tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51427479139932328052024-03-13T06:42:24.160-07:00Bibliophile Support GroupBook reviews, guest posts and literary news - as often as this full-time working adult can muster.Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.comBlogger937125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-85750986288197170632018-05-30T18:59:00.002-07:002018-05-30T18:59:55.713-07:00Evangeline of the Bayou
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cnHhdbt254G0GkXWOgCjYLabqGXGEPH3OVmePCGQ_qKgDUaGiM9R_B0Qr3swSLQwdoYHDBda424Xh69qya5GmgD7McbI38v9pxiE3a03vWwoM5diWZIN-fhCjXX4N46tuCj68a1Dplw/s1600/Evangeline+cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="318" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cnHhdbt254G0GkXWOgCjYLabqGXGEPH3OVmePCGQ_qKgDUaGiM9R_B0Qr3swSLQwdoYHDBda424Xh69qya5GmgD7McbI38v9pxiE3a03vWwoM5diWZIN-fhCjXX4N46tuCj68a1Dplw/s400/Evangeline+cover.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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<i>Evangeline of the Bayou</i> is an urban fantasy middle grade
novel written by Jan Eldredge and illustrated by Joseph Kueffler. You may have
noticed that just last week I posted a Q&A with the author!</div>
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There is no doubt that twelve-year-old Evangeline will
become an amazing haunt huntress – not with a lineage like hers. Not only was
her mother a force to be reckoned with, but Evangeline lives with her
grandmother – a daily opportunity to hone her skills. </div>
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And she’ll definitely get her animal familiar soon.</div>
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Definitely. </div>
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It will be better than some unruly cat named Fader.</div>
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Dang cat.</div>
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Perhaps her time will be now – now that she and her
grandmother have been called to New Orleans to investigate a strange case
bursting with secrets to be unearthed.</div>
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Yeah. She’ll definitely be returning to her bayou a true
haunt huntress…</div>
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This is a fun one.</div>
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There was one particular line that was so delightful that
I made a special note to call out in my review: “…its spirit force plowing her
down and nearly knocking her out of her priest-blessed, silver-tipped,
alligator-skin boots.”</div>
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And then I realized that not only is there ALREADY a
review on the back cover referencing this exact line, the inside cover synopsis
ALSO referenced it. Ha!!</div>
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What a perfect example of how resonant and memorable
those flavorfully worded sentences are in <i>Evangeline of the Bayou</i>! Peppered
with vibrant phrases and narrated in a charming third-person voice, this novel
is definitely – as I said – a fun one.</div>
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Super fun.</div>
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If you want to be taken off to Louisiana, swamp-drenched
and enigmatic, with a fresh and smart young protagonist – check this one out!</div>
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Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-52486391129717267592018-05-23T02:00:00.000-07:002018-05-23T02:00:14.287-07:00Author Q & A - Jan Eldredge Stops By!<div style="text-align: center;">
Next Wednesday y'all will be getting my oh-so-humble opinion of <i>Evangeline of the Bayou</i>, the <b>Summer 2018 Kids' Indie Next List</b> selection! (That means it was picked via booksellers at independent bookstores countrywide.)</div>
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Until then, I have a Q&A with the Louisiana born and raised author herself: Jan Eldredge!</div>
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(Don't forget to come back next week for my review!!)</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A
Conversation with</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">JAN
ELDRIDGE</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Author
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Evangeline of the Bayou </i></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1) The glossary in the back of the book is
so helpful! Where did you learn about all these creatures? Which creature from
the book is your favorite?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have a small, but growing, collection of books about mythical creatures around
the world. If I couldn’t find what I was looking for there, I researched
library books, online websites, and the occasional documentary. Something that
really surprised me as I started learning more about mythical monsters was the
number of different cultures that share very similar creatures. Their names and
a few minor details might be different, but they’re basically the same beings. Taking
characteristics of monsters found in other countries and adapting them to
Evangeline’s world was a lot of fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
favorite creature from EVANGELINE OF THE BAYOU is definitely the grim. He’s so
silent and spooky and mysterious. There’s just something about grims in the
form of big black dogs that I find so interesting.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2)
What scares you the most?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The idea of getting abducted by aliens and then being flown
into space onboard their ship is terrifying to me. At least with monsters here
on earth you have a chance of running away from them, but when you’re hurtling
through the cosmos inside an alien craft, you’re kind of stuck there.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3)
Can you describe what a<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> gris gris bag </i>is
and what it's used for? Could I make one or does it have to be put together by
a voodoo priest or someone with special powers?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Basically, a gris-gris bag (pronounced <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gree gree bag</i>) is a small drawstring bag
filled with an assortment of items such as herbs, roots, stones, crystals,
coins, and maybe even bones. Different gris gris bags are created for different
purposes, such as protection from evil or as a way to attract good luck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m not an expert on the voodoo religion, but I imagine
you’d be better off having a gris gris bag created by a seasoned conjurer.
Though, as I understand it, you can make your own as long as you use the
correct ingredients and follow the specific steps.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4)
You say on your website that you have an "interest in cats, magic, and
assorted eldritch things that go bump in the night" and that you also like
"researching bizarre superstitions" - where does this love for magic
and superstition come from?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I guess I’m fascinated with magic and superstition because
it plays such a huge part in spooky stories. It’s often magic and superstition,
rather than human-made weaponry, that’s used to defeat the monster.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5)
Did anyone or anything in particular inspire you during the writing process?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve always had a love for monsters and spooky stories,
but it was when I found an old book of superstitions in a used book store, that
I had one of those lightbulb moments. As soon as I started flipping through the
pages, I knew I wanted to write a story incorporating some of those fascinating
beliefs.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6)
How long did you live in Louisiana? What prompted the move to Florida?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was born and raised in Louisiana. I moved to Florida
a few months after I graduated from college. It was the warm, sunny weather and
the prospect of a making a new start that drew me here.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7)
What is next for you?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m currently at work on the sequel to EVANGELINE OF
THE BAYOU. I’m having a lot of fun creating new trials and adventures for
Evangeline, as well as introducing some quirky new characters, along with a
very evil villain.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS ON WRITING</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1) What was the hardest part about writing
the book?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Writing
Julian’s dialogue was one of the difficult parts about writing the book. Because
he’s so much smarter than I am, I had to do a fair amount of research for all
the facts and trivia he’s always spouting.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">2) What’s your writing process like?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The early
stages of story creation are messy and disorganized with notes and ideas
written on index cards, in computer documents, and on my whiteboard. When I
feel like I’ve come up with enough ideas to get started, I create a rough and
flexible outline. From that, I prepare a to-do list, and I work on it one item
at a time. Focusing on small pieces of the manuscript keeps me from feeling
overwhelmed. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">3) Where do you write?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
write at home, at the library, and at local coffee shops. I’m very conscious
about not choosing the same table or seat whenever I write in public places. I
don’t want to get dependent on things having to be “just so” in order to be
able to write. I even switch locations at home. Sometimes I work in my office,
sometimes at the dining room table or even on the living room sofa or sitting
up in bed.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">4) How often do you write?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
try to work on the story every day, even if I’m not doing any actual drafting.
Some days I might be researching or revising. Sometimes I’m brainstorming. But
occasionally life happens, and I have to stop working. When that occurs, it
usually takes me about a week of floundering around before I finally get back
into the groove.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">5) What’s the most important thing you’ve
learned as a writer since writing this book?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve
learned to embrace the revision process. There’s no escaping it. I’ve learned to
accept that just because I spent a lot of time on a particular section of
writing, that’s no reason to keep it if it’s not working. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">6) What advice do you have for new
writers?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There’s
no one right way to write a story. Try different processes, and use what works
for you. Also, keep learning and keep improving.</span></div>
<br />Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-61633002526437297522018-03-16T16:16:00.003-07:002018-03-16T16:16:47.027-07:00New Blog: Tomes in My Thirties!Please visit my new book blog, <a href="http://tomesinmythirties.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tomes in My Thirties</a>!<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy it and decide to follow it as my new primary posting location!Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-27202215079751379902018-03-16T09:17:00.001-07:002018-03-16T09:17:18.711-07:00Hello Again! Plus: New Blog Coming!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRZ0jd28v5HoOJhUkHuRSkQJrpX2uhfOH38WtbsRfUDJ1k1bb5ZpLHqGGtfWCcYa627bR6baoMEi8Mmc2duGgCtyVO95Ipv1bhwJc6joGowZyO4eOkEotxWVvyhO1ditrSBQ0VsIoe6Rr/s1600/booksies.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRZ0jd28v5HoOJhUkHuRSkQJrpX2uhfOH38WtbsRfUDJ1k1bb5ZpLHqGGtfWCcYa627bR6baoMEi8Mmc2duGgCtyVO95Ipv1bhwJc6joGowZyO4eOkEotxWVvyhO1ditrSBQ0VsIoe6Rr/s320/booksies.jpg" width="218" /></a>Oh, life.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What an interesting, unexpected, sudden thing it is. Both
beautiful and jarring, it happens out of nowhere sometimes.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am sorry I have been so very, very absent. Not only did
my time to write shrivel up for a long time, but my reading has been minimal.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How dare I, right? Yet, entering my 30s has been
eye-opening. We, as responsible adults with families and friends, have so many
more things dividing our time and attention that books and reading do tend to
become a casualty. I have come to make peace that I will likely never read
quite as much as I once was able to – at least until I retire, that is.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
However! I am devoted to getting back in the game a bit
again. Currently I am reading THREE books: <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s
Stone</i> (you aren’t surprised, don’t pretend like you are); <i>Tank Girl One</i> (omg my
boyfriend showed me the 90s movie with Lori Petty and I couldn’t NOT seek out
the original comics); and <i>Monster Hunter International</i> (an urban fantasy action
novel, first of a SUPER LONG series, which I am very entertained by so far.)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, yeah. My reading habits have drastically changed, but
so has life. This is the blog of a teen book reviewer and a
bibliophilic 20-something. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But guess what?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Totes gonna start posting reviews again. Obviously of the
books I am reading right now, as well as a couple exciting titles that peaked
my interest that are not yet released: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Red Sister</i> by Mark Lawrence (mass market paperback
version)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
and</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Evangeline of the Bayou</i> by Jan Eldredge</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I cannot promise reviews to be weekly. Life doesn’t
really allow for that anymore.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
But I will post them as often as I finish books and have
a chance to write a review. And it going to be on a NEW blog!!! I am older,
life is different and I think that my blog should reflect that – and be more relatable
to all the other bibliophiles who have found their reading interrupted by the
beauty of life, love and family – we aren’t teenagers reading between homework assignments anymore.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As soon as I get it up, I will cross reference it to the
Bibliophile Support Group. Bibliophile Support Group is not going anywhere – it
will stay right here and retain the hundreds of reviews and guest posts and
interviews it has spotlighted over <b>TEN YEARS</b> of book loving and reviewing. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I will be back with more news, once I have it!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-62236568929591836992017-07-14T00:00:00.000-07:002017-07-14T00:00:21.499-07:00#YAStandsFor Daily Social Challenge... Day 5!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYm2M9tomef7vn6ifD5wn26ogPVbV3G7KV-EcJWU1ZMi6uTfoesVjPNgzzaQGX16gozRIUy9HviOTyotxVvRIBgjiuw0duOTV39tEMwiiVilaosSKgjNyebo-ZByT-N_oaOiCrQleJpKH/s1600/WHAT+DOES+YA+STAND+FOR_Social+Graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYm2M9tomef7vn6ifD5wn26ogPVbV3G7KV-EcJWU1ZMi6uTfoesVjPNgzzaQGX16gozRIUy9HviOTyotxVvRIBgjiuw0duOTV39tEMwiiVilaosSKgjNyebo-ZByT-N_oaOiCrQleJpKH/s320/WHAT+DOES+YA+STAND+FOR_Social+Graphic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In my final day of participating in the <a href="https://twitter.com/ireadya" target="_blank">I Read YA</a> Week celebration (you can keep partying, it goes on through Monday!), I found myself presented with a new challenge of: Create a graphic showcasing an inspirational YA quote.<br />
<br />
I'm not super tech savvy and I've never created a graphic before. But with just a little Google searching and a download of an app, I was able to create this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_RETDlzhARlEl4_zcVW4JbecqDkaLv3_5GvqXH0XqIVtbE8xu2_S6fz8KxRVC_bLFRFX_RGDwOA3adU_kQwlgJPJj14kiHvnyR28FZgguS7rm_1dqQzCP_mEMzCvqWajxs0vsCVy5FXc/s1600/Graphic+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_RETDlzhARlEl4_zcVW4JbecqDkaLv3_5GvqXH0XqIVtbE8xu2_S6fz8KxRVC_bLFRFX_RGDwOA3adU_kQwlgJPJj14kiHvnyR28FZgguS7rm_1dqQzCP_mEMzCvqWajxs0vsCVy5FXc/s400/Graphic+for+blog.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Thanks for joining me this week! I hope you all enjoyed it! Please follow or subscribe for notifications of new posts and reviews upcoming on the Bibliophile Support Group!<br />
<br />
#YAStandsFor<br />
@IReadYAAngiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-86087226696910305722017-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:002017-07-13T00:00:31.405-07:00#YAStandsFor Daily Social Challenge... Day 4!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYm2M9tomef7vn6ifD5wn26ogPVbV3G7KV-EcJWU1ZMi6uTfoesVjPNgzzaQGX16gozRIUy9HviOTyotxVvRIBgjiuw0duOTV39tEMwiiVilaosSKgjNyebo-ZByT-N_oaOiCrQleJpKH/s1600/WHAT+DOES+YA+STAND+FOR_Social+Graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYm2M9tomef7vn6ifD5wn26ogPVbV3G7KV-EcJWU1ZMi6uTfoesVjPNgzzaQGX16gozRIUy9HviOTyotxVvRIBgjiuw0duOTV39tEMwiiVilaosSKgjNyebo-ZByT-N_oaOiCrQleJpKH/s320/WHAT+DOES+YA+STAND+FOR_Social+Graphic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
During the ongoing annual Scholastic event <a href="https://twitter.com/ireadya" target="_blank">I Read YA</a> Week, they are presenting readers with Daily Social Challenges to get us thinking on what #YAStandsFor to each of us individually.<br />
<br />
Today's is: Swap a YA book about the positive power of friendship with your bestie.<br />
<br />
Slight problem, my bestie is not a bibliophile. I know. <i>I know. </i><br />
<br />
But it's ok! Instead I will just spotlight a book I <i>would</i> share, if he was less bonkers and more bookish.<i> </i><br />
<br />
My choice: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Moon-Sarah-Dessen/dp/0142401765/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499641003&sr=8-1&keywords=keeping+the+moon+by+sarah+dessen" target="_blank">Keeping the Moon</a> by Sarah Dessen.<br />
<br />
Unlike some of the initial books that ran through my mind in response to this challenge, this book shows the positive power of <i>new</i> friendships. It shows how friends can push you outside of your comfort zone, broadening your perspective on what opportunities are feasible to you... and in the case of <i>Keeping the Moon</i>, pursue a fresh start.<br />
<br />
And without being disingenuous, I can honestly say finding the right friend(s) at the right time can be a life changer. This novel highlights that. Definitely a book that has a strong memory attached to it, it was impactful and inspiring to me. Easily meets today's challenge, in my opinion.<br />
<br />
#YAStandsFor<br />
@IReadYA<br />
<i> </i> <br />
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-44909104562821479372017-07-12T00:00:00.000-07:002017-07-12T00:00:12.516-07:00#YAStandsFor Daily Social Challenge... Day 3!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbuBfQSfkCRkNxgpbURGgxwVohXHXJJ86uqc32v2RuaiGD4rqOwpwvjygLvknY-5lWtTuXLQQyEa2FK7_aogs8GwVN7By7O71XhO5nLEFX_UY61Pu8vnDTUUXaJ0nwmuMQbuE_yldHi20/s1600/WHAT+DOES+YA+STAND+FOR_Social+Graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbuBfQSfkCRkNxgpbURGgxwVohXHXJJ86uqc32v2RuaiGD4rqOwpwvjygLvknY-5lWtTuXLQQyEa2FK7_aogs8GwVN7By7O71XhO5nLEFX_UY61Pu8vnDTUUXaJ0nwmuMQbuE_yldHi20/s320/WHAT+DOES+YA+STAND+FOR_Social+Graphic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In honor of the annual <a href="https://twitter.com/ireadya" target="_blank">I Read YA</a>, Scholastic's #YAStandsFor Daily Social Challenge is: Give a shout out to your favorite literary fictional hero.<br />
<br />
OMG, can you ask anything more difficult from a bibliophile?!?<br />
<br />
I think this is only a step below: What is your favorite book?<br />
<br />
Seriously Scholastic, way to torture my poor, fragile, book loving mind!<br />
<br />
There are far, far too many choices and far, far too many beloved characters for me to choose. So, I am picking a particular heroine that stands out to me from a more recent read.<br />
<br />
Madeline, from Nicola Yoon's novel <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Nicola-Yoon/dp/0553496670/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499553598&sr=1-1&keywords=everything+everything+nicola+yoon" target="_blank">Everything, Everything</a> is my choice.<br />
<br />
I am aware this book has been made into a movie, I have not seen it. But the novel was... lovely.<br />
<br />
My reason for choosing her: Madeline is a character whose Severe Combined Immunodeficiency disallows her from going outside the sanitized, safe world of her home and the company of her longtime nurse and single mother.<br />
<br />
She is positive, cheerful and intelligent - a girl who has done everything and seen everything through all the novels she has read over the years. But she decides that life is something to be experienced, not just read. And she decides that the risk is worth the reward of truly living.<br />
<br />
There is a quiet but pure courage to that. It was impactful to me and it was certainly a great book.<br />
<br />
But, again, FAVORITE LITERARY FICTIONAL CHARACTER?<br />
<br />
I call foul, Scholastic.<br />
<br />
#YAStandsFOR<br />
@IReadYAAngiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-12985017057947829922017-07-11T00:00:00.000-07:002017-07-11T00:00:30.895-07:00#YAStandsFor Daily Social Challenge... Day 2!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbuBfQSfkCRkNxgpbURGgxwVohXHXJJ86uqc32v2RuaiGD4rqOwpwvjygLvknY-5lWtTuXLQQyEa2FK7_aogs8GwVN7By7O71XhO5nLEFX_UY61Pu8vnDTUUXaJ0nwmuMQbuE_yldHi20/s1600/WHAT+DOES+YA+STAND+FOR_Social+Graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbuBfQSfkCRkNxgpbURGgxwVohXHXJJ86uqc32v2RuaiGD4rqOwpwvjygLvknY-5lWtTuXLQQyEa2FK7_aogs8GwVN7By7O71XhO5nLEFX_UY61Pu8vnDTUUXaJ0nwmuMQbuE_yldHi20/s320/WHAT+DOES+YA+STAND+FOR_Social+Graphic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Today I continue the Scholastic <a href="https://twitter.com/ireadya" target="_blank">I Read YA</a> celebration with the second #YAStandsFor Daily Social Challenge to: Tell us about the YA book that helped you find your voice.<br />
<br />
It's likely going to be a choice of many, but I have to choose the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Books/dp/0545162076/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499552309&sr=1-1&keywords=harry+potter+complete+series" target="_blank">Harry Potter</a> series by J. K. Rowling. Some people may call it a Children's series, but as he ages up to seventeen in the series, I think we can safely say it falls in the YA category safely also.<br />
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My reason for picking this series, is that <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Sorcerers-Stone-Rowling/dp/059035342X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499552351&sr=1-1&keywords=harry+potter+and+the+sorcerers+stone" target="_blank">Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</a> is the book that truly cemented by love of reading. As a kid, I loved reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Sitters-Club-Boxed-Book-Nos/dp/0590636731/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499552402&sr=1-2&keywords=babysitter%27s+club+set" target="_blank">Babysitter's Club</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Goosebumps-Retro-Scream-Collection-Limited/dp/0545847303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499552437&sr=1-1&keywords=goosebumps+books+set" target="_blank">Goosebumps</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Drew-Starter-Carolyn-Keene/dp/0448464969/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499552475&sr=1-1&keywords=nancy+drew+books" target="_blank">Nancy Drew</a> and other great stories - so I was already a fledgling bibliophile. But when my 6th grade teacher started reading from <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone </i>to the class during the end of day free time, I fell <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQnAxOQxQIU" target="_blank">truly, madly, deeply</a> in love with stories.<br />
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Never before had I felt so entranced by a narration, by the world building and colorful characters and dialogue presented. It compelled me to find a copy of my own so I could read more than the bits I heard every day at school. It helped me to find my voice in that I began to identify as a Book Lover and a Proud Bibliophile.<br />
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#YAStandsFOR<br />
@IReadYA<br />
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-5522542464652560132017-07-10T00:00:00.000-07:002017-07-10T00:00:25.248-07:00#YAStandsFor Daily Social Challenge... Day 1!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Howdy There, Bibliophiles!</div>
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As part of Scholastic's teen community annual <a href="https://twitter.com/ireadya" target="_blank">I Read YA</a>, Scholastic is encouraging book lovers to share in fun challenges that spotlight how awesome YA is as a genre, a genre that is honestly pigeon holed by the age of the protagonist instead of the content of the story inside. So, I am going to participate in a few of these to get my toes back into the waters of the wonderful world of YA once more. I'd love for y'all to join in and tell me What Does YA Stand For... for you?!?</div>
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For myself, YA stands for a genre that caused me some of the best adventures in sci-fi, mystery and romance during my teenage years. I didn't stop reading YA when I entered my 20s, but my memories are vivid of when I identified with the characters that were placed in extraordinary situations. Whether the engrossing and wonderfully sarcastic heroines of some of Meg Cabot's early works when she wrote as Jenny Carroll - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shadowland-Mediator-1-Meg-Cabot/dp/0060725117/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499550874&sr=8-1&keywords=the+mediator+shadowland" target="_blank">The Mediator</a> series and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Lightning-Strikes-1-800-Where-R-You-Cabot/dp/0689868278/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499551205&sr=8-1&keywords=when+lightning+strikes+meg+cabot" target="_blank">1-800-Where-R-U</a> series specifically - or the lush, soapy, saucy historical series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Luxe-Anna-Godbersen/dp/0061345687/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499551095&sr=8-1&keywords=the+luxe+anna+godbersen" target="_blank">The Luxe</a> by Anna Goldbersen, there were always fun characters to attach yourself to in order to immerse yourself in a world of intrigue and suspense. It helped to further nurture the hypnotic world of imagination that needed a new placed to go after all those years of playing with toys.</div>
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So many genres and literary styles are encompassed in the two letters "YA." And it holds a mass majority of my library in its clutches. How about you?</div>
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#YAStandsFor </div>
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@IReadYA</div>
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-83453444368619974102017-04-26T00:00:00.000-07:002017-04-26T00:00:23.002-07:00Gardenia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31RDLlYpxidYWbX_1s4c7Vgk1lDeSDY4PwkTOUybWByteBz-9CljkKHpoT7O6GDxSGIhHHcfh-oyqpuEM7yCSNGz7X2cf4z3DsuAI1FUWQFzrMlLSpp2Rf9fDaR9IZRHDxlgHxAOg9M__/s1600/gardenia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31RDLlYpxidYWbX_1s4c7Vgk1lDeSDY4PwkTOUybWByteBz-9CljkKHpoT7O6GDxSGIhHHcfh-oyqpuEM7yCSNGz7X2cf4z3DsuAI1FUWQFzrMlLSpp2Rf9fDaR9IZRHDxlgHxAOg9M__/s400/gardenia.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
Why hello there, loyal readers!<br />
<br />
It's been a long, long time since I last wrote about a new novel - or wrote much of anything original. Life has definitely changed for me in many ways, changing how and where I devote my time.<br />
<br />
But... whaddya know? I managed to finally finish a book!<br />
<br />
<i>Gardenia </i>is a YA genre mash of murder mystery with a dash of sci-fi/fantasy, written by author Kelsey Sutton.<br />
<br />
When Ivy's best friend died, it wasn't a surprise to her.<br />
<br />
Because, ever since she was little, Ivy has seen the numbers over everyone's heads. Their countdown, if you will.<br />
<br />
But she didn't know the cause of her best friend's death would be... murder.<br />
<br />
Labled as a bit of an outcast, due to her odd behavior and reaction to Vanessa's death, Ivy finds herself more alone than ever as she is determined to find her friend's killer.<br />
<br />
And she doesn't have much time, herself... as she's known her whole life.<br />
<br />
Now, she realizes, it may be that she may give up her life to catch the murderer...<br />
<br />
This story starts with a fairly original, interesting and intriguing concept. Initially, I admit, it sounds very teen horror movie flick in its synopsis. I *loved* murder mysteries as a young teen myself and found the vibe a bit nostalgic, to be honest. Brought me back to my Joan Lowery Nixon days, hehe.<br />
<br />
Gooooooood memories. Golly, am I really getting that old? *La Sigh*<br />
<br />
Anywho, it was this weird <i>24</i>-like countdown on top of everybody's heads that *really* got me curious. It seemed like an odd combo, and there's almost nothing that I like to try more than things that seem a little offbeat and quirky.<br />
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As it started out, I was primarily quite impressed with the excellent use of adjectives, supporting the atmosphere of the scenes presented - whether it be the environment or the emotions of characters. Wonderful word usage.<br />
<br />
Yet another success was how Sutton makes Ivy very sympathetic as a character, very quickly. It's not a long novel - and it presents itself as this speed sleuthing plot - so it needs to establish our connection to the heroine swiftly.<br />
<br />
With just a little recollection of how she realized her ability for the readers benefit and the way she visits the nursing homes to make a positive impact on those who are soon to leave the world, she is easily a likable person. Especially because she is not at all self-pitying or downtrodden, she is trying to do something good with the time she has. That is admirable.<br />
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<i>Gardenia </i>turns more suspenseful as an early murder creates the tone of a serial killer, and it did indeed grab my attention quite thoroughly before even the second chapter ended. And then as it delved more into the teen detective ambience, if you will, it did satiate that thirst for a taste of old times, gobbling up all those whodunnit's in my childhood bedroom.<br />
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Sadly, despite the meritorious character portrayal and great idea of the death countdown, the actual plot ended up being more predictable than I would have liked... and most upsetting was the ending.<br />
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Oh, <i>Gardenia</i>. Why? Why??<br />
<br />
As any regular readers of the Bibliophile Support Group know, I refuse to spoil the book. Even in a circumstance like this where I really, really, really want to say what is bugging me.<br />
<br />
I will say this: It's a short read and well written, in general. If you read <i>Gardenia</i>, and I hope you do, you will know *exactly* what I mean about the ending.<br />
<br />
Exactly.<br />
<br />
What.<br />
<br />
I.<br />
<br />
Mean.<br />
<br />
Two words: Cop out.<br />
<br />
BOOM.<br />
<br />
Until next time, readers... <br />
<br />Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-82408614665685376732016-12-31T16:27:00.001-08:002016-12-31T16:27:31.315-08:00Hello 2017!Hi My Lovelies!!!<br />
<br />
I apologize for being so absent this year - it's been Quite the Year!!!<br />
<br />
My life has been ridiculously busy and I unfortunately have to set aside my blog for a bit. Once thigns calm down - I do plan on returning to blogging and reviewing what I read.<br />
<br />
However, in the meantime - feel free to read through the 100s of reviews that have posted over all the many years of this blog.<br />
<br />
Have a happy and wonderful New Year!Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-75427840497486735582016-11-16T00:00:00.000-08:002016-11-16T00:00:23.624-08:00The Haunting of Sunshine Girl / The Awakening of Sunshine Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Haunting of Sunshine Girl</i> is a YA supernatural novel by Paige McKinnon. <i>The Awakening of Sunshine Girl </i>is it's follow-up sequel, recently released this year.<br /><br />Sunshine
has lived in sunny climates with her mother up until her sixteenth
birthday, but now it is off to rainy, dreary Washington state. Her mom
has a new job in a small little town. They move into a rather... creepy... house. She's trying to make the best of it.<br /><br />But things are seriously weird.<br /><br />It
seems a cold breeze follows her throughout the house causing doors to
slam. And she hears an eerie laughter that turns to sobs. She *knows*
she is hearing it.<br /><br />And where initially her mom was skeptical but noticing some things... now she is completely oblivious to supernatural acts occurring right in front of her. Clearly she needs to figure out what is going on...<br /><br />Before it's too late.<br /><br />Okay. That synopsis was weak. Let's all agree to this.<br /><br />It
was token. And the problem is... so was the book. I got 100 pages into
the story and was trying very hard to get into it. Every author deserved
an audience and this one will have it! It has glowing reviews and clearly quite a few readers enjoy it.<br /><br />For
me - Sunshine was very typical. She was clearly meant to relate to the
normal YA girl audience. A little awkward around boys, nice, smart and a major book lover that quotes classics. <br /><br />The move to the small town and a haunted house... it just all felt very cliche. I couldn't make it past the first 100 pages and therefore also didn't read the sequel.<br /><br />I feel bad to say that - and like I said, many readers will love it. <br /><br />However, in my position of reading so many books over the years - I could not devote time to reading longer into something that felt all too familiar.</span>
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-72136227301618175692016-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:002016-11-09T00:00:33.030-08:00Throwback Review: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOQYO-GZ7d_0g3Vw91xhjrj07pvtJUpnArFbmrBofXHFQLmWeCzV3PE5PLs-Qx6_ttdwOwdbKHi4Sau5sJIyrRQwwje4OAH0E9CjtBOBG_blqZqA8LG8TlmnlR4izLR5AzEx4SfcfxSwU/s1600/where+the+mountain+meets+the+moon.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603525743263635522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOQYO-GZ7d_0g3Vw91xhjrj07pvtJUpnArFbmrBofXHFQLmWeCzV3PE5PLs-Qx6_ttdwOwdbKHi4Sau5sJIyrRQwwje4OAH0E9CjtBOBG_blqZqA8LG8TlmnlR4izLR5AzEx4SfcfxSwU/s400/where+the+mountain+meets+the+moon.bmp" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 400px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 272px;" /></a><br />
Throwback review from June 2011! <i><br /></i><br />
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<i>Where the Mountain Meets the Moon</i> is a middlegrade fantasy and Newberry Honor winner by Grace Lin.<br />
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Minli
lives in the Valley of Fruitless Mountain where she sees her parents
work very hard every day in the fields with very little to show for it.
Her favorite part of the day is the evening when her tired but pleasant
father tells Minli tales about the Valley they live in and how it became
Fruitless, as well as about the Old Man of the Moon, who knows the
answers to everything. <br />
<br />
Then one day Minli decides to
try and make things better for her family by setting out on a quest to
find the Old Man of the Moon - knowing that he will know how to change
their fortunes. So she sets out on a journey that causes her to meet a
talking fish, a dragon who can't fly, a powerful king, and more! <br />
<br />
First
off, I must say that I love the vivid, eye-catching cover and
illustrations that decorate this charming, sweet, earnest tale of magic
and fantasy. It didn't take long at all for me to be swept away in this
quest for a better life, sought after by a loving, caring young girl.<br />
<br />
The stories told throughout <i>Where the Mountain Meets the Moon </i>are
intelligent and provocative, interweaving seamlessly in the plot and
enriching it. It's an easy, fast book to read and ready for all ages - a
beauty of a book.<br />
<br />
Grace Lin's storytelling is
entrancing and enchanting, a fun journey with lots of interesting stops.
It's surprisingly poignant and touching, bringing the human element of
family and love into the story. <i>Where the Mountain Meets the Moon </i>is
lyrical, lovely tale of kindness and generosity, highlighting the evils
of greed and cruelty and the fruits of wisdom, compassion and
thankfulness.<br />
<br />
There are meaningful connections and plot twists that are astounding and so very sweet and heart-rending. <i>Where the Mountain Meets the Moon </i>is
a truly magical, elegant, riveting tale that puts a new spin on Chinese
folklore. It is stupendous and stunning - a simple yet powerful read!Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-49313593905641539512016-11-02T00:00:00.000-07:002016-11-02T00:00:16.750-07:00Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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First of all, I am so sorry for two weeks off the map!!
However, I am back with a BRAND NEW REVIEW. Worth waiting for, yes?!?</div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two </i>by J.
K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne is the script that carries on the
story of <i>Harry Potter</i> in a new modality. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beginning as Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione’s children
are at the start of their Hogwarts education, <i>Cursed Child</i> introduces us
quickly to our primary child character, Albus Severus. We had a brief meeting
of him at the very end of the original series, <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows</i>, in which his name brought us to shuddering tears or scoffs of
bewilderment of the terrible name – I was in the former category, unashamedly. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now, though, we see that something happens in the start
of young Albus’s time at Hogwarts that puts a strain on his relationship with
his father, Harry. And as some initial years pass – quickly in a montage-like
scene in script format – growing that resentment in a way that is disheartening
and surprising.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the meantime, Harry and Hermione both play vital roles
in the ministry – Harry being the Head of Magical Law Enforcement and Hermione
being the actual Minister herself. They deal with what has been a lasting peace
after the defeat of Voldemort – but also whispers of a scandalous rumor. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A rumor that Voldemort has a child. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that this child is living. Somewhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are some that think they know exactly who that
child is, too. They believe a time-turner must have escaped the utter
destruction in Harry’s fifth year and a devoted follower of
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named went back in time to make sure this would happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When these mutterings reach Albus and his best friend at
Hogwarts, and the means of investigating further happens, Albus decides it is a
perfect opportunity to correct a vital mistake he feels his father made in the
past…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But is this best way to try to conquer the heavy weight
of a legacy he never wanted to inherit?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Okay, so y’all know I am a HARDCORE <i>Harry Potter </i>fan. I
love it. I’ve read the books so many times that they have become a part of me.
Because of this, I like many fans, know these characters and plots through and
through.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s why as much as I didn’t want it to be the case –
<i>Harry Potter and the Cursed Child</i> felt much more like entertaining fan fiction
than actual canon. In fact, I cannot include it in my mind as “Book Eight.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Keep in mind, it is not a bad read. I enjoyed it as I
think most fans will. But certain concepts that had been well established
throughout the series get a little tweaked here, which is unsettling. Also, the
script format is so very different and lacks the lovely, imaginative narrative
that Rowling excelled at in the novels. It’s not meant to be a novel, and it’s
not.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What it is, is an interesting concept that was never
boring and certainly was a fast read. Seeing the children of our favorite protagonist’s
is fun in a curious way and the twists the story take are at times quite shucking
and, dare I say, eyebrow raising.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As I do not want to give anything away, I cannot go into
more detail here. I will just say I do feel it is worth a read from <i>Harry
Potter</i> fans – but I warn you to go into with a grain of salt or a preparation to
not feel fully satisfied.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am wholeheartedly excited about going to see <i>Fantastic
Beasts and Where To Find Them </i>and honestly am hopeful it will be a more
satisfying experience than <i>Cursed Child</i>, as it is not extending a plot and
characters we know well and love – it’s a prequel of sorts just taking place in
the same world as <i>Harry Potter</i>. I think it will step on less toes and be a more
enjoyable experience. I hope. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But, again, still a pleasurable read and I do still
recommend it – as a fan fiction type of story that is watered down from the
Rowling we know and adore. </div>
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-22299907994339279622016-10-12T00:00:00.000-07:002016-10-12T00:00:16.699-07:00Throwback Review: Eleanor & Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJcPQaGH9vVOxlSEBN6h8yWyyg3pPX1kbLp_n7q_qm7S8-30Wjn6SB5MvL-gejWDMwv561z8sU5lMrmbsGQ7IZJvDYfZiM0zNbgWnR4WL0gHTH99l0gzrD9jSnAGxsx1paHLc7It5MpR3/s1600/eleanor+and+park.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJcPQaGH9vVOxlSEBN6h8yWyyg3pPX1kbLp_n7q_qm7S8-30Wjn6SB5MvL-gejWDMwv561z8sU5lMrmbsGQ7IZJvDYfZiM0zNbgWnR4WL0gHTH99l0gzrD9jSnAGxsx1paHLc7It5MpR3/s400/eleanor+and+park.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Throwback review from July 2013 - this is a memorable read. </i><br />
<br />
<i>Eleanor & Park</i> is a YA 1980s coming-of-age novel by Rainbow Rowell.<br />
<br />
It’s
1986 and Eleanor’s brilliantly red, curly hair makes her impossible to
not see as she steps onto the school bus for the first time. <br />
<br />
It
also makes her an excellent target when you combine it with her odd,
eclectic assortment of clothing and the fact that she’s brand new.<br />
<br />
Unable to watch the horror show, Park offers her a seat by him – in urgent, angrily embarrassed undertones. <br />
<br />
And then everything changes.<br />
<br />
This is the moment that Eleanor and Park met their first love – each other.<br />
<br />
I really don’t want to give more details of <i>Eleanor & Park</i> than that. I didn’t have more, and oh what an experience this novel was!!<br />
<br />
I
loved the slow burn to the romance – that it wasn’t attraction based
but initially built on kindness, like interests, and sharing small, but
significant, pieces of themselves. Startlingly authentic and genuine, I
think it might be impossible for <i>Eleanor & Park</i> to not tug at your heartstrings.<br />
<br />
Park is Asian and Eleanor is a chubby redhead – I liked that. It’s different. More real. Relatable.<br />
<br />
This
is a book that is truly touching, showing the epic-ness of ordinary
life. It’s an emotional coming-of-age tale in 1986 – heart wrenching and
refreshingly authentic in both good and bad ways.<br />
<br />
So sad, yet at times so hopeful, <i>Eleanor & Park</i> highlights bullying and a terrible domestic situation, while also making you smile at the joy of first love. Bittersweet.<br />
<br />
And – oh wow! What an end!! <br />
<br />
Oh, I wanted more – desperately – yet I knew there was a perfection to it that I didn’t want touched.<br />
<br />
<i>Eleanor & Park</i> is one that will stay with me.Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-26218177163107446382016-10-05T00:00:00.000-07:002016-10-05T00:00:03.883-07:00Throwback Review: The Diviners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswHbsYjWoaNwE1JYyydJ1WvAvFg0FbGHbLkR22GQRX8WgSLaGVL5ztcBpRLUZOYgptTTN3O3piz-T6Mep7H78tOi3aE32_zAILWILvvo83bMXiVaQEAwmJdwykOrzB71Sue8R9r5ZO17c/s1600/the+diviners.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswHbsYjWoaNwE1JYyydJ1WvAvFg0FbGHbLkR22GQRX8WgSLaGVL5ztcBpRLUZOYgptTTN3O3piz-T6Mep7H78tOi3aE32_zAILWILvvo83bMXiVaQEAwmJdwykOrzB71Sue8R9r5ZO17c/s400/the+diviners.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
<i>Throwback review from December 2012 - just got the sequel! </i><br />
<br />
<i>The Diviners</i> is the first in a new YA historical supernatural series by best-selling author Libba Bray.<br />
<br />
I am a HUGE fan of Libba Bray’s <i>Gemma Doyle</i>
trilogy. When it comes to my foray into her contemporary fiction?
Almost a completely opposite reaction. So, when I heard about <i>The Diviners</i>
I was hesitantly excited because I hoped it would remind me more of the
former, not the latter. In fact, maybe it could make me forget all
about <i>Beauty Queens</i>.<br />
<br />
Maybe you’re a fan of that book. That’s great! I wasn’t, sadly, at all.<br />
<br />
What’s <i>The Diviners</i> about?<br />
<br />
Seventeen-year-old
Evie O’Neill is a little too much of a wild child flapper for her
hometown to contain, and as much as she tries to make herself normal she
never seems to be able to. And this time she’s really gotten herself
into a pickle. <br />
<br />
She has a supernatural power that’s
brought her nothing but pickles so far – and this latest round of
excitement led her to drunkenly declare one of the town’s most admired
young men of knocking up the maid. And of course she can’t prove it
without telling the truth about her ability.<br />
<br />
So, to let
the scandal die down Evie’s family ships her off to New York City,
which is preferable to Evie anyway. Because New York in 1926 is bursting
full of speakeasies and her pen pal bud Mabel, as well as Ziegfeld
girls and dangerously attractive pickpockets. <br />
<br />
In order
to come to the city, though, she must live with her uncle Will who runs
a museum and classes on the occult. He’s a bit of an odd sort, but Evie
doesn’t mind him – as long as his hobbies don’t dig up her guarded
secret.<br />
<br />
But when gruesome, ritualistic murders begin to
occur and Will is called for in regards to his expertise, Evie realizes
that she may be able to use her power to help catch a serial killer of
the worst kind.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, we also meet Memphis, Theta,
Jericho and other characters – each with their own mysteries, hidden
pasts, and difficult decisions. This is, after all, the city that never
sleeps!<br />
<br />
What none of them know is that an unspeakable evil has awakened – and they all have a part to play…<br />
<br />
<i>The Diviners</i>
really brings Libba Bray’s excellent story-telling to the forefront. It
has a smooth, cool, spellbinding element right from the introductory
chapter, as well as an innate creepiness. She presents us with a large
cast of dynamic, memorable characters that are increasingly three
dimensional, often funny, and always interesting. New York City in 1926
is a setting that is alive with period details and descriptions that
give just enough for the imagination to flesh it out.<br />
<br />
As you can tell, I really, really liked <i>The Diviners</i>!<br />
<br />
There
is a TON of suspense and edge-of-your-seat tension. As the story
develops we see a truly frightening psychopath as our villain. Every
once in a while the level of how disturbing Bray allows it to get goes
farther than I prefer, though. As an animal lover, I really hate seeing
any violence to animals in movies or books. There’s about three specific
scenes that go there, which I didn’t like – but I did understand how it
underscored the pure evil we’re working with. I just still prefer it
not to be there… That's the one hiccup I had with <i>A Great and Terrible Beauty</i> as well.<br />
<br />
However, thankfully, the characters (especially Evie’s) humor lightens the heavier, spookier aspects of <i>The Diviners</i> and keeps it entertaining. Plus, a slow-burn, satisfying romantic tension is welcome too! Overall, I found <i>The Diviners</i> to be a first-rate, awesome into to a new series that I’m enthusiastic to follow! <br />
<br />
*I received a review copy of <i>The Diviners</i> from Hachette Book Group. Their generosity in no way influenced, nor sought to influence, my opinion of the novel.Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-36109851939398188272016-09-28T19:11:00.000-07:002016-09-28T19:11:02.075-07:00Throwback Review: The True Meaning of Smekday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjbgS1pHVwogUmP5Bc1D3Qx3XTo4ZW1cZwEel5Rr7fRIY4XjQkc1D5JeuX4-CVb3oJImwvTgGahcuOL2sxlSwFyKo42w1HnGqBVCRjZZaKY66cyeDIiEDpoGqZlCgbIFzQK68zmz29uir/s1600/true+meaning+of+smekday.bmp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjbgS1pHVwogUmP5Bc1D3Qx3XTo4ZW1cZwEel5Rr7fRIY4XjQkc1D5JeuX4-CVb3oJImwvTgGahcuOL2sxlSwFyKo42w1HnGqBVCRjZZaKY66cyeDIiEDpoGqZlCgbIFzQK68zmz29uir/s400/true+meaning+of+smekday.bmp" /></a></div>
<i>Throwback review from March 2015 - I remember this one like it was yesterday!!! </i><br />
<br />
<i>The True Meaning of Smekday</i> is a middle grade sci-fi contemporary humor novel by Adam Rex.<br />
<br />
Hoo Boy!<br />
<br />
I think I’m in love!!!<br />
<br />
When
young Gratuity (Tip) Tucci is assigned a school five-page essay to
explain the true meaning of Smekday (previously Christmas, now the day
the <i>first</i> aliens invaded and renamed Christmas), she ends up writing a WHOLE LOT MORE than five pages.<br />
<br />
Instead
we get the full story of just what happened to Tip when she determined
to find her Mom as the aliens stated that all American humans must
migrate to Florida, how she joined forces with the alien J.Lo and kept
track of her cat, Pig.<br />
<br />
I can’t really imagine saying more without giving away too much laugh-out-loud goodness!<br />
<br />
<i>The True Meaning of Smekday</i> is AWESOME!!!<br />
<br />
It’s
very funny – yet also has enough seriousness and legitimate emotion to
have a level of care and investment in the characters to make it, well,
all the more AWESOME!<br />
<br />
I absolutely adored J.Lo – a
hilarious, adorable, lovable alien that provides a hefty amount of
chortling as he gives the history of his alien race, the Boov. Not to
mention their interesting way of speaking English!<br />
<br />
<i>The True Meaning of Smekday </i>is
truly entertaining – constantly. It’s an adventure of hilarity for ALL
AGES! It features a great friendship, loyalty, lots of fun, surprising
twists and a perceptive and clever narrative.<br />
<br />
A couple of snippets of ACTUAL notes I wrote as I read <i>The True Meaning of Smekday</i>:<br />
<br />
“Oh my gosh!! So sweet and cute!” and “So awesome I could almost cry!!”<br />
<br />
Yep – I loved it.<br />
<br />
Plus, the illustrations (also by Adam Rex) are amazing!<br />
<br />
Cannot praise it enough – a happy little bibliophile am I!Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-12560971486044817642016-09-21T00:00:00.000-07:002016-09-21T00:00:00.852-07:00Throwback Review: The Princess in the Opal Mask<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3emMJeUknvMUPnMplPVWtQVue2SnGM1U0XECzf08DQ1R84k2r23ry09nzk0HaOjtT3KJ-NpLecvJLFUQ-BKcUuFm9-wtH66g4CfKScymi3J9RsKqxr9uTwiHura3RA1pF6qV7v-YhcH4Y/s1600/The+Princess+in+the+Opal+Mask.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3emMJeUknvMUPnMplPVWtQVue2SnGM1U0XECzf08DQ1R84k2r23ry09nzk0HaOjtT3KJ-NpLecvJLFUQ-BKcUuFm9-wtH66g4CfKScymi3J9RsKqxr9uTwiHura3RA1pF6qV7v-YhcH4Y/s400/The+Princess+in+the+Opal+Mask.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Throwback review from March 2014 - I have the sequel and have yet to read it. So exciting!!! </i><br />
<br />
<i>The Princess in the Opal Mask</i> is a YA historical fantasy by Jenny Lundquist.<br />
<br />
Just as with Jennifer A. Nielsen’s <i>Ascendance Trilogy</i>,
this novel has a sense of a fairy-tale, of a fantasy, but does not
actually feature any magic or enchantments. Somehow we all put it in the
fantasy genre anyway; I suppose because it just has that vibe and time
period sense.<br />
<br />
Anywho, <b>I LOVED THIS BOOK</b>.<br />
<br />
Let me tell you a little about it, hmm?<br />
<br />
Princess
Wilhamina, since she was introduced to the kingdom of Galandria as an
infant, has always worn a mask. Over the years this has caused rumors to
rampage from speculating that she must be horrendously ugly, that a
look upon her face blesses others, or the one that speaks to Wilha’s
deepest personal fears – that those who look upon Wilha’s face die.<br />
<br />
Wilha herself does not know why she must always wear a mask, but she has learned to stop asking…<br />
<br />
Elara,
orphaned as a child in the crumbling village of Tulan, has spent her
life becoming numb. Living with the cruel Ogden family, Elara has
endured things that have left her broken off mentally from others – and
no longer able to connect to the one friend she did have.<br />
<br />
Elara
desperately wants to know the truth of her identity and escape from her
surroundings, and she’ll use her dagger if she has to.<br />
<br />
As
talk of war or peace between Galandria and long-time nemesis of the
kingdom Kyrenica increases, Wilha and Elara unknowingly are led to meet.
And when they do, everything changes.<br />
<br />
There is a chance for both to possibly improve their futures – but there are risks.<br />
<br />
There are choices…<br />
<br />
When I went into <i>The Princess in the Opal Mask</i>, I admit it – I didn’t expect that much. That sounds terrible, but sometimes as a bibliophile you can get a little jaded.<br />
<br />
It only took a handful pages to turn that thinking around.<br />
<br />
Initially
I was unsure of the writing quality, but then the utter hostility of
Galandria’s people and the sad mystery of the princess constantly
wearing a mask intrigued me and added to an edgy grit that The Princess
in the Opal Mask quickly proved to have.<br />
<br />
Then I was caught.<br />
<br />
There is a LOT of questions and secrecy, and I have to say – it worked for me.<br />
<br />
I
liked the romantic element of both characters, and with time came to
appreciate both Wilha and Elara – despite Elara’s acidity and hardness
due to the life she’s endured. There was some heavy character
development here, which I really, really valued.<br />
<br />
<i>The Princess in the Opal Mask</i>
has a ton of danger, conspiracies and intrigue going on. Mix that in
with convincing bitterness, resentment and cruelty done very well and we
have a plot that is sharp and stinging both on a personal and epic
level.<br />
<br />
I came to care for both Wilha and Elara and be
in deep suspense as we followed their switching narrative voices. I
don’t want to give anything away, so I’m being purposefully vague – but
please believe me when I say it was awesome.<br />
<br />
<i>The Princess in the Opal Mask</i> is engrossing, addictive, gripping and surprising. I LOVED IT!!!<br />
<br />
Happily, there is a sequel mentioned to be released Fall 2014. <br />
<br />
I want it <b>ASAP</b>!!! Hopefully you’ll feel the same. <br />
<br />
I think you will. Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-5192193298176135472016-09-14T00:00:00.000-07:002016-09-14T00:00:22.261-07:00Throwback Review: Shades of Grey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Throwback review from May 2015! </i><br />
<br />
<i>Shades of Grey</i> is a dystopian satire novel by Jasper Fforde. <br />
<br />
In a world where color perception determines the hierarchy of a Colortocracy society, what you can see is everything. <br />
<br />
That’s
why Eddie Russet is trying to secure a marriage into the powerful
Oxblood family to combine his better-than-average Red perception to
their aristocratic name – yet those plans are upended when he and his
father are sent to the fringe town East Carmine.<br />
<br />
Manners,
rules and accepted mores in the Chromatacia seem a bit more lax in East
Carmine – dangerously so. Beyond the normal fear of lethal swans and
lightening, the sneaky Yellows seem sneakier than ever, the deMauve’s
are angling to marry their horrid Violet to Eddie and he’s finding
himself fascinated by a Grey named Jane. <br />
<br />
Riskiest of
all is the knowledge Eddie begins to gather in East Carmine – truths
behind the ordered, peaceful, rule-abiding Colortocracy that shed light
on its deceptions…<br />
<br />
And it’s that innate inquisitiveness
that could lead him away from a life of conformity – of career and
spouse – and into trouble.<br />
<br />
Jasper Fforde has to be one
of the most imaginative authors out there right now. Seriously, what a
unique, wonderfully bizarre concept!<br />
<br />
We are introduced
to a futuristic world in which everyone is, essentially, color blind.
What they can see leads to where they are ranked in society – who they
can marry, what jobs they can do, etc. Education, preference and love
have nothing to do with it.<br />
<br />
Plus, there is the
abundance of RULES. Rules ranging from the illegality of manufacturing
spoons (therefore making all spoons currently in existence a high-value,
high-demand item) to the time of day you are allowed to drink Ovaltine.<br />
<br />
Eddie
is, of course, a fully immersed member of this society and we get to
watch him go from embracing and believing in it to beginning to question
it. He’s a likable character that cannot seem to help his curiosity,
yet fears it as well.<br />
<br />
Characters in <i>Shades of Grey</i>
have, dare I say, colorful personalities! They burst from the pages
with snappy dialogue and make the wacky world around them easier to
accept – though the intricacies of Chromatacia are still confusing at
times.<br />
<br />
I loved it. It’s so absolutely different in
every way. It’s hilarious, insightful, suspenseful and even a little
romantic. There are supposed to be two more books – rounding out a
trilogy – yet it has been six years since the release of Shades of Grey.
<br />
<br />
That’s okay. I will be patient. I am immensely interested in where this story will go – and willing to wait as long as it takes!<br />
<br />
In
the meantime, Jasper Fforde’s other novels will continue to sweep me
away into a level of intelligent creativity that is not so easily found
in today’s literature. Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-12543071853729964692016-09-07T00:00:00.000-07:002016-09-07T00:00:17.047-07:00Book Spotlight: Against All Silence<span style="color: #1f497d;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">The new novel <b><i>AGAINST ALL SILENCE</i></b> (pub date: August 23, 2016). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">The book, which is a
sequel to SILENCE OF SIX from E.C. Myers, will tell the next part of
Max’s story with some recurring characters from its predecessor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">E.C. Myers is the author
of the Andre Norton Award–winning Fair Coin and Quantum Coin, young
adult science fiction novels published by Pyr.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">It’s a fun read that combines thriller with computer hacking knowledge. It’s a little
<i>Mr. Robot.</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">After being a key figure
in the exposing of government corruption, Max Stein has spent a quiet
semester abroad in Paris, studying, staying off the Internet, and
looking for his long-lost mother. But just as he
is about to fly back to the United States for the holidays, trouble
manages to find him once again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Max receives a call from
Penny, his on-again-off-again girlfriend who is part of the expert
hacking duo DoubleThink. She wants him to meet with Ada Kiesler, a
high-profile whistleblower hiding out at a foreign
embassy in Berlin. Max has no interest in getting drawn into another
corporate conspiracy. But when airport security suddenly detains him on
suspicion of cyber-terrorism, he has little choice but to get involved.
Soon Max and Penny are tangling with a new
group of shadowy figures who are determined to control how the world
shares its information. And some figures from Max’s past resurface,
including his own mother, whose life has mirrored his own in more ways
than he’d realized.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">In this action-packed
follow up to THE SILENCE OF SIX, Max and his hacker friends must fight
to expose a corrupt corporation that has been systematically taking
control of the Internet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: black;">AGAINST ALL SILENCE </span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: black;">Author:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> E.C. Meyers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: black;">Release Date:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> August 23, 2016 (hardcover)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: black;">Genres:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> YA Thriller, Hacking/Computer Science</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: black;">Synopsis:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> In
the action-packed sequel to SILENCE OF SIX, Max Stein and his hacker
friends must fight to expose a corrupt corporation that has been
systematically taking control
of the Internet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="DateandRecipient" style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt;">PUB. DATE: </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt;">August 23, 2016 / 368 pages / $13.99</span></div>
<div align="center" class="DateandRecipient" style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt;">ISBN: </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt;">9781945293085</span></div>
<div align="center" class="DateandRecipient" style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt;">PUBLISHER:</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Adaptive Books</span></div>
<div align="center" class="DateandRecipient" style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt;">B&N LINK</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt;">:
<a class="Object" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/against-all-silence-ec-myers/1122727001?ean=9781945293085&st=SEM&sid=BNB_DRS_Adaptive+Studios_00000000&2sid=Google_p&sourceId=SEGoS5419#productInfoTabs" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT220_com_zimbra_url" tabindex="0" target="_blank">
Here</a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="DateandRecipient" style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div align="center" class="DateandRecipient" style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-91584050083595369622016-08-31T00:00:00.000-07:002016-08-31T00:00:21.018-07:00Throwback Review: Persuasion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Throwback review from February 2014: </i><br />
<br />
<i>Persuasion</i> is a classic novel (that hopefully all bibliophiles have heard of) by Jane Austen.<br />
<br />
This was the only Austen novel I had yet to read – and I <i>had</i> to fix that!<br />
<br />
Anne Elliot is seven and twenty and not yet married. <br />
<br />
Eight years ago she had been in love. She had been engaged.<br />
<br />
But as he was a poor, lowly Royal Navy man, her family and friends persuaded Anne to break it off with Captain Wentworth.<br />
<br />
She is still unmarried – because she knows she will never love another man as she loved him.<br />
<br />
When
circumstances throw them together again, Anne finds it difficult to
ignore the searing pain of seeing him – the look of low regard in his
eyes that she has resigned herself to deserve. <br />
<br />
And yet – is there hope?<br />
<br />
Her
heartbreak all these years later leads her to realize that her feelings
are no less deep – and the persuasion that led her to give him up all
those years ago could not touch her now… if he would only have her once
more.<br />
<br />
Oh wow.<br />
<br />
It’s been a while since
I’ve read Jane Austen – I seriously need to carve out some rereading
time, people! – but my vivid memories of adoring her novels was
reignited with <i>Persuasion</i>. <br />
<br />
The amazing prose and language that is impossible to rush, improbable to imitate, takes my breath away. <br />
<br />
There’s this universally understood tone of melancholy – no matter the fact that <i>Persuasion</i>
was published almost two hundred years ago. Jane Austen infused this
story (and all of them, let’s be frank) with such a heady sense of
emotional realism – of passion and love.<br />
<br />
Here, though, unlike her other novels – <i>Persuasion</i>
is a story of heartbreak and strong, painful emotions. Love lost, time
passed, and an older heroine. There’s a maturity and a yearning to <i>Persuasion</i> that swept me away.<br />
<br />
<b>I</b>. <b>Loved</b>. <b>It</b>.<br />
<br />
This
is an epic love story – a beautiful novel. Fantastic, colorful,
personality-filled family elements, social scenes, and the core of
loneliness in our poor, solitary Anne’s soul led me to feel for her
deeply.<br />
<br />
If you haven’t yet read <i>Persuasion</i> – well, you need to!!!!!<br />
<br />
<b>Right</b>. <b>Now</b>.Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-8103238335196088822016-08-24T00:00:00.000-07:002016-08-24T00:00:15.777-07:00Throwback Review: Soulless<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Throwback review from April 2014: </i><br />
<br />
<i>Soulless</i> is the first in Gail Carriger’s alt-Victorian England steampunk humorous paranormal adult series <i>The Parasol Protectorate</i>.<br />
<br />
I was recommended this book by a friend before I even had gotten a chance to read Carriger’s <i>Etiquette & Espionage </i>(first book in the YA series <i>The Finishing School </i>that takes place in the same universe as <i>The Parasol Protectorate</i>). Once I’d read that and the second book in that series, <i>Curtsies & Conspiracies</i>, I knew I definitely wanted to read this series.<br />
<br />
So, I took a leap, and bought the box set of all five books in this series at a good price.<br />
<br />
A case of the Amazon.com bibliophile trigger finger, if you know what I mean.<br />
<br />
Twenty-five
year old Alexia Tarabotti has been ruled a spinster. She has many marks
against her in English society. Her father is both Italian and dead –
and she’s inherited his darker coloring and more exotic looks. <br />
<br />
She also has no soul.<br />
<br />
Not
that that is any one’s business, of course. Only the paranormal society
of werewolves and vampires and Queen Victoria herself know this, and
prefer to keep it quiet. <br />
<br />
Because this particular
ailment is very, very rare and cancels out supernatural abilities when
she touches them. The general public has accepted werewolves and
vampires, but would they accept someone having no soul at all? They’d
just rather keep it hush-hush.<br />
<br />
While at a private ball,
and quite bored, Alexia steps into another room for a snack – as fare
was promised but not delivered and that, in Miss Tarabotti’s opinion, is
disgraceful to someone with her appreciation for food.<br />
<br />
Within moments a vampire completely lacking in normal vampiric niceties and decorum attempts to attack her, and, well…<br />
<br />
She accidentally kills him.<br />
<br />
Lord
Maccon, the large, undeniably attractive, booming and uncouth werewolf
investigator, is sent to investigate. Before she knows it, Alexia finds
herself wrapped up in a mystery in which unexpected vampires are
appearing and expected vampires are disappearing.<br />
<br />
Finally she has something interesting to do…<br />
<br />
<i>Soulless</i> started quick, fun and instantly felt fresh and inventive.<br />
<br />
With
the quick swooping in of gorgeous Lord Maccon, there’s definitely
sexual tension that sizzles cheerfully early on. And the jovial
absurdity that I found in <i>The Finishing School</i> series thus far is most definitely evident.<br />
<br />
I
find the supernatural politics and protocol (such as vampires living in
a “hive” with a “queen” and “drones”) quite fascinating. And Alexia’s
ability is unusual in its negating of the paranormal beings is
different.<br />
<br />
<i>Soulless</i> is addictive, fun, spicy and
oh-so-quotable. It’s spirited, sexy in a light, amusing way, witty,
clever and ENTERTAINING. With bright, interesting characters and an
unusual plot (plus hot supernatural romance and steampunk,
thankyouverymuch), I loved it from start to finish!!!<br />
<br />
This
is the type of book you just have FUN reading. Even though the more,
ahem, indelicate scenes do pepper the novel a tad, the comedy in them
and lack of excessive detail made them bearable to me beyond just
feeling, well, distasteful as most of those less proper scenes usually
do. <br />
<br />
I was immediately ready for book two and happy I had it at the ready!Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-51317348336618432652016-08-17T00:00:00.000-07:002016-08-17T00:00:17.064-07:00Throwback Review: Every Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOOkyLPyS43gjTLYR1ijBMMcippYv9TpKAmVJGJ8QuPDWdPvpZr3MdEUCwJrBcDhgfBz_gJCfRCDnT9i4-GHAR-jk7fuhwUYgHK9gJqX7qjgrpMW97KjaZy8ariLOkxPtKEC0CxHZpB2U/s1600/every+day.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOOkyLPyS43gjTLYR1ijBMMcippYv9TpKAmVJGJ8QuPDWdPvpZr3MdEUCwJrBcDhgfBz_gJCfRCDnT9i4-GHAR-jk7fuhwUYgHK9gJqX7qjgrpMW97KjaZy8ariLOkxPtKEC0CxHZpB2U/s320/every+day.jpg" width="210" /></a><br />
<i>Throwback review! </i><br />
<br />
<i>Every Day</i> is a YA contemporary fantasy novel by David Levithan.<br />
<br />
Every
morning A wakes up and is in a new body. They’re always A’s age,
currently sixteen, but they can be male or female, plump or thin.
Anybody. <br />
<br />
It has always been this way.<br />
<br />
Over
the years A has accepted this. A works to make sure the day is seamless
in the life of the body A’s inhabiting that day, tries not to get
noticed, and definitely does not get attached.<br />
<br />
That was the hardest part when A was younger. <br />
<br />
But when A wakes up as Justin one morning he meets Justin’s girlfriend Rhiannon.<br />
<br />
Something
about her changes everything. The rule about staying detached and not
reaching beyond the personality realms of the person A’s occupying no
longer matter. <br />
<br />
Here is someone A wants to be with – day in, day out, day after day. Every day.<br />
<br />
But A has no control over whatever A is. Tomorrow A will be somewhere else…<br />
<br />
As
someone who reads a LOT, I have to say that this premise kind of blew
my mind. Not just the initial idea of it, either, but the way David
Levithan executes it is… stunning.<br />
<br />
You can never get
past the fact that the plot is fascinating and original, because new
revelations about it, primarily on an emotional level, keep piling up in
a lyrical, delicate manner.<br />
<br />
There’s a melancholy, lonely tone that drew me in and made me yearn desperately for A’s happiness. <i>Every Day</i> is unexpectedly suspenseful, searingly raw, and encapsulates both a beautiful innocence and a striking astuteness.<br />
<br />
Now,
I am not a seeker of LGBT novels and because I’m sure some of you may
not be either, I will disclose that Every Day features a character that
is really neither boy nor girl because of what A is. A also shows up in
bodies that are at times heterosexual and at times homosexual. <br />
<br />
Except
for just a few brief moments, I never felt that David Levithan really
had any kind of agenda or mission to get up on a platform on the many
issues and opinions related to such a topic. So, this didn’t bother me
too much. I let go the times I felt he went further than necessary.<br />
<br />
In
fact, there’s a sweet tenderness to the way each life is played out – a
tolerance that no matter where we stand we should agree with. So,
though those situations weren’t always what I’d prefer, I felt the
kindness and good-hearted core trump anything else.<br />
<br />
<i>Every Day</i> is in many ways heartbreaking. But it also has an inspirational, hopeful feel that is addictive. I read this book so quickly!<br />
<br />
With startling twists, never-ending surprises, and a profound sense of emotional depth, <i>Every Day</i> is a book that stays with you. It’s different from anything I’ve ever read before.<br />
<br />
There’s more I would say if I weren’t concerned about spoiling anything for you. So, I’ll leave it with this: <br />
<br />
Wow. I want more.Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-7886880847193590052016-08-10T00:00:00.001-07:002016-08-10T00:00:07.431-07:00Guest Post with Author Bryce Gibson!<!--[if !mso]>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqMSCs33Id022h-J3kU5SnEjTu2wbaTEhVxjYs5StvEfE_A__b6B0ZLCfrACwHjn3BDTrfwaakQsLHy2Bes3MC1GMtHxWZJ2JXx2wOTpY5M4PyX-rVsaxtHLjImfQ2i3x4sf9BSZFm7oI/s1600/blog+guest+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqMSCs33Id022h-J3kU5SnEjTu2wbaTEhVxjYs5StvEfE_A__b6B0ZLCfrACwHjn3BDTrfwaakQsLHy2Bes3MC1GMtHxWZJ2JXx2wOTpY5M4PyX-rVsaxtHLjImfQ2i3x4sf9BSZFm7oI/s400/blog+guest+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I was a teenager during the
1990s. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I loved horror movies and reading
horror books (I still do, but this post is about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">then </i>not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">now</i>).</div>
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<br /></div>
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For a quick reading fix, I, along
with countless others that were my age, would often turn to the line of Point
Horror novels that were published by Scholastic. Those of us that had a desire
to write our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">own</i> stories tried our
hands at crafting books that we thought were along the same line as those that
we read (you can find a few of mine on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bryce-Gibson-author-939733096111775"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Facebook</span></a> page). Anyway, one of the things that
has always stood out the most about Point Horror are the covers. Many of the
titles started with the word “The”. Here is a picture of a few of the ones that
I own…</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgp55y_ArpH5vYYnWafNHNGFcUzpZN__fMT9nGh1nMoGJ0CoqJCXAfT5g7umwQBq1z0MCq-xfRjQHJSBD29RpNkQceqBTPv8ev22BLu-WpUq1uGVPd2Tx9d8bq2yUzwhAMbtLUi7lBggE/s1600/blog+guest+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgp55y_ArpH5vYYnWafNHNGFcUzpZN__fMT9nGh1nMoGJ0CoqJCXAfT5g7umwQBq1z0MCq-xfRjQHJSBD29RpNkQceqBTPv8ev22BLu-WpUq1uGVPd2Tx9d8bq2yUzwhAMbtLUi7lBggE/s400/blog+guest+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>The</u></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Waitress</i>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>The</u></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Invitation</i>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>The</u></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Train...</i>See what I mean? Another thing
about the covers that stood out was the tongue-in-cheek, campy artwork and
taglines. I know that the taglines are hard to read in the above photo so I
typed them out for you here: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The
customer is always wrong...dead wrong”</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“A
party like no other”</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“A one-way
ticket...to terror”</i>. Great, right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was only natural for any
horror obsessed teen to draw his or her own covers for the books that they
wrote. Here is one that I did...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7HSUzUEe4KaoxyHh6ddKW6UwUK2PGNu8-dywnejFDV2rLX8umF3zWlqVgLzOh2Z8Px_vimpf3SiEFiUQo56HofcseyMR_cdbib9_ZvGOElS5_9-0Q9hhtOhO_3S7l2j2RKd_AEcJyGd-/s1600/blog+guest+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7HSUzUEe4KaoxyHh6ddKW6UwUK2PGNu8-dywnejFDV2rLX8umF3zWlqVgLzOh2Z8Px_vimpf3SiEFiUQo56HofcseyMR_cdbib9_ZvGOElS5_9-0Q9hhtOhO_3S7l2j2RKd_AEcJyGd-/s1600/blog+guest+3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Now, there’s something funny
about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Double Date </i>(besides the fact
that the title doesn’t start with that three letter word that begins with the
letter<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>“T”)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>You see, I
never wrote a story to accompany the cover! It is evident to me now that I was
just as excited about the cover art, titles, and taglines of the books as I was
with the stories. In fact, a whole slew of storyless covers ensued over the
next couple of years, some of which I’m sharing with you today. I think I drew
most of these somewhere between 1992 and 1995. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And it wasn’t just books that
influenced my imagination. While many horror movie fans consider the 90s to be
kind of a dull decade for the genre, I know that the movies that were released
during that timeframe have been an enormous influence on my writing, even
today. As you’ll see, there were certain horror movies that obviously sparked
my creativity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The 90s saw a good bit of
technological/electricity based horror, a la <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost in the Machine</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brainscan</i>.
These are but a couple of the flicks that had to have been an inspiration for
this beauty of a cover...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(image by Bryce Gibson)</span></div>
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Another sub-genre that was
popular back in the day was dark comedies/horror comedies--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My
Boyfriend’s Back</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Death Becomes Her, </i>and
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Prom Night III, </i>just to name a few. I
think that kind of thing just might have had something to do with these...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMu5Zv3C3UVnUXouz-mtydBUhooIRXpc7bMSPV06kgLE3J8Jtm4FjcPy7kTuSrvEz8RlHepdDa1eFdQDOQzrzCsK0tO8-58onzQs1jYXFD1zr6xR0yiksd2rpH7ueZnCj96-WMimL6kvn/s1600/blog+guest+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMu5Zv3C3UVnUXouz-mtydBUhooIRXpc7bMSPV06kgLE3J8Jtm4FjcPy7kTuSrvEz8RlHepdDa1eFdQDOQzrzCsK0tO8-58onzQs1jYXFD1zr6xR0yiksd2rpH7ueZnCj96-WMimL6kvn/s320/blog+guest+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKgPU00ExTgKqzVRuf41l9QUJrdrHczdRY4VCoZFTODpmpYM9jxeVbeId8ezYaJ0TeMC2nFqk_hNijVHZFSNVb7O62qjYSvsUY0O2CDgCegy6k_CfY560uazywfoYbB8RnTN7o28e4QLY/s1600/blog+guest+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKgPU00ExTgKqzVRuf41l9QUJrdrHczdRY4VCoZFTODpmpYM9jxeVbeId8ezYaJ0TeMC2nFqk_hNijVHZFSNVb7O62qjYSvsUY0O2CDgCegy6k_CfY560uazywfoYbB8RnTN7o28e4QLY/s1600/blog+guest+7.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(images by Bryce Gibson)</span></div>
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There were also a lot of
psychological/obsession thrillers during this particular time frame. I loved <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Crush</i> (again with the “The”). In
fact, now that I’m thinking about it, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Crush</i> seemed to draw heavily from many of the Point Horror novels. Movies
like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Crush</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poison Ivy</i>, and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The Ties That
Bind</i> were the kind of thriller/horror crossover flicks that they don’t seem
to make any more. Here are a couple of my ideas... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6sYKjbq1UzwddfyMOO5js258dxFGobOE-U79QQTUnZTNjxJ7JHPApYPd58kmd5bGiPvmWy6MFhx5mEdhbNrlYrh68jwLY5bfkdrOS3pxcIELfIta9IxH6G0Ewc_boUmE6rY57k1t_Z5b/s1600/blog+guest+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6sYKjbq1UzwddfyMOO5js258dxFGobOE-U79QQTUnZTNjxJ7JHPApYPd58kmd5bGiPvmWy6MFhx5mEdhbNrlYrh68jwLY5bfkdrOS3pxcIELfIta9IxH6G0Ewc_boUmE6rY57k1t_Z5b/s1600/blog+guest+8.jpg" /></a></div>
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And let’s not forget the bevy of
monster movies and sequels that I rented from the movie store, many of which
were released straight to video.</div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(images by Bryce Gibson)</span></div>
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As you see, the horror movies and
books of the 90s surely set a tone for me as a writer and creator. They fed me ideas.
I know that the horror genre and all of its silly and crazy sub-genres that I
seem to prefer have influenced my storytelling to no end. Nowadays, the horror
in my stories is not always done in an explicit, hit-you-over-the-head kind of
way, but certain elements of the genre are in everything that I write. I can’t
help it. I love it.</div>
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Even typing this, I’m nostalgic
for the titles that I’ve listed here and the other, unrelated ones that, for no
particular reason, come to mind along with them--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dr. Giggles</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pet Sematary Two</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Demon Knight</i>; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Candyman, Pumpkinhead 2, Children of the Corn 2, 3, 4, 5; </i>okay,
I’ll stop.</div>
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I can vividly picture all of the
awesome VHS artwork for every movie that I’ve mentioned. Like the Point Horror
books, the covers were the first things that drew me in. The cover was what
made me pick it up in the first place. There was a great amount of excitement
that came from just seeing the book or movie on the shelf.</div>
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Speaking of, I’m pretty darn sure
that my black t-shirt wearing teenaged self would have snatched this one up in
a heartbeat…</div>
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<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Note: Perennials </i>cover design <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>not</u></b> by me. Thank you to the
talented CL Smith for this one.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can
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Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142747913993232805.post-1021404213314860042016-08-03T00:00:00.000-07:002016-08-03T00:00:25.785-07:00Throwback Review: The Springsweet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6o3ZgG0iYwIGm0_vMenCN7Mzw55dtEUl194w_BiCEk4tlJZxclZ_U9dhwWnOXdmgmYqAChGNkRphaD5_QrsfBDf5AGmrqyCR3yIZAGFanS5jUnmO8zrf3QKEEzVR9o9yuDcqDbiKxE8aQ/s1600/springsweet.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6o3ZgG0iYwIGm0_vMenCN7Mzw55dtEUl194w_BiCEk4tlJZxclZ_U9dhwWnOXdmgmYqAChGNkRphaD5_QrsfBDf5AGmrqyCR3yIZAGFanS5jUnmO8zrf3QKEEzVR9o9yuDcqDbiKxE8aQ/s400/springsweet.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
<i>Throwback review fro June 2012! </i><br />
<br />
<i>The Springsweet</i> is a YA historical paranormal novel, and a companion to <i>The Vespertine</i>, by Saundra Mitchell.<br />
<br />
I warned you yesterday that my reviews were going to be sequels for a few days! If you haven’t read <i>The Vespertine</i>,
you definitely want to avoid this review and seek it out after you’re
done. Don’t ruin your experience!!! Instead, read my review of <i>The Vespertine</i> <a href="http://bibliophilesupportgroup.blogspot.com/2012/03/vespertine.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Last chance to turn away…<br />
<br />
Zora
Stewart hasn’t been the same since her sixteenth summer. She’s haunted
by her fiancés death and the amount of other losses in those few short
months. She’s a shell of her former self, and her parents are worried.<br />
<br />
After
an attempt to reorient Zora to Baltimore society goes scandalously
wrong, it’s decided that she’ll join her widowed aunt in Oklahoma
Territory in the hopes of some good old-fashioned hard work waking her
back up to life.<br />
<br />
It doesn’t take long for Zora to see
that the exciting, thrill-ride of an adventure the papers make the West
out to seem is a far cry from the truth. It’s a dusty, heartbreaking,
backbreaking area to live – and it seems to stir something inside of
Zora that she’s never experienced. She begins to sense the water beneath
the ground – as though she’s getting a power of her own after watching
her cousin Amelia use her own strange abilities to predict and
prophesize. <br />
<br />
But she saw the dangers that came of
Amelia’s power – and though she allows her struggling aunt to hire her
out as a “springsweet” to help people find the water they so desperately
need in this merciless land, deep down she knows it may all come
tumbling down on her.<br />
<br />
Yet amidst all of this, Zora is
shocked to find herself drawn to a wholly unsuitable, rough-mannered
young man named Emerson Birch in a way she thought she’d never be again
after her beloved Thomas’ death. Her aunt prefers Zora to focus on
Theo, the surprising visitor from her hometown, who has come to court
her. Nevertheless, the more Zora learns about Emerson the more she’s
attracted…<br />
<br />
For the first time, Zora wonders if she can do more than survive life… Maybe she could begin to <i>live</i> life.<br />
<br />
<i>The Vespertine</i>,
for me, was an incredibly hypnotic, dark story that pulled me into its
expressive splendor. Getting the chance to revisit Zora, who has a big
character in that, was wonderful.<br />
<br />
<i>The Springsweet</i>
started a little slow, but there’s a vibe of enigma that held me and a
fiery attraction that pulls Zora unwillingly out of her mourning and
into a realization of her own powers. Unlike <i>The Vespertine</i>,
which even in its leisurelier, earlier moments would switch to a future
moment that provided such an disquieting sensation that you would be
pulled back into its gothic hold, <i>The Springsweet</i> takes it’s time to really develop a plot – but I was patient, as I knew that it wasn’t until the end of <i>The Vespertine</i> that I was fully won over.<br />
<br />
I
was, and am, taken with Saundra Mitchell’s way of introducing these
elemental-like powers tied to fire, air, earth, and water. She makes it
gritty and frightening how it can affect the world around them and cause
a moment of utter devastation. <i>The Springsweet</i> may have been
gradual to show how that was true for Zora, but once it did that ominous
tone really kicked in. With that and both the passion of her burgeoning
romance and the wild beauty of their magic becoming more vivid, I
became more mesmerized.<br />
<br />
In my opinion, <i>The Springsweet</i>
takes a bit more patience – I’d say to hang in there to about the
middle – but it is definitely a worthy, if perhaps a little less gothic
and dark as, <i>The Vespertine</i>.<br />
<br />
I’ll be looking for more from Saundra Mitchell!Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507008270140287258noreply@blogger.com0