Sunday Link Salad

It is a quiet and lovely Sunday, post parental-in-law visit, and I'm yawning my head off from lack of caffeine (which is kind of the norm the past month).  Yes I'm still reading the Game of Thrones series, I'm currently on page 927 of book three- A Storm of Swords.  Many folks have died, the plot has thickened and although it'll kill me to do this, book four and five will have to have a brief hiatus while I catch up on some review books that have finally arrived via Canada Posts beleaguered system.  I am nothing if I'm not a good and polite little reviewer!
But in the meantime, I've collected this weeks news for you!  So pick up your Sunday indulgence of choice and get cosy while I bring you up to speed.

-At long last, the full cover reveal for fever has happened over on Lauren DeStefano's facebook page.  to be honest I don't love it quite as much as the original, something about the lighting makes it look more posed to me.  However I do love the consistency and the fact they're not stock photos!  Check out Lauren's blog for more extras about fever, and the making of the cover.

- Laini Taylor has posted a daughter of smoke and bone teaser trailer on her site.  I love the look of it! 

-Entertainment Weekly has done a spread for the boys of the Hunger Games.  Over on The Hob you can check out three of the photos, two of which are film stills.  Although I still don't feel like either of these guys look the part I have to say they're more believable in the scene stills then in the posed cover.

-Cassie Clare has put up one of her many many teasers.  This time its a cut scene from City of Lost Souls:
“Hey, Daylighter.”

“No offense, but I never really visualized you calling me before.”
“It’s hardly a social call.” There was a noise in the background; a murmur of voices. “Simon, have you —”
“No, I mean I didn’t really think of you as using the phone. More — appearing in a burst of glitter.”
-Chapters Indigo has some new events recently posted for Ontario. 

On Sunday August 28th, if you're in the Brampton area, make sure to head over to their Chapters to see Lesley Livingston and Heather brewer
Then mark your calendars for September 21st at 7pm, because Sarah Dessen will be signing her latest What Happened to Goodbye.  I had the chance to see Sarah at the BEA but turned it down to instead meet Laini Taylor, so you can bet I'll be down there with bells on!

-My most amusing tidbit of the week I've saved for last.  Some of you (especially canadians) are likely to have heard of our ogre of a mayor who's busily trying to cut every single possible program and service in Toronto, to great protestations.  One of the MANY things on the chopping block is the public library, and most notable were Ms Margaret Atwoods tweets about it.  Atwood has been a beloved author of mine for many many years (sigh Edible Woman goodness!),  and the furor caused by her comments and then Fords idiotic brothers responses have been a source of many giggles for days.  WELL! Chapters Indigo have got on board!!!  Until close today, you can get 30% off any of Atwoods books when you show your library card!!
And that's it for the news this week, hope you have a happy Sunday and a happy long weekend if you're on Canadian soil!

Ps- Did you try to Pottermore today?  If not make sure not to miss the next 6 days of clue hunting

Painting Pets on a steamy Feline Friday

So today's post was started by this slightly unbelievable video.  Yah, yah.  I know.  It's an Elephant, not a cat.

Which reminded me about how I had seen something once about cats painting which had made me really want to try our cats artistic skills out.
A little research led me to this book:

My cats could totally do it.  And would likely love it.

While looking for more of the inside of this book (I totally remember paging through this baby once upon a time),  I came across a lot of this:

and this:

and most exceptionally this:

Now if only I could find a good place for them, and me to get paint everywhere, which can double up as the place I hose them down.

Aliens On Vacation (The Intergalatic Bed & Breakfast), by Clete Barrett Smith- Review

Way back when during the BEA, you know back when I read stuff other than The Game of Thrones series, I had the pleasure to meet Clete Barrett Smith and hear a bit about his debut Aliens on Vacation.  Clete was incredibly charming and his story sounded fun in a mad-cap way so although it was the first day and I already had a list twelve feet long of things not to miss, I made sure to make his signing and grab myself a copy.

Aliens on Vacation follows the adventures of Scrub, sent for a summer to stay with a grandma he's never met at her quaint little themed Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast.  At the tender age of 12 Scrub is not terribly thrilled about his upcoming exile, and an alien themed B & B is definitely not going to help him get on the basketball team in the fall.  But alas, if only everything at his Grandma's was as simple as helping Trekkie tourists!  Turns out Grandmas little B & B is for actual vacationing aliens.  Soon Scrub is  knee deep in helping the place keep up with the summer rush while trying to keep the locals from being too curious about some of the strange folks rambling about town.

I adored that Scrub wasn't an angsty teen.  There were no long drawn out chapters about how hard done by he was, and although it may be true to age for him to be endlessly difficult about his summer relocation, it was much more fun to read a story about a kid who just rolls with the punches.  I also thought it was charming how quickly he becomes all protective of the aliens and his grandma, everything about this boy made me want to read more.

The actual story was funny and absurd in the kind of way I can easily picture kids loving, but the best part was how much I loved it.  It held that same whimsical feeling Rick Riordan always captures so well so it's hardly surprising they snared the same publishers.

A quick read, with cute chapter heading art, a fun premise and lovable characters, I can't wait for Aliens on a Rampage coming Spring 2012

Aliens on Vacation, by Clete Barrett Smith
Published by Disney Hyperion, May 2011
Buy Aliens on Vacation on Amazon
Check out Clete's website

A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire book 2, by George R.R. Martin- Review

Possibly the most exciting aspect of this book was the fact I hadn't seen the show yet so it was all new to me.  Game of Thrones had some pretty spectacular cliff hangers so I absolutely couldn't wait to sink my teeth into A Clash of Kings and get some answers.

Bear in mind, if you haven't read or watched A Game of Thrones, you may find spoilers in this review.

Martin keeps to the same style in A Clash of Kings, but tosses in new characters who will be teasing us with their perspectives of the ongoing politics, war and devious manipulations afoot all over the place.  This, of course, starts things off painfully because I was on tenterhooks over the end of the last book and then A Clash of Kings starts with someone new, somewhere I'd been ever so curious about before, but am now dying over because get me back to the DRAGONS George!!!  Granted I am ever so thankful for the new characters once the suspense is eased a bit, they lend a breath of fresh air to the story and give it such a well rounded telling.

I'm warning you now, however, that Daenerys is glimpsed very infrequently in book two.  Her story continues to unfold but almost in a background kind of way.  I suspect he's saving her for some huge swaths of story later on but right now she's just growing into this Mother of Dragon's role, so expect to hear much more from Tyrion, Bran and Catelyn for now.  Speaking of Catelyn, I'm finding her more and more irritating as the story carries on.  Please tell me I'm not the only one.  Although primed to be this super strong female character she has a tendency to either be to harsh or too whinny.  I've yet to find her redeeming points, but am constantly looking for them.

Sansa's story becomes considerably more fraught, as does Araya's, but how they handle their respective situations is a really great counterpoint.  It was made very clear in A Game of Thrones that they were cut from very different cloth, but as the story moves along it nice to see the Stark in both of them coming to the forefront in their own unique ways.

Bran and Rickon have considerably more story in A Clash of Kings as well and it's nice to see the politics from all the different age groups and spread wide across the world he's created.  Bran's learning curve of his new disability, coupled with his responsibilities for Winterfell while everyone is away are huge burden's for a nine year old and I love that Martin acknowledges this and makes sure to remind us of it from time to time. 

The fantasy aspects of this world are starting to creep out of the wood works here, there, and everywhere, without taking main stage yet. The Others, dragons, wargs, and mysterious magics and religions are all popping up and getting some real air time now.  Still shrouded in some mystery, but plainly a part of the story and not just an old wives tale so many have believed them to be.  I love how Martin has made a fantasy series where the fantasy was myth to his world until nearly a thousand pages in.  The medieval set up of the world and the dicey and ponderously slow way news has of traveling really adds to the suspense element.  There's nothing more satisfying as bedlam beyond the wall, and a few pages later Lord Tywin pshawing talk of Others and reports of dragons.  I simply can't wait to read the look on his face when he finds out how wrong he was.

If you enjoyed A Game of Thrones then make sure you keep the love affair going with A Clash of Kings.  George R.R. Martin doesn't miss a beat and  without a doubt the material is just as compelling as it was in the first book. Be prepared though, it is longer!  But you'll relish every word.  I had big plans of reading some of my other review books, that have started trickling in through the renewed Canada Post, but in the end I just couldn't tear myself away, so I'm now knee deep in book three- A Storm of Swords.

A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire book 2, By George R.R. Martin
Published by Bantam, 2002 (my copy was a 2011 reprint).
Buy A Clash of Kings on Amazon
Check out George R.R. Martin's blog, Not a Blog

Sunday Link Salad

In a week that has seen many folks riding the Harry Potter film buzz, I thought I would start things off with some fun potter links.

-First off, some crazy fellow in the UK has made a Harry Potter corn maze!  Yes, that's Daniel Radcliffs face.  Apparently he planted a million corn plants to achieve the maze.  More to the point, how did he cut out the heads??

-Film 8 broke records across the board, most pre-tickets sold ever, most midnight showing tickets sold ever, etc, etc.  Because its interesting in a bizzaro way, here's an article on the  Harry Potter film 8 records and earnings for the first weekend and early week.

-Because it's a day ending in y, I have Cassandra Clare news!
A special July teaser for City of Lost Souls featuring Clary kicking butt has been posted on her site.  Also, as part of the San Diego Comic Con, Simon and Schuster made some Clockwork Prince announcements which Cassie later posted.  She said:
All copies of the Clockwork Angel paperback are going to come with a short story in the back called "Magnus' Vow." It takes place during City of Bones and is from Magnus' viewpoint. All first editions of Clockwork Prince are going to come with a letter from Will to his family, that he never sent*, in the back. That's *all first editions." So any first edition, wherever you buy it, will have the letter. Indie stores, Barnes and Noble, etcetera. (I have asked about kindle/etc versions, but I think they won't have it.)
* Yes, the same letter from Will that was in the Italian editions, but with some added material so it isn't *exactly* the same.
* * This isn't the end of bonus content in the books, just the first announcement. Stay tuned...
THIS PERTAINS ONLY TO US RELEASES! More info on UK/Aus stuff when I have it.
 
-Finally, Lauren DeStefano is continuing with the Facebook Fever Reveal.  This week Fever reveal part 3 was exposed.
 
Now I'm off to work and several days entertaining visiting family.  Cross your fingers and toes that I don't die of heatstroke (it was 50 degrees Thursday with the humidex!!), but assuming I survive you can expect a couple of reviews from me this week (I am still making my way through the magnificently large George R.R Martin works). In the meantime, Happy Linking and Happy Sunday!

Controlling cat over population- Feline Fridays

My mom will tell you, should you ever end up chatting to her, that when she was growing up dogs were treated differently.  They ran amuck without their owners and there were definitely feral dogs who roamed the streets.  Fast forward to today where opinions have changed so much that not only do dog owner not let their beloved beasties roam without them, but they also worry about them home alone (doggy day care), worry about their sense of fashion (doggy track suit anyone?), and may even buy a speciality purse to carry them around in.

Sadly this wealth of worry has not become popular for the household cat.  Thereby allowing a ridiculous overpopulation of cats in most cities.  So it made me happy to see the TAS (Toronto Animal Services) update in my local paper the other week.  They're certainly not the only folks paving the way, but it's nice to see statistics laid out for those who hadn't thought of the issue prior.

The City of Toronto plays a very active role in addressing the cat overpopulation problem.

-All cats adopted from City animal centres are sterilized prior to adoption (this includes kittens).

-Toronto Animal Services (TAS) operates a low cost spay/neuter clinic for cats owned by residents of Toronto.  A total of 311 cats were sterilized in 2010.

-TAS partners with many local veterinarians to aid in achieving the goal of sterilizing all cats prior to adoption.  A total of 397 cats were sterilized at external clinics in 2010.

-TAS partners with PetSmart stores which provide additional adoption opportunities for our cats by housing them in their stores.

-TAS operates a free spay/neuter clinic for feral cat colonies in Toronto.  Cat colony caretakers trap the cats, bring them to the shelter for sterilization and then return the cats to their colonies after surgery.

-TAS is an active member of the Toronto Feral Cat Trap-Neuter-Return Coalition (TFCC), which was formed in May 2010.  We are currently working on sterilizing feral cats from a target area selected by the TFCC- another way to decrease the number of cats entering our animal centres.

-Next steps include initiating the Meet-Your-Match program developed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  It is a way to assess cats' personalities and match them to their  new owner to ensure a long and happy relationship.  We are also working on education of the public to promote the intrinsic value of cats, and to promote responsible pet ownership and care.

Obviously it's a drop in the bucket, and there are many other groups doing similar things in Toronto to help, but it's amazing progress.  Much of it has only come to be in the past year or two, and it shows great promise for the future.  They're promoting the intrinsic value of cats!  I'm sold.

Many similar or even more ambitious initiatives are happening all over the states and Canada, and it makes me thinking we're finally making strides to changing peoples attitudes towards cats.  Let me know what's happening in your neck of the woods!

Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin

After being absolutely riveted by the HBO series, I knew I had to read these books.  I spent many years of my reading life in the fantasy section, but haven't really visited it in probably the past 12 years or so, which is the only reason I can think of for why I'd never previously heard about Martin's 1996 debut Game of Thrones. Unbelievable right?  Well I'm now well on my way to correcting the mistake.

At a staggering 807 pages before Appendix's, in paperback format, with the most dense little print and virtually no margins this isn't a read to tackle lightly.  Especially if you've been living in a cave in Siberia and don't know there are also 4 more in print all just as long or longer.  Lets just say Martin isn't writing for the reluctant reader.

However, fans of fantasy, politics or the HBO series will rejoice over what an amazing piece of work Game of Thrones is.  Unlike many other fantasies it doesn't get bogged down in all the supernatural or fantastic elements, and instead focuses largely on character and world building in book one.  In fact the unusual fantasy aspects of the story are so small and rarely referenced you almost forget about them to begin with but it makes them even more alluring.  Talk of how "winter is coming" as if it's a cataclysmic event had me absolutely salivating for the explanation, which was dolled out in small little quips and reference for ages before there was a substantial description of what the deal was with the seasons.  Don't get me started on the dragons and the Others!

Also setting Game of Thrones apart from some of the other fantasy I've read is how political it is.  I've never read such a political fantasy novel, which are generally much more action oriented, before.  And I know what your thinking- really? BOOOOOORing! But it isn't!  I was hanging on every single word of back room conniving and manipulation.  Because in the Game of Thrones it becomes quickly apparent it's every man for himself.

The book jumps from character to character with each chapter change which adds to the political intrigue as you get to watch the sands shift first hand.  One of the most exciting discoveries for me as I've continued onwards from book 1 to book 2 and now book 3, is that each new book introduces the perspective of several new or well known characters.  Dying to know what Jaime is thinking? Cersei, or Theon? Well keep reading and you'll get the opportunity.  It keeps the story rich and fascinating in a way I've never seen used before, and it certainly makes a solid door stop of a book whip by at an amazing pace.

For those who've watched the series, they were almost word for word true to the book in many places.  I still found the book completely engrossing and engaging but there are likely some who've just watched the series who'd find it too similar to want to plow through all 807 pages.

Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin
Published by Bantam (originally) 1996, my copy was a 2011 reprint
Buy Game of Thrones on Amazon,
Or, Buy the first four books in a box set
Want to follow the excitement of the tour for the new book and casting for part two of the series?
Check out George R. R. Martin's blog
or his official site

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs- Review

It's easy to despair, sitting here in the crazy future that is 2011, of seeing anything fresh or different in the arts. Sometimes it seems like every idea has been had, and ever possible story line plundered and all you'll read is re-workings and watered down versions of story's you loved.  But then something great and fresh and new blows into your hands, something like Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and you realize there is a whole world of art left out there for those who are willing to go and look for it.
Growing up, Jacob's grandfather regaled him with stories of his life of adventures.  Including stories about the orphanage he grew up in filled with unusual children who's talents became more and more unlikely and  believable as Jacob gets older.  It takes his grandfathers sudden death and last confusing words to lead Jacob on his own adventure to discover his grandfathers past and all the wonders it encompassed.

This was such a fantastical mix of history, circa 1920's circus strangeness, children's adventure and creepiness, wrapped up in the most beautiful packaged book I've ever owned (that wasn't a coffee table book).  The original concept stemmed from vintage photos, of the kind found in mildewing boxes in the back of your grandparents closets or in antique stores.  I've been known to collect the odd few as well as vintage post cards (it's pretty neat to read the little what-I've-been-up-to paragraphs from a mystery vacationer 70 years ago), and so it hardly surprises me someone finally put a story together inspired by some.

However, what did surprise me is how great the story was.  I have to admit when Quirk first pitched the book to me for review I thought it sounded really neat but I had my doubts.  I theorized the pictures would be the draw and the story would play second fiddle and mostly be an excuse for the pictures themselves.  Instead I found an engaging and super fun story highlighted by these fantastic vintage photos.  It comes together as almost a gallery exhibit meets Jean-Pierre Jeunet movie, but in a novel, and yes, it's as crazy and off the cuff as that sounds.

Sweeping, obscure vistas, and an almost magical ambiance charge this tale right through to it's surprising conclusion (sequel anyone?), but the whimsy of the Peculiar Children are what makes it work.  Well that and the mysterious creepiness, everyone likes a little mystery in their creepy.  It's definitely ranking up there in the some of the best things I've read in 2011 category, and certainly one of the most unique things I've read in quite some time.
Suffice it to say, this isn't an read you want to pass you by, not to mention, author Ransom Riggs has recently sold the film rights so make sure to experience this in book format before casting info and filming talk starts to intrude on your personal imaginings of it.

PS- as a middle school book, don't be shy to share it with the younger audience, but even better yet, this would make a supreme book to read to someone.  In fact, I just might have to get busy and have myself a child so I can do just that!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
Published by Quirk Books, June 2011
Head on over to Quirk Books to sample the first three chapters
Check out Ransom Riggs blog
Buy Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children on Amazon
My copy of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children was kindly provided to me by Random House

Saturday Link Salad

Oh, I am sleep deprived and in my PJ's from our late night Harry Potter soiree, but I have oodles of news for you!  So grab your coffee and your mouse and check out these great links.

-Delirium's sequel Pandemonium has a cover and a release date.  To be honest I don't really get the new covers, are those exotic flowers behind her??

-Part two of Lauren DeStefano's reveal for Withers sequel, Fever is upon us.  "Like" Lauren's facebook page to see it.

-Julie Kagawa made some big announcements this week, including mention of a new vampire series as well as a new Iron Fey series!  Check out her blog for all the details and teasers that were part of the Harlequin Teen event.

-A smidgen of the chapter teaser I got at the BEA of A Clockwork Prince has finally been revealed!  As part of the July teasers Cassie has posted the prologue on her website.

Happy Saturday Linking!

The Dog Days of summer go Feline

It's been a hot, hot week.  And like all exceptionally hot weeks its hard to function, as Thurman is illustrating here:

Lots of cold drinks and good books were in order.  I've cleared through Game of Thrones and am nearly done Clash of Kings.  But TONIGHT is all about sobbing through the end of Harry Potter!

This is Thurman's look of excitement for Harry Potter:

He shrinks when he's excited.

Hope you've kept cool and are getting the chance to see Harry Potter too!

Happy Friday!

Crossed, by Ally Condie- Review

While recouping from the bike accident I went on a mini dystopian bender, and although Crossed doesn't come out until November 1st, I decided to treat myself to an early read.


Part two of the trilogy and the follow up to Matched, Crossed finds Cassia flitting through the outer provinces on the hunt for Ky.  But once again things are not as easy as they seem.  Just as Cassia is about to find Ky she discovers things about Xander which makes her realize he's much more than he's ever seemed.  Has she picked the right boy?


Like Matched, Crossed was not an action packed story, however I didn't find the mysteries and puzzles of this story as intriguing as the first.  Possibly because Crossed largely takes place outside of the Society or maybe because there was more mooning over a boy and less intrigue in general.  Ky and Cassia's romance wasn't ever really the highlight of Matched for me so I suppose a story more focused on the two of them would lack some of it's appeal.  Yet I expected more unraveling of the mysteries of Cassia's world, and didn't feel like I was getting that.


Xander, although in this story very little, was the strongest character to me.  His part in this story and his sudden mysteriousness were really the most intriguing part.  


Although picking up Crossed was one of the big highlights of the BEA for me, I have to say the story didn't live up to my expectations.  Hopefully once part three is released they'll tie into a nice flowing three parter and it won't seem as stale, but after waiting six months for part two I was fairly disappointed by the lack of excitement and reveals.


Part three looks like it will likely take place in a city under Societies watch, so I have my fingers crossed that it takes us back to the puzzles of the first book and the tension that was so nicely played throughout Matched.  


Crossed, by Ally Condie
Published by Dutton Juvenile, November 1st 2011
Pre-Order Crossed on Amazon

Divergent, by Veronica Roth- Review

It was equal parts totally good luck, and my usual awful luck that landed me in emergency a few weeks ago with Divergent in my bag.  Bad luck because I had a bike accident on the way in to work and was a terrible mess who could hardly get the book out of the bag, but excellent luck because I just happened to decide to start reading it that morning while getting ready to leave the house.  Once again I have proved beyond a doubt that it always pays to have a book on you at all times!

Now amazing as it might sound, I'd heard about Divergent long before the buzz began from a co-worker who was taking a library studies course and had gotten it at the OLA back in early February.  We were at a staff meeting and she leaned over and asked if I'd seen or heard anything about this new book called Divergent yet.  I had not, so she gleefully told me she loved it and that it was "totally the next Hunger Games".  Sadly she was rarely at work (because of her course), so I never got to borrow it and had to wait to buy it like everyone else.

In another stroke of rare good luck I happened to win a copy during one of the epic blog hops this spring, from a blogger who's email I've misplaced and can no remember her name (shame on me!).  So all I was lacking was the time to sit down and read it, which the the bike accident kindly provided, as I could do little else but sit and read.

Divergent is the first part in a three part dystopian series which follows the trials and tribulations of Tris as she comes of age, has to pick a faction and then has to live or die by her decision.  Her world is split into five factions: Candor (who honor honesty above all else), Abnegation (who honor selflessness above all else), Dauntless (who honor bravery above all else), Amity (who honor peace above all else), and Erudite (who honor learning above all else).   Between discovering she's a mysterious divergent, learning to live a new life, surviving initiation, and falling for the boy, you would think she has her hands full, but Tris also uncovers a maniacal plot against her very way of life.  This has two sequels after all.

Although a book involving many a breathtaking daredevil antic, and of course the pain that can come from them, is not the first thing I would have read to distract myself from my scary and very painful fall, Divergent was never the less completely engrossing.  I wouldn't say two and a half hours in the emergency room and X-Rays flew by, I was really hurt people, but it certainly went much faster than I would have thought.

Tris was a fairly likable character, a bit out of character ruthless in some instances, but likable (IE-I didn't love her).  This story has been compared to The Hunger Games a great deal, and I have to say that Roth's mistake may have been not making Tris more of a loaner like Katniss.  Oddly her friendships were what seemed to shine on her dis-favorably to me, somehow in comparing against them she seemed more ruthless then a likable character aught to be.  Which is weird as it's a cut throat competition she's in so it should be totally acceptable she's ruthless.  I'm thinking if Peeta and some other group of kids were hanging on Katniss throughout the games it may have made me feel similarly about her, but Collins was very good about keeping her largely on her own for the first book so you could fall for her and forgive her instinct for survival later down the line.

Four, the sometimes love interest, was the character who stole the story for me.  The mysteries surrounding him, and his slow reveal was truly one of the most captivating parts of the story and he was by far my favorite person in the group.  I was almost a little disappointed he wasn't the main character.  I can only hope he holds up as the story progresses in book 2.

There are some excellent twists and surprises through out about Tris's family, Four (though part of that one I saw coming), the factions and of course the mysterious divergents.  Between the plot twists and the daredevilry, the story caught me unawares when it took a political left right at the end.  Although I'm excited to see more of another faction I hope it doesn't mean the loss of the Dauntless flavour of Divergent.  Book 2- Insurgent, has a title but no release date as of yet, but you can bet I'll be eager to get my hands on it and see where this story is going when it shows it's face at a book store near me.

Divergent, by Veronica Roth
Published by Harper Collins, May 2011
Veronica Roth's website
Buy Divergent on Amazon
Read the first 100 pages first!

Saturday Link Salad

Some how, this week went from no news to loads of news in under two days, so grab some breakfast Sangria and get reading!

-Rick Yancy's latest Monstrumologist book has a cover, title and release date. On September 14th The Isle of Blood releases to all the fans of the series.  I'm still a little chicken to read this, but I think once book three is out I'll have to read the series for my Giving me the Creeps October.

- Speaking of covers, part two to Wither, Fever, is having a multiple part cover release.  Head on over to Lauren DeStefano's facebook fan page and Like her to get part one of the cover reveal. Part 2 will be July 13th, part 3 July 20th and part 4 July 27th.

-Part two in the Across the Universe series has had a title and cover reveal as well, also with a fan page like on facebook.  It's set to match the new paperback art for Across the Universe, which I think I like better than the original.

-Clive Barkers hotly anticipated and LONG awaited part three to the Abarat series has finally got a release date.  September 27th is the big day for those awaiting that book for the past 7 years!  But still no explanations as to what the hold up was.

-Cassandra Clare's put up July's teasers for City of Lost Angels, and as an added bonus she's posted the letter from Jace that was in the special Barnes and Nobles and Chapters copies of City of Fallen Angels.

-Finally, July 13th is going to be a day of celebration and sadness across the US and Canada (maybe europe too?  not sure what day HP releases there), but Chapters/Indigo will be vying for the celebration angle with their Harry Potter party.  Head on over to the stores dressed as your favourite character and participate in activities and giveaways galore.  Save your crying for the end of the movie.

It's 34 minutes into sunday, but I haven't gone to bed yet, so Happy Saturday!!

Feline Fridays Birthday Style

Ok, so feline fridays was going to end minutes before my birthday started, and I just couldn't help myself.

Happy Friday! May these kitties find you celebrating something as well (like the weekend maybe?).

This World We Live In, by Susan Beth Pfeffer- Review

I was pretty excited when I got this in an unsolicited package of books in the mail.  I'd not heard of it before, and it was dystopian (which can be pretty wicked good these days), and it had an awesome cover.  Unfortunately no where on the book does it mention it's part three of a series, so it turns out I was starting at the end without knowing it.

It held up pretty well as a stand alone, I had no idea there was anything more to it until I finished and was looking up the author, but after reading the blurbs about the first two I felt like I would have gotten more out of it if I'd read them in order. 

The Blurb from Goodreads:

It's been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth's climate. For Miranda Evans, life as she knew it no longer exists. Her friends and neighbors are dead, the landscape is frozen, and food is increasingly scarce.

The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda's father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda's complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.

This was a stark story of survival with no happy ending or magical solutions to the problems at hand, and it's one of the things I appreciated the most about This World We Live In.  Sometimes it's good to read something slightly unresolved, only sometimes mind you, but sometimes its good to be left thinking of what happens next without being told.   Goodness knows Susan Pfeffer wasn't hesitant to get ugly and hurt people, and in this type of dystopian novel I would be disappointed if she didn't.

My main bone of contention was how remote the characters seemed for most of the book.  Of course once I realized there were two previous books, it made a bit more sense.  In all likely hood you fall in love with them in, Life As We Knew It, and The Dead and the Gone.  All I had to do was read the blurb for The Dead and the Gone and suddenly I felt like I had a better grasp on Alex and his sister.  But as far as reading This World We Live In as a stand alone, it made it hard to feel the emotional attachment you needed to get worked about the roller coaster these folks are on. 

In the end my advice is to read the series in order, I've seen loads of reviews raving about them, and while I was intrigued with The World We Live In, I wasn't engrossed, so it seems likely the story is much stronger as a series then as stand alones.  Also? It would be awesome if  Graphia mentioned somewhere on the jacket that the book in your hand is part two or part three of a series.  Why make it a mystery if the books hold up better together? Also, it means selling three books instead of one, so win win.

This World We Live In (part 3 of the Last Survivors series), by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Published by Graphia, April 2010
Buy This World We Live In on Amazon, and while you're there, buy Life As We Knew It (book 1), and The Dead and the Gone (book 2).

Manly Mondays- Mini Reviews from the Hubby

OK, so for some time there has been the debate on how the hubby can have his two cents heard via this blog.  And by debate I mean, what should we call it and how should it be formatted (how often, mini or full reviews etc.), but mainly, what should we call it. 

I was all for Testosterone Tuesdays, or Manly Mondays and the hubby was a bigger fan of- Mini Reviews by Ryan (until I reminded him how he doesn't like me to use his name on account of all those serial killer bloggiestas out there).  So from here on in, expect a Manly Monday or a Testosterone Tuesday once a month or so, filled with Mini Reviews by the Hubby (or you can call him Captain Readsalot if you would like, just not Ryan). 
So to whet your appetite, I present to you- The Hubby's first set of Mini Reviews:

Plugged- By Eoin Colfer
Via Goodreads:
Lincoln McEvoy has a problem. Well, really, he has several, but for this Irish ex-pat bouncer at a seedy, small-time casino the fact that his girlfriend was just murdered in the parking lot is uppermost in his mind. That is until lots of people around him start dying, and not of natural causes. Suddenly Linc's got half the New Jersey mob, dirty cops and his man-crazy upstairs neighbor after him and he still doesn't know what's going on. Bullets are flying, everybody's on the take and it all may be more than Linc's new hair plugs can handle.

Plugged is Flawless.  Not a page was wasted.  I'll definitely read this again.  I was impressed to see a YA author come out with an adult book, when so many adult authors are jumping on the YA bandwagon.  Take that John Grisham. 

Here's hoping Eoin Continues this trend.

Published by Overlook, September 1, 2011
Copy received at the BEA by the kind folks of Overlook themselves.
Pre-order via Amazon

The Price of Freedom- By A.C. Crispin
Via Goodreads:
Twenty-five-year-old Jack Sparrow is a clean-cut merchant seaman pursuing a legitimate career as a first mate for the East India Trading Company. He sometimes thinks back to his boyhood pirating days, but he doesn’t miss Teague’s scrutiny or the constant threat of the noose. Besides, he doesn’t have much choice—he broke the Code when he freed a friend who had been accused of rogue piracy, and he can no longer show his face in Shipwreck Cove

Pirates was boring.  I read almost half the book before I gave up, and wanted to give up sooner.  This wasn't even worth getting for free.

Published by Disney Editions, May 2011
Copy from the BEA Autographing Area
Buy The Price of Freedom on Amazon

Iron House- By John Hart
Via Goodreads:
An old man is dying.

When the old man is dead they will come for him.
And they will come for her, to make him hurt.

Iron House may not be the best "thriller" ever, but it's the best one I've read.  I went out and bought two more of this guys books after finishing this one.

Published by Thomas Dunne Books, July 12th, 2011
Copy received at the BEA from the publishers
Pre-Order the Iron House on Amazon

Florida Roadkill- By Tim Dorsey
Via Goodreads:
Local trivia buff Serge loves inflicting pain. Drug-addled Coleman, his partner in crime, loves cartoons. Hot stripper Sharon Rhodes loves cocaine, especially when purchased with dead men's money.



Then there's Sean and David, who love fishing—and helping turtles cross busy thoroughfares. Unfortunately, they're about to cross paths with a suitcase filled with $5 million in stolen money.



I liked it, but I didn't love it.  In the beginning every little chapter was a new character, so it was hard to keep track of who's who.  By the last 50-100 pages it kind of became a recounting of events, first this happened, then  this, then that, then the next thing.  Nonetheless, this book was so bonkers that I will read part two.

Published by Harper Paperbacks, February 2006
Buy Florida Roadkill on Amazon

Mucho Mojo: A Hap and Leonard Novel- By Joe R. Lansdale
Via Goodreads:
In the second installment of the Hap Collins-Leonard Pine series, Leonard is still recuperating from the injuries he suffered in the first book (Savage Season) when he learns that his Uncle Chester has died. Hap agrees to stay with Leonard and help clean out the rundown house that he's inherited; when they find a small skeleton buried under the floor, it's up to them to prove that Chester wasn't responsible for a string of child murders by finding the real killer.

Mucho Mojo is the second Hap and Leonard novel.  Check out Rhiannon's review of it the first, Savage Season.  I liked Savage Season more than Rhiannon.  The follow up proved worthy of the investment.  I will definitely continue with this series, though it would be nice to find them used.  This is a funny crime series from the guy that brought us Bubba Hotep and the best B-horror I've read.

Published by Vintage, January 2009
Buy Mucho Mojo on Amazon

The caffeine purge and What Kate wore binge

In a bid to get healthier, I've started the great act of decaffeinating my extremely caffeinated body.  This has seemed such a herculean task that for years I've planned to start it, only to chicken out and rush out to the nearest coffee or tea serving establishment (usually with a headache).  I'm half dutch, meaning I was fed milked down tea in my bottle, so caffeine isn't so much a crutch as it is a part of my genetic makeup these days.  And it was with a sad heart that I went into David's Tea yesterday and asked for some non-caffeinated suggestions.

One of the things I came home with was the dark and hearty Decaffeinator, which I was instructed to mix with coffee, gradually weaning myself off of the coffee and on to the Decaffeinator only.  It smelled delish and so the hubby and I had it for our tea last night (yes, yes, I am THAT bad, I drink coffee all day and then around 8 pm move on to tea for the rest of the night.  Dutch, remember?), which I wasn't overly worried about as tea has less caffeine then coffee and we often have low or caffeine free teas.  But then, this morning I was hot and tired and my knee was aching so I opted to drink a cup of cold coffee instead of making a fresh pot with the Decaffeinator mixed in, and then right before I headed out to work I brewed a pot of the decaffeinator for drinking at work.  Ah Ha! I said to myself, that will work. 
Except it didn't.

I'm not sure I've stopped yawning since I got here and my eyelids could really use some toothpicks as props.  Though I haven't hit a case of the wicked grumpies (work and no coffee can do that on occasion), I was coming on to the lovely this-lack-of-caffeine-blows headache and ran out for a hopefully lower caffeine iced coffee from McDonald's.  They seemed a safer bet then say, Starbucks, who's caffeine levels are off the charts, like energy drink levels people.   Seriously, Health Canada recommends I only drink 300mg of caffeine per day!  Anywho, in case you're dying of curiosity here is a super comprehensive list of caffeine contents (I'm particularly amused by the caffeine levels of decaf coffee, and some of the caffeine free pops).

In other non-review, just about me news...*blush, waves* (exhaustimacated, remember? where were you for my decaffeination rant?), who else can't get enough of this Royal Tour business?  As in, who cares about what their doing but what is Kate wearing now?!  I swear, I've never been online over the weekend so much in my life.  Every fifteen minutes I'm doing a quick check up to see if she's changed yet.

Besides the brilliance that is her wearing all Canadian designs since she stepped off the plane, we have a very sad rate of success in our tiny fashion design industry people, and she could single handedly turn that around, I'm impressed how she's toed the line between 29 year old, and Duchess Dowdy Day wear. 

Your average 29 year old millionaire would have a hard time grasping what's appropriate at starchy Canadian Government day parties filled with veterans and cancer patients, especially in the dead heat of summer.  Whoever's advising her has the certain je ne sais quoi, that has everyone captivated by her perfect looks and seamless perfection (it's been hovering around 30 degrees and she's been wearing 3/4 sleeve dresses with nary a sweat mark in sight, what 29 year old knows about sweat pads??!).  And lets face it, she had us all with that quirky Canada Day hat.  I'm not lying, it was the cover of the Toronto Star yesterday. The COVER people.

Quite obviously I'm not the only one into this, check out website What Kate Wore, or just type it into Google and see the long string of websites that come up.

But enough about me, (yawn, prefacing another yawn) what are you up to this Sunday??

PS- thank god Game of Thrones is riveting even after watching the series, otherwise I would totally have fell asleep reading on my coffee break out in the sunshine.

saturday link salad

Well there are a few hours left to Saturday still (its a long weekend out here folks, the siren song of the backyard and walks through the park beckoned!) so let me get to this weeks list of linkable links.

-This was the week of the alternate paperback cover reveal.  Both Ally Condie and Lauren Oliver gave sneak peeks of their forthcoming paperback changes.  I'm not crazy about the crossed one, but delirium's isn't bad.  I think ultimately I prefer the hardcovers to both though so fingers crossed they don't change them all going forward.

-Speaking of Lauren Oliver, the other big piece of news is that the summary for Pandemonium has been released on Goodreads.  According to Lauren, it created a bit of a brouhaha  (honestly, the only place I heard about it was her so maybe it was more of an angry email frenzy to her).  Anywho, she has a few words for those who are surprised where this series may be going.

- The second book of the Beyonders Series by Brandon Mull had a cover and title reveal  on facebook this week.  It's called The Seeds of Rebellion. I'm a bit mystified by the pictures so far.  Is that the Blind King?

-Holly Black has released the playlist she used while writing Black Heart on 8tracks.  You can listen without downloading anything which is really nice.  It's like a mix tape from Holly, and who doesn't want a mix tape from Holly?  I've listened to about half of it, and so far it's a pretty fun mix.

-Finally, my apologies about the lack of Feline Fridays, I was in the throws of organizing a slightly complicated event for Annex Cat Rescue this week and it ate up most of my free time Friday.  So if you're in Toronto tomorrow make sure to stop at 97 Maitland St, just off the Pride Parade route and check out Annex's table of goodies.  The kitties will thank you for it!

Happy Saturday, and for those of you in Canada, Happy Long Weekend!!