On holidays for two weeks

Just a quick post to say that I will be on holidays for the next two weeks and I am not taking my laptop along … I have at least ten books with me (and three audio books) , they weigh a ton  but I can’t choose so I am taking them all. I can see my husband is looking at me perplexed, he thinks that this is nonsense, it makes sense to me and I am sure I can rely on the understanding of many of you here.

Nonsense is not a word in my world.

Em

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

“The best way out is always through”

Today I stayed all day curled up on my couch re-reading Just Listen, it’s a wonderful sunny day so everybody else went to the park and I took advantage of the situation (I have a cough) to enjoy a few hours of solitude.

I love Sarah Dessen, sometimes I forget how good she is.

From Goodreads:

Last year, Annabel was “the girl who has everything”—at least that’s the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf’s Department Store.This year, she’s the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to  truth-telling. With Owen’s help,maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

There are  many good reasons why I love Sarah Dessen so much (and it’s true that occurring dynamics in her books are often similar but I honestly don’t care):

* great characterization, I have never been disappointed by a main character in her novels and Annabel is no exception.

* she deals with issues with the right touch of realism, humor and optimism. Eating disorders, modeling, anger, high school dynamics, family relationships.  I never have a feeling that Dessen is giving me a lecture which I appreciate (“Don’t think or judge”  “Just listen” ).

* she creates awesome Boy characters and I can’t help falling for them,  each time they steal my heart. Owen is one of my favorite (my all time favorite  being Dexter from This Lullaby) , he is really into music and he has strict rule of always saying the truth. I like the way Owen expresses himself through songs and playlists.

I might sound nostalgic but when I was 16 I used to make and receive all kind of mix cd (and tapes) for friends, boyfriends, it was a way for impressing each other with our awesome personality and musical knowledge but it was also  sweet, personal and caring.

Since Mp3 files appeared on the scene together with all kind of readers that old practice of swapping mix cd has stopped and I honestly miss it.

On a personal level Just Listen presented me with a very interesting point of view regarding how to handle conflicts, disagreements and confrontations…I am very bad at confrontation not in the way Owen is,  I don’t do confrontations  and I keep everything inside.

I might try to experiment some of those techniques that Owen explains to Annabel and see if I can make them work.

My grade: 4/5

Em

The Viscount who loved me by Julia Queen

I recall mentioning on this blog that I am not really into historical romance, scratch that as I hadn’t heard of Julia Quinn.

A few weeks ago I created an account on goodreads and wandering into people’s lists I read many good reviews on Julia Queen, I asked for advise and The Viscount who loved me was strongly recommended as a starting point into Quinn  historical romantic world.

I was hooked on page 1 (the same thrilling sensation I had when I started reading Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James or Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie)

From Goodreads:

“1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And in all truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better…
–Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1814
But this time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry–he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield–the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate’s the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams…
Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands–and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate’s determined to protect her sister–but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony’s lips touch hers, she’s suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself.”

When it comes to romance I always  enjoy when  Hero and Heroine cannot stand each other at first and then fall in love.

The part that I like  most is when they fight (physically or figuratively speaking), dialogues in which h/h try to outsmart each other are always my favorite part.  When they eventually realize that it is indeed Love I get bored. For me it’s all about the  build-up when Things Happen I lose interest.

Things usually happen too fast and that doesn’t work for me, The Viscount who loved me is engaging from start to end, the is a proper characterization: Kate Sheffield is unconventionally beautiful, smart, outspoken and resourceful, Anthony might be a tiny bit obnoxious and is a rake, but at least he has a sense of humor.

If you had a stressful week this it’s a great cheer-me-up fun book,  I highly recommend it.

My grade: 4/5

Em

A new blog in the YA blogosphere: The Book Scoop

New YA book blog  The Book Scoop is up and and giving away 3 books of your choice!

I would never promote a blog that I don’t like but Rowena’s blog is cute:

Plus  I can relate to a blogger:

* who is in her  twenties;

* has a crush on Seth Cohen;

* is into YA romantic books (it’s true that recently I have been venturing into new things and I am enjoying the experience);

I will definitely be following those reviews.

Em

The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Is there anybody out there who hasn’t read “The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic” by Sophie Kinsella?

Did you maybe watch that awful movie “Confessions of a Shopaholic”  and forgot about the whole thing? BIG MISTAKE.

I don’t like the book’s cover, in the name of fashion  I recommend you check The Sartorialist and see if inspiration strikes. In my imagination Becky is a tiny framed brunette (think about a shorter Anne Hathaway) :

while Luke Brandon looks like a Christian Bale (He must be well over six feet tall with dark hair and dark eyes and . . . wow. Isn’t that suit nice?):

I read this book ten years ago (the year it was published, 2000) and it’s no secret that Becky Bloomwood is my favorite chick lit heroine ever.

After the movie this book was released again with a new title “Confessions of a shopaholic“, I hate it, this story is not only about shopping, I am a self-confessed bookaholic but I am not into fashion the way Becky is … surprise surprise my guilty little pleasure is daydreaming and Becky Bloomwood gave me plenty of material.

Reasons why Becky Bloomwood is the best:

1. Becky is a financial advisor who hasn’t got a clue how to save. She is a cheater. Does it ring a bell? Yes 80% of the time I spend working I have absolutely no idea of what I am doing

2. Becky can’t handle money and is highly indebted (OK. DON’T PANIC. DON’T panic. It’s only a VISA bill. It’s a piece of paper; a few numbers. I mean, just how scary can a few numbers be?) . Debt is a bad thing, Becky displays childish behavior, Becky deserves a lecture from her parents. All true but I couldn’t help laughing and laughing, those letters from her bank manager are hilarious. Becky actually freezes one of her credit card in a block of ice

3. Becky displays an unusual determination for a young woman, if she wants something (like a certain scarf) she will surely get it no matter what

4. Becky is into positive thinking,  what’s better solution than home-cooking in order to cut her spending? I couldn’t stop laughing when she devised the homemade-curry-plan (something we all try at some point in life)

5. Becky believes in friendship, has a big heart, a wicked sense of humor and a hyperactive imagination

6. Becky doesn’t take crap from anybody  and especially not from Luke Brandon

The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic is not a real story, it’s fiction, it’s escapism…I read reviews in which fingers were pointed against the whole concept behind this series (this novel it’s the first in the Shopaholic series by Kinsella)I respect a different point of view, some people  really have sisters or friends whose life has been ruined by compulsive shopping.

Luckily I only  buy books compulsively and they are surely cheaper than Gucci’s boots.

I shamelessly enjoyed this novel, Becky might be superficial and she is clearly lucky, I don’t care, I couldn’t put this book  down, it happens to me every time when  Sophie Kinsella is concerned, I read all her books but this will always be my favorite.

My grade: 5/5 PLUS

Em

Catching Fire – The Playlist

I am currently reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and very much into it.

In the great Peeta vs Gale debate I find my heartbeat accelerating when Gale enters the scene, it must be love. Today I found this debate on an awesome blog (lots of swooning material) and I ended up saying that Gale is in between Robin Hood and Steve McQueen, I got a bit carried away… the reality is I don’t really know Gale, he hasn’t done much yet .

Right now I am focusing on Katniss and the story , today while  cycling home inspiration struck me on the way, the perfect playlist for The Hunger Games plus Catching Fire materialized in my mind, here it is:

Rage Against The Machine, Freedom

Paintings of rebellion
Drawn up by the thoughts I think
Yeah!
Come on!
The militant poet in once again, check it

Rage Against The Machine, Killing in the name of

And now you do what they told ya

Muse, New Born

Destroy the spineless
Show me it’s real
Wasting our last chance
To come away
Just break the silence
’cause I’m drifting away
Away from you

Joy Division, Love Will Tear Us Apart

Do you cry out in your sleep
All my failings exposed
Get a taste in my mouth
As desperation takes hold

The Clash, Guns of Brixton

You can crush us
You can bruise us
But you’ll have to answer to

Nirvana, Rape me

Hate me
Do it and do it again
Waste me
Rape me, my friend

Radiohead, All I need

You are all I need
You are all I need
I am in the middle of your picture
Lying in the reeds

Florence and The Machine, You0ve got the love

When food is gone you are my daily meal
When friends are gone I know my saviour’s love is real
Your love is real

Depeche Mode, Personal Jesus

Reach out touch faith
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who’s there

The Smashing Pumpkins, Bullet with Butterfly Wings

despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
someone will say what is lost can never be saved
despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage

The Doors, The End

Lost in a Roman…wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain, yeah

It’s intense but it’s how I feel reading this series. I like the idea of associating books and playlists, it’s something I have seen on other blogs and I especially like “alita.reads“.

Em

Waiting on Wednesday: Return to Paraside by Simone Elkeles

Waiting on Wednesday is an  idea from Jill at Breaking The Spine.

My pick today is Return To Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Publisher:  Flux (September 1, 2010)

I really don’t like the cover (and I hope it will change):

From Amazon:

Maggie and Caleb just went through the worst year of their lives. Hit by a car and starting life over with a limp, Maggie never thought she would forgive Caleb. But she did-and fell in love. What they shared was real. But Caleb wanted to be free from the past-and a terrible secret: he wasn’t the one who hit Maggie. So he left Paradise-and Maggie-forever.When Maggie and Caleb run into each other in a different town, they can’t deny their true feelings. Will Maggie let Caleb get away again? Or will Caleb face the truth and return to Paradise?

This is the sequel to Leaving Paradise, I love contemporary romantic YA books and  Simone Elkeles is brilliant, she creates characters that become alive in the story.

I have high expectations for this one.

Em

31 Dream Street by Lisa Jewell (Roommates Wanted: A Novel)

If you are on those who recently picked up a chick-lit but the story has failed to hold  interest, if you are getting  bored of the genre as a whole ,   if you are not ready to face a reality without light-hearted romance I highly recommend Lisa Jewell.

Lisa will restore your faith in the genre, when it comes to chick lit she is one of my favorite writers  and a book that really impressed me is 31 Dream Street ( it’s called Roommates Wanted: A Novel in US).

It’s in between fiction and chick lit, it’s light with substance, it’s heart warming without being obvious.

From amazon:

Leah and Toby have lived across the street from one another for years without meeting … and Leah has been itching to peek behind the front door of Toby’s eccentric house, always packed to the rafters with weird and wonderful tenants. When fate finally lets her in, Leah finds that Toby needs her as much as she is surprised to realize she might need him. Sometimes life needs a helping hand and with a sprinkle of romance and their own special magic, Toby and Leah’s dreams show the glimmer of a chance of coming true. 31 Dream Street is a wonderfully warm and insightful novel that will capture the imagination and soothe the soul.

Toby and Leah are realistic well developed characters, almost forty years old Toby  is a shy poet  who enjoys  being nice to people who are struggling in life (mostly his tenants) , he is  stuck in his big house and the lifestyle he made himself comfortable in. Toby is lonely and not very happy, a change could be good  but he is not the kind of person that embraces change easily, neither are his housemates.

Leah is an attractive, efficient, 35 years old girl who finds herself intrigued by dilapidated Victorian mansion next door and his owner.

This is a story full of tenderness and humor (do not expect an overwhelming sexual tension), is a touching  tale about friendship, second chances and the power of love, there are lots of amusing characters (each tenant has a story) and it’s beautifully written:

“Real love, it doesn’t just pop up when it’s convenient, you know? It doesn’t just turn up and fit in with everything. Real love is a pain in the arse. You have to make compromises for it.”

“I know. Pathetic, isn’t it? I’m sure life wasn’t supposed to be like this. I’m sure the idea was that you met someone and you knew, that it was one thing or another, that it was black or white. But life – it’s so stupidly grey half the time , isn’t it? So vague and so silly and…nothing.”

While writing this review I am listening to the soundtrack of Across The Universe , “With a Little Help from My friends”  it’s the perfect match for this novel (also one of my favorite song) and If there was a movie made from this book I  could actually picture Joe Anderson as Toby.

My Grade: 4.5/5

Em

I’m Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti

Day after Day I find myself getting confident on my blog,  the amazing thing is that sharing opinions feels  good and I find myself looking forward to doing it.

Like most bloggers I read lots of books in my life, reading is probably the only passion that started when I was six years old and it’s still going strong.

Today I would like to talk about an italian book that I read a few years ago (I am italian so I read the original version) : I’m Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti, a brilliant book that was turned into a movie by Gabriele Salvatores (one of the best italian contemporary directors, don’t watch the movie if you haven’t read the book).

From Amazon:  Nine-year-old Michele Amitrano lives with his little sister, devoted mother and distant father in a rural Italian hamlet consisting of five dilapidated houses. In the sweltering summer of 1978, he and a group of his friends strike out on their bikes across the barren, scorched hills. While exploring an abandoned house, Michele discovers what he believes to be the dead body of a boy his own age. Drawn back to the site, Michele discovers that the boy is not dead, but weak, disoriented and unable to account for his presence there.  Part mystery, part morality play, the novel is written in simple, spare prose. The characters, particularly that of Michele, spring to life, and the story builds to a heart-stopping climax.

I’m not scared it’s relatively short, it’s well written and it’s a thriller that can be enjoyed by teens or adults (the main character is nine years old). It’s also not very scary and I would recommend you don’t generalize on Ammaniti’s style based on this story (his early books especially  are completely different).

What fascinates me is the description of the traumatic passage from innocence to experience,  Michele lives blissfully into a semi-rural idyllic world  (“We could do whatever we liked. No cars ever went by. There were no dangers. And the grown-ups stayed shut up indoors, like toads waiting for the heat to die down) but soon enough his existence is shattered by a terrible secret. A secret that  has a strong historical value if referred to the Italian History in the seventies.

It is true that more often than not the passage from childhood into adulthood is marked by those who are close to us, I only really believed in good vs evil when I was a little child, after that it’s been all really blurry,  the lost of innocence is a change that occurs in our hearts and in this beautiful story Michele will experience that first hand.

I don’t want to give any spoiler because it’s such a short, vivid, gripping story , the climax of the story is at the very.

You can read another review by Medievel Bookworm here.

My grade: 5/5

Em

Packing for my holidays

Next Sunday I am going on holidays (hurrahhh!) , I will spend two weeks in a tiny little island (small Cyclades in Greece) where all I need is my bathing suite and a pile of books.

This is me last year in the same place having breakfast in the local tavern, it’s also the idea of me that comes to my mind every time the word “relax” is mentioned:

I am trying to put together a list of books (no more than 5) to keep me entertained, this place is perfect as I won’t have a television or an internet connection, my husband is bringing his guitar,  I will probably have a few hours a day just for reading and I am looking forward to it.

This is the list I came up with:

1. A book by Robin McKinley (I keep reading excellent reviews), there are a few books in the library, what would you recommend?

2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (bought it already), choice based on great reviews  I read on blogs

3. One Day by David Nicholls (it’s a present from a friend, sounds promising)

4. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (bought it months ago and I haven’t read it yet), choice based on great reviews I read on blogs

5. I went to Vassar for this by Naomi Neale,  my choice based on how much I  enjoyed Calendar Girl

I still have one week to decide, any advise is welcome.

Em