GoodRead - Blue Bloods

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before – they’re young, fabulous, good-looking and they rule over Manhattan. No, I’m not talking about Gossip Girl, I am talking about the new vampire series that has been bought to the UK by the same publisher that bought the Twilight Saga and the House of Night series to UK shore.

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz (the first book in the series of the same name) starts with us introducing to our characters and sets everything up for the next few books. We meet our main character, Schuyler Van Alen, and her friend, Oliver, as they try to get into a club (under fake IDs) where Schuyler swears she sees a man get run over by a taxi, only to rush over and find that he hadn’t. And to find that he’s Jack Force, one of the hottest guys in school. And not ever in the same sphere as her. Yet he knows her name!

But things begin to happen. Because soon, Schuyler discovers that she's a Blue Blood, a member of the city's glamorous and secret vampire elite. They're young, beautiful and powerful (not mentioned fanged - yes, they have fangs). But now they're being murdered - which is impossible but Blue Bloods can't die. Or so they thought. Now, Schuyler must find out who or what is behind it before she's next.

The start of a series and it sets everything up nicely (yes, this is a long game book series, like Harry Potter and House of Night) and stupidly easy to fall into. Maybe it's because I was actually in New York when I started this book (must thank the lovely Atom Book Twitter-Person for sending me a copy of this book! I owe you one!) so I could say I walked down that Avenue or was at Time Square.

But I fell into this book and enjoy myself while reading it. Sure, there was one or two things that some people might find annoying (the list of fashion labels might put some boys off) but I love Blue Bloods and I can't wait to start on the second book in the series, Masquerade!

GoodRead - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Abridged)

We all know the basic story of “Alice in Wonderland” and most of us have seen the new Disney film “Alice in Wonderland”, directed by Tim Burton.

But have you ever read the novel that this story has come from, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” or its sequel, “Alice Through the Looking-Glass”?

No? Neither had I, till one of my work mates (Thanks Joe!) lent me his “abridged” copy of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”.

And… yeah… it’s as weird as I suspected! It was a fast read, but a weird read nevertheless. It’s not like either Disney’s films but you see traces of the original source in there.

I’m not sure how I can review this book if I am totally honest with you. I wish I could, but I have no idea where to start or end! SORRY!!!

LISTEN UP, TWILIGHTERS!!!

Stephenie Meyer is going to release a novella entitled "The Short, Second Life of Bree Tanner".



I hear fangirl screams...

For more details, go to either http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/ or http://www.breetanner.com/

BeforeUGo - March 2010 Recommendations

Why, hello there!

Because we had a two week break in March due to me going away to New York City (squee), not so many recommendations. But I hope you like them...

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - http://www.myspace.com/twodoorcinemaclub
THE BEAT FOUR - http://www.myspace.com/thebeatfour
THE PRETTY RECKLESS - http://www.myspace.com/theprettyreckless

Remember, you can recommend music too! Either go to the facebook group (CLICK ME!) or message us on Twitter (CLICK ME!)

You Are...

Chuck Norris V Sue Sylvester

I mentioned this on my Twitter earlier today and, since then, I can't this important question out of my head:

Who would win in a fight bewteen Chuck Norris and Sue Sylvester???





Who would win? I NEED TO KNOW!!!

GoodRead - "Twilight: The Graphic Novel" Volume 1

Most fans know the plot to Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (and some non-fans too). So, there's no real point explaining the plot to Twilight: The Graphic Novel – Volume One.

So, I might as well tell you about how it was adapted and what the art (both done both by Young Kim). The art in this volume is shockingly beautiful. Some people will see it as a bit Anima or Manga-ish, but I do like it! I like how the characters look (sorry, no Kristen Stewart/Robert Pattinson/Taylor Launter here!) because some, if not most, of the characters look like how they looked when I first read Twilight - WAY before the film rights were bought by Summit. The main characters that Young Kim drew that fitted what I had inside my head was Bella, Alice (that hair!) and Jacob.

Now, let's get into the adaptation. Before I go any further, I must stress that Stephenie Meyer didn't adapted the story – that was Young Kim's department. But Stephenie was HUGELY involved with both the art and the storyline. But there are a few times within the book's pages that I felt that the adaptation was cut in the wrong place or the change of some wording felt a little out of place. But it doesn't stop the flow of the story, but if you are a fan of the Twilight Saga, you might find it a bit jarring. But as this is a graphic novel, this helps speeds things along a bit.

Also, this a Twilight: Volume One of the Graphic Novel. The story is split into two volumes (US and UK Publishers haven't revealed if/when Volume 2 will be published) but this can be forgiven due to the amount of drawings within its covers.

And, if you expecting pages and pages of colour, think again. Colours are used sparingly and, because of this, it makes the pages when colour is used more important. For example, the first few pages (Showing Bella in Phoenix and then showing Bella in Forks) show the difference of worlds for Bella – warm oranges of Phoenix and the earthy greens of Forks. And when we see Edward in colour... Now that would be telling.

If you're a fan of the Twilight Saga, then you'll buy this. If you're curious to see what a graphic novel could look like (as over the course of the year, they will get more popular, me thinks), then there's no harm giving this a quick look. But if you are a die-hard Manga reader, then maybe this will annoy you with some of its style.

But I like it. And maybe I would like to see how Young Kim finishes Twilight in Volume Two... And we can guess that there will be a Volume Two (“Why,” I hear you ask? Look at the cover and notice where her arm goes, it's on something that looks like a man's hand... Will Volume Two be a continuation of this scene? I think so...)

GoodRead - Book Cover Excitement (Clockwork Angel)

Now, another book cover but this was the one I'm the most excited over.

The book series I discovered last year (and fell completely in love with - Team Alec and Magnus!!!) was the series Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. So, I am very thrilled that she is writing a prequel trilogy called the Infernal Devices and a fourth book to the Mortal Instruments called City of Fallen Angels.

Today, the cover to the first book in the Infernal Devices is called Clockwork Angel (God, I love the name!) and this is the cover for the US and, maybe, the UK!



And this is a close up of the gentleman on the front cover which, Cassandra revealed on her LiveJournal is one of the main characters called Will.



I LOVE this cover! Just love it! Though I wasn't happy when the UK publisher switched the covers to the US covers, I do LOVE this cover! I do hope the UK publishers - Walker Books - use this cover...

Oh, here is a small interview where the cover was revealed... http://shelf-life.ew.com/2010/03/18/exclusive-first-look-at-the-cover-of-cassandra-clares-next-novel-clockwork-angel/. ENJOY!