Monday, October 22, 2012

Cover Love

It's been a while since I've done a cover love post so I thought I'd share a few that have caught my eye.

1. Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Here's what it's about: Payback is paradise in this start to a trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian.
Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.
     KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.
     LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.
     MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.
     None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible.
     With an unlikely alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.

Something about the cover struck me as both beautiful and innocent meets Gossip Girl. It was the juxtaposition of the soft tones and the girls' clothing and expression. Reading the jacket confirmed that this cover is right on. If you missed it, Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian participated in this year's National Book Festival in Washington, DC.

2. Son by Louis Lowry
Here's what it's about: They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive?  She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it means making an unimaginable sacrifice.
Son thrusts readers once again into the chilling world of the Newbery Medal winning book, The Giver, as well as Gathering Blue and Messenger where a new hero emerges. In this thrilling series finale, the startling and long-awaited conclusion to Lois Lowry’s epic tale culminates in a final clash between good and evil.

OMG, right?! A sequel to The Giver!!! I'm sure many of you have read this New York Times bestseller and, as you can see, this cover is in a similar vein and complementary color palette. It's been a while since The Giver came out so I'm sure this is going to be a good one, and definitely one to appease all those fans out there.


So, what good looking books have you seen lately?

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Hilarious



Love this!

Monday, October 15, 2012

Swagger Song

I bring you Monday morning's swagger song. This is sure to get you going for the week. I, for one, am LOVING this song! Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Firefly Lane Book Review

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Kate Mularkey and Tully Hart meet in the turbulent summer of 1974 in the eighth grade. Kate doesn't have much style or many friends but then the "coolest girl on earth" moves next door. Their friendship isn't immediate but when Tully comes home one night after a party upset and raped, Kate finds her and swears to keep her secret. And that one night changes them both forever.

In Firefly Lane we follow these two women through 30 years of friendship. First, as Kate is wide-eyed at Tully's coolness factor and Tully is in awe of Kate's non-disfunctional family--particularly Kate's loving mother. They spend warm nights sneaking out for ride bikes along the bumpy dirt path of Firefly Lane. They sit by the riverbank and dare to dream of what the world might have in store for them. And from those early budding moments of friendship on, they are no longer Tully and Kate but TullyandKate. Inseparable.

We follow them through college as Tully finds a cause to dedicate her fierce determination and desire to be the center of attention: television journalism. Meanwhile Kate daydreams of love and struggles to find out what, if anything, truly motivates her besides her loyalty to her dear friend. Through several years that follow, Kate continues to play side kick to Tully. But then Tully gets her first big break: an internship at a local station and, of course, has to get Kate a job there too.

Kate believes she has less sense of self than Tully because all she truly wants is an "ordinary" life: to be a wife and a mother. Kate feels she's betraying women like her mother who weren't given the same kind of opportunities to go to college and pursue careers. Hannah certainly makes clear the kinds of changes that have occurred along the political landscape for women from not only generation to generation but decade to decade, something that adds an additional and enjoyable layer to this book.

Firefly Lane is a story about best friends and the roller coaster emotions of life: jealousy, betrayal, heartache, laughter, margaritas, and most of all--a North Star, someone always there to be guided back to no matter what. Firefly Lane so vividly details these women and their interwoven lives that you genuinely feel as though you know them, as if you've lived there right beside them. Kristin Hannah has done a beautiful job and written a wonderful story here that's sure not to disappoint.

When I was in the final chapter of the book I got off the DC Metro and walked to my car. Only I couldn't drive home. I couldn't dare leave until I had finished my journey with these women. And so, I sat in the dark with just my little car light on, tears streaming down my face, heart swollen, as I read through the final pages. I've read about Oprah feeling the need to buy The Color Purple for every one of her girlfriends when she first finished it. Well this is my Color Purple. Every one of my closest girlfriends is getting a copy of this for Christmas. I loved it. And, in many ways, I feel like I've lived it. I have these friends, these anchors in my life to which I owe so much and for whom I know I would do anything. No matter what transpires in time or how many days or weeks pass between phone calls, there are some friends that are our soul mates--we're tethered together forever.

Monday, October 8, 2012

I Miss Harry Potter

I have to confess, I'm a late bloomer party crasher when it comes to Harry Potter. I've seen more movies than I've read books, however, I am making my way through the novels now and, yes, even checked out the Universal Studios Hogwarts (which was AMAZING by the way!).

So while I may not be as big a fan out there as many of you, I can't help but wish there were more novels out there with fun, fantastical worlds that come alive so vividly. I know it's not fair to compare other story ideas to such a mega hit, but I love getting swept up in in that "other worldly" kind of way--where anything is possible.

In the interim (while we wait for another great fantasy or the new soon-to-be-released JK Rowling book) I thought I could share this delightfully fun play on words because, really, who doesn't love Harry Pottery mixed with a Jay-Z reference?





What do you miss most about Harry Potter?

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

This Made Me Laugh So Hard I Cried

I only just discovered Bad Lip-Reading, the group that takes everything from Presidential speeches to popular film clips and dubs them with, well, bad lip reading. This one is from The Hunger Games. It's so ridiculous that by the end you'll be laughing too: