Stacking the Shelves (3)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which we share the books we've gotten during the past week.

Everything I received last week was from the library. I didn't get much, but I'm really excited about what I did get.

Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Release date: April 9, 2013

Amazon     |     Barnes and Noble     |     Goodreads

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Publisher: Poppy

Release date: April 2, 2013

Amazon     |     Barnes and Noble     |     Goodreads

Taken by Erin Bowman

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release date: April 16, 2013

Amazon     |     Barnes and Noble     |     Goodreads

What did you get this week? Tell me or link to your post in the comments!

Review: Celia on the Run

Celia on the Run by Sarah Mandell
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Release date: February 28, 2012
Pages: 299
Format: eBook
Website     |     Blog     |     Facebook  Twitter       |     Goodreads

Nick Novaczek is a cautious soul, a 17-year old with a boring life, a predictable future, and a quiet thirst for danger. On the eve of his beloved grandmother's funeral, danger finds him by the motel swimming pool. Her name is Celia and she's everything he's not. This foul-mouthed beauty is hitchhiking across the country to make amends with her estranged father and doesn't carry an ounce of fear or hesitation in her tattered suitcase. She's bad news all around, but for a rule-follower like Nick, she's intoxicating.

Twenty-four hours after speaking to Celia for the very first time, following one extremely lucky night, Nick is hopelessly hooked and "borrows" his parents' car to join her cross-country mission, even though her story is full of holes. It's the mistake he's been waiting his whole life to make. Together, they dodge a train, jump off a bridge, and scam everyone in their path. Nick is blossoming into a teenage fugitive, just like Celia, and he's never been happier. She may not be who she says she is, but she's got his vulnerable heart.

After weeks of detours, with hundreds of miles left to go, their wild adventure starts to unravel. The money dries up, Celia's dark secrets begin to surface, and it's clear they both want vastly different things out of this partnership. Celia is all about no strings attached and severing whatever they may have between them once they reach their destination, while Nick is head over heels in love and wanting a future with the girl in his passenger seat. They seem to reach a new low on a daily basis, but she won't turn back, no matter how desperate things get. After all, this is her trip and Nick is just the driver. Celia's got a charming smile to pay her way, a willing accomplice, a hidden agenda, and an endless supply of lies. Not to mention a gun.

I am breaking one of my own rules: I'm reviewing a book that I didn't finish reading. I made it most of the way through the book, but then I had to stop. I'll talk about that later on the review.

Celia on the Run starts out interesting enough: boy sees girl hitchhiking, boy's parents won't pick her up, girl shows up at the hotel where boy is staying. It's hard not to be intrigued by that, and it's hard not to wonder where the story is going to take these characters.

Unfortunately, after that, the story completely fell flat for me, and to be honest, it became largely unbelievable. Why? Because this book is heavy on dialogue, and I felt like I was being told things, rather than being shown them. That made it nearly impossible for me to believe that the characters actions were in line with who they are as people. There's no way I believe Nick, who is supposed to be just a boring teenager, would steal his parents' car to drive Celia to New Jersey. I'm not sure I believe that she would let him.

We learn a lot about the characters through their dialogue, but because it was just me being told who the characters are, what they like, and so on, I couldn't connect with them. I needed to see who they are, not be told it. This was later proven for me when Nick's actions were the complete opposite of his words. I won't spoil what happens, but it's something huge, and what Nick does is in direct opposition to what he says (which is that he loves Celia and is in love with her--which is repeated so much throughout the book that for one, I stopped caring, and for another thing, I didn't know if I believed it). At that point, I was so angry with Nick that I just stopped reading the book. I haven't picked it back up yet, and am not sure I will.

Aside from the characters and the moment that made me stop reading the book, I was just so frustrated by the amount of dialogue. Yes, dialogue is important. But this is a road trip book, and for goodness' sake, I wanted narration about the landscapes! I wanted to know exactly where Nick and Celia were and what they were seeing. Because of the dialogue, it seemed like Nick and Celia would be at Point A, then Point B, then Point C, and back to Point A again, and it was confusing. I know they were zigzagging on their road trip. I know this. And I'm fine with having a road trip that isn't linear, that's not Point A directly to Point B. What I needed, in order for this zigzagging to make sense, was to see what the characters saw when they looked out the car windows. With the exception of the stops they made along the way, I didn't get that.

Road trips are a tricky thing to write about. You're spending hours in a car with two characters who may make a few stops from time to time. How do you fill the silence? With dialogue, sure, but also with scenery, the music they listen to, the things they dwell on when the music's off and the other person is asleep. Nick does spend some time thinking, but not to the depth I would have liked. I felt like I was struggling to know and understand the characters, and certainly to like them. In a way, everything comes back to the characters with this book.

I do want to mention that I poked around the website a bit and came across the road trip photo album for the book. And wow, are the road trip photos amazing. What I see in the photos is what I want to see in the book. The same is true for the road trip playlist that's on the website. It's a fabulous playlist--some of my favorite songs are on it. (White Room by Cream? Yes, please!!!) The website adds to so much to the book that I wish had been in the book more than it was. And, after looking at the photos, I think I'm definitely more likely to pick up the book again so that I can find out what happens. I just have to get over being angry at Nick first, because I am really mad at him.

I'm not saying I hate this book. I don't. It frustrated me, and I did get really angry with Nick (which is a good sign--it means I felt something while reading, and if I didn't feel anything one way or the other, that would be a bad thing), but I didn't hate it. I didn't love it, either. I'm frustrated with it because the book holds so much promise and could be something really great, but for me, it's not quite there.

Review: Just Little Things

Just Little Things by Nancy Vu
Publisher: Perigree Trade
Release date: May 7, 2013
Pages: 256
Format: Paperback
Website  | Facebook    Twitter   | Goodreads

Seeing a baby yawn
Drawing on a foggy window
Finding a curly fry mixed in with your regular fries

These and 247 other little things that make everyday life a joy are collected in this delightful, surprising, and heartfelt book. Based on the popular website, this book will strike a chord in anyone who is open to celebrating the little moments of greatness all around us.

Warning: This is not going to be a long review. What's not to love about this book? It's such a simple idea, yet it's a wonderful one. It might be a cliche, but it's true that simple things are sometimes the best things in life. I loved so many of the little things included in this book, though I didn't agree with all of them (example: the smell of movie theater popcorn. I hate the way popcorn smells). There's something for everyone in this book; if someone didn't come across a little thing they love in this book, I'd be surprised. The only thing I wish this book had are pictures of the little things mentioned, instead of different colored pages. Maybe that would have taken away from the text, but I would've liked it, anyway. Other than that, I loved everything about this book.

Review: The Genius of Little Things

The Genius of Little Things by Larry Buhl
Publisher: Beso Books
Release date: January 15, 2013
Pages: 235
Format: eBook
Website     |    Twitter           Facebook   |    Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Tyler’s big dream of becoming a top immunologist could come crashing down if he doesn’t manage all of the little things right now. But when this obsessive-compulsive science geek confronts a school election, a demeaning job, needy tutees, a first girlfriend, and the possible extinction of honeybees, there are suddenly too many things to manage.

Tyler’s catastrophically humorous run for high school student council convinces the principal that he’s a troublemaker, while it wins him the admiration and desire of Rachel, a smart and iconoclastic reporter for the school paper.
A new night job at a nursing home puts Tyler on a collision course with his new foster parents, a childless middle-aged couple with an agenda and a tragic past of their own. And the pain of his mother’s death becomes too big to ignore.

Set on the mean streets of suburban Las Vegas, The Genius of Little Things is about how you can’t always get what you want. But sometimes, well, you know...

I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. When I first started reading it, Tyler reminded me of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, which I enjoyed. His lack of social skills and ability to read social situations was interesting and, for a time, amusing. I have to admit, though, that at some point, it got a bit tedious and felt a bit forced. As a result, there were times when the story felt a bit forced, and I did stop and start this book several times before I finished it (although school was partly to blame for that). Overall, it was a good story. My biggest problem with this book was that I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I didn't hate them, but I didn't love them, either. Aside from Tyler, I didn't quite feel like I got to know any of the characters well enough to connect with them. For me, that was the greatest disappoint, because it doesn't matter how well a story is written if I can't connect with the characters.

There were some jarring transitions in the book, but aside from that, it was enjoyable to read. I liked the journal-style entries of the book, especially since it didn't feel like I was reading journal entries. That might sound weird, but there you have it. I also really enjoyed the lists Tyler made throughout the book. I'm a big fan of making lists, which means I also like reading other people's lists.

I was a bit worried while I was reading that Tyler wouldn't progress and grow as a character throughout the book. By the time I was nearing the end of the book, I started wondering if it was going to happen or not. But, it does. Tyler certainly does change throughout the book, and learn many lessons, but they are subtle enough that it feels natural. I liked it that Tyler had to experience things sometimes more than once before he finally learned from the experiences. It agreed with his character, and it made it so that the lessons weren't thrown at the readers in a way that makes it feel like we're being told what we need to think--there's not obvious moral to the story, or an agenda that's being pushed at readers, which I feel can happen in books if the author isn't careful. Fortunately, Larry Buhl is careful enough to create realistic situations that Tyler would face, and though it did seem forced at times, overall, Tyler's reactions to those situations were realistic for his character.

The Genius of Little Things makes for a fun contemporary read that, while I didn't fall in love with it, kept me interested. My only wish is that I had been able to connect with the characters more than I did. If I had been able to connect with them more, I would've have loved this book instead of just liked it.

Stacking the Shelves (2)

This is only my second time participating in Stacking the Shelves, a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, but I'm happy to be participating again (finally!).

Since it's been a while since I've particpated, I'm going to list some things from the past two weeks, since I'm really excited about some of them.

For review

The Keep by Veronica Wolff

Publisher: NAL

Release date: June 4, 2013

Amazon     |     Goodreads

This is part of one of the few vampire series I enjoy. I'm a bit behind in this series, but I can't wait to get back to it.

Fall of Night by Rachel Caine

Publisher: NAL

Release date: May 7, 2013

Amazon     |     Goodreads

When I first started this series, I really enjoyed it. Around books 7 and 8, I got a little bored with it, so I stopped reading it. (I am so behind on reviews for this series.) Now, though, I'm feeling ready to pick it up again. Not a huge vampire fan, but for some reason, I seem to be in the mood for vampires.

Just Little Things: A Celebration of Life's Simple Pleasures by Nancy Vu

Publisher: Perigree Trade

Release date: May 7, 2013

Amazon     |     Goodreads

This isn't a YA book, but it was written by a teen and inspired by the blog Just Little Things. I've already read it and should be reviewing it soon.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Release date: May 7, 2013

Amazon     |     Goodreads

One perk to being a librarian is getting ARCs from the publishers and vendors. Fortunately, my library system received several ARCs of this one from our vendors, because a lot of us wanted it.

 Purchased

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer

Publisher: Balzar + Bray

Release date: April 23, 2013

Amazon     |     Goodreads

I loved Smart Girls Get What They Want, so I couldn't pass up this book.

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Publisher: Ember (reprint edition)

Release date: September 11, 2012 (reprint edition)

Amazon     |     Goodreads

This has been on my TBR list for a long time. I finally decided to buy it.

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Publisher: Speak

Release date: February 16, 2012

Amazon     |     Goodreads

Another one that has been on my TBR list for a while.

Never Enough by Denise Jaden

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release date: July 10, 2012

Amazon     |     Goodreads

 From the library

 The Elite by Kiera Cass

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release date: April 23, 2013

Amazon     |     Goodreads

Super-excited to read this!

Game by Barry Lyga

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release date: April 16, 2013

Amazon     |     Goodreads

Oh. My. Gosh. I have been waiting for this book for months!

Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release date: March 12, 2013

Amazon     |     Goodreads

I've heard nothing but good things about this one and can't wait to start it.

What did you get this week? Tell me or link to your post in the comments!

Top Ten Books I Want to Read When I'm Done With School

My graduate school career is coming to a close. Today is the last day of my on-site practicum hours, and I should have my practicum paper done this weekend. In anticipation of having time to read for fun again, I've come up with a list of the top 10 books I can't wait to dig into once this weekend is over. This list doesn't include the books I've received for review.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver: This has been sitting on my shelf since it was released. My sister was delighted by the fact that she read it before I did. MUST. FINISH. THIS. SERIES.










Sever by Lauren DeStefano: This has also been sitting on my shelf since it was released. I adore this series and can't wait to read the conclusion (but am so sad it's over!).

The Lucky Ones by Anna Godbersen: I've actually already started this one, but school got in the way of finishing it. Thanks to this series, I'm now obsessed with the 1920s; it's probably my favorite era to read about when it comes to historical fiction.








Ingenue by Jillian Larkin: Guys, I am really behind on my series books. Case in point: I still haven't read Ingenue, despite the fact that this is another series I adore.

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally: Oh my goodness, I love Miranda Kenneally. When it comes to contemporary perfection, she is one of the authors at the top of my list.









The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler: Um, because it's Sarah Ockler. No other explanation necessary.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen: Like Sarah Ockler, this is on the list because it's Sarah Dessen. Do I really need another reason? Also, the nerd in me likes books that have characters with certain names. One of the characters in this book is named Luke, which is my favorite boy's name. So, I'd read it for that, even if weren't Sarah Dessen. Lame, I know.









Game by Barry Lyga: It's about a serial killer. That was all I needed to know to pick up the first book in the series, I Hunt Killers. Love, love, love this series.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth: Confession--I wasn't planning on finishing this series. I was burnt out on dystopia for a while, but now, I can't wait to finish this trilogy.









And finally:

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown: More contemporary goodness, which is just what I want right now. I love Hate List, but Bitter End and especially Perfect Escape were the two Jennifer Brown books that really blew me away. Can't wait for this one!








And there you have it: the top ten books I'm eagerly awaiting. Is there anything else I should add to this list? Tell me in the comments!

Update: Where have I been?

I've been mostly MIA for the past several months, posting sporadically as I have time. But that is coming to end. I am almost done with my MLIS degree; I have one week of class left, and I'm almost done with my practicum. I'll be completely done with everything within the next four to five weeks.

What that means is, I am slowly getting more time to read for fun again, which means I will be posting more often again. I've already started tackling my current review pile, and I will soon be accepting more books for review than I've been able to in the past year.

But wait--there's more! For the past several months, I have also been tentatively planning on a new blog feature. Today, I was able to solidify some plans for that feature. I'll be posting about it again soon, once I've finalized everything. I wasn't sure for a while if I was going to move forward with it or not, but now that I've decided to do this feature, I'm really excited about it. And yes, I'm being vague on purpose--I don't want to reveal anything until I'm ready to reveal everything.

I am really looking forward to getting back into blogging. I've missed it a lot, and I can't wait to get back into the swing of things. With that may come one other change to my blog: a complete design overhaul. This is another thing that I've been thinking about for months, but haven't had the time or effort to spend on actually doing it. I'll be tackling this project once my last class and practicum end as well.

I've also been playing around with the idea of a blog name change. As I get more and more involved with teen services at my job, I think more and more about adding that to my blog, and changing my blog name to reflect it. I don't have any plans to change my blog name right now (I haven't been able to come up with any good names), but if does happen, I will post about it. Maybe more than once, to help alleviate any confusion a blog name change could mean for the publishers and authors I've worked with (and for my readers, of course).

Happy reading!