Scrambled Eggs at Midnight Brad Barkley & Heather Hepler Dutton Books 262 pages

Most amazing book ever...Thank you Stephanie Perkins! I love you for this recommendation.

I was/am blown away by HOW amazing this book is! I want to read it over and over and over, and I know I WILL never get tired of reading it. So, SO incredible. I would have to put this book in like my 5 All Time Favourites. Probably at #1 or 2.

It’s a book so full of different things, I can’t believe they packed it all into such a short book. As most of you are aware I am not the biggest fan of books under 300 pages because I just really feel like the story is unfinished or rushed. And I am left feeling completely unsatisfied. Not so with this story. It was full of feeling, full of love and longing and sadness and laughter. It was just full. And the ending didn’t feel rushed. It just felt right.

Now for my favourite part...sharing the quotes with you, there are too many to put them all down, and they are mostly paragraphs. So enjoy, I will try to limit myself.

BUY THIS BOOK TODAY!!!!

“When you grow up the way I do, and the biggest thing in your life so far has been getting dunked in a glass tank by a man who acts like he’s mugging you but says instead he’s saving your soul, then celebrating your soul mugging at Sizzler with your parents (get the buffet by itself, not added on to a steak dinner, because the buffet already has sirloin tips), you need rules. And not their rules, not God’s rules, but mine. My own. Here’s on of Eliot’s Rules for Dating:

When you first meet a girl, make sure you are accidentally conducting a chemistry experiment on your lips.

OK. I didn’t say they were all good rules.

She looked like she believed in something, or wanted to, and I hoped to hell it wasn’t God, not in the way The Dad believes, because all that does is make him forced and desperate. No, it was something else, not just that I saw a pretty girl and just got all excited. I mean, yeah, that part is true, and she really was gorgeous, and the freckles covering her, the freckles on top of freckles all spread out and folding into one another made her skin look like it had grain and texture, like polished wood, like it would feel smooth to the touch, and so soft. I knew that. But it wasn’t how she looked.

"Eliot, huh?" she says. The thin fabric of her long T-shirt brushes my arm. "Is everyone in your family named for a famous symbolist poet?"

"No, I'm named for someone who was supposed to be in the Bible but isn't."

"No? What happened to him?"

I glance over at her, the way the corner of her mouth turns up, half-smirk, half-smile. Her hair moves as she walks.

"He was called to be a disciple, but he had, you know, stuff to do."

"Stuff, like...polishing his sandals? Making lunch?"

We keep walking, over the bridge across the lake, past the swings and the playground equipment, just walking.

"Exactly. And what about you, Calliope...is everyone in your family named after a...what is it? A keyboard? An organ?"

"It's a steam-powered piano. It's also the name of the Greek goddess of poetry. You should read stuff other than chemistry; you'd know these things." Her smirky smile again, her sleeve touching my arm.

I feel like my skin has been removed, every nerve exposed. I open my mouth, and this comes out: "I think you are more goddess than piano." Stupid, stupid.

But she laughs. "You know, that's the nicest thing anyone's said to me today."

"You don't see too many calliopes," I tell her.

"I'm Cal, actually. I mean, that's what I prefer."

"I meant the steam pianos...you don't see too many." She stops and looks at me, full-on, and right away I put it on the list of the best moments in my life.

"Until you said that, Eliot, I wasn't fully aware of the demise of the steam piano, so thank you. Really."

I smirk at her and we both fight not to smile. "Okay, smart-ass," I say.

“I want to show you something,” I say.

“What?” He dabs at his lips with the napkin, and for a moment I’m wishing so hard that I am that napkin that I can almost feel myself changing, becoming thin and papery and white. “Cal?” I sit back and feel myself blushing, feel it from the tips of my toes all the way to the heat at the backs of my ears.

City of Glass, Cassandra Clare, Simon and Schuster, 541 pages

What can I say except I <3 <3 <3 this series. Am I heartbroken that the series is over? I was for about a nano-second until I heard there was going to be a fourth! City of Fallen Angels comes out March 31, 2011. I am assuming that’s Simon on the cover since it alternates between characters. BUT that is for another review. We are talking about CoG!
And what really IS there to say? Except that it was awesome. As always. The characters have grown and come into themselves. The plot thickened. The unraveling of major points was done masterfully. And yeah, just loved it.

I really wanted to give you more of a variety, more snarky, sarcastic comments from the characters that I’ve grown to love. But...have I mentioned before that I’m a sap? Yeah...

"There is no pretending," Jace said with absolute clarity. "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then."

"And I'm suppose to sit by while you date boys and fall in love with someone else, get married...?" His voice tightened. "And meanwhile, I'll die a little bit more every day, watching."

"I was thinking about the first time I ever saw you," he said, "and how after that I couldn't forget you. I wanted to, but I couldn't stop myself. I forced Hodge to let me be the one who came to find you and bring you back to the Institue. And even back then, in that stupid coffee shop, when I saw you sitting on that couch with Simon, even then that felt wrong to me-- I should have been the one sitting with you. The one who made you laugh like that. I couldn't get rid of that feeling. That it should have been me. And the more I knew you, the more I felt it--it had never been like that for me before. I'd always wanted a girl and then gotten to know her and not wanted her anymore, but with you the feeling just got stronger and stronger until that night when you showed up at Renwick's and I knew."

""You said you were going for a walk!? What kind of walk takes six hours?"
""A long one?"

"And now I’m looking at you,” he said, “and you’re asking me if I still want you, as if I could stop loving you. As if I would want to give up the thing that makes me stronger than anything else ever has. I never dared give much of myself to anyone before – bits of myself to the Lightwoods, to Isabelle and Alec, but it took years to do it – but, Clary, since the first time I saw you, I have belonged to you completely. I still do. If you want me.

"I wouldn't change it," Simon said. "I wouldn't give up loving you. Not for anything. You know what Raphael told me? That I didn't know how to be a good vampire, that vampires accept that they're dead. But as long as I remember what it was like to love you, I'll always feel like I'm alive."

"...there was an electric anger in his gaze, and a sort of challenge that made Simon long to hit him with something heavy. Like a pickup truck.”

Audrey, Wait! Robin Benway, RazorBill, 313 pages

I had passed by this book so many times, and each one I wanted to reach out and grab it. But I didn’t. Now I want to know what took me so long! If I’d had an inkling of how enjoyable this book was to read I would have grabbed it the first time.

That being said, if you haven’t read it, but have thought about it, DO! NOW!

It was snarky and fun and I enjoyed the dialogue between all of the characters equally. I didn’t think I’d enjoy the main character as much as I did.

There were too many quotes that I liked so I’ve really scaled it down.

"It's funny how bed and pillows and covers can change a conversation. Words turn quiet and you mean more and say less. It's like you can build your own little world, Population: 2."

"If our school ever performed a play about the French Revolution, she could play the guillotine."

Carpe Corpus, Rachel Caine, NAL Jam, 241 pages

This book for me was a little different from the others. Some bigger things, I felt, I got closure on. It was nice, but there are still new plot lines that have been introduced and so I asked Ms. Caine how many books there would be in this series. I’m happy to report that after this one there will be another six. Maybe more, she said.

I loved the fact that there was so much more Myrnin. He’s a pretty awesome character.

And I was saddened by the death of a secondary character near the end, really saddened.

I’m always pleasantly surprised with the plot lines, and the twists that get thrown my way with this series. It’s a refreshing change.

As Myrnin opened the portal in the wall, Claire grabbed up Shane’s sweatshirt and pulled it on over her clothes. It was huge on her. She rolled up the sleeves, and couldn’t resist lifting the neck to smell it one more time.

Myrnin smirked. “There is no drama so great as that of a teenage girl,” he said.

“Except yours.”

Myrnin leaned in and smiled at her. “Fair lady, may I ride with you in your carriage?”

“God-get in!”

Myrnin sighed. “Please, allow me.”

“Do you have the faintest idea of how to drive a car?”

“I am a very fast learner.”

In fact, he wasn’t.

“What?” She felt a blush start to burn along her jawline, then spill over her cheeks. “No! Of course not! I just . . . I don’t know if-”

“Stop stammering.”

“You make me stammer. You always have, when you look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m dessert.”

He licked her on the nose.

His sigh seemed to come all the way from his toes. “God, I needed you,” he murmured. “I can’t even tell you how many times I thought about this. The funny thing is, I don’t need you any less now. I think I need you more.”

That, Claire thought, was a pretty good definition of love: needing someone even after you got what you thought you wanted.

Lord of Misrule, Rachel Caine, NAL Jam, 231 pages

Okay, this book, book 5 just took things to a whole new level. Like I’ve said before, things happen in these books that I just didn’t see coming.

Things are changing as a new, scarier vampire comes to town to take over. Lines are drawn and the vamps and humans that have inhabited Morganville start joining forces against him.

This story had all the elements that the others did, suspense, action, romance, and of course vampires.

I really have enjoyed the progression of each character, coming into their own. That’s been really fun to read about. One element that continues to surprise me is the science that’s intertwined in the story. Alchemy and Physics, I’ve just never been into science but these books make me wish I had.

The cliffhanger ending of this book in particular is excruciating.

He held out his hand for a manly kind of shake. Shane batted it aside and hugged him. There were manly backslaps, and if there was a brief flash of red in Michael’s eyes, Shane didn’t see it.

“You be careful, man,” Shane said. “Those college chicks, they’re wild. Don’t let them drag you into any Jell-O shot parties. Stay strong.”

“You too,” Michael said. “Be careful.”

“Driving around in a big, black, obvious lunch wagon in a town full of starving vampires? Yeah. I’ll try to keep it low profile.” Shane swallowed. “Seriously-”

“I know. Same here.”

They nodded at each other.

Claire and Eve watched them for a moment. The two of them shrugged. “What?” Michael asked.

“That’s it? That’s your big good-bye?” Eve asked.

“What’s wrong with it?”

Claire looked at Eve mystified. “I think I need guys CliffNotes.”

“Guys aren’t deep enough to need CliffNotes.”

“What were you waiting for, flowery poetry?” Shane snorted. “I hugged. I’m done.”

“What about Myrnin?”

Eve swallowed, almost choked, and Michael patted her kindly on the back. She beamed at him. “Myrnin? Oh yeah. He did a Batman and took off into the night. What is with that guy, Claire? If he was a superhero, he’d be Bipolar Man.’

Feast of Fools, Rachel Caine, NAL Jam, 242 pages

I have to say that out of the four books in this series that I’ve read this one is by far my favourite. I’m not sure what it was about this book exactly, I just felt like the storyline got so much deeper and more daring. One of the things that I love about this series is how the vamps are still mostly “evil”.

The addition of Bishop, Ysandra and Francois just made that much more apparent.

The intrigue just gets deeper and deeper.

I can usually “see” some twists coming but this series keeps me guessing the whole time. And then springs things on me that I wouldn’t expect.

You need to read these if you haven’t already. You’ll get hooked. Promise.

And now my favourite part, sharing some of the quotes I enjoyed the most...

She put a hand lightly on his stomach.

“You’re hurting,” she said.

“Only when I bend over. When did you get so short, anyway?”

“Five minutes ago.” She rolled her eyes, playing along, but she was worried.

and a couple of paragraphs later...

“Don’t do anything dumb,” she said. “Or I’ll kill you myself.”

“Ouch, girl. Whatever happened to unconditional love around here?”

“It got tired of visiting you in the hospital.” She held his eyes for a long few seconds.

(After Eve pulls out the first aid kit)

“Shirt off.”

“You only love me for my abs.”

“Shut up, loser. Shirt off.”

With a glance toward Claire, Shane pulled it over his head and tossed it on the breakfast table next to him.

“Crap,” Shane breathed as they stood together looking into the fridge. The shelves held leftover chili, some pasta stuff, hamburger patties. Enough for them, for a couple of days. Not enough for anywhere near the number of people in the house, even for the humans. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking.”

“I’m thinking we have about fifteen vampires and no blood,” Claire said. “Is that it?”

“No, I was thinking we’re out of chips. Of course that’s what I was thinking.”

"I'm gonna kill him," Eve said, or at least that was what it sounded like filtered through the pillow.

"Stake him right in the heart, shove garlic up his a#*, and-and-"

"And what?" (Michael)

"When did you get home?" Claire demanded.

"Apparently just in time to hear my funeral plans. I especially like the garlic up the a#*. It's...different."

Midnight Alley, Rachel Caine, NAL Jam, 244 pages

The intrigue and mysteriousness of why the Vampires are in Morganville just keeps getting deeper and deeper.

I loved the science of this book. And I am not a science person.

It’s just really really interesting about the alchemy and what it is and how it works.

I really liked the new character of Mernin. He was creepy and yet sad all at the same time.

I understand the need for the book and the series to be propelled forward but I have to say I’m sick of people blaming Shane for everything. It’s getting old. As are his stupid ideas. :)

Make someone else do something stupid. Oh wait. Claire does, and so does Michael. Eve’s about the only sane one of the four. Kidding.

But still, the book was fast-paced and the storyline just gets better and better.

And thanks for the little romantic reprieves here and there.

"Perv."

He pointed to himself. "Male and eighteen. What's your point?"

"You shouldn't be afraid of me because I'm a vampire. You ought to be scared because you just trash-talked my girlfriend to her face.

Good prize. Too good. Claire swallowed hard. “And if I lose?”

“Then I eat you,” Myrnin said.

Sam shook his head. “Do you even have a sense of self-preservation?”

“Shane asks me that all the time.”

The Dead Girls’ Dance, Rachel Caine, NAL Jam, 238 pages

Okay, book 2 in The Morganville Vampires series.

I liked this one just as much as the first. The characters were fleshed out a bit more. We got some backstory on Michael, Eve, and definantly Shane. Which was nice. The getting of the info, not necessarily the info gotten. :)

Also, I enjoyed the mystery and suspense of this book. There was much more, um, not adventure, but, oh, action.

Much more action than the first.

Quite a good follow up. Although without saying too much, I did miss Shane a bit.

I do recommend this series.

""This near enough? Whatcha gonna do, doll girl? Cry all over me?"

Claire hid her eyes as the biker reached out for Eve with one tattooed hand.

"No," Eve said breathlessly. "I'm going to let my boyfriend beat the crap out of you."

There was a dull thunk of wood meeting flesh, and a howl. Then another, much harder thunk, and a crash as a body hit the floor.

The biker was down. Claire stared at him in disbelief, then looked past him, to the figure standing there with the field hockey stick in both hands.

Michael Glass."

. . . just as the front door banged open, splintering around the lock, and the police charged in.

“Oh, man,” Shane whispered, “that sucks. We just fixed that door.”

She could have done a whole semester of kissing with Shane. Intense personal study. With lab classes.

Meridian, Amber Kizer, Delacorte Press, 305 pages

(Nov. 6) I really enjoyed this book. I liked the fact that it was based in religion, that the scripture was used so well. That it showed how things can be turned around. Well done, Ms. Kizer, very well done.

The story was interesting from word go, and kept my attention the whole way through.

I enjoyed the main characters, being Meridian, Auntie, Tens and even the wolf Custos.

The only thing that bugged me about it, and it’s small, and really it’s just me, is that a 16 year old girl and a 16 year old boy (I think he’s 16) called this woman Auntie. Who says Auntie? What 16 year old says Auntie!?

Wait! I found one more thing. How quickly the love story moved. I understand the idea of fate and part of my life and everything. But seriously the book covers like two weeks and to go from I don’t know you to Why do you hate me? to You’re alright to I think I love you, to I love you forever in two weeks was a little far-fetched for me.

And for someone that met, dated, got engaged and married my husband all in under a year that’s saying a lot, don’t cha think?

Good book, can’t wait for the second.

Ballad, Maggie Stiefvater, Flux, 352 pages

(Oct. 27)So it seems that Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favourite authors...ever...to date.

I’m amazed at how much of a 180 Maggie did for me in regards to these two characters. In Lament, I enjoyed Dee and really wanted her to somehow get with Luke (I’m a sap, I know) and I liked James just fine. In Ballad, Dee just annoyed the snot out of me, every time she turned up I just wanted her gone and she really irked me with how she interacted with James. Speaking of James, I fell in love with him even more.

He is such a sarcastic, witty character, smart, funny, doesn’t seem to take crap from anyone and it was fun seeing his interaction with his mom.

The story was intriguing and well written, just like her other two books. She seems to be getting better and better with each book and that just doesn’t sound right because each book has been amazing.

Stiefvater breaks your heart, (there was an actual moment of teary eyes) without getting histerical. It’s this deep ache, I remember it when I finished Lament, and it’s back in full force with Ballad. My heart hurt, literally, throughout the book. It hurt for Dee (despite what I said earlier) it hurt for Nuala at different times despite the fact that she probably would have punched me in the face for it, it hurt for James especially after the incident with Dee (you’ll know).

The secondary characters were awesome as well. A lot of times they just kind of fall by the wayside but James’ roommate Paul was pretty great, and Mr. Sullivan was the kind of teacher I wished I’d had more of (thanks Mrs. Cawvey).

Now for my favourite part...the thing is is that I can literally open the book to any page and find a passage I’d like to share with you. There were so many good moments throughout this book. I will try to keep it short...sigh...

“James?”

My face was nicely smashed into my pillow. Without moving, I pressed my phone against my ear. “Mmmm. Yeah. What”

“James, is that you?”

I rolled onto my back and stared at the pale morning light that striped across the ceiling. I readjusted the phone so that I didn’t accidentally hang up. “Mom, why is it that every time you call my cell phone, you ask if it’s really me? Are there hundreds of other misplaced calls that you’re not telling me about, where you almost dial my number but it’s not quite right and you get guys who are almost me but not quite right?”

“Your voice never sounds the same on the phone,” Mom said. “It souds mushy or something. Are you hungover?”

I felt like throwing up.

I was only spared from hurling by Paul, making his way toward us.

“Dude,” he said. “What the hell.”

I clapped my hand on his shoulder. “That phrase applies to so many things at the moment that I’m not sure which you’re referring to in particular.”

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, Beth Fantaskey, Harcourt, 351 pages

(Oct. 27)This book was nothing like I expected. I’m not sure why I thought it was going to be more of a slap-stick comedy. (Really, no clue) but it was actually deep, and there was so much that was dark about it.

Don’t get me wrong there were some fun bits but it was mostly a really well developed story. I finished it in a day, it was that good. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and was really agitated when I had to lay it down for a bit.

The story is written in Jessica’s voice but every so often we get to hear Lucius through his letters to his Uncle. Lucius is acting as a foreign exchange student from Romania (which I am, Romanian, not an exchange student) just so he can get close to her.

The premise was an excellent one, and although there were a handful of secondary characters they all stood out from each other. I thought Jess’s best friend Mindy was funny with her magazine reading and continuous calling out of Jessica’s feelings towards Lucius. I was actually saddened when they had a bit of a falling out.

It seems the saying, “don’t know what you got till it’s gone” kind of applies to this situation, and I do believe I got teary eyed during some parts of the book when Faith Crosse became more involved in the story line.

Lucius was mysterious and yet I felt connected to his character. I was sad when he was, snarky when he was. I really felt a pull towards him.

And Jessica, I loved watching her grow, grow into the person she was all along but didn’t know it. I think that’s how so many of us feel in life, not just when we are teens. We all grow and evolve and it was beautiful to see that happen with her.

I highly recommend this book, I think you will gobble it up pretty quickly as well. I’m anticipating what will come next from this author.

Lucius snorted again. “Is that what you want out of life? Nice? Must everything be nice?”

“Nice is...nice,” I protested.

Lucius shook his head. “Oh, Antanasia. I could show you things so far beyond nice, they’d spin your lovely head.”

When I hesitated, a look of annoyance crossed his aristocratic face, and he shook the pen at me. “You do recognize a pen, right? This is a familiar tool, yes?”

The Hourglass Door, Lisa Mangum, Shadow Mountain, 398 pages

(Oct. 23) I have to say I’m surprised that I haven’t seen more about this book.

I know that I read it a little later than most but it is amazing!

The concept of the story is mind-boggling. I read somewhere that a reviewer didn’t think this story was unique (I’m paraphrasing) and I could not disagree more. I think that once the story starts to fall into place and you start understanding what exactly is happening that you will be blown away as well.

The prologue is what hooked me. I wish I could share it with you here but it’s 6 pages long, but here is a snippet because I’m sure it will intrigue you...

He counts the days he lived before coming to this place-how many days in seventeen years? How many years in a lifetime?

It’s hardest to keep track of the time. Without light, without variation, all the days blend into one seamless stretch of now. He longs for teh uncertainty of the future.

The light hurts his eyes. The unexpected bustling of activity beyond the bars rattles through his ears like chains. He dares a glance, wills his eyes to focus.

Two guards run past his cell. One more trails behind them, a blanket clutched in his fist.

He knows he shouldn’t be interested, shouldn’t be curious. It will only make things worse, distract him from his counting. But he can’t help himself. He stands on his toes, pressing his face to the cold bars.

And then he sees her. All the numbers run out of his head like sand through a sieve. All the images in his eyes fade until he can see only her. His heart beats in uncountable rhythms.

Now tell me honestly that you are uninterested...didn’t think so...

I thought the story was well told, it was mysterious and romantic, kind of like Dante, the Italian exchange student that Abby, the main character, is struggling not to fall for.

There were many twists and turns and I loved, Loved, LOVED what you find out about The Door, later in the book. To me that was just so stinking clever of Lisa. Really truly imaginative.

I thought the characters, even secondary ones, were well written, the story kept me guessing all the way through to the end and I am usually able to pick up on the foreshadowing in most stories I read. But not this one. I went back and skimmed through it to find some quotes and fell upon some hints that I totally didn’t catch.

All in all I think this is an amazing story, I think you should run out and buy a copy, now, run.

I am really excited about The Golden Spiral, which is the second book in the series. It’s set to be released early May of 2010. So read this before then, I promise you’ll want to continue with these characters.

One more thing that I really liked about this book, the prologue wasn’t even touched upon in this book. I’m assuming it will be explored in the next two, (I’m pretty sure it’s a trilogy) but as mentioned in a previous post I’m annoyed with prologues that tell you everything about the story before you even open to page 1.

Well done Lisa! Kudo’s to you. I am waiting with baited breath.

And now, since I gave you that snippet of the prologue, I’m not going to add any quotes down here.

Hush, Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick, Simon & Schuster, 391 pages

(Oct. 17) I’m not even exactly sure how to begin this one...words seem a bit inadequate. To say that I loved it would be an understatement. Maybe not the understatement of the year...but maybe close third.

Let’s start with the cover...in Becca’s acknowledgment section she thanks James Porto for “a cover that blew away my expectations.” I’d have to second that. What an awesome cover. It tells you enough without giving too much away. Just like the Prologue. I have recently read some books (I’m sure you’ll know em when you see the reviews) that were very enjoyable but the whole story (slight exaggeration) was right there in the prologue. Why would I want to read the book? I did. And still enjoyed them, but it was a bit annoying.

Speaking of annoying, did anyone else find Vee that way? I mean I liked her alright, but there was just something about her that bugged me. I think it may have been the fact that she seemed like a true friend sometimes and like someone who was friends with Nora just because, other times. Am I making sense? Maybe not. Now that could just be me and the way I took some of the conversations between the two of them. Like the camping trip. But I haven’t seen much if any complaints about Vee in other reviews I’ve read.

The story was a pretty awesome one. I liked the fact that Becca brought in The Book of Enoch and some other information about the fallen angels, like Nephilim. I’m glad she did her research because it was more believable that way. The one thing that I thought was a little...underdone...I guess that’s the word I’m looking for...and this might be a bit spoiler-ish so skip to the next paragraph if you don’t want to know...is the whole save a life/guardian angel thing. It just seemed too simple for me. But then when I think about it...I guess because the fallen angels are no longer good, saving a life wouldn’t be in their thoughts? Maybe that’s why none of the fallen’s knew about it. I guess that makes sense, but like I said it still seemed too easy.

I’ve read that some people think Patch was too mean to Nora, after reading the story I really wonder why? He didn’t seem mean to me at all, not, I guess, how I was assuming with all the comments about it. He just seemed like he was taunting her to get her attention, to get her to think about him when he wasn’t around. I mean, that’s what guys do when they like a girl, right? Revert back to 5th grade. And where he didn’t pull her hair or anything he was that mysterious guy who smolders when he looks at you. Makes you hot and blush because you can just imagine what he’s thinking. Or can you?

Overall I thought it was awesome. I’m really excited for Crescendo which I’ll have to wait a full year for. *sigh* Oh well. I’ll reread Hush, Hush to tide me over.

Great job Becca! Really glad you got the writing class and not the Japanese cooking class.

Tell your hubby we all appreciate his listening skills and forthought. :)

Now one of my favourite things, if you are new to the site I always try and give you a couple quotes from the book that I enjoyed...

I had my eyes pinned forward, but I heard the soft glide of his pen. He was writing, and I wanted to know what. Ten minutes of sitting together didn’t qualify him to make any assumptions about me. Flitting a look sideways, I saw that his paper was several lines deep and growing.

“What are you writing?” I asked.

“And she speaks English,” he said while scrawling it down, each stroke of his hand both smooth and lazy at once.

“Religion?” I asked more firmly.

Patch dragged a hand thoughtfully along the line of his jaw. “Not religion...cult.”

“You belong to a cult?” I realized too late that while I sounded surprised, I shouldn’t have.

“As it turns out, I’m in need of a healthy female sacrifice. I’d planned on luring her into trusting me first, but if you’re ready now...”

and I’ll stop there because if I give any more I’ll be giving too much away. I loved each and every interaction between Patch and Nora. Literally. Great chemistry Becca, amazing book.

Eyes Like Stars, Lisa Mantchev, Feiwel and Friends, 352 Pages

(Oct. 10) If I loved Graceling and The Hunger Games I L O V E Eyes Like Stars.

Lisa Mantchev has written a book that I think I’ll re-read multiple times throughout the years.

I have to say that the “reason” I bought the book was the cover. I’ve heard many people say similar things, and I’m sorry to be redundant, but for me it’s true. I went into my local bookstore and saw the cover, was drawn to it, thought it sounded interesting enough to buy, but didn’t. I went back again, and again, and again over I think a week and a half.

I mean LOOK at it! It is amazing. Blue hair, pert little nose, full lips, awesome top, the glowing fairies.The illustrator is Justin Chan, go check him out. livepage.apple.com He’s pretty amazing and I can’t wait to see what the cover of the second book in the series, Perchance to Dream, will look like.

Finally I bought the book and I think I had it read in a day or two.

The only thing that I can say negatively about it, and it’s not Lisa’s fault, is that I didn’t understand all of the “theatre speak” like the scene changes and who belonged to what play. Again, my fault. Not hers. BUT, that being said, it didn’t take away from the story at all. I think if you understand theatre you may have an edge in reading this, but it is easily accessable to all.

The main character is Bertie, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, and she rocks. She was funny and self-depricating but also strong and sweet. There is a bit of romance, a bit of a love triangle. Kind of. It’s hard to explain.

The fairies are the ones from A Midsummer Nights Dream, and they also rocked. They seemed to be pretty great to have around for comic relief, but you knew they also really cared about Bertie. I think Cobweb was my favourite.

I loved all of the characters and there are many, but you don’t get lost, you know who is speaking because each one has such a unique voice, I seriously loved them all. Well...maybe not the director, he has somewhat of an agenda against Bertie. And maybe Hamlet was a bit arrogant...Okay, let me change that...I loved most of the characters and felt what I was supposed to feel towards others by the way they are written. Of course I am Team Nate.

I want to live at The Theatre Illuminata. Really I do.

It is a well written, well rounded story. The intricate storyline, I mean seriously, my highest compliment, it was so different. So unique, it blows my mind that she came up with this story.

Blows my mind!

I thought, just the way the different plays are intertwined, how she incorporates how they are in the Theatre and why they are there and the “outside” world.

I’m so stoaked for the next book. I think, if I remember rightly, it’s June 2010. It is taking too long to come out if you ask me. Sorry Lisa, I know you are probably writing your little heart out.

Oh, and Lisa is really sweet, too. Which is always nice. She responds to every message I post to her on FB and Twitter, and she thinks my daughters name rocks, which it does. :D

So I love her for that. Plus, she’s saving me a seat next to her on the “author-ess” bench for when I get off my duff and join her. How nice is that?

I highly, Highly, HIGHLY, recommend this series. Go out and get one.

I can’t believe I almost forgot...if you are just visiting for the first time then this is where I post some of my favourite quotes that don’t give too much away.

“If you make me spill this stuff on the stage,” she said, “I’ll squeeze you until your heads pop off.”

Berie looked up at Nate through the blue fringe of her bangs. “Will you help me?”

He nodded, “With my last breath.”

“I might as well make the announcement to the entire Company. They don’t need to get it secondhand through the rumor mill.”

“That’s th’ spirit,” Nate said. “Now go an’...er...do whatever ‘tis ye plan t’ do.”

“Thanks, Nate. Truly inspirational.” Bertie tossed him the rest of her doughnut and absconded with the wooden crate from under the refreshment table.