Waiting on Wednesday and WWW Wednesday (10/5)

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

So, in a little bend of rules, The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan was released on Tuesday, October 3, however, because of various things happening in my own town, I can't attend a signing and I really want to feature this doubtlessly amazing book.
Therefore, this week's can't-wait-to-read publication is:

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan!

"In The Lost Hero, three demigods named Jason, Piper, and Leo made their first visit to Camp Half-Blood, where they inherited a blood-chilling quest:

"Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
"To storm or fire the world must fall.
"An oath to keep with a final breath,
"And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

"Who are the other four mentioned in the prophesy? The answer may lie in another camp miles away, where a new camper has shown up and appears to be the son of Neptune, god of the sea. . .

"With an ever-expanding cast of brave-hearted heroes and formidable foes, this second book in The Heroes of Olympus series offers all of the action, pathos, and humor that Rick Riordan fans crave." -summery from Rick Riordan's website

And it's Olympian Week! Here are some amazing pictures of Toga Parties I found online.

And for those of you who, like me, are dying to own a camp half-blood T-shirt,

Are you looking forward to the doubtless to come, Camp Jupiter Tees?

Here is my own short review on The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan: 
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan has been on my TBR list for a while. Sadly, I read the Percy Jackson series (up to The Battle of the Labyrinth) several years ago, and even though I didn't absolutely love them, I really, Really, REALLY liked them. Of course, because it's been so long (and I haven't read some of the recent installments) I was rusty on the characters and plots I knew would be referenced. I picked up The Lost Hero from the library without realizing it was a book about Camp Half-Blood...more The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan has been on my TBR list for a while. Sadly, I read the Percy Jackson series (up to The Battle of the Labyrinth) several years ago, and even though I didn't absolutely love them, I really, Really, REALLY liked them. Of course, because it's been so long (and I haven't read some of the recent installments) I was rusty on the characters and plots I knew would be referenced. I picked up The Lost Hero from the library without realizing it was a book about Camp Half-Blood.
This is definitely a book to add to your TBR list. The major flaws and things I nitpicked on in the Percy Jackson series were corrected. The writing style was much more advanced then I remember, perfectly blending in the first series, moving the plot along quickly, and creating an entire new cast of characters. One of the big things that surprised me about this book was the new way in which the lesser gods were presented. I'd always loathed their personalities and involvement, but this really changed my opinions. I feared when I started this book that it would be inclined to mirror the series it followed, but there was no parallel or symmetry between the two.
I also have to applaud Rick Riordan for the merging of special talents into the full characters so that it didn't seem superficial or unnecessary. The time lapses fit perfectly without seeming awkward and the supporting characters already had full stories to play off of. Jason was a refreshing new point of view, and had a unique taste to finding himself that was distinctly different from Percy's. The story had me blind guessing for its entire length with twists and turns so sharp and unexpected, I couldn't stop reading. Riordan's cliffhanger left me satisfied, amazed, and still at the edge of my seat for the next installment (just not uncomfortably so).
In the Percy Jackson series, I lightly loathed the foreshadowing that often made little or no sense while reading the book and painfully obvious (with a sting) or unrelated after reading the book. The Lost Hero completely changed this for me. Although I rarely ever caught the answers as it was foreshadowed, when I finished I wanted to start all over again to see what I missed. Unfortunately, other review books required me to return it.
I recommend this story for book lovers everywhere, especially those who liked and followed Percy Jackson's early adventures and those who, like me, are dying to read more of this series. ;)

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should be Reading.To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

I'm currently reading an ARC copy of Operation Napoleon by Arnaldur Indriðason. I feel super guilty for not getting to this book before it was published although I received it before bookstores. I'll try to do better guys. ;)

I just finished reading Crank by Ellen Hopkins. Ellen Hopkins is a beautiful, powerful author. This novel, frankly, scared me because of it's real approach to this problem but it was stunningly beautiful. I really suggest this novel, and I also would never suggest it. This book, I believe would make each possible target a personal case. A more extensive review should be available on Goodreads tomorrow evening. ;)

I'll probably be reading Blood Persuasion (Immortal Jane Austen #2) by Janet Mullany next in effort to consider giving away this first edition for our Halloween giveaway. 



So what about you? Excited about The Son of Neptune? Dying to share your recent reads? Suggestions for our blog or any other book related thoughts? Leave your thoughts or a link in the comment! I love to hear from you! -C

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Review by C)

Reviewed by Caressa.

     I give it: 4.8/5 Pottermore's

      "The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

     "And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart; a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom; and the unwanted attention of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

     "But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone—or something—starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects . . . Harry Potter himself?"

     I give it: 3.3/5 cliffs

     "Shoot, I muttered when the paper sliced my finger; I pulled it out to examine the damage. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut.It all happened very quickly then.Edward threw himself at me, flinging me back across the table...I tumbled down to the floor by the piano, with my arms thrown out instinctively to catch my fall, into the jagged shards of glass. I felt the searing, stinging pain that ran from my wrist to the crease inside my elbow. Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm-into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won't be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The "star-crossed" lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy's reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality."

 

      In order to write this review properly, I must explain why I am, at 15, reading the Harry Potter series for the first time. As explained in my intro, as a child I cast away popular literature and promised to read only old, old books in hope of finding better reading material. This plan backfired as my peers became more interested in reading and discussing what they read and how they felt about the material. Grudgingly, I eased myself into a more recognized collection of works, still avoiding the most popular literature as possible. I primarily tried to read books my fellow “book-nerds” enjoyed, particularly older ones like Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle and eventually read books like Twilight by Stephanie Meyers and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by none other than J. K. Rowling. I disliked both. Never having been a fan of blank-slate characters, Bella was an extremely fake character to me. With the belief that I love my friends deeply without thought, it's logical to have a character or person brighten up their day at the sight of a friend or love interest, or suffer from depression at the loss of them. What irked me was Bella's lack of background and other motivation. Regardless, there is obviously a lesson to be learned as Twilight pulls more and more people into the world of literature (/end Twilight rant).

      Harry Potter, however, was a different story. Everyone of my friend “book nerds” loved this book in capital letters. I began to learn all the points of discussion and major plot turns and characters as they eagerly read book after book. By the time I was willing to read Harry Potter, however, the book simply felt under-developed and young. Without growing up with them, the book itself was interesting and lightly good, but nothing to the flamboyancy of my expectations. Finally, I started reading and commenting on book discussions discussing the amount of discrepancy between the first two books and those that followed them. After watching a Very Potter Musical and its sequel I gave in. I finally picked up New Moon and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets from the library and resolved to read them and expect nothing.

      And I absolutely LOVED J. K. Rowling's second book.

      Because I had loved and watched A Very Potter Musical and its sequel before caving in for the second installation, I couldn't read Draco's dialog without imagining him rolling around on the floor. I laughed, I cried, I gripped the book in expectation, and was late to class because I couldn't stop until I finished reading the chapters. All the words of the various Harry Potter nerds I'd met over the ages came to life in a book. I expected nothing when I read this book, but I got everything.

      If you have not read this book yet, PLEASE go read it. The first book is exceptionally dull when you expect perfection, but abandoning your pretenses I think you'll find the rest of the series most wonderful (or at least the second book).

      And, surprising even myself, I didn't hate New Moon (Please forgive me for starting sentences with and. ). It seems like everyone has lost someone they loved, whether it be a breakup, a friend moving away, or the death of a family member. I myself, have had this experience countless times and I get really depressed after a big loss. There are a lot of things about New Moon that I really appreciated because it didn't cut any corners. There were also reasons I loathed the novel or characters and got distracted easily.

      To start with what I did like, I really enjoyed the full representation of Bella's loss. Sure, many claim she's being melodramatic, and I agree. Bella only knew Edward for a little under a year before he left. Still, I think it's important there is a book out there that represents the full experience of losing someone you love. It didn't surprise me at all that Bella was about to move on. It what we “as humans” do. Furthermore, it was also obvious to me throughout the whole book that when Edward was an option, she would be off in a heartbeat. Isn't that almost always true?

      Now, I didn't like Bella's exaggerations. In my own experience, when you realize you're depressed you try to pick yourself back up. Bella had to have Charlie threaten her before she was able to jump back into her life.

      The twilight books (and I've only read one and two so far, so don't pick on the lack of application, if at all, in the following two) are a chronicle about different kinds of love (the hard, if totally illogical parts). Twilight was almost all about obsession (many will argue with me, leave your thoughts in comments) and New Moon was about loss and starting recovery. I'm glad these books exist because they help to bring people into the world of literature and yet, the series is not at all what I would read if I was in the mood for a plot and full side characters. Still, (and Rae I AM talking to you as well) the series does have a purpose.

      So that's all for this week. Please leave your doubtlessly controversial thoughts in the comments. ;) No hate please, but don't be afraid to disagree. :P And, how excited is everyone about the upcoming Pottermore? 

Also, PLEASE check out our book blogs profile and leave a comment. ;) A big shout out to Sari (if you read this, we're more than willing to post a link to your blog if you'd like. I'm sure Rae is overly excited about bringing her posts to attention. ) for posting the first comment on our page!! Our Malice by Chris Wooding giveaway ends Saturday, so go check it out and a big welcome to all our new followers; we appreciate you. ;)-C

dun Dun DUN! Intros!

          Greetings Bookworms! My name is Rae and welcome to Bookish. I was interested in starting a book blog because books are, not just a hobby, but a passion in my life. Cassandra Clare, Chris Wooding, Lisa McMann, and many other authors have inspired me through my teen years. I hope other authors brighten my horizons with books as I begin to grow older. I have traveled through many characters on my journey and some have been more favored than others, yet there is not one book I regret reading. I have speed through many a book in excitement, gasped at climaxes, and yelled at endings. I hope you, as our reader, will enjoy this blog as much as I do. May your journeys into books be marvelous. -Rae.

          Hey, everyone! Welcome to Bookish; I'm Caressa and I want to welcome you to our book blog. While occasionally, Rae and I will race in opposite directions of the literature spectrum, I hope you'll find something on the site to enjoy. Literature is one of the most amazing art forms in the world. There are so many forms and avenues of writing it's impossible to explore them all. Stephen King once said, “What is writing? Writing is telepathy.” Occasionally, reading a book, you feel you are discovering things as the author writes them although the book is not a constant live stream. It's difficult to not acknowledge reading and writing as an art in those moments. I hope you'll allow us to share our interpretations of the author's visions and I also hope you'll share your own in the comments or by linking your blog. Your efforts and communication will never be ignored! :)

          I hope you can forgive me, doubtless, as I am sure to bring up many controversial issues in my reviews and book choice (respectably, E rated). I am on a quest to read all my classics (as explained in my first review) and I also have not, but am in a quest to, read all the “Book Boomers” of my generation and the generation before my own (books and usually series that are exceedingly popular and followed by large communities of nerds such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Twilight, and many others). This is not to label me as a new reader, As a child (also further explained in my first review), I had quite a distaste for popular literature, deemed it rejected on my own agenda, and am only recently free of this disposition. I find many of the popular “Book Boomer” series have the first book geared towards younger readers and I do not always feel inclined to continue the series.

          Regardless, I enjoy many authors. I usually enjoy a particular book or series much more than the author in general who wrote them. I'm really, Really, REALLY excited to co-host this blog with Rae and share the beautiful realm of literature with it's participates. I hope we can hold lots of activities that encourage you to share your opinions with us. :)

          We'll be posting up a basic schedule sometimes soon and sharing some reviews with you. Don't be discouraged by reviews from high school English assignments. We're required to read them for schooling purposes, and it's a great opportunity to explore some foundations of literature around us.

          Until next time, Au Revoir! -C