Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

Here's a link to Ms. Block's website and the brief info about the book is from Publishers Weekly: An offbeat heroine shares a Hollywood cottage with three equally quirky companions; in PW 's words, "Block's first book is related in a breezy, knowing voice; her strange and sparkling tribute to growing up in L.A. is a rare treat for those sophisticated enough to appreciate it."

My take:

I picked up this book at a library book sale.  I thought it sounded interesting and I had heard good things about it.  I even liked the size of this little book that I could manage to carry everywhere with me.  I will say that the characters are definitely quirky.  But ya' know, I really really liked them.  I read this in two days.  The characters are this funky hodge-podge of people who wind up together and grow to love one another.  Each character is distinctly different.  The imagery is amazing, little interesting jewels tucked in here and there.  There is some sex in the book.  Despite it's funkiness or because of it, I'm giving this one 3 1/2 big ol' kisses!

Fire by Kristen Cashore

Here's a short bit about this from Ms. Cashore's blog: Fire, Graceling's stand-alone prequel-ish companion book, takes place across the mountains to the east of the seven kingdoms, in a rocky, war-torn land called the Dells.


Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.

Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.
 
My take:
I grabbed this book assuming it was the follow-up to Graceling.  Once I adjusted to the fact that it was a pre-quel to Graceling, it sailed along.  Fire is an amazing, strong character.  She sounds lovely.  I wish I could have red, orange, and fuschia in my hair without looking like I've lost my mind.  Archer was a good guy, a bit impulsive, but a good guy nonetheless.  I don't want to give anything away for those that haven't read it.  I'll just say I like Archer. 

Brigan was amazing.  Don't we all long for a guy like Brigan?  It was long, but a great read.  I enjoyed it and didn't have too tough a time keeping all the characters straight.  The world building in this book was truly amazing.  Very detailed and very well done.  I would recommend and say 14 and up, maybe even a touch younger.  Four big kisses for this!

 

Dark Flame by Alyson Noel

Here’s a bite from Ms. Noel’s website: In this eagerly awaited continuation of the bestselling Immortals series, Ever struggles to help her best friend Haven transition into life as an immortal—trying to keep her from doing anything that puts them at risk, while attempting to gain control over her enemy Roman, so she can finally obtain the antidote that will allow her and Damen to be together. But when the spell she casts backfires, resulting in a strange, foreign pulse that binds her to Roman instead, Ever turns to Jude and dark magick, desperately attempting to break free of the curse, and ultimately risking everything she knows and loves—including her beloved Damen.

My take on things

I’ve been a big fan of the Immortal series in the past. However, I did not read Shadowland, the book just before this one in the series. I have to say that my favoritism is waning. I’m just not that into it anymore. Sorry Ms. Noel. It may have something to do with the constant gazing going on. If the characters looked at each other at all, they were gazing or averting their gaze or avoiding another’s gaze. It was like a gaze craze. At one point, it was there four times in the two pages I was reading.

I’m also getting a little worn on Ever not feeling that she’s deserving of Damen’s love. I mean at some point, get a little self worth. If you don’t see yourself worthy of this guy, then he might start seeing you in that same light. I know this is fiction, but young women today have enough self esteem issues without fictional characters validating those feelings; it is okay to start out that way, but character growth is important too. I don’t particularly like Haven (Ever’s best friend) anymore either. She’s a brat, plain and simple.

I will say that I did like the overall message of you as an individual being in control of what you give power to in your life. If you concentrate on something negative, even if it’s eradicating it from your life, you are still concentrating on it and drawing its negative energy to you. The message is to live the best life you know how, to surround yourself with positive energy and a feeling of acceptance in your life. By concentrating on the positive, you draw more positive energy into you and thusly improve your life as a whole. Like I said, I’m all down with that message. Not that I’m great at putting it into practice, but I do try. I just think that positive message is cloaked in some negative self talk by the main character.

So, I would love to say that I’ll read the next in what now seems like a never-ending series. But, sadly I think my romance with the Immortal series has taken a final punch to my heart chakra. I will give this 2 ½ swaks.

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Here's a quick blurb from Ms. George's website: The exciting sequel to Princess of the Midnight Ball

Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It's got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Ellen is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.

I'm going to have to go back and read Princess of the Midnight Ball now.  Ms. George is very adept at engulfing the reader in the story.  You feel as though you are a part of the time period in which the story takes place.  Princess Poppy is a delightful character who encompasses qualities at either ends of the spectrum.  She's tough, she swears, and is quite the little cardshark.  However, she is ladylike, loves to knit, and appreciates fine gowns.  The story of the Corley was left a mystery until towards the end.  I enjoyed the 'fairy tale' aspect of this book.  I have this unusual appreciation and even affection for colored glass.  So I found the story of The Corley very interesting as well.  I would say it would be great for 12 and up.  The cover is cool, but would have liked to have seen one of the dresses described or Prince Christian as well.  Overall, really loved the characters, the pace, and the plot.  I would definitely recommend. I give this one 3 1/2 big ol' swaks!

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

Here's a quick bit from the book's Amazon page: Grounded, logical Mia is trying to cope with a summer that hasn't been what she expected. Her vacation in New York's tony Hamptons with her extended family was supposed to be about spending time with her firecracker cousin Corinne and her sympathetic aunt as relief from her mother's criticism and her parents' fights about money and status. But quickly the bubble bursts: her aunt is tense and preoccupied while jaded Corinne is more interested in drinking and her cool friends. Adrift, Mia can't help wanting to be part of Corinne's circle, even though she doesn't like these girls. Struggling to remain true to herself, she strikes up a friendship with Simon, the boy next door. Through late-night walks on the beach, the teens become more than friends. A skinny dip after a storm brutally ends Mia's summer—but not the growth she's achieved.

The images painted in the pages of this book leave you breathless.  I will say that I was cruisin' along through this book, hoping that Mia would find her own path.  That she would not be so susceptable to the acceptance of her cousins and their crew.  I was glad to see that happening and was loving her development as a character.  She was falling in love with Simon, things looked so grand.  Then BLAM!  I'm not going to tell you the ending, but it really wracked me.  It's tough to have something fraught with tragedy, yet have it remain beautiful and tender.  I think Ms. Howells succeeds in this. 

My favorite lines (because I can't pick just one) are: "I tried not to stare nor feel envious of their sun-kissed bodies, but when you see people like my cousins, no matter what your body type, you end up feeling squashy as a marshmallow and covered with hair, even if you've just gotten a bikini and leg wax."  This one for the image alone. "Corinne and Beth lay like tiny dolls way off on the dunes, but I averted my eyes and picked up my pace."  And this one for it's sheer honesty. "There's no complete truth.  There's only the way you see it, the way you remember it."

I definitely recommend this book.  There is some drinking and drug use in it.  I would say 14 and up is prime age for this book.  Maybe even a touch younger.  Have you read this?  How did you feel about it?  I give it 4 smooches!

A Heart for Books and Kids

I bet each of us has memories surrounding books.  When we first discovered our love of reading or first found a book that we became completely absorbed in and were sad to see end.  I remember going to the Bookmobile when I was young; getting a gigantic pile of books. I was in heaven! Lovingly reading each one.  I remember books had a special smell and a magic all their own.

Most of us are book lovers.  To this day, I love going to my local library. Finding that one book that you could read over and over.  Having a book to call your own was exciting when I was younger.  If I allowed myself, I could spend a small fortune on books now. 

But not all kids have the ability to get to the library or own books. Imagine being a child plucked from the only home you've known and put into foster care. It's strange and I'm sure frightening. Many of these children have very few possessions with them when they're put into the social service whirlwind.

I'm involved in a group that has a mission to provide books to children in foster care. Please go look at our website A Heart for Books & Kids  It's so easy to make a difference in a child's life.  It doesn't have to be a huge number of books. Please consider becoming involved.  We have information on the site to make it easy to join in.  If you can't help out, I'm sure you know someone who can.  Please forward the link to them. 

In promoting literacy in children, we change all of our futures.

Adios Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft

Here’s the jacket blurb I took from the Amazon page for ADIOS, NIRVANA:

When you piss off a bridge into a snowstorm, it feels like you’re connecting with eternal things. Paying homage to something or someone. But who? The Druids? Walt Whitman? No, I pay homage to one person only, my brother, my twin.

In life. In death.
Telemachus.

Since the death of his brother, Jonathan’s been losing his grip on reality. Last year’s Best Young Poet and gifted guitarist is now Taft High School’s resident tortured artist, when he bothers to show up. He's on track to repeat eleventh grade, but his English teacher, his principal, and his crew of Thicks (who refuse to be seniors without him) won’t sit back and let him fail.

I will be buying a copy of this book for my son. I loved it! Jonathan has lost his brother, his twin brother. Since that time he has reached a level of inertia. He barely makes it in to school, can bring himself to care about rectifying the situation, until he’s not given a choice. He has his Thicks, his best buddies, and they refuse to let him give up on making it through his junior year. They’re a great group of guys who care deeply for one another and support one another in their journey through life.

Jonathan begins writing the memoirs of David Cosgrove, a former Navy officer, who’s now in a hospice. As Jonathan meets with David, life begins moving forward again. He learns that others have suffered great loss in their lives too. And while it may not lessen the pain, it might ease the burden of carrying it if you share your story.

This book was chock full of wonderful little brillant quips, bits that were very profound and moving. I had a hard time narrowing down what I wanted to select as my favorite portion. However, the one I selected will undoubtedly stay with me forever. “To live is to swim toward the shimmer. To die is to never try.” That is a life lesson we take with us. If we are lucky, we learn it early on, if not well…regret usually follows. I would recommend this for ages 13 and up, especially for guys. Girls will love it too though (I think). I deeply <3 this book! Four big smooches for this one!