Book Reviews by Today, I Read…

Thanks to Jill at Breaking the Spine, I present another edition of Waiting on Wednesday…

Since the first WoW selection is coming out later this month, I’ve decided to include a second WoW selection that’s coming out a bit later.

Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis is scheduled for publication April 27, 2010 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.

I’d love a cup of coffee. . . . I wish she didn’t hide how pretty she is. . . . I hope she didn’t find out what Ben said about her. . . . I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin. . . .

Joy is used to Hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good—to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears Jessica Whisper I want to kill my Hearing dead, and kill me too if that’s what it takes, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car, and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.

Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier is scheduled for publication September 21, 2010 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.

It’s a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths–for good and evil–of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

The 24 Hour Read-a-Thon has officially come to an end. However, Since I’m already 3/4 of the way through my final book, I’m just going to finish it before going to sleep. But as of right now, here are the various read-a-thon posts and updates:

• 24 Hr Read-a-Thon Book Pool
• First Official Update
• Title Sentence Mini Challenge
• Update #2: Sister Light, Sister Dark
• #Pantyworthy Author Mini Challenge
• Update #3: Siberia
• Hungry Readers Mini Challenge
• Most Hated Character Mini Challenge

(Yes, I’m aware I haven’t done an update post for The Search for Delicious. It will just have to wait.)

And my answers to the final event meme:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Surprisingly, the beginning hours. For whatever reason, I just couldn’t focus. I actually just hit my stride in the last few hours.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Siberia by Ann Halam & The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbitt was a cute and fast read.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Ask me again after I’ve slept.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? See the answer to question #3

5. How many books did you read? 3.75

6. What were the names of the books you read? Sister Light, Sister Dark by Jane Yolen; Siberia by Ann Halam; The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbitt; The Eyes of the Amaryllis by Natalie Babbitt (in progress)

7. Which book did you enjoy most? Enjoy is an interesting word. In terms of fun-factor, I’d go with The Search for Delicious, but in terms of intensity, I’d go with Siberia.

8. Which did you enjoy least? I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the reads I had. I was lucky.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I wasn’t an official cheerleader, but one thing I forgot to do in my unofficial capacity was keep track of the blogs I’d visited. Maybe set up a spreadsheet for that, or keep an open post to jot the links in.

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Of course you know I will be participating again. It’s just too much fun. I might even try my hand at cheerleading (in an official capacity) or hosting a mini challenge (man, there were some fun ones!).

I’d also like to thank all the people who popped into the blog and helped cheer me on! It helped bunches and I appreciate it.

(You have my apologies for any errors or omissions in the above. I’m sleep deprived and that’s the story I’m going with.)

For this mini challenge Lindsey asks the question, who is your most hated character? Oddly, this is a tough one. There are many characters that I’ve disliked…but hated?

I want to say Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights), but as batshiznit crazy as he was, I think I felt sorry for him more than I hated him despite some of the wicked awful things he did.

Then there’s Edward Cullen (Twilight). Where to start with that one? Um…watching a girl sleep. Without her knowledge or consent. That’s just creepy, but not sure if that qualifies as hate material.

Or even Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter). Strongly dislike? Sure. Hate? Eh, well…

OK, OK. For real this time. One character that I hate…please hold a moment while I peruse my stacks to jog my bleary-eyed  memory…I’ve got it!

Ian Hunter. I actually loathe this character.

Before you read my reason, if you have not read Into the Land of the Unicorns by Bruce Coville and actually want to, then you’ll not want to read further because it’s a HUGE spoiler. We good? Cool.

Cara is on a mission to deliver an amulet to the unicorn queen of Luster. Of course, bad guys want to stop her every step of the way and one in particular had been trying to kill her. Turns out it was a guy named Ian Hunter and he was her father.

At first she didn’t realize he was the one with murderous intentions until he resorted to lying through his teeth, playing the daddy card, and then trying to sacrifice her to a dragon.

I kept looking and waiting and hoping, but nope—no redeeming qualities. Not even a tiny inkling of one. When I finished reading that section, my only thought was what an evil bastard! (And this is a children’s book, mind you.) So you know it’s pretty bad.

(I’d actually do a little jig when he dies and hope it were painful.)

This mini challenge, hosted by the Hungry Readers, calls for the fuel that keeps the readers reading. In my case, it’s cherry Pop Tarts and Double Bergamot Earl Grey tea. Yes, really. I’m fairly certain that’s all I’ve drank and eaten in the past 24 hours (aside from a yummy PB&J sandwich).

Since that’s not terribly exciting, another option would be to discuss the food that crops up during reading. This just happens to be perfect considering that I’ve deviated from my outlined reading pool and am currently reading The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbitt…and it happens to be about food. Sort of. (I’ve been saying “sort of” quite a bit lately.)

So far, the book is about a King, his Prime Minister, his queen, and his army general who all disagree on which food should be listed for the definition of delicious in the dictionary. The choices they’ve submitted are fried fish, apples, pudding, and beer.

In order to resolve the issue, it’s decided a poll will be taken of the various townspeople to decide on which of those items should be the accepted definition. Unfortunately, it’s not as forthright as it initially appeared.

Come to think of it, reading about food is making me kind of hungry. It might just be time for another Pop Tart run.

Gah. Now I want some chocolate ice cream. I have no idea where that craving just came from. I think the Sleepiesâ„¢ are starting to kick in. Must drink more tea.

It’s probably clear by now that I’m not doing the hourly update thing…and my reading speed is still somewhere between snail and turtle. I think it’s partly because I’m lounging in my bed while I read, which always hampers my reading speed. But still, I’m OK with it.

Anywho, I just wanted to offer a quick update about Siberia by Ann Halam before moving on to my next book.

First impressions: Wow. Just wow. This book is like 1984 with a thirteen year old protagonist and animals, sort of, with more of an environmental spin than political. It’s truly hard to describe without giving up too many spoilers, but I will say this book had me holding my breath, gasping, and weeping for humanity.

The bleak and desolate landscape was painted with a clarity that’s startlingly possible. It’s some time in the future in some place on planet earth—although the name Siberia is used, it doesn’t necessarily mean Siberia as we know it—when the government watches your every move through a frightening red eye in your home and school and work and food is rationed (you can forget about anything that tastes good) and people would sell their own grandmother for an extra bit of jam.

There were a few rough patches that made me cock an eyebrow, but overall it kept me on my toes. Words are kind of failing me right now. All I can think is that this book will stick with me for a while. It’s brutal, but worth it. Also, I mistakenly thought this was fantasy when I picked it up, but it’s actually science fiction. Definitely great conversation piece. Proper review to come, eventually.

Now I’m going to take 30 minutes to cheerlead and get myself a proper snack (and some more Earl Grey tea…I think I’m on my fourth or fifth cup already…you can’t turn into tea by drinking too much of it, can you?)