Wishlist Wednesday

Why I want them:

The third book Shades of Earth just came out and this trilogy seems to be all over the YA Universe- and I feel like I'm missing out big time! 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of (Or At All)

1) Harry Potter's Wizarding World

I just have to mention it. I know it's probably boring all of you who have been following my blog for a while because it's always Harry Potter with me, but...it's an obsession. Can't handle it!

2) Really, really fantastical Worlds

Admittedly, I have my struggles with worlds like the one in the Inheritance Series or Middle Earth. What I crave is a world like the one in Cornelia Funke's Inkheart - I loved that one! Usually, though, the stories in those worlds have a lot of travelling and that quest-like vibe to them and I get bored by that really fast, sadly :/

3) Underwater Worlds

Ever since I was a little girl I loved mermaids and the possibility of kingdoms under the sea...but for some reason I've only ever read one single mermaid book and that one was not as much fun as I hoped it would be.

4) Anything in the Sky (not necessarily space, though)

I'm not particularly interested in Sci-Fi and space and all that, but I think I'd enjoy a story that takes place in the clouds...like...a kingdom build on the clouds or something...

5) Real settings (like haunted malls, theaters, schools etc.)

I read Tempestuous in December which is a story that is set in a mall and there's a bad snowstorm outside so no one can get out and they form groups and spy on each other and stuff and I figured - I love those kinds of stories!

6) BOARDING SCHOOLS

It's just...in me. I love boarding schools. Seriously, put one in your book and I'm bound to love it.

7) Other countries /China...and Russia maybe, or some place in Africa)

Books are such a great way to learn about new people and traditions and culture and stuff...why always read stuff that's made up by the author to make our own world more interesting? Why not read about a world that is real and that we know only very little about?

8) Big Cities (like L.A or New York)

Because I love it when you really get into that Big City mood (I'm from a very small village...so...you know...)

9) Historical places (and I do not mean Victorian London!)

Because if I wanted to read about Historical London or any well known town in Italy or France I know there's a million books out there. I want unique historical settings, please! How about...Poland?

10) A Smalltown like Gatlin

I loved Gatlin from the Beautiful Creatures books. The town plays such a big and important role in all for books...I wish every author would do that!

Review: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares 

by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Hardcover, 260 pages
Published October 26th 2010 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Other works by these authors:

A Long Story...Short!

This book is something very special. You can never know for sure, of course, but I don't think you're going to find something like this again very soon. Because Dash and Lily are...real people in a real world with real lives. Teenagers that don't get wasted or do stupid things, but who actually think about the world and life and its purpose and who stay true to themselves instead of pretending. I thought I'd have to wait until Christmas to read this book, but while it's great company during the holidays you can read it whenever. I recommend now, though. Like...right at this moment.

Rating: 3/3 Smarties

Review for You: 

Actually, I don't have all that much to say about Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. You know when you pick up a book and every page is like ice cream slowly dissolving on your tongue. Yeah, like that. I fell in love with both, Dash and Lily. Dash is just a super sympathetic guy - not as seemingly brainless as some other members of his age group/gender. He has this calm, thoughtful aspect to him which I really loved. I can totally imagine marrying him. And Lily is just funny. And nice. She's that totally likable girl that just assumes no one her ages wants to be friends with her. 

Not only the characters in this novel are unique, though - their voices are, as well. Often, the problem with books told from two points of view bother me because you can't tell there are two different people speaking. With two authors, that problem is solved, of course, but I think these authors weren't just good, they were great at giving their characters their own voices - and at doing it consistently. Lily was not just quirky during the first few pages, but throughout the whole novel. 

Also, I liked how Dash and Lily were both developing as the story progressed, I could always follow their actions, then their thoughts, then see how what they had experienced changed them a little bit.

All in all, you probably guessed what I'd tell you: if you don't read this novel, you miss out on something very sweet and very beautiful. By the way, it doesn't matter if you like contemporary or not. You will like this novel anyway.

Review for me:

Favorite Quote( this is only one out of MANY):
“There are just lots of possibilities in the world...I need to keep my mind open for what could happen and not decide that the world is hopeless if what I want to happen doesn't happen. Because something else great might happen in between.”

What I Learned From this Book: To just be myself. And to let life lead me to wherever, whenever. To not worry too much. To go out there and see and experience the world around me. Every shiny, lively element of it.

What I want to remember from this book: How Dash decided to spend his Christmas Eve. And how jealous I was that he could do it. Without thinking he was weird. He just did what he felt like doing, no matter what others consider normal. No, actually the fact that Dash and Lily always did what they felt like doing. That they could be themselves without wasting a second to care about what other people think!

When should I reread this book? The holidays! Or, when I struggle to be myself again. When I need someone or something to remind me to just trust whatever feels good and right to me. That it's okay to be a bit weird.

Feature & Follow Friday

 

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE VILLAIN FROM A BOOK?

Voldemort! No, seriously. I love how he's SO evil, but still...J.K Rowling gives him a history, an ideology and somehow...in a way...even a reason. All together, that makes him a villain with personality. He's unique, because he's so powerful, of course. But he's also unique because in the books we always get glimpses of his childhood, of his development. We understand (a bit) why he acts the way he does, why he is so evil. And then, he also does his job brilliantly. I mean, do you know anyone with such a huge force behind him? Any villain as clever and as powerful as Voldemort? Well..I don't. Finally, he's the only villain that ever caused me nightmares.

Review: Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Wings 

by Aprilynne Pike

Hardcover,290 pages
Published May 5th 2009 by HarperTeen
#1 in the Wings Series

A Long Story...short!

In my opinion, reading Wings or not reading Wings won't make a huge difference to your life. You read the synopsis, you guess how the story will begin, continue and end and the story will begin, continue and end exactly how you thought it would. The characters will seem familiar, the same thing is true for the plot. So...what does that leave us with? Right! A book that you can read if you want to destract yourself from other stuff in your life...like homework or besties drama. If you're looking for a whole new world to explore Wings, the first installment in a new series, won't be your book. I'm not so sure about its sequel, though...

RATING: 3 out of 3 Smarties

Review for You:

Very different from most Paranormal Romance novels, Wings actually comes with a background story that I as a reader was willing to believe. Instead of just throwing the paranormal stuff out there and letting me deal with it all on my own which usually ends with a lot of eye-rolling and moaning until I finally raced through the book, the author gives - very scientific sounding - explanations for what's going on with our main character, Lauren.
Now, that doesn't mean this was the kind of story I'd tell anyone about and expect him or her to be surprised by how academically advanced the books I read are, but - in the community that we find ourselves in - Wings deserves a spotlight for its realistic aspects.
What is there besides good background information, you ask? Well...not much I answer. There's a girl that appears pretty perfect to me. So perfect it sometimes ran shivers down my spine and something entirely different up my throat, a cute boy who unfortunately lacked any sign of a personality, some very dramatic events accompanied by predictable endings and a detective story that was just...weird. Yeah, I felt like the antagonists and the plot twists just randomly appeared in Lauren's way to somehow give this book a plot. In general, Wings was structured in a ... rather uncommon way. It takes ages until something actually happens in the book and then it takes another decade until Lauren understands what's happening. Basically, everything I knew from reading the synopsis, happened during the first half of the book which is not very funny as it makes that first half predictable.
The second half then serves as a source of suspension and dangerous plot which I didn't think was very dangerous at all. Unreasonable, yes, but thrilling? Not so much.

All in all, Wings is a nice book. It's by far nothing special and you could easily exchange it for any other Paranormal Romance, but it's a quick read and it does after all have potential because I feel like in later novels we might get to see a whole other world - literally - and that could be pretty epic and interesting. Anyway, as of right now, I highly doubt I will pick up the second book.

Review for me:

Favorite Quote: Uh...didn't exactly find it quote-worthy.

What I Learned from this book: If you have to write about Paranormal Creatures, it is a good thing to think of how that creature functions, how it stays alive, why it is so different etc. Makes the story believable. AND plants are vegan. And cannibals. Because...you know...they eat plants...

What I want to remember from this book: Nothing much.

When should I reread this book? When I feel like reading a book that destracts me without giving me anything to think about :D

Wishlist Wednesday

Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations. Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover

I just read a review of this book this morning and not only does the synopsis sound amazing, the review made it sound even better! I'm sorry, I can't remember where I found that review, but I guess the 3.95 rating on Goodreads might be an indication of how awesome this book must be :)

Top Ten 2013 Debuts I Can't Wait To Get My Hands On...

1) Splintered

I still haven't read the original Alice in Wonderland...I#ve seen the Disney movie with Amanda Seyfried...does that count? After all, it was amazing :D

2)Dualed

This one has just been on my list forever! Honestly...I'm pretty sure it's been almost a year. Hopefully, the waiting is worth it!

3) Pivot Point and 4) Mila 2.0

were both books I wasn't soo interested in, but then everyone got so excited about them and now I feel like I can't escape the enthusiasm...

5) The Nightmare Affair

It has a purple cover guys...and it sounds like pure fun! 

6) Altered

This one I'm sure I won't like.I just know it. It does not sound like my kind of story at ALL! But everyone else absolutely loved it. So, you know. It's not like my TBR pile and list is becoming wayyy taller than me or something...

7)Prophecy

I want this book. Ever since I first read the synopsis I felt like I could very well marry it...too bad there's no paperback yet. And that, actually, I don't have any time to read it :/ Yet. 

8) City of a Thousand Dolls

I don't think I have to explain...the synopsis, the cover...everything about this book cries "Read me!" and I guess the book is right. I should read it.

9) How My Summer Went Up in Flames

Sounds like the perfect summer read. Period.

So - which debuts are you looking forward to this year?