The Summer I Became A Nerd

by Leah Rae Miller
Published: Entangled Teen
Pages: 267

Maddie Summers is a typical high school cheerleader - popular, pretty and dating the quarterback.  But what people don't realize is that she is a closet nerd.  When Maddie meets Logan, the guy behind the local comic book shop, her love for comics and sci-fi threatens to spill out.  The life that she has carefully spun starts to unravel and the lies quickly become harder to control.  She risks hurting everyone she cares about, including herself.

First things first.  Anything that references Harry Potter is okay in my book. Aside from that, there were so many wonderful references to books, movies and comics that I couldn't help but enjoy reading this book.  I also loved that there were multiple LARPing scenes, it just made me excited to be a nerd.  I don't think there are quite enough outlets for geeks/nerds to be proud.  This book definitely allows for people to declare their love loud and clear. It's refreshing.

The characters were also highly believable and well rounded.  Although, I did have issues with Maddie at certain points.  I'll be the first to admit I was irritated that she ran around in secret, doing the exact opposite thing I would do if a nerd boy declared his feelings for me.  The lying thing was perhaps the most irritating thing about her.  I didn't see the need for her to have lied so much and about the things she did.  Some of them (well all of the lies, really) didn't seem necessary to me. However, from a character stand point, I thought she was well written, the popular girl who's secretly in love with comics and sci-fi and LARPing.

The whirlwind romance of nerdiness is the icing on the cake.  I had a hard time putting this book down once I picked it up.  Leah Rae Miller has stormed onto the scene with The Summer I Became a Nerd, and I hope she will continue to make nerdy books as amazing as this one.


Stars: 4/5

Praise:

"Leah Rae Miller's debut is charming, funny, clever and utterly geek-tastic! Beyond that, I appreciated the book's message that the road to happiness is to be true to yourself first."
     --The FlyLeaf Review

"Between the laugh out loud dialogue and Mddie and Logan's pulse-skipping romance, I longed for the Flash's speed so I could read the book over again and again!"
     --Cole Gibsen, author of the KATANA series

"A sweet and fun summer read that turns the tables on the popular guy/nerdy girl scenario and refreshingly features a popular girl who wants to let her nerd flag fly."
     --Just a Couple More Pages

Anna Karenina

by Leo Tolstoy
Published: Penguin Classic Deluxe Edition, 2001
Pages: 838

Anna Karenina lives a nice life with her husband and son, but when she goes to visit his brother and his wife she meets a man that turns her life upside down.  When her love affair with Count Vronsky begins she has to start making decisions. Will she leave her husband and her son?And how will she face society with a ruined social presence?  What Anna decides will change her life forever, whether for better or worse she does not know.

It took me way longer than I expected to finish this and for no other reason that it is just very long.  Because of the length, the pacing was not consistent.  I found myself unable to focus at times, I mean there's only so many pages I can read about lawn mowing.

The story, however, is captivating and haunting.  Tolstoy's writing is eloquent and simple.  There is beauty in his sentences and depth in his meanings.  He writes with purpose; there is plan for every detail he has written, whether it is character development or to show contrast in characters.  I very much admire the way Tolstoy writes.

Leo Tolstoy has a way of expressing emotion that is unlike anything that I've ever read.  At the beginning of the book, Stepan Oblonsky's guilt is so accurately described, it felt completely authentic.  Only someone who has felt this extreme sense of guilt could explain it so perfectly.  Throughout the entire novel, we get to see how characters think and how they justify their actions or misconstrue other people's intentions.  It really shows the dysfunction of people, but more specifically families.

Although I enjoyed reading this book, I won't be diving into anymore Tolstoy for a while.  I need something a little less dense in my life right now.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Peaver and Volokhonsky are at once scrupulous translators and vivid stylists of English, and their superb rendering allows us, as perhaps never before, to grasp the palpability of Tolstoy's 'characters, acts, situations."
      --James Wood, The New Yorker

"In their version, Anna Karenina becomes a surprising rediscovery... Pevear and Volokhonsky may truly be said to be the reinventors of the classic Russian novel for our times."
     --PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize Citation

This is an Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge book!

Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

by Rick Riordan
published: Hyperion books, 2005
pages: 389

Percy Jackson is a 12-year-old troublemaker that finds himself being chased by creatures and gods that have only been heard of in Greek myths.  When Zeus' master bolt is stolen, Percy is the biggest suspect. He and his friends set out to prove his innocence, but they only have ten days to keep the peace on Mount Olympus, and prevent war between the gods.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  The application of the Greek mythology into modern day America is quite entertaining.  I liked that certain gods owned shops and that others gods disguised themselves as humans. Apart from the main plot, I thought the subplots were solid and incorporated really well with the rest of the story.  They are very deliberate, seemingly insignificant scenes were tied back into the plot.

 I absolutely love the way Rick Riordan explains ADHD and dyslexia not as disabilities, but different ways of understanding.  I thought that was really cool.  Along with this, the humor in this book is noteworthy.  Being that the book was narrated by Percy, it felt very natural, not in the least forced.  Each character had their own sense of humor and it was revealed through their interactions with each other.

The characters in this book are excellent, mainly Percy and his friends, Annabeth and Grover.  Their character development throughout their journey is incredibly paced and evident.  Each of them grow into their themselves; they become more mature and yet they still retain believability as 12-year-olds.

This book is full of action-packed adventure that had me captivated from the beginning.  I cannot wait to continue Percy Jackson's story in the rest of series.

Also, I can see why people like the book so much more than the movie.  You just get so much more from the book!  (This doesn't mean I didn't like the movie.)

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"Percy is an ADHD, wise-cracking, first-person narrator.  Naturally, his real quest is for his own identity.  Along the way, such topics as family, trust, war, the environment, dreams, and perceptions are raised."
     --School Library Journal

"The sardonic tone of the narrator's voice lends a refreshing air of realism to this riotously paced quest tale of heroism that questions the realities of our world, family, friendships and loyalty."
     --Kirkus Review

"If you want a young person to read a book, take a lesson from Rick Riordan and start it by warning readers to close the book right away and go back to their uninformed lives.  This book will bring out the readers...with its fast pace and adventure.
     --KLIATT

This is an Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge Book!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

by Laini Taylor
published: Little Brown and Company, 2011
pages: 418

Karou lives in a world where her fake grandmother registers her for school, she goes on strange errands for her guardian, Brimstone, and she can acquire languages from wishes.  She is confident in what she knows, but when Karou ventures to find the answer to the question she's always asked herself: Who am I?, things begin to unravel into a dangerous mess.  What she's about to find out will not only change her life but also push her head first into a world in the crux of crisis.

There are books that people talk about nonstop, that make your desire to read them intensify, that promise a great and stunning book.  These books can, and often do fall short of their praise.  But sometimes the books live up to and exceed all expectations.

Unfortunately for me, this book falls into the category of too highly anticipated.  It is sad to say that I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, given everything wonderful that I've heard about it.  My biggest issue with this book was the pacing.  For whatever reason, I had a hard time keeping interested in the book.  There are definitely periods of time where I could not stop reading, but there were also sections of the book that I thought about skipping because it was taking so long to get through them.

This however, does not mean I didn't notice how the masterful writing was both haunting and humorous.  The banter between characters and the descriptions of every creature were magnificent.  I could plainly see everyone in with their distinct characteristics.  Characterization was insanely good in this novel and the development of each character was purposeful and powerful.

I did like the idea that Karou was an artist and the things she drew in her sketchbooks were her reality, but others thought they were part of her imagination.  I thought that was extremely clever and it also made me think about what I've just assumed was someone's imagination in the past, whether it was story lines or drawings.  The idea that someone could be drawing a truth that I don't acknowledge is really intriguing.

Also, this was kind of like Romeo and Juliet with a paranormal twist to it, and unlike many adaptations, this ended with enough gusto that it couldn't have been predicted.  (Well, I guess it could have, but I didn't predict it.)

Laini Taylor has beautiful writing that alone makes me want to continue reading Karou and Akiva's story.  I am sure I will pick up the sequel in the near future.

Stars: 3.5/5

Praise:

"A masterful mix of reality and fantasy."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A breath-catching romantic fantasy about destiny, hope and the search for one's true self."
     --The New York Times Book Reveiw

"...the author crafts a fierce heroine with bright-blue hair, tattoos, martial skills, a growing attachment to a preternaturally hunky but not entirely sane warrior and, in episodes to come, an army of killer angels to confront.  Rarely does a series kick off so deliciously."
     --Kirkus, starred review

This is an Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge Book!

A Great and Terrible Beauty

by Libba Bray
published: Simon and Schuster, 2003
pages: 403

Gemma Doyle isn't like any other proper Victorian lady.  She doesn't care much for being seen and not heard, speaking only when spoken to, or dancing with grace.  What she really wants is to go to London.  After tragedy strikes in her family, 16-year-old Gemma gets exactly that.  She is sent to attend a boarding school in a Gothic mansion that is wrapped in mystery. When she makes friends with an unlikely group of girls, she begins to uncover more about herself and the mysterious Order she keeps hearing about.

I've been looking to read this book for a long time, but it somehow slipped off my radar for a bit.  I'm glad it reappeared!

This book is very character driven, and as a person who is character driven, I really enjoyed the characters.  Gemma is a good realistic version of a 16-year-old girl, she's sweet and intelligent, but can be selfish and bratty.  The growth of the characters was compelling. I couldn't stand Felicity and Pippa in the beginning of the novel but as the story progressed we see a bit more of who they are as people and I warmed up to them.

The supernatural element of this story is very cleverly executed.  To be honest, I didn't actually know that there was a supernatural element when I began reading it and I wasn't sure if I'd like it in the context.  However, it was seamlessly incorporated into the story and the sensory details added to the mood making the paranormal more natural.

My biggest issue with this story was the pacing.  I will admit that there was sections of the story that seemed a bit slow, but it never stayed slow for long.  Every time I started to feel a bit sluggish, something happened that peaked my interest again. It's one of those books that is slow and steady and then it explodes with action.  There a certain point where you just get sucked in until the end and it's definitely worth it.

Believe it or not, this is my first Libba Bray novel.  I can't believe it took me so longer to read something by an author I've heard about for maybe six or seven years.  This book is a great start to the Gemma Doyle Trilogy.  I am thrilled I don't have to wait for the sequels.

Stars: 4/5

Praise:

"An interesting combination of fantasy, light horror, and historical fiction, with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure...Recommend this to fantasy fans who also like Sherlock Holmes or Mary Russell."
     --School Library Journal

"There's no doubt the mystical elements, along with a touch of forbidden romance, will draw a large, enthusiastic audience, who will come away wanting more about stubborn, willful Gemma and the strange world whose doors she can open at will."
     --Booklist

"Gripping and suspenseful.  Colourful...compelling."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A Gothic novel touched by modern conceptions of adolescence, shivery with both passion and terror."
     --Kirkus Reviews

This is An Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge book!

Legend

by Marie Lu
Published: G.P. Putnam Juvenile
Pages: 305

In what used to be known as the United States, the Republic has taken root and become perpetually at war with it's enemy, the Colonies.  Within the walls of this hierarchy,  two 15-year-olds become very important to the nation.  June is a perfect score government prodigy and Day is the country's most wanted criminal. When their paths cross unexpectedly, it becomes a battle of strength, will, and truth.  It's up to them to decipher what is real and what is a lie; who they trust and who will be right: June or Day.

The thing I found most unique and engaging about this story is the two different perspectives: Day and June.  We see the challenges from these two very different places in this society and gather different sets of information from both characters.  We also get to see each character develop together throughout the story, we see the weight of their own struggles.

I especially enjoy the character development of June and the degree to which she slowly changes, grows into her own.  Even though she's a prodigy, she is imperfect in other ways.  She learns this about herself in startling circumstances.  The further she digs into the mysteries of the Republic, the more she finds out about herself as a person.  

Marie Lu is great at world building.  Even though the book is set in a futuristic LA, the visual of the outer-bank slum areas with flooded buildings and ruined high rises are vivid, especially in contrast with the electric, modern strongholds of the rich government areas.  The obvious differences add to the characters' differences but also provides more impact when they begin to interact.

I was so captivated by this book, I cannot wait to read the sequel!

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"A romantic thriller set in a post-apocalyptic world where nothing is what it seems - Legend is impossible to put down and even harder to forget."
      --Kami Garci, New York Times Bestselling Co-Author of Beautiful Creatures

"A dripping thriller in dystopic future Los Angeles...this is no didactic near-future warning of present evils, but a cinematic adventure featuring endearing, compelling heroes."
     --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

This is an Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge book!

Tuesdays with Morrie

by Mitch Albom
published: Broadway Books, 1997
pages: 199

Mitch Albom graduated from college and began his successful career as a sports writer and columnist.  His life began to change, however, when he saw his favorite, and long forgotten, college professor on an episode of Nightline with Ted Koppel talking about his terminal illness.  Mitch decided that it was time to visit his old "coach" and possibly say goodbye for the last time.  What Mitch didn't know was that Morrie would once again teach him more than he thought possible.

I knew nothing about this book, and how surprised I was to learn that this was a memoir of a dying man.  When I started it, I almost didn't want to continue but I am glad I did.  I didn't know that I would get attached to a man that had died almost 15 years ago, someone that I had never met.  Now, I wish I had.

Morrie's life at the surface seemed ordinary, but this books sheds light on the man Morrie really was, a professor, a coach, a friend, and a loved one.  Mitch Albom elegantly shares Morrie's life in conversation and short flashbacks.  The little bit we get of Morrie's past shows a great deal about his character.

Dealing with Lou Gehrig's disease is no small feet, and even though it had me in tears by the end, I am glad I read this book.  It made me think about how I am living my life and what I need/want to change about it to live to the fullest, the way Morrie had.

Stars: 4/5

Praise:

"As sweet and nourishing as fresh summer corn...the book begs to be read aloud."
     --USA Today

"A wonderful book, a story of the heart told by a writer with soul."
     --Los Angeles Times

"One of those books that kind of sneaked up and grabbed people's hearts over time."
     --Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

This is an Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge book.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

by John Green and David Levithan
Published: Speak, 2011 (first published Dutton, 2010)
Pages: 310

When Will Grayson meets Will Grayson, they aren't expecting each other.  In fact, the first is buying a souvenir for his best and gay friend, Tiny Cooper and the other is meeting an internet friend.  Little did they know that their meeting is the catalyst for events that lead to the most entertaining musical to ever hit the high school stage.

Tiny Cooper is one of the funniest characters I have ever had the pleasure to read.  In addition to being completely gay, I mean that in the very best way, he is charming and so outgoing it hurts.  I laughed so much while reading about Tiny's musical, who would have thought to write a musical about themselves? Tiny Cooper.  That's who.

I was very excited to actually see the musical in the book.  I am a self professed lover of musicals so this just made my day.  The lyrics to the songs are priceless and entertaining and the scenes are wonderfully obnoxious.  I can't help agreeing with Will Grayson, the best friend, that Tiny is altogether too much to handle.  That, however, doesn't stop me from enjoying him and the rest of the characters.

The Wills are not quite opposites, just different guys with the same name and a shared Tiny.  They both, however, are having problems of their own.  To a certain extent Tiny, whether intentionally or unintentionally, helps them realize how to go about dealing with their problems.  They are, eventually, brutally honest with themselves and with those they love.  As characters, they are incredibly dynamic.

I give mad props to John Green and David Levithan for coming up with this idea and for writing it.  I am so glad because the world needed this book.  If these authors ever get the itch to write together again, I hope they don't hesitate.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a complete romp.  [It is] so funny, rude and original that by the time flowers hit the stage, even the musical-averse will cheer."
     -- The New York Times Book Review

"Will have readers simultaneously laughing, crying and singing at the top of their lungs."
     --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"It is such a good book. [Green and Levithan] are two of the best writers writing today."
     --NPR's The Roundtable

It's An Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge book!

Beautiful Creatures

by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Published Little Brown, 2009

Pages: 563

Ethan Wate has been planning his escape for the small Southern town of Gatlin for as long as he can remember.  But when the beautiful girl that has been haunting his dreams becomes the new girl in town, he knows something strange is happening.  He decides to do whatever it takes to figure out why he and Lena Duchannes seem to be drawn together.

I wasn't sure what to think about this book, but I heard nothing but good things so I decided to give it a try.  Also, it didn't hurt that the movie is coming out very soon. (TODAY!)  I am so glad that I did!  This story has a unique twist to the idea of forbidden love between a mortal and a caster.

Setting the story in a small town in South Carolina where change is not well received was a brilliant decision on the part of the authors.  I thought it worked really well in isolating Lena from the rest of the group not only because of who she is but also because the town has decided that new isn't good.  This element of the story felt very real and infuriating.

The combination of lore and Southern history kept me fascinated and engaged.  I loved that the Civil War was part of the history of this story.  It's interesting how that aspect of history can be so convoluted in different parts of the country and adding it into this story was a great touch.

The characters Lena and Ethan are just adorable and their relationship is realistic and challenging.  I like that Ethan doesn't have a problem with who Lena is and that he decides to stick up for her when an entire town, his home town, is against her no matter the consequences.  It's powerful.

This story is not only a wonderful romance, but it's also has fundamental moral dilemmas that left me frustrated and amazed by the characters actions.  Kami Garci and Margaret Stohl have something going on! I look forward to reading the rest of this series; I can't wait to see what happens to Ethan and Lena next.

Stars: 4/5 

Praise:
"Gorgeously crafted, atmospheric, and original.  I devoured it."
     --Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked  Lovely

"A hauntingly delicious dark fantasy."
     --Cassandria Clare, New York Times bestselling author of City of Bones

"[Readers] will be swept by the haunting and detailed atmosphere, the conventions and strictures of Southern Life, and a compelling and dimensional mythology."
     --Publishers Weekly

This is an Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge book!

Book Challenges 2013

It's that time of year again! It's time to join some challenges. I've got a couple familiar ones and a couple new so let's get started.

First up:

The 2013 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge, hosted by Reading with Tequila.

RULES: Participants can read any books from the list of books recommended by bloggers in 2012.  You can decide to read books only from the top 25 or from the entire recommendation list.  Rereads do not count towards your total books.  (All formats acceptable: audiobooks, e-book, etc.)
recommended books

The Levels:
Level I: 5 books
Level II: 10 books
Level III: 15 books
Level IV: 20 books
Level V: 20 + books


Level I - 5 books
1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
2. Divergent by Veronica Roth
3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
5. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
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Second:
2013 TBR Pile Challenge, hosted by Roof Beam Reader.

RULES: Read 12 books from your "to be read" pile.  Each of these books must have been on your bookshelf for at least a full year.  They must be published before 1/1/2012, anything before that is fair game. Create a list of book with two alternatives just in case one or two of your original picks end up in the "can't get through" pile.  Books must be read and reviewed to count as completed.  The 15th of every month there will be a post where you can post your reviews.


1. Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey (1968)
2. Uglies - Scott Westerfield (2005)
3. Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green and David Levithan (2010)
4. Dreamland - Sarah Dessen (2004)
5. Feed - M.T. Anderson (2002)
6. Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom (1997)
7. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott (1868-69)
8. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (1847)
9. Island of Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell (1960)
10. Fever 1793 - Laurie Halse Anderson (2000)
11. The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie - Jacolyn Moriarty (2006)
12. How to Be Popular - Meg Cabot (2006)

Alternates:
Kissed By An Angel - Elizabeth Chandler (first published 1998, 2010)
Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (1998)
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Third:
The Eclectic Reader 2013 Challenge, hosted by Book'd Out.


RULES:
This challenge will run from January 1st to December 31st 2013.  Create a blog post committing to your participation.  You can choose your books as you go or create a list in advanced.  You have to read a book from each of the genres listed below.  You can read your chosen titles in any order, at any pace, just complete the challenge by December 21st 2013.  Each time you read and review a book as part of this challenge, make sure you identify it by adding either a direct statement or the challenge image badge to the post.

This years genres:

1. Translated fiction - Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 
2. Historical mystery - A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
3. Romantic suspense - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
4. Made into a movie - Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garci and Margaret Stohl
5. New Adult - Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
6. Urban Fantasy - Valiant by Holly Black 
7. Dystopian - Legend by Marie Lu
8. Memoir - Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
9. LGBT - Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
10. Action Adventure - Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
11. Humour
12. Published in 2013 - The Summer I Became A Nerd by Leah Rae Miller
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Fourth:

Dystopian Reading Challenge 2013, hosted by Blog of Erised.

RULES: The challenge runs from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.  The books must include some form of post-apocalyptic theme and be full length.  All formats are allowed as well as rereads. Sign up for the challenge with the linky on Blog of Erised's challenge post.

The Levels:
Recruit: 1-6 books
Rebel: 7-12 books
Revolutionist: 13-18 books
Leader: 19+ books

I have chosen Recruit: 1-6 books
1. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
2. Legend by Marie Lu
3. Divergent by Veronica Roth
4. Prodigy by Marie Lu
5.
6.
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Fifth:
This is more of a personal challenge. I've been reading off a book list since 2007, but last year I stopped reading from it as much as I usually do. This year I would like to create a nice dent in the list again. There are over 450 books, so it shouldn't be a problem. It's the Teenreads Ultimate Reading List if you'd like to take a look.

My goal is 10 books off the list this year.

1. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
2. Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
3. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
4. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
5. Legend by Marie Lu
6. Cinder by Marissa Meyer 
7. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
8. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
9. 21 Proms edited by David Levithan and Daniel Ehrenhaft
10. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
11. Feed by M.T. Anderson
12. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
13. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
14. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
15. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
16. The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson