And would they get the gracelings right? Or the monsters?

How about you?

Book Trailer - Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

Follow Friday #38

Thanks to Parajunkee and Alison Can Read for hosting Follow Friday every week!

This weeks question:

Q: What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

A: Easy. Harry Potter. Wait... what? That's already been done? Crap. Ummm.... Wait a minute, lemme think.... Graceling by Kristin Cashore.

The cast:

Katsa - Milla Jovovich

Po - Ben Barnes

King Leck - Rufus Sewell

Bitterblue - Mackenzie Foy

Prince Raffin - Robert Pattinson

King Randa - John Malkovich

Lord Oll - Stephen Lang

Lord Giddon - Patrick Wilson

Grandfather Tealiff - Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa 
















Can't wait to see your choice and your casts!!

Follow Friday #36

Thanks to Parajunkee and Alison Can Read for hosting Follow Friday every week!

This weeks question:

Q: BeefcakeandBabes Asks: I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What’s the most unique character name you’ve come across?

A: Hmmm.... I read a lot of epic fantasy so there aer LOTS of unique and unusual character names. Like Murtagh or Galbatorix or Islanzadi from the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. Legolas, Eowyn, Faramir and 99.9% of the names from Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. Hermione (I know this one may only be unique to me), Albus Dumbledore (I love what this one means), Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter by JK Rowling. Katsa and Po from Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Sabriel and Lirael from the books of the same name by Garth Nix. There are probably tons more that I could find but I think I've taken up enough room. :-P

Follow Friday #34

Thanks to Parajunkee and Alison Can Read for hosting Follow Friday every week!

This weeks question:

Q: Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kick ass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?

A: I think it may be easier to say what I can't STAND in novels. LoL. But I'll try. I love strong kick ass heroines. Like Katsa from Graceling and Fire from, well, Fire. I also love when the male characters are understanding and respectful of the main female character that they're in love with, and don't pressure her to do or say or be anything that's completely ridiculous. If that makes sense. Like Prince Po. I kind of like when the hard ass male lead characters end up being softies. :-P Like Prince Brigan. Does that make any sense?

Can't wait to see your FFs!

Book Trailer - Fire by Kristin Cashore

I posted one of these for Graceling, by Kristin Cashore, a while back, thought I'd post one for Fire too. Yes, I know Fire came out a while ago, but I've just been searching book trailers on youtube and found this one. :-P

Follow Friday #21

Follow Friday is hosted every week by Parajunkee. Go check out her page for details and such!

This weeks question:

Q: If you could have characters from a book meet and form an epic storyline with characters from a TV series, which characters would you choose and why?


A. Part of me wants to say Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory and the characters from Harry Potter. Because I love Sheldon and I just think it would be hilarious. Another part of me says Jax from Sons of Anarchy and Katniss from The Hunger Games. Or better yet, Katsa from Graceling. Because Jax is just kick @$$ enough to get business taken care of, but caring enough to be swoon worthy. ::sigh:: I <3 Jax.
 
What characters would you pick?

Follow Friday #20

Follow Friday is hosted every week by Parajunkee over at Parajunkee's View. Check her out!

This weeks question:

Q. What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?

A. At first, I couldn't come up with an answer. I couldn't think of a book I liked that much that wasn't already a movie. And then a few kind of punched me in the face. Haha.

The first was the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce. The first being Alanna. Now, I picked that book up solely because of the fact that Alanna is my daughter's name. :-P Sue me. I ended up loving it and speeding through the rest of the series.

The second would be The Halfblood Chronicles by Mercedes Lackey and Andre Norton. The first in THIS series being The Elvenbane. My dad originally got me these books because I was going to be travelling to Maine for a job interview and had nothing to read on the plane. So he got them for me used on Amazon and I fell in love with them. Only to realize that book 4 may never be published due to the death of Andre Norton.

Last but not least... The Seven Kingdoms series by Kristin Cashore. Graceling is book number one and I loved it from the word go. It was the most amazing book I'd read so far. Until I read Fire. And that was even more spectacular if it's possible. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see this series (and I can't wait for Bitterblue!!!) turned in to movies!!!

How about you?


Audio Books

I just got back from my trip to the Outer Banks with a few of the members of my family. On the way down and most of the way back up we finished listening to the Full Cast Audio version of Graceling which I thought was awesome. I loved Katsa's voice and Prince Po's. And it was so great to kind of listen to the stories come alive. It will make reading Bitterblue so much easier because I'll be able to hear them as I read.

Once that was over (Booo!!!!) I put in the audio book for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. I thought that might be a full cast audio, too but apparently I read the cover wrong. It's read by two different narrators instead. I must say, I'm not fond of the guy chosen to read Sam's chapters, but the girl who reads Grace's? Love her. She sounds so incredibly convincing. It's like conversation instead of a manuscript. And she does such a wonderful job. I kind of wish I had another road trip so I could listen more. Hehe. A few minutes here and there when I have to go to the grocery store just isn't enough.

I definitely recommend both of those audio books! Check them out!

Follow Friday #12

  

As indicated by the above button, Follow Friday is hosted every week by Parajunkee.

This week's question is:

Q. Genre Wars! What's your favorite genre and which book in that genre made it your favorite?

A. Now, this used to be an easy question. I used to say Fantasy and be done with it. But now a days there seems to be so many different types of fantasy. I really don't know which to call my favorite. On the one hand, I like the books that create their own world. Their own creatures. Their own languages etc. On the other, I like the books that have all the fantasy elements thrown in to them. Faeries, elves, etc.

I like books ranging from The Neverending Story to Eragon to The Hunger Games to Lord of the Rings to Twilight to Shiver to Graceling... I don't know what books are considered what type of fantasy or paranormal or dystopian... I just like them all.

What about you?

I Love My Library

Yesterday was kind of my IMM 11.5. I went to the library to print something off for my mom and decided to pick up a book on photography. I snagged a HUGE one full of National Geographic photos from the start of Nat Geo through the last few years. It's amazing to look at all those photos. The black and white ones are amazing. I grabbed a book about King Tut for my Alanna because she's all about Ancient Egypt right now which is awesome.

And then...

As I was walking out...

I saw them. The audio books. And I love audio books. I got it in my mind to look for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater on audio CD. As I was walking to the audio books to look for it I passed a table that had Graceling by Kristin Cashore. So obviously I had to have it. Then I found, not only Shiver but Linger as well! And then I had 3 books on CD. I decided to get one for my mom too. I told her she could listen to Graceling if she wanted, but, I got her The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas specifically for her. I loved the book. And I love the movie even more (solely because of Jim Caviezel).

I made out like a bandit.

Oh, I also put Spells by Aprilynne Pike on hold too.

I know I've got tons of books downstairs that I still haven't read, but I can't resist getting stuff from the library. I'm bad. Maybe I should hide my library card from myself or something. I don't know.

Anyone else get any good reads (or books on CD) from the library this week?

Review - Fire by Kristin Cashore

It's 2 in the morning but I just finished reading Fire by Kristin Cashore and I had to write about it. I have to say, I was a bit worried when I heard that it was about a different set of characters entirely because I'd grown to love Katsa and Po. But within the first 10 pages my worry was proved to be totally and completely unfounded.

I loved the book.

Maybe more than I loved Graceling. I'm not quite sure. It was that amazing. I absolutely adored it. The description of the colors and all of the monsters that lived in the Dells. I liked that it was a bit of a prequel.

And while it seemed like a different world ENTIRELY from the world we come to know in Graceling, it's still completely and entirely believable that the two worlds are right next to each other.

I can't wait to read Bitterblue!

I'm sad I got Graceling and Fire from the library. I think I will go out and buy them simply to say I own them. That's how amazing they are. And I recommend them to anyone and everyone that loves fantasy. I mean, Fire is such an incredibly strong woman who just gets stronger in the face of adversity and all of the odds stacked against her. Another novel without a tiresome love triangle too! Not in the way MOST love triangles are anyway.

Not sure what I mean? You have to read it to find out! Kudos Kristin Cashore. The world that you've created, and the characters in that world.... outstanding.

Follow Friday #9

  

Q. Circle time! Time to share. What character in a book would you most like to be, what character in a book would you most like to date?

Hmmm... What character would I most like to be...

I think I might have to say Hermione Granger. She holds her own. She's not one of the typical "helpless females" that you find in so many other stories. She's smart and she's strong (mentally and emotionally, if not physically, although, she did get to punch Draco in the face). And she's got TWO best friends. I'd give anything for two best friends.

Now... What character would I most like to date...

That is a tough one. Probably Prince Po from Graceling. He never tries to change Katsa. He loves her just the way she is. He loves her BECAUSE of who she is. Never wants her to be anyone but herself. He understands her. He treats her as an equal. According to Katsa, he's handsome, and he's got piercings and tattoos. My kinda guy. :-P

What about you. Who would you pick?

In My Mailbox #8

In My Mailbox is a weekly (or whenever) meme hosted by Kristi The Story Siren. You get to show everyone all the books and goodies you got this week in whatever fashion you got them.
(This is last weeks IMM... I was not able to post it last Sunday for a number of reasons so I'm doing it today instead).

I've posted reviews for 2 out of 3 of these books. Pegasus, I couldn't finish. I couldn't even really start. After the last couple months, I don't really have the energy to read and re-read, and then try and remember tons of names and situations and who's who and who's what and so on and so forth... I felt like I was dropped in the middle of the story, with a little explanation as to what the beginning was... but then there was just too much information thrown at me and I didn't feel like taking the time to sift through it. I love Robin McKinley, and if I had tried to read this at any other time, I'm sure it would have been great. Just not now.

(pictures go to Goodreads page)


What did you get in YOUR mailbox?

Review: Graceling - Kristin Cashore

Graceling. Amazing book. All around.

Just completely outstanding.

If I thought the first 2 chapters were great, it was nothing compared to the rest of the book. Never read another book like it and I can only hope that Fire is HALF the book Graceling was.

Favorite passage in the book:

Sighing, Helda carried the dress from the bathing room. "It would look stunning, My Lady," she called, "with your dark hair and your eyes."
Katsa yanked at one of the more stubborn knots in her hair. She spoke to the bubbles gathered on the surface of the water. "If there's anyone I wish to stun at dinner, I'll hit him in the face." p 63

I loved Katsa. She was awesome. Aside from Riley Poe in Afterlight and maybe Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, I've never seen a stronger female character. And even Riley and Katniss had their downfalls. This is one of 2 or 3 books total that I've read where there WASNT some cheesey love triangle introduced IMMEDIATELY where the "heroine" loves one but also loves the other and they're both just so heartbreakingly awesome (I'm being sarcastic here) that she can't possibly decide which one she wants and it causes her physical pain to be away from either one of them and.... I think you get my point.

I'm tired of the love triangle. Can you tell? Because it's always the same. Both guys love the girl unfailingly, even though she's not really that great. There's no real reason for either one of them to be head over heels for her and yet they are. And she just leads them both on and is "so broken up about it" yet can't force herself to be a decent human being and just PICK one or stop being awful to both of them.

Anyways. Back to the book. This is definitely going straight to the top of my favorites list. Like I said, I loved Katsa (almost called her Katniss, oops). She was just so strong and had such a good heart. And Po. FIRST guy I've seen who wasn't completely selfish in the way he felt for Katsa. He loved her, but he KNEW her. He knew what she wanted and what she didn't want and that was OK with him. He didn't want to change her to be what he thought she should be. He didn't want to STOP her from being what SHE wanted to be either.

Every second of this book held my interest. There wasn't a point where I wanted to skip over anything because it was pointless to the story. Everything had a place and a reason for being where it was. And I loved the fact that everyone who was "Graced" had different color eyes. And each person had DIFFERENT different color eyes. If that makes sense. It wasn't all uniform.

There's so much I want to say about this book but any gushing I'd do would just spoil the whole thing for everyone, and I can't do that. I can only tell you that if you don't go out and grab this book RIGHT NOW and start reading it IMMEDIATELY you will be missing out. BIG time.

Teaser Tuesday #10

Teaser Tuesday is hosted evey week by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

Here's how it works:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


This weeks teaser is from Graceling by Kristin Cashore.

Her first thought when she entered the throne room was to wish she'd brought a knife after all. Her second thought was to wish that Po's sense of bodies had extended to his room, so that he might have warned her of what was waiting for her here, and she might have known not to come. p 165

And remember, I'm only 2 chapters in so this is a teaser for me too!

Can't wait to read all your teasers!

WoW

I just started reading Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and I must say, I haven't been this surprised to be sucked right into a book in a long time. I'm only 2 chapters in and already I think it's awesome. It's just so different from anything else I've ever read. And I love it. I can't wait to finish it! I really hope it keeps going the way the first two chapters have gone. If it does, this will definitely be added to my favorites!

Happy reading!