I'm Crazy, or, How Late Nights End Up With Me Doing Things Like Signing Up For A 48 Hour Book Challenge

So, on a complete whim, I have decided to participate in MotherReader's Fourth Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge (for full info, check here). To be honest, I've never participated in something like this before and am not sure I entirely get what I'm supposed to be doing, but I figure that I'll just read and blog as much as I can and keep track of the time I spend and that should be good enough.

Here's my to-be-read list (let's see how far I get!):

-The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho

-Hunted by P.C. and Kristin Cast

-Lovehampton by Sherri Rifkin

-Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey

-The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham

-Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr

I'm also hoping to write a review up for Breathing, Perfect Fifths, and maybe even Heartbreak River and a few of the books I read during this challenge. Who knows? But I admit I'll probably put more time into reading, so don't get your hopes up.

Anyway, I'm going to try to get a ton of sleep now and then start the challenge Friday at 1:00 P.M. (finishing Sunday at 1). Wish me luck!

Waiting on Wednesday: June 3

So, I finally decided to join in and participate in Waiting on Wednesday. So to start with...

Title: Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me?

Author: Louise Rennison

Series: Georgia Nicolson, #10

US Release date: October 6, 2009

Summary (thanks Amazon!): Ohmygiddygodspyjamas! The tenth marvy book in the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson is here! Get ready to laugh like a loon on loon tablets. It's the FINAL instalment of Georgia's fab and hilarious diary! Does Georgia escape the cakeshop of luuurve? Can there be more heartbreaknosity in store? Will the Sex God pop up again unexpectedly (oo-er)! And what about the supreme accidental snogmaster Dave the Laugh? Will she FINALLY choose her only one and only? So many boys, so little time!

Why I'm interested: Let's face it, most of us have been following the Georgia Nicolson series since Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging was released forever ago and we STILL don't know who Georgia's going to end up with. I'm still crossing my fingers for Dave the Laugh, and am looking foward to the conclusion of the series so I can finally be satisfied in knowing what happens.

(note: I couldn't find any images of a US cover, so here's the UK one for now as it's being released this month there)

Terribly Twisted Tales

Approaching famous fairy tales from a different direction, the eighteen stories in Terribly Twisted Tales will challenge the reader’s preconceived notion of a fairy tale. This anthology edited by Jean Rabe and Martin H. Greenberg includes stories by Dennis L. McKiernan, Annie Jones, Chris Pierson, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Mary Louis Eklund, Robert E. Vardeman, Kathleen Watness, Jody Lynn Nye, Jim C. Hines, Steven D. Sullivan, Brendan DuBois, Paul Genesse, Ramsey Lundock, Skip & Penny Williams, Elizabeth A. Vaughn, Janet Deaver-Pack, Kelly Swails, and Michael A. Stackpole.

From Grimm to Andersen, classic fairy tales are taken from new angles and sometimes transformed so much that the reader can hardly recognize the original. These stories range from funny to heartbreaking to slightly disturbing, each one distinct from the stories preceding and following it. Some of the best stories include the tale of Snow White’s falling out with the seven dwarfs, another of Rumpelstiltskin as the victim, and of Red-Riding Hood challenging a suffocating religious force.

Anthologies in general are often hit or miss. Terribly Twisted Tales falls somewhere in between, with quite a few absolutely fascinating stories that are scattered among mediocre tales along with a couple that are so complex they aren’t at all enjoyable. Nevertheless, it is worth picking up this anthology just for those great twists on your everyday fairy tales. In particular, McKiernan’s “Waifs,” Pierson’s “Once They Were Seven,” and Swails’ “Three Wishes” are not to be missed as they are very well-developed despite being short stories and are absolutely captivating. Also, fans of Jim C. Hines’ The Stepsister Scheme will appreciate a glimpse of Red who will be central to the third installment of this Princess series. Terribly Twisted Tales is a great read for those who only have short increments of time to read as the varying lengths of the stories and their independence makes the book one that is easy to pick up and put down. 7 out of 10.

Book to Movie: The Frog Princess

So, I'm quite likely one of the last people to hear about this, but still. I'm so excited I have to share. E.D. Baker's The Frog Princess is being adapted into a Disney movie! As a huge fan of animated Disney films (especially the princess ones), I couldn't be more excited. According to Wikipedia the movie is going to be an

"American fairy tale, Broadway-style musical set in the French Quarter of New Orleans."

I can't wait! Granted, it sounds like it's barely based on Baker's book, only using the whole princess-turns-to-frog bit, but that'll be fine with me as long as I make sure not to compare the two. Anyway, the movie is due out around Thanksgiving (NY and LA)/early December (everywhere else). You can find out more information on Wikipedia, IMDB, and of course, the official site. Also, check out the trailer.

Feed Your Ears III: Fade

To start with, yay for designing a header for this. Also, I've decided that rather than doing Feed Your Ears posts just when I feel like it, I'm going to make Feed Your Ears my regular Friday post (on a side note, I'm also going to try partcipating in weekly memes such as Teaser Tuesday and Waiting on Wednesday). For the origins of Feed Your Ears, check here.

Now, moving on to this week's content...

Fade by Lisa McMann

1. Lucid Dreams - Franz Ferdinand

2. Without You from RENT

3. Sleeping Lessons - the Shins

4. The Captain - Guster

5. Finding Out True Love Is Blind - Louis XIV

Updates

Please don't hate me, but I've decided to postpone the contest for The One. Instead, I'll be giving away The One as well as a few other books as part of Shooting Stars Magazine's YA Book Carnival June 21st through June 27th.

Also, I've decided to challenge myself this summer. Before I return to school at the beginning of September, I hope to read 100 books (any genre). You can follow my progress on the sidebar (well, you can once I figure out how to, which'll hopefully be soon). Also, this is mainly my way of trying to make up for how little I've read since January, but anyone is welcome to join me :)

And on a last note... reviews are coming for Terribly Twisted Tales and Perfect Fifths soon!

Win The One

And now, time for my first contest :)

I'm giving away a copy of Ed Decter's The One along with a mix CD I'm working on that goes with the book (I told you I love how music and reading work so well together).

So... to enter:
It's easy! Just comment on this post with your favorite band/artist (and e-mail so I can contact you if you win). And sorry, addresses in the US only.

For extra entries:
+1 if you become a follower
+2 if you already are a follower
+1 if you blog about or link to this contest (include the link in your comment)

This contest starts NOW and goes through June 8th. I'll announce the winner on June 9th.

The One: A Chloe Gamble novel

The One is the first in Ed Decter's Chloe Gambel series. The One follows Chloe along with her brother, Travis, and mother as they escape her father and their tiny town in Texas. Although Chloe is new to the California scene, she has fame on her mind and uses her naivety to her advantage, even using a disaster moment to get her name out. While learning the ways of Hollywood and fame, Chloe faces challenges with her mother regarding paying the rent, as well as the difficulty of finding an educational facility for her brother. The One offers insight into Chloe's determination, and how this impacts those lives around hers through her eventual agent Nika's manuscript notes and Travis's e-mails.

These insets from Travis and Nika that offer an escape from Chloe's point of view are the best part of the novel, as they introduce an outside perspective while keeping up the intensity Chloe establishes. In writing from Chloe's perspective, Ed Decter does a wonderful job thinking like star. His background in the industry definitely comes through, and I certainly appreciated this insider's edge to the story as it helped The One stand out from other books taking place around Hollywood. Also, as a reader, being aware of his involvement in "the business" definitely blurs the line between reality (or whatever reality is for the Hollywood crowd) and fiction. Though The One isn't really my type of book, what with all of the drama, I'll admit that I'll be keeping an eye out for the next installment of Chloe Gambel. From the very beginning through Nika's final manuscript notes, the reader is left hanging regarding Chloe's serious crime. Here's to hoping our questions will be answered soon, in VIP Lounge . Overall, 6 out of 10.

P.S. Coming up this weekend there might just be an opportunity to win a copy of The One!

Flashback of the Month II: Sam's Letters to Jennifer

Sam’s Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson is a heartfelt book that connects Jennifer’s grandmother Sam’s love story to her own. Now as a grown woman, Jennifer returns to Lake Geneva where she spent her childhood summers. Her last living family member, her dear Sam, is in a coma. When she arrives at the lake house, she finds a collection of letters her grandmother wrote for her, telling her story. Jennifer knew little of Sam’s past, and became absorbed in her letters instantly. She is shocked when in the first letter she learns that Sam never did love her grandfather, but instead was passionately in love with another man. Over this summer, Jennifer continues to visit Sam in the hospital and reads her letters to learn the truth about her past. Early on, she meets Brendan whom she had spent her summer with when she was younger and who always seemed like a brother to her. It doesn’t take too long for her to notice similarities in Sam’s story and her own. Sam’s Letters to Jennifer is two stories of true love, discovery, and living life to the fullest.

At one point, Jennifer says to Brendan when crying, “I can’t help it. I’m not usually so sentimental.” I could say the same for my reaction to Sam’s Letters to Jennifer. It isn’t often that I cry while reading, but in this book I found myself choked up in two or three occasions. I love the duality between Sam and Jennifer’s stories. Both are very compelling and touching. I think you could really learn a lot from how Brendan was choosing to live his life. His opinion was to make the most of each day, “from the crack of dawn until you close your eyes,” and I think it’s a belief we all should make use of. With a glimpse into Brendan’s life, all of us see how life can be short, and you should cherish every moment. Patterson’s format, with quick chapters, made this book an easier read with plenty of places to take a break (not that I ever wanted to). I would recommend Sam’s Letters to Jennifer to everyone in search of a fascinating read that you’ll finish in no time. 9 out of 10.

P.S. See April's flashback of the month here.

This Full House

This Full House by Virginia Euwer Wolff returns to the lives of LaVaughn and Jolly as the conclusion of the Make Lemonade Trilogy. LaVaughn is now working to get into college and hopes that her involvement in the Women in Medical Science program with the famed Dr. Moore will help her reach this goal. It turns out that Dr. Moore has some secrets of her own, and, let's face it, LaVaughn can never help but be curious. In the meantime, while Jolly is absent for a good portion of the book, busy studying for her G.E.D., her children Jeremy and Jilly take on new importance in this novel that questions the role of mothers in the lives of children, and the meaning of their absence (also furthered by LaVaughn's pregnant friend Annie). Jody also returns in this last installment, adding to LaVaughn's general confusion and giving her a glimpse into the potential that college could hold.

Told in prose, This Full House is fast-paced and does not take long to read despite being nearly 500 pages in length. As LaVaughn's participation in Women in Medical Science is central to the book, it makes sense that there be a lot of science throughout the novel, but I have to admit that the amount was at times intimidating. The scientific details were remarkable, of course, but often too technical to be appreciated by a non-science person like myself. Still, Wolff's This Full House deals with teenage pregnancy and parenthood impressively, especially considering the current political side to this issue. Overall, a more than satisfactory conclusion for LaVaughn and Jolly, full of emotion, even despite the wait. 8 out of 10.