This Week In Books Or How This Was Almost A One Book Week!

Monday: nothing

Tuesday: nothing

Wednesday:

My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman

Thursday: nothing

Friday: nothing

Saturday:

So the mail came early in the day, I was expecting 2 Amazon packages and they didn't arrive. Irish/Gail pointed out that maybe there was going to be a late delivery today so I waited and sure enough there was! I was kind of excited to be able to post a one book week, but alas it wasn't meant to be.

Felties by Nelly Pailloux
Splendor by Anna Godbersen
The Grammar Devotional by Mignon Fogarty

Felties is what I was really waiting for. I'm going to try and make one or a few, depending on how it goes this weekend! These all came from Amazon.

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia by Christopher Paolini

These came from review. What are your thoughts on Paolini's books? I don't know much about them but do believe I saw the movie version of Eragon.

Lookalikes 74

A Version of the Truth by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack

The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Fredrick

Much Ado About Anne (The Mother Daughter Book Club) by Heather Vogel Fredrick

UPDATE: Thanks to Bookworm who pointed out there is a third book in the series!

Dear Pen Pal (The Mother Daughter Book Club) by Heather Vogel Fredrick

Ok so obviously the last two are from the same series so the real comparison is between the first one and the second two as a pair. I definitely like them all and think they are a lot of fun, so much so that I would like to read them knowing next to nothing about them, but I will have to go with the first cover as my winner. I love the wallpaper, that's what it comes down to and the fact that the picture is more believable (less books on her head).

Which do you prefer?

Have you spotted a Lookalike you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

Thanks to Deborah who also noticed this lookalike!

GIVEAWAY: Blue Plate Special

Now that you've had a chance to see my thoughts on Blue Plate Special, I'd like to give you a chance to win a copy of the book!

If you need a reminder here's the blurb:

Amazon.com:

Doomed loves, failed families, nixed dreams—someone else's leftovers are heaped on our plates the day we come into this world.

Big Macs and pop tunes mask the emptiness as Madeline watches her mom drink away their welfare checks. Until the day Tad, a quirky McDonald's counter boy, asks Madeline out for a date, and she gets her first taste of normal. But with a life that's anything but, how long can normal really last?

Hanging with Jeremy, avoiding Mam, sticking Do Not Disturb Post-its on her heart, Desiree's mission is simple: party hard, graduate (well, maybe), get out of town. But after Desiree accepts half a meatball grinder, a cold drink, and a ride from her mother's boyfriend one rainy afternoon, nothing is ever simple again.

Too many AP classes. Workaholic mom. Dad in prison. Still, Ariel's sultry new boyfriend, Shane, manages to make even the worst days delicious. But when an unexpected phone call forces a trip to visit a sick grandmother she's never met, revealing her family's dark past, Ariel struggles to find the courage to make the right choice for her own future.

Three girls from three different decades find out it's what they do with their leftovers that matters—because, after all, life is your own blue plate special.

Here's how to enter to win Blue Plate Special!

Leave a comment letting me know why you like books with rotating perspectives or alternate viewpoints?

For 1 additional entry, blog (sidebar is fine) or tweet (@reply me @mint910) about this contest and leave a separate comment here linking to your post or tweet (only one additional entry total).

The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S and Canada.

Please leave a way for me to contact you if you are the winner!

The giveaway will end November 19th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

Blue Plate Special by Michelle D. Kwasney

Amazon.com:

Doomed loves, failed families, nixed dreams—someone else's leftovers are heaped on our plates the day we come into this world.

Big Macs and pop tunes mask the emptiness as Madeline watches her mom drink away their welfare checks. Until the day Tad, a quirky McDonald's counter boy, asks Madeline out for a date, and she gets her first taste of normal. But with a life that's anything but, how long can normal really last?

Hanging with Jeremy, avoiding Mam, sticking Do Not Disturb Post-its on her heart, Desiree's mission is simple: party hard, graduate (well, maybe), get out of town. But after Desiree accepts half a meatball grinder, a cold drink, and a ride from her mother's boyfriend one rainy afternoon, nothing is ever simple again.

Too many AP classes. Workaholic mom. Dad in prison. Still, Ariel's sultry new boyfriend, Shane, manages to make even the worst days delicious. But when an unexpected phone call forces a trip to visit a sick grandmother she's never met, revealing her family's dark past, Ariel struggles to find the courage to make the right choice for her own future.

Three girls from three different decades find out it's what they do with their leftovers that matters—because, after all, life is your own blue plate special.

Blue Plate Special is best if you go into it knowing nothing more than what you read on the jacket flap. It will reveal itself to you bit by bit until you are left sitting there stunned and extremely impressed, at least I think so. Unfortunately for me I knew a bit more than what the jacket tells you but it didn't matter. It just gave me a few more clues to work with. I was still very very impressed with Kwasney's ability to weave these three stories together. It's heartbreaking, honest, raw and real.

All three girls have rough lives for one reason or another. While there was just a tad bit of overlapping in their struggles (a dilemma or two were similar for two of the girls) I thought Kwansney did a great job of distinguishing their voices and making them all likeable. I thought it was a nice touch that Desiree's part was written in verse. She used far fewer words but you get to know her just as well as the other girls.

I think Blue Plate Special is a book that begs to be read a second time. Once reading it you know a lot more than when you started and reading it a second time would allow you to put together the pieces as you read, more so and start to notice things you might have missed the first time.

This is a book that will stick with me and I was extremely impressed by it.

Blue Plate Special was released on September 23rd
Genre: Young Adult
5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by the publisher

"Waiting On" Wednesday 55

The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate

MelissaSenate.com:

THE SECRET OF JOY is about 28-year-old New Yorker Rebecca Strand who discovers, via her father's deathbed confession, that she has a 26-year-old half-sister she never knew existed. Off she goes to a small coastal town in Maine to find her. She doesn't exactly receive the warmest welcome–except by the loveable, quirky locals…and a sexy carpenter named Theo. Booklist magazine calls THE SECRET OF JOY: "Another warm, winning entry from popular chick-lit author Senate."

Released November 16th 2009

Sounds cute with a touch of serious! Definitely looks like something I would like!

What can't you wait for to be released?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Hardcover vs Paperback 53

The Richest Season by Maryann McFadden

Hardcover

Paperback

Self Published Cover

Amazon.com:

Sometimes you have to leave your life to find yourself again . . .

After more than a dozen moves in twenty-five years of marriage, Joanna Harrison is lonely and tired of being a corporate wife. Her children are grown and gone, her husband is more married to his job than to her, and now they're about to pack up once more. Panicked at the thought of having to start all over again, Joanna commits the first irresponsible act of her life. She runs away to Pawleys Island, South Carolina, a place she's been to just once.

She finds a job as a live-in companion to Grace Finelli, a widow who has come to the island to fulfill a girlhood dream. Together the two women embark on the most difficult journey of their lives: Joanna struggling for independence, roots, and a future of her own, as her family tugs at her from afar; and Grace, choosing to live the remainder of her life for herself alone, knowing she may never see her children again.

Entwined is Paul Harrison's story as he loses his wife, his job, and everything that defines him as a man. He takes off on his own journey out west, searching for the answers to all that has gone wrong in his life. One thing remains constant: He wants his wife back.

Joanna, however, is moving farther away from her old life as she joins a group dedicated to rescuing endangered loggerhead turtles, led by a charismatic fisherman unlike anyone she's ever met.

The Richest Season is a stunning debut about three very different people, each changing their lives when such transformations are usually long over. It will resonate with any woman who's ever fantasized about leaving home to find herself.

The Richest Season was originally self published so that's what the last cover, thanks Courtney Summers! This is an extremely easy choice for me, the paperback and I will tell you why. Over the past few years more and more books are going to route of things in the palms of someone's hands. It's gotten to the point where I am confusing multiple books. I'm actually starting a collection of these types of covers so feel free to email me if you want to add one to the collection, which I will post at some point in time. I'm not going to say it all started with Twilight but that's one of the earliest ones I can recall at this point. The paperback is a little generic as well but I do like the colors and simplicity of it.

Hardcover or Paperback?

Have you spotted a Hardcover vs. Paperback you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

GIVEAWAY: Medina Hill

Now that you've had a chance to see my thoughts on Medina Hill, I'd like to give you a chance to win your copy of the book!

If you need a reminder here's the blurb:

TundraBooks.com:

In the grimy London of 1935, eleven-year-old Dominic Walker has lost his voice. His mother is sick and his father’s unemployed. Rescue comes in the form of his Uncle Roo, who arrives to take him and his young sister, Marlo, to Cornwall. There, in a boarding house populated by eccentric residents, Marlo, who keeps a death grip on her copy of The New Art of Cooking, and Dominic, armed with Incredible Adventures for Boys: Colonel Lawrence and the Revolt in the Desert, find a way of life unlike any they have known. Dominic’s passion for Lawrence of Arabia is tested when he finds himself embroiled in a village uprising against a band of travelers who face expulsion. In defending the vulnerable, Dominic learns what it truly means to have a voice.

Trilby Kent brilliantly handles a far-off time and place to present a story of up-to-the-minute relevance.

Here's how to enter to win Medina Hill!

Leave a comment letting me know what about this book makes you want to read it? Or if you have already read it, what you liked about it (no spoilers please!)

For 1 additional entry, blog (sidebar is fine) or tweet (@reply me @mint910) about this contest and leave a separate comment here linking to your post or tweet (only one additional entry total).

The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S and Canada.

Please leave a way for me to contact you if you are the winner!

The giveaway will end November 16th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

BLOG TOUR: Medina Hill by Trilby Kent

TundraBooks.com:

In the grimy London of 1935, eleven-year-old Dominic Walker has lost his voice. His mother is sick and his father’s unemployed. Rescue comes in the form of his Uncle Roo, who arrives to take him and his young sister, Marlo, to Cornwall. There, in a boarding house populated by eccentric residents, Marlo, who keeps a death grip on her copy of The New Art of Cooking, and Dominic, armed with Incredible Adventures for Boys: Colonel Lawrence and the Revolt in the Desert, find a way of life unlike any they have known. Dominic’s passion for Lawrence of Arabia is tested when he finds himself embroiled in a village uprising against a band of travelers who face expulsion. In defending the vulnerable, Dominic learns what it truly means to have a voice.

Trilby Kent brilliantly handles a far-off time and place to present a story of up-to-the-minute relevance.

Medina Hill was a piece of young adult historical fiction that brings a lot of elements together including family, injustice, friendship, and leadership. I think it would be a perfect book for a middle school aged boy and maybe even girl that is interested in historical fiction.

While I appreciated all the different elements and themes the author brought together (such as a mis-matched group of residents that live in the Medina Hill boarding house, the Gypsy girl that Dominic befriends, and Dominic's love of Lawrence of Arabia) there were so many different parts that I didn't know really want to focus on and I don't think I got as much from any of the plots like I had expected. I definitely wanted to know more about the residents of the boarding house and Dominic's aunt and uncle.

I think of all the plots the one of Dominic and his Gypsy friend Sancha was the most complete. Their friendship made sense and was genuine. And I do think that the way the story unfolds is clever, how it uses all the different plot points and helps Dominic really find his voice. I also liked Dominic's sister Marlo and the personal journey that she goes through while in Medina Hill.

Overall a young adult historical pick for a middle-schooler that explores a lot of topics!

Medina Hill was released on October 13th
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
3/5 Stars
Review copy provided by publisher for tour
Amazon Link

BLOG TOUR: Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff Review

Welcome to another Traveling to Teens blog tour! This is part 2 of 2 posts for this tour.

Amazon.com:

What’s worse than being fat your freshman year?

Being fat your sophomore year.

Life used to be so simple for Andrew Zansky–hang with the Model UN guys, avoid gym class, and eat and eat and eat. He’s used to not fitting in: into his family, his sports-crazed school, or his size 48 pants.

But not anymore. Andrew just met April, the new girl at school and the instant love of his life! He wants to find a way to win her over, but how? When O. Douglas, the heartthrob quarterback and high-school legend, saves him from getting beaten up by the school bully, Andrew sees his chance to get in with the football squad.

Is it possible to reinvent yourself in the middle of high school? Andrew is willing to try. But he’s going to have to make some changes. Fast.

Can a funny fat kid be friends with a football superstar? Can he win over the Girl of his Dreams? Can he find a way to get his mom and dad back together?

How far should you go to be the person you really want to be?

Andrew is about to find out.

Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have is a wonderful, heartbreaking, honest, and hilarious story. It has something for everyone and it written in short chapters. I found myself wondering how I had read so much so quickly. While I don't really care for sports at all I could definitely respect Andy's journey to find himself, which included football. He's unhappy with his life and he goes out there and tries to find something new that works for him. Through this journey we meet a bunch of classmates including beautiful April and O. the star football player and Eytan the buddy Andy ditches while trying to find himself.

I loved Andy's voice, he is able to bring humor to every situation. I definitely find Andy relatable in the sense that I know what it's like to be uncomfortable in my skin or my clothes, Zadoff captures that frustration perfectly. Andy also has to deal with divorced parents and a younger sister that is much more popular than him (who I just love). The beauty of this story is he wants more for himself and goes out there and finds it.

The ending isn't what I had originally expected but it did feel right. I will point out though, that the ending was wrapped up much to quickly, leaving me with several questions and providing a transition that could have been a lot smoother in my opinion. But overall I great story! I can't wait to see what Zadoff comes up with next!

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have was released September 8th
Genre: Young Adult
4.5/5 Stars
ARC from book swap

BLOG TOUR: Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff Guest Post

Welcome to another Traveling to Teens blog tour! This is part 1 of 2 posts for this tour.

I'm pleased to welcome Allen Zadoff the author of Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have. He's written a great guest post about overeating. Thank you Allen!


Boys and Food
Allen Zadoff

In my novel Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have, the lead character, Andrew Zansky, is a 306.4-pound high school sophomore who doesn’t fit into his life or his pants. Many reviewers and readers are surprised to find a book about a boy with body issues, and they want to know where I got my inspiration. The truth is I didn’t fit into my pants either! I was a 275-pound high school sophomore who avoided social events and believed that gym class was a curse from God.

At the time, all I knew was that I loved food. I used to go to Pizza Hut with my best friend Darrin (a big, 6’2” black guy) and eat the hell out of the place. We’d easily knock down a large, all-meat pizza, extra bread, maybe a giant calzone for an appetizer. This was before they started putting cheese in the crust. I missed the era of cheese in the crust, can you believe it?

If I’d eaten like that once a week, maybe I would have been all right. But I had a secret. I ate like that all the time, eating until I was stuffed, hating myself, and doing it all over again. My parents were constantly monitoring my weight, concerned not only with my health, but with my social life. They knew that being a fat teenager was not going to be a fun experience. Because I was being watched, I snuck food. I waited until my family went to bed, and then I raided the kitchen. In our house the kitchen was located near the bottom of the stairs, and my mother had a supernatural sense of hearing. If she heard a wrapper crinkling in the kitchen, she’d wake up out of a dead sleep and shout, “Are you okay, Allen?

“Fine, Mom, I’m just getting a soda,” I’d say, and I’d make the cans rattle in the refrigerator.

“Go to bed.”

“In a few minutes.”

But I wouldn’t go to bed. I’d make myself a sandwich. Then another. By my junior year I was staying up late into the night, watching TV until my body ached, eating bagel sandwiches one after another. I could make a sandwich faster than most people can tie their shoes.

The funny thing is that I hated what I was doing and I really wanted to be thin. But no matter how badly I wanted to stop overeating, I couldn’t do it. Even when I went on a diet and lost weight, I always went back to eating the same way, quickly regaining the weight and more. I try to show some of these dynamics in Food, Girls, like the scene where Andy gets upset and eats a whole counter top full of pies.

It took years, but eventually I found out that my overeating was more than just a little problem; I had a full-blown eating disorder, and most eating disorders get worse over time. That’s what happened to me. In high school, I didn’t even know that men could have eating disorders. I just thought I was fat. I wasted a lot of years trying to control my eating because I didn’t know I needed help to get better. It was a huge relief when I finally went to a therapist who knew about eating disorders. I found out there’s a huge recovery community, men and women of all ages who have struggled with overeating, bulimia, anorexia, and over-exercising and found a way to get through it. There really is a lot of hope, but I had to reach out for help and stop trying to figure it out on my own. I wrote about my experience in my adult memoir Hungry:Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin. I tried to say all the things I wish I’d known about food and overeating when I was in high school. So now you know, the inspiration for Food, Girls comes directly from my own experience.

This Year In Movies: October

This month I watched 12 movies! I took a break from my challenge movies to watch some things I wanted to and saw some great things!

Pretty Devils- Did not like this. Probably the worse Audrey Tautou movie I've seen.

I Love You, Man- Pretty good, funny and I little cheesy. I prefer both guys in some of their other roles but it was worth a watch.

Away We Go- Amazing. I wish these are the roles Maya Rudolph always played. She was funny on SNL but this was AMAZING.

17 Again- I liked this so much I'll probably buy it. LOL. Definitely a feel good movie!

Coraline- Another AMAZING one. A zillion times better than The Nightmare Before Christmas which honestly still kind of creeps me out.

Manhattan Murder Mystery- Enjoyable. Woody Allen's movies are hit and miss and this was more on the hit side!

Where The Wild Things Are- Another amazing one. Definitely more for adults, just because a movie is PG doesn't mean a kid will like it! I think most children would get bored and possibly scared.

The Brothers Bloom- Ok. The best scene is when Rachel demonstrates all of her hobbies. It was not nearly as exciting as I had hoped it would be.

Year One- Way way too cheesy. Worst Michael Cera movie I've seen, should have known since Jack Black is in it. He can be good in some cases but in others it's way way too much.

Good Dick- Fascinating. I was pretty much in a trance when I was watching this movie.

My Life in Ruins- Cute and fun. It's not My Big Fat Greek Wedding but still fun!

The Proposal- A fun and cute chick flick. Loved that Oscar from the Office was in it. Totally different role for him!