The One Where D Goes on Many Tangents

Happy Halloween!
With so many things to talk about, let's see how long it takes before I become a babbling brook to you. (If anyone can catch the song reference in that last sentence, I'll love you forever.)

First, another awesome book blog, We Heart YA, posted a lovely link on their Facebook page today. I thought it was appropriate, so I decided to share it here. Ladies and gentlemen, the United States of Young Adult Lit!

Second, an update on why I haven't really posted many book reviews here: marching band. I've only read 2-3 books per month (including the sister read) since marching band started. How sad, right? However, in a kind of good news/bad news situation (good news for my reading and sleeping habits, bad news for my otherwise-nonexistent exercise regimen, excuse list, and musical variety), marching band is over! That was so important that I needed boldface! Now, I'll actually have time to read. In fact, here's a guarantee: if I don't read at least 5 non-school-related books in the month of November, I will do some sort of punishment assigned by S. There will be photos, and it'll go on my Facebook too so people, ya know, actually see it.

Unfortunately, just as my schedule is becoming more open, S will not be so available: November is NaNoWriMo! I do not participate in National Novel Writing Month, but S is a veteran to the event and will make it her first priority. 
In case you're curious, there are three reasons I don't do NaNoWriMo:

1. I feel as though one of the key qualifications to being a good writer is to have read many books--many, many more than I have. It helps you understand the concept of a novel as well as various styles and strategies to convey your message.
2. I have no clue what I would write about. Most of the "moral messages" I'd want to send would parallel way too closely to my own life. Fictional works and autobiographical works don't exactly overlap.
3. Between my lack of confidence and my lack of motivation, I would decide that my novel is stupid and not worth writing by November 3rd. 

Well, that's all I've got on the book front. I'm sending thoughts, prayers, and general warm feelings to those affected by  Hurricane Sandy (luckily, neither S nor I are even remotely close to that region). Stay safe and take comfort in what you can.

Amo quod amur,

[I love because I am loved]

~D

October Sister Read - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Synopsis (as taken from Goodreads):  
Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

D’s Rating: ❤❤❤❤ 3/4   (out of five hearts)

D’s Rating: ❤❤❤❤ (out of five hearts)


D’s Thoughts:

I originally chose this book because it was on NPR's 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels list that we've already had a discussion about on this blog, which you can read here. Granted, Daughter of Smoke and Bone was number 87, but I fancied the title and S hadn't read it either, so it was a good match. 

Look, I'm not saying it's the greatest book ever written, but it should have been at least a little higher on that list! The plot, without giving too much away, was so original, and I was always on edge about what would happen next. Not once did I think, "okay, we get the point, you're dragging this on a bit much", which is pretty rare for me to say. Additionally, the "darkness" of the plot balanced perfectly against every gooey-lovey-hopey scene so that the book wasn't too much in either direction. Finally, it was so beautifully written! I know I've said that about pretty much every book on here, but Ms. Taylor always knew the perfect word to use. For example, take this quote out of context, and every girl now has a way to describe how she has felt around at least one person in their lives. Put it in context, and it's even more suitable for the situation: "It brought a flush to her cheeks. The temerity of butterflies to trouble her now. What was she, some giddy girl to swoon at beauty?"

The only reason this book gets 4 and 3/4 hearts instead of 5 is that it was occasionally hard to follow when the book no longer went in chronological order. There are three chapters toward the end, for example, that go in this order: a certain (very important) day-->the day before-->the day after. I understand the author's intent in doing so, but it usually took a paragraph or two to  figure out where we were.

Organization aside, the book was gorgeous. It was our original intent to not read a book series on TSR, but I just found out that the sequel--Days of Blood and Starlight--comes out on November 6th in the US and November 8th in the UK. You can bet your teeth I'll be reading it!

Standout Quotes:

"The end."
"What do you mean it's the end?"
She said, smoothing her cheek against the golden skin of his chest, "The story is unfinished. The world is still waiting."

"She had never guessed how deep happiness could go. in spite of the tragedy in her childhood and the ever-present press of war, she had mostly considered herself happy. There was almost always something to take delight n if you were trying. But this was different. It couldn't be contained. She sometimes imagined it streaming out of her like light."

"I don't know many rules to live by...but here's one. It's simple. Don't put anything unnecessary into yourself. No poisons or chemicals, no fumes or smoke or alcohol, no sharp objects, no inessential needles--drug or tattoo--and...no inessential man parts, either."


Album to listen to while reading this book: Tragic Kingdom - No Doubt (my latest addiction thanks to S)

S’s Thoughts:

I will be the first to say I was wrong about this book.  I've seen it in the bookshop many times and always picked it up and scoffed at it being YA lit/fantasy/romance.  But this book was good.  I mean, really good.  As in I kept reading it every chance I got, good.  So I take back my misgivings and apologise to D for criticising the book mentally beforehand.

What did I like about the book?  It was different--I don't think I've read anything like it before.  I don't want to go into too much detail and ruin the plot but it was addictive.  The settings were gorgeous... Prague, Marrakech (which I'm planning to visit in early 2013)... amazing.  I loved the descriptions of everything from appearances to the fabric of dresses; it was all very whimsical and I think I needed a dose of the fantastical.

What didn't I like?  Well, not much.  It was a rather dark book and after reading JK Rowling's "A Casual Vacancy" which was just as dark in a more human way, I really feel like I need some serious brain fluff with no substance.  All the depressing storylines are starting to get to me!

Anyhow, I'll definitely be reading the sequel at some point soon.


Standout Quotes:

"Eager to be helful, Razgut supplied, 'She tastes like nectar and salt.  Nectar and salt and apples.  Pollen and stars and hinges.  She tastes like fairy tales.  Swan maiden at midnight.  Cream on the tip of a fox's tongue.  She tastes like hope."

"Such a little thing, and brittle, and the sound it made:  a sharp, clean snap"

"There was no more happiness.  But under the misery, there was hope."

Album to listen to while reading this book:  Falling Up - Digby (local Louisville legends)

November’s book is S’s choice and is Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo.

See you soon! S & D