Blog Hops

It's time for the weekly book blogger hops again! A great opportunity to meet new bloggers and say hi to old.

Crazy For Books' Book Blogger Hop

Parajunkee's Follow My Book Blog Friday.




I'm Alison. I've been blogging for a year. I review mainly YA with a few MG books and a weekly manga feature.

I have a new FACEBOOK page. Check it out!

On the blog this week:

Discussion Post:

Are You A Book Cheater?

Reviews:

Switched by Amanda Hocking
The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Manga Mondays

Vampire Knight vol. 12 by Matsuri Hino

Questions of the Week:

Blog Hop: Find another blogger who is having a giveaway and promote their giveaway for them!

I know just who to promote. One of my favorite blogs: Jenni Elyse!

She is giving away a signed copy of Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter in honor of her fourth blogoversary. Check out her GIVEAWAY!

Follow Friday: Let's step away from besties...What is the worst book that you've ever read and actually finished?

I want to be careful about answering this one. There are a few books I've read recently (especially of the self-published variety) that would fit this question well, but I don't want to hurt any feelings. Luckily, the answer Alexis posted at Reflections of a Bookaholic inspired me. This author can't be insulted, because he's been dead a long time.

Waverly by Sir Walter Scott

The summer after my sophomore year in college, I spent the summer studying in the UK. We spent 3 weeks in London, 10 days in Edinburgh, and 2 weeks in Dublin. In each location, we read quintessential authors, playwrights, and philosophers from their respective countries. Edinburgh was the great Sir Walter Scott. We were assigned Waverly.

Ten years later, I don't remember exactly why I hated Waverly. I think it was because it was long, flowery, and the hero was rather wimpy. But I do remember the Sir Walter Scott Monument in downtown Edinburgh. Our class unanimously voted to stack all our copies of Waverly at the base of the monument and shout "Take it back, Walter!" (I wish we'd actually done it. It would have been hilarious.

Switched by Amanda Hocking

Switched by Amanda Hocking
2010; CreateSpace - Soon to be St. Martin's Press

Summary

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Amanda Hocking is who every self-published author aspires to be - incredibly successful and soon to be published. I downloaded the first book for the Trylle Trilogy after reading about her publishing deal in the New York Times.

Switched was a delightful book. Wendy has never fit in. Life began badly with her mother trying to kill her on her sixth birthday. Since then the only people she trusts are her older brother and aunt. Enter Finn, a mysterious boy who steals her away from her family and introduces her to her "true family." Wendy is a changeling - a troll changeling, not a fairy as most stories use changelings. What's more, she's a princess. Wendy now has to deal with a less than motherly mother, an entire new world and culture, and people out to kill her. She's definitely thrown into the troll deep end.

I've read a lot of mixed reviews about this book. If you're looking to be critical, you can find lots of things to take issue with. There are areas where the plot isn't well developed or where things are skipped over altogether. Some of the characters are irritating. But if you don't think too much while you're reading, it's thoroughly enjoyable. It is definitely better written and plotted than most (but not all) self-published novels I've read. Switched was easy to read and the prose flowed smoothly most of the time. I was consistently interested in the book and loved learning about the troll world.

Wendy is an interesting girl. I really admired her gumption. She's spent her entire life with her hackles up. That doesn't change when she is introduced to the troll world. She refuses to abide by tradition and stands up to her elders. She's loyal to her brother and aunt and sticks up for the downtrodden. A courageous, take-charge girl.

Finn is also a great guy. I like how he goes back and forth between following his duty as a tracker/guard and his interest in Wendy. He's a good guide for Wendy. You can obviously tells that he respects her even if he disagrees. And he's the strong, silent type that is always so intriguing. I liked a lot of the other troll characters. Queen Elora, Wendy's biological mother, seems awful, but there are hints of depth. I'm interested to see how she develops. Tove and Rhys also seem like sweet, intriguing guys.

Switched is a fun book. It may not veer too far from standard YA paranormal plot arcs, but there's a reason those themes are so successful. I enjoyed it from start to end and look forward to reading more.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Are You A Book Cheater?

How do you deal with suspense? Do you patiently turn the pages, eagerly waiting for the big climax? Do you tear through the book skimming the pages until you know what's going to happen? Or...Do you cheat? Do you skip to the end and discover the big reveal?

I don't deal with suspense well in books. While I can easily put off opening my Christmas presents until late on Christmas day, I have the hardest time not knowing what's going to happen in a tense novel. It's the same with movies. For example, I saw Titanic on the day it premiered (my friend Chris was obsessed with the ship). I certainly knew that the boat wasn't going to float off into the sunset, but I didn't know precisely what would happen with Jack and Rose. I was so nervous during the movie that I didn't enjoy it all that much. I saw the film again the following day with a big group of friends. Since I already knew the entire plot - both true and fictional - I was free to enjoy the romance and the beautiful cinematography of the movie.

I have a bad habit of skipping to the end of books. It is rarely a smart thing to do. I'm sure that plenty of people can discover a book's secret and still enjoy it. I usually cannot. I inch up the roller coaster of a suspenseful novel, my stomach twisting in anticipation of the big discovery. If I can hold out and not skip to the end, I reach the book's climax and descend rapidly into the secret, raise my arms and shout at the exhilarating feeling of the speed and the wind rushing at my face. On the other hand, if I stop mid-way during the roller coaster's climb and learn about the reward at the end, the top of the roller coaster becomes a plateau. With no momentum, the car slows and eventually stops. No excitement, no exhilaration. Just a let down.

When I skip to the end of a book, I usually lose interest no matter how much I was enjoying it before. I don't want to completely give the novel up. Instead, I skim the remaining pages to find out a few details that I care about.

I've missed out on the experience of savoring numerous great books. Here are a few:

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld - I loved Uglies. I read midway through Pretties and just had to know what was going to happen. I peeked and then got bored.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson - This book isn't even that suspenseful. But for whatever reasons, I couldn't wait. I skimmed and gave it up. I was left with the impression that I didn't like Maureen's novels. Luckily, I read her Suite Scarlett series and the The Last Little Blue Envelopes. I adored those books and really regret not taking the time to appreciate 13 Little Blue Envelopes.

Do you ever skip to the end of a book? Does it improve or hinder your reading experience? Are there any books that you specifically remember sneaking a look at book's secret?

Guest Post at The Book Addicted Girl

I guest posted about my favorite historical fiction novels at The Book Addicted Girl today. Check out my post and Megan's blog! She's doing a Fortnight of Guests series.

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Current Giveaway on Alison Can Read 

GIVEAWAY: Win a copy of Walk The Wild Road by Nigel Hinton

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
2010; Penguin Australia/Viking

Summary

Melina Marchetta's brilliant, heart-wrenching new novel takes up the story of the group of friends from her best-selling, much-loved book Saving Francesca - only this time it's five years later and Thomas Mackee is the one who needs saving.

Thomas Mackee wants oblivion. Wants to forget parents who leave and friends he used to care about and a string of one-night stands, and favourite uncles being blown to smithereens on their way to work on the other side of the world.

But when his flatmates turn him out of the house, Tom moves in with his single, pregnant aunt, Georgie. And starts working at the Union pub with his former friends. And winds up living with his grieving father again. And remembers how he abandoned Tara Finke two years ago, after his uncle's death.

And in a year when everything's broken, Tom realises that his family and friends need him to help put the pieces back together as much as he needs them. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Melina Marchetta is one of the most talented writers out there today. It's unfortunate her books are labeled YA, because most people miss out on her wonderfulness. But for those of us who are smart enough to read YA whether or not we're teens, we are privileged to have a truly special author in our midsts.

The Piper's Son would flop in the hands of most authors. Tom Mackee is grieving the death of his uncle Joe who died two years ago in a terrorist attack in London. He abandoned his friends, quit school, and spent most of his time drinking, doing drugs, having one-night-stands, and hanging with his loser roommates. His family isn't much better. His father is in the throes of alcoholism and Tom's mother left with his little sister. Tom's aunt Georgie is pregnant by her long-time boyfriend who she can't forgive for fathering someone else's child when they briefly broke up, but can't stay away from either. When Tom hits rock bottom, he moves in with his aunt, and they all try - not to recover necessarily - but to live.

There's a lot going on in the history of the characters, but really not a lot going on with the plot. The book is about the love and pain of a close family and the camaraderie and anger of friends. We are re-introduced to most of the characters from Saving Francesca. I loved seeing how strong and vibrant Francesca is when she isn't depressed. She is the thread that holds everyone together. We also see Justine and Tara. I missed Jimmy - he was only briefly mentioned.

Dialogue is Marchetta's specialty. It's the reason the books are enjoyable even if nothing is happening. The characters are uniformly witty and smart. Or if angry, quick to come up with a biting remark that leaves your stomach in knots. Or if in love, they have the sweetest, most insightful, passionate comments: "A thousand times yes" (makes sense if you've read the book). I could read The Piper's Son a dozen times and come up with a different quote each time that causes me to pause and think.

I love how nothing is simple in this book. There is no enemy to fight. No easy solution that will make the characters happy. Rather, it is a slow process of healing in which they have to depend on each other.

Tom's family is wonderful. Highly dysfunctional, but you can sense the love between them. It's so rare to read about really close families in YA. Nothing is more important to Tom than his family. The book is told both from Tom and Georgie's perspectives. The switch is a bit confusing at times, but I got used to it. It was fascinating and sad to see how one person's death could tear apart a family in so many different ways.

The Piper's Son even has a shout-out to Jellicoe Road. It's easy to miss, but a fun tribute. The Piper's Son is not as complex or beautiful as Jellicoe Road and as wonderful as Tom is, he's not Jonah Griggs. However, it is an approachable novel much like Saving Francesca. As trite as it sounds...you really will laugh, cry, rejoice, rage, despair, and smile. Marchetta makes emotions leap off the page with the simple yet beautiful prose.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Manga Mondays (57): Vampire Knight vol. 12 - Matsuri Hino

Current Giveaway on Alison Can Read 

GIVEAWAY: Win a copy of Walk The Wild Road by Nigel Hinton

Vampire Knight vol. 12 - Matsuri Hino

Summary

Yuki and Zero lock eyes, but they turn away from each other. Yori wanders around the ballroom, and Sara Shirabuki finds and talks to her. She tries to lure Yori away, but is stopped by Zero, who grabs her wrist. Yuki squeezes through the throng to get to the fracas, and she convinces Zero to let go of Sara. Zero takes Yori away, while Sara asks Yuki if she wants to be her friend. Kaname arranges for Yuki to meet privately with Yori and Zero, but Zero declines. At the party, Sara Shirabuki's Pureblood fiance, Ouri, goes missing, as well as a vampire hunter. A scent of blood suddenly fills the air, and Yuki goes to investigate while Kain finds the remains of the dead Pureblood hidden underneath a tablecloth. Yuki finds Zero and Kaien investigating the body of the dead hunter, who committed suicide after becoming a vampire. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review


*My comments about this volume have very little in common with the synopsis...

I went into Volume 12 after having been frustrated with the last several volumes. Vampire Knight became extremely complicated and rather weird, but I was too invested in the series to give up. I'm pleased to say that I am more interested in the series after reading Volume 12. It's still really complicated and I'm not following it completely, but I'm getting caught up in the drama.

It's been a year since Yuki and Zero last saw each other. In the outside world, everything is falling apart in the vampire and hunter society. Kaname and Zero have each become very powerful in their own groups. Yuki meanwhile is being held virtual prisoner in Kaname's home.

I started out this series very solidly in the Team Kaname camp. After this volume, I've made a complete switch to Team Zero. Kaname is horribly restrictive of Yuki and very patronizing. He makes Edward Cullen seem like an easygoing, devil-may-care boyfriend in comparison. It's hard for me to know whether he really cares and worries about Yuki, or if he's trying to hold her back for his own purposes.

Yuki thankfully is getting out of the Kaname-love-haze which she's had for most of her life. She's sick and tired of just sitting here. She no longer wants to be a hummingbird in a flock of hawks. She wants to sore with the best of them. And she does. She rebels against Kaname's restriction and goes out on her own trying to make a difference.

Zero plays a role in this volume, but he didn't catch as much of my attention as Yuki. I like how Zero holds his own among the other vampire hunters. While he's pledged to be Yuki's enemy, you can also tell that he trusts and cares for her - even if he won't admit it.

I read a few other manga in between Volume 11 and Volume 12. One of the reasons, I enjoyed Volume 12 as much as I did was realizing that the drawings are superior to a lot of the other manga out there. I love how Yuki is drawn. She is slight and delicate, yet with a look of determination. I especially love her long, straight hair. Both Zero and Kaname are strong - with sharp jaws and broad shoulders, but have a beauty to them as well, with hair falling into their eyes.

In My Mailbox (42)

Current Giveaway on Alison Can Read 

GIVEAWAY: Win a copy of Walk The Wild Road by Nigel Hinton

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

I'm Alison. I review mainly YA with a few MG books and a weekly manga feature.

Library Stash

Nightspell by Leah Cypess

-I loved Leah's first book Mistwood and I can't wait to read this one!

Kekkaishi by Yellow Tanabe

CD Stash

Bon Iver by Bon Iver

-I've been listening to this on repeat. It is beyond wonderful!!!