My dearest friend (of course, besides you, Gabby) is my books. Well.... I mean, books are books and people aren't nearly as interesting.... maybe I should rethink this hierarchy I have here. I'd say it's a toss up. (I'm kidding, Gabby! Or am I?)
But besides all of the books, and Gabby, and the other human beings, my best friend is the library. For here I will reveal a crucial piece of my character: not only do I love books, but I am completely and entirely dirt cheap.
I hoard my money like I actually have something planned for it, but books are one of the few things I will relinquish it for. Even then I'm still careful. I have to know that I'll love the book, probably by having read the library's copy or having already been acquainted with the author's books before. Of course, there are definitely exceptions if the book looks so good that I can't do anything but order a copy for myself, but this mantra generally holds true.
Libraries are like little book wonderlands where dancing novel pixies flit around to bestow upon you the gift of happiness. And free-ness. Let's not forget the free-ness. There are no consequences if you don't actually enjoy the book (except for the time wasted reading it), and c'mon people, the smell! Anyone who lives in the library like I do can attest to the fact that the smell of so many books in one place is like heaven to the noses of us novel ninjas. (And yes, there that nickname comes up again. Do you think it will stick?)
Now bookstores, they smell like synthetic packing peanuts and the ever present Starbucks that has squeezed its way into this holy sanctuary. The beautiful aura of books is muddled by those other little trinkets that will forever be found in bookstores. Bendable bobble-heads of caricatured puppies and kittens don't belong in bookstores. That's what Walmart is for.
But bookstores do have their benefits. You never have to wait until a new release is stocked, and if all of the other copies have been taken, you can just order another instead of having to wait the customary two weeks. Once you own the book, you can pick it up again whenever you feel like it, and lend it out to whomever you recommend it to. There are no other restrictions you have to worry about, no one else to take into account, and you make all of the rules to follow as you please. But that freedom comes at a cost, one that I'm only willing to pay if I know it's worth the price.
So what do you guys usually do? Are you a more frequent roamer of bookstores or libraries? Or are all of your copies now digital, either borrowed or owned?
Even though I have read very little of this author, I absolutely love her. Everything she does is incredibly hilarious and so creative that it's not even funny. Wait. Did I just contradict myself?
The first (and only, sadly) book that I've read from her isn't even a book. I discovered her writing through a short story called "Things About Love" that she published in Enthralled. I loved it. I'd never met any of the characters before, but that didn't really matter because they were so easy to love.
The reason that I continue to love her so much even though I haven't read very many of her books is because of her incredible Youtube vlogs. They are hilarious. I don't think there's a single one in over 200 that I haven't laughed at. Even more than that, she's very willing to give us all a keen insight on how an author's world works. Here are some of the best ones:
Stuff Non-Writers Say
Sh*t Writers Say
Misconceptions
Writers' Blok (Parody)
Naming Characters
Imaginary Writing Process
And finally....
Amazon FAIL (or Twilight Made Me Gay)
This woman is a comedic genius, crazy pet lover, and an incredibly talented writer all in one. I don't know how she does it!
I just have to say that for
about half of this book, I couldn't get the song "Pure Imagination" from
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory out of my head. This book resembled
the song in so many ways: the characters were looking for a place where
there was nothing to changing the world into the creative wonderland
they thought it should be, a place where "you'll be free if you truly
wish to be."
I know that this is not the usual type of book that we read, but when Marked By Books was contacted by the author, Veronika Carnaby, we figured that we'd give the book a shot anyways. The idea seemed interesting, and the book looked like it had a lot of promise, fresh from the mind of a young author. The largest issue was probably the need for a more colorful cover, but luckily the rest of the book doesn't follow suit so monotonously.
In her debut novel,
Veronika Carnaby picks up where the Beat Generation left off. Set in
1960, Bohemia chronicles a group of twenty-somethings who defy the
"ideals" of a mid-twentieth century society to seek creative
fulfillment. In the process, they spotlight the creative path that
artists of all mediums tread, all the while depicting the challenges
faced by youth in the decade that changed the world.
I have mixed feelings about this book. There were some very interesting high points dispersed throughout, and some constant pieces that I enjoyed, but I couldn't really seems to get into the story. I don't know if this is just not my kind of book, or what, but it just seemed like it jumped around too much for my taste. Nobody ever seemed to stay in the same place for long, giving me literary whiplash, but it was really interesting to see how Veronika Carnaby was able to individually describe each location not just by what it looked like at the time, but also by the type of people that would be found there.
All of the characters were extremely unpredictable so it was hard to
keep a hold of them at times, but I think they were each very defined in their
personalities, which I liked a lot. It's a sign of a very talented writer
when they know and describe their characters so well that they seem to
be real human beings. I personally think that the characters presented
in Bohemia were the most interesting part of the novel as a whole. They were all so
different in their own little ways, yet everyone seemed to be connected
by a similar eccentricity that comes with being a true artist.
It's fairly obviously that she spent quite a bit of time researching for her debut novel, and I can appreciate that. While the most obvious part of the novel was to trace the journeys of the main character and of those she met along the way, the book seemed to be chock-full of information. She did an absolutely brilliant job of portraying how life was at the time.
I think that some of my favorite parts in the book were when she would go off and describe the passerby that were not apart of the strange and artistic world presented. It was nice to kind of get a break from the quick-paced world that the characters lived in, and to look at how these people would be viewed by those unlike them. It gave me an interesting perspective as to how the magnificent nature of life is viewed by different people in different circles, still while exhibiting an exquisite writing style.
"It was there that I
discovered both the beauty and the tragedy of life. Those folks too rushed with
a sense of urgency, but for all the wrong reasons. They sped past us and
enveloped us until we could no longer see in front, behind, or beside ourselves.
We found each other in the eye of a whirling hurricane, swimming against the
current of the populous with no escape."
Rating: 2 stars
Now, its my turn. Hello to all! It's Gabby now. Just like Taylor here, I read the book, Bohemia, by Veronika Carnaby but unlike my beloved friend and partner, I enjoyed the book much more. I agree in some respects about the way the book was written, such as how keeping up with the individual characters was hard because of how scattered they were. They always seemed to be jumping about from one area to another and almost never seemed to be able to sit still. Kind of like a form of ADHD without having any of the medications. This itself describes the two men, Jimmy and Lester. They both seem to get these random ideas of adventure and what I enjoyed so much about them is that they act on what they believe in. They don't just say, "Hey, here's an idea to travel and deny the regular ideals of this era, so let's do it!"
No. It doesn't work that way.
They don't say that but through their actions, you can see that that is what is implied. Most people nowadays are less so. They do more barking than biting and that takes away from any appeal it might have had. So, when I read Bohemia, I felt so.... refreshed because through this, I gained a better sense of what dreams can achieve if one just follows them. People sell dreams too much, and by that, how can you gain a sense of true life?
Maybe I am ranting a little. Or a lotta. But, everything I say is true. This is why I like Valerie, the main protagonist, because through her writing, she portrays a sense of freedom and her true self. Like Emm, who paints, she finds freedom in her work. Again, I say that not a lot of people can manage to experience something like this because they are too caught up in all these new gadgets and so called, "self-improvements." So, as I continuously repeat, reading a book such as this one, especially from a new and budding author, gives me hope for the future. Well, for future writers who want to become authors who don't only write about supernatural things. Not that there is anything wrong with that, because personally, I enjoy reading that genre of book, but it takes a lot to be able to write a book such as this one and accomplish something good and enjoyable.
So, I say cheers to Ms. Carnaby for accomplishing this book and actually making readers be more aware of their surroundings and to never give up on what they wish to accomplish. A hearty thank-you goes out to you from us here at Marked by Books.
Schuyler Van Alen is
starting to get more comfortable with her newfound vampire powers, but
she still has many unanswered questions. A trip to Italy in search of
her grandfather only serves to make things more confusing. What secrets
are the leaders of The Committee hiding? Meanwhile, back in New York,
preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball.
In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with
masks--and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will
change the course of a young vampire's destiny.
The thrilling sequel
in Melissa de la Cruz's vampire mythology has all the glamour,
attitude, and vampire lore that made the first book a hit.
As you have probably realized, I am planning on reviewing all the Blue Blood books. The second one in this heart racing series, is Masquerade. But you already knew that.
Now, this as this is the sequel, we have the same people in the books: Mimi and Jack Force, the Twin who are lovers that are bonded but were born as twins in this cycle, (Yes, its confusing but its also quite interesting), Bliss Llewellyn, and of course, Schuyler Van Allen. You can't really call her the main protagonist because there really isn't a protagonist. That is one of the many things that I love about this series and author: You have the same story coming from more than one character and that makes the story more appealing because you have the same plot from different angles, making it harder to choose sides or being biased towards only one person.
Now, as per usual, well what we learned in the first book, there are the Silver Bloods who want to destroy and take over the Blue Blood population. We Red Bloods don't have blood that is all that appealing to them. Not as powerful...Sad, but also a good thing because it means they won't hunt us down! Yay! Longer life!
Well, as I was saying before I distracted myself, the Silver Bloods are becoming stronger....so much stronger that the Conclave starts having its doubts. Which is where the new character, Lawrence Van Allen, comes in. He is the husband, thus the Grandfather of Schuyler. He is the one who believe that the Silvers are back and he helps Schuyler try to persuade the Council of this. Tough luck.
The name, Masquerade, gives the connotation of mystery and that is exactly what the theme of the story is: Mystery and luck. Sometimes good, and sometimes bad, but its luck all the same. When the Silver Bloods attack and the very core of the New York Clave is shattered, its luck and pure genius that allows the young protagonists to find a solution to this thrilling, heart racing mystery....
When the Mayflower set
sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape
America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among
the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious
persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The
vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of
enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue
bloods of American society.
The Blue Bloods vowed that
their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they
kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is
seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private
school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and
pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive
grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that
way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of
blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having
flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is
found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to
think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are
keeping. But is she herself in danger?
Ok, so now I have officially finished reading this book and
I am already starting to read the second one, Masquerade, which I will be
sure to post a review about when I am done… which will probably be in another 24
to 26 hours. No joke.
Now, I am sure that the whole “vampire” theory is getting
old and stale and many of us are really getting fed up with the whole “I am a
vampire and going to suck your blood,” scenario. Am I right? Maybe, because
before I read this book, I was really starting to want to take a break from
them. But now…. No offense to the classics but thanks, but no thanks. This new
take on vampirism is really something to appreciate because it isn’t all that gory.
There is no garlic, sun, or silver allergies to take into account like
Hollywood seems to think. De la Cruz seems to have the perfect image of how to capture
the attention of a teen audience when the rest of the world has us hanging by a
thread to the wonderful world of reading literature. Granted, the vampire
scenario is not exactly literature per
se, but it’s fairly relatable.
Now, to start with the actual review….. WOW! Just WOW! Let me
be honest, yes the beginning was fairly slow and there was not really all that
much to capture my interest. But, I am not the type of person who starts a book
and stops if it gets boring. For some odd reason, I finish the book even if I
am literally falling asleep reading it, that’s how boring it is. That’s beside
the point though. My point is, even though the beginning was quite slow, and
boring, I was glad that I stuck with it.
As I mentioned before, De la Cruz has a whole new intake on the
vampire theory. Yes, they still drink blood, as far as vampire stereotypes
go. So, the Blue Bloods are the vampires who are reincarnated every century or
so and guess what………..? Their blood is…… wait for it….. BLUE! Kinda obvious, but
also really cool. The Red Bloods are humans. We have, quite obviously, red blood.
And then there are the Silver Bloods who are rogues, for lack of a better word.
Well, yes there are better words, but they aren’t appropriate. Now, the Silvers are the vampires who used to be Blue Bloods but then they realized
that Blue Blood was better as well as more powerful than regular, ole human
blood. So, I suppose you could call it a form of cannibalism. Now, the basis of
the first book is to introduce the basics about the characters, Schuyler
(pronounced Skylar) and her BFF Oliver, who is human.
Now, I have already given away too much about the book, so I
will just go with saying that this new take on vampirism is refreshing because
it is not all about drying up in the sun. It’s not all about blood. It’s not
even all about murder. Granted, the Silver Bloods murder to get the Blue Blood,
but that it is what draws the attention of readers.
So if you ever need a
new book, look no further than this one.
You've probably already read my rant on how amazing Under the Never Sky and Veronica Rossi are. If not, you can read about it here. And definitely start working on getting that book into your hands. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
But now I have been even more affirmed of how incredibly wonderful this author is. Look at what just arrived in my mailbox today!
Not only did we get a beautiful signed ARC of Through the Ever Night, she sent a signed bookmark with it too! How nice is that?
Wednesdays: the hump day. If you make it past that, then the rest of the week is a breeze. And let's not forget that it is the day that spell check hates the most. (Honestly, that "d" does not belong there). But this year, it's something more. In this fated year of 2012, the most magical time of the year falls on this most pivotal and underrated day, Wednesday.
(A little known fact about Halloween is that it actually is National Magic Day. It was first created a year after Harry Houdini died.... on Halloween. Coincidence? Or not?)
I've always loved Halloween even though I'm definitely past the point where trick-or-treating is still considered cool. I never really understood that. Halloween is supposed to be a day when you can give yourself the courage to be anyone you've ever wanted to be, without feeling like you're being judged for it. Why would anyone want to give that up to meet other people's standards?
And c'mon people, free candy! What kind of deranged masochist denies themselves that? If the "cool" people don't eat candy, then I want absolutely nothing to do with them. They're obviously mentally unstable!
And finally, to end this post with one of my favorite quotes from the entire book:
"'I've got a joke for you,' Kaidan told him. Jay nodded his head, ready. 'What's the difference between a drummer and a savings bond?'
'I don't know. What?' Jay beamed bright yellow.
'A savings bond eventually matures and makes money.' "
