Under A Star Studded Sky

Where Have You Been, Rachel, and Where Are You Going?

2011-08-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Dear readers, fellow reviewers and loyal followers,
I have neglected Under A Star Studded Sky of late; I've been roaming across England and Europe for the past month, with a college trip to the CERN facility in Switzerland (site of the Large Hadron Collider), a summer school at the University of Cambridge and a long visit to a friend of mine who lives in the beautiful country of Norway. Not only that, but I've had a birthday and become a year older, read many, many books, and fallen in love with a boy. It's been a busy summer.
Another thing that happened to me this summer was the dreaded AS results day. And, having received AAAA (Maths, Further Maths, Physics & English Lit., in the unlikely case you're interested), I've set my sights on my a-levels, and applying to university. This year, I'm going to be working harder than ever, and that means letting something go. It's not you, it's me, right? It's amazing how much like a bad breakup this feels.
Yes, if you haven't quite guessed it yet, I'm stopping blogging. I'm a physicist at heart, and I always have been, and that just has to come first. I realise the two things aren't mutually exclusive, of course, and I hope I've shown that being "mathematically-minded" doesn't mean you can't appreciate a book as much as the next girl.
Thank you for all your support and readership. At its peak, Under A Star Studded Sky had 122 followers and over a 1000 page views a month. I could not be grateful, or happy with what I've managed to achieve, and I hope you all continue to read, enjoy and love books.
May many happy words come your way!
Rachel Star x

Book Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-07-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

Title: Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Date Published: 12.07.11

Number of pages: 386

How acquired: Won!

Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 8/10

General Rating: 9/10

Who I'd recommend it for: Fans of Shiver and Linger shouldn't be disappointed (I certainly wasn't). For anyone else, I'd definitely recommend reading Shiver and Linger first, in order to really appreciate Forever.

Summary From Goodreads:
then.
When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives. now.
That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.
forever.

Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.

My Review:

I loved this, I really did. It was just the perfect conclusion to one of my very favourite paranormal romances. Heck, it's one of the best trilogies I've ever read, and trilogies are HARD to get right.

I don't want to say too much about what happens, or what I thought of certain aspects, for obvious and spoilery reasons, so you'll have to settle for a avalanche of positive adjectives and take my word for it. However, I will say that I admire Ms Stiefvater for being brave enough to end it the way she did. And I hope at least a majority of the absolute horde of fans would agree with me there.

Again, beautifully written, brilliantly characterized and just a pleasure to read. I marvel at Stiefvater's ability to insert rich, gorgeous imagery without a trace of bombast, or literary snobbery, and somehow interweave this with emotion and plot tension. The reason this is so good isn't just because it's so good; it's because it feels effortlessly and elegantly sublime.

Book data, summary and cover image from Goodreads; view the Goodreads entry for Forever here.

Book Review: The Babysitter Murders by Janet Ruth Young

2011-07-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

Title: The Babysitter Murders
Author: Janet Ruth Young
Date Published: 26.7.11
Number of pages: 304
How acquired: Many thanks to S&S for providing this through their Galley Grab Program.

Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 5/10 (It's nice, but not that relevant and slightly misleading)

General Rating: 8/10
Who I'd recommend it for: Feeling like a quirky, contemporary read with a genuine and interesting protagonist? Pick this up.
Summary Taken From Goodreads: Everyone has weird thoughts sometimes. But for seventeen-year-old Dani Solomon, strange thoughts have taken over her life. She loves Alex, the little boy she babysits, more than anything. But one day, she has a vision of murdering him that's so gruesome, she can't get it out of her mind. In fact, Dani's convinced that she really will kill Alex. She confesses the thoughts to keep him safe, setting off a media frenzy that makes "Dani Death" the target of an extremist vigilante group.

Through the help of a psychiatrist, Dani begins to understand her condition. But will it be too late? The people of her community want justice . . . and Dani's learning that some thoughts are better left unsaid.

My Review: The Babysitter Murders is one of the best accounts of mental illness in teenagers that I have read this year, so credit must go to the author for working so hard to accurately present the experiences of Dani; Dani's unusual (or perhaps more accurately, under-publicized) form of OCD was brilliantly captured, in my opinion, and never over-dramatised. She may be one of my favourite protagonists of the year; brave, misunderstood and honest. One of the reasons this novel works so well and I scored it so highly is because of the characters; not because they're all perfect, nice people (which they certainly aren't) but because they felt very genuine, and their voices realistic, making The Babysitter Murders feel more and more real and sucking me further into the pages the more I read.

Unfortunately, the third person narration didn't work that well for me at the start, but a couple of chapters in and I managed to get involved in the story enough not to notice it anymore. Similarly, the start is a little slow. But it gets much better, and soon I was so hooked I couldn't stop reading.

The Babysitter Murders is definitely a different read, something that stands out for being brilliantly characterized and really original.

Links: Goodreads - Author's Website

An Response To A Response To A Response, a.k.a why YA is being defended and what against.

2011-07-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

"I am so disappointed with the content of this article and the majority of the comments it has received. I cannot believe that people have chosen to label the books that I read and love now, as a teenager, as "ever more appalling offerings for adolescent readers" [Meghan Cox Gurdon] "generally so abominably written" [commentor] "shelves of darkness" [commentor] or, that my YA (yes, it is intended for me to read, the poor impressionable young person that I am) "wallows in the dark side" [commentor]. Wow. You've taken the absolute best thing about the genre that I adore, it's diversity, and refused to acknowledge it at all. How can you possibly claim that it's all "explicit abuse, violence and depravity" [Ms Gurdon, once again]? There is so much humor, and love, and goodness in YA. Ignoring all that, and merely focusing on the more issue-based contemporary YA fiction, and I have never, ever read more than a handful of YA books that do not give out a message of strength and support to their readers. Take Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, for example. The final pages read (and I wish I could quote more of this, but I don't wish to spoil the book for anyone)

" It wasn't my fault. He hurt me. It wasn't my fault. And I'm not going to let it kill me. I can grow."

How can you doubt the power behind those words as a beacon of hope and encouragement to all teens, a clear message about acknowledging when something terrible has happened and realising that that is not the end, and that recovery is possible and that it is not your fault? How can a book like Speak, which is frequently banned, be considered to be sending a bad message to teenagers?

And as for the books that are mentioned that are not at all contemporary, that is a ridiculous argument. The sub-genre of paranormal YA cannot be claimed to be affecting my supposedly fragile mind. Please do not suggest that I will have issues with vampires; they're not actually real. An earlier commentor asks "What does The Hunger Games tell the youngsters for which they're written about the human condition, particularly young people's condition in the 21st century?" If they'd actually bothered to read The Hunger Games, they'd realise that it defines fighting back against a dictatorship and rebelling against what is wrong in order to protect those you love. They'd realise that it's about strength and courage and standing up against bullies, whether they are small, or massive, like a corrupt government. They'd also realise that it does not make the reader want to murder people. If you are claiming that, as a sixteen year old, I am unable to tell the difference between dystopian fiction, and the world I live in, you are seriously and offensively underestimating my intelligence.

YA is an ever-expanding genre that is continually inspiring generations of young people to read more. It is, fundamentally, about choice. As a YA blogger and reviewer, believe me when I say, for every one book I can think of that possibly fits into Ms Gurdon's criteria of "too dark", I can think of three that would never be viewed as such. The "trend" that Ms Gurdon so firmly describes, is only a fraction of what's available. Yes, it may be the most popular fraction, because it is so empowering and entertaining and interesting and well-written, but I refuse to accept that bland stereotype of my genre. YA literature (yes, literature) is amazingly diverse; please don't label it as something it's not."

I'm sorry to bring this up again, folks, but the WSJ refuses to allow me to comment on it's articles without actually becoming a member, and I got all fired up about Meghan Cox Gurdon's response to our response to her awful article, (which you can read here, should you wish) and since I wasn't able to rant in the comments section, I thought I'd share my views on here instead, because, otherwise, I may boil with frustration.

P.S By the way, Speak really is an excellent book. I highly recommend it.

In My Mailbox [12]

2011-07-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

All cover images from Goodreads; click the title of the books below to be taken to their respective Goodreads pages.

From The Library:

The Summer That Changed Everything by Ann Brashares
I'm not sure why I picked this up. I think it's a really cool title though, and I like to branch out into authors I haven't read before; I haven't read The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series, which Ms Brashares also wrote. Yet..
Only The Good Spy Young (Gallagher Girls #4) by Ally Carter

I love this series. It's a little bit of a guilty pleasure to sit down and read about a female spy school, and even if it's not the most realistic book you'll ever read, it's perfect for losing an hour or so in
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen [My Sarah Dessen Addiction Reaches New Levels]
The Embarassing Truth: I borrowed this yesterday and read (devoured might be a more appropriate verb here, people, I'm not going to lie) it so quickly that I finished it last night. And it's not even the first time I've read it. I know, I know. I'm weak.
The Boy Book (Ruby Oliver #2) by E Lockhart
It's been a long time since I read The Boyfriend List (Ruby Oliver #1), but I'm hoping it will all come flooding back to me.

What delights dropped on your literal or metaphorical doorsteps this week?

Nomes' Fave Reads of 2011- Sharing All The Bookish Loveliness

2011-06-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking- "Rachel, you always write about your favourite books. You never shut up about your favourite books!". Ok, so I'm a fan of spreading the book-love. And the button for this was just too cute for me not to participate, and I love Nomes' blog, Inkcrush- it's be a permanant fixture on my sidebar since I discovered it. So, there. I'm allowed :)

The rules were; had to be a new read for 2011 (giving me a rather small pile of only 33 books), and any book could be included more than once. I've picked out my favourite categories, but I've kept the original numbering so you can see which ones I've left out, should you wish to know.

1. Favourite book read so far in 2011

This was the hardest to choose, so I wimped out and picked four.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater - what an ending to a great series. Truly, a landmark, in the overwhelming wealth of paranormal romances thrown at YA readers.
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma- brilliant, beautiful and brutally poigant.
Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott- wonderfully genuine and fabulously written.
Across The Universe by Beth Revis - gripping, dark, twisty and fantastically entertaining.

2. Most powerful book

Falling by Sharon Dogar

This is a book that really doesn't get the attention it deserves, and when I first looked at it, I thought: "Hmm, pretty cover, not heard of the author, probably going to be something light and fluffy". So. So. Wrong. Falling is hard-hitting, incredibly powerful, fast-paced and just amazing, if a little heavy.

And then, of course, Forbidden has to appear in this category too.

7. Best tense, adrenalin-fuelled, unputdownable book
Ok, bit of a skip to number 7, but hey, that's how I roll.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.
I read this in one sitting, and it was quite incredible (although as good as the first, I think not). I won't say anymore about it, because it had all the hype and fan-love that it is possible to have (which was indeed deserved) and I would merely add to that. But I would urge you to read the whole series if you get the chance.

Across The Universe deserves a shout-out here as well.

8. The beautiful prose award

No and Me by Delphine De Vigan.
Gorgeously written, this is like bathing in beautiful prose. Not the fastest paced, but that didn't matter to me.

Forbidden was also wonderfully written, as was Falling.

11. Most original and imaginative

The Babysitter Murders by Janet Ruth Young.
This hasn't been published yet, and I haven't seen it about very much either, but it's one of the most starkly different books I've read this year. It's might not be the best written, it may not have quite the flair and elegance of the best contemporary fiction, but it is fascinatingly different, and addictively good, and it's kind of factual, crisp style actually really suits the main character's voice and somehow, makes you empathise with her all the more.

#12. Best under-appreciated, hidden gem book

Loads of choices for this, especially some of the ones I've already mentioned, like Falling or No and Me, but I think the top two picks would have to be;

The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz by Laura Toffler Corrie and

All We Know of Love by Nora Raleigh Baskin.

16. Series that i'm loving

This was the easiest one to choose- it had to be the Gallagher Girls series, of which I read number 3 this year; Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover by Ally Carter. I love this series, and I especially enjoy the way I can so easily slip back into the storyline and the characters every time I pick up this series. Looking very much forward to gettting my hands on number 4!
Obviously, Forever has to get a mention here too.

And just a few other books that require a mention, but don't quite fit into those headings;

So that's my post on the best of my YA reading this year, with many thanks to Nomes for such a great list and her own fab selections, which you can view here. How's your reading in 2011 shaping up? Let me know what your selections would be, or simply whether you agree with any of mine in the comments below.

N.b- all blue titles take you to respective Goodreads pages if you click them, and all cover images are from Goodreads.

Free Shiver Audiobook: SYNC is back!

2011-06-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

Sync Summer 2011

Ok, so I know I've gone a little Shiver/ Linger/ Forever (which is awesomely good, by the way) crazy this past week, but I had to share this;
SYNC is back and this week they're offering Shiver as their YA audiobook- completely free. Or, if Shiver isn't your thing, but you're feeling the romance, perhaps the best-known love story ever, Romeo and Juliet, is also up for grabs.
Click here for more on that, and expect a reminder every week of the titles available to download, because you've got only one week to download them or else miss out. Oh, and did I mention? They're free. What a great excuse to get listening!

Teaser Tuesday [16]

2011-06-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone. Teaser Tuesdays are a weekly meme (created by the fabulous Miz B of the Should Be Reading blog) where you simply take whatever you're currently reading, open it to a random page and share a couple of 'teaser' lines (preferably not including spoilers!).

My current read is Forever by Maggie Stiefvater, and I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to post anything from that, so I've grabbed a few lines from the next best thing; Linger! This pick was selected from page 63;
"The future stretched out before me, infinite and growing and mine, in a way that nothing had ever been before. Sudden euphoria rushed through me, a grin stretching my face at this cosmic lottery I had won."

Don't forget; Forever is released 12th July.

The End of the World...

2011-06-19T03:14:00.000-07:00

... ok, not really. But it feels like it. Tomorrow is my last exam. It feels so great to type those words, in fact, I might do it again. TOMORROW IS MY LAST EXAM! Well, this academic year, anyway. It's been six weeks of intense stress and revision and worry. But tomorrow, I shall be free, FREE (laughs evil laugh).
You may have noticed that I've gone slightly crazy (yes, I can hear you snickering at the "gone" part of that sentence). I'm blaming exams. Anyway, this is just to thank all my loyal readers and followers for putting up with me during this horribly horrible period, and to say that the blog will be pretty much back to normal next week.
Happy Reading,
Rachel Star x

This Week's Last Page

2011-06-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hello. And welcome to this week's last page.

What's been happening with me bookwise and on the blog?

Not too much this week in terms of YA reading or YA books, but on the the physics side of things I'm enjoying A Brief History of Time by Steven Hawking and have just started The First Three Minutes by Steven Weinburg.
Also on the blog this week; Too Young For Young Adult? This was my response to the WSJ article, see below for more on that.
If you'd like to know more about my reading, check out my Goodreads shelf here.

What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld?
My favourite response to the WSJ article is YA Highway's impressive and extensive compilation of responses, which can be found here. It's an amazing list, and you could spend hours, literally hours, reading everything on it. The two parodies at the bottom are hilarious, by the way, if all the darkness gets too much (wink). If you want my opinion, my post on the subject is linked above, but I just wanted to add one last thing; I'm so proud of the YA community for their response. I love how we responded quickly, intelligently, considerately and even, objectively. I could link here to posts that agreed with the WSJ article, or ones that praise the author. I could also link to ones that really don't agree. And that, right there, is proof that YA readers are as diverse as the books they read, and that YA is all about CHOICE.

Great discussion over at Inkcrush about TBR piles, click here for that.

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?

A pretty darn cool Crack The Code Competition, with some swoonworthy prizes. Ends the 18th of this month. Click here for all the details.

What's Coming Up?
I know this isn't strictly speaking bookish, but in case you a) have been hiding underneath a rock for the past year or b) avoid all media-related activities or c) are incredibly unobservant, the final part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is hitting the big screen on the 15th of July. Now that is the end of an era people, it really is. Anyone have a favourite Potter-related tribute/trailer/general fan-thing?

Anything I've not mentioned? A great new release, a brilliant interview, an awesome contest? Leave a comment and I'll check it out (or include it next week). Please note that unsuitable/ inappropriate/ spam links will be removed. Thank you.

Too Young for Young Adult?

2011-06-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

Today, I read this article from the Wall Street Journal that has provoked an angry, confused and disgusted twitter response from the YA community of readers, authors and publishers. And I have to say, I'm with them.

In the article, "Darkness Too Visible" by Meghan Cox Gurdon YA literature is described as; "rife with explicit abuse, violence and depravity". The writer goes onto repeatedly make the point that YA is too "graphic", too "stomach-clenching" and is a result of "publishers [who] use the vehicle of fundamental free-expression principles to try to bulldoze coarseness or misery into their children's lives." Well, I hate to break it to you, but it's already there. The issues that the article claims are portrayed far too vividly, are ever much more so vivid if they are indeed what the reader is currently living. That's not to say that all teens experience such drastic and painful events in their lives. But those who do might feel less isolated if they read about characters who were facing the same hardships, or if such books educated in some way those who are fortunate enough not to have lived through such things. To take just one example, an eating disorder is an isolating, painful, lonely mental illness that is difficult to diagnose, hard to treat and easy to relapse. Denial is common among sufferers. But if the family, friends and the sufferer fight back against the dark and debilitating world of eating disorders, people can RECOVER. People can get their lives back. What kind of message are you sending to us teens if you're asking OUR books, OUR literature to censor these issues? To effectively pretend that they don't happen, or that they only happen to the outcasts, that small minority on the fringes. It's messages like that encourage denial, promote bullying and favour ignorance over empathy.

YA Literature above all is about choice. It's about independence. It's about making your own decisions and learning what you want to read as an adult. No one that I know of has ever been held at gunpoint and ordered to read The Hunger Games, or any of the other books that the article condemns as "ever-more-appalling offerings for adolescent readers". For every book I can think of that could be described as gritty, or dark, I can think of three that can't. I don't believe that every book is suitable for everyone. But I want to be trusted to make an informed choice about my literature. I want to see characters that fight the same battles I do, or that my friends go through, as much as I want to see characters that face entirely different struggles. I want to be taught not to give up, and to have hope, and to learn to appreciate and respect difference and indviduality, not despise it.

Most of all, I want to read YA.

Hop, Hop and Away

2011-06-04T02:57:00.000-07:00

I'm in the mood for visiting some other blogs, and feeling a little guilty about my planned and organised absence throughout May, so I thought I'd do the BBH, since I haven't done it for ages.

This week's question: “Share your favorite post from the last month and tell us why it’s close to your heart!”

Ok, so I clearly did not read the question before deciding to participate *blushes*. However, I do actually have a favourite, and that would be the:

Playing Hurt Blog Tour: Holly Schindler speaks about reader recognition, romance and looking Dessen-y

which, as the name explains, was for the Playing Hurt Blog Tour. Holly was such a lovely author, extremely polite and professional, and as you'll find out in the interview, she writes superbly.

Comment below and I'll try my best to visit you back, or check out some of my reviews here. Thanks and have a great weekend!

Book Review: Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

2011-06-03T15:10:00.000-07:00

Title: Sometimes It Happens
Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Number of pages: 262

How acquired: Many thanks to S&S for providing this through their Galley Grab Program.
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 5/10

General Rating: 2/10
Who I'd recommend it for: Unfortunately, I can't recommend this, personally, simply because I didn't enjoy it, but I've scouted around for positive reviews (of which there are many, even this early- just scroll down on Goodreads) and most have said that it's similar to Ms Barenholt's previous books, so fans of hers may enjoy.
Summary Taken From Goodreads: On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Sebastian dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss.

The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Sebastian, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...

My Review: Firstly, I just want to make it clear why I'm publishing this review, and to clarify that I don't wish to offend Ms Barnholdt, or her many fans. But reading Sometimes It Happens made me feel so disappointed about YA romance that I felt it was important to explain exactly why, just in case it makes a difference in future, because literature is a writer's way of expressing their opinions and reviewing is my way of expressing mine.

One of the reasons why Sometimes It Happens didn't work so well for me, was a lack of realism. It felt like the author was simply avoiding writing about anything complicated, so the main character was not allowed to deviate from the standard formula of a straight, only-child female main character with practically non-existent parents who is clearly liked by the forbidden sensitive/ musical/ writer guy, and has no dreams or aspirations of her own, besides getting over her ex / getting the new guy. Bland, stereotypical characters fill the cast; Hannah is as self-absorbed as it is possible to be without having an actual sense of self, and having read the book, I still honestly couldn't say whether she had any dislikes, likes or hobbies, besides Starbucks and boys. I remain entirely mystified as to why she liked Ava in the first place, and Noah wasn't interesting enough to become attractive; again, not a great deal of personality. These characters didn't feel real, and that made the book very difficult to read for me; I couldn't feel any empathy, or sympathy or anything at all for them. But that's entirely my opinion, and I think I could have got past that. However, in the book, there is a hypochondriac called Lacey, whose illness is treated so superficially that I was close to being offended. To follow on from an earlier point made in a review of Between Here and Forever (which does exactly the opposite of Sometimes It Happens), including a token mental health problem just for the sake of it? Really didn't impress me much.

Another reason Sometimes It Happens wasn't my cup of tea, was the language used.The overuse of italics and parenthesis as well as the words "totally", "sooo" "actually", "like" and "uh" endlessly repeated really did start to annoy. Perhaps it's a cultural difference, and I know that, being British, I'm not the target audience, and some of the little differences between an English high school and an American one started to grate as well; for example, Hannah skips about five of her classes. On the first day. Can you really do that in America? Because in my old high school, you'd have been hauled into an office by then. Plus, there would be no alcoves to have clandestine meetings in, and it would be incredibly unlikely to meet the one person you where trying to avoid whilst lessons where going on, near one such alcove. Yes, these are minor things, and possibly entirely due to the aforementioned living on this side of the Atlantic. But it's these details that make books feel real, and genuine, and they're never more important than in a romance, where the reader expects to be seduced by the possibility that this might happen, especially when the characters aren't feeling too believable either.

The plot, I don't have a problem with. I'm not going to get preachy about the morals of it; that doesn't bother me. I'm not pretending that I need a YA romance novel that's monogamous. However, personally, I felt that the flicking between the first day of summer, and the first day of senior year didn't work. It removed all of the tension and suspense that could have been redeeming feature of the book; instead, I was told what was going to happen. And then it did.

Overall, this was clearly not my book. That doesn't mean it couldn't be yours, and by all means, don't let me put you off. But if you're a YA author reading this, I'm trying to make an important point about the people you put in your novels. Love your characters; challenge stereotypes.

Links: Goodreads - Author's Website - Author's Twitter- A Much More Positive Review

Book Review: Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

2011-06-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

Title: Between Here and Forever

Author: Elizabeth Scott

Number of pages: 262

How acquired: S&S Galley Grab Program

Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 8/10

General Rating: 9/10

Who I'd recommend it for: Genuinely meaningful, sharp and well-written, Between Here And Forever does stand out from the crowd of YA romance, and I would recommend it for anybody looking for something original to read about relationships in any and all forms; heterosexual, homosexual, friends, sibling or parent-child relationships.

Summary Taken From Goodreads: Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.
Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen. Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...
My Review: I'll start with the good, because I am a massive fan of Elizabeth Scott's books. Crisp, cutting prose and clearly defined characters make this an exemplar piece of contemporary YA fiction. I loved the way that nothing was stereotypically left in a default romance position; Scott isn't afraid to mix it up and create characters that are original, but also doesn't use labels and "issues" merely to create tension and excitement, instead crafting characters whose flaws alter them and their lives, and not just including the token mental health problem to say "hey. I'm a diverse YA book.", which happens so frequently and disappoints me so often. And so for that reason alone, I have incredible admiration for Elizabeth Scott's writing.

The characters were, as mentioned above, very much people. No flat "filler" characters here, thank you. However, that in itself does present some problems; I did find the main character, Abby, whose eyes the book is told through, stubborn to a point where I was frustrated with her continued refusal to view situations differently, as her horribly low self esteem caused by her opinion of her sister, Tess, as perfect and infinitely superior to her, results in a skewed view of the world. This is undeniably a feeling that many younger sisters possess, and it would be ignorant to suggest that there is a quick fix, and as such Abby's perceptions do not alter as rapidly as a reader might want. Eli, oh gorgeous Eli, fulfils the role of love interest superbly, being a well rounded character in his own right.

The plot, unfortunately, is where I felt Between Here and Forever let itself down ever so slightly. In keeping with the realistic tone, nothing earth-shattering happens, and it is predictable in places, and possibly slow to start. But I felt that the addictive nature of Elizabeth Scott's writing style overcame this; I wanted to read more because I love the way she writes. Not because of sensational plot twists or gripping storylines, but through a wonderful prose that managed to make the characters dance across the pages.

Between Here and Forever is a shining example of what can be achieved if the author cares enough to create real, insecure people in YA fiction. True, it's not going to appeal to everyone, particularly not to those who seek escapism through fiction (and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that), because Between Here and Forever doesn't transform Abby's life into something extraordinary, or amazing, or exciting. But it does make Abby's life real, and poignant, and that is why Between Here and Forever is an extraordinary book.

Links: Goodreads - Author's Website - Author's Twitter

Playing Hurt Blog Tour: Holly Schindler speaks about reader recognition, romance and looking Dessen-y

2011-05-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

As part of the Playing Hurt Blog Tour, I'm delighted to welcome the marvelous Holly Schindler to Under A Star Studded Sky.

Me: Hi, Holly! *waves frantically* Okay, so, if you would, think back to last May. A BLUE SO DARK has just come out in the shops, and the explosion of positive reviews and great feedback has started. How is it comparing to the way you feel about PLAYING HURT hitting our shelves?
Holly: In all honesty, releasing the first novel is REALLY terrifying. The stared review from Booklist came in a couple of weeks or so before the “official” release of the book…so I did breathe a real sigh of relief at that point. But I was still finding my way online when BLUE released, trying to connect with bloggers who enjoyed the book.
When PLAYING HURT released, I felt like I already had a pretty passionate group of core readers. I announced I was going on a blog tour, and I got all SORTS of takers. Plus, I feel like being online—blogging, but also social networking sites like Twitter—has really allowed me to connect with my readers in a new way. I’m not just signing a book for a reader and handing it right back. We’re having conversations and getting a chance to know each other, which is REALLY cool.
In some respects, I really think “personal” appearances are less personal—at a signing, there’s a hello, a signature put inside a book, and a goodbye. But online? We get to meet up and talk over and over again…

Me: What was different about writing PLAYING HURT compared to A BLUE SO DARK? Do you think it was easier or harder a second time around?

Holly: I actually sold PLAYING HURT to Flux before A BLUE SO DARK was published. So I had yet to find out what the reaction would be to BLUE while I was finishing up the final rewrites of PLAYING HURT…In some ways, this really helped…I didn’t have to second-guess everything I was writing, didn’t have to wonder, “Is this book going to be what my readers are expecting? Will they HATE that I’m now writing a romance?” I just wrote what was in my heart, what felt right…and I was THRILLED when my readers talked about the fact that while PLAYING HURT was different from BLUE in theme or tone, they still recognized me—my writing style—in the pages.

Me: Let’s talk pretty. PLAYING HURT’S cover is gorgeous, and personally, I think it looks quite similar to some of the US Sarah Dessen ones, or an Elizabeth Scott. What kind of input did you get on the cover design and are you pleased with the results?
Holly: I LOVE the cover of PLAYING HURT! (I actually love the cover more than the cover for BLUE.) And I love that you compared it to Dessen’s covers. That’s the word my editor and I used when we discussed covers: “Dessen-y.”
I love BLUE’s cover, too, but I actually think that the cover of PLAYING HURT does an even better job of describing what’s inside. When you see that cover, you think, ROMANCE. That’s exactly what a book cover should do—tell you in one glance what’s inside the book!

Me: Your own books have received so much acclaim and praise (for good reason, I hasten to add). But I want to know about what books you rate highly. What are your favorite books, past and present?
Holly: I honestly try to learn from every single book I read. I read like a writer.
Thing is, I had this professor in school who told me that as a lit student I needed to forget “good.” The books I was reading were already deemed “good” by people with far better credentials than I had. My job, as a lit student, was to try to figure out WHAT made those books good. I still read books that way—I think, “Some publishing house invested an awful lot of time and money in this book—why?” Or, with a wildly successful writer, I think, “This author has an enormous following! What is it about this author that so many people connect with?” And by learning from each book you read, you grow as a writer.

Me: And finally, what’s planned for 2012 and beyond?

Holly: My very first middle grade novel will be released by Dial in the summer of 2012. I also have other work being shopped or that I’m revising and getting ready to hand off to my agent. (I can’t wait to share more good news with my readers!)

And we can't wait to hear it, Holly. Thank you for stopping by.

So there you have it readers, the wonderful Holly Schindler and this:

which you should really go read.

Links: Goodreads - Author's Blog - Author's Website - Author's Twitter

An Update: Elizabeth Scott Week Ends, Voting Comes to an Early Close and Yet More Exams

2011-05-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, so you may have been aware that The Secret Life of an Avid Reader, GReads, Addicted 2 Novels, Anna Reads, I Eat Words and Fiction Folio hosted a celebration of one of the best YA Authors today and a favourite of mine, Elizabeth Scott. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, here's what's been happening:

Review/ Discussion of Bloom at Fiction Folio (click)
Review/ Discussion of Perfect You and Love You, Hate You, Miss You at I Eat Words (click) and (click)
Review/ Discussion of Something, Maybe (My third favourite Elizabeth Scott book. Yes, I have first, second and third favourites- I couldn't pick just one. Her books are that good.) at Anna Reads (click)
Review/ Discussion of The Unwritten Rule (I haven't read this one yet, sigh.) and Living Dead Girl (I haven't read this one yet either. It's on my wishlist!) at GReads (click)
Review/ Discussion of Stealing Heaven (MY NUMBER ONE FAVOURITE) at Addicted 2 Novels (click)
Review/ Discussion of Grace (Again, I need to read this!) and Between Here and Forever (My New 2nd Favourite) at The Secret Life of an Avid Reader (click) and (click).

Ok, so they are all the official stops, but there are loads of linked up posts and extra stuff all over the place, which you can get to from there.
Plus, if you're in the mood for more Elizabeth Scott, you can find my interview with her here, and my review of Stealing Heaven here.

Woah, that's a lot of (rightly-deserved) love there. Now onto a topic that induces fear and hate in the sturdiest of souls; the dreaded exams. I'm still caught up in the middle of mine, so, as previously communicated, Under A Star Studded Sky is not open for review requests (and I probably won't post many reviews during May). Apologies for any disappointment, and my continued gratitude to everyone who supports my little blog. However, I can provide the following updates:
1. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma is a fantastic, dark, moving piece of older YA writing, that had an ending I did not see coming, and nearly cried at (it's "nearly" because I'm a heartless monster that hardly ever cries {Joke} ).
2. Things I Know About Love by Kate Le Vann is possibly the best book by her that I've read. Maybe not in the same emotionally hard hitting league as Forbidden, or as perfectly crafted as Across The Universe by Beth Revis, but a sassy, sad love story that delivers exactly what the title promises and more.

Ok, and my final little note is this: I'm closing the voting on the awards due to a lack of interest and a high increase of stress, altering what they were supposed to be about; celebrating why YA is the amazing, incredible, life-changing genre it is for so many people. I have to say though, I was thrilled by the variety of the nominees and the unexpected new book recommendations that I will certainly be giving a try. Thanks to everyone who voted and congratulations to every book; it's cheesy but you're all winners.

Thank you,
Rachel Star.

Elizabeth Scott Week Begins!

2011-05-18T23:27:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody! I'm sorry that I'm not actually be writing this right now, but I'm hopefully in the middle of exams right now, possibly even sitting in one right now. I don't know. If my maths was better, I could probably work it out, but scheduling posts is done on Google time, and that makes my head hurt. Slightly worrying when you consider that I'm taking mathematics and further mathematics. Oops :) Anyway, I'm here to tell you about ELIZABETH SCOTT WEEK:

There's some great Elizabeth Scott (one of my very favourite authors) stuff happening all around the blogasphere this week, kicking off with talking about Bloom here.

P.S Please keep voting in the Books-Are-Like-Cake Awards.

A Short Blogging Break, News and Voting

2011-05-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

The nominating for the Rachel Star Books Are Like Cake Awards is over- you have spoken! Having chosen your candidates, it's now time to vote for who you'd like to win. There are two ways to do this and show your support for the books you love.

Option One: Vote below, using the form, for each book in its individual category. For more information on each category, and who nominated who, click here.

<a href="http://rachelstar.polldaddy.com/s/the-rachel-star-books-are-like-cake-awards">View Survey</a>

Option Two: Vote on this Goodreads list. This list includes all of the books nominated and the one who receives the most votes on Goodreads will win the Readers Choice Prize.

All voting ends on the Wednesday 1st June 2011, and the results will be announced shortly after.

Now all that important cakey-literary stuff is out of the way, I have a small piece of news... I am taking a quick break from blogging (like I did last year. But a lot shorter!) in order to really concentrate on my studies. HOWEVER (and here's the really good bit) to make up for it, all sorts of scheduled cool stuff will be happening in May on Under A Star Studded Sky whilst I'm away; ELIZABETH SCOTT WEEK and THE PLAYING HURT BLOG TOUR, and of course all the voting for the Awards too. So I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you guys for being such great readers and followers and just awesome people :)

THANK YOU!

Revealing the Nominees Part 6

2011-05-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

These are the final nominees for the Rachel Star Books-Are-Like-Cake Awards, which open for voting tomorrow!

Award Number 6: The Cake Mix Award

The Cake Mix Award is all about great storylines; those terrifically emotive plots that capture a reader and don't let them go until the final page has been turned; the plots that keep you reading into the early hours, even when you have to get up in the morning.

Here are my three nominees;

Dragonfly by Julia Golding

The Stolen by Alex Shearer

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

And your nominee:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Click here for more information on all of the awards, and thank you for all your nominations!

All images taken from Goodreads; click the links to be taken to their respective Goodreads pages.

Revealing the Nominees Part 5

2011-04-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here are more of my nominees for the Rachel Star Books Are Like Cake Awards. These are the top titles that I've chosen to go head to head with your nominations (which are still being taken, until the LAST DAY OF APRIL so please keep them coming in!) to decide who wins the most cakey-literary awards in the blogasphere.

Award Number 5: The Smooth Texture Award

This is about flawless writing style; that smooth prose that near melts any reader, with beautiful descriptions, convincing dialogue and fantastic flair.

Here are my three nominees;

No and Me by Delphine de Vigan

Mimus by Lilli Thal (Translated by John Brownjohn)

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

And your nominee/s (so far):

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

You can keep nominating your favourite books in all six categories of the awards until the 31st of April, so please keep suggesting novels! Click here for more information on nominating and all of the awards, or simply comment below with the title and author if you're nominating for the Smoothest Texture. Thank you!

All images taken from Goodreads; click the links to be taken to their respective Goodreads pages.

Revealing the Nominees Part 4

2011-04-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

Here are more of my nominees for the Rachel Star Books Are Like Cake Awards. These are the top titles that I've chosen to go head to head with your nominations (which are still being taken, until the LAST DAY OF APRIL so please keep them coming in!) to decide who wins the most cakey-literary awards in the blogasphere.

Award Number 4: The Victoria Sponge Award

This is about revisiting the classics, the titles that have stood the test of time and come out on top.

Here are my three nominees;

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Lord of the Rings by J.R Tolkien

And your nominee/s (so far):

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

All images taken from Goodreads; click the links to be taken to their respective Goodreads pages.

Book Review: Across The Universe by Beth Revis

2011-04-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

Title: Across The Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Number of pages: 398
How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 10/10
General Rating: 9.5/10
Who I'd recommend it for: This was superbly amazing, and I would hate to suggest that anyone would miss out, but I'm going to say that this is less suitable for younger or MG readers, because it does get quite chilling and gritty in a couple of places.

Summary Taken From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone--one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship--tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

I read this in one night. Literally. Across the Universe was one of the most gripping books I have ever read. That's not to say that it hooked me from the word go, but the tension built superbly from the first page, and by a third of the way through, I couldn't have stopped reading if I'd wanted to.

I think this was the most chilling piece of YA Dystopia I've come across; true, I read this in the dark, alone (which obviously ramps up the creepy factor), but it seriously scared me, in a way that other great books of the same genre haven't. The murderer felt real, threatening, dangerous. The bad guys were sinister and menacing, which is a difficult achievement and something that is often lacking from fantasy books, but definitely not a problem here. I'm not saying that it was incredibly realistic, just that it felt breathtakingly real. Both Amy and Elder were very genuine characters, with flaws that created a brilliant character dynamic.

With more twists and turns than ball of string that's been dropped on the floor, Across the Universe left me yearning for a sequel and more of this absolutely addictive world and people.

Links: Goodreads - Author's Website - Author's Blog

Revealing the Nominees Part 3

2011-04-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

I thought it was time to share my nominees for the Rachel Star Books Are Like Cake Awards. These are the top titles that I've chosen to go head to head with your nominations (which are still being taken, so please keep them coming in!) to decide who wins the most cakey-literary awards in the blogasphere.

Award Number 3: The Fabulous Flavour Award

The Fabulous Flavour Award is about those heroes and heroines that you adore, admire and appreciate. The book with the amazing protagonists, evil antagonists and super side-kicks (because it's not just about the superheroes, people. The minor characters are important too).

My Nominees for the FFA are...

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Siberia by Ann Halam

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

And your nominee/s so far:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

You have until the last day of April (or if you wish to be slightly less dramatic, the deadline is 31.04.2011) to nominate your favourite books! Comment below with your nominations, or if you prefer, you can send me an email at underastarstuddedsky@gmx.com The full list of categories can be seen here, and don't forget to grab that cute button!

All images are taken from Goodreads; click the titles to be taken to their respective Goodreads pages.

Friday Fives At Paper Hangover

2011-04-15T04:57:00.000-07:00

I decided to join in with this week's Friday Five at the Paper Hangover, since it was so related to The Fabulous Flavour Award (nominees to be revealed later today), and I'm as much a fan of alliteration as anyone. The question was:

What five characters would YOU switch places with for a day?

1. This is actually my first nominee, and it's Stargirl, from Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (Goodreads). She's the most amazing character; individual, courageous, funny and intelligent. I, unfortunately, do not possess those qualities in the amounts I would like, so I'd be happy to trade places with her, any day.

2. Please don't judge me for this, but it's Sarah Crewe from A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Goodreads). Sigh. I never got the chance to be he little girl who goes to a boarding school and is treated like royalty, but (due to a sudden, shocking change in fortune) suddenly becomes orphaned and lives in an attic. Yes, I'm sure it's not as great and romantic as it sounds. But ever since I read it at the tender age of 11, I've always wanted to see whether I'd be any good at making friends with rats. Yeah, I was that kind of child.

3. Continuing the princess theme, it's Princess Taoshira from Dragonfly by Julia Golding (Goodreads). She's incredible too. In fact it's an incredible book. You should go read it.

4. In a drastic change, I'd like to mention yet another princess (I lied about the drastic change part). Thirrin, from the Icemark Chronicles by Stuart Hill (Goodreads). Feisty, young, tom-boyish and brilliant, she's the ordinary girl with incredible responsibilities thrust upon her, as a danger approaches from the South. The whole trilogy is great actually; the final book is the only one I can think that whilst reading, I both laughed out loud and cried buckets (in highly public places).

And finally, number 5 would be Sprout Bradford from Sprout by Dale Peck (Goodreads). Yes, Sprout is the gay main character with green hair. But his essay writing skills would really come in handy, he's hilarious and it's another terrific book. Plus, green hair is one those things I'd love to try, but just aren't brave enough. Plus it would probably look kind of terrible on me, so I shall have to live out my hair-dying dreams voraciously.

What's your Friday Five? Leave a link below and I'll visit you :) Plus, don't forget to nominate your favourite books in the Rachel Star Books-Are-Like-Cake Awards.

This Is Old, But It Made Me Snort-Laugh

2011-04-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

I know everybody knows who the cast of The Hunger Games is. And I know everybody is over a) complaining about it, b) laughing about it or c) doing happy dances about it (or possibly all three. Hey, it's your freedom of expression.) BUT. This was funny. I "lol"-ed. Because I'm just that cool. I was reading the awesomesauce that is the YA Highway blog, and one of their April Fool posts included an alternate casting list. WHICH IS HILARIOUS. I particularly enjoyed the casting of Effie Trinket as Miss Piggy (Because "She just rocks the pink.") Click here to read the rest.

Revealing the Nominees Part 2

2011-04-14T04:15:00.000-07:00

I thought it was time to share my nominees for the Rachel Star Books Are Like Cake Awards. These are the top titles that I've chosen to go head to head with your nominations (which are still being taken, so please keep them coming in!) to decide who wins the most cakey-literary awards in the blogasphere.

Award Number 2: The Birthday Cake Award

The Birthday Cake Award is all about going back to your childhood. Which titles made you fall in love with reading, that started off this whole literary adventure? Which books did you start by secretly reading under the covers when you were 9, and still re-read each year?

My Nominees for the BCA are...

The Ogre Downstairs by Diana Wynne Jones

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo

Beyond the Deepwoods by Paul Stewart & Chris Riddel.

And your nominee/s:

None yet. But no fear, there's still time! Comment below with your nominations, or if you prefer, you can send me an email at underastarstuddedsky@gmx.com Don't forget that if the Birthday Cake Award isn't your thing, there are several other categories that you can nominate your favourite books for. Thank you for all your wonderful nominations so far!

All images are taken from Goodreads; click the titles to be taken to their respective Goodreads pages.

Revealing the Nominees Part 1

2011-04-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

I thought it was time to share my nominees for the Rachel Star Books Are Like Cake Awards. These are the top titles that I've chosen to go head to head with your nominations (which are still being taken, so please keep them coming in!) to decide who wins the most cakey-literary awards in the blogasphere.

Award Number 1: The Great Icing Award

All images are taken from Goodreads; click the titles to be taken to their respective Goodreads pages.

My Nominees (believe me, choosing just three was very, very hard!):

Entangled by Cat Clarke

Solace of the Road by Siobhan Dowd

Taking Off by Jenny Moss

And your nominee/s (so far!)

So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev (Nominated by Nonie)

Wow. There's so much pretty there, I think I need to let my eyes lie down. Don't forget, you can still add to this list; simply comment below with your choice, including the title and the author. Or, if you'd like to nominate for a different award, click here to go to the launch post. Thanks for looking!

Book Review: Stay by Deb Caletti

2011-04-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

Title: Stay
Author: Deb Caletti
Number of pages: 322
How acquired: E-galley From Simon & Schuster's Galley Grab Program
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 8/10
General Rating: 8.5/10
Who I'd recommend it for: Fans of YA Contemporary should definitely need to have this on their radar; this is on par with some of Sarah Dessen's work (and if you're a YA contemp fan and don't know what praise that is, you can't really call yourself a YA contemp fan!).

Clara felt powerful, at the beginning. Strong. In control. But things change. Love turns to obsession, honesty to fear and happiness to horror. She never realised how strongly small, chance events can grab your life and turn it upside down. Clara and her father, trying to escape her ex-boyfriend's grip, travel to a remote seaside town, telling nobody where they've gone They soon discover that it's a town filled with secrets and people trying to forget. But the past has a way of catching up with you, no matter how far you run...

The writing style was incredible. I'll admit, the story took a while to get into, but once I was in? I was IN. Hooked. I can honestly say it was like reading a memoir, or an autobiography. It was that real. Deb Caletti somehow perfectly captures the emotions of her characters, creating a book that it is impossible not to believe every word of. The scenes with Christian sent chills prickling down the back of my neck, and I scrolled down (it was an e-book) faster and faster, as the tension mounted. That said, at the beginning Stay was quite difficult to get into, which was a shame, and the pacing could be considered quite slow. And if you were really scraping the bottom of the barrel for negative points, you might say that the plot isn't entirely unpredictable, but I'm only saying that to prove I'm being honest, and not favorable because I received the book from S&S. So, really? It was fabulous, divinely written and beautifully imagined.

Links: Goodreads - Author's Website

I Made a Button...

2011-04-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

..and it only took three hours of my life. So if you'd like to grab it, that's fine by me. And, pretty please, keep nominating your favourites for the Most Cake-Related Book Awards in the Blogasphere!

Resisting the urge to use a Spiderman Quote...

2011-04-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

...but not quite managing it. Readers, with great power, comes great responsibility, and you have the power to decide the winners of the (highly prestigious);

Rachel Star Books-Are-Like-Cake-Awards!

Confused? Read the launch post here. The nominations are rolling in (well, one so far. But it's a good one) and I'm busy compiling my own shortlists, ready for all the nominees to be annouced in a two and a half weeks time, right around easter. It's up to you to put your favourites forwards, in the following categories;

The Smooth Texture Award for the most amazing writing style.

The Fabulous Flavour Award for having incredible characters.
The Best Cake Mixture Award for a brilliant plot.
The Great Icing Award for a beautiful cover.
The Victoria Sponge Award for a favourite classic.
And finally, The Birthday Cake Award for a favourite children's book.
Your nominations will then go head-to-head with my own personal favourites, and the winner is picked by you. It's all rather exciting, really :)

So, fancy your chances in getting your favourite out there and proving to everyone that you've got the best taste? Then simply comment with the title and author of the novel you'd like to enter and in which category.

May the best book win!

Book Review: Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

2011-04-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

Cover Image from Goodreads

Title: Glimmerglass (Faeriewalker #1)
Author: Jenna Black
Number of pages: 294
How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 9/10
General Rating: 5.5/10
Who I'd recommend it for: Lovers of faerie may be disappointed, or they might be delighted, depending on their tastes. Recommended for YA fantasy fans.

Dana doesn't know her father. In fact, she barely knows his name, let alone anything else. But she's determined that she's going to find him, because she's had enough of her alcoholic mother's lousy parenting, and he can only be better, right? Wrong. Things are about to get weird, and fast. Her dad lives in Avalon, the only place on Earth where the darkly magical world of faerie combines with the human world, and from the moment Dana arrives, she's a target, caught up in deadly fae politics, as abilities she didn't even know she had begin to reveal themselves. Everyone wants something, and no one's just a friend...

Sadly, Glimmerglass didn't quite match up to my high expectations. It had so much potential, but just didn't quite deliver, at least not for me.

There was this great premise of Avalon, a fantastical place where two worlds intersect, and I kind of ended up feeling cheated. I mean, horse-drawn carts? Cute cottages with window-boxes? Quaint cobbled streets? Not really my idea of sinister and magical, but maybe that's just me. Perhaps a bit more description would have helped to make the location feel more threatening. And I think that's why I struggled so much in the beginning with Glimmerglass; I never felt scared, and as any regular readers would know, I'm a wuss. It really doesn't take much to freak me out, but Glimmerglass never managed to really make me worry for Dana's safety. It was all just a little too ordinary.

The other reason I had trouble worrying about Dana was that, well... I kind of disliked her. Intensely to start with, and then it faded to more of an indifference. I found her flat, stereotypical, un-heroic, and self-pitying. However, I thought her parents (who were, for the most part, selfish) worked well; they felt much more like real people. Not likeable, but real.

Having said so many negative things, you wouldn't be mistaken in thinking that this wasn't my book. However, that doesn't mean it couldn't be someone else's. The writing style can still, and does, pack a punch towards the end, and there's a love interest (of course) that someone else might find attractive, as well as a little deceit, deception and double-crossing. The plot's pretty good, and the pacing is nice too. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I prefer my fantasy dark and painful, my faeries cold-hearted and achingly distant, and my magical worlds... more magical.

What Makes A Book Great? A.K.A The Rachel Star Books-Are-Like-Cake Awards

2011-03-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this question a lot lately. Mostly because I've been thinking about how I used to never have enough books to read when I was younger, and I would read my favourites over and over again. Now, I have books coming out of my ears (something which, I'd like to stress, I'm very grateful for) and no time in which to read anything, and yet I still find myself wanting to read my favourites over and over again. Books like Dr Franklin's Island by Ann Halam, which I still get out of the library once or a twice every year. For six, seven years. Old books like Lord of the Rings by JR Tolkien, or A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett. Authors I read as a child; Roald Dahl, Dick King Smith, Enid Blyton, Jenny Nimmo, Cliff Mcnish, whose words I still treasure as a teenager.

And that got me to thinking. Books are like cakes, right (bear with me here).They have recipes, ingredients, but you never know how they're going to turn out. Two people can follow the exact same recipe and produce incredibly different results. Both could be great, or both could be awful. Too many flavours and it tastes yucky, not enough and it'll be bland. Too long in the oven and it's burnt, not enough and you're giving your friends food poisoning. You see my point. Baking cakes is about balance, and so is writing. Fortunatly, some authors manage the enormously difficult task of creating the perfect book. And so, to appreciate their achievements and get the chance to chat about my favourites, I give you;

The Rachel Star Books-Are-Like-Cake Awards!

Quite a title. I'm going to be writing a blog post for each award, so that I can properly celebrate the awesomeness that are my favourite books. Feel free to join in the party.

Here's the awards on offer:

The Smooth Texture Award for the most amazing writing style.
The Fabulous Flavour Award for having incredible characters.
The Best Cake Mixture Award for a brilliant plot.
The Great Icing Award for a beautiful cover.
The Victoria Sponge Award for my favourite classic.
And finally, The Birthday Cake Award for my favourite children's book.

The nominees will be announced in a post by post style, and if you'd like to comment with what book you would like to nominate, then please do. You've got until the end of April to have your say in which books are up for what, and then throughout May voting will commence in a grand cakey-literary face-off, with winners and runners up being annouced in every category (and maybe even a few guest posts, who knows?). I'm very excited about the fact that I'm getting the chance to support the books that I adore, so without further ado, The Rachel Star Books-Are-Like-Cake Awards have officially begun!

In My Maibox (11)

2011-03-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

I have a small side note to add to this week's collection. All of the following are e-galleys from the Simon and Schuster Galley Grab Program that I recently joined. If you'd like more information about the program, click here.

Cover Images Taken From Goodreads

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott. I love Elizabeth Scott, and it's not always easy to get hold of her books over here, let alone an ARC, so I was delighted.

Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz. I've been seeing this around on a lot of other blogs, and the sun is shining over here, and I was in the mood for a summer read.
Stay by Deb Caletti. I realise that this is possibly the complete opposite of a cheerful, light beach romance, but it's recieved amazing reviews and ratings on Goodreads, so I thought I'd give it a go.
The Summer Before Boys by Nora Raleigh Baskin. I recently read and reviewed All We Know Of Love by the same author, (click here for that) which I really enjoyed.
Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. This just appealed really, I can't exactly explain why.

Ok, so I think I got a little click happy, maybe. Especially considering I have very little time to read at the moment. However, I think I've got a great bunch of books that I'm really looking forward to reading, so I'm pleased :)

What delights dropped on your literal or metaphorical doorsteps this week?

Teaser Tuesday [15]

2011-03-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

This week's teaser is coming from my current read, Fire by Kirsten Cashore(Goodreads link), and is taken from page 43 ;

"Curious, he'd gone to see her, probably intending to smother her. But then, looking into her face, listening to the noises she made, touching her skin - absorbing he tiny, intangible, perfect monsterness - he'd decided for some reason, that here was a thing he didn't want to smash."

In My Mailbox [10]

2011-03-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't done an IMM post for a little while, so this is what I've picked up in the past few weeks:

Cover Images taken from Goodreads

From my Library:

If I Stay by Gayle Forman. This I read and received a couple of week back, and I did really enjoy it, although I am clearly a completely heartless girl because I didn't shed any tears. Still, I recommend it if you're in the mood for a sad one.

All We Know of Love by Nora Raleigh Baskin. I read and adored this this week, click here to read my full review.

Six-Not-So-Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman. He was a very famous and very brilliant physicist, for those of you who are not so familiar with his work. I'll making my way (slowly) through everything he's written.

Mercy by Rebecca Lim. How gorgeous is this cover? I'm a little a suspicious about reading this, because it could be amazing (the summary sounds fantastic), and I'm not sure if it will be. It's the "It's quiet. Too quiet." feeling.

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto. Again, love at first sight. Here's hoping it will be love at first read as well.
And last but not least, Glimmerglass by Jenna Black. I'm a fan of stories are faeries and fey, so I very much looking forward to what Ms Black does with the idea.

So that's what I got, what delights ended up with you this week?

If you'd like to see what I get IMM each week, I have a shelf on Goodreads for that, mostly because most of the time I'm shocking at posting IMM's. Anyway, that's here, and there's all the links and summaries and stuff there.

Book Review: All We Know of Love by Nora Raleigh Baskin

2011-03-17T04:39:00.000-07:00

Title: All We Know of Love
Author: Nora Raleigh Baskin
Number of pages: 207
How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 8/10
General Rating: 8.5/10
Who I'd recommend it for: One of the best YA romance novels I've read in ages, I can't recommend it enough to lovers of the genre. Bittersweet and easy to read; perfect bedside book.

Four years, four months and fifteen days ago, Natalie Gordon's mother left mid-sentence. Four years, four months and twelve days ago, Natalie realised she really wanted to hear the rest, and now she has a neatly written address, a bus schedule and a hundred and twenty six dollar bus ticket to Florida. Twenty-four hours on a bus means time to talk, and some of her fellow passengers want her to know the mistakes they've made and the lessons they've learnt. Because love is hard. Because love is easy. Because all we know of love is not always enough.

I think roadtrips are maybe more of an American thing. Or maybe I'm just not a very impulsive person. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make, is that I haven't read anything quite like All We Know Of Love before, and I was kind of surprised by the premise of the book, which I think really made it a better read for me. I loved all the flashbacks and memories and other people's stories interwoven into the narrative, which could have been so cheesy and stereotypical but managed to be both elegant and relevant to the story. I loved getting these great little glimpses into Natalie's past as her character gently unravelled on the page.

Natalie herself was a character with flaws who felt very real, very genuine and I was hooked into her story. I wanted to know how it was going to turn out. She was someone you could empathise with, even if you were shouting at the page for her to stop wanting Adam, her ex-boyfriend, you could understand why she felt the way she did.

Overall, an addictive and beautifully crafted book with hints of sadness, laughter and love.

Links: Goodreads, Author's Website

Contest Closed!

2011-03-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

My contest for a free e-book of Karen Metcalf's In The Storm ended this Friday just gone, and despite that the page recieved quite a few views, I sadly had no entries. However, I would still like to say thank you to Karen and her publishers for their genorosity and, to my readers and followers, I hope the next competition attracts a few more entries! Happy reading everyone :)

E-Book Review: In The Storm by Karen Metcalf

2011-03-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

Title: In The Storm

Author: Karen Metcalf
Number of pages: 82
How acquired: Received for review from Author/Publisher.

Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 6.5/10
General Rating: 5.5/10
Who I'd recommend it for: Fans of shorter, contemporary books. This rather reminded me (in a kind of obscure and not-very-obvious way) of Life On The Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers. It does contain some adult themes (child abuse and adult language) that would probably make In The Storm unsuitable for a younger reader.

Carly dreams of an escape from her nightmarish situation of having to be constantly alert for the latest twisted mind game that her abusive stepfather might decide to play on her, or her little brother, Mitchell, only five years old. Alone, she tries to hold the pieces of their lives together. One day, she finds the escape she's been longing for, an alternate dimension of her own supernatural creation. But her private haven, so recently discovered, but so easily lost, is threatened, and with it, the her only remaining source of happiness.

I found this to be quite a polarised book for me. Some aspects of it, I really got into and understood and enjoyed. Others, not quite as much.

I loved Carly as a character, and she had this amazingly strong persona that just forced you to want to support her, and identify with the enormous challenges she faces. Her concern for Mitchell, her younger brother, especially resonated with me, and I found her voice to be very well written. Morgan, the love interest (I don't want to give anything away here, so bear with me) was a great character too. Both of their emotions were captured well, and they both had this genuine feel to them; you could picture them easily, and their dialogue is great, perfectly pitched.

One of the things that didn't quite work for me was the supernatural elements to the book. It was ever so slightly cliched, and lacked a sense of reality, or a set of rules. However, this could have been because of the book's short length, meaning that this alternate world wasn't as fully established as I would have appreciated.

The plot of In The Storm wasn't predictable, despite what you might think for such a short novel. There are several quick chapters, and that works well in creating a fast-paced series of events that pulls you in to Carly's story, with a couple of dramatic turns that I enjoyed. But, and this is merely my own personal opinion here, I have to say that the passages in the book that dealt with the issue of child abuse and Carly's experiences of it weren't handled quite as skillfully as I have read previously, in other books, and that did make these sections quite difficult to read. I think it's underestimated how hard it is to strike the right balance when incorporating such tremendously awful things into fiction.

Overall, I think this wasn't a book for me, but I think it could appeal more (and indeed it does, see these more positive reviews here, and here) to other readers. If you think you'd like to give In The Storm a try, click here to have a go at bagging one of two e-copies. You have until this Friday to enter!

This Week's Last Page

2011-02-27T08:56:00.000-08:00

Hello. And welcome to this week's last page.

What's been happening with me bookwise and on the blog?

I've reviewed Zelah Green, One More Little Problem by Vanessa Curtis (click here for that) and The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz by Laura Toffler-Corrie (click here for that).

In terms of my reading this week, I've actually had a bit of a sad week. I finished reading the beautifully moving No and Me by Delphine de Vigan and devoured the wonderful If I Stay by Gayle Forman, two gorgeously sad books, plus I've just started reading Annexed by Sharon Dogar (and if Falling is anything to go by, then I'm going to need to lie down after it). If you'd like to know more about my reading, check out my Goodreads shelf here.

And in a final most exciting piece of news, I'm hosting my very first giveaway. You could enter to win one of two e-copies of Karen Metcalf's In The Storm, here.

What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld?

Always a useful feature, Parajunkee's Blogging 101 covered some pretty interesting topics this week, and is definitely worth checking out if you're in need of any advice. Click here for this week's post.

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?

Got some books to trade? Head on over to Katie's Book Blog, who has an extensive list of some very good titles up for grabs if you have something on her wishlist. Click here for that. And whilst you're there, if you're quick (closing date February 28th), you can enter to win an ARC of Divergent by Veronica Roth (US or CA only, sorry!).

What's coming up (a.k.a general bookish news)?

This beautiful thing is being published on the 25th of October, 2011. So yeah, I know it's not exactly soon, but it is was just so pretty! If you want to know more about it than just what it looks like, click here to go to Between the Sea & Sky's Goodreads page.

It's Another Half-Term Hop

2011-02-25T02:51:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody! Gosh, February's nearly over. That's a scary thought. Anyway, it's Friday, time for another Crazy-For-Book's Book Blogger Hop.

Welcome to Under A Star Studded Sky.

This week's Hop question was:

"Do you ever wish you would have named your blog something different?"

Nah, of course not. I love it. Although it doesn't have anything to do with books, I feel like it expresses perfectly the way everyone is just another person, reading beneath a star studded sky. Plus, the sky is actually my favourite thing in terms of beautiful scenery. I'm kind of an amatuer astronomer who hopes to become an astrophyisicist, so I'd be worried if I didn't adore the sky :)

New to Under A Star Studded Sky?
Here's what's been happening on the blog this week:
You could grab a free e-copy of Karen Metcalf's In The Storm, click here to enter and for all the details.
I read and reviewed The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz, click here to see what I thought.
In the mood for a quick teaser? Click here for Tuesday's effort, coming from the wonderful No and Me by Delphine de Vigan.

Thank you for visiting; leave me a comment and I'll try to visit you back. Have a great weekend everybody :)

Book Review: The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz

2011-02-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Title: The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz
Author: Laura Toffler-Corrie
Number of pages: 374

How acquired: Won in a Goodreads competition run by author.

Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 8/10 (It's a talent to mould your face into that expression. Give that model some credit here people)

General Rating: 9/10

Who I'd recommend it for: Lovers of humorous chick-lit. I'm thinking fans of such talent as Maureen Johnson, Karen McCrombie, Susie Day etc. really should read this.

Amy Finawitz's life isn't exactly looking up right now. Her best friend Callie has just moved to Kansas for the rest of the year, leaving Amy stuck in New York with a social life that consists of avoiding people more than actually going out. Worse, her brother has dropped out of college to "follow his inner chi", her parents are driving her crazy and her teacher thinks she feels like a little abandoned emu. But when Amy finds a Callie-Replacement, an elderly neighbour and her religious nephew, things start to get interesting... A heartwarming and funny story told in emails from Amy to Callie as well as in the mysteriously wise words of numerous fortune coookies, The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz is one girl's journey to finding friendship in the most unlikely of places.

I really liked this. It was addictively written; after I started it, it was so difficult to stop. The prose flowed beautifully, and despite only hearing Amy's side of the story, I never once felt I was missing out. I loved Ms Toffler-Corrie's turn of phrase; she has a real talent for picking perfect words and putting them in perfect places. The plot could have been slightly busier, but the pace was good and the writing style was awesome enough to carry the story along, as well as having a great character cast; Miss Sophia was a genius invention for one.

Yet another feature of this book that made it go up in my estimation was how the romance was done. There was no shying away from the superficialness of teenage crushes (speaking as a teenager myself, I know that sometimes, yes, it is all about the looks), yet Amy was never defined by who she fancied. This book was about more than just one kind of relationship, which was demonstrated by her feelings towards Beryl and it was incredibly refreshing. How great is it to read something that isn't all about getting a (or "the") guy? Also, I enjoyed the Jewish aspects, despite not being at all religious myself, which made this book feel even more genuine and original and just better.

I'm not really much of a laughing at books kind of girl, but this did make me grin widely a couple of times. And snicker once or twice, which is kind of major for me. Definitely more enjoyable than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick, as an unnamed relative of mine would say.

Overall, The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz stands out from the crowd of humour chick lit on the shelf as being one of the best due to it's fabulous characters and brilliant prose.

Teaser Tuesday [14]

2011-02-22T08:48:00.000-08:00

This week's teaser is coming from my current read, No and Me by Delphine de Vigan (Goodreads link), and is taken from the top of page 43 ;

"For weeks I dreamed that one day he'd put his foot down on the accelerator, flat to the floor, and drive all three of us into the wall of a car park, and we'd be together for ever."

E-Book Giveaway: IN THE STORM by Karen Metcalf

2011-02-21T10:56:00.000-08:00

Hello Everybody! Hope you're feeling lucky because (drumroll please)... I'm launching Under A Star Studded Sky's very first ever giveaway!! You could bag yourself one of two free e-copies of Karen Metcalf's In The Storm, kindly provided by the author herself (THANK YOU KAREN!). And one of the best things is that as it's an e-copy, this giveaway is international. In fact, you don't even have to be a follower of this blog (but by all means, feel free to become one and earn a couple of extra entries).

In The Storm summary from Goodreads: Abandoned by the world around her, Carly believes she is fated to a life of torment at the hands of her stepfather and is desperate for an escape. When she can bear the abuse no longer and gives in to a thunderous rage, she suddenly finds herself in an unfamiliar, yet beautiful, storm world. This limbo between dimensions appears to be her private sanctuary, but it may just be her purgatory.

No one escapes fate without sacrifice, but is the price more than Carly is willing to pay?

To enter, just fill out the form below (or click here if you're having trouble viewing it.) Competition closes Midnight UK time on Friday the 4th of March, 2011.

In My Mailbox (9)

2011-02-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

Cover Images From Goodreads

From Authors/Publishers:
An e-ARC of Karen Metcalf's In The Storm, which I am very grateful for, thank you Karen! I also have two e-copies to give away to you, so stop by tomorrow for details of how you can win yourself your very own copy.
Won:
The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz (Signed!) by Laura Toffler-Corrie in a Goodreads competition. How awesome is that? I was completely made up when it arrived, all shiny and SIGNED. Yay.
Library:
No and Me by Delphine de Vigan. This is actually a French book that's been translated into English, and I think it's my first YA read that wasn't actually written in English (I'm not counting All Quiet on the Western Front as YA), and it kind of got me thinking about translations, and how much difference they can make to the book or whether a reader probably won't even notice. Your thoughts on translations, people?
Annexed by Sharon Dogar. I finished Falling by the same author this week, which was incredible. I can't really describe it, which is why I don't think I'll be reviewing it, but it was so so good in so many ways :)
Inside Out by Maria Snyder. I read and liked Poison Study ages ago last year, and somehow never really got around to hunting out the rest of the study series. However, I am very hopeful about reading this.

Any regular readers of this blog will probably be astounded at the fact I recieved books from somewhere other than my library, and to you I say, "I know. I was flabbergasted too." But flabbergasted or not, I am indeed happy. What delights landed on your doorsteps this week?

Clarity's Sequel Has A Title: PERCEPTION is coming! and other Bookish News

2011-02-17T13:15:00.000-08:00

Some rather interesting tidbits of news I discovered today;

Clarity's Sequel Is Titled: "Perception" There's no cover yet, but the release date is set for March 2012. Find out more here, at Kim Harrington's blog. And in more title-related shenahigans, Cat Clarke (author of Entangled [click here for my review]) annouced that her second novel is to be called "Torn", and if everything goes according to plan, will be published January 2012. Yay for that :)

Cybils Winners of 2010 Announced. The winner in the YA category was... Split by Swati Avasthi. It sounds pretty darn good;
"Split focuses on Jace's journey towards healing after years of abuse at the hands of his father. Forced to leave his mother and friends behind, Jace abruptly relocates half-way across the country in an attempt to reconnect with his estranged brother Christian; who, as a boy, escaped years earlier to save himself from similar circumstances. A realistic portrayal of abuse, Split is filled with complexities that force the reader to feel the full effects of uncertainty as Jace and Christian struggle to escape the emotional and physical threat that their father continues to hold over them. Tightly-written in the first person point of view, Avasthi's prose and straight-forward dialogue leaves no detail to the imagination. Fear, torment, hope, and loathing fill the pages of Split as you root for these young men to find their way to discovering how to be a family again." And you can see the full list here.

So what do you think? Are they two good titles? Is Split a worthy winner?

Book Review: Zelah Green One More Little Problem by Vanessa Curtis

2011-02-14T12:16:00.000-08:00

Title: Zelah Green One More Little Problem (Zelah Green #2)
Author: Vanessa Curtis
Number of pages: 374
How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 6/10 (It's kind of average, but I like the font)

General Rating: 6.5/10
Who I'd recommend it for: Fans of the first should enjoy this, although, for me, it didn't have quite the same sweet but feisty appeal of the first.

Summary taken from Goodreads (I know I write my own usually, but I got stuck): Warm, winning and real, Zelah Green is back! My name is Zelah Green and I'm a Cleanaholic. It's the summer hols and I'm on major Flirt Alert. I've joined mysortaspace.com and ever since I've been getting emails from loads of boys. Boys are Dirt Alert AND Germ Alert. Don't even talk to me about kissing...The rest of my life's a bit rubbish too. That's because: my dad is moping about the house missing his girlfriend; my ex-best friend still isn't speaking to me; my grumpy weirdo Satanist friend has turned up to stay; my cleaning rituals are are taking up way too much time; and, most importantly, the guy I really like, Sol, has disappeared off the face of the earth...

What I thought: I absolutely fell in love with Zelah's character in the first book, so perhaps that's why I felt ever so slightly cheated by the second. It just felt like she'd lost some of her grit and determination, what with trying to get Fran back (Fran. The EX-Best friend who was horrible. And still is, it would seem. WHY, ZELAH. WHY?) and joining a dating site. But that's probably just me getting delusional about the negative relationships of a fictional character.

The plot was okay. It was just a little flat, and not a great deal really happens. But it's still cute. Which brings me on to the good and great points of this. I still adore the writing style, it's completely charming, and kind of addictive. Sort of how I imagine really pretty little cakes in book form would be. And the way Zelah handles her OCD is done brilliantly, really sensitive and honest. It's not glamorized, nor is it dramatized. It's just this really simple, heartfelt issue that Zelah has to struggle with on every page, and I thought it was quite an accurate depiction.

So, all in all, mixed feelings on this one. It didn't quite sparkle as much as the first, but still worth picking up, and I'd definitely read a third.

Links: Goodreads - Author's Website

This Week's Last Page

2011-02-06T11:36:00.000-08:00

Hello. And welcome to this week's last page.

What's been happening with me bookwise and on the blog?

Well, I had a fantastic week in terms of what I got out from the library, and you can read about my enviously amazing picks here, In My Mailbox. Prepare to be jealous :P
I am weak, I'll admit it, so, okay, I may have already read almost all of the books I picked up. But, that's a plus too, as it means I can review them! Yay. This week, I reviewed Entangled by Cat Clarke, and you can read that review here. It also means that the list of books I finished this week is really too long to mention.
I'm currently reading Falling by Sharon Dogar.
Also, I've joined Goodreads! Come say hi and read my profile here.
What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld:
Delirium by Lauren Oliver came out this week, which I was really excited for. If you're interested in finding out more about Ms Oliver, you can read her blog here.

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?
If you're quick and have a US address, you can enter in a giveaway at the PageTurner's Blog to win an Ipod Nano as part of the Iron Queen Blog Tour, click here for that. Ends 7th of February.

What's coming up (a.k.a general bookish news)?
I found out that Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson (read my review here) is going to have a sequel! Eek. It's called The Last Little Blue Envelope, is going to be published on April 26th this year and you can read all about it at Goodreads here. I'm also pretty darn excited that Gabrielle Zevin has a new book coming out later this year, called All These Things That I've Done, which you can read more about but sadly not see a cover image of, here.
In terms of what's coming up on the blog, there'll be a review of Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott, and quite possibly a review of Matched by Ally Condie as well. So stop by for those.

Book Review: Entangled by Cat Clarke

2011-02-04T16:48:00.000-08:00

Title: Entangled
Author: Cat Clarke
Number of pages: 374
How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 9/10 (One of my favourites)

General Rating: 8.5/10
Who I'd recommend it for: It's classic contemporary; reasonably edgy and dark but not overpoweringly so. Not recommended for younger readers due to themes of self-harm and suicide.

Some things in life you ask for. Some things in life you deserve. Waking up in a white room, with no idea how or why, with forty-seven bic pens and some paper is not something that fits into either category. But that's what happens to seventeen-year-old Grace. And as she writes her story, as her tangled, painful life unravels on the page, there's one question she has to face up to. As she re-lives loving the gorgeous Nat and the destruction of her relationship with best friend Sal, she has to decide; is it better to remember, or is it better to forget?

The thing that made Entangled amazing for me was Grace's voice. It's written in the first person, so I suppose this could really be defined as Cat Clarke's writing style, and really I think it's a combination of the two. I think that Grace's character came across so naturally and easily it would have been extremely hard not to identify with her, and that's what made me unable to put this down. Seriously, I read it in one greedy gulp, and I cannot stress enough how fantastically Grace's thoughts and emotions were expressed.

The backdrop of this story was great, and not-so-great. Nat and Sal were both done brilliantly, but I did think that Grace's mother and Devon (Nat's younger brother) could have done with slightly more fleshing out. The house and high school setting were portrayed well, and I liked the description of the white room; it was really easy to imagine Grace and Ethan (her kidnapper) there.

My only other criticism would be the slightly predictable and slightly disappointing plot, although at least it was an original take on the whole abduction. And apart from those (minor!) details, this book was absolutely fabulous, and I'd definitely be looking out for Cat Clarke in the future.

Links: Goodreads - Author's Blog - Author's Website

Froggy Friday [6]

2011-02-04T01:38:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody. January's over, the blog is open for business and I'm looking to find out about some of the really great new and old (but new-to-me) blogs out there, through what is undoubtedly the most friendly friday in the blogasphere, Froggy Friday. I'm taking part in Crazy-For-Book's Book Blogger Hop.

Welcome to Under A Star Studded Sky.

This week's Hop question was:

"What are you reading now and why are you reading it?"

And my answer:

I'm currently reading a couple books, the first being Falling by Sharon Dogar, which is very good, and I'll be honest, had an extremely pretty cover, so that's why I picked it up in the first place. The reason I can't put it down, is because I am just in love with the main characters Neesh and Sammy, and the writing is superb.
I'm also reading The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory by Brian Greene, and I'm reading that because I aspire to be an astrophysicist and I find it fascinating.

If you're interested in either of these books, click their titles to be taken to their Goodreads pages.

Thank you for visiting; leave me a comment and I'll try to visit you back. Have a great weekend everybody :)

In My Mailbox (8)

2011-02-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a meme that was inspired by Alea and created by Kristi,where the aim of the game is to talk about all the books you've borrowed/ received/ bought/ eaten (okay, that last one there is a joke) during the past week.

Howdy everyone. This week, I had a really exciting trip to my non-local and a fair bit bigger library, where it was like Christmas all over again, in that I managed to pick up so absolutely fantastic books that I've been waiting for for ages. I was pretty delighted with my haul;

Images from Goodreads.

Matched by Ally Condie. Yay! At last. I am so keen to find out for myself what this is like. And that cover is just too pretty.
Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott. ELIZABETH SCOTT. She's so so difficult to find over here, so it's like "Sqeal! That's a Scott". Okay, that doesn't read "Weird/Stalker Fan" at all...
Entangled by Cat Clarke. Such a pretty cover. It pulled me in when I first saw it, about three months ago, as the hype storm for this began, and I'm pretty excited to get the chance to read it for myself.
Falling by Sharon Dogar. They say don't judge a book by it's cover. Well, when it comes to books, I do. This was gorgeous. And the first couple of lines hooked me, so I had to get it.
Fire by Kristin Cashore. AT LAST.
Zelah Green One More Little Problem by Vanessa Curtis. I loved Zelah Green Queen of Clean, so I was pretty excited to pick up the sequel, and I'm keen to find out if its got the original's cute charm.

So as you can see, it was like I wrote a wishlist and took it to the library, where it was magically fulfilled. How amazing is that? I hope you guys found some great books too :)

Hello Everyone!

2011-02-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Hello readers! As you know, the blog was closed throughout January, but now that cold and exam-filled month is over, I'm back :) It's great to be allowed to post and not feel too guilty. I'll know my exam results in March, so for now I'm just relieved they're over, and trying to ignore the seven that are coming up in May/June. Yeah. We don't talk about those.

ANYWAY. On to much happier topics. 2011. It's going to be bookish, I promise you :)

There are so many eagerly anticipated books coming out, like;
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater, (cannot wait for that) or, Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott (whom I actually adore. Actually.), or Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler (TOUR ALERT!). What are you looking forward to the most?

And, my 2011 blog resolution is...
To Join And Use The Book Reviewing Giant That Is GOODREADS. Yes. I have decided it's time. Any tips would be brilliant, if any of you have any advice on the best way to use it. If you'd like to take a look at the books I've got added, or what I'm currently reading, you can check out all that stuff here:

http://www.goodreads.com/underastarstuddedsky

So I hope you all had good January's and are looking forward to the rest of 2011!

Happy New Year and a Blogging Break

2010-12-28T01:57:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate it) and a happy holiday.

Under A Star Studded Sky will be closing for the month of January, due to the exams and coursework deadlines in that I have. I'm really sorry to disappoint anyone, but part of life and adulthood (and trying to get in to a top university) means that you have to prioritise what you do. And getting good grades is pretty high up on the list. However, I will be checking who the winner of the comment contest is when it closes on the 31st of December, though, so don't worry if you've entered. It will still be counted! And if you haven't entered, feel free to do so here.

Thank you all for your readership. Happy New Year and I'll be back in February*!

*Some pre-scheduled posts may appear.

In My Merry Mailbox [7]

2010-12-22T10:32:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a meme that was inspired by Alea and created by Kristi,where the aim of the game is to talk about all the books you've borrowed/ received/ bought/ eaten (ok, that last one there is a joke) during the past week.

Hello everyone! I managed to get out this week (I know!) and stopped off at the library for a quick book fix.
Here's what I picked up:
The Worst of Me and Rain both by Kate Le Vann. (I have now become addicted to Kate Le Vann.)
Lex Trent Versus The Gods by Alex Bell.
Cross My Heart & Hope to Spy by Ally Carter. (FINALLY!)
And...
How Kirsty Jenkins Stole The Elephant by Elen Caldecott.

So, yes, a bit ecclectic. And sadly, my camera has decided not to work for a while, and therefore I apologse for the lack of picture with my doody carpet background.

Christmas Comment Contest

2010-12-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

Hello, hello, hello.
It's time to get a little bit festive here on Under A Star Studded Sky with the launch of a very special Christmas Comment Contest. Allow me to explain...

1. I noticed that the "Blogs I Like" (section to the right) could do with updating.
2. I realised that there are an almighty number of blogs that I follow. And that I LOVE.
3. I, being the indecisive person I am, can't choose which one should be awarded the honour (okay, okay, I know it's not that much of an honour, but give me my moment) of being on my sidebar.
4. So, I'm making you guys choose! Yay.

Here's what you have to do:
Leave a comment on this post, with a link to your blog.
SIMPLES, as a certain meerkat would say.

I'll then visit every blog entered. If I like a blog, I'll become a follower (unless I am already, in which case I can't) and then give that blog a number. Once all entered blogs that I like have been followed and assigned a number, I'll randomly select a number, and hey presto, that blog gets the place.

Extra Details:
Last possible entry date: 12 noon (UK Time) on 31st of December.
Open to ALL blogs, bookish or not.
One entry per person please!

Okay, now it's over to you. Get Commenting!

Crazy Christmas Update

2010-12-15T13:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming, and that means blogging oppurtunities will abound (when I'm not revising- ARGH- scary-worth-a-third-of-my-grade-exams) and therefore most posts, definitely. So bear with me for a few more days! Hope you're feeling festive, and having a happy week :)

Book Review: The Silver Child by Cliff Mcnish

2010-12-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

Title: The Silver Child
Author: Cliff Mcnish

Number of pages: 172

How acquired: Bought
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 7/10 (It makes more sense after you've read it, promise)

General Rating: 8.5/10
Who I'd recommend it for: It's Cliff Mcnish at his best, I would say. So fans of the Mcnish, get your hands on this. And I heart Cliff Mcnish very much :)

Thomas didn't know why. He didn't know why he left his home, or why he didn't return. He still doesn't know why he stays in Coldharbour. This is not his place, not here, among the mud and dirt and rubbish tips and gangs. But he stays, and despite the odds, he survives, starving, struggling, surviving. Emily and Frieda, the strange, insect-like twins find him like this, barely getting through, and save him, teaching him the skills he needs. They discover Walter, the giant-boy. Helen's unique gift seeks them, and Milo is coming, limping towards their eclectic family. The race against the Roar has begun...

As I mentioned earlier, I do love Cliff Mcnish. And this was spectacular in many ways. It's something that I read for the first time a few years back, and recently saw a SIGNED copy in a charity shop, and I snapped it up joyously. And then I read it again, just for fun, so here's what I thought of The Silver Child, the second time around. Firstly, gorgeous prose. GORGEOUS. Subtle, lyrical, original and just really really easy to get into.
Secondly, amazingly real characters. Seriously, it's scary. They actually feel like real people, and you just end up caring about them so much (By the way, Emily and Frieda? LOVE). And this is a pretty good thing, because the plot isn't terribly fast paced, or the events horribly scary, but you manage to get that feeling of tension simply because everything feels so genuine.

And the final thing that I will rave about would be the sheer originality of this. I have never read anything like it, and Cliff Mcnish's books are always unusual, always that little bit different, which I completely love.

So overall, this might not be the most gripping book you'll ever read (Or it might be). But there's a very high chance you'll fall in love with the beautiful writing style and the brilliant children, just like I did.

Book Review: A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn

2010-12-08T01:01:00.000-08:00

Title: A Kiss In Time
Author: Alex Flinn

Number of pages: 172

How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 7/10

General Rating: 6/10
Who I'd recommend it for: It's essentially a modernised fairy-tale (sort of similar to Piper by Meg Harper, but a lot less edgy), and told in two voices, so if that's your bag, then this is it. Pretty similar to Alex Flinn's others (I gather), so fans of his should enjoy this.

Jack can't stand this tour of Europe that his parents forced him onto. It's doing nothing to take his mind off of the fact he's been recently dumped by his hot girlfriend. He swears if he sees another museum, he'll vomit. So he escapes to what he thinks is the beach, but when you barely know which country you're in, let alone speak the language, it's easy to get lost. And he does. But what he finds has been lost for centuries, an entire country that disappeared off the maps when one spoilt princess touched a witch's spindle. One accidental kiss later, and Jack's heading home with more than a souvenir t-shirt...

Okay, I'll admit. I had a few issues with this book, and most of them where at the beginning, so when I just now flicked through it, making sure I was writing an accurate synopsis, I actually wanted to growl. At the beginning, Jack, (for me), was just so dislikeable. He's annoying, spoilt, stereotypical, ungrateful, shallow... Grrr. But his character improves, as does my perception of it as I sort of start to understand him a little bit more and get further into the book. And since I also had similar problems with Talia's (the princess's) character until about midway, I'm going to suggest that I obviously just don't like people until I get to know them. Moving on, regular readers of my reviews will know that I can't stand plot holes, and quite a few cropped up. It's very annoying not to be able to talk about them fully, but spoilers. And I guessed the ending about halfway, which automatically made me kind of bored. The third, much smaller problem that I had with this was I felt it missed out a little on taking advantage of the material provided by one of my favourite fairytales; Sleeping Beauty. I mean, come on. A forgotten county that has just been discovered, this rich, gorgeous historical setting, and the author chooses to just forget about it again and change setting to America. But this is probably just my injured European pride speaking here.

So, ignoring the (in my opinion) the messy plot and at times slow plot, and the dislikeable to start with characters, there were some good points. I love double character P.O.Vs, and Alex Flinn did take advantage of this double aspect to good effect. The romance was charming in places, and I loved it when Jack's gentlemanly side came through and Talia's courage shone. I thought Jack's sister was a brilliant addition to the cast, and his ex-girlfriend was done well. In fact, most of the supporting characters where done nicely.

Overall, this would have scored so much higher had the plot been tighter and less predictable, the characters more individual and less stereotypical. Personally, those are such big things for me, that I really couldn't get much else out of it. Also, I've read The Weather Witch by Paul Stewart, which is similar enough that I couldn't help but constantly compare, and since I read The Weather Witch first and (SPOILER ALERT IF YOU'VE READ THE WEATHER WITCH- Highlight to read) they both have the same ending it was quite hard to not find A Kiss In Time a slightly weaker read. So this wasn't for me, but I know that has a lot of fans and quite a few good points, so don't take that as it's an unreadable book. For balance, I've included this link to a 5/5 review of it, click here for that.

Teaser Tuesday (13) <-Gulp! Unlucky.

2010-12-07T06:54:00.000-08:00

Hello. Teaser Tuesdays are a weekly meme (created by the fabulous Miz B of the Should Be Reading blog) where you simply take whatever you're currently reading, open it to a random page and share a couple of 'teaser' lines (preferably not including spoilers!).

This week's teaser is coming from page 31 of Here lies Arthur by Philip Reeve;

"Only their black bones remained, dribbling ghosts of smoke into the twilight. The gate was smashed open. Strangers stood on the walls."

I'm enjoying Here Lies Arthur at the moment, but haven't found it compelling reading exactly. But still good, so far. Happy Tuesday everyone!

This Week's Last Page

2010-12-05T09:09:00.000-08:00

Hello. And welcome to this week's last page.

What's been happening with me bookwise and on the blog?
I'm nearly half-way through Birdsong! Thank heavens. I may not fail English Literature after all. On the blog, I've been hopping to keep warm through this cold snap (here) and I managed to just about get my teaser up in time for Tuesday, this week's coming from The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott, which you can read here. So, yeah, I'm currently finishing off reading that, and I'm also reading Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve (author of the Mortal Engines series).

What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld:
I don't know if this is just because of the BBH, which was themed around hype and negative reviews, but everyone seems to be talking about disappointing books, bad reviews and the influence book bloggers have on a book's success. It's a little gloomy actually. But if you want more links and posts on that topic, I thought that Parajunkee's post on how to inform an author of a bad review was interesting (click here), and the Story Siren discussed whether hype kills books on her blog here, and as previously mentioned, it was the question of the week on the BBH at Crazy-for-Books (here).

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?
Go help a fellow blogger out in the tricky task of meme naming; Savvy at The Reader Girl wants to know what you'll decided her new meme be called. Click here to vote, or suggest your own.
Want to win an ARC of Clarity and some related swag? Open INTERNATIONALLY until Wednesday, 15th Dec. Click here for all the details and to enter.
If you live in the US, there's a really cool Scavenger Hunt happening at Book Soulmates, and you can find all the entry details you need here.

What's coming up on the Blog?
A review of A Kiss In Time by Alex Flynn will be up within the week, and hopefully before Christmas I'll be chatting to Jonathan Maeberry, author of ROT & RUIN. Can't wait that long for an author interview? Check out some of my other ones here.

A Freezing Cold Froggy Friday

2010-12-03T00:59:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody. College is closed to day due to the snow (and oh my gosh it is so cold (!) and pretty and has been all week- sorry, just had to get that out of my system!), so I thought I'd do a hop, and get discovering some cool new blogs :)

Welcome to Under A Star Studded Sky.

This week's Hop question was:

""What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"

And my answer:

This is quite a hard question to answer, although I do know which book I'm going to say. The reason I think it's a tricky question, is becuase it was hard enough posting one of my most negative reviews, without having to draw attention to it again! So, the hyped up and popular book that personally, I did not enjoy and gave a poor review, would have to be Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Sorry to it's authors and all it's fans, but I had a lot of problems with it, and you can read my full review, (where hopefully any criticisms are quite constructive, or if not constructive exactly, at least clear and justified) here. I think that negative reviews are an important part of book blogging; you can't like everything, and if you lose your honesty as a reviewer, then really, you have very little left. But it's still hard to write those critical lines, knowing how hard it is to be an author, and the challenges that are faced by them. So, I would just say this. Never take criticism to heart; simply acknowledge it, respect it and move on from it to bigger and better things.

Thank you for visiting; leave me a comment and I'll try to visit you back. Have a great weekend everybody :)

Teaser Tuesday (12)

2010-11-30T23:07:00.000-08:00

Hello. Teaser Tuesdays are a weekly meme (created by the fabulous Miz B of the Should Be Reading blog) where you simply take whatever you're currently reading, open it to a random page and share a couple of 'teaser' lines (preferably not including spoilers!).
This week's teaser is coming from page 54 of The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott;
"Moment's later, Father carried the woman into the newly prepared chamber and laid her down on the bed with a gentleness that I had thought entirely foreign to his nature. My brothers followed him in, their faces showing a confusion that echoed mine."
Ooh. That's a good teaser, right:? Hope you're all having/had happy tuesdays!

This Week's Last Page

2010-11-28T13:17:00.000-08:00

Hello. And welcome to this week's last page.

What's been happening with me bookwise and on the blog?

Argh! I missed Teaser Tuesday this week, and I also missed out on a library trip in order to acquire any books, meaning no memes this week, sorry people! What I have done however, is reviewed Two Friends, One Summer by Kate Le Vann, which you can read here.

What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld:

Is this the right section to put this in? I don't know and I'm the one who creates these sections, so what hope is there? Anyway. I FOUND AN AWESOME NEW BOOK BLOG! Yay. It's called The Reading Girl :) and the rating system is what really won me over and got me to click that little follow button (and the good writing style and quality content, of course). Smiley faces for the win, people.

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?
Hop on over here to enter a great contest at Call Me Crazy YA Reviews, in order to celebrate her fantastic achievement of getting to a 100 followers, and top hat, it's open internationally!

What's coming up generally?

<- Paranormal fan? Check out the Dark Winter Tale at Tynga's Reviews, an event that she describes as:

"2 paranormal blogs + 15 spine-tingling days + 15 wickedly talented authors, creepy adventures, and the most chilling new releases of the season". Sound your type of thing? Just click the image.

Book Review: Two Friends, One Summer by Kate Le Vann

2010-11-26T12:36:00.000-08:00

Title: Two Friends, One Summer

Author: Kate Le Vann
Number of pages: 172

How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 6/10

General Rating: 7/10
Who I'd recommend it for: Dear fans of the "chick-lit teen romance" genre, this book really is for you, from Rachel Star.

It was supposed to be the best summer ever. Samantha, and her quiet best friend Rachel are spending the holidays with two french families, and Samantha cannot wait. She's dreaming of a beautiful summer romance, gorgeous beaches and a party every night. However, the reality is nothing like she expected. She's trapped in the middle of nowhere, with a strict French family, horrible food and broken toilets. And to add insult to injury, Rachel's family seem perfect; glamorous, rich and kind. Samantha can't help thinking that this is all the wrong way round, but Rachel seems to be becoming somebody else, someone that Samantha barely recognises, someone so much better than Sam. Can a lifelong friendship be broken in one short summer?

There were moments in this book that were shards of absolute brilliance. And there were bits that weren't quite so good.

Yes, as you would expect, this book is pretty stereotypical and slightly predictable in places. BUT. It was a little bit different. It was an interesting take on the whole "pretty popular girl who's friends with the shy, nerdy girl" cliche, and what really made it more original was Kate Le Vann's writing style. It was funny, and fresh and Ms Le Vann has a great, adorable way of putting things. The plot was good, with a couple of unexpected twists thrown in and enough drama to keep me flicking the pages with enthusiasm.

On the downside; Samantha. As the main character, I kind of expected to like and identify with her. And, yeah, I did eventually. But I didn't like her at all to begin with. Obviously, that's a matter of personal taste, but I found her pretty rude, ungrateful and shallow for most of the book. She did develop as a person as I got to understand her more of her point of view, but at first, I really couldn't stand her. The minor characters were fun and likeable, but again, stereotypical, stock types for example, bad boy Lucien was exactly that.

Overall, this book isn't deep. It's not something that's going to give you a message that will stay with you for years. But, it is a fun, enjoyable and interesting read with a good ending and a nice plot.

This Week's Last Page

2010-11-21T11:51:00.000-08:00

Hello. And welcome to this week's last page.

What's been happening with me bookwise and on the blog?
A lot of reading, and only a little posting. My apologies for my almost absence over the past week or so. My life suddenly got quite busy. But, I digress. This week I finished reading A Kiss In Time by Alex Flynn (Author of Beastly), The Silver Child by Cliff Mcnish and Two Friends, One Summer by Kate Le Vann. I reviewed The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap (click here) and I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder (click here).

What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld:
I was reading Izzy's (of My Words Ate Me) IMM post this week, and one really caught my eye; Omnitopia Dawn by Diane Duanne. (Link)
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (Part One) was released over here. Cue screaming (not on my part), fangirly-ness (again, this was not me) and general urges to re-read the book (that was me.) I did get a chance to see it, and I did enjoy it muchly :)

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?
I've picked out a giveaway for Far From You by Lisa Schroeder (yep, don't tell me I don't connect all of this stuff up!) over at DeRaps Reads. It's US only I'm afraid, sorry people, and I'm not entirely sure when it ends? But if you fancy entering, just click here.

Another awesome load of books can be one here, at the What's Your Story? blog, twenty-four (!) in total just in time for christmas (competition closes on the 24th of Dec) and it's international. Click here for that.
What's coming up on the blog?
MORE STUFF! Promise :)
What's coming up generally?
Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell is being released in the UK (according to that giant of release dates, Amazon) on the 22nd March 2011, and it looks pretty funky, pretty quirky, and definitely interesting. You can find out more about it here, on the actual Amazon page.

Anything I've not mentioned? A great new release, a brilliant interview, an awesome contest? Leave a comment and I'll check it out (or include it next week). Please note that unsuitable/ inappropriate/ spam links will be removed. Thank you.

Book Review: The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap

2010-11-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

Title: The Musician's Daughter
Author: Susanne Dunlap

Number of pages: 317
How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 8/10
General Rating: 7.5/10

Who I'd recommend it for: This is good historical fiction, similiar to Mary Hoffman's or Shannon Hale's with the strong female characters and the dramatic murder (that's not a spoiler, don't worry).

Fifteen-year old Theresa was waiting for her father to come home on Christmas Eve, carrying his orchestral bonus that'll see them through the year. Instead, three men carried in his body and left it on the dining room table. Theresa has been left without a father, without a secure future and without answers, and her life seems to be crumbling around her. Her pregnant mother is unable to leave her bed, and her brother, whilst incredibly loyal, is still young. Theresa struggles to make sense of her father's murder and why, being ever drawn into secrets that she never knew existed and a romance she never realised she wanted. But, as Theresa soon discovers, it's easier to enter a world of mystery and danger than it is to leave.

There were some great points to this book, some real highlights. I loved the plot; it was completely textbook. (In case that's an expression that's actually really weird and only used by me or something, it means that it was by the book perfect. And this storyline was; it was almost too perfect.) I loved the romance, and the relationships Theresa had with her family and all the other characters, they felt genuine and I liked how you got to learn more about the more minor characters; there wasn't one who needed more detail or filling in.

As for the main character herself though, I wasn't that taken with her. She seemed a little bit fake and there were parts of her personality that I disliked, although I did admire her courage, strength and determination. I personally found her quite difficult to empathise with. Also, at the beginning, the writing style? Just a little cliche, and stiff. However, the musical undernotes (see what I did there?) were great fun and added a different element to the content of the book.

That said, when Susanne Dunlap hits her stride, towards the middle, it's beautiful. This was a mixed book for me, but it's a genre thats very competitive (and one of my favourites) so it's tough to stand out. All in all it was a very good read.

Book Review: I Heart You, You Haunt Me

2010-11-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Title: I Heart You, You Haunt Me
Author: Lisa Schroeder

Number of pages: 226 (but it's a verse novel, so it's short in actual length)
How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 9/10 (Gorgeously simple, and very in tune with the book)

General Rating: 8/10
Who I'd recommend it for: I think this is a book that would move a lot of readers; it feels pretty univerally powerful, even if you haven't been personally affected by tragedy. It's a verse novel, and whilst that's not a genre I've read before, it didn't spoil my enjoyment (in fact, it just added so much), so definitely don't let the unsual form put you off.

Ava and Jackson. True love forever. The real thing. Until one day, Jackson dies. And Ava can't believe it. Jackson was meant to be the one, for always. And now hes... gone. But somehow, he's not. She can't see him, or touch him, unless she's dreaming. His voice is just a whisper in the corner of her mind. But he's there. Ava knows he is, no matter what other people think. And Ava knows she can make this work. She can have a ghost of a boyfriend. But, maybe Ava's the ghost in their relationship, not wanting to live her life if Jackson can't. Jackson would never leave her, not even in death; how could she give up on him? True love forever, right?

There were moments in this book that were just brilliant. I loved Lisa's command of the writing; she has a real skill and flair and there are a number of great quotes I could include here as testament to this (but most are spoilers, so I won't. Don't look at me like that. Right, fine, you asked. Here's a non-spoilery one; "It's like I was a garden salad with a light vinaigrette, and Jackson was a platter of seafood Cajun pasta. Alone, we were good. Together, we were fantastic.")

I loved how unusual I Heart You, You Haunt Me was in terms of the style. A verse novel is something I don't often pick up, so it made from a pretty refreshing read, and definitely interesting, if short. The characters were sweet, although, because of the length, they never seemed to become real people; I supported and empathised with Ava, but I didn't feel like I ever got to know her in much detail. I think that the length, and the style was kind of swings and roundabouts; you get a lovely, clear, gorgeous story and awesome writing, but you lose out on the little details, on the "filler" bits, on the subplots and secondary characters. This may not even be a bad point for some readers, and it was only slight flaw for me. Overall, I wouldn't hesistate to reccommend this to anyone who's looking for something quick, moving and written incredibly well.

This Week's Last Page

2010-11-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

Hello. And welcome to this week's last page.

What's been happening with me bookwise and on the blog?
I've reviewed Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott, (click here for that) and I was lucky enough to be given an opportunity to interview her, (THANK YOU ELIZABETH SCOTT), and you can read that here. I also finished reading The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap and bought a (signed!) copy of Cliff Mcnish's Silver Child.
Posts this week include: Teaser Tuesday (11).

What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld:
Such gorgeous covers have been revealed this week, including Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer and The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder (see the prettinesses yourself here, and here respectively).
Only today did I read an absolutely fab post from Nomes at Inkcrush about some books that sound... well, incredible. Just incredible. Especially One Lonely Degree by C K Kelly Martin. Click here to read that.

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?
If you're quick and live in the US, there's a chance to win Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler, here, at Teens Read and Write (ends on the seventh of November, so yeah. Speed is of the essence.)

What's coming up on the blog?
I've got a few reviews to catch up on, including one of I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder, so look out for those.

What's coming up generally?
What I fancied giving a shoutout to this week was a new book that coming out on July 21st, 2011, so quite a long wait, but I think it's going to be good. It's called Ripple and it's by Mandy Hubbard and you can see the Goodreads page here.
Anything I've not mentioned? A great new release, a brilliant interview, an awesome contest? Leave a comment and I'll check it out (or include it next week). Please note that unsuitable/ inappropriate/ spam links will be removed. Thank you.

Elizabeth Scott Interview

2010-11-05T05:05:00.000-07:00

Hello to everybody! I know a lot of readers have been looking forward to this, and so without further ado, I'm very pleased to introduce the wonderful Elizabeth Scott to Under A Star Studded Sky.

Me: Hi Elizabeth! First things first, please provide a short introduction to yourself and your books for any new readers out there.
ES: Hey there, everyone! I'm Elizabeth, I write YA novels, and you can find out loads about all of them on my website: http://http://www.elizabethwrites.com/.

Me: I just finished reading Stealing Heaven, and I enjoyed it so much that I literally didn't put it down until I'd finished. What was the last book you read that hooked you like that and why?
ES: Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea--it was amazing. Good non-fiction gets me every time!

Me: One thing that strikes me (as a good thing, don't worry!) about your writing is that it always feels both genuine and fantastical. What I mean is that it always feels as though it could happen, that the events you depict could be true and the characters you describe could be somebody I met last week at the bus stop, but at the same time it has this magical, unusual quality. Do you use your own, or other people's teenage experiences in your writing? I guess this is just a really long-winded way of saying where do you get your inspiration from, but that always sounds naff =)
ES:Wow, thanks for the kind words! I get inspired by all kinds of things, but I don't ever write about myself (I'm very boring!) or people I know (because that would be just weird)I think it's important for writers to always carry something--a notebook, a few pieces of paper--heck, even a couple of index cards!-- with them, in case you get an idea.

Me:Writing is something that I enjoy, and I'm presuming (since you're a successful author) you don't mind it either. What's the three best and worst things about being an writer for a living?
ES:The three best things: hearing from readers, meeting readers, and the writing itself.
The three worst things: revision, revision, revision (because that times about two million or so is usually how much I end up having to revise/rewrite things--my books usually drop in size by about 40% because I'm a big believer in not having scenes that don't need to be there).
Me: Oh darn, the world has just been invaded by aliens (again) and you're trapped in your house. Alien negotiators agree on the following deal with you: You can come out safely, only if you name the three greatest authors in history and why. What do you tell them?
ES: I'll stay inside, thank you. (I could never just name three authors. Also, I have plenty of books to read, so that'll keep my busy for a while!).

Quickfire Questions:

1. Orange or Purple? Neither.
2. Your favourite beverage? Water.
3. Being too cold or being too hot? Too cold.
4. Your favourite place? Wales.
5. Genie or Shooting Star? Shooting Star.

And that's all folks. Thanks for the interview Elizabeth, some great answers there and you've been lovely to chat to. If you'd like to know more about Elizabeth, please do check out her website here.
Happy reading,
Rachel Star.

Review: Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

2010-11-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

Title: Stealing Heaven

Author: Elizabeth Scott

Number of pages:
How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 9/10 (I love the colours)

General Rating: 9/10
Who I'd recommend it for: Fans of Elizabeth Scott, pay attention. I think has got to be one of the best she's written (I have only Something, Maybe to compare it to though, so take that with a pinch of salt) . It's a really great take on a little covered theme, and I'm going to be brave here and (gulp) put Stealing Heaven up there with amazingness like Sarah Dessen. Yeah. I did it.

Stealing. The act of taking something that doesn't belong to you. It's a way of life for Danielle and her mother. Constantly on the move, constantly trying to blend in, get the right information, get the goods and get out, Dani has never had the chance to be normal. She's never been to school, never made any friends, never had half of the experiences that other girls her age take for granted. But she's got no choice. It's how it is. It's how it's always been. Her and her mum, alone together.Until one summer, one town and one boy change all the rules.

Woah. This is the kind of book that is dizzyingly fast paced, and more than slightly crazy and just brilliant really. I loved the idea- it completely captured my imagination, and I think that's what a great story has to do- to take the reader and put him/her in the character's heads, to make them feel it, to make them taste it almost. And that, more than anything else, is why this book reminded me of Sarah Dessen's writing. It's that same character empathy, that same feeling of actually being there. That said, I did have a couple of issues with Dani, but it was a minor annoyance and whilst I was pretty frustrated at her in the beginning (I was screaming at the pages; "Dani! Dani! Stop doing that!! [which, really, reveals more about me than anything else]) it was good to see her grow a little at a time, no fake miracle transformation. And Greg. Oh my gosh, Greg. No more needs to be said.
The plot got a little obvious at times, but it was still fast and gripping and I honestly did not put this book down. Luckily it's not too long, or else I would still be lying in bed, frantically turning pages. Because I did care, and in the end that's the bottom line. This is a book where you will care about the ending, care about the characters, care about what happens next. And for me, that made it one of the most exciting and enjoyable reads I've read in a while.

If you're an Elizabeth Scott fan (or if you're not, either way), tune in tomorrow for an interview with the lovely lady herself!

Teaser Tuesday (11)

2010-11-02T06:22:00.000-07:00

Hello. Teaser Tuesdays are a weekly meme (created by the fabulous Miz B of the Should Be Reading blog); simply take whatever you're currently reading, open it to a random page and share a couple of 'teaser' lines (preferably not including spoilers!).
This week's teaser is coming page 130 from The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap;
"He did not answer, but stopped his frantic, half-blind searching for a moment. 'I cannot. No one must know of my difficulties. It will destroy everything I have worked toward.'"
Oooh. I'm enjoying reading The Musician's Daughter quite a lot, I have to say and looking forward to the big unravelling of it all at the end. Hope you're all having happy tuesdays!

This Week's Last Page

2010-10-30T23:50:00.000-07:00

Hello. And welcome to this week's last page.

What's been happening with me bookwise and on the blog?
I've reviewed Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrighan (I know I've said this before, but Eireann is an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G name), click here for that. I read Stealing Heaven (all in one go, I might add) by Elizabeth Scott. I also finished reading I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schoerder.
I have this weird feeling that the following might as well be a permanant statement, but I am still [incredibly] slowly making my way through Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks (English Lit required reading).
I reached 89 followers!! How oh my gosh awesome is that?!! That's only eleven away from a hundred. I'm incredibly grateful, people. Plus, I made it to 50 tweets on twitter. And I only just noticed this, but I've made exactly 111 posts. How cool is that?!! So, it's been a week for number milestones.
Posts this week include: In My Mailbox [6], Today I Woke Up Sparkly (a.k.a What Makes An Attention Grabbing Title?)

What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld:
There's a great 'christmassy' meme that's been happening at A Tapestry of Words, entitled; "All I Want For Christmas..." Do I need to explain any more? Click here for that.

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?
So much to mention about the amazing looking Across The Universe by Beth Revis. There's a contest to win lots of cool prizes going on right now, and it's pretty clever and unique and a little bit geeky. Basically, there's a password-protected page. Guess/discover the secret password, and you get access to the entry form. How amazingly quirky! So obviously, I was loving it. Click here for a better explanation and the actual entry details etc. And the other bit of good news is that you can read the first chapter online, for free. Click here for that.

What's coming up on the blog?
An INCREDIBLY exciting Elizabeth Scott interview :) I was thrilled. Plus a review of Stealing Heaven too.

What's coming up generally?
I was stalking Simon and Schuster and I noticed this little notice:
Viola in the Spotlight
By: Adriana Trigiani
This edition: Mass Market Paperback, 224 pages
Publication date: April 1, 2011
Yes. I squealed a little bit. One of my most favouritely (is that even a word?) named authors. And more of Viola of course. If you want, you can read my review of Viola In Reel Life here.
And, also whilst stalking S&S, I found out the release date (November 1st) for Gone by Lisa McMann, which is the concluding part of the Wake Trilogy (which I have loved so far). So yes, cue more squealing.

Anything I've not mentioned? A great new release, a brilliant interview, an awesome contest? Leave a comment and I'll check it out (or include it next week). Please note that unsuitable/ inappropriate/ spam links will be removed. Thank you.

Review: Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrihan

2010-10-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

Title: Ordinary Ghosts
Author: Eireann Corrigan
Number of pages: 328
How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 5/10

General Rating: 8/10
Who I'd recommend it for: First up, got to mention there's a lot of swearing, adult content (drugs, sex, alcohol etc), dark themes (death, painful family relationships) and just general crudeness. So if that's something that would put you off (or you're younger than about 15), then I wouldn't recommend this. But, please, don't dismiss it out of hand.

Emil's mother's dead. His brother's gone. His military father is more absent than present. It's not exactly the perfect family. But Emil's brother left him more than an ache and a postcard. He left him the key. The master key to open every door in Caramoor, the posh school Emil's forced to attend. A night-time world of opportunities have opened up in front of him. But one possibility he never imagined was meeting somebody who made everything else better. Meeting somebody who made it easier to be so alone. Meeting somebody worth disappearing with.

The further I got into this book, the more I loved it. By the time I turned the last page, that was it. I was an Eireann Corrigan fan. I mean, at the start, I wasn't sure. I wasn't even interested, and I dipped in and out of reading it like nobody's business. But then, when Emil met Jade, I got it. And from then on, I could ignore the swearing and crudeness (which did kind of make me wince in places- are teenage boys really that bad?) and just enjoy the writing. I loved how much Emil loved Jade, and yet their relationship wasn't idealistic, and neither of them were perfect, so it all felt so really; Ms Corrigan knows how to capture a character's voice, that's for sure. And the plot got so much better too, I really didn't see the twist coming. So, overall, this was actually a poignant, unexpectedly moving, skillfully written read (with a poor beginning.)

Today I Woke Up Sparkly (a.k.a What Makes An Attention Grabbing Title?)

2010-10-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

Does it even matter what the title of a book is, when you have the cover, and the blurb and all manner of other things to make a better first impression? I would have to argue yes. It's like naming your first child. Calling him or her "Pickleface 3000" would inevitably lead to teasing, shunning and lifelong emotional scarring. Thoughtless titles can have a pretty negative impact, and might mean a great book doesn't get the attention it should.

So what makes a terrific title? It needs to be memorable; I want to read your book, but I can't remember what it's called, or your name. End result = probably won't be able to track it down and read it. Part of this is having a title that's different, something that will stand out and linger in my head (I'm swamped with book recommendations from everywhere I look. A killer title will seperate yours from hundreds of others). Don't wait until the first page to grab me; hook me at the title.

Personally, I like a title that makes me shiver in anticipation, or makes me chuckle, or else will make me suddenly smile half-way through the book when I have that little lightbulb moment and think 'Ah. That's why it's called that.' If that doesn't happen, well, I'm slightly annoyed. So, this is my little post saying: "Hey. Titles Matter."

In My Mailbox [6]

2010-10-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

Company Of Swans by Eva Ibbotson. I've read a lot of her before, but nothing for ages and just fancied revisiting her writing style, kind of like giving a big hug to an old friend you haven't seen in forever.

I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder. I read the first couple of pages and was hooked by how differently it was written. It's not written in full sentences, more like poetry. I'm not really sure of the technical term, only that it's not written in "continuous prose". But anyway, fancy words aside, I think it's going to be a marmite book.

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott. Yay. I've been on the look-out for an Elizabeth Scott ever since I read Something, Maybe, which, despite the slightly naff title, was great.

and last but not least,

The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap. Again, a little different, slightly out of my comfort zone, but I'm looking forward to it.

I was a little disappointed, actually. I wanted to really splurge, but couldn't really find anything on my local library shelves. However, what I did get looks pretty good, so I'm happy. What about you? What great books reached you guys this week?

This Week's Last Page

2010-10-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

Hello. And welcome to this week's last page.

What's been happening with me bookwise and on the blog?
I've finished Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty, and you can find the review of that here. I've also finished Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrighan, so expect a review of that soon! And I'm still [incredibly] slowly making my way through Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks (English Lit required reading).
Posts this week include: Teaser Tuesday, The Half-term Hop.

What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld:
I'm not really sure if this is in the right category, but what the heck. I'm going to live life on the wild side ;)
I discovered a really sweet blog through the follow friday, and then Inkcrush gave them a mention too, so I thought, this blog is going to be something special. Plus, it's super pretty! So, shoutout to Irresistible Reads.

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?
I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but it's a great contest, so hopefully you won't mind be notified twice. Anyway. The Eclectic Reader is giving three lucky people the chance to win their choice of book from a great selection that includes Paranormalcy and Crescendo. Click here for more details and to enter. (It's open internationally too!)
What's coming up on the blog?
Half-term started yestuarday, and whilst I have the time, I'll be reading like crazy. So, this week, many posts will be scheduled, and I'm hoping to have a trip to the library, so expect the IMM this week to mahoosive.

What's coming up generally?
I'm not really sure. I've not seen anything coming up that I'm feeling oh my gosh wow about, which makes me feel a little bit sad :(
But!! I did notice this on Scott Westerfield's blog.

Pretty cool, right?

Anything I've not mentioned? A great new release, a brilliant interview, an awesome contest? Leave a comment and I'll check it out (or include it next week). Please note that unsuitable/ inappropriate/ spam links will be removed. Thank you.

This Froggy Friday it's a Half-Term Hop.

2010-10-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Oh gosh, I haven't done a hop for ages! But since it's half-term, I thought it was time to find some new bloggers, and some been-blogging-for-ages-bloggers and read/follow some of their blogs. So, umm, hi!

Welcome to Under A Star Studded Sky.

This week's Hop question was:

"Where is your favorite place to read? Curled up on the sofa, in bed, in the garden?"

And my answer:

I read everywhere, but my absolute favourite place to read is in bed, when it's dark outside and the rain is making a racket on the roof; it just feels all warm and cosy and nice and aww.

This week's FF question was:
"What are you reading right now?"
And my answer:
Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrighan. I've been enjoying it, it's a little bit different and I'm really liking that. Nearly finished it, so, hopefully, review coming up soon.

Thank you for visiting; leave me a comment and I'll try to visit you back. Have a great weekend everybody :)

Review: Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty

2010-10-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

Title: Dreaming Of Amelia
Author: Jaclyn Moriarty
Number of pages: 580
How acquired: Library
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 7/10

General Rating: 8/10
Who I'd recommend it for: Jaclyn Moriarty fans, obviously, (it's in the same direction as the Spellbook of Listen Taylor, that kind of kookiness) and lovers of characters that feel so, so real combined with excellent writing.

Emily knew. Emily knew from day one that Amelia and Riley were... different. Special. Exciting.Sparkling Lydia saw the space between their hands and guessed at their past, saw a history that was a future break-up. But life doesn't work like that. It's not that neat. It's a mess of exams, letters, poems, drama rehearsals and committee meetings. It's art exhibitions and journeys going home and relationships. It's swimming and music and coffee. It's secrets. But what if you're a ghost? What's life then?

I've tried to capture the essence of the book above, but, with a book like this, written like this, it's hard. REALLY HARD. But, hey. Hopefully that's given you a flavour.

The first thing I have to say is this. It's difficult writing from say, two different perspectives. Ms Moriarty succeeds in successfully capturing roughly EIGHT different voices, eight different stories all merged into this novel. She has been there, done that, got the t-shirt on the whole character perspective thing. I mean, that's just phenomenal, and if I were wearing a hat, well, I'd take it off to her. This is definitely my favourite thing about her writing, and it really makes all the characters feel so alive- you get forced to consider everything from everyone's view. Add in the different forms of writing that just get thrown into the mix with such superb grace (how does she manage to make this style of writing so easy? How?) and you have a wonderfully genuine, many-dimensional story that leaps off the page.

The second thing I want to talk about, is the plot. This is where it kind of lost marks. The start is pretty confusing, as it all just jumps in, and there's a bit of mystery, but it's overplayed (in my humble opinion) and as a reader I found myself a little bit "ok, there's these people, Amelia and Riley. Right. So what?". But I love Jaclyn Moriarty's books, so I persevered and hey presto, half way in, I catch my breath. It suddenly becomes suspenseful and magical and Oh-My-Gosh I need to read this now.

My only other little criticism is, once again, Em. Oh, Em. How much I do not like thee and thy childish ways. And Cass didn't really feature much, and Lydia was a bit dark (as per usual). But these are minor details, or they were to me.

Overall, I loved this. It's quirky, it's original, it's crazy and it's really good.

P.S Can't add a cover image right now (Blogger is doing some maintenance), but will later.

Teaser Tuesday (10)

2010-10-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hello. Teaser Tuesdays are a weekly meme (created by the fabulous Miz B of the Should Be Reading blog); simply take whatever you're currently reading, open it to a random page and share a couple of 'teaser' sentences (preferably not including spoilers!).
This week's teaser was taken from page 54 of Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrighan;
"It's not that he doesn't care that you just sliced up your arm. But he figures, fix the test scores first."

This Week's Last Page

2010-10-16T06:23:00.000-07:00

Hello. And welcome to this week's last page.

What's been happening with me bookwise and on the blog?
I've been reading Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty, (currently on page 348 if you're really interested =]) and I'm about half way through Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrighan. I'm also slowly making my way through Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks (English Lit required reading).
Quick mention of my BEAUTIFUL new background (free from Itkupilli Designs [link top-left]).
Posts this week include: In My Mailbox.

What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld:
I really appreciated and enjoyed a review of Six by Karen Tayleur (especially since both the book and the author were totally unknown to me) that the lovely Steph Bowe did, so much so I thought I'd share it with you guys. Click here to read that.
Lenore (from Presenting Lenore) reviewed a book that's been generating a lot of interest lately, Hunger and interviewed its author, Jackie Morse Kessler, in one great post this week, click here for that.

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?
A Super Cool Brilliantly Awesome Absolutely AMAZING Arc Contest for Babbling Flow's Blogiversary. It's open internationally until the 31st of October, and the prizes include: A Signed Arc of Matched by Ally Condie, An ARC of The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney and an ARC of Dust City by Robert Paul Westen as well as some other great books. Click here to enter that and Good Luck!
The lovely Mariam Maarouf, debut YA author, is having a contest in which the winner gets the first two chapters of Rosie, which is a pretty special and unique prize, is it not?! And it's international too (ending the 31st of October). Head on over here to enter, or click here to see the trailer for Rosie.

What's coming up on the blog?
Reviews of both Ordinary Ghosts and Dreaming of Amelia should be posted up over the next couple of day. It's half-term in about nine days, so expect a big book splurge soon!
What's coming up generally?
There's a lot of new releases coming up, but I would say the one I'm most looking forward to that's had the least coverage (nobody seems to be talking about it for some unknown to me reason) would be...
The Painted Boy by Charles De Lint [link], due to be released in hardback on November 11th in the USA, I believe. I loved The Blue Girl when I read it a couple of years back (it still stands as one of my all time faerie favourites, despite tough competition from the lovely R J Anderson).

In My Mailbox [5]

2010-10-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday, a day earlier than I used to do the old IMMs (no prizes for spotting the recurring theme of moving memes [although there is a prize for saying that aloud five times]). In My Mailbox is a meme that was inspired by Alea and created by Kristi,where the aim of the game is to talk about all the books you've borrowed/ received/ bought/ eaten (ok, that last one there is a joke) during the past week.

I was very, very excited with my two library finds this week:
1. Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty. I love JM, and this is her latest release, so pretty happy-making stuff. Interested in knowing more? Click here to go to the author's website, or here to read my review of Finding Cassie Crazy by Jaclyn Moriarty.
2. Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrigan. How cool would it be to have a name like Eireann? I mean come on. EIREANN. I wish I was called Eireann.Oh, yeah right. The book. Well, it was kind of an impulse grab, but I'm liking it so far. The swearing in it? Not so much. But other than that, its a thumbs up. Click here for the Goodreads page.

And thats all that I've recieved book wise in the past week. How about you guys? Any super-cool literary discoveries in your mailbox?

Bookish Goings On and a different look Last Page

2010-10-09T13:36:00.000-07:00

Hello there folks. And welcome to this week's (earlier than normal, this feature will now be happening on Saturdays) Last Page. Slight tweaking has been taking place to the normal format of the blog, so this isn't the only feature that's having a bit of a makeover. So, lots of exciting new changes are afoot, but I'm hoping you'll like them!

What's been happening on the blog:
Embarrassingly little. I've been working really hard on some other stuff, and the blogging has suffered. I'm sorry! But what did happen was: Lots of excitement over Behemoth's release (see here if you want more info on that, and here for a Goodreads link).

What's been happening elsewhere in the blogasphere and bookworld:
I'm happy to annouce the release of Angel by L. A. Weatherly, which has recieved some pretty high praise. More info? Click here for an Amazon link.
My latest blog favourite, Just Your Typical Book Blog, reviewed Freefall by Mindi Scott, and I thought it was a really, really good review of what sounds a really, really awesome book. Click here to read that.

What's Going On RIGHT NOW?
You can tell I've been stalking JYTBB. But I had to mention this because it was pretty cool. There's a witch-themed giveaway going on (U.S Adresses only, sadly) with some wicked prizes. Click here to enter that.
There's a really nice, celebratory contest going on at The Eclectic Reader with lots of prizes. It's internationl and ends October 31st. Click here for all the entry stuff.
Chance to win Fall for Anything at one of the best book blogs EVER (Inkcrush). Open internationally and ending on the 19th October. Click here to fill out the form to enter.
Amelia at The Authoress has quite a few books that she's looking to trade with some lucky person, click here to see what that's all about.

What's coming up on the blog?
Lots of changes! For the better, I hope. I'm thinking a lot more structure, more routine, and basically, more. I'm aware I've been kind of AWOL lately, but I'm back!!

What's coming up generally?
I was so excited when I saw this post at Katie's Book Blog; there's a new Sarah Dessen (SARAH DESSEN!) book coming out and the cover looks gorgeous. It's called "What Happened To Goodbye".
I was equally excited when I saw this post on R J Anderson's Blog (R J Anderson being the awesomeness behind Knife and Rebel) about her upcoming release, Ultraviolet. Just take a read of this:
"Once upon a time there was a girl who was special. This is not her story. Unless you count the part where I killed her." Eeek! Cannot wait for that.

So. What do we think? I'm incredibly nervous, because this feature has always been my "baby" and this was quite a drastic change. Ok, ok, I'm pathetically attached. This is why I'm not allowed out too much =)

Anyway, I hope you like the new look Last Page and keep an eye out for more changes!

Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld Teaser

2010-10-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

Eeek!! It's released and you can read it at your leisure (and I would advise you to do so, it's pretty awesome [full review coming up]). To whet your appetite, here's a short teaser:

"Deryn felt sick, the way she had in a hundred nightmares replaying Da's accident, so close to the awful sight above her. The Huxley tugged at its cable, carried higher by the heat of the flames, spinning the winch's crank" (page 34).

Behemoth Excitement; It's Coming!

2010-10-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

I for one am very excited for the release of the sequel to Scott Westerfield's Leviathan, a.k.a Behemoth. Eek! I have to give all credit for my discovery (and subsquent love) to the wonderful Nonie over at The Flying Scribble. It rather says something that I am excited about the release, yet already have a copy (I've nearly finished reading it, and it's sublime!) through my work at The Book Bag. Anyway, greatness aside for a moment (by the way, I love Scott Westerfield [Uglies anyone?], I just thought I'd let you all know that the release date is the 5th of October, and tell you that this is series that's really worth having a look at.
Happy Reading,
Rachel Star

Can Required Reading be Good For You? A Review of Regeneration by Pat Barker

2010-09-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

Title: Regeneration

Author: Pat Barker
Number of pages: 250

How acquired: Required English Literature Reading
Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 6/10

General Rating: 6/10

Who I'd recommend it for: It's very interesting obviously for those with an interest in WW1, but I wouldn't want to pigeonhole it just like that. I would recommend it for people who enjoy novels with many characters, with large amounts of dialogue.

Siegfriend Sassoon thinks that the war has gone on too long, for the wrong reasons. Soldiers are suffering, soldiers are dying in their tens of thousands and their hundreds of thousands. But opposing the war is lunacy. Literally. Siegfriend is sent to Craiglockhart, a mental hospital, because of his views. Specifically, he is sent to Rivers, an army psychiatrist, who already has many genuinely ill patients under his care and is working night and day to try and recapture their sanity. But by healing his patients, he's sending them back to war. Back to the horror and suffering. Sending them back is suicidal. Sending them back is Rivers' duty.

This review is both a review and a small discussion (add your views, leave a comment!) on whether reading something because you have to, is right and good and occasionally enjoyable. I'm going to be utterly honest and say if I was browsing in a library, Regeneration wouldn't have caught my eye. If I'd have picked it up, and read the first page, or the blurb, I'd have put it down again. So, please, bear that in mind, as I try and be as open-minded as possible.

Regeneration has an amazingly genuine feel; I can visualize it exactly and it takes no stretch on my part to be able to imagine the events occurring. This is partly due to the blend of fact and fiction in the novel; the declaration on the beginning is the real Siegfried Sasson's own words, Craiglockhart did exist as did Dr W. H. R. Rivers, and partly to due Barker's clear and succinct writing style. My issue with this is that I'd have preferred to been able to draw more of my own interpretations from the novel; the italics on every single page felt patronising and I struggled to become absorbed in a book where I felt there was a distinct lack of ambiguity. I like to able to guess, to work to understand, to put some effort in as a reader. Of course, that's purely personal preference.

The main subject matter, World War One, was a struggle for me. The factual style of writing allowed for some detachment, and I don't think I ever really connected with any of the characters, but the horror and tragedy, even in this abstract way, was brutal. I'm not putting this down as a criticism, not at all, but I found it difficult and unpleasant. I'm aware of how spoiled that sounds, and I'm not saying that the terror and pain of World War One should be diluted, or dulled in any way. I'm merely pointing it out, so that a potential reader can feel a little warned. Plus, there are so many themes mixed up in the book (in a rather clever way, I must admit) that it can be a little dizzying; it's a great book to discuss and study and analyse, but one for reading slowly, not as one great big lump.

And onto the final aspect of my review (yep, this one's kind of a long one); the characters. Oh, Rivers. I would argue that Rivers was the main character, and for me, he was easily my favourite. I understood the majority of his points, felt a lot of sympathy with his views but he still felt a little bland. They all did. Sort of flat and stereotypical. However, perhaps I read too much YA, where the characters are teenagers almost exclusively and I've got used to being in their shoes, and empathising with them so easily. Perhaps I need to broaden my reading horizons.

And I suppose that's what reading out of your comfort zone is about. Not about reading snobbery, or fulfilling some sort of "you-must-read-this-or-else-you-can't-call-yourself-a-good-reader" list. It's about broadening your reading horizons, learning new vocabulary, experiencing new experiences through a new author's eyes. And as a reviewer and as a English Literature Student and as a reader, I can honestly say that that is a good thing.

Let me introduce you to the awesome Mary Hoffman!

2010-09-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hello! Today sees me get the chance to share with everybody my interview of the author behind the brilliant Stravaganza series, Mary Hoffman, I was delighted to get the oppurtunity to ask a few questions.

1. First things first! Please, tell my readers a little bit about yourself and your books.

I have been a published writer for 35 years, and able to live off my earnings as a writer for the last maybe 17 or 18. I specialise in various different kinds of book. For teenagers, the Stravaganza fantasy sequence set in an alternative Italy and stand-alone historical novels like The Falconer's Knot and Troubadour. But I also write picture books and re-tellings for younger readers, like Amazing Grace and its sequels. My most recent books are Stravaganza: City of Ships (book 5) and The Great Big Book of Families. But these are the ones published this year; I have also written another Grace picturebook and completed a long historical novel about Michelangelo. I'm married and have three grown-up daughters all working in the arts: a writer, a theatre producer and an architect. And I have three Burmese cats, all very individual in personaility.

2. Some writers dream of being published authors all of their lives, whereas others never even considered the possibility but then found that they could and would be authors. Did you always plan on being a writer and what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of it as a career?
It depends what you mean by "always"! When I was about nine, I wanted to be a garage mechanic. I think in the end it was a question of what I could do. I was always best at making things up. It's a very perilous career, especially now. But when it works, as it has for me, it has the wonderful advantage of doing what I love and being my own boss.
3. Why do you enjoy/ why did you want to write for a YA/Teen audience?
I actually started out by writing for a YA audience. My first published book, White Magic, was written for teenagers. Then, as writing had to fit in around raising three small daughters and doing paid work, the books had to be shorter. As the girls grew older and I had more time for sustained writing, the books got longer again. I can't tell you why teen; it just feels right.

4. I'm a big fan on the Stravaganza series, which is set both in our world during modern times and Talia, (kind of like an alternate Italy from the 16th century for those who haven't read it), and the characters travel between the two places. Just curious, but why Italy?
It's much easier to answer "why Italy?"! I fell in love with Italy first on a holiday on the Adriatic Coast when I was fourteen (the age many of my readers are now). But more importantly I spent a month in Florence on my first "long vacation" from Cambridge. That was the beginning of the longest love affair of my life - it pre-dates even my husband. I love the art, the food, the language, the weather, the countryside.

(But not the politics).

5. Wow. I've always wanted to go to Italy, and you just made me want to go even more! Number five: Sky might just be my favourite character from the series; I can definitely see what Alice sees in him. Do you have any literary crushes, now or back when you were younger?
Embarrassingly yes. My English teacher was shocked that my class all preferred Hal to Hotspur and Edmund to Edgar! And I had a big crush on Mr Knightley, which was resurrected by Johnny Lee Miller in the TV adaptation of Emma earlier this year.

Now? Well, I love Per Sterkarm in Susan Price's brilliant The Sterkarm Handshake. I don't care for Edward Cullen. I love Sorenson Carlisle in Margaret Mahy's The Changeover. But now I seem to be more into creating literary crushes than having them, going by the number of girls in love with Lucien Mulholland.

Quickfire Favourites

Favourite season? Autumn, though not when it comes too soon as has happened in the UK this "summer". But I love the slightly melancholy, elegaic quality of autumn and it's a beautiful word, don't you think?
Favourite place? Many, many but the Campo in Siena has to be very close to the top of the list.
Favourite author? Again far too many to pick out but I get more and more out of Shakespeare as I get older.
Favourite number? 27.
Favourite room in your house? It would have to be where I am right now, in my green and white study, with French windows on to the garden. It is where I write all my books so I don't like it just for itself but for its history and associations.

Thank you Mary! You've been a fabulous interviewee, some great answers there to some pretty tough questions (I'm kind of mean with the whole quickfire favourites thing!).

If you'd like to find out even more, you can visit her website here, read my review of City Of Masks here or view a teaser from City of Flowers here.

Teaser Tuesday (9) [At least, I think it's number nine]

2010-09-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hello, hello, hello. It's been a while since I did a teaser, but this is a sure sign that Under A Star Studded Sky has finally recovered from TAAB2010 (Oh my, I couldn't believe I actually read all those books), starting college and losing my internet access. Yay for the return of normality.

This week's teaser is taken from City Of Flowers by Mary Hoffman because:

It's an awesome book.
She's an awesome author.
The lovely Ms Hoffman agreed to be interviewed by me sometime ago, and tomorrow, you can finally get to see the result (which is awesome, as she is one awesome lady).

So, coming at you from page 133 [quite far in, but not a spoiler, don't worry!] is:
"All you will achieve is more deaths in both families, more lamenting women, more work for priests and gravediggers. I envy Benedetta di Chimici her place under the Earth, where she no longer has to fear for the death of her children."

Credit: This meme was created by the fabulous Miz B of the Should Be Reading blog.

It's not often this happens, but when it does...

2010-09-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

It's not often that I see a book and think, I want to read that. Right now. Especially one with no buzz about it, or that I've never heard of before. But, I was checking out a post on the AMAZING Inkcrush blog, and I saw a book entitled:

Loving Richard Feynman.

And in my head I sort of went something like this:

"Richard Feynman. THE Richard Feynman? Really? No way. Richard Feynman. A fictional book about Richard Feynman. THE Richard Feynman." And then I sort of squealed. Internally. And I clicked and read the synopsis, and basically, I want to read it. Right now. Right this very second. Yes. Right now. I may even buy it. Gosh. By the way, the link goes to Goodreads and it's by somebody named Penny Tangey. BIG THANKS to Nomes for bringing it to my attention. I love it when another blogger does that, it's really the best recommendation a book could have.

A non-TAAB2010 review? Gosh, I'd forgotten those exist. Anyway, here's Where I Belong by Gillian Cross

2010-09-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

Title: Where I Belong
Author: Gillian Cross

Number of pages: 340

How acquired: Library

Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 8/10

General Rating: 8/10

Who I'd recommend it for: Fans of Gillian Cross and fans of books that are a little bit different, with some culture added in and a real flavour to them.

I really, really like the plot summary from the back of the book. So here it is, in all it's glory:

"There are guns and bandits in this story. And supermodels. And there's drought and starvation too.
Are you wondering how they can all come together? Well, that's how life is these days. Things don't happen neatly in separate little places. We're all caught by the great spider's web of media that spans the world.
That's where this story of Abdi and Khadja and Freya (that's me) and what happened to us because of Somalia..." So, yeah, maybe it's a little cheesy. But I like it.

And I like the story inside too. I thought it was clever, and that the characters were well drawn (although a little un-coloured in, if you get me). It reminded me a bit of Sophia Bennett's Threads, and I'm a massive Gillian Cross fan anyway, so the writing style was a winner. Again, the book was a little cheesy, a little cliched perhaps, but it worked well in this context.

I found the backdrop to be fabulous, as it usually is with Gillian Cross's books. Great swathes of culture on a beautifully imaginative canvas that was a blur of gorgeousness. Ok, that was a little enthusiastic. But still. It was a nice mix.

Freya was a great character, if a little stereotypical and I found myself really warming to her. I'd have liked to seen her in more depth, and I think that goes for most of the characters; the majority seemed really interesting but sparsely presented.

Overall, there are some superb elements, brief flashes of "Oh my gosh this is good!" and a little bit of "if only this had been different...".

BBAW: Interview Swap

2010-09-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hello. As part of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I got the oppurtunity to interview another blogger, who was completely new to me. I found this a really interesting experience of suddenly meeting a complete stranger and having an excuse to ask some nosy questions, which probably reveals more about my character than I should make available on the world wide web!
Anyway, my partner was Hannah of Wordlily, and our interview went a little something like this:

Me: Hello Hannah!
First things first. How did you come to be a book blogger and what's your favourite thing about it?
Hannah: Well, when I first started my blog, I was planning for it to be about words and language, and yes, books. But I hadn't discovered the existence of this thing we now call a book blog. Once I did, I knew that's where I fit. My favorite aspect of book blogging is the community. I love that there are tons of people to talk books with, who understand this dimension of me.

Me: Where do you like to read most, or are you a read anywhere sort of person?
Hannah: I usually take a book with me everywhere I go, but I spend most of my reading time in one of two places: The big recliner in our living room, or bed.

Me: What's your favourite genre, or which genre do you read most often?
Hannah: I have a hard time naming favorite anythings. I love variety! :) I love to read mysteries and literary fiction, though.

Me: What was the last book you read?
Hannah: The last book (as of this writing) that I finished was The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry. I'm completely buried in a project right now — The INSPYs — which is dictating all of my reading right now.

Me: What's the first book you can remember reading, or having read to you?
Hannah: I hate that I don't have a good answer to this question. I don't remember not being able to read, but I don't have specific first memories of reading or being read to, either. I wish I did! I do recall (whether it's accurate or not) the first reading lesson in first grade: "Light."

Quickfire Choices

Bookmark user or a corner folder?
Bookmark!
Coffee or Tea?
Coffee, usually. But I do enjoy a nice cup of tea — English breakfast, with cream and a little sugar. Yum!
Night or Day?
Um, day, I guess.
Beautiful cover or gorgeous synopsis? i.e. which would intrigue you more?
Cover. I usually don't even read the synopsis — at least not all the way through; I hate reading spoilers, and way too often the book's synopsis gives away more than I want to know ahead of time.
Fiction or Non-Fiction?
Fiction. I do love some nonfiction, but I reach for fiction much more frequently.
Yay, thanks for being my interview partner! This was fun.

Aww. Thanks to you too, Hannah, this was fun! You can read my interview answers to Hannah's questions here.

BBAW runs til Friday, so there's plenty more events going on everywhere, be sure to check some of them out (all of the links can be found at http://bookbloggerappreciationweek.com/.)
Happy Reading,
Rachel Star

Newsflash: It's All Going On, Folks

2010-09-11T06:15:00.000-07:00

Hello, hello, hello.

As some of you may, or may not know, the wondrous event that is BBAW (Book Blogging Appreciation Week) runs from September 13th to the 17th. You can check it out, (explained in far greater and better detail), here, and stay tuned for the Big Interview swap that's going on on the fourteenth, in which my partner is:

Hannah of Word Lily!

Also coming up over the next fortnight:

Under A Star Studded Sky Sees Memes Return

Mary Hoffman Chats About Literary Crushes, Italy and Writing for Teens.

Can Required Reading be Enjoyable too? I Reveal how I got on with Regeneration by Pat Barker.

Plus, perhaps I should move house and lose internet more often, as in my absence I seem to have won rather a lot of awards. Wow. Thank you!

Just a Note

2010-09-11T05:43:00.000-07:00

Hello!
Just a quick note to let everybody know that I haven't in fact dropped of the face of the Earth, but rather moved house, and been completely unable to blog. But, I am reliably informed that I'll have Internet access as of Monday, so soon the blog will be back to normal. Phew. Thanks for sticking with me,
Happy Reading,
Rachel Star

TAAB2010 Wrap Up And Summery (See what I did there?!)

2010-08-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

The Amazing August Blog-A-Thon, ran from the 1st of August to the 25th and so has now, sadly, finished. However, it may return next year. And it was pretty awesome whilst it lasted, right?!!

I managed to read... 28 books.
I managed to review... 21 books, plus 3 guest reviews, including some fab books:

Dr Franklin's Island by Ann Halam (10/10)
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (10/10)
Dragonfly by Julia Golding (10/10)
The Host by Stephenie Meyer (8/10)
And
Finding Cassie Crazy by Jackyn Moriarty (8/10).

And some really not so fab books that I disliked (but might have a reader in somebody else):

The Glass Demon by Helen Grant (5/10)
Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (4/10)
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (4/10)

And just lots of other books, books and more books. Almost every genre of YA/Teen got a look in, so if you're not sure what to read, have a browse through (click here) and I hope you'll find something you fancy.

Comment and tell me which your favourite TAAB2010 featured book was, and see it as the Last Page's "Book Of The Week" next Sunday. Oooh. The power.

And, please, a round of applause and many thanks to:

Anna, who did a superb review of Framed by Kate Morgonroth here.

Angelique, from Vampires and Tofu, who's a fan of YA Paranormal, adult paranormal, and horror and has been blogging since April but reading all her life. She says: "I named my blog after two things I love...vampires (I was actually named for a character on the old gothic soap opera Dark Shadows which had vampires in it!)and tofu because I am a vegetarian. I LOVE reading and blog with the goal of sharing that love and hopefully sparking some interest in some great books. I think there is a book for everyone out there!"
Angelique reviewed Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton, which you can read here.

Nonie, from The Flying Scribble who loves mysteries, fantasy, realistic fiction, and occasionally sci-fi, though really, likes to read all genres and has been blogging for about a year and a couple of months. She says: "I just want to say thank you, Rachel, for letting me participate in your 2010 TAAB! It feels so surreal to see my own words in something really cool. ;)" WHICH I THOUGHT WAS SO SWEET AND LOVELY. See. Go read her review of Only The Good Spy Young By Ally Carter here now.

Becky, who was the awesomeness that lent me The Raging Quiet by Sheryl Jordan (review here) for the Borrow-A-Book Based on Becky's Recommendation Challenge.

And just generally to anyone who commented, became a follower or simply read a review.

It's because of you that these events work. So, yeah, you all rock :)

And thats it. From next week, posting will be sporadic (no internet access whilst moving house, relying on the library's) but it'll be back to the usual memes (Teaser Tuesdays, In My Mailbox and Last Page) and two book reviews a week, plus over the next month, I've got an awesome interview with the wonderful Mary Hoffman and my first audiobook review. Exciting stuff, people.

Happy Reading,
Rachel Star

THE GRAND FINALE OF TAAB2010: Book review of Ann Halam's Dr Franklin's Island

2010-08-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

This is it, people. This is the finale of TAAB2010, the most awesome TAAB (and the first) ever held here at Under A Star Studded Sky. Before I begin this review, I should warn readers that are unaware of my obsession with this book, that it is my favourite book. EVER. Ever, ever, ever. So, onto the review:

Title: Dr Franklin's Island

Author: Ann Halam

Number of Pages: 272

How Acquired: Library (Yes. I know. But after I'd read it so so so many times, how could I justify buying it?)

Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 8/10

General Rating: 10/10

Who I'd recommend it for: Well. Who wouldn't I recommend it to?

Semirah Garson never expected to be plane-wrecked. She never expected to meet two people in an airport and have them turn out to be her only companions for the rest of her life. But the world is unpredictable like that. Semi, Miranda and Arnie are the sole survivors of a plane crash that landed them on an small tropical island in the middle of the Pacific. But being stranded is only the start of their nightmare. Dr Franklin's been waiting for them. And now they're here, his experiments can begin. Semi's lost everything, and now she's about to have her humanity taken from her too...

I just can't think of a criticism. I loved the plot, I love the pace, I love Ann Halam's writing, I love the characters, I love everything about it. So apologies for this review sounding like a something Cupid wrote or a LV advert.

Ok. Semi. The main character. Oh Semi. Shy, scared, intelligent, brave in so many ways Semi. I loved the way her character grew and developed throughout the book, the way her strengths shone through in places and in others she was dependent on others. Miranda, felt so real, as if she'd just walked of the street and into the pages. I can picture her perfectly in my head. And Dr Franklin. Creeepy.

PLOT CRUSH ALERT. I didn't guess the ending, I didn't guess the middle and I loved it from the beginning. What better could I ask for? It was paced perfectly, slower towards the start and then swiftly gathering momentum for some gorgeous plot manoeuvres. There was tension, fear, suspense and action.

The writing? Well just superb. I've read a couple of other books by Ann Halam, so I know she has a consistently divine style, so this isn't just a one-off. But the writing matches so well to the book, and it's quite dialogue intensive, rather than descriptive based, which I loved.

Overall, this may not be the most perfect book in the universe (even though I think it is). But if you only read one book ever, make it this one.

A TAAB2010 Guest Review (A Little Late): Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

2010-08-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

This is a guest review by the wonderful and lovely Nonie who runs The Flying Scribble. Over to you Nonie:

Title: Only the Good Spy Young

Author: Ally Carter

Rating on Cover Alone (because yes, Nonie, like Rachel, can be that superficial occasionally): 7/10

General Rating: 8.5/10

Who I’d Recommend it for: Gallagher Girls/Ally Carter fans definitely, others who like the spy/mystery/thriller genre, teenage girls in general :)

When Cammie Morgan faced an ancient group of terrorists two months ago, she didn’t know how dangerous it would get. When she has a terrifying encounter with one of her most trusted allies, and as more surprises are revealed, Cammie doesn’t know who to trust anymore, and she and her friends have to search for answers that may lie in her past...

*cue dramatic music*

Soo...Only the Good Spy Young. This was not my favorite Gallagher Girls (the first one will always be my favorite :D), but it was definitely the most action-packed! There were twists I’ve never would’ve seen coming, and revelations about certain characters that made my jaw drop (almost literally). And the climax at the end! It certainly made me catch my breath. If I wasn’t sitting in a bookstore while I was reading a certain part, I probably would’ve gasped out loud out of horror. (I think I was begging Ally Carter in my head to not do what I thought she was going to do.)

The only thing I was sad about was that some of my favorite characters, like Macey and Liz, sort of stepped into the background, and I missed them. The good thing, though, is that other characters got a chance to shine in the spotlight. I loved learning about the characters. Like I said before, some of the shocking revelations almost made my jaw drop.

So, basically, Only the Good Spy Young was great, and I would’ve given this book a perfect 10/10 (because, yes, it was terrific and I loved it), if it wasn’t for this empty feeling I got after I finished it. Maybe it’s because I sped through it quickly, or maybe because it just felt so different from other books in this series. The tone was very different, probably because danger was lurking around every corner this time, but, I just felt that something was missing and that there could’ve been more. More of what, I’m not exactly sure, but I felt that there was potential to bring up other things. But other than that, Only the Good Spy Young was great, and if you haven’t checked out the Gallagher Girls series yet, I highly recommend them. They’re not too serious, fun, humorous, sweet, a little romantic (especially Only the Good Spy Young :D), and just wonderful books to read. :)

Thank you Nonie. I'm working my way through this series as we speak, so I can actually say I agree that the first book is awesome.

This is the LAST guest review of TAAB2010. I'm sorry it's nearly over, but I've had a lot of fun and I hope you guys have discovered some great books.

A TAAB2010 Book Review: Pride and Penalties by Chris Higgins

2010-08-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

This is a Book Review is part of The Amazing August Blog-A-Thon, and is the twenty-second of twenty five reviews. Click here, or use the link at the top of the page to find out more about TAAB2010.

Title: Pride and Penalties

Author: Chris Higgins

Number of pages: 282
How Acquired: Bought

Rating on cover alone (because, yes, I am that superficial occasionally): 7.5/10

General Rating: 7.5/10

Who I'd recommend it for: Fans of chick lit and of Chris Higgins; it's pretty typical of her writing.

Spider only ever wanted to play rugby and to make her dad proud. But she's a girl, and it's her brother Will who's playing for County and earning a winning smile from her dad's face. Spider doesn't understand why it's so black and white: why girls can't play rugby and boys can't star in musicals. But she's about to discover that everyone has their secrets. Her brother, her mum, and her are all hiding who they are. Will anybody be brave enough let their true self stand in the spotlight?

I am a Chris Higgins fan. I know I'm guaranteed a read that's usually going to cheer me up or make me tear slightly, something that's got a little bit of depth but not so much you drown in patronising morals, something that's light and easy like a summer afternoon. And I think I got that in Pride and Penalties. I loved the character of Spider, she was real and gutsy and trying so hard you just had to support her. It's told from her perspective and it does help the reader to empathise. I used to play rugby (and I'm a girl too!) so I really got that aspect of the book, the way some people that it's not "lady like" enough, and that you can't be pretty and play rugby too. But even without knowing what rugby even was, this book would still appeal and be simple to follow, I think.

The plot isn't going to win any awards, but it's not terrible. There are elements of humor, a pinch of romance and a dash of suspense blended together with a pleasant writing style and an great narrative voice, gently read for a couple of hours until the reader is happy (ok, this cooking analogy isn't perfect, but you can see where I'm going). Overall, a good, solid read.