In My Mailbox (75)

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

So here's what I got this week!

Borrowed from the library:

• In Too Deep by Amanda Grace

Purchased for my nook (finally using the B&N gift card I got for Christmas!):

• Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally ($4.99!)
• Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (only $1.99!)

What did you get?

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Super Short Reviews (2)

For those of you who might be new here, I apologize for the sporadic-ness of my blog. Recently, I've got some stuff going on in my personal life, and my stress level is out of control, which is wreaking havoc on my attention span. Seriously, I'll get up from my desk at work and go to the reference desk, and cannot remember why I needed to be there. It's pretty bad.

As a result, I've gone from posting faithfully anywhere between 4 and 6 posts a week to one who might get 2 posts up each week.  I'm also reading, on average, one book a week, which is WAY down from my 5-7 book average. Ugh. So sitting down to write out a bunch of thoughtful reviews is just a smidge more than I can handle right now, especially because I'm not reading as fast as I was in the past. I'm really hoping this passes soon, but in the meantime I do want to share what I've been reading lately. Hence, the super short reviews. I linked all the titles to Goodreads, so you can head there if you want the summaries. These reviews are just my bare bones, no-holds-barred opinions.

Nothing by Janne Teller: Wow. Lord of the Flies meets Waiting for Godot. A very thought-provoking book, although not one that I think a lot of teens will latch on to eagerly. I do recommend adults read it, though. Spins your mind around something fierce.

Fracture by Megan Miranda: Enjoyable, but I presumed (I don't know why) that it would be a standalone, and I don't think it is. It's like If I Stay or Before I Fall only because there's a girl who nearly died--other than that, I fail to see similarities. But boy, was Delaney's mother a bitch. And what are the odds that two kids with unique "D" names (Delaney & Decker) would wind up neighbors and best friends?

Trash by Andy Mulligan: this was a contender for the selection committee I'm on. I was totally "meh" about this book. The story is interesting, but there's too much that happens "off-stage," as it were. I hate when there are major plot developments involving major characters during the time frame we're reading, that we only find out about through flashbacks. It seems like cheating.

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

In My Mailbox (74)

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

So here's what I got this week!

Borrowed from the library:

• Dead to You by Lisa McMann

Ummm, that's all! That's OK, though, because I'm (very) slowly catching up on my reading. Did anyone catch my Super Short Reviews last week? Would you mind more of them? And! I had a fabulously successful library program this past week, so hopefully I'll have that post up soon. 

What did you get?

Enjoy your reading!

Follower Love Giveaway Hop--Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered this hop, and for the lovely comments on my blog! Out of the 1628 (eep!) entries, Rafflecopter randomly selected the winner:

Valentina

I've already emailed Valentina and will be getting her prize out very shortly. Thank you to all who entered and to all of my followers, old and new. More giveaways to come shortly!

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Super short reviews

I've been doing a lot of reading for a selection committee I'm on--I'm not sure what the protocol is, or if I'm allowed to mention what the selections are for, so I won't. I will say that I've been severely disappointed with the books I've been assigned, and perhaps that's adding to my reading slump--I haven't really like much of anything that I've read lately.

Here are some of my recent reads (selection committee and personal), and quick recaps. I've linked all the titles to Goodreads if you want to find out more about them.

The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard: interesting concept but I think Sarah Ockler did a much better job with the secret relationship angle in Twenty Boy Summer. I have Try Not to Breathe and am hoping I enjoy that more.

The Knife that Killed Me by Anthony McGowan: ugh. So difficult to get through and (SPOILER) the title is a lie.

Room by Emma Donaghue: I actually really liked this one, but I was reading it because it was up for consideration on the high school summer reading list, and I definitely don't think it belongs there. It's a shame, because it's a powerful story, but I don't think it's really meant for the general high school audience.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles: This was another contender for the high school list, but I also thought that my kids at juvenile detention would enjoy it. This is an excellent book to sell to juvie but again, not a good fit for the summer reading list, I don't think. It's a spicy novel, though, and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading the next two books (someday--I actually gave up my hold on Chain Reaction so that I could take it to juvenile detention next week.).

Hmm...it was actually quite enjoyable for me to create this post; perhaps I'll do it more often. My attention span seems kind of shot lately (probably due to my stress level), so this might be the best I can do for a while. Are short reviews better than no reviews at all?

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

In My Mailbox (73)

Have you entered my Follower Love Giveaway Hop yet?

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

So here's what I got this week!

From the amazing Denise Jaden: tons of swag for her upcoming novel, Never Enough, due out July 10! Thank you, I can't wait to share with my teens!

Purchased: Remember a few weeks ago when I ordered Mockingjay window decals form Etsy, and the seller accidentally shipped one, instead of the two I'd ordered? Well, he came through--with a bonus, to boot!

Borrowed from the library:

• Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
• Drowning Instinct by Ilsa Bick
• Beneath a Meth Moon: an elegy by Jacqueline Woodson
• Bossypants (audio CD) by Tina Fey (adult fix)

What did you get?

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Look look look look look!

Oh. My. God. Look at this!!!!

I love you guys. I really, really love you guys. Thanks for being 1000 of you.

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

Have you entered my Follower Love Giveaway Hop yet?

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

HMH Children's Books, January 17, 2012

Read for 2012 Debut Author Challenge AND 2012 Standalone Challenge

Warning: this review contains SPOILERS. But so did the freakin' summary, so there.

Summary from Goodreads & the back of the book: (I want you guys to understand my review and the summary has so much to do with it):

I had the dream again. The one where I'm running. I don't know what from or where to, but I'm scared, terrified really.Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. He probably won't see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left. there's one thing he can do" He can try to help the people he loves live--even though he never will.
It's probably hopeless.
But he has to try.

First of all, this was a super-quick read. I'm talking two hours, tops. Secondly, I feel that the summary really ruined the novel for me, because Megan doesn't spend the novel talking about the fact that Austin has a terminal disease. It's alluded to, which I thought was the most brilliant thing about this debut. Austin shows up at a party and the guy charging admission takes a look at him and waves him through. There are other scenes where strangers look at him sadly, knowingly, and we don't really know why. EXCEPT THAT THE SUMMARY GAVE US THE REASON. Even the Library of Congress summary on the copyright page is purposely more cryptic: "Seventeen-year-old Austin, aware that life is short, asks his best friend and secret love, Kaylee, to take him to visit people and places in and around Tacoma, Washington, so that he can try to make a difference in the time he has left." THAT is the summary that should have been used. It alludes to what's going on, but it doesn't spell out what happens in the last few chapters.

This book could have just been about a kid who decides to spend his weekend righting all the wrongs in his life, trying to help his friends out of jams, and finally telling the girl of his dreams he loves her. AND THEN in the last two chapters he could reveal that he has a terminal disease and is dying. That is the novel Megan Bostic wrote, and it was extremely powerful (although it was somewhat convenient that so many of Austin's friends/family had screwed up so much). Unfortunately, knowing how the novel was going to end just by reading the back cover took some of that power away.

Borrowed book from the library.
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Don't Breathe a Word Trailer Launch Party!

Holly Cupala and her Don't Breathe a Word Street Team (of which I am a member) are unveiling the DBAW trailer today! To celebrate the launch, Holly's offering one final DBAW giveaway of fun swag (most of which I have seen personally and can assure you is full of awesomeness)!

Here's the awesome trailer:

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Click here to go to the DBAW trailer link, then click the Share button to send to your Facebook, Twitter, Google+,MySpace, blog, or other social network. 5 pts each

2. Buy the book at this link for more chances to win (include in your entry below)!

3. Click here to enter with your links and/or purchase!

PRIZES:

Five Grand Prizes:Signed copies of Don’t Breathe a Word, Tell Me a Secret, the TMAS special edition audiobook, bookmarks, stickers, and other swag*

Ten Runner-Up Prizes:Don’t Breathe a Word flyers, bookmarks, stickers, and a TMAS button*

Plus the first forty people who buy the book at this link between now and Valentine’s Day get DBAW bookmarks, stickers, and undying book love from me!*

*Must include mailing address with entry. (US + up to 20% international winners)

Help share the love for this incredible book!

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Follower Love Giveaway Hop

I'm delighted to once again participate in the Follower Love Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Rachel Renee Anderson.

Easy contest this time around. Winner will get a $10 electronic gift card to either Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

Here's the deets:
You must be 13 or older to participate. This will be an international contest, as long as B&N and/or Amazon ship to your country. You don't have to be a follower to enter, but will get extra entries for doing so. Contest closes at midnight on February 14. To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter!

In My Mailbox (72)

Happy Superbowl--Go Big Blue!

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

So here's what I got this week!

Won in a contest over at Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf (thanks, Lauren!): Don't Breathe a 

Word by Holly Cupala (& some fun swag!):

Won in a Don't Breathe a Word Street Team contest: a special edition audio of Tell Me a Secret and some awesome swag (thanks, Holly!):

Borrowed from the library:

• Cinder by Marissa Meyer
• The Knife That Killed Me by Anthony McGowan (committee reading)
• Culture Clash by Divine (also committee reading)
• A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend (more committee reading)

What did you get?

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Giveaway winners!

I have a bunch of winners to announce! All winners were selected using Rafflecopter's winner selection (does it have an official name?).

The three winners of the Goody Bag Giveaway are...

Vivien, Tiffany, and Brooke!

The winner of the YA Giveaway Hop is...

Crystal!

And the winner of my ARC copy of The Catastrophic History of You & Me is...

Kristy!

All winners have been contacted and prizes are on their way. Thank you to all who entered, and especially those of you who left kind words for me in the comments. I loved every single one, trust me.

Another giveaway is coming up soon!

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

January 2012 in review

The short version: January sucked.

The longer version: I'm still in a blogging (AND reading) funk and only posted three reviews this month. I only read eleven books--not off to a great start. BUT, 5 of those books were on my 2012 Standalone Challenge, one was on my TBR list, 2 were on my 2012 Debut Author Challenge, and one was on my 2012 Sophomore Challenge. So, challenge-wise I'm doing well.

To keep you all here with my, I'm plying you with giveaways. Three giveaways just wrapped up this month and I'll be announcing winners shortly. I was so touched by all the thoughtful comments on my giveaways. I mean, I know they were worth an extra entry LOL but a lot of you really took the time to say something sweet and touching, and I want you to know that each and every one of those comments meant so much to me.

My new goal is to get a minimum of one review up a week. Sad, and well below what I'm used to posting, but unfortunately my heart isn't in it, and my brain is somewhere else altogether. I appreciate your understanding and I hope to bounce back soon.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi