Angieville

I eagerly delved into Naomi Novik 's standalone fantasy, having heard rave reports of her Temeraire series for years, but for some reason having not read them. It's often easier for me to dive into a standalone with a new author than it is a series it seems. The blurbs from luminaries such as Tamora Pierce and Maggie Stiefvater (and the comparisons to my beloved Robin McKinley) did not hurt things one bit. And the opening chapter is absolute perfection. I knew I was in for something special right off the bat. And, having finished Uprooted , I stand by my feelings that it is something special and absolutely worth your time and money investment, even if my overall impression came off not quite as glowing and awed as I might have hoped. It's worth taking a moment to admire that beautiful cover. My, how I love it. And the UK edition is glorious in a very different way. Lucky book, to be so beautifully packaged on both sides of the pond. Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he ...

Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish So it's time tomorrow to head off for parts north. Every other year, DH's family gathers lakeside for a family reunion full of sand, sun, and late-night card games. I for one am eager to get out of town, kick back in a beach chair, and lose myself in some solid summer reads. These are the books I'll be taking with me, and I gotta say—I'm pretty dang excited about my prospects. Have you read any of them already? Yea or nay? Any of these on your TBR as well?   Three days, four nights, eight books. I call that perfection.

I was pretty excited when I first heard about Re Jane . A contemporary Korean American retelling of Jane Eyre ? Yes, please. It's one of my favorite classics, and one I've had success (and some failures) with the retelling thereof. Authors do love to tinker with this tale. I've read every kind of version, from scifi and fantasy to steampunk and contemporary, and I am nothing if not up for another go. So I went into Patricia Park 's debut novel with somewhat high hopes, even having heard that the Rochester character's wife was in fact alive and kicking and not at all locked up in their Brooklyn brownstone's attic. I decided to give Ms. Park the benefit of the doubt. I also love this cover. So modern, so bright, so full of promise. Jane Re has thus far lived a lackluster life by most standards. She's spent her whole life under the thumb of her unloving and unmoving aunt and uncle, slaving away in the family grocery store at all hours and never quite managi...

I wanted to start the week off on a high note, and thanks to Penguin Books, I have a lovely giveaway of Patricia Park 's debut novel Re Jane  to share with you this morning. This is a contemporary retelling of Jane Eyre featuring a Korean American Jane and a whole new take on the classic tale. As you know, I am physically incapable of passing up a retelling of that particular story (my review should be up shortly), but first here's your chance to win a copy! This giveaway is open to those with U.S. mailing addresses. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter. The giveaway will be open through Monday, May 18th. a Rafflecopter giveaway

And here it is! The cover for Rainbow Rowell 's upcoming Simon Snow novel Carry On . I've spent a not inconsiderable amount of time wondering just what direction they would take this cover and I find myself both surprised and satisfied. In some ways it reminds of me the hardback Attachments cover. Rowell mentions that she wanted a cover that "made me feel a little nervous." Done and done, St. Martin's. I'm anxious, excited, nervous, pretty much all the emotions. Carry On is due out October 6th. Who else will be there the moment their bookstore opens (or conversely, have you already pre-ordered)?

Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish Normally I break out in hives when people ask me what my favorite book/s is/are or who my favorite author/s is/are. My oldest does this to me on a regular basis just to see me twitch. But (very) occasionally, I find myself tempted to see if I can survive having a go at whittling the giant horde down to ten or eighteen (shut up) absolute faves. Like would run back into the burning house favorites. And since this is authors and not single books, I'm not quite as close to hyperventilation as might otherwise be the case. So—despite the fact that not a one of these will surprise you, I mean my husband could probably rattle this list off with his eyes closed—my favorite authors of all time (in alphabetical order by last name). Do we share any? See my Beloved Bookshelf for individual titles/series by each of these. Lloyd Alexander Jane Austen Kristin Cashore Susan Cooper Charles Dickens Madeleine...

"There will never be anyone for me but you."