Waiting on Wednesday (87) The Weight of Feathers

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

The Weight of Feathers

Authors: Anna-Marie McLemore
Publisher: Thomas Dunne
Release Date: September 15, 2015

Link to Goodreads:

For twenty years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find. 

Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she's been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees. 

Beautifully written, and richly imaginative, The Weight of Feathers is an utterly captivating young adult novel by a talented new voice.

Why I'm Excited:

Feuding families, mermaid exhibitions, tightrope walkers, black magic. Sign me up! This sounds amazing and that cover is so gorgeous. I'm definitely keeping my eyes open for this one. 

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

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Little Big Lies (Book Review)

Little Big Lies

Author: Liane Moriarty

Publisher: Putnam

Release Date: July 29, 2014

Synopsis:

Sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal. . . .

 A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly?  

What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.   But who did what?

 Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:   Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?). 

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.   New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.
  

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

******************************************************************************

MY THOUGHTS:

With my current commute being an hour each way, I've become enamored with books on CD. I had fallen out of the habit of snagging audio books when my commute in PA dropped from an hour a day to 15 minutes a day. Thankfully, the library I go to here in FL is well-stocked with audio books, and after the first few months of just re-listening to books I'd already read (Harry Potter) or funny memoirs (Bossypants, Dad is Fat), I decided to break out when I saw this one on the shelf. I'm so glad I did because while this is a book I might have set aside if I was just reading it, the narrator of the story drew me in immediately and I savored my time in the car for the week or so I listened to this. 

Big Little Lies is a murder mystery where the reader is trying to figure out not only whodunit, but also who has died. It is also "women's fiction" about marriage and motherhood. The story follows three women who all have children in the same kindergarten class: Jane, the new mom in town who, in her early 20s, is younger than the other mothers and actually mistaken as the nanny at first; Celeste, a quiet beauty who is harboring a dark secret; and Madeline, the true main character of the story who is best friends with Celeste and who takes Jane under her wing. 

Madeline, while happily married to her second husband, is not quite over the divorce to her first husband, Nathan, who has moved into the neighborhood with his new wife, Bonnie, who is perfect in every way. He walked out on her and her daughter, Abigail, when Abigail was just a baby. Now not only does she have to deal with the fact that Bonnie and Nathan's daughter is in her youngest child's kindergarten class, but the inconceivable fact that Abigail seems to be choosing Nathan over her. Choosing a man who walked out on them! I have to admit that Madeline was my favorite character. She is hilarious and ballsy, and I completely agreed with her that it was complete rubbish that her ex-husband chose to move into her neighborhood with his new wife.

Celeste was the most frustrating character for me. She and her husband have the seemingly perfect relationship complete with twin boys, but there is a darkness to the relationship I will let you discover for yourself. 

Jane, a woman in her early 20s is just trying to make a better life for her and her little boy Ziggy. The paternity of Ziggy is another mystery of the story, and it is obvious that whatever happened the night that he was conceived has effected Jane immensely. When Ziggy is accused of harming another student on orientation day, it sets off the series of events that culminates in a murder at the parents' trivia night. 

I really enjoyed this novel, but I will stress again that the narration of the audio book really helped my enjoyment. Caroline Lee's voice, complete with awesome Aussie accent, really pulled me in to the story. I don't read a lot of "women fiction", mostly because I just can't relate to parenthood. If this story didn't have the murder mystery--I'm a sucker for a good mystery--it probably wouldn't have held my interest as much as it did. The story goes on a little bit too long, and, again, I got incredibly frustrated by Celeste's story line. Aside from these little issues, I found the story intriguing and was genuinely surprised by the outcome. 

Recommended, especially if you love a good mystery. 

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Weekly Rewind 2.7.15

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.




Since I started this blog I've participated in Stacking the Shelves, which is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and I'm going to continue linking to that meme. Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves.

My Life and Blog

Life: It's my birthday weekend. Another year. For the first time in my life I am spending my birthday alone. I decided to fly home next weekend because I get President's Day off, so taking two vacation days next weekend will give me a five day weekend instead of a four day one. While I'm a little bummed to be alone, he surprised me with a gorgeous bouquet that he had delivered to my school (which my principal and vice principal hand delivered). I was surprised by how excited my students were to wish me a happy birthday. I even had a few students sing me energetic renditions of happy birthday. The other ladies in the English department also surprised me with a lovely cupcake and a B&N gift card. I did a little early book shopping this week, which I'm going to share today, and now I get to take another trip. I might save it for a rainy day when I need a pick-me-up, though. We'll see...

Last weekend my sister and her family did end up taking me to Universal Studios. It was pretty crazy there because it was Harry Potter Day, but we got on all the rides we wanted to. I got to see Diagon Alley and Gringotts for the first time and rode the train between the two parks, all of which were amazing.

At school my classes are finally done reading A Wrinkle in Time. I saved the movie for Thursday and Friday (so I could just show a movie on my birthday--lol). What's crazy to me is that when I asked my classes if they enjoyed it, most of the classes either all did or all did't. I had a couple of classes where almost all of the students said they liked it, and a couple of classes where they all said they didn't. It made me think about how the classes that did enjoy it had a couple of students who were enthusiastic about it which made the other students enthusiastic. Funny how that works. 

New books: Despite having so many new books to read in February, I have been rereading Fangirl. I didn't mean to, but I saw it on the shelf at the library and just couldn't help but snag it. Oops. I am excited about the books I have to share today, so without further adieu, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

For Review

   

The Bargaining by Carly Anne West

This sounds pretty scary with its broken down cabin and the visions children that beckon the protagonist into the woods. I put aside the author's debut last year, but I'm hoping to connect with this one more. I love the cover.

The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes

This one is about a group of teens who get lost in the woods when separated from the rest of their group. I don't think this one is a thriller, so much as a realistic read about a girl overcoming bullying.

Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor

I actually just bought this author's debut Maybe One Day which recently came out in paperback. This book follows a girl on the path to Harvard who begins to realize that maybe there is more to life than striving for perfection.

The Deep End by Julie Mulhern

This was one of those random snags. I like the occasional mystery, but usually pick up dark ones when I feel like one. This sounds like a chick-lit mystery, and pretty fun. Did anybody read those Red Dress Ink books when that publisher was around? There was this one series that followed a girl named Rachel Benjamin that were chick-lit mysteries. I was bummed when that publisher folded.

What I Bought

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

This was my favorite book of 2013, so of course I had to snag it now that it is out in PB.

Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

This book about friendship and cancer seems to be hit or miss for most readers, but I'm hoping to love it.

DUFF by Jodi Keplinger

I've been meaning to read this one for years. Yes, I bought the movie cover, it was on sale...

What I snagged from the library

   

Book:

Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to be a Grown-Up by Grace Helbig

While I had the e-arc of this, it is definitely a book that should be read in the traditional form as it is full of big glossy photos. 

Audio:

The One and Only by Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin was once my favorite chick-lit author. I loved Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Baby Proof, but was really disappointed with her last couple of books. I'm on the fourth cd of this book and will probably end up DNFing. *Spoiler--although you'll see it coming from a mile a way* It is headed in an icky direction of a woman in her early 30s falling for her best friend's father after he was recently widowed. Just ew. For real.

Movie:

Annabelle

Nothing like watching a scary doll movie when you have the house all to yourself...

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, In My Mailbox, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

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Waiting on Wednesday (86) P.S. I Still Love You

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

P.S. I Still Love You 

Authors: Jenny Han
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: May 26, 2015

Link to Goodreads:

***Synopsis contains spoilers for the first book***

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.

She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.

When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of makes it so amazing.

Except one.

Why I'm Excited:

I know this is going to be popular this week, but, well, that doesn't diminish how excited I am for this one. I really enjoyed the first book and I can't wait to see where the story goes next. I'm not in love with this cover, but it's fine. Best of all, there will only be about a week of school left when this one comes out (although I am, of course, hoping I don't have to actually wait until May to read this).

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

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Weekly Rewind 1.31.15

Weekly Rewind

The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

Since I started this blog I've participated in Stacking the Shelves, which is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and I'm going to continue linking to that meme. Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves.

My Life and Blog

Life: This week was insane. I honestly don't know what the deal is with the kids at my school. They are all just so restless and are misbehaving. I think part of it just has to do with it being January--Christmas is over, but they still have so long until the end of the year, and even spring break is several weeks out. 

On the plus side, I get to go down to Orlando for the weekend and hang out with my sister. I was back home for her birthday in December and she won't be in FL next weekend which is my birthday weekend, so the two of us decided to do a joint celebration this weekend. I think we may be going to Universal Studios which is my favorite place in the world. Even if we don't, it will just be nice to hang out with her and her family. I definitely need a break after this week, and I don't get to go home for another couple of weeks.

I didn't get very much done blog-wise this week. I still need to write a review for Big Little Lies, but I've just been sooooooo tired after I'm done with all my work this week. It's 7:30 (PM) as I type this and I'm totally ready for bed. As such, I didn't get as much reading done as I would have liked, either. I've actually been doing a little bit of rereading...because I don't enough new books to read. Lol.

New books: I got some new books. i'm going to share them. And then I'm going to go to sleep. I hope you are all having awesome weekends! 

For Review

    

   

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I'll admit that I'm pretty weary of this. I've glanced at a couple of reviews from trusted friends, and they have all been pretty...meh. Star-ratings for this on GR is all over the place. Oh, well. Hopefully I'll be one of the people who love it.

One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin

A girl who is "just one of the guys" starts an all-girls school and decides to start a business of setting up the girls from school with her buddies from home. From the synopsis, she falls for one of her friends which makes this sound pretty predictable, but cute. 

Monstrous by MarcyKate Connolly

I don't really know what this is about honestly. That cover is just so charming.

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

A girl obsessed with planning her own death makes a suicide pact with a boy she meets on a website.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

Holy crap I've snagged a lot of books about suicide lately. I'll probably hold off on this one. 

I Remember You by Cathleen Davitt Bell

This sounds like a time-traveling romance which could be fun. 

Promposal by Rhonda Helms

How did this become a thing? Hopefully this will be cute. 

How to Win at High School by Owen Matthews

Per GR: Using Scarface as his guide to life, Adam Higgs is going from zero to high school hero. 

What I snagged from the library

 

Audio:

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

I'm listening to this one on my commute. I really liked The Raven Boys, and have read it twice, but I don't really understand this series. This is a bit hard to listen to, actually, because if my mind wanders for even a minute I get completely lost. 

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, In My Mailbox, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

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Waiting on Wednesday (85) Never Never

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

Never Never 

Authors: Brianna R. Shrum
Publisher: Spencer Hill
Release Date: September 22, 2015

Link to Goodreads:

James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.

When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.

But grow up he does. 

And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.

This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan.

Except one.

Why I'm Excited:

You know what this world needs? Another Peter Pan re-telling. Lol. I'm getting a bit wary of re-tellings and re-imagining, I'll be honest, but that cover! Yes, I'm shallow, but it's so pretty. This actually sounds pretty good, so I'm hoping it will be amazing.

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

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Weekly Rewind 1.24.15

Weekly Rewind

The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

Since I started this blog I've participated in Stacking the Shelves, which is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and I'm going to continue linking to that meme. Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves.

My Life and Blog

Life: Four day weeks always seem longer. Why is that? This week was pretty good. We are at the tail-end of A Wrinkle in Time, and I think most of my students are starting to get pretty into it. The book does get a lot more interesting once they are on Camazotz with the--um, spoilers for a 60 year old book--kids who all bounce the balls in rhythm and the reveal of IT as a giant, disembodied brain. It's a fun book. I'm a little less enthusiastic about reading the same chapter by my 5th period (I am still human, after all), but luckily the periods rotate so it isn't always the same class that is getting me last--and I'm not always getting them last...ALL of my classes are more hyper after lunch. 

I'm about 3 weeks out from my next trip home. I added two days to the President's Day weekend so I'll be home for five nights. After that, I'll have a month before spring break. At least I'm on the downward swing. La di da. You've all heard this before. 

Blog: So, I was actually pretty productive this week, blog-wise. I posted a review for the movie What If (a romantic comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe), and posted both a TTT and a WoW. I've been reading fairly steadily although I've been flipping back and forth between several books without finishing any of them. I did, however, finish the audio of Big Little Lies this week and I do plan on getting a review up soon--hopefully next week.

New books: I have several new books to share with you this week. February is a bit out of control. I can't wait for this summer when I'll have some time to actually read...Anyhoo, I hope you are all having spectacular weekends!

Review Books

   

   

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I've been excited for this one since I first saw that cover. I haven't read any reviews yet, but I have seen several 4 and 5 star ratings on my GR feed. 

Funny Girl by Nick Hornby 

Nick Hornby is one of those authors that I almost always pick up, but that is often hit or miss for me. I liked About a Boy and High Fidelity, but didn't really care for A Long Way Down and Juliet, Naked. This one sounds like a comedy, though, so I'm hoping to enjoy it. 

Scripted by Maya Rock

This one sounds interesting. From what I can gather, the book is about a futuristic reality show where you get "cut" if the public doesn't find your story-line interesting enough.

Single, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine Heiny

A short story collection that is getting some good early buzz.

Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen

I couldn't resist this fairy tale retelling. That cover!

We Are Pirates by Daniel Handler

I'm honestly not exactly sure what this one is about. Pirates, I suppose. 

The Forgetting by Nicole Maggi

A girl tries to find out the truth about her heart donor. 

Love by the Book by Melissa Pimentel

When I saw this cover, my first thought was that it had been awhile since I'd read a good chick-lit story. I hope this one delivers.

What I snagged from the library

  

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

This psychological thriller has been getting great early buzz. I'm excited to read it. 

Nantucket Red by Leila Howland

I've been putting this off because I kind of felt like I should do a reread of the first book, but I haven't really felt like a reread...so I might just give this a shot with what I do remember. *Shrugs*

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, In My Mailbox, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

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