Top Ten Tuesday (42)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists there at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love us to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of their bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on their post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share.  If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. 

The topic this week is:

Top Ten Of Your Auto-buy Authors

1. Cassandra Clare  2. Laurie Halse Anderson  3. Francesca Lia Block  4. John Green  5. Jonathan Maberry  6. David Levithan  7. Beth Revis  8. Leigh Bardugo  9. Tamora Pierce  10. Ellen Wittlinger 

Look at those amazing authors!  Each one of them, I don't care what the book is about, what genre it tackles, or how expensive it is, I am OWNING it!!  These aren't listed in any particular order; but some have been my tried and true loves long before others (I'm looking at you Ellen Wittlinger).   

Each author, whether it be their prose, their worlds, their characters, or their plots, has captured me in some way and worked their dark author magic, making the money disappear right from my bank account.  I'm going to list one book from each author that I suggest you pick up. 

1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

3. The Hanged Man by Francesca Lia Block

4. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

5. Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

6. The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

7. Across the Universe by Beth Revis

8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

9. Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce

10. Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger

Each title links to the Goodreads page, so PLEASE go check them out!!  They are all marvelous, and some are lesser known titles that I think really deserve more attention! 

Who are you're Auto-buy Authors?  Leave a comment below, or do your own post and link me!!

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Cover Love

Cover art is one of my favorite things about physical books.

I like to put the books into categories, and talk about them.

What are some of your favorite covers? Do you have categories? 

Do you have pet peeves? Let me know!

Books mentioned:

The Fault in Our Stars

Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse

Hourglass

Hereafter

Wolves, Boys and Other Things that Might Kill Me

The Mockingbirds

Sisters Red

Zombies VS Unicorns

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New Adult: The New Genre on the Block

I'm probably behind the times in talking about this, but I just discovered this new genre through a book I recently read, Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson.  While researching for my review, I saw that this book can be considered "New Adult".  I didn't have any clue what that meant, but after I did a little research, I thought it was such a great idea!

Obviously not a new idea in terms of writing, but definitely a new idea in terms of marketing, New Adult is a line that was first pursued by Dan Weiss, Publisher at Large for St. Martin's Press, and his Editorial Assistant, S. Joe-Jones.  Weiss is a veteran in the publishing world, bringing to the world the Sweet Valley High series, among other things.  He saw a niche that was being underutilized and felt he could really develop something new for readers.

Basically, New Adult tends to center around protagonists who are between 18 & 26 years old.  They are usually in a transitional period where they aren't children, but haven't quite established themselves in their adult lives.  This means that they could be entering college, graduating, starting a their first career, or entering that first serious relationships.  It's a lot of "firsts", but in a way that is different from what a teenager would experience.  I like how Kristen Hoffman put it in her article, "New Adult: What Is It?", "As the saying goes: old enough to know beteer, but still too young to care" (2010, para. 3).  She goes on to say, in reference to herself and friends, "It's a strange time, because we're technically adults, but most of us feel more like overgrown kids" (Hoffman, 2010, para. 2).  This sentiment, I feel, perfectly encapsulates the need for this genre.

As a "20something" myself, I often feel like I'm in this constant battle, trying to figure out where I fit in now that I'm not in high school, but also when I'm not an adult with a mortgage, a husband, and two kids.  I think New Adult is a great opportunity for people n the same type of transitionary period of their life to tell their stories and write books about characters reflecting their lives.

There are some great books out there that could already fall into this genre, and an opportunity for more and more to be added.  Some of my favorite "adult" books I would re-categorize as New Adult: Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby, Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin, Prep by Curtis Sittenfield and Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson.  Obviously there are a ton more examples, and the genre is ever expanding to include books in all realms, not just contemporary (Royal Street is a good example of this).

I think this is an exciting new genre and a great addition to the book world.  The fact that more publishing houses are starting a New Adult line means more opportunity for readers and writers.  I like that the publishers are realizing that there are still needed distinctions.  Not to pigeonhole but to expand.  There are some interesting sites that you can check out if you want to learn more about New Adult: NA Alley, 20 Something Reads, and Confessions of a Twenty Something Fiction Writer.  All three have really good resources and book recommendations!

So what do you think?  Love New Adult?  Hate New Adult?  Needed niche or superfluous addition?  Let me know your opinion in the comments!


Reference:
Hoffman, K. (2010). New adult: What is it? Writer'sDigest.com. Retrieved from http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/new-adult-what-is-it

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Top Ten Tuesday (26)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of their bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

The topic this week is: 

Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings in Books!

1. The Spaceship Godspeed - The world of Across the Universe by Beth Revis takes place on a self-contained spaceship, hurtling through space towards a new planet.  The society within the setting makes the different levels of the ship that much more mysterious.  The scope of the ship is also ridiculous.  I just love the idea of an entire world contained on a ship stuck millions of miles away from anything else.
   
   
2. The Magical World of Harry Potter - You can't tell me that you've never imagined yourself within Hogwarts or Diagon Alley.  Every kid (and adult) who has experienced the amazing world of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling wished they could live there.  Luckily for me, I can hop to the next best thing The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure.  I can pretend I'm just another student at Hogwarts!
   
   
3. The Rot and Ruin - This wasteland holds the skeleton of the America we know in Jonathan Maberry's Rot & Ruin.  Filled with zombies, you can't just stroll along outside of Mountainside, the main human community fo the story. But that's what makes this crazy, scary place the perfect setting for a dystopic horror story.
   
   
4. Chicago - Of course from the list, you can figure out I don't mean just any old Chicago.  No, I'm talking about the dystopic Chicago readers see in Divergent by Veronica Roth.  Less the city itself, except for some key scenes, it's the factions that have developed which make Chicago so cool.  The different living spaces reflect the job and spirit of each faction, and I can't wait to find out more about each!
   
   
5. S.A.S.S. series - Each of the S.A.S.S. (Students Across the Seven Seas) books take place in a different country, from China to Mexico.  I get entrapped by the countries in each book, wishing I could jet off to visit each one.  I love the details that each author chooses to include, making each place feel very real!
   
   
6. Middle Earth - I can't complete this list without talking about the amazing world created in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings series.  Middle Earth has so many different parts that it is mind-boggling.  I think my favorite place is The Shire; I love the thought of second breakfast, and the happiness exuding from each Hobbit.  Of course the opposite of that can be found as well; Mordor is filled with evil and danger.  Just an amazing work of world-building, so well-crafted it feels real.
   
   
7. Narnia - Tolkien isn't the only one who crafted an iconic world which has been beloved for many years; C. S. Lewis gave us an amazing world in his Chronicles of Narnia.  In each book, the reader discovers more and more of this magical land filled with talking animals and ice queens.  The countryside is lush and brimming with adventure.  I think the best story is the creation story of Narnia itself.  I always dreamed I was with the Kings and Queens of Narnia, racing around the world, saving the day!
   
   
8. Westros & Essos - If you think Tolkien's world was epic, then you will definitely love the world of Westros & Essos in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.  From the Dothraki Sea is Essos to King's Landing, the capital of Westros, each is described and envisioned on a grand scale.  Not always a place I want to visit, but still breathtaking for multiple reasons.  Definitely an epic setting for an epic story!
   
   
9. Emelan - There isn't a fantasy world that I would rather live in then the world of Emelan.  In Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic series the four protagonists live at Winding Circle temple, a place of learning and magic.  Each place visited takes on recognizable traits from different cultures in our world, but turns them so they are still original.  Summersea, in The Duchy of Emelan, is my favorite place, and a city I'd love to visit.
   
   
10. 14th century Tuscany, Italy - I don't usually want to go back in time, but Lisa T. Bergren makes a great case for it in her River of Time series.  A lot less primitive then I imagined, Tuscany is a great backdrop to the romance happening to the two modern day protagonists.  Beautiful gowns, gallant knights, and a lush countryside, I can;t help but hope I fall back in time as well.

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DNF Reviews: Yay or Nay?

Lately, I have been reading many blogs which post DNF reviews.  For those of you who don't know, DNF stands for "Did Not Finish".  This is in reference to a book that, for whatever reason, the reviewer couldn't or wouldn't finish.  These reasons can range from "I didn't have the time, but I still liked it" to "This was the worst book on the face of this Earth".  Usually, at least for the ones I've encountered, they tend to land in the later category.

From what I can surmise, a DNF review serves the purpose of allowing a reviewer to tell exactly the reasons why he/she could not enjoy a book.  Characterization, writing, world development, the list goes on.  I can see the benefits to this.  It's always nice to read the other perspective on a book.  For instance, I loved a book I just read, Immortal City by Scott Speer, but a blogger I greatly admire didn't enjoy it at all.  See, people have a difference in tastes.  It happens.

However, with many DNFs that I've read, and this is no way pertaining to all DNF reviews, they turn into bitch sessions or "let's-tear-this-author-down" reviews.  Granted, that is part of freedom of speech, but I have to wonder, who does it benefit?  It doesn't benefit me to read some vitriol spewed rant. It does benefit me to read the logical reason why a person didn't finish a book.  This actually gives me reasons, not hate, to consider.

I understand that sometimes people really dislike a book.  I mean really dislike.  But let's face it, somewhere someone LOVES the book you hate (in addition to the author who probably worked really hard on it) so having some respect and decency when one writes a DNF is just good manners.  And while one has the right to review any book regardless of pages read, is it really fair to do so if they've only read 10-20 pages of a book?  Personally, I don't think so, as one can't possibly be informed on the actual content of the book.  But then again, I don't write DNF reviews period.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I understand the place for DNF reviews.  I think if done constructively and in a civilized tone, they actually benefit readers, and perhaps even writers in their future endeavors.  I think it's when they cross the line into hate reviews that it isn't necessary.  Negativity like that doesn't reflect well on anyone.

What do you think?  Do you write DNF reviews?  Do you think they serve a good purpose?  Do you hate them with a fiery passion?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Judging a Book By It's Cover

Yesterday on Wired, Geek Dad revealed the new covers for Beth Revis' Across the Universe trilogy.  When I first saw a link to the article, I was very excited to see the cover of Shades of Earth, the last book in the series (release date January 15, 2013) .  I clicked on the article, and was surprised to see the extreme difference Penguin went with the cover design.

Here are the original covers for Across the Universe and A Million Suns (there is no cover for Shades of Earth in this design, as it isn't published yet):

Here are the new covers for the trilogy:

Personally, I don't hate the new designs, but I don't like them either.  I prefer the old ones, as I believe they have infinitely more character, are simply gorgeous, and they excite me.  The new covers are very predictable, and fall in line with the same old sci-fi genre books one sees on the shelves every day.  According to Geek Dad, "Penguin has made the...decision to repackage the trilogy to broaden the target audience..." (Liu, 2012, para. 2).  But who exactly is the target audience?

Yesterday, after the news broke, I had a long discussion with three fellow book bloggers, Eileen from Singing and Reading in the Rain, Annabelle from Sparkles and Lightning, and Kayla from Kismet Kayla on Twitter.  The opinion between the four of us was that this specific cover redesign, and other cover redesigns, did not work.  Often the covers don't inspire an interest in the story, for collectors it ruins the series cohesion, and the redesigns can incur additional costs for those readers who like having the same format and style of book.

I can count myself in the audience that these covers do not target, and the only reason why I'm continuing with the trilogy is because I want to support Beth Revis.  For me, the reason these covers don't work is the exact reasons I stated above; the main one being they don't excite me! However, if the point of this redesign is to target adults (which is only a guess on my part), or perhaps male readers, then I guess they've done their job.  

But it is interesting that we live in a society so influenced by the status quo of what is "right" for what audience, that amazing covers such as the first design are scrapped to make way for something a little less girly/juvenile.  I wished there were more of an explanation given when redesigns of this magnitude happen.  I'd like to understand from the publisher's perspective why they believe it is necessary, and what they hope to gain from it.

Whatever the reason, I hope that the books continue to do well in all their formats, as Across the Universe is an amazing trilogy.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the redesign.  Do you love it, do you hate, or do you not care either way?  Leave your comments below, and whatever you're opinion, do check the books out because they are really worth it! 


Reference:
J Liu. (2012, July 7). GeekDad exclusive: New covers revealed for across the universe trilogy [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/07/new-covers-across-the-universe/

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April Recommendations!

Here are my recommendations for books, movies, tv, music, and etc 

for the month of April.  

If you want to participate, leave a link to your post in the comments!

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Books Goodreads:
Pink Smog by Francesca Lia Block
The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze - My Review 
I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Movies IMDb:
Iron Man
Iron Man 2 
The Incredible Hulk 
Thor
Captain America: The First Avenger

Television IMDb:
2 Broke Girls
Million Dollar Listing NY

Music iTunes:
Everybody Talks by Neon Trees
Some Nights by Fun. 
Payphone by Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Kalifa

Etc Links:
Minnie Mouse Ears
Yes to Blueberries Facial Towelettes
Nail Polish Palettes (ummm get some plastic?)
Scarf (From The Avenue, but out of season)

FTC Disclaimer:
All the items shown I have either bought or gotten as a gift. None of the companies/producers/brands mentioned are paying me for this video or even know their items may be shown. All opinions are my own and this is a 100% non-sponsored video.

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Top Ten Tuesday (14)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of their bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

The topic this week is: Top Ten Tips For New Book Bloggers


I suppose I could call myself a seasoned book blogger (even after just a year and 4 months), but I'm still trying to get the hang of this thing.  Believe me there are a ton of bloggers out there way more savvy then me, BUT I do have some advice to impart on you younglings!!

1. Figure out which blogging platform works best for you!  There are two main ones which people use: Blogger and Wordpress.  Both of these have their pros and cons, but it's really what works best for you.  I'd read some reviews of both to gain a feel for them.  Both are free to use and web-based, so they're simple to start with.  
2. Set up a separate email account for your blog!  It is easier to have all your blog comments, email inquires, and review requests come to the same email.  This helps avoid you missing something, and if you ever stop blogging you still have your personal email intact.  This also makes it easier to set up other social networking sites which I will talk about as well.
3. Get on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Youtube, and Pinterest!  Social networking is you friend; it can help you reach a larger audience and allows you to post content in a multitude of places.  If you have to pick one go with Twitter!  It is the fasest way to get information out, and to connect with other bloggers.  Then after that I'd go with Facebook.  The other three are fun, but not as important from the get go.
4. Browse other book blogs and find ones you like!  Do a Google or Twitter search to find relevant blogs.  And there are all kinds out there.  Some specialize in certain genres, others certain age groups, and others that are a mixed bag.  For instance, I read mostly YA book blogs because that's my interest.  To keep all of the blogs you find organized, you can use a feedburner.  there are several out there, but the one I use is Netvibes.  Super simple, and keeps all my blogs in order!
5. Comment, comment, comment!  Once you find those blogs you like, start commenting!  This is a fast way to get followers yourself, and to make friends within the blogosphere.  It's also good manners to comment on a post; the blogger puts time and effort in posting and it's nice to be appreciated.
6. Make a schedule you can keep!  Don't try and be super blogger because you'll burn out.  It may seem easy at first, especially if you start during a slow time in your life, but as you get more and more busy, it becomes harder and harder to keep up.  That's why I suggest keeping a schedule.  Pick days or times you write posts that work with your life.  And don't be too hard on yourself if you miss a post.  This needs to be fun not just for the reader, but for you as the writer; a schedule helps with that!  Some online options are: Remember the Milk, Day Viewer, & picoBeat
7. Write extra posts early!  If you have a free couple of hours then I suggest writing extra posts up and scheduling them to post.  This saves my butt a ton of times!  Usually there's a schedule button that you use to choose both date and time of post.  Very convenient for vacations or busy times .
8. Don't focus so much on what you don't have yet!  This could include the number of followers you have or getting ARCs for review.  This stuff will come, believe me!  Ask any season blogger, and they'll let you know that those things didn't come right away!  It takes perseverance, and time to show how awesome you are!  Because we all know it, but sometimes it takes publishers a little bit of time to find out ; )  Also, if you do the comments thing, you should be getting reciprocal action.  See it's all part of the circle of blogging!
9. Features are fun, but try to find your own thing too!  There are a TON of features to choose from all over the blogosphere (including this one).  Some of my favorites are In My Mailbox, Top Ten Tuesday, Teaser Tuesday, and Waiting on Wednesday.  There are other awesome ones as well.  They are great for pageviews, but original content is really what makes followers stay.  Think of things you really love, and blog about those!  If you like movies, go ahead and blog it up!  Knitting your thing?  Then let us know what it's all about!  When you're a book blogger remember that's not the only thing you are, and your followers are just as diverse!
10. Have fun!  The last thing I have to tell you is just to have fun with it all!  Seriously, that is the one thing I hope the most that you take away from this little list!

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