Summer Reading...Happened So Fast

Why yes, I am channeling my inner Olivia Newton John. Now, where, oh where, is my John Travolta look-alike singing partner? *sigh* Guess, I'm going to just have to fly solo for this song :(

This summer has rocketed by so fast that I didn't realize until just this weekend as I was finishing up the last book on my August list that I didn't post my July reading list. Gasp! The horror! How could I be so neglectful of my followers?!?! I know you all balance precariously on pins and needles each month just so you can find out what I read to fill the empty spaces in my world ;)

Admit it. You live for these lists. Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me! Ahem. Alright. Enough fooling around. Down to business.


July:

• SIZZLING SIXTEEN by Janet Evanovich
• BREATHLESS by Dean Koontz...Okay. I am admittedly a Koontz fangirl, but there have been some of his books that I haven't cared for in the past. While this is not his worst work, I can't say as it's his best. A decent enough plot line that kept my interest piqued, but it was more staid than his usual nail-biters. If you haven't read anything by Mr. Koontz before, this is not the one to use as your introduction into his world.


• HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins...Sheer genius!! I won't say any more here as I've already ranted...well, more like RAVED about this book in an earlier blog post.


• CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins...Same as the above. LOVED this book. Just as brilliant as HG but I have to say that HG was my favorite of the trilogy.


• THE SOCIETY OF S by Susan Hubbard...The cover said that fans of TWILIGHT will love this. NOT TRUE! Decent enough storyline with a unique take on vampires but a little slow and dry in spots. Not something I would recommend if you are only a Twi-fan but if you enjoy variety in your TBR list, you might be interested.

August:

• THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin...see earlier blog post for review


• MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins...My least favorite of the HUNGER GAMES trilogy. That said, it made me think for a long time after the final sentence. There were many things that I did not like about it, but there were also many things that I did. While not a completely satisfying end to the HG series, it was real and true to life.


• HEART OF A WARRIOR by Johanna Lindsey...Decent romance....a somewhat sci-fi take on the tried and true historical category. Stellar world-building and just a fun read!


• NUMB by Sean Ferrell...see earlier blog post where I threaten to stalk the author and beat him up just so I can steal his amazing writing skills ;)


• THE OTHER TWIN by Hunter Morgan...A fast-paced suspense. I figured out who the killer was right off the bat, but other than the obviousness of the villain, it was still a decent plot.

A NUMB Review...With Feeling

Mal resembled nothing else as much as a poorly gathered scarecrow. Over six feet tall, with kinky reddish blond hair and three days of beard, he wore a cheap plaid dress shirt, very old jeans, and no shoes or socks. A scar above his right eye showed where a juggled machete had ended an errant toss. His long arms seemed to grow out of his unbuttoned sleeves. As he lifted the television antenna over his head, his dark eyes glowering at the poor reception on the screen and his high cheekbones casting a skeletal shadow across his face, I thought he might be losing a battle with something unseen by anyone else but him.

Thus began my journey into Sean Ferrel’s NUMB world.

He shows up early one morning, broken and bloody, a man with no memory…and no pain. He says he is Numb, and that becomes his name. With nowhere to turn, Numb joins the circus he’d wandered into. At first, he does small tasks, helping set up and tear down as the circus moves from venue to venue. That is until he accidentally nails himself to a tent pole. Once he’s pried loose, he’s catapulted into the spotlight, the main attraction of the freakshow.

Come see the man who feels no pain! Watch as he drives nails through his flesh! Staples, too! The audience is welcome to participate!

Enter the rich oilman who has grown bored with Numb’s act and demands a more captivating show. Yes, friends. Numb is going to wrestle a lion.

Afterwards, Numb leaves the circus. With his friend Mal, he journeys across the country to New York City, following the one and only clue he has to his forgotten past: a brittle, blood-splattered business card. Paying for the trip is easy, what with his very unique talent, and soon he finds himself the center of attention, allowing people to nail him hand and foot to wooden bars for money. Before he can even begin his search, celebrity is forced upon him.

Now, Numb finds himself navigating through an alternate universe, as fame brings with it fortune hounds and opportunists all clamoring to use Numb’s numbness all to their own advantage. As he stumbles through the minefield that is celebrity, Numb works to uncover the answer to the one question he has: Who am I?

Sean Ferrel has a way with words that makes me want to knock him down and steal his talent. (If only it were that easy) Each line flowed seamlessly into the next with no wasted syllables. Everything was vivid and thought-provoking. I could see every person, every place, and every scar. With NUMB, I could see the main character as a real individual, not some paper person who could only live in my head. He was flawed, and that made him beautiful.

I really only have one problem with the book, and it was minor. That said, I can’t really disclose my issue without spoiling the entertainment that is NUMB for all of you. So, let’s just say that this book is a wild ride through the strange world of pseudo-celebrity and all the pitfalls it entails that will make you examine your own ideas about friendship, life, and personal identity.

How about all of you magnificent minions? Is NUMB on your short-list of soon-to-be-read, or have you already dove into its deliciousness? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Friends Who Live in My Computer

Now, hold on. Before you go calling the men in white coats to take me away to a padded cell where I will gleefully eat jello and drool onto my pajamas for the rest of my life, please hear me out! ....Although the whole pajamas and jello thing sounds nice...uh...minus the drooling, that is.

I'm talking about those people you meet while skulking in the shadows of Twitter, blogs, and various online writing communities, who for better or for worse have pulled you into the sunshine to play. You know the ones. Those people that you have never once met in "real" life, but you feel as if you have known for centuries. Your friends.

I, myself, have been lucky enough to find some wonderful people in my computer. (No, they don't actually live INSIDE my computer. That would just be weird.) We swap 140-character rants. We tease each other mercilessly. Some of us even gloat, gleefully tormenting the rest of us with their recent techno-type purchases. (I'm not naming any names, but her initials are Kelly Breakey)

We also discuss our favorite thing above all else: Books. Hey, we even formed a book club (see sidebar), and if any of you fun followers are interested in joining us, please contact me or any of the others and we will welcome you into the fold. (The hazing is minimal....well, you won't be scarred for life....er...maybe....yeah, I'm probably lying about that)

And, when (notice I said when here not IF) I'm ever blue from the constant whirl of rejection that is Query Hell or even just the torment that is real life, I know that these ladies (and gentlemen) will be there to pick me up, dust me off, and say "You can do this!"

Thanks, guys!! You all rock!

Okay...now, that I'm done being maudlin, I must think of something snarky to say or else you all are going to think I've become a Sappy Sally!

Uh...I like honey...yeah, okay. That didn't work. Don't worry! I'll figure it out...eventually. Until then, stay tuned :)

My Journey Through THE PASSAGE...

Before she became the Girl from Nowhere—the One Who Walked In, the First and Last and Only, who lived a thousand years—she was just a little girl in Iowa, named Amy. Amy Harper Bellafonte.

These are perhaps the best opening lines I’ve read in a long time. They instantly brought up all kinds of questions. Who was this Amy? Why was she called the Girl from Nowhere? And above all: How in the hell could she live 1,000 years? And, as all good first lines are wont to do, they made me read on.

SUMMARY:

FBI agent Brad Wolgast has a different kind of job with the US government. He travels the country, hopping from prison to prison with an offer that no death row inmate can refuse: Participate in a government study and have your sentence commuted down to life without parole. What he doesn’t tell them is that most of them will not survive the study, and those who do become something less than human. That’s not Wolgast’s job. He just brings them in.

That is, until his superior orders him to bring in a civilian from Memphis. Amy NLN (no last name). When Wolgast and his partner arrive to collect the civilian, they realize that this Amy NLN is just an orphaned little girl. Wolgast doesn’t want to bring her in. He doesn’t know exactly what is done to these subjects, but he knows it’s nothing good. So, he tries to ditch his partner and run away with Amy, but they are caught. Ultimately, Amy gets delivered to the government.

Then, the unthinkable happens.

The other subjects, The Twelve, break free and unleash upon humanity a virus that will either kill you or make you a monstrous creature that prowls the night, killing any and all living beings and draining them of blood.

Wolgast steals Amy away and takes her deep into the mountains, protecting her from the carnage and chaos that has descended upon the nation. But, for Amy, escaping this horrible night is only the beginning of a much larger journey, one that will span miles and decades, for she is the only one who can finish what never should have begun.

Now that I’ve given you the rundown, you’re probably expecting me to give you the standard Yes, I loved it. Go out and read it yourself. Or No, it was crap. Don’t even waste your time. And then the Let me tell you why.

Wrong. Well, all except for the Let me tell you why part of course.

THE PASSAGE is a novel that you must be committed to reading before you even begin it. It’s a book that you will either love or you will hate. There really is no middle ground here. This is where you’re probably wondering which category I fall into. I will admit that I am decidedly in the love category, but that doesn’t mean that I thought this was a perfect read, far from it actually.

AND…Let me tell you why:

PROS:

Above all else, THE PASSAGE made me think. I am by no means a conspiracy theorist or anything, but the events that led to this pandemic are completely plausible. The doctor who ran the experiment was only trying to find a way for disease to be completely eradicated. Who wouldn’t want to cure Cancer or heart disease or Alzheimer’s? And the government being the government took control of the experiment, thinking more in terms of defense than anything else. Is something like this experiment happening right now? Probably not. Could it though? Maybe…most likely…yeah. See what I mean about making you think…and worry?

Also, the world-building was stellar. I could see it all, from the underground government facility where the subjects were held to the mountain cabin where Wolgast took Amy to the First Colony, a stronghold designed to keep the infected out and the humans safe in the year 92 AV (after virus), to the ruins of Las Vegas and the Haven just outside Desert Wells. It was all so real and described so well without boring me with useless details.

I also loved the use of mixed media in the book. One chapter was comprised of nothing but emails from the doctor who began the whole experiment, which really gave the reader insight as to how this all came about. There were really no two-dimensional characters here, which made it difficult for the reader to be disgusted with some of the “bad guys” as you knew their motives and most of them had the best of intentions, but we all know where the road paved with good intentions will inevitably lead.

CONS:

This is an 800 page book. Yes, I said it. Now, I do not in any way have a word-count prejudice, but it needs to be said for anyone out there that is daunted by a book that thick. Really, you could get a great work out from holding it up!

Although the first lines reeled me in, I have to admit that the first 250 pages were somewhat dry for me. Don’t get me wrong. They were intriguing enough to keep me reading, if only to find out what the subjects were going to do and then the immediate aftermath of the breakout. But, I really didn’t get pulled in to the point that I couldn’t put the book down until Part IV when the story of First Colony began. This was where I really got immersed.

In my opinion, THE PASSAGE would’ve been a much more fast-paced and all around more engrossing read if the novel had just started at page 265 in the year 92 AV with First Colony. I understand why the first three parts were written—so that the reader understood what had happened in the Time Before and how that chain of events directly influenced Peter and his friends in the future—but there is this tiny part of me that would’ve preferred to be just as in the dark as the colonists were. It would have added another layer to the suspense. As it was, the minute Sanjay and the others started having the dreams, I was like, Oh, I know what’s going to happen next! Oh, my god!

But my biggest complaint about THE PASSAGE: It’s book one of a series! And while this first part did conclude, there were still many strings left dangling. Strings that will continue to be an irritation to be me until the next installment comes out. Damn you, Justin Cronin! **shakes fist and glares**

How about all you fun followers? Have you read THE PASSAGE yet? If so, did you like it, and why? If you haven’t read it, is it on your TBR list? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Hungry for THE HUNGER GAMES...

Welcome to the first edition of the Tweeters' e-Book Club! This month's selection is none other than Suzanne Collins' THE HUNGER GAMES!! Before we get to my thoughts on the matter, let's meet the other members of our group.

Abby Mumford
Alyson Peterson
Cynthia Reese
Elizabeth Ryann
Kelly Breakey
Patty Blount


And, now for my thoughts on the subject!!


“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Who said that? I know we’ve all heard the saying. I know we’ve all said it at one time or another throughout our lives. But, who said it first? No one? Beuller? Well, that doesn’t really matter now. The important thing is that it is true.

Especially when it comes to actual books.

So, I will admit, right here and now, that I DO judge books by their covers. I always have, and if you’re honest, dear reader, you will come clean as well. It’s the first thing we see when we pass the book by on the shelf. That first glimpse of the spine—whether in glaring orange (CANDOR) or jet black (GO ASK ALICE)—is what either draws us in or pushes us away.

This was the case with THE HUNGER GAMES. For months, I’d heard such great things about it. I have yet to find one person who has read Suzanne Collins’ dystopian novel and not loved it, myself included. But, every time, EVERY SINGLE TIME, I happened upon this novel in the store, its stark cover art turned me off. And, even when I would open up the book to skim over the blurb, I would think to myself, “Self, this book is just not for you.”

Boy was I wrong!

Set in a distant (I hope) future upon the ruins of a place once known as North America, the nation of Panem now stands. Panem is comprised of twelve districts all ruled by the Capitol. Think Stalin and post-WWII communist Russia. The Capitol runs EVERYTHING with an iron fist and a cold heart. If you’re thinking that this type of climate is the perfect setting for a revolution, you’d be right, but the Capitol is as smart as it is ruthless. In fact, the Hunger Games were set up for the sole purpose of keeping the citizens of Panem in a constant state of fear.

What are the Hunger Games? They are a yearly event in which two tributes—one male, one female—are selected in a lottery-type setting from each district. Upon selection, the tributes are remanded into the Capitol’s custody and forced to compete against each other in the Games until there is only one left standing.

Our story starts with Primrose Everdeen being selected as the female tribute from District 12. Her older sister, Katniss, steps in immediately, volunteering to take Prim’s place as tribute.

Katniss is a perfectly flawed protagonist. First, she is a survivor. When her father died years before sending her mother into a downward spiral of depression, it was Katniss who kept the family from starving to death. Secondly, she is selfless, as evidenced by her volunteering to take Prim’s place.

But the thing I love most about Katniss is that she is a bitch. There. I said it. She is impulsive and headstrong and often spiteful. The Games are nothing more than a death sentence, and she refuses to play the part of the honored and humble tribute that the Capitol expects of her, which lands her in a heap of trouble when she enters the arena.

Now, onto the love story part of it all. Am I Team Peeta or Team Gale?

Well, in HUNGER GAMES, I was neither. I was Team Geeta…or Team Pale, whatever floats your boat. J I loved both boys for completely different reasons. Although not seen very much in THE HUNGER GAMES (the first of the trilogy), Gale is the perfect boy. He’s hot. He’s strong. He’s a fierce protector of those he loves most, and Katniss is one of his beloved. That’s for sure. Peeta, on the other hand, is…well, Peeta. He’s kind and good and selfless. And, he, too, loves Katniss. However, our MC is a little too pre-occupied with more important things…like surviving the Hunger Games.

And, that is all I’m going to tell you fun friends. Have you read this fantabulous book yet? How did you like it? Please share in the comments below and then head over to the other Tweeters’ blogs to read their thoughts on this month’s pick.

If you haven’t read THE HUNGER GAMES, you must go out and buy it right now. RIGHT NOW! And, while you’re at it, pick up the second book in this trilogy CATCHING FIRE. For those of you who have read both books, don’t worry! MOCKINGJAY hits stands next week, Tuesday August 24th! Yay!

I am Such a TEASE :)

Happy Teaser Tuesday all! Yes, I am still teasing from LOVE IN A TIME OF POPULARITY. You all will be glad to know (ahem, Kelly) that I foresee this being complete within the next three weeks. Three because one of those weeks I am on vacation. WOOT!

Anywho...here you are. Enjoy!!

“Miss Jenna! You’re here!”

I’d just gotten the blanket spread out, and Cindy was cracking open our root beers when I heard Chad’s gleeful shout. Grinning, I turned around just in time to catch him as he launched himself at me, knocking us both to the ground. When I had him set back on his feet, he started talking so fast my head was spinning.

“Whoa! Slow down a little,” I laughed. “I’m not going anywhere. Now, tell me about this outfit. Have you been out slaying dragons?” He was costumed in his normal shorts and t-shirt, but that was topped by a paper crown like what you’d get at Burger King, a pillow case tied around his neck to fashion a dark red cape, and he held a long cardboard sword covered in shiny aluminum foil.

He nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry, Miss Jenna. I’ll keep you safe.”

It took everything I had to swallow the laughter that was fighting its way free. He was just too adorable in his get-up.

“Hey, there’s PJ!” Cindy jumped to her feet and frantically waved her hands above her head. “PJ! Over here!” She shouted, motioning for PJ, Dallas, and Austin to come over.

When they were close to us but not quite within reach, Chad leaped out in front of the blanket, cardboard sword drawn and blood in his eyes. “Villians!” he yelled, jabbing the air around Austin’s stomach. “This village does not allow dragons! I will slay you!”

Austin threw up his hands in surrender and backed up a few steps. “I come in peace, kid.”

“Liar!” Chad jabbed at Austin again. “You and your dragon—“ he slashed at Dallas, who was doing his best to keep from laughing out loud. “—will say anything to filterate the kingdom and kidnap Queen Jenna.”

“Filterate?” Austin echoed, backing up another step when Chad lashed out at his leg, the cardboard just barely missing his appendage.

“Chad,” I began, swallowing back laughter which took more than a little effort. “I think you meant ‘infiltrate’.”

“That’s—“ He swung at Dallas. “—what I said, Miss Jenna. Filterate.” He swung again. “I will slay you dragon! You won’t get Queen Jenna!”

“Dude,” Austin looked over at Dallas. “At least, you get to be a dragon. They can breathe fire and protect themselves. I got nothing.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. Neither could PJ and Cindy.

“Arrrr!” Chad lifted his sword overhead and charged at Dallas, who just stood there, waiting to be slaughtered. The boy slammed into Dallas, eliciting a loud grunt from him as they both toppled to the ground.

Austin, not even looking to see if his brother was alright, sauntered over to me, caught me by the arm and yanked me to my feet. He didn’t stop there. He lifted me at the waist and hoisted me over his shoulder.

“Looks like I got me a queen. Thanks for being the bait, Dal.” He laughed as he started to walk away with me hanging halfway down his back.

Chad, seeing Austin carting me away, leaped off Dallas and bounded toward us. “I’ll save you, Miss Jenna. Don’t you worry!”

Of course, by this time, we’d amassed quite an audience, and Austin, being the ham that he was, played this up. He threw back his head and cackled maniacally. “You shall never see your queen again, Sir Chad. You may have gotten my dragon, but you will never get me!”

Chad screeched out a war cry and charged after us.

Austin, seeing the torpedo that was the six-year-old closing in, set me on my feet and shook his head. Then, he whirled around, swiveling his head back and forth to determine the best escape route. “This isn’t over. Not by a long shot!” Dropping to his knees, he rolled out of Chad’s reach right as his sword came crashing down. Then, he was gone, disappeared into thin air.

And, that's it for me on this fine Tuesday. As I said, I am going on vacation, so I may not be able to reply to your comments in a timely manner. But know that I appreciate each and every one of them! Thanks for stopping by!

A TEASE By Any Other Name...

So, Karla has been BAD! Not a single word written since last week's tease. Not a one...well, unless you count the nonsense I spew on Twitter. Then, I've written enough to fill volumes. Yes, friends. I have become addicted. I just can't help it. Twitter is like crack for me. Wonderful, intoxicating crack. Ahhhhhh....

Uh...wait. Where were we again? Oh, right. TEASE. This snip is still from my current WiP that just won't die already. Yes, this scene from LOVE IN A TIME OF POPULARITY comes on the heels of the carnival scene. You know the one where Dallas won Jenna a giant panda? It's the next day, actually, and Austin and Dallas have come over to Jenna's house to play in her pool.

Enjoy!!

“So,” he said after a few moments of silence in which we just watched the antics going on in the pool. “How’s Mr. Panda enjoying his new home? Is he making the transition okay?”

I snorted. “Well, you know there’s always a period of adjustment.” I heaved out a dramatic sigh. “He’s afraid of the dark, terrified really, which is funny considering how big he is.”

He nodded sympathetically. “Even big guys can be a little scared sometimes.”

“Yeah, well he ended up crawling into bed with me in the middle of the night. He’s a pillow hog, and he steals the covers.”

“Bad Mr. Panda,” Dallas chortled.

“You didn’t have to sleep with him!”

“Well, at least he didn’t have gas…wait, he didn’t, did he?”

“Thank god no!” We both broke into giggles at that. Our laughter drew Austin’s gaze over to us and he smiled.

“You two coming back in, or are you going to be anti-social?” He called.

I thought for a moment. “Anti-social,” I yelled back.

Dallas grinned at his brother and then took another swig of his lemonade.

“So Dallas,” I began. “And Austin.”

He nodded.

I rolled my hand in the air between us, pressing the question without having to speak.

“Born in Texas.” He told me. “You know we’re twins, not identical of course.”

I rolled my eyes. “Kind of hard to miss.”

His lips twitched up at the corners as if he was trying to hold in a laugh, and failing miserably.

“Well, Dad was stationed in Dallas at the time we were born, but Mom was in Austin visiting my aunt when she went into labor.” He shrugged. “So, Austin was named for the city we were born in—“

“And you were named for the city you lived in.” I finished.

He nodded. “Six more months and we would have been named Fort and Bragg.”

Another round of laughter peeled out of me. “Can I call you Braggy for short?”

“Not if you expect me to answer.” He deadpanned.

One thing about Dallas. He never failed to make me laugh. In fact, my sides were already beginning to hurt. “So, what about PJ?” I had to ask.

“Hawaii.” He answered. “PJ is short for Pearl June.”

“But, Pearl Harbor is a naval base.” I pointed out, confused. “I thought your dad was army.”

“Rangers,” he clarified. “Yeah, we were at Fort Shafter then.” One brow quirked up, and he smirked at me. “My mom may be a little nuts about naming her kids where we’ve been, but even she couldn’t name her daughter Shaft.”

Now, I really couldn’t breathe, I was laughing so hard. “I certainly hope not!” I gasped out between guffaws. When I finally got my chuckles under control, I poured myself a cup of lemonade and topped off his. “I take it PJ was born in June?” At his nod, I continued. “So, does that make your middle name March?”

“Close,” he chuckled.

“May?” I snickered. “Oh, please tell me it’s May!”

“You wish.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s August, and before you ask, no Austin’s middle name isn’t August, too. Or Thursday for that matter.” He didn’t wait for me to verbalize the question before he answered it. “It’s David…Dad’s name.”

He eyes turned sad then, and I reached out to squeeze his hand. “You miss him, don’t you?” I whispered.

He lifted his shoulders in a shrug that tried desperately to be careless but fell short by a mile. “He was gone a lot anyway.”