Tuesday, April 30, 2013

April Read - Such a Pretty Girl




Such a Pretty Girl - Laura Weiss
Synopsis (as taken [and edited for accuracy] from Goodreads):  
They promised Meredith nine years of safety, but only gave her three.
Her father was supposed to be locked up until Meredith turned eighteen. She thought she had time to grow up, get out, and start a new life. But Meredith is only fifteen, and today her father is coming home from prison.
Today her time has run out.
D’s Rating:   (out of five hearts)

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



D’s Thoughts:

I chose Such a Pretty Girl because Amazon suggested it after searching for related books that I had previously enjoyed. After reading the synopsis, I knew that it simply had to be our sister read.

I absolutely loved the book...so why am I rating it as merely average? I felt an extreme connection to Meredith because I understand and relate to her familial relationships. However, not everyone can. If the reader of this book has led a relatively charmed life and has never interacted with those who have not, the relationship between Meredith and her mother will seem absolutely absurd.

I appreciated the effort that the author put into the "caring neighbor" characters, especially Nigel the police officer. At least in my experiences, these people matter more than can ever be described. Laura Weiss certainly gives it a good go, and for that I am very much appreciative.


Standout Quotes:

"The ache starts in my chest and spreads through my veins. The abuse I can handle; it's the happiness that cripples."

"I forgive him for not being what I want and am thankful for his being what I need."


Album to listen to while reading this book: Give Up by The Postal Service is a bit wordy in the lyrics for this book (not in offense to the author, that's simply not the style), but the sentiments are there.


S’s Thoughts:
I really liked Such a Pretty Girl... it's one of those books that you can read in one or two sittings... or in my case, one commute to and from work!  Weiss's writing is punchy and raw and rings true.  I didn't feel like the scenario or characters were contrived or the ending "not enough".  I admired Meredith for her bravery--I'm not so sure I could be as ballsy (can I say that here?) as she was.  I'd like to think I'd try, though!

Out of all of the characters, the one I found most interesting was Meredith's mother.  What had to have happened to her for her to be the way she was?  I could have done with more backstory on her, but that's really my only niggling little complaint. 

A year ago, I might have had issues with parts of the interaction between Meredith and her mother not ringing true.  How could a mother really feel that way about her child?  How could any mother choose a man over someone they carried within themselves for nine months?  But you know what?  That was a year ago and things change.  That's all I really need to say about that.


Standout Quotes:
"In decorating, you want to tie everything together to create the impression of continuous harmony.  I put touches of color in your father's condo, too.  I think he'll be pleased."

"Now he's here.  Now she's happy.  Now I'm supposed to act like nothing ever happened."

"The clock over the sink ticks like a bomb."

"The odds are high that the best of me has already been ripped away and that if I don't keep hold of myself I will lose what's left.  Without the structure of my rules and rituals, I'm a free-for-all open to any guy who wants to hurt me."

"I lie wide-eyed in the dark, listening.  The obscee waits outside my door, counting the minutes until dawn when it will come at me again."

  Album to listen to while reading this book:  Nevermind by Nirvana

May’s book is S’s choice and is Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt.

See you soon! S & D

Saturday, April 20, 2013

The first ever giveaway on Two Sisters Reading!


I’m pretty sure I might have mentioned at some stage that I’ve been selected as a giver for World Book Night next week (23 April).  If I haven’t, well now you know and I’M SO EXCITED!
What is World Book Night, you ask?
World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books which sees tens of thousands of passionate volunteers gift specially chosen and printed WBN books in their communities to share their love of reading.
Each year we recruit 20,000 volunteers to hand out 20 copies of their favourite book from our list to members of their community who don’t regularly read.  By enlisting thousands of passionate book lovers around the country World Book Night reaches out to the millions of people in the UK who have yet to fall in love with reading in the hope that we can start them on their reading journey. In addition World Book Night distributes half a million books directly to the hardest to reach potential readers in prisons, care homes, hospitals, sheltered, supported and social housing, the homeless and through partner charities working throughout the UK. World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don’t regularly do so.  But it is also about more than that: it’s about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways, through the sharing of stories. (via the World Book Night website).
So you can see why I’m so excited.  I’m a huge advocate of literacy programmes and reading and I can’t think of a better way to spread the joy of reading than through  handing out a free book to 20 strangers.  Hopefully I’ll make someone’s day–I know mine would be made if I got a free, unexpected book on the street!
The book I’ve been selected to hand out is Patrick Ness’s The Knife of Never Letting Go.
Here’s a synopsis of the book, but I’ve gotta say it doesn’t do it justice…
Prentisstown isn’t like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee — whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not — stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden — a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.
But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?
It’s such a good book and there’s so much more to it than that… It was one of my favourite reads of 2012 if that’s any indication for you!
That brings me to my giveaway here on The London Diaries.  I have 20 gorgeous copies of the The Knife of Never Letting Go, complete with special edition World Book Night cover art–and you could win a copy!
IMG_3836
What do you need to do?  Simple–either click the “like” button for this post or leave me a comment.  That’s it!  On World Book Night, I’ll be at the Southbank Centre’s World Book Night celebration and I will be live tweeting the winner then.  You’ve got until 5pm on Tuesday to like or comment to win.  In the spirit of World Book Night, it’s important to note that I’ll also be shipping internationally, so where you are doesn’t matter.
Good Luck!