Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton
Category: Young Adult
Page Count: 372 
Release Date: December 2, 2011
Series: n/a
Source: Library
Challenge: none 
Quick Rating: 5/5
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she’s less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Etinne has it all…including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension cracking and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.

 K, so lemme get this out of the way: SQUEEEEEEOMMMGAAAAAHHH!

Guys, I do not like contemporary fiction. I just don’t. It’s a genre I avoid a lot of the time. And Anna was so hyped, it’s been sitting in the bottom of my library bag for a month because I was terrified I was going to hate it.

I was so wrong, and I’m kicking myself that I hadn’t read this earlier. In fact, I’m probably going to buy my own copy, and then force everyone I know to read it. It’s just that good. I even cried (well, maybe more like a sniffle, but still). Happy tears of joy. I’ve never done that before. I’m usually bawling my eyes out because someone died and ending is devastatingly tragic - not because it’s happy!

This cast of characters is one of the best I’ve seen in a young adult novel  recently. I liked everyone, and I’d totally want to hang out in their group. In Paris. I wish I’d been sent to boarding school in a foreign country. *sigh*

Anna, the main character, is quirky and sweet, strong and compassionate. She tries desperately to do what’s right and keep her feelings to herself, but somehow it just never seems to work out quite right. I loved her little tidbits of film descriptions, and appreciated them fully, because I am a total TCM black and white movie junkie. She also gets props for having a Hello Kitty umbrella, because I have a Chococat umbrella. We totally match.

And St. Clair? Cue gushing. I pictured him as Heath Ledge ala 10 Things I Hate About You the whole time. So sweet, but snarky and hilarious. I understood Anna’s confusion and confliction, but I can see what St. Clair was going through as well. And his heights phobia was adorable.

As for the rest of the group, Rashmi is amazing. She wants an Egyptology degree, and that’s my secret dream job. Meredith collects crazy jewelry and keeps them in teacups. Josh is a quirky artist. Where were these people when I was in high school?!

But, really, on a less gushy note, I felt Anna was very real. They all sounded like teenagers without being cheesy, or sounding like an adult’s impression of how teenagers talk. The banter between them all, especially Anna and St. Clair had me snorting and giggling right along with them. I loved that they cursed and they drank, because, you know, that’s what a lot of teens do. My heart was absolutely pounding during certain scenes (sleepovers and birthday celebrations anyone?). The sweet, clumsy awkwardness of the romance was absolutely endearing and believable. I was totally nervous right along with Anna, because I still remember that feeling of the high school crush. I was in awe of the beautiful buildings in Paris, and my stomach was in knots every time St. Clair tried to climb stairs. There was not one flaw with this book that I can find. Others surely can, but Stephanie Perkins has definitely mad me a raving mad fangirl.

And I have to add, did anyone else get the impression that Anna’s dad was a thinly-veiled, funny little stab at Nicholas Sparks? Because that’s all I could think about every time he or one of his books were mentioned!

Please, please, please, Hollywood, make a wonderful movie out of this one day so I can swoon visually as well as mentally? 

The Final Word: I could probably gush for hours on end about this book, and I really can’t even come up with a coherent review that I’m happy with. Regardless, if you haven’t read this yet, do it now. Immediately. It’s a refreshing, toe-curling, goosebump-inducing romance that takes place in one of the most romantic cities in the world. Paris! Boarding schools! Cute boys! What isn’t to love?

Overall:
Characters:
Concept:
Cover:

Cover Thoughts: I’m sorry, but this is the one thing I can’t stand! The cover is so cheesy! And Anna doesn’t even have her bleached streak, which is definitely important. And the man hand looks like an alien. It’s like a facehugger, creeping along, getting ready to suck Anna’s poor face, and it creeps me out. But, really, the cover just does not do this book justice at all. It was one of the main factors I put off reading it for so long. Maybe the paperback will redeem itself?

Tea: Normally I don’t do this, but this time I’m saying screw it. You’re reading a book about Paris. Tea will just not do. Grab a cup of your favorite coffee, put on your beret, and get lost in the City of Light with Anna and St. Clair. Plus, you’ll need the caffeine. You’ll be up into the wee hours of the morning to finish this, I guarantee it.

Memorable Quote:

“Who sends their kid to boarding school? It’s so Hogwarts. Only mine doesn’t have cute boy wizards or magic candy or flying lessons.” pg. 5

(I just had to share it - my favorite quote in the whole book!)

Waiting on Wednesday {11}

 "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Want to participate?

• Head on over to Breaking the Spine.
• Grab the logo, or make your own!
• Post your WoW entry on your blog.
• Sign the Mr. Linky.
• Visit all the other linked blogs, and watch your TBR pile grow to ginormous proportions!

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 Wrapped

by Jennifer Bradbury

(May 24, 2011 -- Atheneum)

Agnes Wilkins is standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, about to make the first cut into the wrappings, about to unlock ancient (and not-so-ancient) history. Maybe you think this girl is wearing a pith helmet with antique dust swirling around her.
Maybe you think she is a young Egyptologist who has arrived in Cairo on camelback.
Maybe she would like to think that too. Agnes Wilkins dreams of adventures that reach beyond the garden walls, but reality for a seventeen-year-old debutante in 1815 London does not allow for camels—or dust, even. No, Agnes can only see a mummy when she is wearing a new silk gown and standing on the verdant lawns of Lord Showalter’s estate, with chaperones fussing about and strolling sitar players straining to create an exotic “atmosphere” for the first party of the season. An unwrapping.
This is the start of it all, Agnes’s debut season, the pretty girl parade that offers only ever-shrinking options: home, husband, and high society. It’s also the start of something else, because the mummy Agnes unwraps isn’t just a mummy. It’s a host for a secret that could unravel a new destiny—unleashing mystery, an international intrigue, and possibly a curse in the bargain.
Get wrapped up in the adventure . . . but keep your wits about you, dear Agnes. (from Goodreads)

So I may have a tiny obsession with all things Egyptian. I may also have an obsession with Egyptian archaeology in the nineteenth-century. I may also be suffering withdrawal from the amazing Amelia Peabody series, one of the few murder mystery series I am completely addicted to - especially when it comes to Emerson. ;D 

But, seriously, from the delightful artwork on the cover, to the setting, to the mummy, I am going to be all over this book come the end of May.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Review: Kat, Incorrigible

Title: Kat, Incorrigible
Author: Stephanie Burgis
Publisher: Atheneum
Category: Middle Grade
Page Count: 304
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Series: The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson #1
Source: ARC from publisher
Challenge: 2011 DAC, 2011 A-Z Challenge
Quick Rating: 5/5
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Take one part magic, two parts adventure, an a dash of cross-dressing; add two unwed sisters, a bumbling father, and a stepmother with her petticoats in a twist, and you’re in for an unlikely adventure through nineteenth-century England like Jane Austen never dreamed of.

Katherine Ann Stephenson has just discovered that she’s inherited her mother’s magical talents, and despite Stepmama’s stern objections, she’s determined to learn how to use them. But with her eldest sister Elissa’s intended fiance, the sinister Sir Neville, showing a dangerous interest in Kat’s magical potential; her other sister, Angeline, wreaking romantic havoc with her own witchcraft; and a highwayman lurking in the forest, even Kat’s reckless heroism will be tested to the utmost. If she can learn to control her new powers, will Kat be able to rescue her family and win her sisters their true loves?

Described as Jane Austen meets Harry Potter, Kat, Incorrigible is one of the most enchanting middle grade fiction titles I’ve ever come across. Set in Regency Era England, it’s a whimsical story about a brave little girl, and the family she’s willing to do anything for to save.

Kat is a remarkably clever and mature twelve-year-old heroine, and I absolutely fell in love with her stubborn feistiness. There’s nothing more I love reading about than sisters (probably because I have none of my own), and Kat’s undying devotion to making sure her sisters are happy is one of her most endearing traits. Despite feeling left out by the older two, and despite being totally confused by that whole silly “love” thing, Kat works relentlessly to make sure her sisters end up with their true loves in the end.

And as for the sisters themselves? I loved them too! They each have their own distinct personality. Elissa, the eldest, is obsessed with her romantic gothic novels, and would like nothing more than to be a martyr for her family. Angeline, the middle sister, is a vivacious, sarcastic girl, who is following in their deceased mother’s footsteps and dabbling in witchcraft. The girls also have a brother, Charles, who only makes grunts of irritation from the next room, and bangs on the wall when the girls are rambunctious and noisy. I’m hoping we see more of Charles later in the series. Of course, their bumbling father is an absolute dear, lost in his own world, and Stepmama is strict and obsessed with Society, but comes through in the end for her stepdaughters.

The story itself was refreshing and fast-paced, and it almost seemed to go by too quickly. There was not a slow moment to be found: from Kat discovering her powers as a Guardian, disappearing through magic golden mirrors, Angeline’s disastrous love spell results, and the dark and sinister Sir Neville, it was a roller-coaster ride until the very end, and I was left absolutely salivating for more.

I don’t often read middle grade books, so I’d forgotten how refreshing they can be. Given that Kat is only twelve, all the romance focuses on her older sisters, leaving Kat free to do as she pleases. In young adult, where the focus is almost always some kind of romance, it was definitely nice to take a break, and just feel like a kid again, right along with Kat.

I’m so excited to see that this is a planned series as well. I can’t wait to find out more about the Order, and about Kat’s powers as a Guardian. She’s just so delightfully unladylike, I know she’s going to get into a bunch of trouble and fantastic adventures.

The Final Word: If you love the era of Jane Austen, mixed with a little magic and witchcraft, then this book is a must-read. Kat is a wonderful main character, and the story is quick and not over-complicated. A fast, perfectly enjoyable read.

Overall:
Characters:
Concept:
Cover:

Cover Thoughts: While the scene featured on the cover never takes place, the art style, the colors, and the expressions on the girls’ faces are beyond perfect.

Tea: Twining’s makes one of my favorite English Breakfast teas, and surely a tea so traditional would be perfect for a book set in nineteenth-century England. Since our heroine is only twelve, be sure to add plenty of milk and sugar!

Win a copy of "Kat, Incorrigible" !

I just so happen to have an extra ARC copy of "Kat, Incorrigible", and I've decided it has to be given away! Kat's wit and charm must be spread all around! 

• U. S. entries only please! I'd love to do international, but I can't afford the shipping right now.
• You must be 13 years of age or older to enter.
• No emails will be sold or given away to third parties. I will always respect your privacy.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org
• The giveaway will run from April 4th, 2011, to midnight (EST) April 10th, 2011.
• Following is not required for this giveaway, but it will earn you one extra entry.
• Reblogging or tweeting is not required, but it is definitely appreciated.

Click here to enter!
*Contest Over! Winner Here!* 

And even if you don't win, "Kat, Incorrigible" comes out tomorrow, so be sure to pick up a copy!

Movie Review: Red Riding Hood

Title: Red Riding Hood
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Studio: Warner Bros.
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Rating: PG-13
Length: 100 min. 
Release Date: March 11th, 2011
Notable Actors: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons
Quick Rating: 2/5

Valerie (Seyfried) is a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter (Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie's older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon's arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon... (from Warner Bros.)

So I thought I’d try something a little different and try reviewing a movie - specifically a movie with a book companion. I haven’t actually read the book version of Red Riding Hood yet, but I plan to soon, so I can’t compare the two, but I wanted to share my thoughts on the film itself. Especially now that its been out for several weeks, and anyone who planned to see it has seen it, and I can maybe get away with a couple of spoilers! ;D

And where do I begin with that? The trailer has been absolutely everywhere for months now. The excitement has been building, and everyone’s been saying how awesome this film must be, because look at that stunning trailer! Boy, was I wrong. I actually felt a little bad about spending the money to go see this.

I will start off by saying that visually, this movie is gorgeous. Amanda Seyfried is beautiful and angelic as always. Shiloh Fernandez was appropriately dark and appealing, and well, Max Irons looks like Prince William imo. (And as a side note, if he were a couple of years younger, he would so fit the bill for Peeta from The Hunger Games.)

Who didn’t fall in love with the image of the long red cloak on the side of the mountain? The dark allure of the of the love triangle, the terror of the wolf. This film held so much promise, and it just fell flat.

The characters lacked depth. There was no chemistry between either of the “couples” for me, and even the “steamy” hay-rolling scene wasn’t even…steamy. There was no tension, no terror, no claustrophobic feeling of a small village in the throes of disaster and panic. I wanted bloodshed and undeniable romance and to bite my fingernails off by the time the movie was over! Instead, I just left the theater mildly confused, under whelmed, and sadfacing.

And don’t even get me started on that werewolf. I’ve seen better graphics in tv-only release sci-fi movies. I felt like they were trying to copy the Twilight wolves, but failed miserably. The fur looked like plastic shards and the anatomy went all wonky on several scenes. It did have nice eyes though…

I will give it this, though. I never saw the ending coming. Looking back at one specific scene, there was a pretty big clue dropped, but I didn’t notice it at all, which I liked. I also liked all the homage to the original fairytale - specifically the nightmare with the grandmother. That was probably the creepiest scene in the entire movie. But I was kind of going ‘wtf?!’ for the last fifteen minutes of the movie.

Oh, and the soundtrack? Amazing! I may not be buying the movie when it comes out, and I may have regretted paying to see it on the big screen, but I came home and immediately bought the soundtrack.

The Final Word: Only go if you really, really, really like to see things on a big theater screen. Or if you have a free ticket. Or something. Maybe just wait until it comes on HBO for free? Or Redbox it and only pay a dollar. Either way, pay the least amount possible to see this. While not the worst movie ever, and containing a few redeemable factors, it’s pretty much flat and emotionless. With such an amazing premise, I think Catherine Hardwicke really dropped the ball on this one.

Overall:
Characters:
Concept:
Soundtrack:

Tea: Grab a bottle of Firefly and the shot glasses, because we’re gonna need to make a drinking game out of this!

A couple of fun things...

Just thought I'd make a little post about two really awesome things I'm definitely going to have a lot of fun with over the next coming weeks.

Show me your R.A.K., and I'll show you mine... ;D

This is the first month I'm going to participate in R.A.K.! I found out about it last month, but March was almost over, so I put off joining up until April. This is such an amazing idea, and I'm really, really looking forward to sending off some mailbox surprises this month. ;D

If you're interested in signing up, here's the rules:

• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.
• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)
• Create a wish list and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}
• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.
• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!
Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)


OPEN TO EVERYONE!
Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.
Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

My wishlist is here, over at Goodreads!

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Do you iClue?

So, this sounds way beyond awesome. Solving mysteries, and a chance to win amazing signed books and an iTouch? Yeah, I'm definitely going to be participating.

Here's how it works:

* Starting on April 4th a new author will be featured on the iClue Site each week.
* The author will post their mystery on the site on Monday.
* On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we will post links to The Reading Room and two book bloggers who will be posting a special clue to help you solve the mystery.
* Once you've solved the mystery you send us the correct solution using a form on the website.
* If you enter the correct solution you get one entry into the contest.
* Solve all 6 mysteries you get 6 entries to win the iTouch.

Click the banner to the left to find out more!

Book Hop & Follow Friday (11)

This week, I'm participating in three different Friday memes! Crazy for Books hosts the Book Blogger Hop. Parajunkee's View hots Folly Friday. And a new Friday question to the block, TGIF at Greads! These are all wonderful opportunities for bloggers to get to know each other better.


Today's question from the Hop...

"Since today is April Fool's Day in the USA, what is the best prank you have ever played on someone, OR that someone has played on you?"

Is it weird that I can't think of a single thing...? I scare really easily, so my boyfriend is constantly playing little tiny tricks on me, but I actually can't think of any huge prank. Sorry, lol!

 

Today's question from Follow Friday...

"What is the book that you really don't want to admit to loving?"

Honestly, it's probably still Twilight. Online it's not so hard to admit, since there are a bunch of fans out there, but in real life? Ugh. I used to keep the set in the bedroom, where only I could see it. But recently, I've actually reorganized by shelves, and it's out in the living room loud and proud. I still squirm a little whenever friends cover over and just hope they don't notice it, though. 

 

Today's question from TGIF...

"Characters We Love: Which male and/or female character have your found yourself connected to the most?"

Wow, what a loaded question. I think I honestly get more attached to the story and world than feel connected to a specific character. But if I had to choose the most, it would probably be Harry from the Harry Potter series. I grew up with the books, and I've grown up with the actors in the movies (I'm the same age as Dan!). I can't imagine being more connected to anything literary than that.

 

Though Katniss from The Hunger Games or Clary from The Mortal Instruments could probably be close seconds. 

 

 

 

100 Follower Giveaway!

It's finally here! My 100 Follower Giveaway! *happy dance*

I've been planning this for a while, since I hit 100 followers a bit ago, but with everything else going on, it got pushed back further than I originally wanted. 

But, whatever. It's here now, right? And I really thought I wouldn't have one of these for a while yet! I want to thank all of you for following my little tiny blog, and making this whole thing just seem amazingly fun. But that's enough speech, let's get to the fun prizes!

Grand Prize

The "Grand Prize" includes:

• Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (ARC edition) (signed!)
• Across the Universe by Beth Revis (finished copy) (signed!)
• Key bookmark

2010 Top Picks

The "2010 Top Picks" prize includes top-selling titles from 2010:

• Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (ARC edition)
• Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (ARC edition)

Girls That Don't Fit In

The "Girls That Don't Fit In" prize includes titles featuring girls that just...don't really fit it:

• The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi Durrow (ARC edition)
• Keeper by Kathi Appelt (ARC edition)
• She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott (ARC edition)

Edgy Girls

The "Edgy Girls" prize features strong heroines and intense situations:

• Still Missing by Chevy Stevens (ARC edition)
• Undiscovered Gyrl by Alyson Burnett (ARC edition)

2011 Releases

The "2011 Releases" prize includes new titles for 2011:

• The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens (ARC edition)
• The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor (ARC edition)

Edgy, Dark, & Possibly Violent

The "Edgy, Dark, & Possibly Violent" prize includes a few darker titles:

• Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith (ARC edition)
• Fallout by Ellen Hopkins (ARC edition)
• The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni (ARC edition)

Oh, and yeah...these guys:

Every winner will get a random monster with their prize. ;D Just because they're really freakin' adorable.

There are only a few rules and regulations:

• U. S. entries only please! I'd love to do international, but I can't afford the shipping right now.
• You must be 13 years of age or older to enter.
• Specifically for this giveaway, you must be a follower of the blog. There is a place for your Google Friend Connect name on the entry form.
• No emails will be sold or given away to third parties. I will always respect your privacy.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org
• The giveaway will run from April 1st, 2011, to midnight (EST) April 30th, 2011.
• There are no extra entries this time around. Keeping it straightforward and simple.
• Reblogging or tweeting is not required, but it is definitely appreciated.

Contest Over! Click HERE to see the winners!

One winner will be chosen for each prize pack. In the provided box, please list prize packs in the order of preference. Each winner will receive the top pack off their list until all prizes are gone.