GoodRead - Flesh Which Is Not Flesh

I'm sure some of you know about Jessica Verday and this story. For those who don't, a quick recap. Jessica wrote this story for a collection of short story, but the story didn't make it. The editor was in two minds over it as the main characters were both young gay men. It's more-complex than that but, after long thought, Jessica pulled the story from the collection. Later, the editor said "These teen anthologies I do are light on the sex and light on the language. I assumed they'd be light on alternative sexuality, as well. Turns out I was wrong! Just after I had the kerfuffle with jessica, I was told that the publishers would have loved the story to appear in the book! Oh dear. My rashness will be the death of me. It's a great story. Hope jessica publishes it online."

And that's what Jessica did, with some of the proceeds going to Living Beyond Tolerance scholarship.

So, the story. Cameron goes to a carnival and, to his shock, meets Wesley, the boy who once broke his heart and left town without so much as a goodbye, performing as a sword swallower’s assistant. But something's wrong. Why did Wesley leave without saying goodbye? Why did he break Cameron's heart the way he did? And who is the strange woman who seems to hold Wesley her prisoner?

Now, I like Jessica Verday's writing style within her "The Hollow" trilogy and this carried through within this short story and the idea of the story was interesting. She also didn't make a big deal about the two characters - Cam and Wesley - being gay. It was just handled the same way she wrote the love story between her main characters, Abbey and Caspian, in her "The Hollow" trilogy. She even stated on her blog that "You don't choose who you fall in love with and you don't choose to be gay" which, to me, makes perfectly true.

And while I sped through the novella (it's 13,000 word novella) within an hour, it is a short story and with that, details weren't really explained. It seemed to skim every now and then, but whether that was how I read the story or how the story was written, I'm not sure.

Another thing that a review on Goodreads is that the book suffers from "Disappearing Parent Syndrome". You see neither of Cam's parents and I get why they were seen nor heard, but surely there was one or two things you would have seen then. Also, the story is very "dated". But that, I mean they are modern reference that, in a few years time, might be out of date. There is mention of Lady Gaga, Kellan Lutz and Google that might get on some people's nerves.

But it was a fast read. And I like it. Not love it, but I like it. It warms me up for the third and final book in "The Hollow" trilogy, The Hidden.

GoodRead - Midwinterblood

As you guys know, I went to the Indigo Launch Party a few months ago (if you haven't read it, click here). And after trying to find time to read them (I now sense I am going to do a huge Indigo read this November...) and failing as I read The Near Witch & Hourglass (both reviews will come in the next few weeks, FYI), I decide to grab one and read it. So, onto Twitter, I asked which book to read (I gave four or five choices) and MIDWINTERBLOOD came out the winner. I think the reason for that was I had a copy of that as a ringer-binder.

Midwinterblood. Where to start on explain this strange book...? Do you ever get the feeling you've lived a life once before? Or the feeling you've met someone before but never have? With Eric, he has that feeling. It's 2073 and Eric has arrived at Blessed Island where he meets, and falls in love with, Melee. But he has the feeling that they have meet before in a previous life... Through seven parts from seven different times, we see that it might be possible. But why is the past so important? Why is the past effecting Eric and Melee's future?

Now, I have to tell you something. Something that most book bloggers out there will be shocked over. I have never read a Marcus Sedgwick book. I know of him and I've always been intrigued but I always thought of him as Horror. And seeing as I'm not a horror person, I usually stay away...

So, when I got this for Indigo, I got quite excited but held this at a distance. And now I can say am a bit miffed with myself for not reading him sooner. It was dark, creepy, unafraid to be "grown-up" at times and, at several points, a completely mindf***. It was almost like a crime novel. You got the beginning but, as you go through the book (and through time), you began to figure things out. You saw the layers and that was interesting to suddenly go "No way!" and figure out the clues.

This novel was inspired by the painting "Midvinterblod" by Carl Larsson and after finishing the story and then going online to see it, I can see why. I like how Marcus got from this painting to the story and all it's parts (I very much like parts 2, 5 and 6. Not going to tell you what they are called - don't want to spoil it for you!).

But this is a dark, creepy novel with layers. I wish I discovered Marcus Sedgwick sooner...

SPIDER-KITTY!

Quick thanks to Smash Attack's tumblr!

Meet The Blogger - Girls In The Stack

Welcome, welcome, welcome! Welcome to the Maybe-FINAL blog post for the Meet The Blogger! That's right, it's done! There is no more... for now...

Now, seeing as this is the last Meet The Blogger (maybe), a quick note to say thank you to EVERYONE who took part in this. This came from a random idea on a Bank Holiday Monday in May. So, to have so many people took part and helped out is wonderful! THANK YOU ALL!!!

This week's final Meet The Bloggers are the lovely ladies from Girls In The Stack! Check out their website at http://girlsinthestacks.com/ or subscrible to their podcast.

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When did you start blogging?
We started about two years ago (2009). And it’s been a FUN two years!

What made you start blogging?
The same reason as other bloggers, to share our love of the written word!! Seriously, we read a couple of books that really blew us away and we felt compelled to talk about them, as well we wanted to find other books to feed our new obsession.

What was the first book you reviewed for your blog and what was your reaction to it?
Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Looking back at that review is pretty scary, but our reaction was pretty clear. One of us loved it while the other thought, meh.

When was the first time you realised you were a Book Blogger?
Our first comment!! We love comments.

When did you start podcasting? And what was the first book you did?
We started podcasting as soon as the site went live, and our first podcast was Graceling by Kristin Cashore. We’re too scared to go back and listen to it, lol.

How much of your time a week do you spend blogging & podcasting?
We spend a lot of time blogging, maybe 15 hours a week or more. As for podcasting, about 1-2 hours per week.

Has your taste in book genres changed since starting the blog and the podcast?
Oh, heavens yes. When we first started it was all about the vampires. Thankfully, we are more diversified now.

What book has got you very excited or made you cry?
We all loved, loved The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen. As for a book that made us cry, If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Foreman.

Have you read any book that you disliked so much, you threw it across the room?
In the physical sense, no.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to take part or what to set up a book blog?
Have fun, be nice and read what you want to!!

Now, to ask five fun quick-fire questions. What song are you listening to right now?
We’re really down with The Cave by Mumford & Sons and mostly anything on Radio Disney.

MySpace, Facebook or Twitter?
TWITTER!!!

Hardback, paperbacks or eBooks?
All three!!!

Letters, phone, texting or emailing?
Not gonna lie, letters are fun to get in the mail, but in reality emailing is our thing.

Zombies or unicorns?
No vampires or werewolves here. But seeing as this is you guys...haha, can we plea the Fifth?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone LAUNCH PARTY!

Last night, in a small bar in the city of London, Hodder did a launch party for THE DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor. It was filled with the author (and her amazing pink hair!), people from Hodder and the PR company Hot Cherry, booksellers, bloggers...

... and myself.

Yep. I was there! And it was one interesting and slightly random evening.

As you know, I don't see myself as a blogger (still waiting for the day when someone goes "Hey! You're faking it! GET OUT!" but still... no one notice!) so getting invited to these events and ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO GO is kind of a big (and surreal) thing for me.

So, after turning up at the location (getting lost while trying to find the place), I bumped into bloggers I have met before (HELLO!!!) and bloggers I haven't met before and only know through Twitter and spying on their blogs (HELLO! Have you survived meeting me?). And after we got our hands on a special cocktail made for the event (it was PINK! And a video of it being made is at the bottom of the blogpost), everyone went and chatted to everyone else. And there was a lot of people at this event that loved the book - basically, people who love books and get excited over books!

And then, we all met the author. Laini Taylor. She's lovely! Really nice and smiley! She was on Woman's Hour that morning (here it is - start around the 25 minutes mark!) and looked like she was enjoying herself at the event to celebrate her book's success so far in the UK! She chatted and signed copies of our books and, while she signed mine, I asked if her hair grew out pink (if you have no idea why I ask that, I suggest you read the book...) and the answer was yes (though don't look too closely to the roots)...

And with that, everyone chatted. We chatted about the book and other books (that was cool. Expect when I said I didn't get and didn't finished Delirium by Lauren Oliver, and one of the people I chatted to was from Hodder and the look of shock on her face... yeah...) and onto random stuff (One chat random went from Harry Potter to Twilight to Hobbits to big feet to... yes, it was THAT random).

And we had food. I have decide that to please book bloggers, you need three things. One: books. Two: drink. Three: food. And the food was something else. It was smoking! Seriously! As you can see from the pic, it was eeire yet cool! With this and mini delights like Chocolate Air, it was a fun evening for food. My random fave was the little meringues that, when popped into your mouth, made you look like a fire-breathing dragon as smoke came out of your nose and mouth!

The most random part of the night was discovering that, in the main room where this launch party was placed, there was a side-room which had (for no reason), a iron bathtub. Don't believe me? See below!



Told you! Anyway, it was a fun night so I have to thank Hodder and Hot Cherry for inviting me and everyone who turned up and made the event a right laugh!


And now, as promised, the video of the Special cocktail made for the event last night...


Oh, By the way! I'm hosting a competition to win a copy of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Well, last night, I got it signed. So, it's now a chance to win a SIGNED COPY OF DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE! You have till 7pm Friday to enter! Go! GO!

(Also, there are pics of me meeting the author, Laini Taylor. But I don't have them - other bloggers do. Once I see them, I will retweet on Twitter and share on Facebook).

GoodRead - The Woman In Black (Unabridged Audiobook)

I keep seeing this on the iTunes audiobook chart for quite some time. I know it's a West End show (which is quite scary from what I've been told), and there's going to be a movie out next year starting Daniel Radcliffe. But, apart from that and knowing it's a ghost story, I knew nothing about it. So, on a random, late night impulse (always seems to be the case with me and audiobooks), I downloaded it and listened.

Arthur Kipp is a young solicator, asked to go to the funeral of Alice Drablow and then go to her house, Eel Marsh House, a house that stands next to the windswept marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeways, for legal paperwork. While at the funeral, Arthur sees a woman in black, watching the funeral from a distance. An unnatural feeling of unease comes to Arthur. And then, he decides to stay at Eel Marsh House to deal with the large amount of papers. It is here, when terrible things happen…

I listened to this audiobook in two sittings and I can stay that this is quite chilling. It's very much an old-fashion ghost story but there is something completely unnerving about it! It's probably how the story is told - through Arthur writing to feel himself from the demons of his past and because of that, you get caught up within his fear, panic and possible paranoia.

Not sure if I want to relisten to this on Halloween (although I would like to, just to scare myself), and I think this reading would be perfect to be played on BBC Radio 4 or BBC Radio 4 Extra on a dark stormy night near or on Halloween.

I know Susan Hill has written two more ghost stories - The Man In The Picture and The Little Hand - but from all the reviews I've seen, this is the best and scary story of them all. And if you want an old-fashioned scare, this is for you.

And because of this, I might try and see either the film or the West End show (which, I heard, is terrifying!)...

This Made Me Smile

Would like to thank Andrew (or @antothedrew as I know him) tumblr.

The "Daughter Of Smoke And Bone" Competition

I have a competition for you!

Do you want to get your hands on a hardback copy of THE DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor? If you do, then you might be in a chance to win!

If you live in the UK (sorry, International readers! I am planning something soon! Hopefully, I will have the funds by then...), and you fill in the form below, you can win a copy of THE DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE, thanks to the lovely Hodder Books!

If you haven't read anything about this book, here is my review. If not, just Google it and ALL WILL BECOME CLEAR!

You have till Friday 7th October (7pm) to enter. GOOD LUCK (and remember: "Once upon a time, an angel and demon fell in love. It didn't end well...")

EDIT! The competition has closed! The winner was Rosie! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Your signed copy of DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is in the post and it's on its way to you as I type!