Cover Rant

Please bear with me while I do a little rant...

I hate to say it but I do judge a book by it's cover. In fact, I did not read The Hate List by Jennifer Brown for the longest time because I did not like the cover. (Note to self - must do review on The Hate List). I love beautiful covers and I feel that if marketed correctly, they allow the reader to envision a part of the story as it unfolds. Emotions and feelings created by a cover can help conceptualize a time and place in a reader's mind.

I have an ARC of The Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon. While I absolutely LOVE the cover on this book, my TBR pile is sky high and sadly, I have still yet to read it. However, judging from the cover and the title, I can infer that the book has a little something to do with Asian culture in perhaps a historical timeline. The cover tells me it is a fantasy and it looks exotic.

Recently, the cover has undergone a major change. There has been much debate in the Blogosphere about publishers and the covers they choose (take a look at the controversy over Liar by Justine Larbalestier.  Justine comments on it on her blog).

To the left is the old cover of Silver Phoenix and to the right is the new cover. What is your opinion? Which do you like best and why? The publisher has commented that the new cover appeals to a wider audience but shouldn't the cover convey a more detailed message about the book? I feel the first cover says more. What do you think?

I visited Cindy's website to find out what her feelings were. She supports her publisher's decision 100%. I'm certain she doesn't have much say in these changes but I personally feel that the first cover conveys more. It is dynamic and displays the character's ethnicity.  What are your thoughts?

Too many books ...... not enough time

One of the reasons that Christinabean and I get along so well together is our love of books, particularly YA fantasy, but our tastes are similar in many other reading areas as well. We also share a love of knitting. I helped teach Christinabean how to knit a short while ago and now she is hooked. But there is one huge problem. Have you ever tried knitting and reading at the same time? OK, I have to admit that if I'm reading a large hardcover book and my knitting is just plain stockinette, I can actually do both at the same time ( talk about multi-tasking!). Unfortunately, most of what I'm knitting these days is a little more complex and requires my concentration, and I do understand that it takes years of knitting practice before you can knit without looking (I refuse to admit just how many years that is in my case).

So here is my dilemma - do I read, or do I knit? (I also embroider, which causes similar problems.) Simple solution - listen to books instead of reading them. Now, I have heard some people say that listening to a book just isn't the same, and I do agree up to a point. When you read a book, your mind provides the voices in your head and your imagination really comes into play. When you are listening to a book, you are hearing an actors' voice interpreting the story, which completely changes the experience for the reader/listener. But if my choice is listening or not reading at all, you can be sure I will listen.

One of the interesting things I find is that I am actually inclined to listen to books that I might not necessarily pick up and read on paper. This has opened up a whole new spectrum of books for me and I am thoroughly enjoying it. You might have noticed that I listened to Living Dead Girl, before reviewing, and I probably wouldn't have read that one. I would have missed out on an amazing experience if I hadn't.

The real beauty of listening to books is that I get to enjoy my 2 hobbies, which would otherwise be mutually exclusive. I listen to books on my computer, on my cd player, I even download audiobooks from overdrive (through my library) and listen to them on my Ipod, and I get to listen to books in my car - although that can be a bit disjointed since I only have a 10 min drive to work. I'm not sure if Christinabean listens to books, but she has a toddler at home, so her time is much more occupied than mine.

Anyway, there is a point or two to this post. I would love to hear from anyone out there who listens to books as well as reading them, and do you do other things while you are listening?

The other reason is to let you know that since I have solved my read-or-knit problem I'm going to review a few knitting/embroidery books. There are hundreds of really great ones out there that knitters like Christinabean and I don't know about, so keep your eyes peeled for the occasional post.

Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

Borrowed from the Library

Synopsis from Goodreads

Mae Crawford's always thought of herself as in control, but in the last few weeks her life has changed. Her younger brother, Jamie, suddenly has magical powers, and she's even more unsettled when she realizes that Gerald, the new leader of the Obsidian Circle, is trying to persuade Jamie to join the magicians. Even worse? Jamie hasn't told Mae a thing about any of it. Mae turns to brothers Nick and Alan to help her rescue Jamie, but they are in danger from Gerald themselves because he wants to steal Nick's powers. Will Mae be able to find a way to save everyone she cares about from the power-hungry magician's carefully laid trap?


Review


Hi all, saw Christinabean's review for Demon's Lexicon and just had to add my two cents worth for the sequel. (By the way, she was right, I did guess the twist at the end - it was amazing!)


As much as I enjoyed Demon's Lexicon, and that was a whole lot, I enjoyed its follow-up, Demons' Covenant, even more. The characters of Mae, Jamie, Nick and Alan are fleshed out in this second book, and to be honest I couldn't make up my mind whether I loved some of them or hated them. I think that is often a sign of great writing. You become so invested in the characters that you get mad at them for doing stupid things and feel for them when bad things happen, even though you may not actually like them very much at the time. I just can't decide what to think about Nick - most of the time I really don't like him very much, then he does something unexpected and I have a change of heart.
By the way, if you're looking for the usual werewolves and vampires, you won't find them here, but there is lots of magic and mayhem, which is just as much fun, IMO.
This is one of those stories that you can't really say a lot about without giving away the story, and I don't want to spoil things for anyone who hasn't read the first one yet. My advice - put this book at the very top of your TBR pile and don't put off reading it, especially if you like a bit of darkness in your urban fantasy. I know for sure that I will be first on the waiting list for the as yet un-named third in the trilogy, as long as Christinabean doesn't get there before me!

Christinabean here...sounds like a great read.  I hope you returned it to the library Miss Curlypow 'cause I think I'm next on the list!  BTW, I had a nice little chat on Twitter with Ms. Rees Brennan.  She is a lovely lady...hoping to get a quick author interview from her in the future!  Look her up and follow her on Twitter if you get the chance!

Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Borrowed from the library

Synopsis from Goodreads

Synopsis:

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.

Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is des-perate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

This is the Demon's Lexicon.

Review:
Hey everyone, Christinabean here. I'm still new to reviewing so I'll try not to blather on as I normally might. When I first heard about this book, I really didn't know what to expect. There was some buzz on my favorite blogs and it looked interesting. When I saw the cover, my first reaction was - "How did they get Johnny Depp to pose for this?". Am I the only one who thinks that this cover could pass for Johnny Depp or even Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli) from Heroes?

So back to the review...I really enjoyed this book. I LOVED the way it twisted and turned and as the book started to pick up speed, I truly could not put it down. All the way through I kept thinking - Why does Nick have such a complex?  It's like he's emotionally inept!  I cannot wait to read the next book - Demon's Covenant.  As an introduction to the characters, you really start to identify with the brothers' relationship but I'm looking forward to how their relationship is strengthened through their adventure.  Surprise ending for me.  I think Curlypow guessed it but I didn't!  This is book one in a trilogy (who doesn't have a trilogy nowadays?). If you liked other supernatural reads such as - The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, you would probably enjoy this one.  Sarah Rees Brennan is also part of the Smart Chicks Kick it Tour so you might want to check her out along with a ton of other great authors. 

Waiting on Wednesday - Clockwork Angel

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted from Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

(Summary from Goodreads)

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Curlypow is the one who got me interested in this series - The Mortal Instruments.  Lucky for me, someone had dropped it off as a donation and it was sitting on the bookcart (hardcover in perfect condition) and I managed to snag it.  (Don't weep when you read this) FOR $3!!!  One dollar for each book.  It did not take me long to devour, a fairly big feat considering that I have a wee toddler and hold two full-time jobs....it was that  good!!  You can imagine our jealousy when Clockwork Angel starting showing up on everyone's blog after BEA...the ARC looks fantastic!  Have you read it yet?  (Official release date is August 31, 2010)

BTW, for those who would love to see The Mortal Instruments continue, take a peek at Cassandra Clare's website.  City of Fallen Angels is due out in March 2011.  Can't wait!!

Did you also know that Cassandra Clare is part of the Smart Chicks Kick it Tour??  I blogged about this about a week ago.  There is also a possibility of the The Mortal Instruments becoming a movie!  Here are some the readers' fav pics for the cast, IF the books were turned into a movie.  Who would you choose?

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Published: September 2008

Summary: The Publisher - Simon and Shuster Children's Publishing

Obtained: Audio through library and Overdrive

Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.

Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.

Once upon a time, I didn't know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends, her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over. Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her. This is Alice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting when I started listening to this book. I certainly wasn't expecting to be completely blown away by the story. It is both one of the best and one of the worst books I have ever read (listened to). What I mean is, that Alice's story is so raw, so emotional, that it affects you in ways you wouldn't have believed possible. Ms Scott manages to take you into the mind of Alice so completely that you suffer with her, and you just want it to be over. The audio book is short - slightly less than 3 hours, but that didn't make it any less compelling. I honestly didn't want to turn it off, while at the same time had to turn it off to give my brain time to process the horror. Then I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue - I did continue of course, because it was impossible not to. I had to get to the end. This isn't a 'nice' story, but it is one of the most powerful you'll ever read.

Contests and Giveaways

We're still new to the Blog community but we have been keeping an eye out on some amazing Contests and Giveaways.  Here are just a few.  I've tried to highlight ones that are only International.  I'm always sad when there are so many great blogs that I follow and they have these amazing contests but are only open to the USA.  (Sigh....I guess shipping does kind of stink, doesn't it?)  Have you seen any good contests lately?

This is a biggie....Flipping Pages for All Ages is having a GREAT contest for hitting 500+ followers.  Congratulations!

Reading for Teens has a giveaway every Saturday!

Bree Despain, author of Dark Divine is offering up some huge reads in this contest - Bree's Book Bag Blowout (signed and unsigned copies)