Follow Friday

Friday Follow is a blog hop that was started by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.  Each week a different question is posted by our hosts and we will answer!  This is a great opportunity for bloggers to network and interact. 

This week’s question – 

Q: What is a deal breaker for you in a book? For example, do you abhor love triangles? Or can’t deal with bad editing?

This one's a toughie.  There are lots of things....mostly though, if a book hasn't caught my interest by page 20, I usually set it aside and don't come back.  Something a little less minor is language.  I don't mind minor swearing here and there but if the main characters are swearing more than our neighborhood trucker, I tend to put the book down. 

- Christinabean

For me it's repetative language.  When you've read 'cobalt blue eyes' for the 19th time, it just starts to grate on me.  If there is a lot of repetition in a book I will usually give up on it.  To me it seems lazy - the author couldn't find another phrase?  Sometimes eyes are just eyes, you know what I mean?

-Curlypow

Welcome to the Paperback Princesses! Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section. We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts. We often try to comment on your comments as well so feel free to start a conversation! Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and event postings. Be sure to check out our own personal meme page. Check out Fantastic Fairytales, Let's Hear it for the Boys, In Case you Missed it and a few others. We try to not only focus on new YA books but also great titles from the past.

Christinabean's Friday Finds

Welcome to Christinabean's Friday Finds where I share interesting things I've found around the web over the past week or two...or three...depending on when I last posted.

Ever thought of vacationing in the Shire?  Here's your chance with the Hobbit House of Montana!

Have you seen this new cover by Lauren DeStefano?  it is #2 in the Chemical Garden Trilogy.  The first book, Wither was released in March 2011.  You can read our post about it here.

You can now pre-order the Collector's Edition of the Hunger Games through Scholastic to be released in November!

I'm sure everyone else watched the MTV Hunger Games trailer on Sunday but just in case you missed it like I did...love. this. series.

Don't forget to enter our giveaway!  We are giving away Hades by Alexandra Adornetto!!

Christinabean's Friday Finds - July 15th

Welcome back to Christinabean's Friday Finds.  Here are some new titles that are coming out in the future.  Three of them are #2 titles in a book series A Million Suns, The Golden Lily and Perception. The Future of Us is a collaborative effort from Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler.  What's really cool about this cover is it's Matrix-y (yeah, I made that word up) look in binary code.

So let's chat for a minute shall we?  Do any of you like watching book trailers?  I have to say that I love book trailers just like I love movie trailers. They really do influence me as to whether I will read a novel or not.  Yes, yes I admit.  Not only do I judge a book by its cover but also by it's trailer.  Marketing...it really does work on me.  So for all of you authors out there, I think it really is a good idea to invest in a good videographer to promote your title.  One of the best book trailers that I've seen is The Karma Club by Jessica Brody.  This trailer just really worked for her book (for me) and I wanted to read it right away.  Have you seen any outstanding book trailers lately?

Ok, so we've discussed book trailers but let's talk websites, shall we?  When I find a book I enjoy, I often want to find out more about the author.  Working for a library and responsible for outreach, I am also looking to see how to contact the author for author visits, tours and skype interviews.  Please, please (authors) put up some kind of contact information or bio.  Making it easy to reach you means that as fans, teachers and professionals we can promote your material and tell more people about your great reads.  I'm not saying to put up things that are too personal (to encourage stalking) but by all means, make sure you make it easy for us to follow you on Facebook, Twitter or on your personal blog.  Keep your fans engaged too by updating regularly and even offering up short stories or fun things about your characters or series.  Fan love this....now onto something a bit more pressing...



Pottermania!!

So I have to ask, how many of our lovely followers went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter last night?  I would have loved to go but I'm afraid I'm no spring chicken anymore...instead,I looked for videos on Youtube...

First, need a refresher?


Check out this video on Snape...


Another video to make you cry....


Doesn't this just make you want to run to a box office now and watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2??  It's like saying goodbye to an old friend....

Christinabean's Friday Finds



So I came across some interesting things these past two weeks...

New books coming out -

I loved The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead..can't wait for this one!

Drew Barrymore is going to direct the book to film version of Heist Society!  I love Drew and I can't wait to see how it turns out. 

Only another week until Harry Potter comes out. I'm pretty sad to see it all end but it has been a fantastic ride.  Have you seen the trailer below?  It was new to me this week.  Don't watch it if you don't want spoilers on Gringott's bank!  Is anyone going to the midnight showing?

As many of you know, this is the last of the Harry Potter movies.  The North American release is next week and yesterday was London's premiere.  A very emotional set of speeches was released today to the rest of the world from Daniel, Emma, Rupert and JK Rowling.  It made me cry...



On a happier note, have you seen this parody of the Hunger Games to Brittney Spears music?



What did you discover this week?

Christinabean's Friday Finds - June 17th

So I've been collecting hoarding cool links over the past couple weeks to share with you.  You'll find some of them are book related and others are just plain interesting or funny.  Enjoy!

Inara Scott has a pretty new cover for #2 in The Talents series

I'm eagerly awaiting Andrea Cremer's #2 book Wolfsbane, follow up to Nightshade.  Here she describes Wolfsbane and what we can expect...well those of us who weren't able to snag a copy at BEA this year...

Another incredibly talented writer is Maggie Stiefvater.  This girl does uses a sharpie marker like it's nobody's business!  Have you seen her mark up a guitar?  She will be in Oshawa, ON on Sat July 15th.  Anyone going to be at the signing?  Check out her stop motion video -

In terms of books and movie news, most of you already know that much of the Hunger Games cast has already been assigned.  What do you think of Donald Sutherland as President Snow?  I think they cast him well.  Also, Jace from the Mortal Instruments has been cast and he will be Jamie Campbell Bower.  Any comments on this one?  I know I was holding out for Alex Pettyfer but if Cassie Clare says the audition was unf**king believable then he must be right for Jace....

Are you a writer and looking for others to critique and encourage your work?  I came across a new resource today called Book Country where you can upload your work and have others read, write and discuss their projects with you. 

Next week we will be participating in the Canada Day Blog Hop.  Please don't forget to enter our giveaway and check out the other blogs! 

 



Christinabean's Friday Finds



I'm keeping this creature for this week's Friday Finds. Here's what I found this week -

YES!!!

Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong will team up for a middle school series called The Blackwell pages.

If Kiersten White ever gets tired of writing YA, she should go into comedy....READ THIS.

(omg.yahoo.com)

OK, so can you see Lenny Kravitz playing Cinna now in The Hunger Games?

That's all for this week.  LOVE LOVE LOVE the Clockwork Prince pic...



Christinabean's Friday Finds



My apologies for being away for so long to share my finds.  I've got lots of interesting goodies this week to share though!  Prepare for a long post!  Like my creature?  I found him on tinypic.com.  Who wouldn't like a little creature rockin' it out while downing a slurpee?  Get ready for some fun...

First off, let's explain that I still have yet to get myself a bookshelf.  Yes, it is pathetic.  They used to reside in a dresser in the spare room but now my books have migrated to a plastic under the bed box.  Check out these bookshelves though.  Which is your fav?

This is my favourite...quite possibly because it holds more than all the rest....

Other fun things I've run into over the past week...Cassie Clare is one of my favourite writers.  I think that the Mortal Instruments series should be read by everyone.  Hands up if you're a fan!  So if you haven't read the series (first 3 books) then don't bother visiting this site but here is a bonus read from Miss Clare.  It's the first kiss between a certain couple...speaking of this couple, check out this laugh out loud dialogue via postcards, a short story by Cassandra.

There were a ton of new books that I came across this week!

The Scorpio Races is a new stand alone by Maggie Stiefvater.  Darkness Falls by Kate Tiernan is book #2 in the Immortal Beloved Series.  Silence (uh, where can I get one of those?) is book number 3 in the Hush Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick.  Last but not least is a new series called Wolf Springs Chronicles by Nancy Holder.  Book Number 1 is Unleashed.  Great looking reads eh?

  

Non-book related stuff

So not all that I found this past week was YA book related. I wanted to share this really cool link as well from the NYPL. They have an archive of menus (yes, menus) that need to be transcribed and they are asking the public for assistance. Try your hand at transcribing online at this website and be a part of history for this great digitization project!

Lastly, I wanted to leave you with a bit of a giggle.  I've seen this video a few times on different blogs but Julian Smith really cracks me up here....how do people come up with these things??  The next time someone is bugging you, just grimace and say - I'M READING A BOOK, CAN'T YOU SEE I'M READING A BOOK?  (ha! ha!)



Christinabean's Friday Finds

I have found some lovelies for you this week. Actually, some of you might already be aware of many...

First off, let's talk cover love. Curlypow had mentioned this one earlier but the sequel to Paranormalcy has come out. As well as book the second book in the Firelight series...Welcome Supernaturally and Vanish!



Ms. Kimberly Derting also has a new book coming out this fall called The Pledge. Coincidentally, both Curlypow and I are reading Desires of the Dead (2nd book in the Body Finder series)...awesome. Look for a Double Take posting soon!

The Beautiful Chaos cover, number 3 in the Caster Chronicles series has also been released and will also be coming out this fall. I know that Curlypow has this pre-ordered. It is one of her favourite series!

Lastly, in terms of fun book news, did you know that Lauren Oliver's two books - Before I Fall and Delirium have both been optioned for film? Congrats Lauren! You can read more on her blog here.

One more tidbit that is totally unrelated to books but a great source for those hard to buy boys...Have you ever had trouble finding a fun gift for your guy? Well, I came across this cool website for geeks. True, not all men are geeks but mine is. I'm sure you must know someone slightly geeky in your circle of friends as well...my guy was a closet geek. Now he owns a gaming store. Go figure. I always find it hard to buy cool gifts for him but not anymore! I'm going to be frequenting this store quite a bit. There are also some fun gadgets for gals too....Miss Pither, I'm talking to you....Think Geek.

Christinabean's Friday Finds - December 31st

Our regularly scheduled Friday Blog Hop will return next week...

Can you believe it?  It is the last day of 2010.  You know to be honest, it has been a rough year and I have to admit that I'm happy that it will be done.  A new, fresh start in the morning!  So here's what I've got for you this Friday...

Heeellllloooo Mr. Lautner!!  (I imagine Curlypow is swooning at this picture right now...).  Excuse me while I wipe the drool from my keyboard....

So have you heard that Taylor is going to star in the movie adaptation of Incarceron by Catherine Fisher?  Unfortunately, it is scheduled for release in 2013...

Have you seen this beauty?  It is the cover of Cassandra Clare's 4th book in the Mortal Instruments series.  Unfortunately we'll have to wait until April 5th to get our hands on it!

MY SOUL TO STEAL IS COMING....

If you haven't noticed, we have a wee little countdown widget to the left side of the page and My Soul To Steal is coming out on January 4th. Check out the video below...

YOU WANT MY SOUL AND MY BOYFRIEND?

Trying to work things out with

Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just

pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their

relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to

take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara,

the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft

them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she

survives.

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to

death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

I DON'T THINK SO.

Pre-order your copy on Amazon or via The Book Depository today!

Christinabean Friday Finds

Kody Keplinger, author of The Duff is going to come out with another new book in 2011 entitled Luststruck - A contemporary reimagining of the Greek play, "Lysistrata," in which high school senior Lissa decides it's time to end her school's ridiculous sports rivalry once and for all by starting a hook-up strike. (Goodreads.com)

Did you know that Melissa Marr, author of the Wicked Lovely series, is coming out with an adult title this spring?  Wicked.  BTW, she really is awesome in person.

Still looking for some great baking and cooking ideas for Christmas? Check out http://allrecipes.com/

Something rather nice for the Christmas season...if you can recall, there was a little novella published earlier this year entitled The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner.   Little Brown Books and Stephenie Meyer had pledged to donate $1 from every sale of this book (first printing) to the American Red Cross. They donated 1.5 million. Yay for authors, publishers and philanthrophy! (Thanks to Shelf Awareness for this info).



That's all I've got for you this week kids.  Wishing you all the best this Christmas Eve!  Don't forget to leave cookies and milk for Santa tonight!

Christinabean Friday Finds

Ahhh....it has been so long since I've done this but there are lots of newish things I want to share.

Contests -

Best I've Read 2010 contest craziness

Happening right now until December 16th. Go and enter. There will be 70 winners. Yep. You read right seventy.

Sarah Rees Brennan has a new cover out for #3 in her series! The Demon's Surrender comes out in May 2011. Can't wait to read it. Who's on the cover? Alan!!

Lauren Oliver has titles for her follow up books to Delirium. Book #2 will be Pandemonium (released in 2012) and book #3 will be Requiem (released in 2013). Congrats Lauren! BTW, most non-bloggers have not read Delirium. Why's that? Because it comes out February 1st 2011!!

Meg Cabot is coming out with a new book in April 2011 called Abandon. Check out the cover!

Most of us are familiar with the Hunger Games series. If you aren't, you haven't been reading this blog for long because we rant and rave about it quite a bit. The movie is in the making and I have heard that they already have a 70 million dollar budget for it. I have come across some predictions for casting but take a look at this FANMADE video. For unknowns, they did quite well at capturing the essence of the book. What do you think?

One last thing. Are you a doglover? If so, please do this. Pedigree is running an Adoption Drive until December 31st, 2010. If you "like" them on Facebook, you will be donating an 8oz bowl of food to a shelter. Please visit their facebook page and feed a hungry pup. :D OK, so he's not up for adoption. That's my dog when he was a puppy...

Friday Finds - Christinabean

True, it is not Friday but I have been hoarding a ton of up and coming new releases in some of our favorite series.

First off, let me start with Alyson Noel. Her second book in the Riley series for middle-school is coming out March 2011 entitled Shimmer.

Aprilynne Pike has released the new cover for her third book in the Wings series called Illusions. It comes out in May 2011. You may have noticed that the style of Illusions has changed slightly. Sounds like they will be doing a re-vamp of the series and changing the appearance of Wings and Spells to match.

Rachel Hawkins Hex Hall series has a new title coming out in the new year as well. Demon Glass (looks great!) will be coming to your bookstore in February 2011.

Last but certainly not least is Wolfsbane, #2 in the Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer. It will be coming out in July 2011.

My last tidbit for you is Matched by Ally Condie. The book trailer came out a couple weeks ago and the book if officially available November 30th. Can't wait!

EDIT - THIS IS BIG NEWS!!

Chapters/Indigo will be hosting Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games Trilogy) at Indigo/Chapters Yorkdale on Saturday November 20th at 1pm.  It is limited to 250 people and Chapters will be giving away tickets to this event this Saturday November 13th (Yorkdale) beginning at 9:30am EST.  Suzanne Collins still has an injury so she will be using a stamp for signing and signings are limited to one book per person.  If you can't make it to line up (like us) this Saturday, you can follow @IndigoGreenRoom on Twitter to try and win tickets.  This is a free event!!