The Crazy Bookworm: June 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

Follow Friday

Q: Birthday Wishes — Blow out the candles and imagine what character could pop out of your cake…who is it and what book are they from??

Christian Grey!! Just kidding lol. I had to say something Fifty Shades related because of it's popularity. I would honestly say Lina from Between Shades of Gray or or Andi from Revolution. I would love to talk to either of those girls!

Be sure to stop by Sunday for my Mailbox Feature

and stop by on Monday to link your blog in the Yong Adult Book Blog Hop!

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Happy Hoppin'!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Underworld by Meg Cabot

Young Adult: 336 Pages
Publisher: Scholastic
Publisher: May 8th, 2012
Series: Abandon Trilogy #2
Source: From publisher for review
Challenge: Summer reading Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon | Amazon Canada
Find the Author: Website | Twitter

Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.

It is no secret that I abolsutely LOVED Abandon. It was my first Meg Cabot book, and she had me hooked. I was eagerly awaiting the release of Underworld and was so happy when it finally arrived.

Underworld did not dissapoint. It delivered in full force, and handed out every element that I was looking for. Suspense, thrills, romance and humour. I adored Pierce and her light-hearted, sarcastic humour, nothing changed in Underworld, if anything, I like her more! John is one of my favourite male characters, he's rough around the edges, but deep down he is very capable of loving and doing the right thing. I was always rooting for Pierce and John, so I really enjoyed seeing their love blossom throughout the novel.

Now the book isn't all hearts and rainbows, it is the Underworld after all. Meg Cabot did not skimp out on the dark, haunting suspense. She would end each chapter with a cliffhanger. "Just one more chapter" was a common phrase in my house while reading Underworld, but I couldn't stop. One more chapter turned into two, then three and four and..well, you see where I'm going with this.

The only negetive that came out of this book was that now I'm going to have to wait for book 3! The wait is already killing me, I don't know how I'm going to do it!

If your looking for a series that packs a lot of punch but also give you a romance fix, definitely pick up Abandon and Underworld

Monday, June 25, 2012

Young Adult Blog Hop(6)

Details

*If you post about anything related to the young adult genre, you can enter!

*You do not need an actual blog to enter. If you share your YA love through Youtube, A Facebook page, a Tumblr account, etc. You can enter it below.

*Please only enter once. If you run a Youtube page AND a Blog please chose only one to link to.

*You must post about the blog hop to enter.

*The post must contain the Blog Hop button and the answer to that week's question.

*If you would like your blog featured, simply enter the blog hop and/or comment.

Question of the Week

When it comes to "Summer Reading" do you prefer the lighter, fluffier reads, or the more heavy, dramatic reads?

A: I don't know why I like to torcher myself but I always enjoy the reads the more dramatic reads, even ones that make me have a good cry. I like connecting with the characters and feeling with/for them. Sometimes I like to break up the heavier reads with a light, fun read as well. I love a little bit of everything!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

What's in it for You? A mailbox feature

For Review

Devine Intervention by Martha Brockenbrough

Grim by Anna Waggener

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron

Two or Three Things I forgot to Tell You by Joyce Carol Oates

Bought

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

(Already reviewed and own, but wanted the paperback. I love the cover!)

**Special thanks to HarperCollins Canada and Scholastic Canada**

What's in it for You?

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Follow Friday

Q: If you could “unread” a book, which one would it be? Is it because you want to start over and experience it again for the first time? Or because it was THAT bad?

I would want to 'Unread' Divergent by Veronica Roth to experience it again for the first time. And I would also unread The Pledge by Kimberly Derting. I didn't like this book, but I would give it another try to see if I missed something.

Be sure to stop by Sunday for my Mailbox Feature

and stop by on Monday to link your blog in the Yong Adult Book Blog Hop!

Stay Updated with The Crazy Bookworm

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'Like' The Crazy Bookworm on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Follow Via Linky List--On the right sidebar>>

*Leave your link in the comments so I can hop back!*

Happy Hoppin'!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Married with Zombies by Jesse Peterson

Married With Zombies (Living with the Dead, #1)

Fiction: 244 Pages
Publisher: Orbit
Published: September 1st, 2010
Series: Living with the Dead #1
Challenge: Married with Zombies Read-A-Long | Summer Reading Challenge
Source: Bought
Buy the Book:Amazon | Amazon Canada
Find the Author: Webiste

A heartwarming tale of terror in the middle of the zombie apocalypse.

Meet Sarah and David.

Once upon a time they met and fell in love. But now they're on the verge of divorce and going to couples' counseling. On a routine trip to their counselor, they notice a few odd things - the lack of cars on the highway, the missing security guard, and the fact that their counselor, Dr. Kelly, is ripping out her previous client's throat.

Meet the Zombies.

Now, Sarah and David are fighting for survival in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. But, just because there are zombies, doesn't mean your other problems go away. If the zombies don't eat their brains, they might just kill each other.

Thank you so much for the Married with Zombies Read-A-Long and the Summer Reading Challenge for pushing me to finally read this book! I've had it on my shelf for atleast a year but just never got around to it. I absolutely loved it!

We all know I love a good zombie read; Blood, gore, guts...I loved it all, but Married with Zombies tossed in a few other elements. Humour and romance, and the outcome was simply fantastic.

I adored Sarah and David. Their bickering in the beginning was serious, and they were tettering over the cliff of divorce, but the Zombie apocalypse hits early and as the Zombie attacks intensify, their marriage starts making amense. It was touching to read a long as Sarah and David's marriage improved, but it was also hilarious at times. Jesse Peterson did a great job at adding the humour element, although their were guts and brains flying everywhere, some of the scenes were just laugh out loud funny.

Hilarious and romantic, the book also had one final, perfect touch...heart. There were a few scenes that sprung a few tears and had me reaching for the kleenex. Yes, the majority of the novel is a fun Zombie killing spree, but he didn't forget that his characters loved and cared for each other, and that element made the book perfect.

I loved every aspect of this novel. It was a fun, read but at times heart-warming and wrenching. This would be a great introduction book into the Zombie genre for any zombie newbie!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Young Adult Blog Hop(5)

*If you post about anything related to the young adult genre, you can enter!

*You do not need an actual blog to enter. If you share your YA love through Youtube, A Facebook page, a Tumblr account, etc. You can enter it below.

*Please only enter once. If you run a Youtube page AND a Blog please chose only one to link to.

*You must post about the blog hop to enter.

*The post must contain the Blog Hop button and the answer to that week's question.

*If you would like your blog featured, simply enter the blog hop and/or comment.

Question of the Week:

What book was it that ignited your love for reading?

A: I loved reading in grade school. The Babysitter's Club being one of my favourite series. Once high school hit my reading dwindled and I didn't read much at all. Then Twilight came out, and it re-ignited that original love for reading I had!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

What's in it For You? A mailbox feature

It has been a bad week for technology! This week, both my camera AND my iphone decided to stop working on me, so no group photo of my books :( Hopefully both will be repaired or replaced by next week!

For Review

The Blessed by Tonya Hurley

Embers and Echoes by Karsten Knight

(I can't wait to read this one!)

The Taken by Vicki Pettersson

Bought

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

What's in it for You?

Friday, June 15, 2012

Follow Friday

Q: Q: Happy Father's Day! Who is your favorite dad character in a book and why?

A: Great question this week! Of course, I have to say Charilie and Carlisle from The Twilight Saga. They are both so different, but I loved them each so much.

Then I'd have to say Veronica's dad from The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

And lastly, Clara's father from Deb Caletti's Stay. That was a very powerful father-daughter relationship!

Be sure to stop by Sunday for my Mailbox Feature

and stop by on Monday to link your blog in the Yong Adult Book Blog Hop!

Stay Updated with The Crazy Bookworm

RSS Feed

'Like' The Crazy Bookworm on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Follow Via Linky List--On the right sidebar>>

*Leave your link in the comments so I can hop back!*

Happy Hoppin'!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

While He Was Away by Karen Schreck

Young Adult: 249 Pages
Publisher: Sourcefire Books
Published: May 1st, 2012
Challenge: None
Source: From publisher for review
Buy the Book: Amazon
Find the Author: Website

This is just something I have to do, okay?" I hear David say. "The right thing."

He cradles my face in his hands. He kisses me hard. Then he lets go of me. His eyes dart from me to whatever's next.

All she wants is for him to stay. She's been doing pretty well, pretending he doesn't have to go. But one day, after one last night to remember, she wakes up and there's no denying it anymore. He's gone.

When Penna Weaver's boyfriend goes off to Iraq, she's left facing life without him. As summer sets in, Penna tries to distract herself with work and her art, but the not knowing is slowly driving her crazy. Especially when David stops writing.

She knows in her heart he will come home. But will he be the same boy she fell in love with?

The title, premise and cover for While He Was Away offers a lot. It looks like it is going to be a heart-wrenching, emotional novel. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me.

I don't know if it was because of the high hopes I had for this novel, but it didn't quite do it for me. While he was Away had so much room for greatness. An emotional premise, and a strong bond between characters, but there was something that never connected with me. I could not connect with the main character, Penna. I found her whiny and immature at times. I did, however, adore the rest of the character cast. Caitlin, Penna's mother, Ravi, and Jules were wonderful, strong additions to the novel.

Aside for the character cast, it was the story line that kept me reading. The author delivered a realistic look at what it is like for a "Army family". The fear and hurt that they go through, but also the pride and joy that they have for their solider.

Although I was hoping for something more, something a little more heart-rendering and powerful, I was still left satisfied at the overall outcome of the novel. There were parts that I loved, and part's that I didn't, but the book as a whole was a decent read.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Young Adult Blog Hop (4)

*Please only enter once. If you run a Youtube page AND a Blog please chose only one to link to.

*You must post about the blog hop to enter.

*The post must contain the Blog Hop button and the answer to that week's question.

*If you would like your blog featured, simply enter the blog hop and/or comment.

Question of the Week:

Have you ever read a book because of it's amazing hype, only to be disappointed?

Yes! One that didn't do it for me, but was loved by so many others was The Pledge by Kim Derting. I just could not get into it! But I'm glad others were able to enjoy it!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

What's in it For You? A Mailbox Feature

Happy sunday, Bookworms! Only one book for me this week.

For Review

Crazy by Amy Reed

What's in it For You?

Coming up this week

Young Adult Blog Hop(Monday)

While He Was Away book Review

Friday, June 8, 2012

Married with Zombies Read-A-Long Week 2

Married With Zombies read a long Married With Zombies Read A Long: Week 1

Week 2 is hosted by The Bookish Brunette

Week 2 Questions

1.In Chapter 6, Sarah and Dave raid Amanda’s apartment for guns… When they come out they run into their super, Mr. Gonzales, when he tries to attract Sarah: What does she hit? Do you have one of these? You could totally bash some Zombie brains with one!Show me whatcha got! If you don’t have one of these, then anything that you would find in a hallway of an apartment building! (good luck!) lol

I had a hard time with this one! No fire extinguisher for me, but I thought my stainless steel garbage bin would do some damage! And those are in apartment hallways...right?

2. In Chapter 7, Sarah and David are watching a news report of the zombie attacks when the doctor on TV attacks the reporter… The news crew steps in and starts bashing the zombie with a _______, grab the nearest similar object (whatever’s handy) that you would use if you were attacked at WORK!

Well, I don't own a Boom Mic, but I think a 15 pound dumbbell would get the job done!

3. Chapter 8… Amanda, Sarah and Dave are preparing to head out of town, and while they’re getting in the car, three zombies attack them! Sarah bashes one with the butt of her shot gun as instinct takes over, so whatcha got?

You’re getting in your car, fleeing the city- zombies attack, no guns or knives… What are you going to use to defend yourself??

One thing I would definitely be taking with me on my Zombie hunt, as side from my Zombie ass kicking, super amazing Rockstar...Rocky

I would definitely be grabbing our super huge sledge hammer that would do the deed!

4. In Chapter 9 & 10 there aren’t any zombie killings… That we could replicate!!!
So, give me a couple of your favorite quotes from Chapters 5-10!!!

"I was just thinking how much cooler you are than any other girl I ever knew" David

"Well, I guess we better go out with a Bang" Sarah

"Okay, David, Let's Roll"

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Follow Friday!

Q: No question this week

My Question: What's on your reading pile this weekend?

A: I am currently reading Fifty Shades of Grey and Married with Zombies. I plan on finishing those!

Coming up

What's in it for You? A Mailbox Feature(Sunday)

Young Adult Blog Hop(Monday)

While He Was Away Book Review

Happy Reading!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Where it Began by Ann Stampler

Young Adult: 384 Pages
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: March 6th, 2012
Challenge: None
Series: None
Source: From author for review
Buy the Book:Amazon
Find the Author: Website

Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed looking like a cautionary ad for drunk driving—and without a single memory of the accident that landed her there. But what she can recall, in frank and sardonic detail, is the year leading up to the crash.

As Gabby describes her transformation from Invisible Girl to Trendy Girl Who Dates Billy Nash (aka Most Desirable Boy Ever), she is left wondering: Why is Billy suddenly distancing himself from her? What do her classmates know that Gabby does not? Who exactly was in the car that night? And why has Gabby been left to take the fall?

As she peels back the layers of her life, Gabby begins to realize that her climb up the status ladder has been as intoxicating as it has been morally complex... and that nothing about her life is what she has imagined it to be.

Where it Began was a novel that I was eagerly awaiting. I was desperately looking forward to diving into this one!

Unfortunately, I was a little underwhelmed. The book had qualities that I loved, and other's that I didn't love.

What I really liked was the fresh storyline. Ann Stampler delivered an exciting and suspenseful storyline. The sense of confusion that Gabby felt and went through was conveyed very well in the writing, that you, yourself are learning everything all over again just like Gabby.

I really enjoyed Stampler's writing style. It was a simple style that flowed smoothly. She brought out the great qualities of the storyline and characters with her writing.

What I didn't love so much was Gabby's attitude. For the most part, I loved Gabby, but she was so hard on herself. She always refereed to herself as a nobody and "sub regular". I wanted to grab and shake her. Her low self-esteem got irritating at times. Billy was a great character, annoying but great. After all, I wasn't supposed to like him, so the author did a great job at that! He was controlling and manipulative, he definitely got my blood boiling a few times!

What I didn't love was the length of the book. The story had some lulls, and I think that was due to it's length. If the book would have been at least 100 pages less, I would have enjoyed it more. There was some dialogue that I don't think was necessary and it caused the story to drag at times.

Aside from those few things, I liked this novel as a whole. It wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be, but that doesn't deter my overall decision. If your looking for a beach or vacation read, then this would be a great pick!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Young Adult Blog Hop(3)

Details

*If you post about anything related to the young adult genre, you can enter!

*You do not need an actual blog to enter. If you share your YA love through Youtube, A Facebook page, a Tumblr account, etc. You can enter it below.

*Please only enter once. If you run a Youtube page AND a Blog please chose only one to link to.

*You must post about the blog hop to enter.

*The post must contain the Blog Hop button and the answer to that week's question.

*If you would like your blog featured, simply enter the blog hop and/or comment.

This Week's Feature Blog

Young Adult Critic

I came across this quirky blog when they entered last week and loved the original way they did their blog reviews! They are farely new but I look forward to their future posts! Check them out!

Question of the Week

Have you read a stand alone novel that you just wish their was a sequel too?

Yes! I have quite a few but I will narrow it down to two:

Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

I don't want to go into to much detail on why I want sequels to these. I don't want to risk spoiling the original storyline for those who haven't read them. But I would LOVE to see more of these characters and their stories!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

What's in it for You? A Mailbox feature

What's in it For You is a mailbox feature created and hosted by The Crazy Bookworm. Your more than welcome to participate! Just link in the comments!

No books for review this week, which is best because I need to get caught up! I did buy a few books this week:

Bought

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

(I have read and reviewed this before but I finally bought a finished copy to add to my bookshelf)

Abrham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

(I am dying to see the movie, so I thought I better read it before I see it!)

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

(Have heard amazing things about this book, so thought I would give it a try)

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

(A Co-Worker of mine raved about this book. I always up for a recommendation!)

Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James

(Yes, I hopped on the band wagon. I have to see what all the hype is about...right?)

I also received cuff links from Penguin for advertisement of #50shadeshotter

That's it for me!

What's in it for You?

**Be sure to stop by tomorrow for The Young Adult Book Blog Hop!**

Friday, June 1, 2012

Married with Zombies Scavenger Hunt Read-a-long: Week 1!

Week 1 is hosted by In the Closet with a Bibliophile

1. In chapter 2 Sarah has to put her marriage therapist "to rest" with a letter opener. Let's see your weaponized letter opener in mid-action! No letter opener? Think fast! You need to rescue your friend/significant other! What are you going to use when no actual weapons are available? No knives, no guns! Show me what you've got!

My Gold(*cough* fake gold *cough*) Letter Opener!

2. In chapter 2 Sarah is wrestling with Dr. Kelly and David can't seem to find a weapon to help his dear wife with. Until...Sarah yells at him to use something on Dr. Kelly's body, which he grabs and smashes into her head. I want to see your most killer pair of this item!

One of my favourite pair of heels. This heel could do some damage!

3. In chapter 3, Sarah hears an unexpected noise in the bathroom while she's nervously peeing. She grabs "the closest thing there was to a weapon in the room". I want a picture of the same type of item that is closest to you....no soft edges people. They won't do the brain damage necessary to kill the living dead.

*Shrugs* the closet thing to my was my empty oatmeal bowl. Maybe I could smash the bowl and use the shards to slice and dice!

4. At the end of chapter 5, Dave gives Sarah a weapon just before they are leaving their apartment to pay a little visit to Jack & Amanda's apartment. Let's see a picture of yours (same type of item).

My Dog Grooming Shears that will definitely tear some Zombies up!

*Is it just me, or does it look like the scissors are going up my nose in this pic?)

5. How do you feel about the book up to this point? Any thoughts you want to share?

Loving it so far, and having a blast with this scavenger hunt!