Robbie's Reads

Robbie's Reads http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/ Robbie's Reads - LiveJournal.com Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:02:10 GMT LiveJournal / LiveJournal.com rwjohnston 10605719 personal http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/85454020/10605719 Robbie's Reads http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/ 100 100 http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/82467.html Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:02:10 GMT Want to Read Wednesday http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/82467.html <p><strong><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/wantotread.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1306" style="margin: 10px;" title="wantotread" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/wantotread.png" alt="wantotread" width="140" height="140" /></a>Want to Read Wednesda</strong>y is a meme that I created as an alternative to <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">that other wiki</span> that other meme. Nothing against said meme, but there are tons of books that are already released that I know I want to read. And maybe four that aren’t. I’d be tickled <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">orange</span> <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">lime green</span> pink if you wanted to participate. Simply upload the image to the left on your blog (optional) and link back here, and then come back here and comment so I can come see!</p> <p>This week I bring you <strong>Going Bovine </strong>by the fabulous Libba Bray. From what I’ve heard people say about it, it’s so genius that you probably won’t understand it. Or maybe just awesome. Either way, Mad Cow Disease meets road trip meets unreliable narrator meets fricking awesome cover of doom. Also, garden gnome a la <em>Amelie</em>. (Which is an amazing French film that you should watch.) Here, have some copypasta:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em><img class="alignright" style="margin: 10px;" src="http://images.indiebound.com/977/733/9780385733977.jpg" alt="" width="159" height="240" />All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.</em></p> <p>So, dear readers, friends, countrymen, what do you Want to Read, hmm?</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2010/01/want-to-read-wednesday-2/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/82191.html Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:54:03 GMT In My Mailbox http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/82191.html <p>Arbitrary link to The Story Siren for hosting. Picked up two this week. <strong>Rage </strong>was a gift from <a href="genrefluent.com" target="_blank">Di</a>, since I totally love Julie Anne Peters. <strong>Fairy Tale</strong> is a lend from the library that I have been wanting to read for awhile. Comment below and I’ll hop over and heck out your post and comment back. <img src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" /> </p> <p><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.indiebound.com/091/852/9780375852091.jpg" alt="" width="265" height="400" /><img class="alignright" src="http://images.indiebound.com/067/737/9780385737067.jpg" alt="" width="263" height="400" /></p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2010/01/in-my-mailbox-7/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/82107.html Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:54:32 GMT Where Do YOU Stand? http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/82107.html <p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.galleysmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/teamgale.jpg" alt="" width="182" height="94" /></p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2010/01/where-do-you-stand/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/81819.html Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:25:25 GMT Signed Beautiful Creatures WINNER! http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/81819.html <p>Sorry about not posting this earlier today as planned. Anyway, I want to thank all of you for entering! The winner of the signed copy of Beautiful Creatures is…</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brodiashton.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Brodi Ashton</a>!</p> <p style="text-align: left;">This is rather odd, as she was at the signing party with me, but I imagine this is a gift for someone else. XD Congrats!</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2010/01/signed-beautiful-creatures-winner/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/81500.html Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:30:30 GMT Want to Read Wednesday http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/81500.html <p><img class="size-full wp-image-1306 alignleft" style="margin: 10px;" title="wantotread" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/wantotread.png" alt="wantotread" width="200" height="200" /></p> <p>There’s a problem with Waiting On… Wednesdays. I don’t have that many upcoming books that I know about that I want to read. Mostly because if I really want to read a book, I…find a way to get it. =P So instead, I bring you Want to Read Wednesday, where I will showcase a book that is on my list,whether new or old. If y’all want to participate, just save the button to your own server (or Flickr), link back here (please?), and post in the comments!</p> <p><strong>Lament</strong></p> <p><strong>by Maggie Stiefvater</strong></p> <p><strong>Flux, October 2008</strong></p> <blockquote><p><img class="alignleft" style="margin: 10px;" src="http://images.indiebound.com/700/713/9780738713700.jpg" alt="" width="165" height="256" /></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;"><em>Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She’s about to find out she’s also a cloverhand–one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. </em></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;"><em>Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass–a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky–and equally dangerous–dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen’s sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren’t so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn’t exactly what she had in mind . . .</em></p> </blockquote> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/want-to-read-wednesday/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/81275.html Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:39:26 GMT BoyWithBooks.com Honor Books 2009 http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/81275.html <p>Every year I like to look back and give a shout out to the extra special, really good, zOMG books I’ve read that year. This year is no different, but I must say that this year has been so very very difficult! There are so many wonderful books I have read, and deciding which books made the list and which didn’t was agonizing.Without further adieu,</p> <p><strong>2009 BoyWithBooks Honor Books Top Ten</strong><br /> (no particular order)</p> <ul> <li>Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl</li> <li>Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev</li> <li>The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams</li> <li>Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman</li> <li>The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd</li> <li>Fire by Kristin Cashore</li> <li>20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler</li> <li>Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle</li> <li>Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith</li> <li>The Traveler by Darren Simkin</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/boywithbooks-com-honor-books-2009/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/81112.html Sun, 27 Dec 2009 09:06:49 GMT In My Mailbox http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/81112.html <p>In My Mailbox is run by Kristi of <a style="color: #3b848c; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/2007/12/in-my-mailbox.html" target="_blank">the Story Siren</a>, etc., etc. I didn’t get any books for the holidays, I got some sweaters and some jeans, which is what I wanted, really, so that’s nice. I did, however, manage to purchase a book.</p> <p><strong><img class="alignleft" style="margin: 10px;" src="http://images.indiebound.com/573/840/9781606840573.jpg" alt="" width="186" height="280" />The Dark Divine</strong></p> <p><strong>by Bree Despain</strong></p> <p><strong>Egmont USA</strong></p> <p><strong>December 2009</strong></p> <blockquote><p><em>Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared–the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood–but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.</p> <p>The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude’s high school. Despite promising Jude she’ll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel’s shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.</p> <p>The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy’s dark secret…and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it–her soul.</em></p></blockquote> <p>Also, I forgot to mention that last week I received some bookmarks for <a href="http://juliekagawa.com/" target="_blank">Julie Kagawa</a>’s upcoming <strong>The Iron King</strong>, so yay!</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/in-my-mailbox-5/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/80798.html Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:38:49 GMT Star Rating Breakdown http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/80798.html <p>This will be added to the policy page…when I get around to it. I was talking to Catherine about a review I was writing, and she said that it seemed like the 2/5 stars I gave it was generous. Then I started thinking about it, and I want to clearly define my star ratings.</p> <p>5/5 Stars: An excellent book with crossover appeal and/or literary quality. A book that everyone involved with YA will probably read and enjoy. An example would be <strong>The Hunger Games </strong>and <strong>The Chosen One</strong>.</p> <p>4/5 Stars: Highly enjoyable book, with minor flaws in pacing, characterization, or plot. Alternatively, an enjoyable/popular book that lacks crossover appeal (to other readers of other genres) and/or literary quality. Examples include <strong>Twilight</strong> (lacking in quality and execution, but still fun to read) and <strong>Fragile Eternity </strong>(great for fans of the series, but overly long and not for people who generally dislike fantasy).</p> <p>3/5 Stars: A good book, probably worth reading. Limited appeal or flaws in style and execution may be factors. Examples include <strong>Donut Days</strong> and <strong>Another Faust</strong>.</p> <p>2/5 Stars: Uninspired, boring, or flawed to the point of being put down. I generally will not finish a book with this rating. Examples include <strong>Tempted </strong>and <strong>Wings</strong> (which I did finish, but I skimmed the end).</p> <p>1/5 Stars: Generally (but not always) reserved for works which I find offensive or inappropriate. Examples include <strong>More Stuff on My Cat</strong> and <strong>David Inside Out</strong>.</p> <p>Now, as a disclaimer, these are merely my opinions and while I try to remain somewhat objective, this is a subjective type of journalism. There are also times that I will rate a book outside of these particular definitions, for one reason or the other (an example I can think of is <strong>Prophecy of the Sisters</strong>. I did not like or finish it, but the writing was very good, so I rated it higher.). As always, the best way to judge if a book is right for you is to read it yourself. I also encourage feedback and debate on any of my reviews/ratings.</p> <p>Note: This post was scheduled in advance. I am currently on holiday and may not be available to respond to any electronic contact until the 1st.</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/star-rating-breakdown/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/80395.html Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:03:00 GMT Happy Whatever http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/80395.html <p>Just wanted to wish you all happy whatever! If you’re Jewish like I am, then Hannukah has already ended, but I hope it was happy for you. If you do Christmas or Kwanza or Chinese New Year or Solstice or anything else, may ti be great. If you do not celebrate a holiday, have fun over the New Year!</p> <p>I’ll be pretty absent for this next week or so. My Top Ten of 2009 list will be going live in a few days, and I’ll be <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/win-a-signed-copy-of-beautiful-creatures/">giving away a signed copy of Beautiful Creatures on New Year’s, so be sure to enter! </a>Otherwise, I’ll be looking forward to seeing you in the new Year!</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/happy-whatever/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/80165.html Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:54:50 GMT Waiting On… Wednesday (3) http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/80165.html <p>“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a>, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:</p> <p><strong><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Other-final-664x1024.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1295" style="margin: 10px;" title="Other-final-664x1024" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Other-final-664x1024-194x300.jpg" alt="Other-final-664x1024" width="194" height="300" /></a>Other</strong></p> <p><strong>by Karen Kincy</strong></p> <p><strong>Flux, July 2010</strong></p> <p><strong>Summary (from <a href="http://www.karenkincy.com/" target="_blank">author’s website</a>):<br /> </strong></p> <p><em>Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.</em></p> <p><em>When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate–into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and–most importantly–stay alive.</em></p> <p>OK, here’s a question for y’all. Have you seen any Flux titles on shelves at stores? I…haven’t, and they have some great books both in 2009 and 2010, but I haven’t seen any marketing for any of them. Not sure if that’s just me, though!</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/waiting-on-wednesday-3/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/80103.html Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:39:44 GMT In My Mailbox http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/80103.html <p>I don’t usually do In My Mailbox, for reasons that I don’t feel like sharing right now (but if you know me, you probably know said reasons), but I got two books today that I’ve been awaiting for months, and am super excited, so I thought I would post so I could share my excitement. In My Mailbox is run by Kristi of <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/2007/12/in-my-mailbox.html" target="_blank">the Story Siren</a>, etc., etc.</p> <p><strong>Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt</strong></p> <ul type="disc"> <li>Publisher: Disney-Hyperion</li> <li>Release Date: March 16, 2010</li> </ul> <blockquote> <p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/princess-for-hire.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1286" style="margin: 10px;" title="princess for hire" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/princess-for-hire-199x300.jpg" alt="princess for hire" width="199" height="300" /></a>When an flawlessly dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and wants to know, like, now if you’d like to become a substitute princess, do you</p> <p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">a) run<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />b) faint<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />c) say Yes!</p> <p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">For Desi Bascomb, who’s been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C–that is, once she can stop pinching herself. As her new agent Meredith explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula “Royal Rouge,” she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?</p> <p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don’t know? Or when a princess’s conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off–and you know she would want you to change his mind?</p> <p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">In this hilarious, winning debut, one girl’s dream of glamour transforms into something bigger: the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.</p> <p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"> </blockquote> <p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong>Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr</strong></p> <ul> <li>Publisher: HarperCollins</li> <li>Release Date: April 20 2010</li> </ul> <blockquote><p><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/RadiantShadows-jkt-des1.preview.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1287" style="margin: 10px;" title="RadiantShadows jkt des1.preview" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/RadiantShadows-jkt-des1.preview-199x300.jpg" alt="RadiantShadows jkt des1.preview" width="199" height="300" /></a>Hunger for nourishment.<br /> Hunger for touch.<br /> Hunger to belong.</p> <p>Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.</p> <p>Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries’ coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani’s death.</p> <p>Ani isn’t one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin’s plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?</p> <p>Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in Melissa Marr’s next volume of Melissa Marr’s New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series.</p></blockquote> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/in-my-mailbox-2/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/79712.html Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:03:14 GMT Review: Tempted http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/79712.html <p><strong><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/tempted-book-cover_l.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1157" style="margin: 10px;" title="tempted-book-cover_l" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/tempted-book-cover_l-204x300.jpg" alt="tempted-book-cover_l" width="204" height="300" /></a>Tempted (House of Night 6)</strong></p> <p><strong>by P.C. + Kristin Cast</strong></p> <p><strong>Published October 2009</strong></p> <p><strong>by St. Martin’s Griffin (Macmillan)</strong></p> <p><strong>ISBN: 978-0312567484</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/2star.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-942" title="2star" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/2star.png" alt="2star" width="83" height="20" /></a></strong></p> <p>I’ve reviewed all the <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/?p=113">other</a> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/?p=288">books</a> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/?p=309">in</a> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/?p=311">this</a> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/?p=381">series</a>, with varying levels of positive-ness. I genuinely enjoy this series, despite the fact that the second book was the best so far. However, I am not pleased. First, the series started as attractively-priced paperback originals, but with this newest installment St. Martin’s Griffin decided to move to a hardback format. Why? I’m sure I don’t know, but my guess would be to make more money.</p> <p>If you follow the series, you will understand my next problem, even if you do not agree. I understood in the first, second, and even third books when Zoey, the main character, found herself with multiple boys/men all vying for her attention, and unable to choose between them. Fine. But now we’re on book six, and she’s still stuck with three boyfriends, and she still can’t decide which of them she likes more, so she’s basically decided to keep them all. It’s okay because, hey, she’s a High Priestess, so she can have multiple consorts. Um, sorry, but that’s just not an acceptable message to be sending in my opinion. Boys have feelings too (I think…), and Zoey is, essentially, cheating on each of them.</p> <p>Now, as far as plot goes, it’s more of the same. Actually, I didn’t finish this one because I was fed up. Because I’ve read this book already. Thrice. Now, I know for a fact that there are people out there who like reading the same book multiple times with different titles. I would definitely suggest this to fans of the series or rabid vampire fans in general. I don’t have time to waste on rehashing the same story over and over for what is projected to be at <em>least</em> a nine-book series.</p> <p>I feel like I’m paying $18.00 for a book I have read that sends messages I don’t believe in. While I enjoy the series as a whole, I think I’m done with it.</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/review-tempted/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/79531.html Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:10:27 GMT Win! A Signed Copy of Beautiful Creatures! http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/79531.html <p>So, I have this extra copy of Beautiful Creatures on my shelf. And it’s signed by the authors. What ever shall I do with it?</p> <ul> <li>Enter by commenting below.</li> <li>+1 if you post a blog entry with a link here. Please post link in comments below.</li> <li>+1 if you tweet this (be sure to link, and try to make it @rowijo so I can see it). Please let me know in the comments below. 1 point only.</li> <li>+1 If you follow me on Twitter, or start following me. Post your twitter name below.</li> <li>+1 If you comment on some other post I have made in December. 1 point only. Please add the point in your comment below.</li> </ul> <p>Best of all, this contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the world. Yay! Contest closes December 31st, and I’ll post the winner at the dawn of the New Year, GMT -7.</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/win-a-signed-copy-of-beautiful-creatures/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/79172.html Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:21:47 GMT Beautiful Creatures: Meet Lena http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/79172.html <p><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1159" style="margin: 10px;" title="BeautifulCreatures" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures-198x300.jpg" alt="BeautifulCreatures" width="62" height="94" /></a>Naturally, this series would not be complete without a little about Lena, a very special girl who is at the center of <strong>Beautiful Creatures</strong>.</p> <p><em>Lena has never lived in one place long enough to call anywhere home. She’s different—and not the kind of different that makes you the coolest girl in school. Even worse, she has a secret she can’t share with anyone. A secret that can destroy her, and everyone she loves.</em></p> <div class="gallery galleryid-0"><dl class="gallery-item"> <dt class="gallery-icon"> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/header2.jpg" title="header2.jpg"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/header2-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="" title="header2.jpg" /></a> </dt></dl><dl class="gallery-item"> <dt class="gallery-icon"> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/banner4.gif" title="banner4.gif"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/banner4-150x150.gif" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="" title="banner4.gif" /></a> </dt></dl><dl class="gallery-item"> <dt class="gallery-icon"> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/bbyabanner.jpg" title="bbyabanner.jpg"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/bbyabanner-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="" title="bbyabanner.jpg" /></a> </dt></dl><br style="clear: both" /><dl class="gallery-item"> <dt class="gallery-icon"> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/bbyabanner.gif" title="bbyabanner.gif"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/bbyabanner-150x150.gif" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="" title="bbyabanner.gif" /></a> </dt></dl><dl class="gallery-item"> <dt class="gallery-icon"> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/leviathanusfinalsmall.jpg" title="leviathanusfinalsmall"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/leviathanusfinalsmall-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="" title="leviathanusfinalsmall" /></a> </dt></dl><dl class="gallery-item"> <dt class="gallery-icon"> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/blankbook.jpg" title="blankbook"><img width="84" height="111" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/blankbook.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="" title="blankbook" /></a> </dt></dl><br style="clear: both" /><dl class="gallery-item"> <dt class="gallery-icon"> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/greenfyr.jpg" title="greenfyr"><img width="109" height="150" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/greenfyr-109x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="" title="greenfyr" /></a> </dt></dl><dl class="gallery-item"> <dt class="gallery-icon"> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/tempted.jpg" title="tempted"><img width="110" height="150" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/tempted-110x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="" title="tempted" /></a> </dt></dl><dl class="gallery-item"> <dt class="gallery-icon"> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/skyeverywhere.jpg" title="skyeverywhere"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/skyeverywhere-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="" title="skyeverywhere" /></a> </dt></dl><br style="clear: both" /><dl class="gallery-item"> <dt class="gallery-icon"> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/tempted-book-cover_l.jpg" title="tempted-book-cover_l"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/tempted-book-cover_l-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="" title="tempted-book-cover_l" /></a> </dt></dl> <br style="clear: both;" /> </div> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Photos © 2009 <a href="http://vlcphoto.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Vania Stoyanova</a>. Used with permission. Click for larger.</em></p> <p><strong>What are three things Lena would never be without?</strong></p> <ul> <li> The battered spiral notebook that she writes poetry in.</li> <li> The charm necklace made from things that don’t seem like charms at all—the tab from a soda can, a button attached to a paperclip, a piece of sea glass.</li> <li> The beat up, black Converse Chuck Taylors she wears, covered in words and numbers and drawings written in Sharpie.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Three Words That Describe Her:</strong></p> <ul> <li> Non-Conformist.</li> <li> Powerful.</li> <li> Brave.</li> </ul> <p><strong>The Thing Lena Wants Most in the World: </strong>Read BEAUTIFUL CREATURES to find out…</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/beautiful-creatures-meet-lena/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/79036.html Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:17:43 GMT Beautiful Creatures: Meet Ethan http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/79036.html <p><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1159" style="margin: 10px;" title="BeautifulCreatures" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures-198x300.jpg" alt="BeautifulCreatures" width="139" height="210" /></a>Well, it’s almost time to wrap up this series of character profiles. But, not quite! First, we’ve got to meet our protagonist and hero, Ethan.</p> <p><em>Ethan is a regular guy, who’s about to the start his sophomore year at Jackson High—except he has reoccurring dreams about a girl he’s never met and can’t stop thinking about.</em></p> <p><strong>BoyWithBooks: </strong>Who materialized first? Ethan or Lena?<br /> <strong>Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl:</strong> We knew right away that we wanted to tell the story from a boy’s POV and that we wanted a strong female character. So they really emerged together, but Ethan’s was the first voice we heard – and the first one we wrote.</p> <p><strong>BwB: </strong>How did you write Ethan’s flaws to keep him realistic?<br /> <strong>K & M: </strong>All the teenagers in our lives are flawed, just like the rest of us. Ethan is a real person to us. We saw him as we see the teens we know – brave and fearful, hopeful and hopeless, perfect and messed up – on any given day.</p> <p><strong>BwB: </strong>How early into the writing process did the Kelting come into play? How did you decide between what Lena and Ethan said aloud to each other and what they “thought” to each other?<br /> <strong>K & M: </strong>We wanted Ethan and Lena to have a connection that was more intimate than spoken conversation. Something supernatural, yet all their own. We chose to have them Kelt when they wanted to share something too private or painful or embarrassing to speak aloud. Wouldn’t you love to be able to “speak” your most vulnerable feelings without saying a word?</p> <p><strong>Something You May Not Know About Ethan: </strong>His bedroom is lined with shoeboxes. He keeps everything that’s important to him inside them, and he knows what’s inside every single one. One of those shoeboxes might hold a very special locket…</p> <p>In addition to his normal Silver Surfer comics (very useful for English class), Ethan is also quite a reader. Some of his favorites?</p> <div style="margin:0px;"></div> <p style="text-align: center;"><lj-embed id="37" /> </p> <p style="text-align: left;">Now, of course, Ethan is the protagonist, but <strong>Beautiful Creatures </strong>is also Lena’s story, and Ethan’s life in intertwined with Lena’s in ways that neither of them fully understands. I’ll have some more information on Lena later today.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 250px"><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/IMG_0401.JPG"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1266 " style="margin: 5px;" title="IMG_0401" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/IMG_0401-300x200.jpg" alt="Photo &copy 2009 Vania Stoyanova. Used with permission." width="240" height="160" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo © 2009 Vania Stoyanova. Used with permission.</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 250px"><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Ethan-Lena-school.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1265 " style="margin: 5px;" title="Ethan Lena school" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Ethan-Lena-school-300x200.jpg" alt="Photo &copy 2009 Vania Stoyanova. used with permission." width="240" height="160" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo © 2009 Vania Stoyanova. used with permission.</p></div> <div style="margin:0px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1197637-robbie" target="_blank"><br /> </a></div> <div>Something You May Not Know About Ethan:</p> <p>His bedroom is lined with shoeboxes. He keeps everything that’s important to him inside them, and he knows what’s inside every single one.</p></div></p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/beautiful-creatures-meet-ethan/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/78610.html Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:05:17 GMT Why e-Format is the Future http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/78610.html <p>I bought a Sony eReader back in January. My primary motivator was that I read slush manuscripts for a certain publisher, and reading an ebook is infinitely better than carrying around 300 pages of computer paper. However, I firmly believe that electronic format is the future of advance reading and reviewing. Let’s look at why.</p> <p>1. Money. It costs a lot of money to distribute copies for review. ARCs,in particular, tend to be more expensive than hardcovers, since smaller print runs cost more per item. When you consider that for each ARC distributed, the publisher may not get any return investment, if, for example, that person gives a negative review. Add in shipping costs, and the price goes even higher. However, electronic format are basically free to reproduce, and free to distribute.</p> <p>2. Time. Oftentimes, I receive copies for review later than I would hope. Sometimes this is because publishers wait for the finished copy (because it is cheaper, or they are out of ARCs), or because shipping can take upwards of two weeks depending on what method. If a publisher wants a review from you, they send the book, it takes a week to get to you, it takes another week to read it, they’re waiting two weeks for that review. Electronic would cut that in half.</p> <p>3. Space. ARCs take up space, both in distributor warehouses, on editor and publicist desks, and on our bookshelves. Electronic format does not take up (physical) space.</p> <p>4. Waste. In the ongoing attempt to be “green”, moving to electronic format is an attractive option. Less trees consumed, and also less waste afterward.</p> <p>5. Portability. You can carry upwards of 20 books with you. Seriously. Also, publishers wouldn’t have to ship boxes of ARCs to various conventions, either taking names to email books later, or distributing the books on-site either through download stations or discs.</p> <p>I definitely am not sure if ebooks are ready to become the dominant format for the general public, but I do think that anyone who takes their reviewing career seriously should purchase an ereader. Many are cheaper now than ever, and with my above arguments, it just makes sense for all involved.</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/why-e-format-is-the-future/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/78329.html Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:57:58 GMT Beautiful Creatures: Meet Amma http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/78329.html <p><em><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1159" style="margin: 10px;" title="BeautifulCreatures" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures-198x300.jpg" alt="BeautifulCreatures" width="116" height="176" /></a>Amma is as smart as she is evasive. She knows everything and tells you nothing – or so it seems. She’s usually the smartest person in the room, and the most intimidating. But she loves Ethan more than anything in this world or the Other, and she’ll do whatever she has to do to protect him.</em></p> <p><strong>BoyWithBooks: </strong>F.I.E.R.C.E., as in Amma is freaking awesome. How did her character develop? Perhaps one of you had an Amma when you were little?<br /> <strong>Kami Garcia: </strong>Amma is a cross between the powerful women in both our lives. For me, it was my great-grandma. She was a force to be reckoned with – tiny like Amma, but the biggest person in the room. She was also the kind of woman who commanded and deserved respect, like Amma.<br /> <strong>Margaret Stohl: </strong>For me it was my Grandma. The older she got, the more her body shrunk and her personality grew. I used to write her letters addressed to “Bubbles” because I knew the postman would read them. She would get so mad! We used to sing fake opera in the kitchen when I got home from school, as loud as we could.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 280px"><strong><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Ammas_Shelfsm.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1242 " style="margin: 5px;" title="Ammas_Shelfsm" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Ammas_Shelfsm-300x200.jpg" alt="Photo &copy Kami Garcia" width="270" height="180" /></a></strong><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo © Kami Garcia. Used with permission.</p></div> <p><strong><br /> BwB: </strong>Do either of you read tarot cards or similar things?<br /> <strong>KG: </strong>No. But I’m really superstitious, like Amma. And I have lots of charms.<br /> <strong>MS: </strong>And I’ve been known to paddle people across their heads with big words before!</p> <p><strong>BwB: </strong>Where did the crossword idea come from? Are either of you crossword junkies?<br /> <strong>KG: </strong>We wanted something tangible to represent how incredibly smart Amma is. We didn’t want the reader to think she spends all her time baking, although she excels at that too. I am terrible at crosswords, but Margie is a Scrabble champion.<br /> <strong>MS: </strong>It’s true. Scrabble is my Great and Terrible Purpose.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 280px"><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBWsm.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1160 " style="margin: 5px;" title="KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBW(sm)" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBWsm-300x235.jpg" alt="Photo &copy Alex Hoerner." width="270" height="212" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo © Alex Hoerner. Used with permission.</p></div> <p><strong>Three Things You Would Find in Amma’s Room:</strong></p> <ul> <li> Jars of Graveyard Dirt</li> <li> Her Tool Apron (which she wears instead of a traditional apron)</li> <li> Stacks of the Sunday Edition of The New York Times, for the crosswords of course.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Advice from Amma: </strong>“Don’t go lookin’ for trouble, it’ll find you when it’s good and ready.”</p> <p>Later today I’ll have a song selected by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, who I’d choose to play Amma in the movie, and a recipe for Southern Fried Chicken! Yum! In the mean time, check out the <a href="http://www.beautifulcreaturesthebook.com" target="_blank">Beautiful Creatures site</a> and the <a href="http://www.somelovesarecursed.com" target="_blank">Little Brown Beautiful Creatures site</a>. Also, if you haven’t signed up at the forum at the <a href="http://www.castergirls.com" target="_blank">official fansite</a>, why don’t you go do that now?</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/beautiful-creatures-meet-amma/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/78050.html Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:32:46 GMT Beautiful Creatures: More Ridley http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/78050.html <p>Once again, I apologize for my playlist making skills (or lack thereof). On the subject of casting Ridley in the movie, I thought for a really long time. Without coming up with anyone. It should be a rather large teen star, but I couldn’t really think of anyone. Mary Kate Olsen came to my mind, but she looks a little too old I think. I also thought of Nina Dobrev and Tiffany Thornton, but…neither of them has the spark I want. I thought maybe Brittany Snow, but she’s also q bit older than I’d like. Then I thought of the super talented Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls, Mamma Mia), and wow, we have a match (click the photo for a bigger version)!</p> <p><lj-embed id="35" /><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/600full-amanda-seyfried.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1230" title="600full-amanda-seyfried" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/600full-amanda-seyfried-229x300.jpg" alt="600full-amanda-seyfried" width="229" height="300" /></a><br /> <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/600full-amanda-seyfried.jpg"></a></p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/beautiful-creatures-more-ridley/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/77716.html Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:11:49 GMT Beautiful Creatures: Meet Ridley http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/77716.html <p><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1159" style="margin: 10px;" title="BeautifulCreatures" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures-198x300.jpg" alt="BeautifulCreatures" width="77" height="116" /></a>Ridley ties with Macon for my favorite character in Beautiful Creatures. And it’s easy to see why, she’s so…well, I’ll let you see for yourself! Later today I’ll have another Ridley post, with my mini-playlist and my personal selection of actress.</p> <p><em>Ridley is the ultimate bad girl, with a supernatural twist. She’s all blonde and pink streaked hair, lollipops and chaos. You love to hate her and hate to love her.</em></p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 210px"><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/RIDLEYsm.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1214 " style="margin: 5px;" title="RIDLEYsm" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/RIDLEYsm-200x300.jpg" alt="Photo &copy 2009 by Vania Stoyanova. Used with permission." width="200" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo © 2009 by Vania Stoyanova. Used with permission.</p></div> <p><em><br /> </em></p> <p><strong>BoyWithBooks: </strong>I’ve heard Kami say that Ridley’s role slowly expanded as you were writing. How did she originally come along?<br /> <strong>Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl: </strong>Ridley always showed up in the same place in BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, but we did give her more “screen time” after that because our teen readers loved her. And Ridley demanded it. She’s sort of bossy like that. She doesn’t listen to a word we say.</p> <p><strong>BwB: </strong>Were either of you a “Ridley” in high school?<br /> <strong>K & M: </strong>Hardly. We wish. But every high school has one – at least one!</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Three Thing Ridley Can’t Live Without:</strong><br /> Lollipops<br /> Attention<br /> Guys </p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Three </strong><strong>Things Ridley Would Never Be Caught Doing:</strong><br /> Checking a book out of the library<br /> Showing all her cards<br /> Giving you a straight answer </p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"> <div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 210px"><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBWsm.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1160 " style="margin: 5px;" title="KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBW(sm)" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBWsm-300x235.jpg" alt="KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBW(sm)" width="200" height="154" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Author photo © Alex Hoerner. Used with permission.</p></div> <p>As always, be sure to check out all the latest news at the <a href="http://www.beautifulcreaturesthebook.com" target="_blank">official site</a>, and head over to the<a href="http://www.castergirls.com" target="_blank"> Caster Girls Official Fansite</a> and register for the forum. We’re discussing all sorts of cool things about the book, speculating about the title of book 2, and more!</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/beautiful-creatures-meet-ridley/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/77300.html Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:07:47 GMT Review: The Kindling of GreenFyr http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/77300.html <p><strong><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KindlingOfGreenFyr_Cvr1-front.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1190" style="margin: 10px;" title="KindlingOfGreenFyr_Cvr1 front" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KindlingOfGreenFyr_Cvr1-front-199x300.jpg" alt="KindlingOfGreenFyr_Cvr1 front" width="139" height="210" /></a>The Kindling of GreenFyr</strong></p> <p><strong>by Mark Freeman</strong></p> <p><strong>Published August 2008</strong></p> <p><strong>By PublishAmerica (Self-Published)</strong></p> <p><strong>ISBN: </strong>978-1605631615</p> <p><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/3stars.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-921" title="3stars" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/3stars.png" alt="3stars" width="83" height="25" /></a></p> <p>I feel rather certain that this is a case of the wrong book for me. I’ve read several good reviews of this book, and I just…didn’t see it. Part of this may be the fact that it’s closer to being middle grade fiction, which I have a tendency to dislike.I definitely saw potential, and I think that with a few more revisions and an editor at a major publisher it could be much better, but as it stands now it reads like something from the slush pile. I admit, I didn’t finish it, but I gave it my best try, really I did; I got through about 200 pages of this 500+ page book.</p> <blockquote> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>The Kindling of GreenFyr is the story of Owen McInish, an awkward fourteen-year-old bullied at school and friendless except for his pet cat, Piper. That is until a snow leopard is chased through the woods behind his house by three huge gray dogs with glowing green eyes. Owen saves the leopard from her pursuers, but the animal escapes him as well, only to return later. The cat’s behavior is peculiar, nothing like a wild animal, making Owen even more curious as to its origin. Eventually, the cat allows Owen to pet her. Owen finds himself experiencing friendships as he has never before. Adventures as he has never imagined. And political intrigue as two worlds, long separated, begin to collide. (Amazon.com)</em></p> </blockquote> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/review-the-kindling-of-greenfyr/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/76857.html Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:27:23 GMT Beautiful Creatures: More Macon http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/76857.html <p>First off, below is my mini-playlist for Macon. Honestly, I’m not an expert playlist maker, but I certainly tried. These are three songs that just remind me of Macon and I think fit thematically.</p> <p><lj-embed id="34" /><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/michael-caine_DarkKnight-thumb-300x413-15589.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1207" style="margin: 5px;" title="michael-caine_DarkKnight-thumb-300x413-15589" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/michael-caine_DarkKnight-thumb-300x413-15589-217x300.jpg" alt="michael-caine_DarkKnight-thumb-300x413-15589" width="174" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Now, as to who I would have play Macon Ravenwood in the movie of <strong>Beautiful Creatures</strong>, that was easy. Immediately Michael Caine popped into my mind. He’s a great actor, and I feel that he has the versatility and subtlety required for a role like Macon. Who would you pick? Thoughts, comments?</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/beautiful-creatures-more-macon/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/76768.html Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:14:53 GMT Beautiful Creatures: Meet Macon Ravenwood http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/76768.html <p><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1159" style="margin: 10px;" title="BeautifulCreatures" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures-198x300.jpg" alt="BeautifulCreatures" width="100" height="151" /></a>Continuing my series of character profiles, today I’m featuring Macon “Old Man” Ravenwood. Definitely one of my two favorite characters in <strong>Beautiful Creatures</strong>, he features heavily in the story, and if you haven’t read it yet or don’t appreciate him, you will by the time you finish the novel! I sat down with Kami and Margie (figuratively, not literally) and asked them about good old Macon.</p> <p><em>Macon is Gatlin’s boogeyman. He’s also an old-fashioned Southern gentleman with a penchant for cigars and controversy, not necessarily in that order. He’s a man with secrets. And talents…</em></p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><strong><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/RavenwoodBW.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1197 " style="margin: 5px;" title="RavenwoodBW" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/RavenwoodBW-300x225.jpg" alt="Photo &copy 2009 Vania Stoyanova. Used with permission." width="300" height="225" /></a></strong><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo © 2009 Vania Stoyanova. Used with permission.</p></div> <p><strong><br /> BoyWithBooks:</strong> Macon’s storyline is…surprising. What motivated that arc?<br /> <strong>Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl</strong>: You can give the reader what they want, or what they need. After you read BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, we think our choice will be obvious.</p> <p><strong>BwB: </strong>Where did the idea for Macon’s “special nature” come about?<br /> <strong>K & M: </strong>We wanted to define the supernaturals in our universe our own terms. Macon’s “kind” exist is certain types of mythology, but we didn’t define them in the traditional way. We created our own parameters for their nature and capabilities. We think Macon’s gifts, in particular, are both frightening and compelling.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBWsm.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1160" style="margin: 5px;" title="KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBW(sm)" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBWsm-300x235.jpg" alt="KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBW(sm)" width="300" height="235" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">© Alex Hoerner. Used with permission.</p></div> <p><strong>BwB: </strong>He’s also kind of a badass.<br /> <strong>K & M: </strong>If you consider who he is and the choices he’s made, we don’t think he could be anything other than a badass. But he is a gentlemanly badass, don’t you think? He’s the Atticus Finch of badasses.<br /> <em>[Definitely a gentleman first and foremost. Kind of like, please, sit. Would you like some tea before I destroy the world? What self-respecting Southerner would be anything else?]</em></p> <p><strong>BwB: </strong>Macon and Amma…romantic possibilities? They have such chemistry.<br /> <strong>K & M: </strong>That’s probably wishful thinking. But they do have a kind of spark, that’s true. Whether it’s love or hate, it’s hard to know.<br /> <em>[Not sure what was going through my head when I asked that question, it's definitely a crack!pairing.]</em></p> <p>Later today I’ll have another post about Macon Ravenwood, including a mini-playlist and who I’d want to play him in the movie. In the meantime, be sure to check out <a href="http://wwww.beautifulcreaturesthebook.com" target="_blank">www.BeautifulCreaturestheBook.com</a>, <a href="http://www.castergirls.com" target="_blank">www.CasterGirls.com</a>, and <a href="http://www.somelovesarecursed.com" target="_blank">www.SomeLovesAreCursed.com</a>.</p> <p><em><br /> </em></p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/beautiful-creatures-meet-macon-ravenwood/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/76315.html Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:17:04 GMT Beautiful Creatures: More Link http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/76315.html <p>OK, if you follow me on Twitter (@rowijo), you already know that I have a cold and that my sinuses are attempting to ruin my life by launching a full-on war. Anyway, the plan was to do a mini-playlist and some other things about Link today. Instead, I’m sick, so I’m improvising a little bit. For starters, I can’t find my sheet of paper where I wrote down Link’s mini-playlist (I blame the Nyquil), so I’m just going to recommend <a href="http://beautifulcreaturesthebook.com/extras/playlists/" target="_blank">going over to the Beautiful Creatures site and looking at Link’s Playlist</a>. If I feel better later or tomorrow, I’ll find that paper and post mine.</p> <p><img class="alignleft" style="margin: 5px;" src="http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/2600000/Charles-Carver-charles-and-max-carver-2652955-598-393.jpg" alt="" width="316" height="208" />On another note, y’all knew that Beautiful Creatures has been optioned for film, right? Well, that means we get to start speculating about who we’d like to play which characters in the movie (assuming it gets made)! Now, I am of the opinion that Lena and Ethan should be (relative) unknowns, and then everyone else should be played by stars. I thought about Link for a long time, because I couldn’t think of <em>anyone </em>that looked young/old enough and I thought would be a fit. And then it hit me. I’m a <em>Desperate Housewives</em> watcher, and I personally think that Max or Charlie Carver (They are identical twins, so take your pick. Charlie is pictured.) would be a good fit. What do you all think? Who would you like to see?</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/beautiful-creatures-more-link/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/76250.html Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:25:18 GMT PReview: Fat Vampire http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/76250.html <p>Welcome to another PReview, where I give you a <strong>preview</strong> of a <strong>review</strong> that I won’t be posting for awhile. You see what I did thar? Anyway, have any of you read <strong>The True Meaning of Smekday</strong>? It’s hilarious, and involves an alien race called the Boov taking over the USA and renaming is Smekday, whilst forcing all the humans to relocate to Florida. Anyway, this is by the same author.</p> <p><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/7031817.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1152" style="margin: 10px;" title="7031817" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/7031817-197x300.jpg" alt="7031817" width="186" height="283" /></a><strong>Fat Vampire</strong></p> <p><strong>by Adam Rex</strong></p> <p><strong>Release: July 2010</strong></p> <p><strong>Published by Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins)</strong></p> <p>At the tender age of fifteen, overweight Doug gets turned into a vampire. Now he must search out some geeky goth chick so he can suck her blood. Meanwhile, there’s a new foreign exchange student at school, and oh, yeah, the television show <em>Vampire Hunters </em>may be out to reveal Doug as a vampire to the entire world.</p> <ul> <li>Humorous (what did you expect from Adam Rex?)</li> <li>Multiple 3rd person POVs</li> <li>Has vampires, killer pandas, <em>The Rocky Horror Picture Show</em>, <em>West Side Story</em>, and <em>Crisis on Infinte Earths</em></li> <li>Has an interesting ending. I personally went kind of “WTF?”, but whatev. I trust Adam Rex. He knows what he’s doing.</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/preview-fat-vampire/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/75908.html Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:39:07 GMT Beautiful Creatures: Meet Link http://rwjohnston.livejournal.com/75908.html <p><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1159" style="margin: 10px;" title="BeautifulCreatures" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BeautifulCreatures-198x300.jpg" alt="BeautifulCreatures" width="139" height="210" /></a>Every day this week I’ll be featuring a character from Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Little, Brown, Dec. 2009). To start us off, I asked Kami and Margaret some questions about Link, the best friend of protagonist Ethan. Here’s what they had to say.</p> <p><em>Link is the best friend we all wish we had – quick to take a hit or write a song for a friend. Because first and foremost, Link is a drummer and a dreamer. A guy who’s going places, even if those places are only in his mind. </em></p> <p><strong>BoyWithBooks: </strong>How did you balance Link against Ethan? Keeping them different but similar enough to be friends?<br /> <strong>Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Link is very different from Ethan on the surface, but they share important character traits: loyalty, bravery, the willingness the go against the grain. A lot of people have best friends who are really different from them. Close friends provide a counterbalance for each other – one is shy and the other extroverted, one is serious and the other laid back. We look for things in our friend that we lack ourselves, and that is definitely the case with and Link. Until Ethan meets Lena, Link is the only person who really knows him – the one person he doesn’t have to pretend with.</span></strong></p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 220px"><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/link-copysm.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1161" style="margin: 5px;" title="link copy(sm)" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/link-copysm-300x200.jpg" alt="link copy(sm)" width="210" height="140" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo by Vania Stoyanova © 2009. Used with permission. </p></div> <p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>BwB: </strong>Will we be seeing more of Link in the next book?</span><br /> <span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>K & M: <span style="font-weight: normal;">You will. We can’t imagine it without him. </span></strong></span></p> <p><strong>BwB:</strong> Will Link’s band ever be any good?<br /> <strong>K & M: </strong>They had their moment in BEAUTIFUL CREATURES. I guess it depends on how you define good.<br /> <em>[I read Beautiful Creatures about five months ago, and I can't for the life of me remember what it is they are talking about here. I guess that means I need to re-read it, huh?]</em></p> <p><strong>Three Things You Should Know About Link:</strong><br /> He never has any money.<br /> He’s even cuter than you think.<br /> He’s always got your back</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 221px"><a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBWsm.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1160 " style="margin: 5px;" title="KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBW(sm)" src="http://rowijo.void-star.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBWsm-300x235.jpg" alt="KGarcia_MStohl_BeautifulCreaturesBW(sm)" width="211" height="165" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Author photo © Alex Hoerner. Used with permission.</p></div> <p>Later today I’ll have another post where we can discuss Link some more, including a mini playlist, who should play him in the movie (!) <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">and a photograph from </span><a href="http://vlcphoto.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: line-through;">Vania’s Life Captures’</span></a><span style="text-decoration: line-through;"> Beautiful Creatures-inspired set</span> (now included above at no additional charge!). In the meantime, you can keep up with Kami and Margaret at <a href="http://www.beautifulcreaturesthebook.com" target="_blank">www.BeautifulCreaturestheBook.com</a>, join the U.S. fansite at <a href="http://www.castergirls.com" target="_blank">www.CasterGirls.com</a>, and check out the official Little, Brown site at <a href="http://www.somelovesarecursed.com" target="_blank">www.SomeLovesAreCursed.com</a>.</p> <p style="text-align: right"><small>Mirrored from <a href="http://rowijo.void-star.net/index.php/2009/12/beautiful-creatures-meet-link/" title="Read Original Post">BoyWithBooks.com</a>.</small></p> public

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