Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday

February 7th 2012

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• 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.

Here is my Teaser Tuesday:
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

"It felt strange to be stepping out into the still night now, the cold prickling my skin, and knowing that all these voices from my past were trapped in the woods.  Everyone but me." ~ Linger, p. 111

Must Read Monday #15

Must Read Monday

Monday Meme Hosted by Fans of Fiction

The goal of the Must Read Monday is to find share your love of great books with others in the hopes that they'll add a new title to their To Be Read list.

Your job is to create intrigue for other hoppers. What makes your book so swoon-worthy? What do you absolutely have to mention so they'll read it?

On your post, you'll make an acrostic puzzle (think of it as an overview/book blurb type of thing)

For specific ways to build your puzzle, click here, but pretty much any style of acrostic is welcome.

When you leave comments on other posts, be sure to mention whether you're adding that book to your TBR pile, and what part convinced you to do so.

It's all about powers of persuasion, people:) You might have to think a little, but channel that inner-creative goddess (or god).

This week's topic:

(a little twist) A fictional character you'd want as your best friend (the acrostic can be the name, but make sure to mention the title of the book in your post)

Hmmmm.... this week's meme is pretty hard.  I was trying to think of all the characters I've read over the years, but nothing came to mind.  I decided to go with the characters of my current book I was reading: The Hunger Games.  There were a lot to choose from , but I quickly decided that Peeta would be my choice.  Going along with Jenna's thought process... this guy would be a great BFF... benefits wouldn't be horrible though! (hehehe)

Peeta, the baker's son, embodies hope in his gentle gestures.
Enamored with Katrina long before they're condemned into the Games.
Eloquency, intelligence, and kindness his greatest arsenals to defend her.
Tasked himself to be her support, ally, protector, friend...
And possible lover. 

February Book Giveaway

February Giveaway

February 5th 2012-February 26, 2012

For my first attempt at giveaways I will be giving away two books, both by Nora Roberts.  The winner will recieve BOTH books. 

I recently started reading this author, but she has written so many books that I'm not even sure where to start along the long list of options.  These were the first two I picked from the shelf.  Both of these have a romantic element perfect for Valentine's day, but I like the Fire and Ice element of the two books -- something poetic in that.   

Northern Lights

by Nora Roberts

Published September 5th, 2005

The colorful, compelling novel about two lonely souls who find love-and redemption-in Lunacy, Alaska.

Chasing Fire

by Nora Roberts

Published April 12th 2011

But there's also little else as thrilling - at least to Rowan Tripp. The Missoula smoke jumpers are one of the most exclusive fire-fighting squads in the nation, and the job is in Rowan's blood: her father is a legend in the field. She's been fighting fires since her eighteenth birthday. At this point, returning to the wilds of Montana for the season feels like coming home - even with reminders of the partner she lost last season still lingering in the air.

Fortunately, this year's rookie crop is among the strongest ever - and Gulliver Curry's one of the best. He's also a walking contradiction, a hotshot firefighter with a big vocabulary and a winter job at a kid's arcade. He came to Missoula to follow in the footsteps of Lucas "Iron Man" Tripp, yet he's instantly more fascinated by his hero's daughter. Rowan, as a rule, doesn't hook up with other smoke jumpers, but Gull is convinced he can change her mind. And damn if he doesn't make a good case to be an exception to the rule.

Everything is thrown off balance, though, when a dark presence lashes out against Rowan, looking to blame someone for last year's tragedy. Rowan knows she can't complicate things with Gull - any distractions in the air or on the ground could be lethal. But if she doesn't find someone she can lean on when the heat gets intense, her life may go down in flames.

Rules:

1. You must follow my blog publicly. If you don't have a blog you can follow using a google, yahoo, or twitter account.

2. Leave a comment and your e-mail address on the post if you're interested in the book.  No comments will be accepted after the last day of the giveaway. 

3. Winners will be chosen randomly by me. No partiality is allowed, but I do have the final say.

4. Winner will be announced and e-mailed the day after giveaway closing. The winner should recieve the book(s) within one week.

Reading Reflection: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium #3)

by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator)
Published May 25th 2010

Lisbeth Salander—the heart of Larsson’s two previous novels—lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge—against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.

Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now Salander is fighting back.

Holy crap... I am so glad I stuck with this series.  From the first book to the last,  the events that occcur are mind boggling.  I would have never anticipated how the books panned out as a whole. 

Okay, once again you're getting the story from different points of view.  I didn't really like that in the first two books, but for this final one it made all the sense in the world.  A huge conspiracy took place and the different views only add to the tangled mess.  Your reading bits from those covering up the ordeal, and then bits from those uncovering the ordeal. 

The series as a whole held an abuse of women theme, but that changed in this last book... and I loved it.  All the women were tough, independent, and got the job done (so did the men).  I loved the roles they all took.  Salander was the tough eccentric fighting back for all the years her social liberties were infringed upon.  She had an arsenal of people on her side, working together in secrecy to win her case, it was amazing. 

I don't like giving away spoilers, but trust me when I say that this series is a must read. 

Reading Reflection: The Girl Who Played With Fire

The Girl Who Played With Fire (Millennium #2)

by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator)
Published July 28th 2009

Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.

But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until, on the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander—the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and who now becomes the focus and fierce heart of The Girl Who Played with Fire.

As Blomkvist, alone in his belief in Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation of the slayings, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all.
 
 

I got sucked into this series... it became unexpectedly addictive.  The first novel almost became the second book in my life I didn't finish, thank goodness I'm stubborn and kept going.
 
In the first book you're introduced to Blomkvist and Salander as two distinct stories.  Blomkvist is a moral and cunning journalist -- promiscuous with the ladies too.  Salander is an eccentric introvert, who may or may not be mentally disturbed.  She kicks ass anyway so it's okay.  Their lives crossed in the previous book, but mostly focused on Blomkvist's  assignment.  This second book has another task at hand stemming from Salander's past. 
 
The only thing I didn't like about this book was the large amount of characters and everything it involved.  In both books the author switches points of view so you're getting the story from the people involved.  Every time a new character is introduced an entire back story is given and the author then used that character to tell the story.  There were so many people at one point I had to write them down to keep track.  It interrupted the flow of the story for me. 
 
Other than that I really liked this book.  The abuse of women is still a prevalent theme, but not as grotesque as the first book.  There's a great mystery involved that keeps you moving forward... you have to find out what happens.  The characters are great and each plays their role in an intricate puzzle, my mind was going crazy trying to figure what was going to happen

I found a hysterical review of the book, though funny and seemingly nonsensical it highlights some key concepts -- Funny Review.
 

Waiting on Wednesday: Pandemonium

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by, Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Okay, I chose this book because I just put Delirium (the first novel) on my TBR list. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the sequel was coming out this month... yay!This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Pandemonium

Pandemonium
by Lauren Oliver
Expected publication: February 28th 2012

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
                                      But the old Lena is dead too.
                                      I buried her.
                                      I left her beyond a fence,
                                      behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

Reading Reflection: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium #1)

by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator)
Published September 16th 2008

Once you start The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, there's no turning back. This debut thriller--the first in a trilogy from the late Stieg Larsson--is a serious page-turner rivaling the best of Charlie Huston and Michael Connelly.

Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.

--Dave Callanan

I have such mixed feelings about this book, it's difficult to put into words.  I'm not even sure where to start, but I can say that if emotional, sexual, and physical abuse of women makes you extremely uncomfortable than this is not the book for you.

Let's start off with the negatives... the beginning.  For a while I had no idea what was happening, I was completely lost and this almost became the second book in my life I didn't finish.  It starts off with some type of murder mystery, but the characters names are never mentioned.  Then abruptly delves into the financial businesses in Sweden, and something about industries, than goes into Mikael Blomkvist's involvement into all that... boring.  But, it lays the back story and foundation into what is happening into his life presently.  Keep reading! 

The author then introduces Lisbeth Salander, who is strange.  It took me a while to decide if I liked her or not, I do.   The book's point of view goes back and forth between the two characters until their paths intertwine.  Another thing, there are many different points of view... your reading bits of the story through different eyes.  It was confusing.

Alright, the real positives.  Once you get into the story you cannot put it down.  All those little scenes I deemed useless began to take shape and meaning halfway through the book.  Then the mystery of Michael Blomkvist's task becomes very intriguing, I kept trying to solve the puzzle and just couldn't.  Throughout all this you're also getting into Salander's story... which is also very intriguing, but just as confusing.  

This is a great mystery book.  Some of the scenes were a little difficult to read, either because of disinterest or their abusive nature... but the underlying story was great.  If you could look past all those things the book becomes a page turner.