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The Accidental Diva by Tia Williams 2004 Putnam Incredible Quote: "What he didn't tell Billie was how naive she sounded, telling him what hustling was about. In the fifth grade, he had more game in his size-five Adidas kicks than anyone at that party could ever hope to have. He hustled to survive. It was either get out there and sell the shit out of some crack, or eat grape jelly for dinner and hope the rat that bit you in your sleep wasn't carrying anything lethal. When Billie talked about hustling and playing the game, what she really meant was that she was ambitious. She was a go-getter. She set high goals for herself and met them, exceeded them. But the bottom line was that she had been born into a supportive, loving, comfortably middle-class family that took care of her and nurtured her and provided as security blanket. Jay came from nothing. Worse than nothing" (186).
One Sentence Review: A diverting read that is excellently paced and notable for both its now-outdated culture references and relevant social commentary on a number of topics ranging from class to fashion to race with a distinctive (in the best way possible) narrative voice. I love this distinction Ms. Williams makes in her novel. I never realized that people describing themselves as "hustlers" bothered me until I read this passage and found myself nodding in agreement. Especially when celebrities use the term, I just find it ridiculous (excluding those who actually came up from nothing as opposed to those born to famous parents, etc etc) and Ms. Williams perfectly illustrates why. If you're thinking this quote is a bit heavy and shying away from this novel, never fear. This quote is expertly woven into a romp of a read that straddles the line between light and social commentary. It was exactly what I needed to end 2015, a lot of fun to read while making witty observations about being "the only" and exploring class issues that it managed to not only hold my attention but also cause me to pause and think after reading a passage.
The only negative I can see is that it confirmed my fears about the beauty industry in terms of its shallowness. But it's a unique (for me) professional setting for a book so it kept me turning the pages. This book was published in 2004, 12 years later it's sad that we're still having the same conversations. Through Billie the author tackles cultural appropriation (which Bille calls "ethnic borrowing" in the beauty and fashion industry and maybe it's just because of the rise of the Internet and public intellectuals and blogging but it had honestly never occurred to me that people were having these conversations pre-Twitter. That demonstrates my ignorance and I was happy to be enlightened while also being sad that white gaze still has so much power over beauty standards. Although it is getting better because it is harder for beauty companies, fashion companies and magazines to ignore being called out when they "discover" some trend people of color have been naturally gifted with/been doing/wearing for years.
Aside from the pleasing depth of the novel, it's a quick paced read. I actually felt caught up in Billie's sweeping romance and just as intoxicated as she did, I didn't want to resurface from her studio apartment. Honestly I'd like a prequel so that we can live vicariously through Billie, Renee and Vida's college years. And I'm so happy her friends served more of a role than just providing advice at Sunday brunch. Also Billie's family dynamics were absolutely hilarious and unexpected.
I dealt with similar issues to Billie and Jay although not on as large a scale, granted I'm not a professional (yet) but I can relate to the class issues that come up in a relationship with two different economic backgrounds. And not to be a cliche but especially when it's the woman who comes from the comfortable lifestyle and the preconceived notions that we have/that other have about us, difficulty is involved and so on a personal level I was able to really connect with Billie (and better understand Jay).
0 Comments on Throwback Thursday: The Accidental Diva as of 3/10/2016 10:26:00 PM
Review by Kit
Jane Austen Cover to Cover
By Margaret C. Sullivan
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books
Amazon | Goodreads
Jane Austen’s six novels are true classics, still immensely popular some 200 years after their first publication. But although the celebrated stories never change, the covers are always different. Jane Austen Cover to Covercompiles two centuries of design, from
0 Comments on {Review} Jane Austen Cover to Cover as of 1/1/1900
Review by Kit
Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone
Sequel to Time Between Us
Age Range: 12 and up
Grade level: 7th and up
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion; Reprint edition (October 14, 2014)
Goodreads | Amazon
Calling Anna and Bennett’s romance long distance is an understatement: she’s from 1995 Chicago and he’s a time traveler from 2012 San Francisco. The two of them never
0 Comments on {Review} Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone as of 1/1/1900
Review by Reagan (Andye's Daughter)
Age Range: 12 and up Grade Level: 7 and upHardcover: 272 pagesPublisher: Point (August 26, 2014)Buy The Book: Amazon.com
Torrey Grey is famous. At least, on the internet. Thousands of people watch her popular videos on fashion and beauty. But when Torrey's sister is killed in an accident -- maybe because of Torrey and her videos -- Torrey's perfect world
0 Comments on CAN'T LOOK AWAY by Donna Cooner as of 9/11/2014 12:40:00 AM
Age Range: 12 - 17 years
Grade Level: 7 and up
Series: If Only
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (May 6, 2014)
Get it on Amazon!
The summer before senior year of high school. It’s supposed to be one of the biggest summers of her life, but Pippa is headed to an art program she has no interest in. The one saving grace is it’s in Italy. And when the opportunity strikes,
0 Comments on Book Review: Wish you were Italian by Kristin Rae as of 3/6/2014 3:00:00 AM
Believe it or not, some readers still don't have their copies of my romantic comedy chick lit, Her Handyman. Since that's the case, I'm offering another freebie promotion to get them in on the fun.
Come and get it & Tell your friends about it, too!
This is the story about the hardworking handyman who answers a frantic call in the middle of the night to fix a toilet leak in a penthouse bathroom.
The gal who greets him is totally strange. Dressed like a Flower Child in flowing blonde hair, with an orchid stuck in it, along with her gauzy blouse and gypsy skirt, a peace sign around her neck and a mood ring on her finger, she looks like she missed the Seventies boat!
Fufu, her Chinese Crested dog, the guilty party who started the flood in the first place, is even stranger looking, and not through in the devilment department.
Read all about their adventures in the Her Handyman Freebie Promotion this Friday March 1 through Sunday, March 3!
If you don't have a Kindle, you can still download to your PC. Again, the link to this freebie is at http://amzn.com/B0097EVXBK
Title: Midnight in Austenland Author: Shannon Hale Series: Austenland was a stand alone, this is a follow-up novel Publisher: Bloomsbury Released: January 31, 2012 Website: http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html
Book Summary:
When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stays at a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests' Austen fantasies.
Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn't sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlor games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside's mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And-perhaps of the most lasting importance-could the stirrings in Charlotte's heart be a sign of real-life love?
The follow-up to reader favorite Austenland provides the same perfectly plotted pleasures, with a feisty new heroine, plenty of fresh and frightening twists, and the possibility of a romance that might just go beyond the proper bounds of Austen's world. How could it not turn out right in the end?
I'm a huge Shannon Hale fan. I love Jane Austen. Cross the two and inevitably you will come up with something I will love.
I got a kick out of reading Austenland and am looking forward to the upcoming movie. Austenland was a stand alone book so I was both surprised and excited when I heard there was a sequel coming out.
Shannon Hale entertains me. Her books draw me in and make me laugh. There is no denying I had high expectations for this book. In all honestly, through the first half of this book I was a little disappointed. I wasn't relating to the characters, I wasn't falling for the love interest, I wasn't laughing... But this was Shannon Hale so there was no way I was going to put the book down so I kept reading. It took me until nearly the half way point of this book to really start loving it. Don't get me wrong, it was a good book but my expectations were really high. By the half way point I finally started laughing and relating to the characters and falling for the love interest. I'm not sure why there was a delay for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it was worth it.
Midnight in Austenland is based upon Austen's Northanger Abbey which is not one of my favorite Austen novels. Like the book it's based on, Midnight in Austenland is a little more mystery and wild run away imaginings than some of Austen's other book. Not a bad thing but I would obviously prefer more swooning Mr. Darcy moments instead of over-active imagination ramblings.
Midnight in Austenland is a fun, lighthearted read that fans of Austen & Hale should definitely read!
Content:
3 Comments on Book Review: Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale, last added: 1/31/2012
I adored Austenland, and I also have high expectations for this one. I'm glad you warned me to lower them for the first half! Can't wait to read it, and can't wait for the movie!! :)
I had meant to have finished reading Midnight by today... but I'm still in the middle. And I gotta say, coming from the book I just finished, Shannon Hale's writing is absolutely amazing right from the beginning. I've enjoyed quoting bits the last two days... even quotes from the beginning!
Fun review... I'm excited to get a little deeper into the story!
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Reprint edition (February 1, 2010)
Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock have barely recovered from their last arctic adventure, when they are confronted by the most frightening catastrophe yet. Millions of fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii and someone--or something--is destroying hundreds of ships. Unable to discover the cause, the government enlists the Flock to help them get to the bottom of the disaster before it is too late.
While Max and her team are exploring the depths of the ocean, their every move is being carefully tracked by Mr. Chu--a criminal mastermind with his own plans for the Flock. Can they protect themselves from Mr. Chu's army of mercenaries and save the ocean from utter destruction?
Plot Summary MAX,<3 FANG<3, Nudge, Iggy, Gassman(Gazzy), Angel, Total (The talking dog with wings) all are happy to be back in the United States, Max's mom, Dr. Martinez, created a thing called the CSM , to put people's notice to pollution and ocean pollution so that the global warming will stop. So to get the message out they MADE the flock do these air shows, so when they get shot at they decide that the air shows are too dangers (after much arguing) so they do one more air show. But of course Fang was right. They where WAY too dangerous. They are attacked by what they described as robot ninja's with orange blood and flesh. So they get moved to a safe house. Max goes flying alone at night when she gets shot by the robots that she named M-geeks and taken to a short angry Asian man named, Mr. Chew. When she refuses to join him in his plans she is thrown a half a mile away from the safe house (Quote!: So this ended up with me actually ringing the door bell.) She has to rest for 3 days (really a week) in those three days Jeb had told them about a day and night school that he wanted them to try. When they came back they learned that Dr. Martinez had been kidnapped. So they go in military subs down into the depths and mysteries of the ocean and awesomeness ensues.
Plot High Point:
When Max and the flock find out where Dr martinez ais and rescue her.
Main Characters:
Max-The flock leader- Brown hair, brown eyes-brown wings <3Fang!OMG....<3<3- Black hair, Black eyes(Always back clothes)-Black wings Nudge- Carmel hair, Brown eyes-Tawny wings Gazzy- Blonde, Blue eyes- (Unknown..) Iggy- pale bolde, Sightless blue eyes- (Unknown..) Angel- Blonde, blue eyes- Pure white wings Total- black fur-black wings
0 Comments on Maximum Ride: Max (#5) By James Patterson as of 1/1/1900
Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (February 9, 2010) Buy the book:Amazon
When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.
Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history--or at least her family's (very crooked) history.
Heist Society looked like an entertaining book on the outside, and it was even better on the inside! This book was about a family of thieves, that go around stealing valuable things like paintings and statues. They are really good at stealing, and after they come in, steal the paintings, and get out, nobody even knows what happened.
The main character, Katarina Bishop, was really funny. In the first few pages it describes her as a Russian princess, even though she isn't Russian. [She isn't a princess either, but she could definitely pass for one] She's sneaky, cunning, and at a boarding school. Yeah, she tries to give up her life for a more 'good' and 'respectable' life. Her family won't let her do that so easily, and they bring her back. More specifically, W. W. Hale The Third brings her back. He frames her for a crime that she didn't do, and she gets kicked out of school and goes back to Europe.
When she gets back, Hale [nobody knows what the W's stand for so they call him Hale] and Kat's cousin Gabrielle are waiting for her. They lecture her on how she shouldn't have left, that thievery is her life, and she can't just walk away. Soon after that, she is visited by a mysterious, Al Taccone. He accuses Kat's father of stealing his paintings, and he wants Kat to get them back to him. She argues that her father did not steal the paintings, but he insists and Kat accepts. But she can't just do it with however much time she needs. She has a time limit to get them back, before he takes her father away.
I liked that the characters were all thieves, it seems like nobody has really ever stopped to tell their story before. It was cool that stealing was a fam
0 Comments on Heist Society by Ally Carter as of 1/1/1900
This book is about a girl named Alyss (Alice) who is princess of Wonderland. But it is not the Wonderland we are familiar with. It is a place where imagination is everything and Alyss has the most powerful imagination in Wonderland. And the Jabberwockies are huge and deadly and there are more than one. The caterpillars are better and stronger in these books. There is So much difference. So when her father leaves for their neighbor country, Borderland, on Alyss's Birthday, everything goes wrong. 7 year old Alyss finds out the King Noland (her dad) was murdered by her aunt Redd and her aunt comes and attacks the queendom and kills Genevieve and takes over. Alyss and The Queens bodyguard, Hatter Maddigan, are forced to flee into the pool of tears, a portal that puts you on earth, leaving all the knew and loved behind in Wonderland.
Plot High Point
When Dodge bring Alyss back to Wonderland from earth.
Main Characters
Alyss Heart- Black hair one time 7 the rest 20. Princess of Wonderland and Alice Liddell Dodge Anders- unknown looks 10 then 23. head palace guards men, Alyssian Hatter Maddigan- Brown hair and many scars. Genevieve's bodyguard. Queen Genevieve Heart- brown hair. queen of wonderland Redd Heart- Red hair. Princess of wonderland, Out cast queen, Queen of wonderland King Nolan- unknown looks. King of wonderland General Dopplegänger/Generals Dopple and Gänger- unknown looks, Can split into 2. General of the royal Millinery Bibwit Harte- albino colored his huge ears and can hear 3 streets away Blue- a blue caterpillar. Head Oracle Green- a green caterpillar. conceal of oracles Yellow- a yellow caterpillar. conceal of oracles orange- orange caterpillar. conceal of oracles Red- a red caterpillar. conceal of oracles Purple- a purple caterpillar. conceal of oracles
Setting
this happened in the past. This story was in places, ball rooms, at weddings, in houses, at battle, streets, kitchens, pools, in small rooms.
Personal Opinion
I <3 it!!!! I <3 it cause it had my hanging at every word and leaving me breathless at amazing parts. It had VERY good stuff in it and lots of action and fighting.
0 Comments on The Looking Glass Wars By Frank Beddor as of 1/1/1900
Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Poppy; 1 edition (September 1, 2010) Buy the Book: Amazon
The monster community has kept a low profile at the local high school, but when two new girls enroll, the town will never be the same. Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and prom.
But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters stalking the halls, Frankie learns that high school can be rough for a chic freak like her. She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver-but can a "normie" be trusted with her big secret?
1 Comments on Vlog Review: Monster High by Lisi Harrison, last added: 5/15/2011
I was going to read this book, but i dont know if there is anything bad in the book!? Can you tell me if there is any thing bad in the book???? :) -Anna Banana
After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.
Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?
Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.
Review:
Prom and Prejudice is a really cute modernized version of the classic Jane Austen novel. In this telling, Elizabeth Bennet (Lizzie) is a scholarship student at the prestigious Longbourn Academy, where those without money are not just looked down upon, but bullied and ridiculed at every chance. Lizzie's only friends are her sweet roommate, Jane, and another scholarship student, Charlotte. In this version, Lydia is Jane's younger sister, and is quite obnoxious and socially unaware, embarrassing Jane at every opportunity. Jane worries that this will hurt her chances with the fabulously rich and every-so-charming Charles Bingley, (who attends Pemberly Academy) but he seems completely oblivious to any faults that Jane has. Charles' best friend, Will Darcy is another story. He seems to see the fault in everyone....especially, scholarship students.
I thought this book was a really cute, simple read. I think it will really be enjoyed by younger readers, or people that haven't read the original ver
0 Comments on Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg as of 1/1/1900
Reading level: Ages 9-12 Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Aladdin; Original edition (April 5, 2011) Author's Website: Series: The Goddess Girls #5 Buy the Book:Amazon
Follow the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills… Athena isn’ t the only new kid at Mount Olympus Academy. When a mortal named Heracles transfers in, Athena understands what he’ s going through. She started at MOA a few months ago.
Not only does Heracles need help fitting in, he also has to complete twelve “ labors” or he’ ll be kicked out of school! When Athena’ s dad, Principal Zeus, asks her to secretly look after the new boy, she winds up capturing mythical beasts and shoveling poop. It will take all of her famed wisdom to sort out her own problems and help Heracles succeed!
Reading level: Young Adult Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: HarperTeen; Reprint edition (August 31, 2010) Author's Website: http://JacksonPearce.com/ Buy the book: Amazon Series or Stand-alone: Stand-alone
Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—for someone to love her again and, most important, to belong again—until her wishes inadvertently summon a genie named Jinn out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.
Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong . . . and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.
I liked it!
Sexual Content: Moderate
Profanity: Mild, with one heavy word.
Violence: None
Other Notables: They go to two parties. At the parties everyone is drinking, and she drinks too.
From School Library Journal Grade 7–10— Belly, 16, lives all year for her summers at Cousins Beach. But when a family friend dies and the beach house tradition is threatened, she faces the season without her second family and without the boy she loves. In this follow-up to The Summer I Turned Pretty (S & S, 2009), Belly is still reeling from the dissolution of her relationship with Conrad, her lifelong love, and the death of his mother. But mourning Suzanne is even harder since Conrad has shut down, refusing to talk to Belly or anyone else. When he suddenly leaves school without explanation, his brother, Jeremiah, recruits Belly to help find and mend him. The trio find themselves at Cousins Beach after all, and the memories and feelings of the past come flooding back. Complicated and fragile, Belly's relationships with the two young men are put to new tests as she and Conrad come to terms with their relationship, and Belly and Jeremiah begin to build a romantic bond of their own. This sequel is as quiet and thoughtful as its companion. The nostalgic imagery of a lifetime of experiences at a serene and magical place like Cousins Beach is alive once again, and the desperation the characters feel when faced with losing a loved one and possibly the beach house, too, is warmly imagined. Fans of the first book will enjoy this continuation in which nothing is easy for Belly, but the end result is worth the heartache
My Review:
Usually I don't really like it when books have a sequel.
Two agents have weighed in on my book. Agent #1, on whose critique of the first 75 pages I bid at a charity auction, said, This delivers. You have quirky characters, and people up to no good. I love the humor in the book; you’re very funny.
Here's the but. When I asked if she'd be interested in representing it, she said it wasn't her kind of book; she tends more towards family dramas. But - she did ask me to send her the rest of the manuscript, which she looked forward to reading.
And in even better news....I asked the agent who'd requested the full manuscript a few months ago for a status report. And she said, We have been considering your manuscript, which we think is very good, but needs some revisions before we'd be able to take it on. We thought that ANIMAL CRACKER was very funny, well-paced, and irreverent. The heroine is brash and relatable, which makes what could be conventional chick lit feel fresh and engaging. We did think, though, that the second half of the book could use some work...the resolution, even for such a lighthearted work, came too easily. We'd love to see a revision that addresses these ideas.
I shall revise away.
0 Comments on They liked it. They really liked it! as of 1/1/1900
I'm reposting this review to celebrate the release of Anna and the French Kiss!! I love, love, love this book, and I hope you will love it as much as I did! The companion book, Lola and the Boy Next Door comes out in the fall, and I CAN'T WAIT!! Happy book birthday, Stephanie!!
Anna Oliphant is not happy. Her dad, a self-absorbed author of tear-jerker novels, is shipping her off to Paris for her senior year of high school to help her become more cultured. But Anna doesn't want to be more cultured. She just wants to spend her last year of high school with her best friend Bridgette and her possibly-soon-to-be boyfriend Toph. So when her parents drop her off at The School of America in Paris, Anna is nervous, miserable, and petrified of being on her own in a country that she believes hates her (well, hates her type....Americans).
But Anna soon discovers a new set of friends, Meredith, the sweet girl who takes Anna under her wing, Josh and Rashmi, a couple who are completely absorbed with each other...whether it's endless PDA or fighting like cats and dogs, and Etienne St. Clair the smart, charming, gorgeous American boy who was raised in England but is living in France. Anna finds herself immediately attracted to St. Clair, as all his friends call him, and feels like that attraction may be reciprocated, unfortunately he is already in a relationship. As the school year goes on, however, Anna and St. Clair's attempts at denying their feelings for each other gets harder and harder, but there are many obstacles that stand in the way of them ever having their perfect French kiss.
J'ADORE this book!!! I was fully expecting to wait a couple of months before reading this becaus
12 Comments on Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, last added: 12/3/2010
OOOh, I just love this movie, never read the book but I bet it's even better than the movie. I'm visiting you from SITS. I was out of town over the weekend, so I just now making my way around to the featured bloggers. I'm now a new follower! I look forward to getting to know you better!
I'm intrigued by this book... It's always fun to have an external point of view on France! But there are usually a lot of clichés (well... are they really clichés ?! :p). Yes, I'm French ^^
Bronwen Oliver is a 17-year old girl with an identity crisis. She lives with her mother, step-father and sometimes her college aged brother in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her problem is that she doesn't feel that she fits in or belongs to anyone. Why had her beloved father died at such a young age? Why couldn't her mother accept her for who she was? What happened to the plan her step-father had to adopt her? All of these questions lead her to conclude that she must have been switched at birth.
A resolution to this quandry just might be found in Jared Sondervan. Bronwen bumps into the good-looking, college guy during the summer before his senior year of college. Their attraction is immediate and it is soon apparent that Jared is the perfect boyfriend. It doesn't hurt that he also comes from a perfect family. In fact, just the kind of family that Bronwen had always dreamed of. So, when Jared proposed on Bronwen's 18th birthday, she knew that all her dreams were coming true. The only problem is that the closer her wedding day gets, the less sure Bronwen becomes. Is she really ready for marriage or is she simply trading one identity crisis for another?
I really liked this book. Bronwen, at 17, is a young woman who is a contrast in her own life. On one hand she is very confident of the kind of girl she wants to be and things she wants to do. She is willing to stand up for what she believes in regardless of who she has to stand up to. On the other hand, she is very insecure in her identity within herself and her family. These are things that I think every girl go
0 Comments on Review: I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan as of 1/1/1900
The story: After Amy's father dies in a car crash, everything that this California girl took for granted changes overnight. Her twin brother Charlie is shipped off to rehab in North Carolina. Her mother accepts a teaching position in Connecticut, leaving Amy home alone to finish her junior year of high school. Then her mom arranges to get Amy to Connecticut via a cross-country drive with a family friend, 19-year-old Roger. The pair quickly ditches the pre-planned itinerary in favor of more spontaneous detours to Yosemite, Colorado, and Graceland. Amy's mother is predictably furious and cuts off her credit card, leaving the teens on a shoestring budget. Along the way Amy gradually opens up to Roger about her father's accident and her repressed feelings about it. During a stop in Louisville, Roger finds closure with the girl who recently dumped him, leaving him available for a relationship with Amy. The theme of her emotional journey meshes well with the realistically rendered physical journey across the U.S. Playlists, pages from a travel scrapbook, well-drawn supporting characters, and unique regional details enhance the narrative. Flashback chapters shed light on Amy's life before her father's death, without breaking the steady pacing.
What I gotta say...
First of all, I gotta say that I've been hittin' a pretty good streak here. The last four books I've read, I have liked. A lot! And that's big for me, because I'm pretty picky. I tend to have an opinion on everything. So I usually hate a lot of books and not finish them. But the last four books have been veryveryvery good, and Amy and Rogers Epic Detour is one of them. It's one of my favorites now. I absolutely LOVED it! I loved all the characters, even though it is very girly and cliche. I fell in love with Roger! He was awesome. I'm always a sucker for boys who like good music. Even though Roger didn't like... *cough cough* metal. He still liked good music, he has a punk/indie taste (hey just because I like hardcore music, doesn't mean I can't listen to some Indie.) So when I'm reading this book... while doing research onhis many playlists... some of it consists of... 'Jack's Mannequin' and 'Something Corporate On Them'... of course I'm gonna love him. (meaning Roger)
And I have to say... since I'm hopelessly obsessed with music, I looked up all the songs on all the playlists and discovered a lot of new bands/s
5 Comments on Review: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour By Morgan Matson, last added: 9/17/2010
I just read this book a few weeks ago and I absolutely LOVED it! It was such a touching story and the characters were fantastic. Ditto on Roger! Loved him and his music to pieces.
Amy's mom, yeah I can see where you're coming from. My mom wouldn't have left me in the position where I was all the way across the country by myself in the first place, let alone drive across country. When I was seventeen I did have friends who had oblivious parents like Amy's mom though.
whee! Thats anb awesome review and it does sopund like a book that I would enjoy!! OMG I love that kind of music and kudos to you for liking metal music!!! :)
I brought this book home with me yesterday. I have about 10 books that I *should* read before I get to this one, but I don't want to wait - especially after such a steller review.
Margo Candela's husband owes her six months...preferably on a tropical island sipping margaritas. The deal was: she had three years to write her first novel Underneath It All and find a publisher. She signed the book contract at 2 1/2 years so she still has six months coming to her. She's been musing over a few brochures of Fiji.
Of course, Underneath It All wasn't her first novel. Her first was a romance novel spoof she wrote at age 15 on an antique typewriter she paid $20 for--actually, her mom paid $20. Sadly, Wenchhead and the Isle of Evil Men was never published. Do you think it was the title?
In between Wenchhead and the Isle of Evil Men and Good-bye To All That, Margo enjoyed a trip to magazine land where she wrote articles on everything from extreme sports to computer hardware to plushies (people who are really into stuffed animals...um...sexually). Shh, don't tell Margo's mom about the last one. She might want the $20 or the antique typewriter back!
When she's not writing, Margo vacuums. It's her secret solution to writer's block; and when she hits the NY Times bestseller list, Margo dreams of buying a Dyson DC 25 Animal. And shoes. Ask her about the black heels on the cover of Good-bye To All That.
Margo Candela was born and raised in Northeast Los Angeles. She moved to San Francisco to attend college and ended up staying for a decade before moving back home in 2005. Her first three novels, More Than This (Touchstone, Aug. 2008), Life Over Easy (Kensington, Oct. 2007), and Underneath It All (Kensington, Jan. 2007) are set in San Francisco. More Than This was a Target stores Breakout Book and an American Association of Publishers national book club selection at Borders Books with Las Comadres. Good-bye To All That (Touchstone, July 2010) is her first novel set in Los Angeles and is the only novel picked by Los Angeles Magazine for its 2010 Best of L.A. list.
Hi Margo: I hope you have a great 6-month vacation with your hubby. :) Congratulations on your success. I love chick lit, so I would love to win this book!
Margo (yep, I'm a Margo, too--you don't see that too often, do you?) http://margodill.com/blog/
I read Margo's debut novel, Underneath It All, which I loved but then I sort of lost track of her and what books she had coming out. Glad to see she's still writing chick lit, a genre I love.
Thanks for the very interesting interview. I wasn't previously familiar with Margo's work but will now look for it. I'm a writer but also an avid reader, and I do enjoy chick lit. This sounds like a fun book!
Jacqueline Seewald TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS, Five Star/Gale, August 2010 publication
It's true, there is no right way, only the way that works for you. Trust me, I read tons of 'how-to' books and it just took lots of time developing my own method. Hopefully, it'll work for me with the next book.
I used to wonder where the 'T' went. If I could take a six month vacation, I'd travel and read and travel so more. My husband coming along would be optional...it's a vacation!
You both illustrate why reaching out to readers is so important. In the end an author can write a great book, but if no one knows about it, it'll just fade away. I hope you both get a chance to get (re)acquainted with my novels!
Sounds like a fantastic read! I LOVE the idea of a writing group that's more of a chat/help/vent group than actual critiquing. As one who has been toying with writing a book but hasn't actually gotten up the gall to do so, this was such an inspiring interview. Can't wait to get my hands on your books, Margo! Best of luck!
I'm all for venting groups, but you have to have a good mix of people. Too much venting leads to too little writing. I've gotten really lucky with my groups, I hope you do too.
DogRiverLady said, on 8/23/2010 11:36:00 AM
Margo,
Fascinating interview! Your book sounds like a great read--perfect for relaxing at the end of a busy day. Thanks for the inspiration--I,too, have dreams of writing one day. Best wishes!
Cady Lee said, on 8/23/2010 11:44:00 AM
Oh my! I am so going to make that deal with my husband! Congrats!
Even though Good-bye To All That is about work, it's a lot of fun. That's my main goal in writing, to make it fun for the reader even if things get a little complicated during the story for the characters.
Anonymous said, on 8/23/2010 1:01:00 PM
I LOVE Chick-Lit and am thrilled to have found a new author for myself to read! I look forward to getting all of your books, you are a real inspiration and I think it's great to have your family review your stuff! They will always be honest because they are the only people that really care about you! I read everything I write to my husband and he's very honest and always tells me the truth. I only trust him. (and my mother!) Good luck on all your books!
Hi Linda, I have to make clear that it's gotten to the point where I have to bribe certain family members to read my stuff. But I never make anyone read first or even third drafts. That's too much to ask of anyone.
Christina - [email protected] - Sounds like a wonderful book - and what an interesting story, with a husband who supports her writing and challenges her!
Christina and Kristi: Good-bye To All That is my most chick lit yet and my Mom says its a great read...not just because she has to say that but because she's my Mom.
Hi Karen, For me revising is like peeling off layers until I get to the best part of the manuscript. Usually the core of the idea stays the same and what changes is just about everything around it. It's a lot of writing, planning, taking a step back and doing this until it feels right.
What a fascinating interview. I love hearing about Margo's process and the work it takes to get a novel to the publishing stage. This sounds like a great read.
Author Blog Tour & Book Giveaway Comments Contest!
Elisa Lorello grew up on Long Island, NY as the baby to six older siblings. Growing up during the '80s, Elisa covered her walls with Duran Duran posters and used lots of hairspray. She explored many passions, including drawing, tennis, and music, but in her early 20's, exercised her gossiping skills while working as a manicurist.
In 1995, Elisa left Long Island to attend the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth for both her bachelor and master's degrees. In 2000, as part of her graduate education in Professional Writing, she became a teaching associate, and met two professors of rhetoric and composition who took her under their wings. This union of teaching, rhetoric, and writing ultimately became Elisa's calling, and remains so to this day. She now lives in North Carolina where she teaches academic writing at North Carolina State.
In 2004, Elisa began her first novel, Faking It. Since then, Elisa has written a sequel, Ordinary World, and is currently co-writing a third novel with a friend and former student. That is, when she can tear herself away from her favorite form of entertainment--Facebook.
Andi Vanzant had everything she wanted--a husband, a home, a job she loved, a cat named Donny Most. Then a drunk college student plowed into her husband's car and she lost everything...except the cat.
Andi's faced with a nightmare world and the work of trying to transform it into an ordinary world. She's certain that life will never be ordinary again but begins to find her way with the help of an unlikely support group that spans the world--a widowed mother on Long Island, a supportive boss in Massachusetts, an old boyfriend in Italy, and a fortune telling housewife in Peru.
Ordinary World is the story of a woman accepting losses and embracing gifts. To some degree it is the story every woman fears and every woman must some day live.
Genre: Chick Lit/Women's Fiction ASIN: B002VECPYM Ordinary World is available in both print and Kindle versions.
Video (below):
11 Comments on Elisa Lorello, author of Ordinary World, discusses genres, last added: 2/2/2010
I have long wondered how to categorize my writing. This article gave me much needed insight therefore giving me a little more focus but more importantly inspired me to not worry about it, keep writing and let my publisher decide. Thanks ladies!
Thanks for this interview. As I begin the agent search, I have been very confused about the lines between chick lit/women's fiction/literary fiction. I am glad there is some grey in between.
By all means keep writing, and write the best story you can, but when it's time to query agents, do your homework and let them know that you understand the distinctions between this genre. They want to make sure you understand the market rather than your leaving it all up to them. Agents are looking for authors who will actively participate in making their book a success!
This discussion is timely, as I'm trying to figure out how to classify my project. I'm editing my grandfather's diaries from the Russo-Japanese War, during which period he was sentenced to death 4 times (this forms the spine of the book). He was also involved in a plot to assassinate the czar, as well as other underground activities. I would never call it a "memoir" because my grandfather is dead and I can't ask him questions, plus I'm editing it, which not only involves shortening it but will require my writing a new opening chapter (in his voice) that will contain the relevant information presented during the first 5 chapters.
I suppose this is what is known as "Narrative NonFiction," or "Creative Nonfiction," but when I've walked into a bookstore to ask where that section is located, I end up having to explain all of the above and then often get directed to "Memoirs," or "History." (I should see where In Cold Blood in shelved, but that has become so mainstream it might even be shelved in Fiction). What do you think?
First of all, WOW! Your project sounds fascinating. Second of all, WOW! I can see where you'd have difficulty placing it. Creative nonfiction can cross over several genres, including memoir and personal essay, but your project sounds like historical memoir. Is there such a category? I don't know -- it's possible I just made it up. But if you're querying agents (and the good thing about nonfiction is that you can submit a proposal w/out having completed the manuscript), that might be the way to go.
If I could just make two minor clarifications. I never grew up in New York City, but rather the Long Island suburbs. It's true that Long Islanders call Manhattan and the five boroughs "the city", or they call them and Long Island "New York" and the rest of New York "Upstate", as if that's its name, but Long Island was always my home turf.
Also, I sucked at gossip while I was a manicurist and gave it up rather early -- found other conversations much more productive, as did my clients. (Although those were the OJ Simpson and Amy Fisher days, and those topics were inescapable. Man, I just outed my age, huh...)
I'm drawn to books for so many reasons. I love books set in the NY metro area and even more books by authors from that area, since I grew up on Long Island too.
I love women's fiction (and chick-lit).
I'm intrigued by all the locales mentioned, and wondering how Elisa is able to weave her plot across those settings.
*Faking It* opens with Andi recently moving back to NY after having spent years in MA. Add her daily commute and suddenly I had multiple locations to work with. Most of Faking It takes place in Manhattan, while Ordinary World took place mostly in the Boston area.
The plot kind of weaved itself, I think. There's a lot of commuting and movement from place to place, but not in a way that makes the reader feel disoriented. It worked out really well, actually, because it allowed the characters to figure out where they really belonged.
I don't know if I answered your question, but I hope you'll pick up the books! Faking It especially pays homage to a lot of locales on Long Island. :)
The Plot: It's the second half of Ruby Oliver's junior year. Things seem better. She now has two friends (two!), Nora and Meghan. And Noel likes her, but because Nora likes Noel, Ruby has promised herself to stay away from Noel (even tho Ruby likes him, also.) And Jackson is back in the picture! And maybe Finn. And Hutch is still there, working for her father. Kim and Cricket still don't talk to her. Things should be better. But Ruby is lonely; it's been over thirty weeks of no boyfriend! And she's still getting panic attacks. And the rumors may be starting again.
On the surface, this book is about boys. The boys Ruby likes, the boys she likes, Ruby figuring out when flirting is just fun and when flirting is something more. And you know what? That can be enough. Many teenagers share those same concerns and worries. Why not have a smart, funny book about navigating love and lust and friendship? It's a bonus that the treasure map of boys is about more than romance; it's about figuring out what one really wants and also owning one's own actions. And it's also about heavy metal music and cupcakes.
Ruby is a junior in high school. And as she talked about boys and boys she likes and boys she (maybe) flirts with, I had two thoughts. First, Ruby needs to get to college where it's not the same small group of people. Second, it's almost incestuous, this small school, and part of Ruby's problems arise from being in such a small, close environment. Ruby cannot date Finn who she's know since grade school because he used to date Kim; flirting with Noel is a no-no because Nora said she likes him. The threads of connectiveness go on and on, muddled and confusing. No wonder Ruby is having panic attacks! Whatever you do, Ruby -- do not go to a small college! Go to a big one where you don't have to worry about this type of stuff!
Ruby remains as wonderfully funny, delightful, and wry as ever in her observations and for that reason alone, I would read another book about her. But, honestly? Ruby's journey, as it has been played out in these three books, feels done. Finished. Resolved. I love that it took Ruby this long to really, truly find the answers within herself. While this works well as a standalone (Lockhart does a terrific job of quickly recapping past episodes, events and characters), the Ruby Oliver books are best read as trilogy.
I love these books, and I love that the publisher is keeping the look -- quirky with red accents. Nice.
And Ruby! Long may she reign! She's so fun, because she's conflicted and she's okay with being earnest and TRYING to do right, even if it's... sometimes... muddy exactly what "right" might be.
I'm pretty sure there's going to be a fourth book, tentatively titled A REAL, LIVE BOYFRIEND. Which I think will be interesting - to see Roo in an actual relationship, instead of just flirty ones. There's more growth for us to witness - and I, for one, can't wait.
You know, you're right; the shift between Ruby having panic attacks & second guessing herself, from "oh was I flirting" to a (hopefully) healthy relationship will be interesting to read about!
1. Marco knew that becoming one of the sultan's eunuchs would mean he'd never father a child. What he didn't know was that it also meant he would be cast in the role of Lauretta in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi.
2. Carl Fetterling wins a scholarship to Julliard to study voice. But his dreams of singing all the great baritone roles of opera turn upside down when his beautiful teacher presses him to become a countertenor. Hilarity ensues.
3. Unlike many "singers," Georges Jones knows she can't sing to save her life. However, she's been known to kill small animals and fish with the sound of her singing voice. Which gives her an idea. Realizing she can forever rid the world of Paula Abdul, she tries out for American Idol.
4. When failed tenor Roberto Gambini hears a gorgeous, haunting song in the woods, he's instantly enchanted. He must find the amazing singer and bring her to the stage. But how can he, when the singer is Kadrille, a young centaur?
5. Baritone Lorenzo Pazzazzi, trying to recover from bad reviews, poses as a kidnapped celebrity running from the environmental kooks known as the Green Socks Gang. Will his ruse win the heart of unemployed Maggie Duncan, or is Pazzazzi singing the wrong tune?
6. Tired of playing just the bass notes, and desperate to get closer to hunky flautist Toby James, symphony tuba player Martha Carlson switches to piccolo. Will Toby fall for Martha once she starts . . . Hitting the High Notes?
Original Version
Dear Evil Editor:
Hitting The High Notes: Carl Hiaasen meets Thelma and Louise (sans cliff dive).
[How do I hate thy first line? Let me count the ways.
1. It's quite likely that your query is going to be read by a twenty-year-old intern English major who's studied Milton and Keats and who reads romance in her leisurely hours, and who never heard of Carl Hiaason unless she remembers his name from the credits in the movie Strip Tease.
2. She was also two years old when Thelma and Louise (sans cliff dive) came out, and if she's seen it at all, the only thing she remembers about it is the cliff dive.
3. Okay, she probably also remembers Brad Pitt.
4. Sans.
5. If she looks up the movie on the Internet, she'll find it's about an Arkansas waitress and a housewife who drive cross-country pursued by federal authorities after killing a rapist. Having looked ahead, I don't see it as the best comparison.]
South Floridian, Maggie Duncan,[Two unnecessary commas in the first four words has me worried I'll be commatose by the end of this.] is flirting with fifty. [She'd have better luck if she flirted with just one! Ba-dum-tsss.] Her hormones wreak havoc. Her job’s outsourced to India and she’s still navigating the shoals of mourning after her mother’s death when she meets by chance AWOL opera singer Lorenzo Pazzazzi who is nursing a bruised ego from bad reviews To pass time during his self-imposed exile, Lorenzo cooks up a scheme to win Maggie’s sympathy, and affection. Posing as a kidnapped celebrity on the run from [How can he be both kidnapped and on the run? Also, I'm picturing this guy as built like Pavarotti, in which case if he's on the run, he'll be easy to catch.] a kooky ransom-seeking environmental group, The Green Socks Gang, the bad-boy baritone leads Maggie on quite a chase. [Is she chasing him, or running with him? In either case, why?] She figures out [exposes] his ruse, however, with help from her best friend [Ah, Louise finally shows up. I was beginning to think it should just be Carl meets Thelma.] and turns the tables, meeting “a potential keeper” along the way.
Thanks for your time and consideration of this completed 90,000 plus lady-lit with strong romantic elements. I am a member of RWA. Hitting The High Notes finaled in the adult genre category of PNWA’s 2006 Literary contest.
Sincerely
Notes
I assume the romantic elements involve Maggie and the "potential keeper." If you're selling this as lady-lit with romantic elements, you might want to tell us more about the "keeper."
I'd also like to know more about Maggie turning the tables. You've given us the set-up: an opera singer meets a bereaved, unemployed woman and, inexplicably wanting her affection, inexplicably pretends to be the target of environmental terrorists. The story we want to hear, and which you've left plenty of room to tell us, is how Maggie dumps this clown and ends up with Mr. Right. At least temporarily.
That really long sentence is bothersome. I'd start:
South Floridian Maggie Duncan is flirting with fifty. Her hormones are wreaking havoc; her job’s been outsourced to India; and she’s still navigating the shoals of mourning after her mother’s death. She and her best friend Louise spend all their time watching Nurse Betty over and over.
Bad-boy baritone Lorenzo Pazzazzi is nursing a bruised ego from bad reviews. During a self-imposed exile to South Florida, he chances to meet Maggie, who is fascinated by the overwhelming number of "z"s in his name.
You can take it from there.
Is there some way to make it clear why being on the run from environmental kooks would make one seem more attractive to a woman?
In this lighthearted, fluffy vampire novel, Raye introduces us to Lil Marchette, a born vampire who prefers pink to black. She has decided not to go into the family business (copying, not mob related at all) and start a matchmaking business for humans, vampires, and others. There is only one problem….she can’t seem to get any clients and there is a murderous man on the loose hunting down women who go to dating agencies. Plus her parents keep setting her up with eligible born vampires (yes, apparently in this world vampires can have children) while she is getting the hots for a made vampire that she has no right to be looking at. It is completely irreverent and more chick lit than vampire. It reminds me a bit of Marta Acosta’s work. There is obviously more to the story of Lil and it should be fun to see where Raye takes it.
0 Comments on Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye as of 1/1/1990
by Brad Barkley and Heather Kepler
Dutton 2007
The "fur" characters (including those not wearing fur, like princesses) have gone on strike at Disney World in Florida at the beginning of the summer. This forces the Disney folks to hire scab labor to fill in so that vacationers can continue to enjoy "The Happiest Place on Earth" without the ugly bits of the outside world creeping in. But this
0 Comments on Dream Factory as of 7/8/2007 6:59:00 PM
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In this lighthearted, fluffy vampire novel, Raye introduces us to Lil Marchette, a born vampire who prefers pink to black. She has decided not to go into the family business (copying, not mob related at all) and start a matchmaking business for humans, vampires, and others. There is only one problem….she can’t seem to get any clients and there is a murderous man on the loose hunting down women who go to dating agencies. Plus her parents keep setting her up with eligible born vampires (yes, apparently in this world vampires can have children) while she is getting the hots for a made vampire that she has no right to be looking at. It is completely irreverent and more chick lit than vampire. It reminds me a bit of Marta Acosta’s work. There is obviously more to the story of Lil and it should be fun to see where Raye takes it. 
Hi Morgan! I've read Her Handyman and recommend it. Plus, it's now free! Woot-woot.
I definitely recommend Her Handyman. It hooked me from beginning to end. Almost wish I could have seen the main character's paintings in person!
I already have my copy and read it and loved it, but I'll pass the word along!
I hope this promotion works as well for you as your recent "Girl of My Dreams" freebie days!!
Are you going viral again? Sure hope so!!!!!!!!
DL Larson