Let me be up front: I pre-order books. I can’t help it. When I hear about a book that is not yet out, but still interests me because of the plot, I sometimes can’t wait for a review or two. I am just so excited about the book that I need to pre-order it.
Granted, I have had some bad luck with that in the past. Remember Dan Brown’s latest? The Lost Symbol? I pre-ordered it, paid an awful lot of money and ended up not even getting past page 50! (In case someone’s interested, let me know ;-) )
But earlier this week, I went on one of those pre-order book-shopping sprees again. 2010 soon begins and I couldn’t resist, I heard about some books that will be out January through March 2010 and I just have to have them as soon as possible!
So here is the list (and some additional info) on the books I will be getting rather sooner than later:
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Thanks, Lenore! The bookmark for this one was part of my gift from secret santa and as soon as I checked out the book (or more, the trilogy), I was hooked!
Meghan was six years old when she saw her father disappear right before her eyes. Ever since then, her life has felt slightly off, but what she would never have guessed is that she is the daughter of a faery king and a pawn in a deadly war.
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Romeo and Juliet in the 21st century!
Colt and Julia have been meeting secretly for a year. Colt is from the wrong side of the tracks while Julia is from an upper-class neighborhood. No one would have understood their relationship. But then Julia dies unexpectedly and Colt can't show his mourning for her. After all, no one knows how close they have been.
Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
Ever since I read The Princess Diaries I've been hooked on teenage princesses, so when I read the summary for this one, it was clear I had to check it out:
When an flawlessly dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and wants to asks Desi Bascomb whether she would like to become a substitute princess, Desi, who’s been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, says yes! She even has a magical ability that helps her transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing services.
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
Sixteen-year-old Hanna is in search for her mother who abandoned her at birth. This search leads her to Portero, a small Texas town with flesh-eating creatures and parasitical spirits.
I might just as well blame this one on HJ, who got me to read my first zombie books in a while. That one was good enough to make me want to read Bleeding Violet.
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
This one, as well, goes with a thanks to Lenore (her review can be found here!).
Head cheerleader Tessa is also the head of a super-secret organization - the Society of Smitten Kittens - that investigates boys possibly cheating on their girlfriends. Tessa knows her own boyfriend Aiden would never cheat though... or would he?
The Mark by Jen Nadol
And another thanks to Lenore who reviewed this book a short while ago!
Sixteen-year old Cassie Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back. The one time she pointed it out taught her not to do it again, so Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until the day she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.
Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, always careful to hide her secret. How does the mark work? Why her? Most importantly, if you know today is someone's last, should you tell?
There is, in fact, an excerpt you can read.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy New Year!
I wish you all a Happy New Year!
Have a wonderful 2010 with luck, success, health, love and great books!
Have a wonderful 2010 with luck, success, health, love and great books!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
reviewlets - SEP: LADY BE GOOD; Nalini Singh: VISIONS OF HEAT; Donna Kauffman: THE CINDERELLA RULES
It has been months since I read the following books and I still haven't reviewed a bunch of books, so I'll give you some reviewlets of those I don't remember too well anymore. I'll try to sort them by genre or topic, as good as possible, but I won't promise anything ;-)
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
LADY BE GOOD
414 pages
I have no clue how many times I have read this book already. It has become one of the few reads I'm reading again and again. I just like SEP's writing, the story and the hilarious characters. There's nothing that lifts my mood as good as the women and men in these chick lit/romance novels. In Lady be Good, British Lady Emma Wells-Finch travels to Texas to meet with the only man who might be able to help her ruin her impeccable reputation: Kenny Traveler. Only he has no intention of helping her, as exactly this would probably mean the end of his pro-golfing career. You see, Kenny has a similar problem as Tiger Woods currently has: he has been seeing far too many women. And on top of that, Kenny also has been in a few bar fights, which upset the organizer of the pro-golf tour so much he suspended him from playing. Now these two very opposite characters with there most definitely completely opposite agendas meet (Emma wants to lose her reputation in order to avoid a truly disgusting man who wants to marry her for exactly that reputation and tries to pressure her into complying) and worlds clash.
Nalini Singh
VISIONS OF HEAT
380 pages
I'm sure I'm one of the last people in the world who like were-whatever (what's the correct term again, when it's not just werewolves?) and a little romance plus lots of suspense that started reading Nalini Singh's books. In this installment, Faith Nightstar can predict the future dangerously accurate, but when a murder turns her life upside down. She sees the murders in scary details, but has no clue who the killer could possibly be, so in order to stay safe, in order to not be locked up in a cell, she turns to the only people she thinks might be able to help her.
Donna Kauffman
THE CINDERELLA RULES
462 pages
When Darby Landon's sister asks her to fill in for her and take care of one of their father's client, Darby is in big trouble. She has been as far away from high society as she possibly could for the past years - on her grandfather's farm in a very rural area of Montana. Now she has to go back to Washington and figure out how to act like the societal butterfly her father's client is expecting. For her to be able to pull it off, her sister Pepper even hired the Glass Slipper Inc., a company that is all set on helping people dress right, behave right, etc - like the fairy godmother in Cinderella.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, not only because the story was hilarious, but because Kauffman added a mystery, a spy story in the background.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Saying Goodbye to one of our own
Today we said a last Goodbye to one of our own. The son of family friends died December 22nd, or, more specifically, was found dead in his bed by his mother. His heart simply stopped beating, it stopped and he is gone and won't ever be back. From what I know his death certificate reads "natural cause", which is ridiculous. What's natural about the heart of a 24 year old to stop beating?
He was a year younger than me and I wasn't exceptionally close to him, but it still shocked me so much I haven't really talked about it so far. We only saw each other when we were at the same parties in our hometown, the town I haven't lived in for the past 5 years. But so far, whenever I came back for one of the parties, I knew exactly who I was going to see - now it's one person less, one person I didn't know well, sadly, but I did know him enough to link him with "home". I knew him to be a good person.
In this time, I feel with his family, his parents, whom I've come to like as I've been hanging out with them every now and then, and his older brother (probably a year older than me), who mixed my drinks at least a couple dozen times in the last years and was always in a good mood. And of course with his friends, who gathered all their strenght to carry him on his last way.
F.L., this one's for you - you'll be sorely missed!
Nur die Besten sterben jung (Only the best die young) by Böhse Onkelz
translated lyrics:
we were more than friends
we were like brothers
many years we sang the same songs
only the best die young
you were the best
only memories
tell me why
only the best die young
only the best die young
the time heals wounds
but I can't forget
the time heals wounds
but I think about you often
no matter where you are
you know a well as I do
one day we'll see again
in my dreams
in our songs
only the best die young
only the best die young
tell me why
only the best die young
only the best die young
too young
only the best die young
far, far too young
far too young
He was a year younger than me and I wasn't exceptionally close to him, but it still shocked me so much I haven't really talked about it so far. We only saw each other when we were at the same parties in our hometown, the town I haven't lived in for the past 5 years. But so far, whenever I came back for one of the parties, I knew exactly who I was going to see - now it's one person less, one person I didn't know well, sadly, but I did know him enough to link him with "home". I knew him to be a good person.
In this time, I feel with his family, his parents, whom I've come to like as I've been hanging out with them every now and then, and his older brother (probably a year older than me), who mixed my drinks at least a couple dozen times in the last years and was always in a good mood. And of course with his friends, who gathered all their strenght to carry him on his last way.
F.L., this one's for you - you'll be sorely missed!
Nur die Besten sterben jung (Only the best die young) by Böhse Onkelz
translated lyrics:
we were more than friends
we were like brothers
many years we sang the same songs
only the best die young
you were the best
only memories
tell me why
only the best die young
only the best die young
the time heals wounds
but I can't forget
the time heals wounds
but I think about you often
no matter where you are
you know a well as I do
one day we'll see again
in my dreams
in our songs
only the best die young
only the best die young
tell me why
only the best die young
only the best die young
too young
only the best die young
far, far too young
far too young
Martin Millar: LONELY WEREWOLF GIRL
Martin Millar
LONELY WEREWOLF GIRL
751 pages
Soft Skull Press
ISBN: 978-0-979-66366-6
Werewolf Kalix MacRinnalch is a fugitive - from her family! After attacking her father, she was banned from her clan and werewolf hunters are out to get her. She finds a hide-out with two young students in London, Moonglow and Daniel, but she can't shake off the past that easily and both Moonglow and Daniel are drawn into the family feud.
I absolutely loved this book! I pretty much raced through the 751 pages (of my German copy) and when I brought it to class with me, I even infected a friend. Millar's characters are hilarious, he knows how to create wonderfully funny scenes that - if read in public - might cause some awkward scenes, because trust me, people are very sensitive when it comes to people laughing very loud in public.
Millar develops the characters very well over the whole 751 pages and it will be a real treat to see what will happen further as we proceed to the second book.
Gareth P. Jones: THE THORNTHWAITE INHERITANCE
Gareth P. Jones
THE THORNTHWAITE INHERITANCE
263 pages
Bloomsbury
ISBN: 978-0-7475-9982-1
Thirteen-year-old twins Lorelli and Ovid Thornthwaite are not your average kids. They live in a huge, creepy mansion, are homeschooled, are heirs to a vast fortune - and for as long as they can remember, they have been trying to kill each other. But on the day of their thirteenth birthday they call a truce and call off all their murderous sibling rivalry. Now if only the attempts at their lives would also stop! But what is behind the trouble - or more exactly, who?
This book was such a great book, I can't gush enough! I absolutely loved the writing, Jones really made me want more and more and I could not put the book down at all. The story kept flying by and before I could look, I was at the end of the story. Lorelli and Ovid are quirky, menacing and somehow sweet at the same time. They take sibling rivalry to the next level, that's for sure, because who could think up an unhinged bicycle seat that incidentally attrackts a bear - just to make sure? And that is only one small view into the world of death traps created by Lorelli and Ovid! The story itself is simply brilliantly twisted and lovingly created.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
another blame game
So, let me play one more round of blame game for this week, while I recover. Thanks again, Chris (go check out his blog!)!
Let me start with CarrieK:
When She Flew by Jennie Shortridge (technically, many bloggers should get a point for that one, but it was Carrie who finally made me add it to the wish list - I couldn't resist any longer!)
drey also gets a point:
The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff
Lesa also deserves her point:
Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog by Lisa Scottoline
And Karin gets a point:
The Comet's Curse by Dom Testa
Lenore also gets a point:
The Mark by Jen Nadol
Then there's Kristi:
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Marcia is up next:
The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer
And then there is Michael:
9 Dragons by Michael Connelly
Plus a German blogger, Irina:
Tempting Danger (Verlockende Gefahr) by Eileen Wilks
Let me start with CarrieK:
When She Flew by Jennie Shortridge (technically, many bloggers should get a point for that one, but it was Carrie who finally made me add it to the wish list - I couldn't resist any longer!)
drey also gets a point:
The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff
Lesa also deserves her point:
Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog by Lisa Scottoline
And Karin gets a point:
The Comet's Curse by Dom Testa
Lenore also gets a point:
The Mark by Jen Nadol
Then there's Kristi:
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Marcia is up next:
The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer
And then there is Michael:
9 Dragons by Michael Connelly
Plus a German blogger, Irina:
Tempting Danger (Verlockende Gefahr) by Eileen Wilks
Bookworms Carnival - looking for submissions
So, I am going to host the Bookworms Carnival on January 9, so it's about time to tell you about my theme and ask you all to send in your submissions... :-)
I picked Series as my theme, in part because I've been hosting the Series Challenge for over 3 years now and I absolutely love series. It is nice to rejoice with characters we already know and and see them develop and grow. But I'm not necessarily only talking about series revolving around a certain cast of characters or series set in one world only. Theoretically, this theme is so broad, you could also submit a blog post on the "for Dummies" books or any other series-type book you can find.
And to have something to take back to your blog:
What is it about series you like most? Which are the series you enjoy most? And do you remember the first series you read? And do you prefer to have something on the covers that links the books (like the yellow background and the comic-style guy on the "for Dummies" books to give only one example) or don't the covers matter to you that much?
To submit entries to the carnival or for any questions you might have, feel free to write to me at dreamworldofabookaholic [AT] googlemail [DOT] com !
So have them coming, the submissions! :-)
I picked Series as my theme, in part because I've been hosting the Series Challenge for over 3 years now and I absolutely love series. It is nice to rejoice with characters we already know and and see them develop and grow. But I'm not necessarily only talking about series revolving around a certain cast of characters or series set in one world only. Theoretically, this theme is so broad, you could also submit a blog post on the "for Dummies" books or any other series-type book you can find.
And to have something to take back to your blog:
What is it about series you like most? Which are the series you enjoy most? And do you remember the first series you read? And do you prefer to have something on the covers that links the books (like the yellow background and the comic-style guy on the "for Dummies" books to give only one example) or don't the covers matter to you that much?
To submit entries to the carnival or for any questions you might have, feel free to write to me at dreamworldofabookaholic [AT] googlemail [DOT] com !
So have them coming, the submissions! :-)
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Book Bloggers Holiday Swap - vlog
So, this one has been sitting in my drafts for about a week now, and I'm really, really sorry! It took me a while to gather all the information I wanted to give along with the vlog, but now I'm done and here you go (by the way, the third vlog is still in the making - sorry!):
I still haven't found out for sure who my secret santa is, but I have a hunch, so tell me whether I'm right or not, but I think it is Lenore @ Presenting Lenore. Thanks soooo much! I don't have the words to explain how excited I am!!!
The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley
The Stolen One is the story of young Kat, who embroideres finery for wealthy women. Kat wants more than what life is giving her right now, but she also doesn't want to alienate Grace, who took her in when no one else would. When a stranger appears in their cottage bringing with her the story of Kat's birth, she is curious and leaves their tiny village to go to London. There's a trailer for this book that can be found here.
The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen
A new Rizzoli & Isles mystery, what more do I have to say??? I absolutely love Detective Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles, so as soon as this one's out in German (my Mom's reading them as well, and she'd be really mad at me if I read them in English!), I will get it. Here you can find more info on the book including an excerpt and a trailer, so go and check it out!
The Moon series by Rose Marie Wolf
This is a werewolf series, in order the books are: Sweet Moon Dreams, Blood Moon, Hunter's Moon and Dark Moon Magick. In these books we follow the story of Rose Sullivan and her mate, Jason Barnett. I hope I can get my hands on those books! I'm curious! For more info, check out the author's website!
Melissa Walker's Violet Greenfield series
Violet On The Runway, Violet By Design & Violet In Private are the three books in the Violet Greenfield series about a wallflower turned model. Check out the author's site here!
Jessica Verday's The Hollow
This one is the first in the Hollow trilogy, where Abbey's best friend Kristen vanishes at a bridge near Sleepy Hollow and Abbey discovers secret after secret. There's an excerpt you can read here!
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
This first book in the Iron Fey series introduces us to Meghan, who saw her father disappear right before her eyes when she was six years old. Ever since, her life has felt slightly off, but what she would never have guessed is that she is the daughter of a faery king and a pawn in a deadly war. For an excerpt go here!
Megan Crewe's Give Up The Ghost
An outcast at her high school, Cass uses the secrets her ghostly friends dig up to expose her fellow students' deceits. Then the popular student council V.P. discovers her secret, and, to her surprise, asks her for help... For lots of additional info, check out the authors's site!
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
This book tells the hilarious story of Will Halpin, an overweight deaf teen who spends his first year at a mainstream high school looking for love, failing Algebra, unraveling the school's social scene, trying to get invited to the greatest party ever … and, oh yeah, solving a murder. You want more? Check it out here! As this one won't be out until Feburary 2010, I will add this on my list of possible books for the German YA challenge I'm participating in, where the goal is to read 15 YA books published in 2010.
And the books I got from my dear secret santa, both off of my wish list (how awesome is that?!):
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
Elizabeth Scott's site can be found here!
Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
Check out the Cindy Pon's website!
I still haven't found out for sure who my secret santa is, but I have a hunch, so tell me whether I'm right or not, but I think it is Lenore @ Presenting Lenore. Thanks soooo much! I don't have the words to explain how excited I am!!!
The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley
The Stolen One is the story of young Kat, who embroideres finery for wealthy women. Kat wants more than what life is giving her right now, but she also doesn't want to alienate Grace, who took her in when no one else would. When a stranger appears in their cottage bringing with her the story of Kat's birth, she is curious and leaves their tiny village to go to London. There's a trailer for this book that can be found here.
The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen
A new Rizzoli & Isles mystery, what more do I have to say??? I absolutely love Detective Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles, so as soon as this one's out in German (my Mom's reading them as well, and she'd be really mad at me if I read them in English!), I will get it. Here you can find more info on the book including an excerpt and a trailer, so go and check it out!
The Moon series by Rose Marie Wolf
This is a werewolf series, in order the books are: Sweet Moon Dreams, Blood Moon, Hunter's Moon and Dark Moon Magick. In these books we follow the story of Rose Sullivan and her mate, Jason Barnett. I hope I can get my hands on those books! I'm curious! For more info, check out the author's website!
Melissa Walker's Violet Greenfield series
Violet On The Runway, Violet By Design & Violet In Private are the three books in the Violet Greenfield series about a wallflower turned model. Check out the author's site here!
Jessica Verday's The Hollow
This one is the first in the Hollow trilogy, where Abbey's best friend Kristen vanishes at a bridge near Sleepy Hollow and Abbey discovers secret after secret. There's an excerpt you can read here!
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
This first book in the Iron Fey series introduces us to Meghan, who saw her father disappear right before her eyes when she was six years old. Ever since, her life has felt slightly off, but what she would never have guessed is that she is the daughter of a faery king and a pawn in a deadly war. For an excerpt go here!
Megan Crewe's Give Up The Ghost
An outcast at her high school, Cass uses the secrets her ghostly friends dig up to expose her fellow students' deceits. Then the popular student council V.P. discovers her secret, and, to her surprise, asks her for help... For lots of additional info, check out the authors's site!
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
This book tells the hilarious story of Will Halpin, an overweight deaf teen who spends his first year at a mainstream high school looking for love, failing Algebra, unraveling the school's social scene, trying to get invited to the greatest party ever … and, oh yeah, solving a murder. You want more? Check it out here! As this one won't be out until Feburary 2010, I will add this on my list of possible books for the German YA challenge I'm participating in, where the goal is to read 15 YA books published in 2010.
And the books I got from my dear secret santa, both off of my wish list (how awesome is that?!):
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
Elizabeth Scott's site can be found here!
Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
Check out the Cindy Pon's website!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Well, it's about time around here to start the munching and eating and feeling all stuffed later in the evening, so:
Merry Christmas!
Have a wonderful day and enjoy celebrating with your family :-)
I will spend the next few days reading and maybe I can write a few reviews - I still have a backlog - when I'm not with my family.
Merry Christmas!
Have a wonderful day and enjoy celebrating with your family :-)
I will spend the next few days reading and maybe I can write a few reviews - I still have a backlog - when I'm not with my family.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
blame game
And some more time to play the blame game while I'm out with a cold. Again, thanks to Chris for starting it!
This round's winners are:
Irish is up first:
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Kristi comes next:
DupliKate by Cherry Cheva
Holly also deserves a point:
Wickedly Ever After by Michelle Marcos
So does mee, who actually gets two points:
Squeamish About Sushi and Clueless in Tokyo by Betty Reynolds
Esme also will get a point:
Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley
Last, but not least, Ann-Kat gets a point:
Num8ers by Rachel Ward
This round's winners are:
Irish is up first:
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Kristi comes next:
DupliKate by Cherry Cheva
Holly also deserves a point:
Wickedly Ever After by Michelle Marcos
So does mee, who actually gets two points:
Squeamish About Sushi and Clueless in Tokyo by Betty Reynolds
Esme also will get a point:
Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley
Last, but not least, Ann-Kat gets a point:
Num8ers by Rachel Ward
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Erotica Challenge - wrap up
I have finished J. Kaye's Erotica Challenge.
Here are the books I read with the links to my reviews:
1) Jill Shalvis, Jacquie D'Alessandro & Jamie Sobrato: Heating Up The Holidays
2) Lori Wilde: Lethal Exposure
3) Jill Shalvis: Flashpoint
4) Jennifer LaBrecque: Yule Be Mine
5) Cara Summers: Come Toy With Me
6) Leslie Kelly: Slow Hands
7) Jill Shalvis: Flashback
8) Sarah Mayberry: She's Got It Bad
9) Jill Shalvis: Storm Front
10) Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jill Shalvis & Rhonda Nelson: Better Naughty Than Nice
Here are the books I read with the links to my reviews:
1) Jill Shalvis, Jacquie D'Alessandro & Jamie Sobrato: Heating Up The Holidays
2) Lori Wilde: Lethal Exposure
3) Jill Shalvis: Flashpoint
4) Jennifer LaBrecque: Yule Be Mine
5) Cara Summers: Come Toy With Me
6) Leslie Kelly: Slow Hands
7) Jill Shalvis: Flashback
8) Sarah Mayberry: She's Got It Bad
9) Jill Shalvis: Storm Front
10) Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jill Shalvis & Rhonda Nelson: Better Naughty Than Nice
blogger blaming
It's so definitely time again to do a new blogger blaming round, even though I'm still sick. In fact, I have gathered enough books for at least 3 rounds of blame. And now, I have finally figured out who is responsible for this wonderful meme-type posts: Chris!
So, I'm going to start off with a book Chris "recommended" (to put it nice):
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Then. let's continue with Yvonne:
The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis
Next up should probably be Ana / nymeth with two entries:
Underground by Haruki Murakami
Asleep by Banana Yoshimoto
And to add some more Murakami, Lena gets to be on this episode of blame game:
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Nely also gets a point for the following book:
After the Moment by Garret Freyman-Weyr
And let me add some German book bloggers:
Nina added a book to my list:
One Day (Zwei an einem Tag) by David Nicholls
Then , there's Melli who gets a point:
Three Days to Dead (In drei Tagen bist du tot) by Kelly Meding
And Soleil actually gets two points for one book because I bought the first in series right away:
The Little Lady Agency And The Prince (Amor hat das letzte Wort) by Hester Browne
And the book I bought is The Little Lady Agency by the same author.
So, I'm going to start off with a book Chris "recommended" (to put it nice):
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Then. let's continue with Yvonne:
The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis
Next up should probably be Ana / nymeth with two entries:
Underground by Haruki Murakami
Asleep by Banana Yoshimoto
And to add some more Murakami, Lena gets to be on this episode of blame game:
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Nely also gets a point for the following book:
After the Moment by Garret Freyman-Weyr
And let me add some German book bloggers:
Nina added a book to my list:
One Day (Zwei an einem Tag) by David Nicholls
Then , there's Melli who gets a point:
Three Days to Dead (In drei Tagen bist du tot) by Kelly Meding
And Soleil actually gets two points for one book because I bought the first in series right away:
The Little Lady Agency And The Prince (Amor hat das letzte Wort) by Hester Browne
And the book I bought is The Little Lady Agency by the same author.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
the one with the sick blogger
Yes, I am sick! I have a cold which is annoying me a lot! I spend hours and hours in bed and 9pm seems very, very late right now (I'm usually more of a night owl - I can work until 3am and not realize it). I hope to be back up and running by the weekend at the latest, but can't promise it. So for the time being, please bear with me. I have a few things on my mind (and technically two vlogs somewhere on my computer somewhere that just need some editing ;-) ).
Friday, December 11, 2009
Progressive Dinner Party - Dessert
So, it's about time my dessert popped up here, right? I know I'm a bit late, but it was supposed to go up as scheduled earlier today - only it didn't *sigh*
But here you go with one delicious mousse au chocolat:
The ingredients:
200 grams dark chocolate
3 eggs, separated
250 ml whipping cream
35 grams powder sugar
How to do it:
1) Melt the chocolate slowly in a bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Let it cool for a couple of minutes.
2) Stir the egg yolks into the chocolate
3) Whisk the egg whites until very stiff and peaky, then slowly add the sugar a bit at a time, whisking again as each bit is added
4) Gently and slowly fold the egg whites, a spoonful at a time, into the chocolate. Don't be aggressive, you want to keep the volume of the eggs as much as possible.
5) Pour gently into the final bowls or ramekins and put in the fridge for a few hours.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
the one with the first holiday swap packed I got to open
So, I finally got to open my first holiday swap package this season. It was with the German book blogging community and I'm so excited!
Here's what I got:
Danielle Joseph - Shrinking Violet
a little book on friendship with lots of cool quotes
Here's what I got:
Danielle Joseph - Shrinking Violet
a little book on friendship with lots of cool quotes
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Yasushi Inoue: MEMOIRS OF THE PRIEST HONKAKU
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any evidence that this one has been translated into English so far, so I'm going to make this a bit different. Well, and another reason would be that I really like the video clips below ;-)
Yasushi Inoue
MEMOIRS OF THE PRIEST HONKAKU
164 pages
In Japan, in the age of Samurai, the famous tea master Sen no Rikyu is ordered to commit suicide by the warlord Hideyoshi. His student, the priest Honkaku, tries to find out what caused the rift between Hideyoshi and Rikyu that led to his master's suicide.
I really enjoyed this novel a lot. It was quiet, but meaningful. It teaches a bit about Japan, about Japan in the late 1500s and early 1600s. In his beautiful writing, Yasushi Inoue re-tells the story of Honkakubo's search for the truth.
This is a scene from Hana Yori Dango - Boys Over Flowers, where two of the major (not main!) characters are having tea. Granted, I'm pretty sure this is in no way similar to the tea ceremonies as they were held in the 1500s and 1600s, the time in which THE BOOK is set, but I think it's a nice scene to get at least an idea about it.
In case you're interested in HYD, here's a short intro on the four boys, called F4:
And another video on HYD, with a summary of the relationship between the two characters in the first video and what happened that lead up to the tea scene:
And one just because I love the character of Hanazawa Rui:
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
the one with the "Hidden Treasures"
For this, I was inspired by a challenge in a German book forum. I liked the general idea, but all in all the rules were too difficult for my taste. Now I have tweaked it a bit - okay, maybe more than just a bit - to make it a great bi-monthly event, I hope!
The basic idea is to post your TBR list (whether you choose the whole big thing or the smaller list you created for your challenges) and have someone else pick your next book with a short explanation why they picked this book and not one of the dozen other books. The first book title left to you in your comment section is the one you're supposed to read (or at least try to read, if it turns out to be so bad you can't stand the thought of finishing it) within the next two months. That way, we all could find those hidden treasures on Mt. TBR that we neglected, ignored all this time!
Now, you don't have to participate in each round! Just join in when you can't decide what to read next or want a change of pace. Sign up in the comment section of my bi-monthly post by leaving a link to your post with your current TBR stack.
Also, to give everyone a chance to recommend someone a book and maybe even get to know our fellow book bloggers a bit better, don't leave that one book recommendation for every blogger that already signed up. ;-)
Now, I'll start with my list, which you can find here.
Which book should I read and why? I'll read the book until the end of January and post a review hopefully at the beginning of February at the latest (early on in the year, I'm better with reviewing on time).
The basic idea is to post your TBR list (whether you choose the whole big thing or the smaller list you created for your challenges) and have someone else pick your next book with a short explanation why they picked this book and not one of the dozen other books. The first book title left to you in your comment section is the one you're supposed to read (or at least try to read, if it turns out to be so bad you can't stand the thought of finishing it) within the next two months. That way, we all could find those hidden treasures on Mt. TBR that we neglected, ignored all this time!
Now, you don't have to participate in each round! Just join in when you can't decide what to read next or want a change of pace. Sign up in the comment section of my bi-monthly post by leaving a link to your post with your current TBR stack.
Also, to give everyone a chance to recommend someone a book and maybe even get to know our fellow book bloggers a bit better, don't leave that one book recommendation for every blogger that already signed up. ;-)
Now, I'll start with my list, which you can find here.
Which book should I read and why? I'll read the book until the end of January and post a review hopefully at the beginning of February at the latest (early on in the year, I'm better with reviewing on time).
the one with the 2010 challenges
I've decided to have only one post where I gather all the challenges I join in this time around. Last time around, I had so many challenge posts, I barely posted anything else in December and January... Maybe I can even figure out how to make in post links, so that I have a list of all the challenges by name only that links to the actual part of the post about said challenge. If you know how this works, let me know!
100+ Reading Challenge 2010
42 Challenge
Alphabet Reading Challenge
Banned or Challenged Books Challenge Perpetual
Book-A-Week Reading Challenge
Book Around The States Challenge Perpetual
Books About TV Challenge
Buy One Book And Read It 2010
Debut Author Challenge
Elizabeth Gaskell Mini-Challenge
George Eliot Mini-Challenge
Graphic Novels Challenge 2010
Hogwarts Reading Challenge
Jewish Literature Challenge
Leo Tolstoy Mini-Challenge
Lisa Jackson Challenge 2009/2010
Manga Challenge 2010
Pages Read Challenge Season 2
2010 Reading Resolutions Challenge
Read Your Name
RYOB Challenge 2010
Reading Through The Seasons 2010
Series Challenge Season 4
TBR Lite Reading Challenge 2010
Twenty Minute Book Club Challenge 2010
To Be Continued Challenge Perpetual
Vampire Series Challenge
18th and 19th Century Women Writers Challenge 2010
World Religion Challenge 2010
Elizabeth Gaskell Mini-Challenge
read and/or watch 2 works by Elizabeth Gaskell
January 1, 2009 - June 1, 2010
George Eliot Mini-Challenge
read 2 works by George Eliot, one movie may be substituted
January 1, 2009 - June 1, 2010
Leo Tolstoy Mini-Challenge
read 2 works by Leo Tolstoy
January 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010
Jewish Literature Challenge
read 3 books by Jewish authors or about Judaism
February 27, 2010 - September 10, 2010
Series Challenge Season 4
read 4+ books to finish up series
December 1, 2009 - November 30, 2010
1) Kathryn Lilley: A Killer Workout (#2 Fat City)
2) Nick Sagan: Edenborn (#2 Idlewild)
3) Nick Sagan: Everfree (#3 Idlewild)
4) Jill Shalvis: Instant Gratification (#2 Wilder Brothers)
5) Jill Shalvis: Instant Temptation (#3 Wilder Brothers)
Pages Read Challenge Season 2
pick a goal number of pages you want to read
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
25,000
RYOB Challenge 2010
read a certain number of your own books
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
my goal: 80 books
World Religion Challenge 2010
The Universalist Path - read something about the 5 world religions plus more books about any or all of the following religions: Shintoism, Animism, Taoism, Confucianism, Wicca, Mythology, Atheism, Occult, Tribal Religions, Voodoo, Unitarianism, Baha'i, Cults, Scientology, Mysticism, Rastafarianism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zorastrianism, Agnosticism, Gnosticism, Satanism, Manichaeism, Deism, Comparative Religion, Religious Philosophy, Jungiansim, Symbolism, Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, etc., etc. etc. (you may also read about another aspect of one of the 5 Biggies)
possible things to do: read (any form of the written word), movies, music, plays, attend services, perform a ritual etc.)
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
2010 Reading Resolution Challenge
create personal reading resolutions for 2010 and post about your progress every other month starting February 15
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
* I will read a broader variety of books, genre-wise in summer.
* I will limit my book-buying a bit in that I will only buy books that I intend to read within the two months after I bought them.
* I will be more precise with my university reading and not just skim it.
Reading Through the Seasons 2010
read four books, one for each season with the season in the title
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
1) Spring
2) Summer
3) Lisa Kleypas: It Happened One Autumn
4) Winter
42 Challenge
read/watch/listen to 42 sci-fi related items
January 1, 2010 - December 3, 2010
Alphabet Challenge 2010 (Yahoo Group)
read the alphabet either by author or by title
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Book-A-Week Reading Challenge 2010 (Yahoo Group)
read a book a week in 2010, meaning 52 books total
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
100+ Reading Challenge 2010 (Yahoo Group)
read 100+ books in 2010
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Twenty Minute Book Club Challenge 2010
read 13 books from the book club (with one substitute from 2009) - reading list here
December 29, 2009 - December 29, 2010
Read Your Name Challenge
read books to match your name
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
TBR Lite Challenge 2010
Option B: read 6 books off of Mt. TBR - list can be changed throughout the year
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
1) Lisa Kleypas: It Happened One Autumn
2) Kelley Armstrong: Bitten
3) Jim Butcher: Storm Front
4) Tzipi Caton: Miracle Ride
5) Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games
6) MaryJanice Davidson: Undead and Unpopular
18th and 19th Century Women Writers Challenge 2010
read 2 books by women writers who lived in the 18th and 19th century
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
1)
2)
Vampire Series Challenge
Level 3: Vampire Enthusiast - read 6 books from any series featuring vampires
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Graphic Novels Challenge 2010
Intermediate Level: read 3-10 graphic novels
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Buy One Book And Read It 2010
Level 3, Book Blogger Option: buy 12 books I learned about on book blogs and read them before Dec 31
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Manga Challenge 2010
read 6+ mangas and 3+ anime or anime series episodes
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Debut Author Challenge
read 10 YA or MG novels from debut authors of 2010
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Lisa Jackson Challenge 2009/2010
read as many Lisa Jackson books as you want
July 18, 2009 - December 31, 2010
1) Twice Kissed
2) Fatal Burn
Books About TV Challenge
read 2+ books about or based on a TV show
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Hogwarts Reading Challenge
read books that fit the Hogwarts subjects
March 8, 2010 - December 13, 2010
For the record: I play for Gryffindor!
Get Sorted By The Hogwarts Sorting Hat!
Banned or Challenged Books Challenge"
read 50 banned or challenged books, keeping track here
PERPETUAL
Book Around The States Challenge
read 51 books set in the 50 states plus DC, keeping track here
PERPETUAL
To Be Continued Challenge
read series books
PERPETUAL
100+ Reading Challenge 2010
42 Challenge
Alphabet Reading Challenge
Banned or Challenged Books Challenge Perpetual
Book-A-Week Reading Challenge
Book Around The States Challenge Perpetual
Books About TV Challenge
Buy One Book And Read It 2010
Debut Author Challenge
Elizabeth Gaskell Mini-Challenge
George Eliot Mini-Challenge
Graphic Novels Challenge 2010
Hogwarts Reading Challenge
Jewish Literature Challenge
Leo Tolstoy Mini-Challenge
Lisa Jackson Challenge 2009/2010
Manga Challenge 2010
Pages Read Challenge Season 2
2010 Reading Resolutions Challenge
Read Your Name
RYOB Challenge 2010
Reading Through The Seasons 2010
Series Challenge Season 4
TBR Lite Reading Challenge 2010
Twenty Minute Book Club Challenge 2010
To Be Continued Challenge Perpetual
Vampire Series Challenge
18th and 19th Century Women Writers Challenge 2010
World Religion Challenge 2010
Elizabeth Gaskell Mini-Challenge
read and/or watch 2 works by Elizabeth Gaskell
January 1, 2009 - June 1, 2010
George Eliot Mini-Challenge
read 2 works by George Eliot, one movie may be substituted
January 1, 2009 - June 1, 2010
Leo Tolstoy Mini-Challenge
read 2 works by Leo Tolstoy
January 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010
Jewish Literature Challenge
read 3 books by Jewish authors or about Judaism
February 27, 2010 - September 10, 2010
Series Challenge Season 4
read 4+ books to finish up series
December 1, 2009 - November 30, 2010
1) Kathryn Lilley: A Killer Workout (#2 Fat City)
2) Nick Sagan: Edenborn (#2 Idlewild)
3) Nick Sagan: Everfree (#3 Idlewild)
4) Jill Shalvis: Instant Gratification (#2 Wilder Brothers)
5) Jill Shalvis: Instant Temptation (#3 Wilder Brothers)
Pages Read Challenge Season 2
pick a goal number of pages you want to read
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
25,000
RYOB Challenge 2010
read a certain number of your own books
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
my goal: 80 books
World Religion Challenge 2010
The Universalist Path - read something about the 5 world religions plus more books about any or all of the following religions: Shintoism, Animism, Taoism, Confucianism, Wicca, Mythology, Atheism, Occult, Tribal Religions, Voodoo, Unitarianism, Baha'i, Cults, Scientology, Mysticism, Rastafarianism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zorastrianism, Agnosticism, Gnosticism, Satanism, Manichaeism, Deism, Comparative Religion, Religious Philosophy, Jungiansim, Symbolism, Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, etc., etc. etc. (you may also read about another aspect of one of the 5 Biggies)
possible things to do: read (any form of the written word), movies, music, plays, attend services, perform a ritual etc.)
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
2010 Reading Resolution Challenge
create personal reading resolutions for 2010 and post about your progress every other month starting February 15
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
* I will read a broader variety of books, genre-wise in summer.
* I will limit my book-buying a bit in that I will only buy books that I intend to read within the two months after I bought them.
* I will be more precise with my university reading and not just skim it.
Reading Through the Seasons 2010
read four books, one for each season with the season in the title
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
1) Spring
2) Summer
3) Lisa Kleypas: It Happened One Autumn
4) Winter
42 Challenge
read/watch/listen to 42 sci-fi related items
January 1, 2010 - December 3, 2010
Alphabet Challenge 2010 (Yahoo Group)
read the alphabet either by author or by title
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Book-A-Week Reading Challenge 2010 (Yahoo Group)
read a book a week in 2010, meaning 52 books total
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
100+ Reading Challenge 2010 (Yahoo Group)
read 100+ books in 2010
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Twenty Minute Book Club Challenge 2010
read 13 books from the book club (with one substitute from 2009) - reading list here
December 29, 2009 - December 29, 2010
Read Your Name Challenge
read books to match your name
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
TBR Lite Challenge 2010
Option B: read 6 books off of Mt. TBR - list can be changed throughout the year
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
1) Lisa Kleypas: It Happened One Autumn
2) Kelley Armstrong: Bitten
3) Jim Butcher: Storm Front
4) Tzipi Caton: Miracle Ride
5) Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games
6) MaryJanice Davidson: Undead and Unpopular
18th and 19th Century Women Writers Challenge 2010
read 2 books by women writers who lived in the 18th and 19th century
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
1)
2)
Vampire Series Challenge
Level 3: Vampire Enthusiast - read 6 books from any series featuring vampires
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Graphic Novels Challenge 2010
Intermediate Level: read 3-10 graphic novels
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Buy One Book And Read It 2010
Level 3, Book Blogger Option: buy 12 books I learned about on book blogs and read them before Dec 31
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Manga Challenge 2010
read 6+ mangas and 3+ anime or anime series episodes
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Debut Author Challenge
read 10 YA or MG novels from debut authors of 2010
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Lisa Jackson Challenge 2009/2010
read as many Lisa Jackson books as you want
July 18, 2009 - December 31, 2010
1) Twice Kissed
2) Fatal Burn
Books About TV Challenge
read 2+ books about or based on a TV show
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Hogwarts Reading Challenge
read books that fit the Hogwarts subjects
March 8, 2010 - December 13, 2010
For the record: I play for Gryffindor!
Get Sorted By The Hogwarts Sorting Hat!
Banned or Challenged Books Challenge"
read 50 banned or challenged books, keeping track here
PERPETUAL
Book Around The States Challenge
read 51 books set in the 50 states plus DC, keeping track here
PERPETUAL
To Be Continued Challenge
read series books
PERPETUAL
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