Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop 2/25

The Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer of Crazy-for-Books. It is a way for all the book bloggers out there to get together and find out about each other's blogs.

This week's hop question: Do you ever wish you would have named your blog something different?

Occasionally, especially when I see a super-cute, whimsically named blog. But, as recent postings have shown, scattered is my nature, in my brain as well as my bookshelf! I still like it, and I hope that continues.

This meme is hosted by Parajunkee's View

And this week's Friday Follow discussion - Share your current favorite television show! Tell us about it!

My favorite currently running, US television show - and in fact, the only one I watch - is Raising Hope. Y'all, this show is just plain hilarious. But it is so hard to explain! My little sister loved it, and kept going on about episodes and I just thought she was crazy because if you try to describe it you sound like you are on drugs. All the characters are hilarious and if you ever have some time to kill and a desire to laugh, I think you should check it out on Hulu! A feckless young man who lives with his parents ends up a single parent after a one-night stand with a serial killer and the show is about his crazy, stuck-in-the-seventies family as they raise baby Hope (renamed from Princess Beyonce) and Jimmy yearns for Sabrina, the grocery check-out girl. 

My favorite show altogether is Doctor Who! Time traveling alien seeks fantastic human companions for adventure and shenanigans. Over 40 years of history to catch up on, I am way behind but love the Eleventh doctor to bits! If you haven't seen it, you should!
 

Review Blitz #1

Hey y'all! I've not abandoned my little corner of the internet, I've just been struggling with the adjustment of returning to work. When you have less time home with your kids and husband, it can be hard to give any of it up to work on a blog! And don't even imagine I can stay up late to do it - that's just crazy talk. On a wild night, I'm still in bed by 10 and I like it that way. Moms of tiny kids need all the sleep they can get, my 2 year old does not understand the concept of weekends and generally wakes up at 6:30 every. single. morning.

So, what to do? Well, I'm still keeping track of my reading and plan to do my best to get back into the reviewing habit. But until that happens, I plan to do a once-a-week Review Blitz! *dun-dun-duh*


Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil series by Rosemary Clement-Moore  8/10

These books were hilarious and clever, reminiscent of Buffy at its peak! (that is high praise, from me.) I adore Maggie, our reluctantly psychic protagonist, and her motley crew of friends, and the many pop culture references. They were so fun, I read them in less than 3 days, and was delighted and enthralled as Maggie took on demons, monsters and evil sorority girls! Bonus - a love interest that reminds me of a young Giles! Hey, I can't be the only one who developed a slightly inappropriate crush on Anthony Stewart Head back in the day.

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman
7/10

This book was a sweet love story from a male perspective - although it is set in high school I was reminded (in a good way!) of the movie (500) Days of Summer. The somewhat terse writing style was hard to get into at the start, but I was engrossed pretty quickly and in the end really enjoyed this book that was a nice departure from my usual style.

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George
9/10

I snagged this J fiction book because I adored the author's YA fairy tale retellings, Princess of the Midnight Ball and Princess of Glass. If anything, I loved this original fantasy even more! It is so sweet and charming. I really enjoy the way Jessica Day George works crafts into the plots of her books so seamlessly (hah!) - the soldier Galen's knitting in her YA books, and Creel's sewing and embroidery in this book. As a crafty type person myself, it makes me happy, and I hope it inspires readers! Our library's copy of the sequel has been overdue for over a year, so I'm going to pester someone to re-order it. *grabby hands*

That's it for today, hope to be back in action tomorrow for the Follow and Hop fun!

What I'm Reading

This fantastic meme is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Recently Read: Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore, Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones, House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones, Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

Reading Now: Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Up Next: Highway to Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore, The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman

Review: The Ruby Oliver Books

Upon my return to the land of the employed, I beheld the newest Ruby Oliver novel on our new book display. I had read and enjoyed The Boyfriend List, but somehow the rest of the series had drifted down the TBR list and I was way behind. Luckily, we had all the books in and I had some spare time, and I quickly powered my way through The Boy Book, The Treasure Map of Boys, and the newest, Real Live Boyfriends.  Adorable, very nearly perfection. Similar to Georgia Nichols, but more self-aware and less zany. 9/10, and an extra squeeze to Noel.

"Waiting On" Wednesday 9

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Release date: 3/29/11

Summary:
Azalea is trapped. 

Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late. 

I adore fairy tale retellings SO MUCH. And this is part of my 2011 Debut Author Challenge list. So HURRY UP PLEASE!


*So sorry, once again I have failed to keep up with my posting schedule - I've returned to work this week and am not yet settled into a rhythm of any kind. Things will feel less stressful soon... right?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop 2/4

What are you reading now and why are you reading it?

I'm currently reading The Vespertine and The Replacement. I requested the NetGalley of The Vespertine because there has been so much positive buzz for it, and I do love some historical fiction. I love The Vespertine, but I have a toddler who hates to see me sitting at my computer, so I need a secondary book to read around the house and while I'm nursing the tiny one. The Replacement seems very excellent so far!

 

What is the book you are currently 'pushing'? 

 

Hmm, well I'll be better able to push books once I'm back at work in the library (Monday! Yay and *sigh*, both at once) but the books I think I've mentioned most are the Curseworkers books by Holly Black. I really loved White Cat and can't wait for Red Glove, and I know I've mentioned both fairly often on this blog. I really love Cassel and the just slightly different world Holly Black created. It makes me want to wear gloves... just in case. Once I'm back at the desk, I'll definitely be recommending it to teens - although they'll have to put up with me being first on the hold list for Red Glove.

 

Review: Tyger, Tyger

Title: Tyger, Tyger
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Publisher: Clarion Books (November 15, 2010)
Rating: 9/10
Source: library

Summary: Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.
     
Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

"Waiting On" Wednesday 8

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (no book cover released yet)
Release date: UNKNOWN

Summary: "Book 3, tentatively titled Bitterblue and currently in progress, is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms six years after Graceling. As you may have gathered, the protagonist is Bitterblue. Yes, Katsa, Po, and others from Graceling whom I'm not yet willing to name do appear in the book."

Yes, please! The above statement is from Cashore's blog in 2008 - I loved both Graceling and Fire and can't wait to return to their world. 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that readers are eagerly awaiting.

Talk to me Tuesday #5

This week's question: What is your favourite genre to read, and why?

My favorite genre is definitely fantasy. While I may go back and forth on preferring epic fantasy or urban fantasy depending on my mood, I always love of a touch of magic in my reading.

Growing up, I never read contemporary fiction if I could help it. Mysteries, sure, but a straight story of people just like me... what was the point? My little sister never read fantasy, only contemporary. We've both expanded our horizons since then, but I still love fantasy best of all. I've especially started reading more contemporary fiction since I decided to become a librarian, since it is very popular and I need to be able to recommend. I've fallen in love with plenty of realistic fiction, but my heart is always more open to fantasy novels.

I think it is just because magic and fantasy creatures are awesome. There is so much to work with and I love seeing what each fantasy author comes up with!