This Gorgeous Game is a chilling account of a priest’s obsession with a seventeen-year-old girl. Freitas does a scarily good job of portraying emotions on both sides of the conflict, the stalker and the victim. Despite how realistic she is, I found it difficult to relate to protagonist Olivia. Her innocence and lack of confidence was frankly annoying and led to confusion and shame over being stalked by a priest. I found it upsetting that she was so slow to really that it wasn’t her fault, but when she finally did, though, thanks to help from her family, friends, and a local nun, I found it terribly sad but still satisfying. This Gorgeous Game is not the sort of book that one enjoys reading because of the creepy nature of the topic; however, I do recommend it for Freitas’s characters. Readers will continue to root for Olivia, in spite of her weakness, to grow, understand her situation, and rise above it.
This Gorgeous Game should be read by serious readers who liked Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott, Break by Hannah Moskowitz, and Split by Swati Avasthi.
Rating: 4.25
Review copy from publisher Macmillan
This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas
Win How to Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson
A playful, witty, and remarkably accomplished debut novel about how reading can save your life
Asked to name her favorite book, sixteen-year-old Carley Wells answers, "never met one I liked." Her parents are horrified and decide to commission a book to be written just for her. They will be the Medicis of Long Island and buy their daughter The Love of Reading. At first, Carley's sole interest in the project is to distract Hunter, the young bibliophile she adores. But as Hunter's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, Carley begins to understand the importance of stories-and how they are powerful enough to destroy a person. Or save her.
Tanya Egan Gibson's debut novel is an irresistible work of metafiction that dazzlingly embeds a book within the book, and boasts an unforgettably fresh narrator whose journey towards embracing literature will make you fall in love with reading all over again.
(5) lucky winners will receive How to Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson
courtesy of Penguin Group
Other details:
- US mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 8/20/10, at 9 p.m. PST.
Interview with Tanya Egan Gibson
Well, what do you know? Tanya Egan Gibson's wonderful How to Buy a Love of Reading is now out in paperback. To celebrate this awesomeness with a new cover, I have interviewed the lovely lady Tanya herself.
Would you consider How to Buy a Love of Reading a young adult fiction or adult fiction? (I’m just curious for your opinion on this, since there can be arguments for both sides).
I think it's adult fiction, but I can see why people might disagree. The book alternates points of view--and a lot of those POVs are those of adult characters. This (the choice to include so much adult POV), for me, is what disqualifies it from being truly YA. On the other hand, when I told the story through the viewpoints of the teenage characters, especially that of Carley, the protagonist, I wanted those viewpoints/voices to feel genuinely teenage (if precociously so). So I ended up with a book where perhaps half of it *is* YA (if you were to only read the Carley and Hunter parts) and the rest is not. Though this decision hasn't made it the easiest book to categorize or market, it's not a decision I regret making. (More on that below, in answer to the next question.)
What were you trying to accomplish when you started writing How to Buy a Love of Reading? What do you feel you’ve accomplished with the finished product?
I have a love/hate relationship with meta-fiction (fiction that calls attention to the fact that the story *is* indeed fiction, rather than allowing the reader to experience the story as a waking dream). I think it's cool, but often it is *too* cool for me—that is, too cerebral and not emotional enough. I'm not impressed by coolness; I'm impressed by heat.
No matter how clever something is, if it doesn't resonate emotionally for me, I lose interest fast. I love, for instance, the way most YA fiction bravely explores emotional territory without trying to be overly subtle. And I hate the idea (one that, for me, I find more than vaguely misogynistic) that there is something shameful about blatant emotion.
All which added up to me wanting to write a novel that had a YA-ish emotional resonance to it and that also explores the merits and perils of meta-fiction. (My favorite proposed title for the book—brainstormed by my wonderful husband—was LITERALITY AND THE PERILS OF LOVE. Alas, everyone on the publishing end thought that title was too complicated.)
Carley and Bree are certainly very unique characters. Can you tell us how they were developed?
In the first draft of the novel, Bree the author hired by wealthy parents to custom-write a novel for their book-hating daughter, was actually the protagonist. I'd imagined it as *her* story, and had imagined Carley as her bratty, spoiled protagonist. But it didn't take long for me to realize that
a.) I didn't really like Bree.
b.) Carley, who kept "stealing" the scenes, was way more interesting.
Once I realized whose story it really was, the writing was far more fun and the book took on way more heart.
What was the most difficult part for you to write in How to Buy a Love of Reading?
There are some very ugly scenes with Hunter that made me feel terrible as I wrote them. (I like Hunter a lot, and it's hard for me to hurt characters I care about.) But the truth is that he's such a glamorous character, in so many other ways, that it was *necessary* for me to show his descent into addiction as ugly in ways both emotional and physical. The last thing I wanted to do was end up glamorizing addiction.
Which character from How to Buy a Love of Reading can you relate to the most, and why?
There's a lot of Carley in me—I’m hugely emotional and show my love in unsubtle ways, and I'm not embarrassed sometimes when maybe I should be. And there's a lot of Hunter in me, too—a person who looks to fiction for emotional safety and gets author-crushes and all. (When I go to other authors' readings and get on line afterwards to have them sign my book, I get so nervous that not only is it nearly impossible for me to make words--even something like "I love your work"--but once or twice I've forgotten my own name. Embarrassing but true.)
What is the most interesting thing you learned while writing How to Buy a Love of Reading? (This can be about yourself, about writing, or anything at all).
I came to realize that *stories*—not necessarily those in book form—were the most important things to me. At events where I speak about the power of stories and storytelling, it drives some folks crazy when I suggest that the "story" of a good TV series (for instance, any Joss Whedon series) is as important as that in a book. I get looks that say, "Didn't you write a book called How To Buy a Love of READING"? and "Can you please not say that in front of my teenagers?" (Yeah, because that might turn them into driveling TV-heads who spend all night watching BIG BROTHER AFTER DARK, right?) I love reading and I'm a huge advocate for books. But my book and I are advocates for all stories, not just written ones.
Why do you read?
Through listening to Carley (and, I suppose, to my own heart) while writing this, I started to really understand why I love the stories I love and why the stories I tell myself about my own life are so important. Stories give emotional shape to my world and make me feel connected to other people.
What is the most rewarding part of being an author?
I love talking to and e-mailing with people about books and writing. Book groups are amazing! Writing groups are amazing! I love hearing about how invested people are in what they read—how much they care about characters they are creating and characters they are reading about. Being around devout readers and writers—people brave enough to bring their hearts to what they read and write—reminds me that people are good and caring and kind and wonderful.
If there was one thing you could change about How to Buy a Love of Reading, what would it be?
It's a tough question because to change one thing about a book—or a person—is to change so many things, a domino effect. If I were to write it again today parts of it would of course be different because I'm a different writer than I was during the time period (2000-2008) when I wrote it, but I haven't given much thought to what exactly I'd change. Mostly, I spend time thinking about what I'm writing now. (Looking back over your shoulder, in my experience, inevitably leads to turning into a pillar of salt.)
What’s next for you?
I'm working on a novel, LANDS, that takes place in an underwater-themed amusement park where nothing is exactly what it seems. The protagonist, an eighteen-year-old former competitive figure skater, performs in the park's ice show in a jellyfish costume that covers not only her body but her face, which was scarred by her former skating partner's skate blade during a career-ending accident.
I love theme parks (and funnel cake and chili dogs and those games where you can win a giant orange teddy bear that you don't need but somehow want) without irony. So even though there's a fair amount of humor (some of it dark) in the book, it doesn't poke fun *at* theme parks or the folks who frequent them.
I'm especially fascinated by theme park rides and experiences that tell a story and how the "story" the park tells intersects with the "stories" we bring to them. (Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is, in fact, a different "ride" for you than it is for me.) Having this great excuse to visit theme parks with my children for research, and writing the book in general, has so far been a very fun ride.
Win The Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins
Ireland, 1959: Young Christy Hurley is a Pavee gypsy, traveling with his father and extended family from town to town, carrying all their worldly possessions in their wagons. Christy carries with him a burden of guilt as well, haunted by the story of his mother's death in childbirth. The peripatetic life is the only one Christy has ever known, but when his grandfather dies, everything changes. His father decides to settle down temporarily in a town where Christy and his cousin can attend mass and receive proper schooling. But they are still treated as outsiders.
As Christy's exposure to a different life causes him to question who he is and where he belongs, the answer may lie with an old newspaper photograph and a long-buried family secret that could change his life forever...
(2) lucky winners will receive The Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins.
courtesy of Penguin Group
Other details:
- US mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 8/15/10, at 9 p.m. PST.
The Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins
The Outside Boy is a fascinating coming of age story from an unusual perspective. Christy is an Irish Pavee or gypsy, so his views on life and what normal is are very different from what most readers will be used to. I found Christy’s narrations to be refreshing and honest. It’s hard not to like him; his joy and love of nature are contagious and his resolve to solve the mystery of his mother so heartwarming. The actual plot of the story really isn’t all that exciting and at times is even predictable, but the real value of Cummin’s writing is apparent in her vivid characters and attention to detail. I loved reading along as Christy starts to challenge his way of life when confronted with the tenets of Catholicism, question his heritage when he finds his mother’s photo, and matures in many ways. Cummin’s focus on family, even version that seem to be polar opposite, is very meaningful when tied into Christy’s tale, and I found the entire story a very worthwhile and satisfying read.
The Outside Boy may be enjoyed by fans of When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton and What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell.
Rating: 4.0
Review copy from publisher Penguin
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Before reading Linger, I didn’t really care if there was a sequel to Shiver, but now that I have, I’m undoubtedly glad I did. It’s difficult to say anything about this novel’s plot without revealing too much because nearly all the details turn out to be significant to the very surprising ending. I have to say that I’m completely impressed with this story; it’s quite fantastic how Stiefvater was able to extend the already unique story in Shiver into an even more original, exciting, and complex one in Linger. Stiefvater adds a new layer of complications to the mystery of the wolf pack, allowing this story to be all the more interesting, both because of these new complications and for the numerous twists and turns it encourages. This second installment in the Shiver trilogy is without a doubt a satisfying read.
Fans of Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater will not want to miss its exciting sequel, nor will those who enjoyed Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, the A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy by Libba Bray, and the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz. I cannot wait for the conclusion to this awesome trilogy.
Rating: 4.5
Review copy from publisher Scholastic
Winners
Let's offer a warm round of congratulations to the winners of the latest giveaways here at The Book Muncher:
Hollywood Hills by Aimee Friedman
The latest and last of Alexa and Holly’s exciting vacations, Hollywood Hills is certainly the sweetest and most memorable. It’s not necessary to have read the story’s prequels, South Beach and French Kiss, to understand Hollywood Hills; in fact, this was the case the first time I read this book. However, the background is a plus, particularly because it details the development of Alexa and Holly’s current relationship. By now, their friendship is pretty much rock solid, and the girls rely on each other for fashion advice and moral support. Alexa’s and Holly’s characters don’t mature much through the course of this book, because each girl has more or less established who she is before this story even started, so most of the book is plain and simple guilty pleasure. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, and Friedman does a wonderful job of making this story about true friendship and love amidst the glitz and fake glamour or Hollywood. This is a very cute and satisfying read perfect for summer.
Fans of South Beach and French Kiss, both by Aimee Friedman, will enjoy Hollywood Hills, as will readers who liked Summer Boys and Summer Girls, both by Hailey Abbott.
Rating: 3.5
Review copy from publisher Scholastic
French Kiss by Aimee Friedman
Friends Alexa and Holly are at it again in their next scandalous adventure. French Kiss picks up a year after its prequel South Beach leaves off, and although there are several details that are carried over, French Kiss is still easy to understand on its own. I enjoyed this Parisian vacation as much as if not more than Alexa and Holly’s South Beach excursion. There were the shopping and clubbing excitements of course, which, coupled with the international factor, made this novel a glamorous read. Better yet though, both Alexa’s and Holly’s characters grew. Holly’s growth wasn’t very dramatic; it was an extension of her growth from South Beach into a more independent and self aware young woman. Alexa, on the other hand, experiences a complete paradigm shift when she becomes the victim of a player; it shows Alexa’s more vulnerable side and makes her easier to sympathize with. Although it was unrealistic how the girls manage to avoid all real trouble except the romantic kind, I did thoroughly enjoy reading French Kiss.
Readers who enjoyed South Beach by Aimee Friedman will also want to check out its sequel, as will fans of Kissing Snowflakes by Abby Sher and Faking 19 by Alyson Noël.
Rating: 3.5
Review copy from publisher Scholastic
Dark Secrets Giveaway
It's time for another giveaway. This time, it's for a couple of paranormal murder mysteries by Elizabeth Chandler.
(1) lucky winner will receive Dark Secrets 1: Legacy of Lies & Don't Tell and Dark Secrets 2: No Time to Die & The Deep End of Fear by Elizabeth Chandler.
*note that these are UK paperback versions
Other details:
- US mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 8/10/10, at 9 p.m. PST.
South Beach by Aimee Friedman
South Beach is the perfect guilty pleasure read for any spring or summer vacation. Filled with hot beaches, dance clubs, gorgeous boys, and drama, this story is sure to keep any girl interested. Even though there is plenty of drinking and other sticky situations, South Beach does not come off as a trashy read, and this, I believe, is all due to the realistic characters. Alexa is certainly the less inhibited of the two girls but even with her selfish actions and sometimes nasty personality, she’s hard to completely dislike and can still be sympathized with. Holly is a genuinely sweet and innocent girl most readers will be able to relate to. Her character experiences growth into being more independent, which readers will cheer for. I commend Friedman for creating such an interesting and enjoyable read of friendship and fun.
South Beach will be enjoyed by those who also liked Summer Boys and Summer Girls, both by Hailey Abbott, and Faking 19 by Alyson Noël.
Rating: 3.5
Review copy from publisher Scholastic
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Before I Fall is a unique and remarkable debut from Oliver. I’ve read a handful of books about teens having to come to terms with their own deaths once in some version of the afterlife, but I’ve never seen an afterlife in the form of reliving the last day of one’s life. It makes for a wonderful and moving read. It’s so interesting to watching Samantha cope with her own death and how anger, bargaining, and eventually acceptance influence her choices and actions as she relives the last day of her life. This whole story is just fantastically put together. The flashbacks interspaced within Samantha’s narration provide the necessary background for the complexities of this tragedy as needed. The reader will become invested in Samantha’s life and death because of how realistic Samantha’s character is; there will certainly be tears shed by the end of her tale.
I wholeheartedly recommend Oliver’s impressive debut to fans of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin.
Rating: 4.5
Review copy from Amazon Vine
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
Shadow Hills is an enthralling story sure to please all fans of the paranormal. It is very heavily hinted from the beginning of the book that there is something supernatural is at work, and thus, it’s not very surprising to anyone but protagonist Phe when it does. In this constantly growing genre, it is difficult for any novel to be truly original, but I’d say that Hopcus manages to come remarkably close. I think this is because while the mysteries of Shadow Hills are rooted in science, Phe’s own strange powers are more mystical. It’s always a little strange to see science and the supernatural combined, but it works surprisingly well in Shadow Hills. This, in turn, contributes to a thrilling and action packed story sure to engage most readers.
Shadow Hills will be enjoyed by fans of Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley , Firespell by Chloe Neill, The Dark Divine by Bree Despain, and Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey.
Rating: 4.25
Review copy from publisher EgmontUSA
The Season of Risks by Susan Hubbard
This third installment in Hubbard’s Ethical Vampire series is by far the most complicated and confusing. From reader this novel’s prequels, The Society of S and The Year of Disappearances, I grew accustomed to reading about Ari growing up with a side serving of vampire danger. The Season of Risks begins in much the same way but then suddenly takes a drastic turn in the second part of the book. It’s very subtle at first that I didn’t notice it so when its effects are revealed, I was completely baffled because I had no idea what was going on. Catching up was difficult as well because Hubbard has a habit of dropping random characters and picking them back up later in the story. Strangely, though, despite my immense confusion, The Season of Risks has been my favorite Ethical Vampire novel so far. The way Hubbard organized the plot is completely clever. I not know not to doubt Hubbard’s great writing because following through with reading the particularly twisted excerpts is very rewarding.
The Ethical Vampire series will be enjoyed by those who liked Twilight by Stephenie Meyer but also appreciate a higher sense of intellect. I hope Hubbard plans to continue Ari’s story, and I’d snatch up the next installment in an instant.
Rating: 4.0
Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster
Paisley Hanover Kisses and Tells by Cameron Tuttle
Paisley Hanover Kisses and Tells is, as Paisley would say, totally “hilario.” All of Paisley’s quirky comments, ridiculous ideas, and amusing distractions kept me giggling throughout the book. Everything about Paisley, and subsequently this book, is a bit manic. There is really no such thing as subtlety here; everything is done over the top, from the drama Paisley and her friends have to deal with to the smear campaign against Paisley to the sheer amount of OMGs. While this does make for a very entertaining read, it doesn’t, however, set it up to be very meaningful. Tuttle touches on a lot of interesting topics relevant to teens in her strange creation of Pleasant Hill High, such as staff favoritism (working both ways), the clash between the “popular” and “unpopular” people, reputation ruining scandals, and loyalty. She does not elaborate on these topics, though, choosing to merely mention them. For me, it felt that although Paisley and her UnPop friends were fighting for justice, it really never was served. And even if all this drama can be chalked up to high school in general, it makes me wonder what the point of this book really is. Don’t get me wrong: Paisley Hanover Kisses and Tells is a fun read, but serves more for light entertainment than anything else.
Although I haven’t read the Paisley Hanover Acts Out, the prequel to Paisley Hanover Kisses and Tells, I’m sure it’s as much as a laugh as this book is. I recommend this novel to fans of Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern, The ABC’s of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro, and So Not Happening by Jenny B. Jones.
Rating: 3.5
Review copy from publisher Penguin
The Year of Disappearances by Susan Hubbard
This second installment in the Ethical Vampire series shows all the intellect, adventure, and skilled writing that was introduced in The Society of S. It continues Ari’s story where it left off and takes the reader away on a winding, complicated, but addicting tale of everything from growing pains to vampire politics. And it works marvelously well. Hubbard really is a fantastic writer for being able to combine all these elements with her thoughtful style and still make the story interesting. I continue to love Hubbard’s superb characterization, particularly with protagonist Ari. Unfortunately, though, I was slightly irritated with the plot itself. Ari does experience a series of dangerous and intriguing ordeals, but for some reason, I was always waiting for something even bigger and more terrible to happen, which never did. This may be attributed to Hubbard’s style of writing, which is more sensible than emotional. Nonetheless, I enjoyed The Year of Disappearances very much and look forward to more of Ari’s story.
Readers who enjoyed The Society of S will want to pick this book up, as will fans of Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer.
Rating: 3.75
Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster
Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman
Life, After is a novel that tackles undoubtedly serious topics, particularly the aftershocks of terrorist attacks, but in a surprisingly innocent and somewhat light way. What I mean to say is that although many characters are confronted by deep grief by the loss of someone close to a terrorist attack, the overall tone of the story isn’t overwhelmingly intense in the way of this pain. The effects of this are that the story never gets too depressing despite its content but also that this story isn’t quite as meaningful as it could be. I love the undercurrent of hope running throughout the entire story, because it makes reading about Dani’s situation bearable. At the same time though, because the most personal effects of terrorist attacks are not the main focus of the story, any larger message regarding that was mostly lost. Life, After is definitely a sweet and hopeful story, accurate in its depictions of Argentinean language and culture and the struggles of immigrants, but unfortunately, it lacked a certain something that will resonate deep with readers beyond just being enjoyable.
Though a lighter read, Life, After will also be enjoyed by fans of Purge, also by Sarah Darer Littman. Those who liked Amor and Summer Secrets by Diana Rodriguez Wallach may also want to check this novel out.
Rating: 3.75
Review copy from publisher Scholastic
Ethical Vampire Giveaway
I have to say that one of my favorite discoveries this year was Susan Hubbard's Ethical Vampire series. I was completely blown away by this near masterpiece of vampire fiction. Since my bookshelves still have no room, I thought I'd pass along my Ethical Vampire books for further appreciation.
(1) lucky winner will receive The Society of S, The Year of Disappearances, and an ARC of The Season of Risks by Susan Hubbard.
Other details:
- US mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 7/20/10, at 9 p.m. PST.
And Then I Found Out the Truth by Jennifer Sturman
And Then I Found Out the Truth, the sequel to And Then Everything Unraveled, continues Delia’s investigation into a secret and highly illegal oil drilling project. The plot is definitely interesting with all the secrets, danger, and international flair. However, I felt that in this novel, Delia was too often sidetracked by Quinn, her best friend, by shopping with Charley, by a gambling scandal at school, and the list goes on. This took away from the main storyline of the illegal oil drilling and made it seem, while not any less intriguing, not as important. The conclusion of this story is expected and by no means particularly creative. With stories like this one, where there is a huge mystery usually involving a global scandal, it’s difficult for there to be any major surprises at the end because the surprises on the way to the end make the ending predictable. Though not always well executed, And Then I Found Out the Truth is still a fun mystery to read.
I recommend this novel to fans of its prequel, And Then Everything Unraveled, as well as to those who enjoyed Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling, the Airhead trilogy by Meg Cabot, the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, and Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson.
Rating: 3.75
Review copy from publisher Scholastic
13 to Life by Shannon Delany
13 to Life is, to no one’s surprise, yet another addition to the exponentially growing group of young adult paranormal novels. You’d think that given the sheer about of pages devoted to vampires, werewolves, faeries, and whatnot, I’d have become bored of this same old tale. However, I must have an uncanny sixth sense because I’m generally pleased with most paranormal YA books that I pick up. 13 to Life is no exception. There are always the positives, like realistic characters and an engaging plot. In addition, there are the negatives; for example, Delany doesn’t clearly explain the connections among the wolf attack in Farthington, the secrets of the Rusakova family, and the Russian mafia. This novel is overall enjoyable and exciting, but since there are so many others life it and Delany’s writing isn’t the shining star of awesome, veteran readers of this genre may not be so eager to snatch this one up.
13 to Life may be enjoyed by fans of The Dark Divine by Bree Despain, Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lunn Barnes, and Firespell by Chloe Neill.
Rating: 4.0
Review copy from publisher St. Martin's Griffin through LibraryThing Early Reviewers
