tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67252553561658474502024-03-12T18:33:45.722-07:00CuddleBuggeryA blog dedicated to honest, humorous reviews of a wide variety of books with a special focus on YA books.Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-64611164503451466712012-02-13T06:00:00.000-08:002012-02-13T06:33:51.520-08:00Massive, Huge, Ginormous AnnouncementAs you may have noticed, I've been a ghost on here for more than two weeks. It's not because I've been raiding temples in South America as some people have speculated.<br />
<br />
Nor have I discovered and chanced science forever by discovering the elusive Graviton. Though this one's not due to lack of effort.<br />
<br />
A couple of weeks ago, Stephanie Sinclair and I decided to join forced and become cobloggers. I could have joined her blog or she could have joined my blog. Instead we chose to launch an entirely new, far more incredible blog than either of us could ever imagine.<br />
<br />
That blog is open. Now.<br />
<br />
Cuddlebuggery.blogspot.com is closing. But <a href="http://www.cuddlebuggery.com/">www.cuddlebuggery.com</a> is ready for business and it's going to rock.<br />
<br />
We're opening today with an interview with the incredible <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4637369.Veronica_Rossi">Veronica Rossi</a>, author of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10756656-under-the-never-sky">Under The Never Sky</a>.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, Steph and I go head to head in a Review War of Under The Never Sky.<br />
<br />
We've got great reviews coming up and this week we'll be giving away a Hardcover copy of Under The Never Sky to one lucky follower of our new blog.<br />
<br />
That's just the schedule for the next three days.<br />
<br />
So come on over, join up and enjoy the show. We've got lots of give aways, special appearances and unique blog posts coming up over the next few weeks. Don't miss out.Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-64602693248632144752012-01-23T18:31:00.000-08:002012-01-23T20:46:19.274-08:00Authors: Please write like thisThe recent GoodReads drama has brought on a whole slew of discussion about the state of the YA community and the bloggers and the authors. The debate over how reviewers should review books is not new but has been given a fresh make over and pushed onto the stage like a reluctant débutante, shaking in her six inch heels.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0wTUN9a5ZCw/Tx4OwPS8CeI/AAAAAAAAAns/ftnLl0LmyiM/s1600/Leave+the+authors+alone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0wTUN9a5ZCw/Tx4OwPS8CeI/AAAAAAAAAns/ftnLl0LmyiM/s320/Leave+the+authors+alone.jpg" width="284" /></a>It was mostly revitalized by <a href="http://maggiestiefvater.blogspot.com/2012/01/only-thing-i-am-going-to-say-about.html">Stiefvater</a> and has been picked up and debated over by <a href="http://parajunkee.com/2012/01/book-blogging-101-what-is-a-review.html">others</a> and other <a href="http://bookchicclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/meandering-monday-bad-reviews-goodreads.html">others</a>.<br />
<br />
Of course, the commentators come out to ask why we can't all review nicely and why we use snark and why can't we all just get along? Albeit with slightly less personality and absolutely no originality or differences in how we express ourselves. <br />
<br />
<br />
I'm going to pretend for a moment that the arguments are sane and reasonable. Logically, if authors and other bloggers can legitimately make requests for the style and function of our reviews - then I think we should be able to do the same.<br />
<br />
nd so here is my personal take on what an author is, and can do with their novels:<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
The only legitimate way to write your novels is in the style of a love child between Melina Marchetta and Neal Shusterman. That's drunk. Also, with a gambling problem and it's writing only to make money so that the mob won't kill them and their entire family. Imagine <i>exactly</i> what that child would be like, and write the novels that this child would write. Except you can't use vowels. Not even the letter "y" if it's functioning as a vowel. Maybe not even commas either. Commas are completely unprofessional. I think their curly little tail is taunting me aggressively.<br />
<br />
The only exception to the aforementioned and completely valid writing style above is if you're writing in the style of Laini Taylor or Markus Zusak. Those are also valid writing styles that you can adopt. I will also allow you to deviate from the Laini Taylor style but only if you're writing in the style of Laini Taylor if she were born in Elizabethan times and hanging out with Shakespeare (but not friends. If they're friends then you've gone too far).<br />
<br />
And theoretically, if reviews by definition must lack opinion and emotion then they should probably reflect the product that they are commentating on. Therefor none of you should ever write with emotions and none of your characters should have a personal opinion about anything. The storylines and themes should absolutely not resonate on a personal level with your audience. This will help us reviewers a lot since then we won't need to include an emotional response to your book in our review. <br />
<br />
I also think your novel is not a valid novel and is only a very long expressive post if any of your characters use the word "irrevocably" or deviate from the above standards at all.<br />
<br />
This is a completely valid, well-thought out opinion and I hope that all authors will respect it. I will now only be reading your work if you do all of the above to standards that I deem acceptable. It is then perfectly understandable and reasonable that, should you fail to perform to the above expectations, that I will no longer consider you authors but instead refer to you as expressive post writers. <br />
<br />Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-29873266101610231412012-01-21T18:22:00.000-08:002012-01-21T18:24:59.465-08:00Book Review: Raw Blue by Kristy Eagar<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6989576-raw-blue" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Raw Blue" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266111020m/6989576.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6989576-raw-blue">Raw Blue</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3119823.Kirsty_Eagar">Kirsty Eagar</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText4674430186739706871">Carly has dropped out of
uni to spend her days surfing and her nights working as a cook in a
Manly café. Surfing is the one thing she loves doing … and the only
thing that helps her stop thinking about what happened two years ago at
schoolies week.
<br />
<br />And then Carly meets Ryan, a local at the break, fresh out of jail.
When Ryan learns the truth, Carly has to decide. Will she let the past
bury her? Or can she let go of her anger and shame, and find the courage
to be happy? </span></blockquote>
<br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/256936171">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<br />
If you've been around Goodreads for a while, you may have noticed that there's this particular reviewer. Let's call her <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2250020-tatiana" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smarty McSmart-Pants</a>. This reviewer has a reputation for having near impeccable taste in books. Usually, whatever book she gives five stars, we're bound to love as well. Some of the other reviewers and I have a little thing going where we recommend her books because, clearly, whoever can recommend a book she likes is Queen of Goodreads for that short amount of time. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So when Smarty McSmart-Pants personally descended from her cloud-like residence and recommended this book to me via a burning tree, I jumped at the opportunity to read it. After all, it had everything going for it. Firstly, it’s written by an Australian author. A condition know within the Goodreads community to be like the kiss of the angels. Secondly, it’s recommended by aforementioned reviewer, and thirdly, it was insanely expensive to purchase. So I am completely flabbergasted that I liked this novel a lot, but didn’t really love it. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There’s a lot of words I want to use to describe this novel and its main character, Carly. See, I <i>want</i> to describe it as a graphic reflection on the life of a nineteen year old, traumatised rape victim.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But she wouldn’t appreciate that description. She wouldn’t like being summarised as one horrible moment in her life or to have what happened to her cheapened or used for shock value. Though it may seem silly to kowtow to the wishes of an imaginary literary character, I will.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So this is the story of Carly, nineteen year old soft-hearted surfer-chick, who is hiding out in Manly and working as a kitchen cook to escape her family and the consequences of trauma inflicted upon her. She meets Ryan, another surfer with a shady past, and they spark up an awkward and shaky relationship.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The title of Raw Blue is a very accurate one, reflecting the real state of this novel. The prose are brash and raw with strong emotion. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“I scrabble my fingers in Ryan’s pubic hair and they brush against his penis which is spent, soft and vulnerable."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
These prose are interspersed throughout the narrative. They are brash, strong and gloss over nothing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The strongest aspect of this novel, undoubtedly, is its dealing with the subject of rape. The guilt, shame and anger is all there in its crippling insidiousness, helping the reader to feel as brittle and impotent as Carly is.<br />
<br />
This is Carly’s journey to survive and conquer and the novel focuses on this as opposed to the romance with Ryan who serves as a catalyst for change but ultimately is powerless to rescue Carly from her own crippling emotions and trauma. That she has to do herself.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My major gripe with the novel is in its lackadaisical plot and sudden ending. The novel ends so abruptly and unexpectedly that one gets the impression Eagar was called to dinner just as she came toward the ending and never returned to finish the narrative. It leaves this awkward, unfulfilled feeling like great sex which is cut short and ends unsatisfactorily. There was a climax missed there, I feel, and I finished the novel with a vague frustration. There were plot points that had felt strong all the way through and then suddenly fizzled into limp nothings. Shane and Danny felt like potential completely wasted. What really was their point outside a brief moment each gave to the plot? I felt like there was so much missing, having been cut away from Eagar’s original intent.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have one more complaint with this novel as silly as it is. I feel it’s my duty to inform international readers that the bulk of Australians do not talk like the characters in this novel. I’ve probably referred to someone as “mate” a total of three times in my life and I’m pretty sure every single one of those was in jest. Perhaps that’s what stopped me from really escaping into this otherwise marvelous narrative. I couldn’t escape the mental images of every Ocker, daggy Australian bloke that Ryan produced in me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/aussieman.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<i>I believe this is the clinical definition of gross.</i><br />
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<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-12966836575877458772012-01-21T17:31:00.001-08:002012-01-21T17:34:15.761-08:00Book Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8492825-where-she-went" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8492825-where-she-went" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Where She Went (If I Stay, #2)" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312523480m/8492825.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8492825-where-she-went">Where She Went</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/295178.Gayle_Forman">Gayle Forman</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText12843556208221209482">It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.<br /><br />
Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam
is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity
girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings
the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city
that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their
hearts to the future - and each other.<br /><br /> Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined <em>If I Stay</em>, <em>Where She Went</em> explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.</span></blockquote>
<br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/260122864">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Where She Went is the successional addition to Forman's spectacular <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/112594322" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">If I Stay</a>. If the seminal theme of If I Stay were about finding a reason to continue living, then Where She Went’s theme could be construed as finding what makes life worthwhile and livable.<br />
<br />
Adam, an infamous badboy rocker, has been in a perilous emotional and mental state since his longtime girlfriend, Mia Hall left him. Chance brings them together for one more night and this novel chronicles those precious twenty-four hours together and Mia and Adam get down to what’s really important. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/tumblr_lmhup1esdi1qi4v9fo1_400.png" /><br />
<br />
<i>You guys would not believe the horrible search terms I needed to use to find this image...</i> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Okay, not really. But there’s a lot of dissecting their relationship and what happened between them to result in a three year absence that has crippled Adam emotionally.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In form and function, Where She Went is very similar to If I Stay. They’re both character driven novels sparse on action and heavy on reflective and emotional content. They’re also almost entirely reliant on the strength of their character voices, giving Forman and veritable tightrope to balance on between pained and raw characters, or whiny emo complainers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There is a noticeable difference that is strongly pronounced between this novel and the last one though. In If I stay there is a full cast of varied, lovable, interconnected characters common history but divergent personalities. Where She Went is a departure in this area. Adam is an isolated character, having lost even his passion for music which had been fueling him.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Where Mia had been a self-introspective prone to examining the people around her, her relationship to them and everyone’s motives, Adam is more of a reactive character.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“My hand is shaking and my heart is pounding and I feel the beginnings of a panic attack, the kind that makes me sure I’m about to die.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We get a lot of this physical narrative and you have to search within the circumstances and dialogue to make sense of Adam’s motives and reasoning because he is usually quite vague about it himself. Mia was a character who knew herself and the people around her. Adam is a character who is almost wholly blind to his and other people’s motivations and reasoning.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Gayle uses a variety of rich, descriptive language without seeming ingenuous to the voice of a twenty-one year old musician – at least to the layman.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Still, despite all the praise, I struggled to connect to Adam and the narrative to the degree that I had in If I Stay. But don’t confuse my admittance that this is a less emotive novel, with it not being an emotional novel at all. Where She Went still packs a falcon punch to the heart strings and still manages to illicit some seriously strong passion.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Perhaps my favourite aspect of this book is the song extracts at the beginning of each chapter. Stiefvater’s debut, Shiver, never resonated with me as I never connected to Sam’s poetry. It always felt contrived and weak and lessened the novel for me. Adam, on the other hand, I would listen to and read were he a real person. <br />
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<br />
<br />
Perhaps that's Forman's strongest ability. Her characters have a complexity and depth to them, missing in so many other YA novels. It's not exactly hard to make musicians seem sexy but Forman certainly knows how to exceed past all expectations. For most readers, this novel will not disappoint.<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/imagesqtbnANd9GcTs6ZipkWiF2wzn8aIeo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/imagesqtbnANd9GcTs6ZipkWiF2wzn8aIeo.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<i>Tuba? More like Tuboner! Hahahahahaha! Okay, no more musician jokes.</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-11965849950678502462012-01-14T18:07:00.001-08:002012-01-14T18:09:46.439-08:00Book Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12637490-goddess-interrupted" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test, #2)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324683837m/12637490.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12637490-goddess-interrupted">Goddess Interrupted</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/767317.Aimee_Carter">Aimee Carter</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
<span id="freeText13978894957587507923">Kate Winters has won immortality.
<br />
<br />But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.
<br />
<br />Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate
is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as
ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld,
he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of
Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough
to kill him: the King of the Titans.
<br />
<br />As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is
up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to
navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the
help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.
<br />
<br />Henry’s first wife, Persephone.</span></blockquote>
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/260656494">1 of 5 stars</a><br />
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<br />
I requested Goddess Interrupted as I'd seen potential, amidst the frustration, in The Goddess Test. I thought that, given time, hard work and thoughtful application to her prose, Carter might be a good author one day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, that didn't quite happen here and part of me understands why. A lot of the reviews for The Goddess Test focus on:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
GAH! The mythology! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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<br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A VIRGIN!? A VIRGIN!? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/Explanation-demotivational-poster.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<i>A VIRGIN. I mean, I'm not getting over that any time soon!</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So I appreciate Carter's efforts to address some of that a little in the novel. Well, no not really, but I'm trying really hard to be nice here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But the underlying themes of fidelity and sexual repression were always highly problematic and they've only devolved in this novel.<br />
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<br />
<br />
We see this through the characters of Ava and Persephone who are judged and censured very heavily by the main character, Kate. Ava stays pretty firmly in the camp of irredeemable slut. As for Persephone: one moment she's the Whore of Babylon and the next she's just a selfish, confused woman. Note: Neither of these are accurate or even good characterization! <br />
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<br />
<br />
Kate says over and over that, no matter what, she would NEVER have cheated on Henry. That's nice, Kate. You're all of, what? 18? Easy to make absolutes when you're 18 and it's your first time in love. So very, very easy. <br />
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<br />
<br />
Persephone was a confused, naive girl when she was married off (didn't chose) to the Lord of the Underworld. She never loved him, she hated her job and she withered up without the sun and freedom. She stayed that way for THOUSANDS of years before finally falling in love with a man and deciding that she'd had enough of a loveless, passionless marriage. Yet everyone, even the other gods who saw her and how miserable she was, judges her as a shameless hussy.<br />
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<br />
<br />
How long does Kate last in her passionless, loveless marriage? *Pulls out fingers and toes to start counting* well, let's see. They married just before her six month vacation where she didn't see or hear from Henry. And when she gets back shit breaks out and so when she finally decides to leave him it would have been... a day. Yes. it takes her a day of actually being with Henry before she hangs up the crown and decides to ditch him. <br />
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<br />
The double standards, which exist all through this book, are aggravating. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In the the first book Ava is punished by Kate. You see, Ava had been in a relationship with one man. Then she'd ditched him and started seeing another guy. Guy #1 bursts in on guy #2 and they fight. One of them almost dies. Whose at fault? Ava. Obviously. Men can't be expected to control themselves when it comes to sex and it was CLEARLY Ava's fault for... whatever.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So we see Calliope turn evil and she does it because her husband, Zeus, has cheated on her throughout antiquity. It was really satisfying to see everyone angry and annoyed with Walter. To see him take personal responsibility for his actions and how they've affected Calliope and to see him take part in her punishment... no, wait. Sorry, none of that happens. Actually, Calliope is handed over to him so that he can punish her and and try to force her compliance. She disgusts him. Charming.<br />
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<br />
<br />
The fail, unfortunately, doesn't stop there.<br />
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<br />
<br />
We have frustrating characters, too little plot for too many novels, bad pacing, vague action scenes and feminist issues with how the main character is treated.<br />
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<br />
<br />
I could spend all day complaining about how often we had to have Kate reassured that Henry loved her, or how frustratingly annoying Henry is or how unnecessary James is as a character. About how Henry WASN'T a virgin because he'd had sex. Once with Persephone. And it was terrible. You know, I think that's actually worse than if he were a virgin...<br />
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<br />
<br />
But most of all, I'm STILL just really disappointed. Because this is still watered-down mythology and a poor excuse of a Hades/Persephone retelling. It's still a copout in so many ways and it's still thoughtless in its narrative and treatment of characters.<br />
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I won't read the next one. I think Carter's progress as a writer is limited in the world she's already built. But I do think I've seen evidence in the text that leads me to believe that she's better than this. I guess I'll have to wait until she leaves this series behind to find out if that's true.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-81251709105419742052012-01-11T15:03:00.001-08:002012-01-11T15:06:40.131-08:00Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4374400-if-i-stay" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1221604709m/4374400.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4374400-if-i-stay">If I Stay</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/295178.Gayle_Forman">Gayle Forman</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText12475325904980476390">In a single moment,
everything changes. Seventeen year- old Mia has no memory of the
accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with
her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own
damaged body is taken from the wreck...
<br />
<br /> A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about
the power of family and friends, the choices we all make -and the
ultimate choice Mia commands.</span></blockquote>
<br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/112594322">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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<br />
I played the violin for five years and the viola for three. It is the piano that only lasted for one year. My older brother and I began our lessons together when I was nine. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My brother was a smart kid, but he didn't know it then. It didn't help that his little sister was extremely competitive, precocious and bratty. I think he always believed he didn't have much going for him - but boy he has it where it counts.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Back then I thought I was so much smarter than him, and taking up the piano was another chance for me to prove that. Unlike my brother, who had never played an instrument before, I could sight-play and was already studied in the necessary music theory aspects from the violin.<br />
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<br />
<br />
And, in form, I <i>was</i> better than him. For a while. Effectively speaking, I always was always going to be better at him in the technical arena. But he was better where it counted. When it came to the heart of the music, bringing a piece alive and making it beautiful - I was completely outclassed. I played like a robot and he played with his soul.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This book makes me regret that more now than I've ever regretted it before in my life. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If I Stay is a beautifully written, character-driven novel about a girl choosing between life and death. It was also one of the best narrated audiobooks I have ever listened to. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Mia's body is in ICU and she is waiting to die. As the events from her car crash unfold, she examines her relationships with everyone to determine whether or not it's worth staying or dying peacefully from her crash.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There were parts of this novel that had me weeping, my heart aching and my chest pounding with emotion. Mia's voice, her relationships, her struggles and her pain are so brilliantly related to the audience.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The writing isn't perfect. There are some parts that could have been a little more polished. Some paragraphs that probably needed another edit. However, the technical writing aspects are far and above overcompensated by the heart and soul of this novel.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This novel is like Mia's Cello. It is beautiful, resounding and emotional. Just as Mia can play Adam like her instrument, so too can Forman play her audience - strumming all the high and low notes with perfect, breathtaking clarity. Without a doubt, Forman has it where it counts.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-29107537005055644202012-01-10T14:42:00.000-08:002012-01-10T14:42:05.729-08:00Would you like some plagiarism with your Amazon?<br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Important Links:</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/10410312">Original call for help</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sexual-King-Arthurs-Court-ebook/dp/B005F5Q9PU/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326203898&sr=1-8">The ebook that started it all</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=331340&page=submissions">The original content</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/10415024">Discussion</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/10415349">More discussion</a> </span><br />
<br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">What Happened?</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Goodreader Beth's previously published (2005) work was being sold by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Robin-Scott/e/B005GK26RO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1">Robin Scott</a> on Amazon and claimed as Scott's own writing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All of Scott's plagiarized work has now been removed by Amazon. Which, funnily enough, was everything she'd ever published on the website. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/french-ban-shrugging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/french-ban-shrugging.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who'd have guessed? Also, my shrug is very French, no?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-3927385402812302302012-01-10T03:52:00.001-08:002012-01-10T04:09:46.078-08:00Shadowlander by Theresa Meyers<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12969427-shadowlander" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Shadowlander (Shadow Sisters, #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319754731m/12969427.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12969427-shadowlander">Shadowlander</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2867375.Theresa_Meyers">Theresa Meyers</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText10803542115737438307">Four sisters, three rules to live by, one big problem.
<br />
<br />O'Connell Family Rule #1: Don't let the Fae know you see them.
<br />O'Connell Family Rule #2: Don't talk to the Fae.
<br />O'Connell Family Rule #3: Never, ever follow them.
<br />
<br />Most people only believe what they can see. Gifted with the ability
to see the deep, dark fae of Shadowland, Catherine Rowan Mary O'Connell
would prefer not to. When the fae abduct her friend Maya, Cate breaks
the sacred O'Connell Family Rules and sets a trap for the handsome fae
who haunts her every step.
<br />
<br />Rook, High Court Advisor to the Shadow King, has been following Cate
since she was sixteen. When Cate reveals herself as one of the fabled
"Seers", Rook is stunned—she is one of the few that can permanently open
the gates between their worlds. If he turns her over to the Shadow
King, his court will rule the human realm.
<br />
<br />Cate knows she has precious little time to find Maya. By midnight,
the glamour of Mid-Summer's Eve will fade, leaving her trapped forever
in the Shadowland, but Maya's abductor won't give up the woman he's
mesmerized easily.
<br />
<br />The midnight hour is almost at hand. Cate must choose: her freedom or her destiny.</span></blockquote>
<br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/259450782">2 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<br />
In one regard, life has taught me not to expect too much from a Novella. Yet I think this one still managed to let down even my low expectations and I'm a little depressed about that.<br />
<br />
Cate and her family are seers of the Fae and so must hide their abilities. Rook is a fae who stalks Cate, thinking she can't see him. Their paths collide when one of Cate's friends is kidnapped by the fae. She needs to get into the Fae world to get her friend back and he needs her to begin the Fae conquest of Earth. Also they fall in love and shag along the way.<br />
<br />
And thus we come across our first issue and it is one in which the author has bitten off more than they can chew. This is, in its essence, a massive story to undertake in a novella.<br />
<br />
Kidnappings? Peril to the human race? Forbidden hunky fairy love? You don't say! I'm intrigued. Tell me more.<br />
<br />
Yet all of this is rather handled in the most cavalier way by the author, leaving the reader with desperate, gaping, plotholes and burning questions.<br />
<br />
For starters, the kidnapped girl: Meg.<br />
<br />
Before she is kidnapped, our only insight into this character is that she is someone who invites a friend to lunch, planning the entire time to ditch her for a preplanned date. This same friend is also a work colleague and she also plans (ahead of time) to ditch their important presentation for the aforementioned date and expects to still take half the credit for the work done.<br />
<br />
Cate's gifting is hereditary, and she has several sisters. It's a gift she's had to hide her entire life. If the fae discover her gifting then she'll disappear forever as her mother once did. To reveal herself may put her family in extraordinary danger. She knows this. Keep all of that in mind when I tell you that she throws it out the window to save the friend I just described. Call me cruel, call me evil, call me a bitch. I don't care. There's no way I would endanger my life and my family for someone like that, and I don't think most normal people would either. I might even dust my hands off, kick my feet up and consider my life burdened with one less oxygen thief. <br />
<br />
Secondly, Cate's brilliant scheme for getting the world's worst friend back is nonsensical.<br />
<br />
Go to Fairyland + Hot Fairy + ? = <s>profit</s> getting friend back.<br />
<br />
She doesn't have a plan. THIS is NOT a plan! This is a concept and a vague intention. Making out with a random Fairy and traipsing off into Fairyland with a) no way to return home, b) no plans or assurances this Fairy will help you or c) absolutely no clue what you're doing is not clever thinking! <br />
<br />
Rook's characterization is, if possible, even more aggravating. He's been stalking this girl since she was sixteen and not once has she given a hint of her abilities. He is right there watching when her supposed friend is kidnapped right in front of her. Of all the days to reveal her abilities and seduce him, she chooses that day. Look, kids, this is not hard maths here. It doesn't take leaps and bounds in logic to assume the woman has a hidden agenda. Yet Rook is shocked, shocked I say, when he realizes that she came with him to fairy in order to retrieve her friend. <br />
<br />
Lastly, and perhaps the most aggravating aspect of this novel. He is a fairy. They're planning to invade our planet, subvert our autonomy and replace us as supreme rulers of earth. There is no convincing him otherwise. As a human being, her reaction to all of this is? <br />
<br />
<img class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/orignal_1293468108lQlIhraqL7o.jpg" /><br />
<i>Doesn't matter; had sex. Thanks, Cate. Sold out your whole race for Fairy Peen. Good job there.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://cuddlebuggery.blogspot.com/2012/01/shadowlander-by-theresa-meyers.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003313582582" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="facebook link" class="escapedImg" height="100" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/Banners/facebook-logo-webtreatsetc.png" width="100" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Cuddlebuggery" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="twitter" class="escapedImg" height="100" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/Banners/twitter-webtreatsetc.png" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-11821409155796436372012-01-10T02:37:00.000-08:002012-01-10T02:43:55.704-08:00The Legacy of Eden by Nelle Davy<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12888927-the-legacy-of-eden" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Legacy of Eden" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1321913046m/12888927.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12888927-the-legacy-of-eden">The Legacy of Eden</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5277492.Nelle_Davy">Nelle Davy</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText3672134953426569765"><strong>"To understand what it meant to be a Hathaway, you'd first have to see Aurelia."</strong>
<br />
<br />For generations, Aurelia was the crowning glory of more than three
thousand acres of Iowa farmland and golden cornfields. The estate was a
monument to matriarch Lavinia Hathaway's dream to elevate the family
name - no matter what relative or stranger she had to destroy in the
process. It was a desperation that wrought the downfall of the Hathaways
- and the once prosperous farm.
<br />
<br />Now the last inhabitant of the decaying old home has died - alone.
None of the surviving members of the Hathaway family want anything to do
with the farm, the land, or the memories.
<br />
<br />Especially Meredith Pincetti. Now living in New York City, for
seventeen years Lavinia's youngest grandchild has tried to forget
everything about her family and her past. But with the receipt of a
pleading letter, Meredith is again thrust into conflict with the legacy
that destroyed her family's once-great name. Back at Aurelia, Meredith
must confront the rise and fall of the Hathaway family... and her own
part in their mottled history.
<br />
<br /><strong>"Our farm was like the world when people still thought it
was flat. And when you left it, it was as if you had simply sailed too
far and fallen off the surface into the void."</strong></span></blockquote>
<br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/238423108">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<br />
It's hard to talk objectively about The Legacy of Eden because it is an intensely personal novel. How much you relate to it may well rest upon how horribly dysfunctional your family is. Or was. And I'm not just referring to your parents occasionally fighting or you uncle occasionally getting drunk and being thrown out of bars. This book is about the kind of family dysfunction that is a sickness spreading down the family lines until nobody is left unscathed.<br />
<br />
In Meredith's family, that sickness began with her grandmother, Lavinia. The book chronicles Lavinia through her marriages, her children, her children's marriages and then to her grandchildren. In every single one of them you see the signs and symptoms of the sickness in all its forms and variation. You watch as, one by one, it ravages and destroys the family from the inside out.<br />
<br />
Anybody looking for a great deal of events and a fast-moving plot are best to avoid this one. Davy takes her time skillfully weaving the tale. She hops backwards and forwards and slithers through time to bring her narrative together.<br />
<br />
Where The Legacy of Eden really shines is its characterization. Each person in this novel is like a finely crafted portrait. Lavinia stands out as the strongest character, but all of them have their place - whether they make you fall in love with them, respect them, fear for them, mourn them or despise them. What you will probably not do, is get bored of them.<br />
<br />
Davy's writing is quite masterful. Her prose are beautiful and whimsical and Meredith's voice is not a completely horrible headspace to be in.<br />
<br />
I really, really loved this book as I was drawn into the mystery and intrigue. I'm not entirely sure I'll ever read it again. It's the kind of book that makes you look back on your own family legacy and look at the cracks and rotten tree limbs. For some, it'll give that strange sense of nostalgia for something both horrible yet infinitely familiar.<br />
<br />
And I guess horrible yet infinitely familiar is the perfect way to sum up the story and most of the characters.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-36164550467002138712012-01-09T20:38:00.000-08:002012-01-09T20:38:39.049-08:00Dear AuthorsHere's something to think about - and it's just a little thing.<br />
<br />
You have a lot to do when it comes to getting your book and ebook licensed. My one request and plea is that you keep Australia in mind when you do it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/australia-map-flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/australia-map-flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You know? This place!<br />
<br />
<br />
We have a lot of these:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/AF930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/AF930.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
But you know what else we have a lot of? These:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/frustrated-at-work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/frustrated-at-work.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, you may think that's a stock photo of a woman biting her laptop. And yes, it is. But do you know what else it is? It's a representation of an Australian trying to buy an ebook version of your book. And she's biting her laptop because there's not one available. Then she went and looked up ten other ebooks she wanted to buy. They weren't available either. So she bit her laptop. That may seem like a strange reaction to non-Australians but 9 times out of 10, biting things is very effective here in Australia. Alas, this is that one time it's not. No matter how many times I bite my laptop, ebooks don't appear.<br />
<br />
I get it, I really do. So do most Australians. We're a small market and we're very far away and very easy to forget about. I think Bill Bryson's <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24.In_a_Sunburned_Country">In a Sunburned Country</a> said it best when he wrote:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The fact is, of course, we pay shamefully scant attention to our dear cousins Down Under - though not entirely without reason, I suppose. Australia is, after all, mostly empty and a long way away. Its population, about 19 million, is small by world standards - China grows by a larger amount each year - and its place int he world economy is consequently peripheral; as an economic entity, it is about the same size as Illinois. From time to time it sends us useful things - opals, merino wool, Errol Flynn, the boomerang - but nothing we can't actually do without. Above all, Australia doesn't misbehave. it is stable and peaceful and good. It doesn't have coups, recklessly over fish, arm disagreeable despots, grow cocoa in provocative quantities or throw its weight around in a brash manner." </blockquote>
<br />
So you put it on the last of your licensing to-do list and if you get the time, you'll license your book to us. Maybe. The problem is when you do that, and then all your author friends do that as well. Then we're stuck with no ebooks and nobody cares. Except for us. Look up "Australia" and "ebooks". There are hundreds of sites with thousands of Australians complaining about not being about to get ebooks.<br />
<br />
I have over 300 books on my tbr shelf. Many of them are there because I'm desperate to read them but they're just not available to me without buying it from overseas and paying exorbitant shipping costs. Ordering two books from Amazon will cost me $25. Having them shipped to me will cost me over $40. That's almost double the price of the books at the end of the day and Amazon's free shipping policy does not apply to Australians.<br />
<br />
This could all be circumvented if their ebooks were available to me for sale. But they're not.<br />
<br />
So please keep it in mind when you're doing your licensing. Don't forget us. Don't put us off for six-eight months (or forever) and treat us like third class citizens for daring to want to spend our hard earned money on your product. <br />
<br />
We will be very, very grateful for the courtesy of at least having the option of buying your work.<br />
<br />
<br />Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-73767956445721859762012-01-08T19:01:00.001-08:002012-01-08T23:19:15.137-08:00Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9378297-anna-dressed-in-blood" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317793801m/9378297.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9378297-anna-dressed-in-blood">Anna Dressed in Blood</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4086715.Kendare_Blake">Kendare Blake</a><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText9675272423868526423">Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
<br />
<br />So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost
he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly
athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their
spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying
to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future
and friends at bay.
<br />
<br />When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call
Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the
ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in
curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears
the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white,
but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed
any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian
she used to call home.
<br />
<br />And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/209750130">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I don't believe in ghosts. I don't believe in Ouji boards, aliens, loch ness monsters, abominable snowmen, poltergeists, republicans or any of that other stuff.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My little brother makes me watch those ghost hunter documentaries (I'm using that term lightly) and tries to show me the DARN FACTS, DAMNIT KATE! WHY CAN'T YOU SEE THAT THEY'RE REAL?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Funny how he believes in ghosts but not the continued statistical evidence that indicates women still suffer from inequality and, yes little brother, even in western society. *Cue eye roll*<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So keep that in mind when I say that this book scared the shit out of me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/tumblr_lqk4v2sj6H1qii6tmo1_500.gif" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Nothing is less fun then getting up in the middle of a dark night to tend to your son. You're creeping through the halls thinking over and over in your head, "Ghosts aren't real. Ghosts aren't real. Fuck what was that?! Nothing, okay? That was nothing because ghosts aren't real. Ghosts aren't real."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It's not a perfect novel. Apart from the pants-shitting terror, there is Cas to deal with. A lot of other reviews cover how his head space is occasionally annoying to be in. For me, that just felt like realism because if I were a badass, devil-may-care, teenage ghost hunter (if they existed, little bro) then I'd probably be really smarmy and annoying too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What I really enjoyed was Anna and her relationship with Cas. Anna was like the girl next door. If the girl next door tore livers out of people to play hackey sack with, that is. She's this really lovely, murdersome, complicated ghost character. Although, I have to wonder how much she has to complain about really. I mean, sure, she's a dead horror-monster stuck in a house filled with the spiritual husks of her victims - but she died in a really awesome dress! And it even changes colour from white to red depending on how sadistically evil and murdery she feels at that time. Downside? I can't think of one.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the writing, the cast of characters, the plot and the pacing. I enjoyed pretty much everything about this novel.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I mean, who wouldn't want to spend the next two weeks pondering why the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrobang" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">interrobang</a> ever managed to fall out of popular use while roaming the dark halls of their house? <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"What the hell was that?!"<br />
<br />
"Is it going to eat me?!"<br />
<br />
"Will they hear me scream!?"<br />
<br />
"Why'd I read that stupid, fucking book... shitamIgoingtodie!?" <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"When is the next one coming out?!" <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-61964663360876901382012-01-07T01:34:00.000-08:002012-01-09T16:26:53.934-08:00Wank Fest Continues<span style="font-size: large;">So the wankfest continues and some new stuff happens. Whether we're ever going to be able to get back to reading and reviewing books is still undecided. </span><br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>1. Julie McGuire and Jane Litte have a Twitter battle.</b></u></span><br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;">Important Links</span></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/JamieMcGuire_">Jamie McGuire's Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/jane_l">Jane Litte's Twitter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/253558913">Jane Litte's Beautiful Disaster review</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;">What Happened?</span></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After the debacle in which <a href="http://www.cuddlebuggery.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-five-days-on-goodreads.html">McGuire abuses negative reviewers in a blog</a>, Jane Little decided to take matters into her own claws. A catfight is the obvious result.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">L: "I'm posting my review on Sat of ur book & it contains everything you seem to hate and despise in a review."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ouch...</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">M: "I'm sorry you're disappointed. I'm disappointed you have entire website about you opinion, but I'm not allowed one blog."</span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/Obama-Bored.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/Obama-Bored.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The rest of the Twitter battle can be found <a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/McGuireTwitter02.png">here</a> and <a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/JanelTwitter01.png">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<strike><span style="font-size: large;">As of this moment, Litte hasn't posted any review other than the following found <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/253558913">here</a>.</span></span></strike><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jane Litte posted her review on <a href="http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-c-reviews/c-reviews/review-beautiful-disaster-by-jamie-mcguire">Dear Author</a>, and it's very tame and professional. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As of this moment, McGuire has still not apologized for attacking a reviewer, and has instead reinforced on her blog that the entire post was an attack on one specific review.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"1. This blog is not directed toward all negative reviews. Beautiful
Disaster elicits strong emotions in many people, and not always in a
good way. This blog entry was directed at something very specific, and
those involved know exactly what I was referring to. I kept the
particular issue vague on purpose, and did not post a link because I
didn't want anyone outside of those "in the know" going to that
particular review. I hope this answers that question."</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The reviewer in question, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/230059544">Sophie</a>, has continued to be attacked by McGuire's fans.</span></div>
<br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Memyshelfandi blogs about books being compared to Twilight. Her complaints are compared to a recent bullied reviewer. </span></b></u><br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Important Links:</span></u><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.memyshelfandi.com/2012/01/omg-this-blog-post-is-just-like.html"></a><a href="http://www.memyshelfandi.com/2012/01/omg-this-blog-post-is-just-like.html">The blog post that started it!</a></span><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/10315100">Discussed here</a></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;">What happened?</span></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Amber from <a href="http://www.memyshelfandi.com/">memyshelfandi.com</a> writes a blog post in reaction to reviews comparing books to Twilight. This bothers her.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Leigh Fallon, <a href="http://www.cuddlebuggery.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-five-days-on-goodreads.html">recently discovered to have launched an email campaign against a review (and it's author) where her book was compared to Twilight</a>, likes this blogpost. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Links are made between this blogpost and Fallon's recent cyber attack on Stephanie.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Amber denies this <a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/ScreenShot003.jpg">in the comments</a> (Awesome!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then, on twitter, <a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/ScreenShot004.jpg">suggests there might be one</a> (...not so awesome.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Author Julie Halpern lashes out at Book blogger Allison at The Allure of Books</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Important Links:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Pr8uXjxN_hUJ:juliehalpern.blogspot.com/2012/01/google-trash.html/+&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us"></a></span><a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Pr8uXjxN_hUJ:juliehalpern.blogspot.com/2012/01/google-trash.html/+&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us">The blog post that started it</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://theallureofbooks.com/2012/01/dont-stop-now-julie-halpern.html">The review that started it</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show.html?id=248683171&page=7#comment_42920196">Discussions</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/257435463"></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/257435463">Discussions</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/10314153">More discussions</a> </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">What Happened?</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/boredcat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/boredcat.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Julie Halpern writes a </span><span style="font-size: large;">personal attack on Allison's recent </span><span style="font-size: large;">review of Don't Stop Now. The blogger world reels from the ridiculousness of it all. Then a rash of discussion breaks out.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She posts a second blog post. It is not an apology. She blames the bloggers for being too sensitive and justifies her attack.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A third and final blog post is written demanding bloggers stop being so upset about her offensive posts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The bloggers agree, forgive her and rush to buy her new book. Then they all die from a sarcasm overload.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Halpern deletes the blogs</span><span style="font-size: large;">. Unfortunately, Google Cache doesn't delete as fast as she does. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Several Authors rehash old blog posts or write new ones in support of book reviewers.</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Important Links:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://juliekagawa.blogspot.com/2012/01/authors-and-negative-reviews-re-posted.html">Julie Kagawa's reposted blog</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/1577350-dealing-with-bad-reviews">Rachel Caine's rediscovered post</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://bookalicio.us/2012/01/please-stop-all-this-llama-drama/">Pam van Hylckama Vlief's post</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.yahighway.com/2012/01/really-long-post-about-authorreviewer.html">Veronica Roth's post</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.phoebenorth.com/2012/01/06/my-goodreads-pledge/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+phoebenorth2+%28Phoebe+North%27s+Adventures+in+Dorkdom+Blog%29">Phoebe North's blog post</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;">What Happened:</span></u><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Julie Kagawa reposts her blog because she is sick of the drama.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pam posts and addresses some of the bad author behaviour because she is sick of the drama.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rachel Cain's old blog post is rediscovered because authors and reviewers are sick of the drama.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Veroinca Roth writes a blog post on her opinion of the author and reviewer condition because she is sick of the drama. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Phoebe North writes a blog post on her pledge as a writer and reviewer because she is sick of the drama.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone swoons and says, "Finally!" because EVERYONE IS SICK OF THE DRAMA!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">5. Author Rick Lipman claims book bloggers sacrifice virigins. Could be true.</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;">Important links:</span></u><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/rklipman/status/155420549428944896">Twitter status</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/257435463?page=2&type=review#comment_42928967">Discussion</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;">What Happened?</span></u><br />
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/rklipmantwitterbadness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/rklipmantwitterbadness.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Aspiring YA author, <a href="http://ricklipman.blogspot.com/">Rick Lipman</a> provides valuable insight into the darker side of book blogger activities, revealing startling new information.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When asked to back up the various allegations, Lipman's response is, "But why would I lie?" Compelling and also irrefutable in its logic, we are forced to believe him. Other twitterers joined in with further insider information, shocking the reviewing world.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"You guys. I didn't want to tell you this because I didn't want to stoop to their level, but: Book reviewers ate my baby."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"I'm pretty sure book bloggers faked the moon landing. And are also Satan."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some book bloggers are </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/257435463?page=2&type=review#comment_42928967">offended</a>, yet ultimately can't deny the accusations and eventually are forced to agree with Lipman.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>What REALLY happened?</u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not sure, but I think it was awesome. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-15822974138650790772012-01-05T19:30:00.000-08:002012-01-11T13:16:24.620-08:00The First Five Days on Goodreads<span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to 2012. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm reviewing the first five Goodreads days so far and it amounts to a fat 1 star because the drama llamas are out to play, folks!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/drama-llama.jpg" /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So in case you've missed all the juicy GoodReads gossip - here it is, folks. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>1. Kira Vs Krokos</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Important Links:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/248683171">The Review that started it all</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://thebookwurrm.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/because-god-damn-it-all-i-need-to-effin-rant/#comment-2121">Blog</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://bookphilia.tumblr.com/post/15231500785/goodreads-reviewers-attacked-by-authors">Another blog</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show.html?id=248175892&page=1&type=review">Discussion here</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/10219538?type=userstatus">and another here</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>What happened:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Krokos begins by criticizing Kira's prereview of Julie Cross' Tempest. It snowballs from there. He takes the discussion to Twitter where other authors join in. Their twitter messages can be found <a href="http://bookphilia.tumblr.com/post/15231500785/goodreads-reviewers-attacked-by-authors">here</a>.</span></div>
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<strike><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mindee Arnett:</b> Apparently she tweeted as well but I can't seem to find any tweets so I can't confirm this one. </span></strike><span style="font-size: large;">I haven't been able to find any tweets to implicate Arnett so I'm taking her off the list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lauren DeStefano:</b> "I'd even venture to say GR makes 4chan look like a hallmark card from my own loving granny."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Bill Cameron:</b> "Goodreads is such a hellhole I fled months ago."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jessica Corra</b>: "Everyone's a critic."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Courtney Allison Moulton:</b> "A hot new way to destroy a publishing career before you have it."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pam van Hylckama:</b> "Where you go when you get a bit too full of yourself." </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Rachel Hawkins:</b> "It is your right to be an a-hole on the internet. But then you don't get to be offended when someone is like, "Hey. You are an a-hole."</span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and she goes on:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"B/c be honest. You KNEW you were being an a-hole. Maybe you were even being a FUNNY a-hole. And that's valid! Sometimes we gotta get snarky!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And on:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"But when you SAY A-HOLE THINGS, and someone is like, "HEY, THAT IS SLIGHTLY A-HOLISH OF YOU!" maybe don't yell, "OPPRESSION OMG!"</span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And on:</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">"No one is trying to oppress you. Or take away your right to be an a-hole on the internet. But words have power, actions have consequences."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And still goes on:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"So anyway, that's my two cents. In the words of @wilw, don't be a dick. And if you ARE going to be one perhaps climb down from high horses." </span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We can't actually confirm, or deny, whether Hawkin's is still tweeting this commentary or if people just got bored and stopped screen-capping them </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The debate also led to Agent Suzie Townsend posting to defend her clients Julie Cross and Dan Krokos and then to delete her Goodreads account.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Krokos, Corra, Moulton, DeStefano and Hylckama later came forward to apologize. It appears that Corra, Moulton, Hylckama and DeStefano were unaware of the hoopla and were simply responding to the hashtag.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Debate also raged on several user status' and blog posts. An <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/870544-did-someone-pee-in-your-review-pool#comment_42733893">old post of DeStefano's</a> ignited debate over whether her attitude to negative reviews has changed in the year since it was published.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then Hannah Moskowitz wrote <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/1926518-an-open-letter-to-those-who-review-on-goodreads">An Open Letter To Those Who Review on Goodreads</a> and everyone agreed she was, like, the coolest person ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Duh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>2. Goodreads reviewer, Flannery, is attacked by author Danielle Weiller</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Important links: </u> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/200573833#comment_42010434">The Review that started it all!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>What happened:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Flannery's 3 star (huh?) review of Goddess Melina Marchetta's <i>Froi of the Exiles</i>, Danielle Weiller takes a swipe at the reviewer for her gratuitous snark. Then gets defensive. Then apologizes. Very quickly. To Wendy (Huh?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Message 49:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I found this review quite harsh and extreme in taking things out of
context. Finnikin and Isaboe have never had an easy relationship and
have always struggled with sharing responsibility and power. Theyve had
some fantastic arguments.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I know goodreads is a place to share
opinions but the sarcasm in this review - then giving it 3 stars when it
sounded like you really wanted to give it 1 - was a bit mean. Spare a
thought for all the authors hard work and reading this review and seeing
your picture of her character - sometimes readers are just too harsh."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Message 56:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Now now, let's not surround the minority here like a pack of wolves. I
dont know any of you outside this review and its comments. I just wonder
if readers care at times that authors do actually read these and can be
discouraged by certain tones and comments."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Message 68:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">"I fully understand all the comments here - Id just like to know where the ethics and boundaries are here."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>3. Leigh Fallon's abusive email is sent to the reviewer it was antagonizing.</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Important Links:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/10254573">The status update!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What happened:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">All-round wonderful person, and hilarious reviewer, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4642710-stephanie">Stephanie</a> receives an anonymous email. The sender of the email claims to have received an email from Leigh Fallon regarding Stephanie's Amazon review and it says the following:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">There
is the stupid cow from Goodreads who has been real nasty and keeps doing up
really bad reviews of Carrier, then gets her friends to go in and 'like' her
bad reviews so that that review will be pushed up to the top of all the lists.
Now she's put it up on Amazon! She is a disgruntled old cow who doesn't like me
and how I got published. There's no point in saying anything about her or
responding (she loves that) but what we can do is push her review back down the
list by bringing all the good reviews back to the top. How do we do this? Well
at the end of each review there is a little button where you can say whether
you found the review helpful. Click YES on the good reviews. The more reviews
you click YES you click on the good reviews the further down the list that
bitch will go. If you leave a comment on the good reviews, that helps too.
She's already got over 20 of her buds to YES her review so we will need to find
more people than that to YES the good reviews. There are about 8 pages of reviews
(that's about 7 reviews or something like that) so we can bury this horrible
toe rag down the very bottom if you help me out.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">As far as I'm aware, you don't have to have
bought anything on Amazon to get your vote to count. You just need to be a registered
user. It only takes about 5 mins to go through all the reviews and YES the good
ones. I'm not asking to dickie with the system or anything, it's just moving a
horrible review from the top spot. It's so long, you have to scroll for ages
until you get to the good ones. I'd really appreciated it help on his. I'd also
love if you could maybe gets some friends or family to do the same.</span></i></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Thanks a million, guys. You're the best. </span></i></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Leigh</span></i></span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
Disbelief over the authenticity is widespread. Until Stephanie emails Leigh Fallon herself and discovers that it's all true and so Fallon apologizes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Dear
Stephanie: <br />
</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
I owe you a message and an apology. I sent a private email to two close friends
and I’ve learned that that email somehow found its way to your inbox.
Obviously, it was not meant for yours or anyone else's eyes, but more to the
point, it was not something I should’ve sent in the first place. It was written
in anger and I’m sorry for the hurt it has caused you. As an author, I’m
grateful for all of my readers, including those who do not end up loving the
book—believe it or not!—and I appreciate anyone who takes the time to think
critically about the book and share their thoughts. That said, to put it
plainly, your review hurt my feelings. I know it wasn’t meant as an attack on
me, but some days, I don’t have a thick skin. So I turned to my friends and
vented. I’m sorry for my hurtful words. You are clearly a book lover—you
deserve only my respect for our shared love of the written word. Please accept
my apology. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
Yours, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
Leigh</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Debate rages over Fallon's response as indicated by the fact that in order to knock Stephanie's review off the top spot, she would have needed far more than two people. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>4. Vanity Published author, Jamie McGuire, lashes out at a reviewer.</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Important links:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strike><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/1822438-the-breaking-straw">The offending blog post.</a></span></strike><span style="font-size: large;"> McGuire has now deleted this post. Luckily, <a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/McGuireBlogpost1.png">I have a screenshot</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/230059544">The review that started it.</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/205298595">One discussion</a>, and then <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show.html?id=180888852&page=1&type=review">another, longer discussion.</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>What happened</u>:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sophie, a relatively new reviewer (since Oct 2011 and with only 30ish friends) wrote a review on McGuire's debut novel, Beautiful Disaster. The review is... less than complimentary. Beautiful Disaster fans flock to attack her review. Then complain when she responds. Then McGuire gets involved, writing a scathing blogpost and makes several tweeted comments quoting 1 star reviews and criticizing them.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/McGuireBlogpost1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/McGuireBlogpost1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oFcWryLcHoo/TwZmUE8nfGI/AAAAAAAAAmI/yWlwd8ivIbA/s1600/McGuireTwitter.01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oFcWryLcHoo/TwZmUE8nfGI/AAAAAAAAAmI/yWlwd8ivIbA/s640/McGuireTwitter.01.png" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">People point out that a reviewer, defending herself on her own review, does not class as someone attacking McGuire's fans, but rather that her fans are attacking the reviewer. Much discussion is had and McGuire... doesn't apologize. At all. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">She does manage to make a bunch of half-assed responses, and then deletes them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And onto the last and final scandal:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Drumroll, please!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">5<u><b>. Fabulous author of Seraphina, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/357601.Rachel_Hartman">Rachel Hartman</a> is caught belly dancing to <i>Love in an Elevator</i>.</b></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">No links because this is only an alleged scandal. Pics or it didn't happen, Hartman!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">ETA:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's true!!!!!!!! Hartman, you saucy minx!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q-xzrziiZy8/TwZvStfXHiI/AAAAAAAAAmU/tC-sSPLL43k/s1600/408431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q-xzrziiZy8/TwZvStfXHiI/AAAAAAAAAmU/tC-sSPLL43k/s1600/408431.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I can also report and confirm that within minutes of Hartman posting this photo on her profile, Goodreads crashed. True story. You just can't make that shit up.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Wankfest contines <a href="http://cuddlebuggery.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/wank-fest-continues.html">here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-1087888569251791072012-01-05T02:31:00.001-08:002012-01-05T02:38:41.560-08:00Wings by Aprilynne Pike<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5056084-wings" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Wings (Wings, #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324797298m/5056084.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5056084-wings">Wings</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2096360.Aprilynne_Pike">Aprilynne Pike</a><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText8305413727897951025"></span><br />
Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words. <br />
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings. <br />
In
this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger,
everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I probably shouldn't have read this. If you read the pre-read section at the bottom of the review, you'll see that I didn't even intend to order it. Yet, since I had it, I thought I'd give it a go.<br />
<br />
I lasted 24 pages because that's all my sanity could take. <br />
<br />
Laurel is a magazine-beautiful, waif-like teenager who leaves homeschooling in grade 10 in order to begin her high school career. <br />
<br />
And that's when the story stops making sense. Not that the above makes any sense either. <a href="http://main.stylelist.com/2010/02/08/anne-hathaway-armpit-airbrushed-out-of-british-gq-cover/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Models in magazines aren't even as <s>airbrushed</s> beautiful as models in magazines.</a> I would just like to point that out now.<br />
<br />
The comment could fly past as poor characterization and sloppy writing if it didn't go hand in hand with Laurel's horrible relationship with food. In fact, a great deal of emphasis is placed on what she eats. Once again, not entirely a problem except attention is also placed on how she feels when she eats. Which is guilty and "like a battle has been lost" when she eats half a pear and half a cup of juice. <br />
<br />
<img alt="Random guy looking bedazzled" class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/th_image-33.gif" /><br />
<i>I know, random guy, I know.</i><br />
<br />
The writing is just terrible and the characterization can't even be mentioned because I'm pretty sure Goodread's lax profanity rules would not cover what I would end up saying.<br />
<br />
Mostly, it's all so very saccharine sweet and ickly chaste, yet oddly kinky and unbelievably tame. I feel like I'm describing Disneyland here, but if I do, that might make people think of fun. Notice I deliberately left fun off the list. But, luckily, there was comparable amounts of vomit. <br />
<br />
Spoilers below, folks.<br />
<br />
Apparently. APPARENTLY, Laurel is not actually a human, but a fairy. And the reason she is a vegan is because she is a plant. Like, as in, she is not a red blooded mammal but is an actual plant...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm sorry, I'm going to need a judge's ruling on that.<br />
<br />
<img class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/orig-17089831.gif" /><br />
<i>Thank you. Steve Carell. I think you've said it all.</i><br />
<br />
Look, you just. You don't do that. You just...don't. I mean, what school of biology did you go to? The Stephanie Meyer School of Biology, that's what!<br />
<br />
I mean, and correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't 8th grade biology talk a lot about how plants photosynthesize to make energy and how they do respire but at night when there's no light and about how they don't have things like digestive systems and they don't have blood but, hey they do have Chloroplasts and Chlorophylls. And how they don't digest nutrients by eating them but by absorbing them through their roots. There just doesn't seem to be a lot of thought put into this.<br />
<br />
I mean, look at organs like the brain. How does her brain work? They need A LOT Of protein. A huge amount actually. Which you can get by eating a healthy vegan diet, but she's not even doing that. <br />
<br />
Scientists don't look at an ape-like creature and have this conversation:<br />
<br />
"So, Doctor Rosenbaum, what do you think it is? Mammal? Reptile? Plant? Rock?"<br />
"I don't know. I just don't know. If only there was some way of determining these things! Look, just to be safe, put it down as a bird. Just because it doesn't fly - doesn't mean it can't!"<br />
<br />
I used to think that the old troll argument of, "You're overthinking it! Stop thinking so much and you'll enjoy it!" was full of shit. But, in this case, they're right. My highly developed mammalian brain just can not handle this level of stupidity. But even if I could somehow switch it off. Well, there enough other bad stuff in here that would spoil it anyway.<br />
<br />
_____________________________________________Pre-read comments______________________________________<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm not entirely sure why I'm reading this. For some reason I thought there was some controversy over this author and that I'd barred it, but it's not on my Do Not Read shelf so I must have been mistaken. <br />
<br />
I went to pick up books from the library this afternoon and it was among them. I don't clearly remember ordering it so I asked for the order date and went home to Mr. Kennedy. The conversation went something like this:<br />
<br />
Me: "Hey honey, was I drinking heavily on the 15th of December?"<br />
Mr Kennedy: "Hmmm...the 15th was a Thursday. That's Corona day."<br />
Me: "Ugh. Okay, definitely drunk. That explains it."<br />
Mr Kennedy: "Let me guess, you found traffic cones and police hats again?"<br />
Me: *Thinks for a second* "That probably would have been the preferable outcome."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-72937635763571347052012-01-03T14:42:00.001-08:002012-01-10T03:07:11.355-08:00Nightshade by Andrea Cremer<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7941200-nightshade" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Nightshade (Nightshade, #1)" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41lgEr-ls1L._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7941200-nightshade">Nightshade</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3041100.Andrea_Cremer">Andrea Cremer</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText14288229300597824025">Calla Tor has always
known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be
the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by
side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But
when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out
for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the
very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she
might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth
the ultimate sacrifice?</span> </blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/105122976">2 of 5 stars</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Usually, as a reviewer of YA and one who attracts a relative amount of trolls, I get told often that someone as OLD as me shouldn't be reviewing YA books. And at the staggeringly long-lived age of 25, I might as well be on Kidney dialysis and walking around with a zimmerframe to these people.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="old woman wearing tiara" class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/old_lady.jpg" /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Coincidentally, how do you like my tiara?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Usually, I ignore these people because I can easily pretend to turn off my hearing aid and go to sleep. They stop annoying me when I "pretend" to fart in my sleep and snore simultaneously.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For the first time, probably ever, I really feel the distinction. I didn't like this book, so I'll still rate it. In fact, I didn't get past page 46 because I was afraid my eyes would roll out of my head if I kept pressing on. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This book is for teenagers. Like, teenagey teenagers. Of which, I am not one of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This book will relate to people who still think your clothing defines absolutely every aspect of your personality and who you can be friends with. Who still think that the most important thing is that's you're listening to the right bands and doing you're hair the way it's cool to do it now. People who GET <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Fred?feature=watch" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fred</a>. *Disclaimer here: By "get Fred" I don't mean, "Get Fred and choke the life out of him because he shouldn't be allowed to exist." But if you did think that's what I meant then I think we can remain friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am not teenagery. My teenage cousin spent her Christmas money on hair products because she needed to update her range. I spent my Christmas money on NOT defaulting on my homeloan by spending the GNP of Brazil on haircare products. I dress nicely and I will never, ever, get mistaken for a teenager. I wear PEARLS! Real pearls.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This book is SO not for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a></span>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-830757698903646712011-12-27T13:35:00.001-08:002011-12-27T13:36:18.640-08:00Angelfall by Susan Ee<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11500217-angelfall" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319887835m/11500217.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11500217-angelfall">Angelfall</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4890182.Susan_Ee">Susan Ee</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText50374083516044555">It's been six weeks since
angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street
gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When
warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her
seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.<br /><br />Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.<br /><br />Raffe
is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of
fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a
desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.<br /><br />Traveling
through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each
other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the
angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to
rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest
enemies for the chance to be made whole again.</span></blockquote>
<br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/243822307">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<br />
The morning beckons and when I turn over the book I finished, in the midnight hours, is beside me. The fantasy world is slipping away, unable to follow me into the light. Reality creeps in with the rising dawn, but I'm reluctant to meet it. I want that world, character or emotion back but it's over. Time to find a new one in a new book and so the hunt is on but the sadness at leaving a good friend remains.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I feel that sadness this morning.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ee has done something amazing here and not just because she's written probably one of the best post-apocalypse fantasies of the year. But that would be a big part of it, yes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And you too can experience the goodness for just 99 cents on Amazon's kindle!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Angelfall is a remarkable book, because if I were to tell you the synopsis, it would be so unspectacular, so typical of the genre, so... ordinary! But this book is anything but ordinary. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Penryn's sister is captured by angels who've brought war and apocalypse to the human world. She finds an angel to help her retrieve her sister and they embark on a journey to get his wings back and rescue the young girl.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Simple, right? That's what I thought too. I thought I was just embarking on a ridiculous bandwagon that was being indulgent of an unusually good indie fic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There are one or two issues I have with the novel but they are completely eclipsed by the brilliant story telling, characters and writing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I loved Penryn so completely; believed in her and championed her. This book is a brilliant journey of great character and spirit. Full of the weird and wonderful. Ee has a great imagination and a gift for story telling.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I know after I finish writing this review I will go and hunt down my next read. Yet I will get increasingly aggravated and depressed because nothing I see is what I want. Because what I want is Angelfall #2 and none of those books will be that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Go ahead. Jump on the bandwagon. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After all, you too could be waking up tomorrow wishing desperately that reality would just give you a little more time in this world, and with these characters, that Ee has created.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-66637057947478091472011-12-27T07:00:00.000-08:002011-12-26T19:51:11.272-08:00Shit I'm Sick of Reading Part 1There's a group of books published in the last 5-10 years for the YA
paranormal genre that I like to refer to as: Sucks More Ass than a
Futuristic, Sadomasochistic Ass-sucking Machine.<br />
<br />
Generally,
they tend to be most of the industry's best selling YA paranormal
series. Now, obviously they have some great appeal to be where they
are. I've certainly come across some very dedicated fans who will
defend these books with great aplomb to any and all that are in the
general vicinity. <br />
<br />
What is it that makes these critically despised books so damn popular?<br />
<br />
Mostly,
it is that they all deal with similar themes, they recycle very similar
story lines and they use all the same tropes. Themes, storylines and
tropes that I'm sick of reading and this is why:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">#1. Love Triangles (Otherwise known as "The Term Love Triads Misappropriated for Ease of Understanding")</span><br />
<br />
I
did a post on <a href="http://cuddlebuggery.blogspot.com/2011/12/use-that-trope.html">over
used tropes</a>, and had to laugh when the overall response was,
"Yes, it's perfectly okay to occasionally use cliches. Just not the
love triangle. Ever. Again."<br />
<br />
It's so true. Every time a secondary love interest shows up, I die a little inside.<br />
<br />
See, I understand why it's so popular. To novice or unskilled authors it must seem like the best kind of math possible.<br />
<br />
1 sexy male love interest = X amount of fangirl screams of joy.<br />
So... <br />
2 sexy male love interest therefore = 2 x X amount of fangirl screams of joy! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/75055-faveshuzzahlunamemeseason_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/75055-faveshuzzahlunamemeseason_2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And
I get why fans love it too - what's not to like about extra manmeat?
But here's the problems associated with love triangles:<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>1. That extra guy will turn the main love interest into a douche.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/eclipse_small.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/eclipse_small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Do you remember what it was that made Twilight even worse than it was originally?<br />
<br />
If your answer is Stephanie Meyer than... well, that's a really good
point actually. But no, it's Jacob. Now, before fan girls start
manually twisting their panties and rooting around for rotten tomatoes:
it's not that Jacob was a bad character.<br />
<br />
I couldn't
give less of a shit about Team Jacob or Team Edward but that his arrival
on set turned Edward from an annoying, but occasionally bearable love
interest, into full-blown psychopath. You could argue that Edward was
always a psychopath and Jacob just brought it out of him and I would
agree with you. That would have been an excellent plot twist if Bella
hadn't run off and married the obsessive, controlling psychopath. <br />
<br />
Leigh
Pretnar Cousins, MS over at <a href="http://blogs.psychcentral.com/always-learning/2010/04/love-triangles-affairs-and-others/">Psychcentral</a>
mentions the following things about love triangles:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>There is tension in a primary relationship</li>
<li>Perhaps there is a disagreement</li>
<li>Perhaps a partner feels a basic need is not getting met</li>
</ul>
<br />
In
the recesses of our primitive brains, we may think that it's sweet or
romantic that the guys are fighting over her, because doesn't that just
make her a special snowflake? Yet it doesn't stay that way and soon it
becomes about winning. The main protagonist becomes objectified as a
prize to be won, controlled or corralled and pretty soon everyone -
including the audience - gets sick of it.<br />
<br />
The reason
behind the audience's attraction to the main male protagonist is usually
because the story leads us to believe the main character is truly in
love with the male protagonist. Yet if their relationship was so strong
or if they were truly meant for each other, then why is the second
contender needed? When you put another love interest in the mix then a
lot of those qualities that originally made the first contender
appealing becomes compromised. He either loses confidence or becomes
over confident, there is less mystery and whilst he remains in love with
the MC, the antagonizing secondary love interest is occupying some of
his attention.<br />
<br />
<b>2. The story becomes consumed by the relationship dramas<br />
</b><br />
<br />
Relationships are important but in literature they can become problematic when they consume the plot with their melodrama.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/tumblr_lmmwdxEgQP1qdpw8do1_400.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/tumblr_lmmwdxEgQP1qdpw8do1_400.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
What
was otherwise an interesting plot or mystery becomes more about the
main protagonist choosing between her two love interests. <br />
<br />
The
Southern Vampire Mysteries falls into this category. Fallen by Lauren
Kate <i>starts</i> in this category by default because it
had no storyline to begin with.<br />
<br />
Sometimes it's not
unreasonable to question why the love triangle was included in the first
place. Especially if it neither truly adds to the story or the
original characters but seems to only have been included to bolster an
otherwise lackluster novel.<br />
<br />
Such could be said for The Iron King by Julie Kagawa or The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter. <br />
<br />
<br />
Carrie Ryan is quoted as saying the following (Shamelessly stolen from Melinda Lo's blog):<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
To me, that’s the essence of a love triangle — each man is a viable
choice for the heroine but each speaks to a different part of who she
is. The heroine isn’t choosing between two men, she’s choosing who SHE
wants to be and that will dictate who the right match is.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
To a point I absolutely agree with this - if the majority of
authors used it this way. Yet Carrie Ryan is one of the few who
effectively wields this trope in any artistic fashion. Usually, the
female protagonist is choosing between two different men and
unfortunately the result is...<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3. Love triangles often ruin the characterization of female protagonists.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/love-triangle-vampire-diaries1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/love-triangle-vampire-diaries1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
At
the tip of a love triad is a character who has a really difficult
decision to make. Yet, before they get to that point, they have a
fuckton of really bad decisions to make.<br />
<br />
<br />
Because they have to engage in behaviour that is usually pretty
morally reprehensible in order to successfully lead two other people
along in a romantic entanglement. This usually rends an otherwise
likable character into a weak and unsympathetic person to audiences.<br />
<br />
<br />
For example - Rose from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead,
Georgina from Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead and Eugenie from the Dark
Swan series by Richelle Mead. Pretty much everything by Richelle Mead.<br />
<br />
<br />
Look at that picture of Vampire Diaries up there. Damon and
Damon's brother, Broody McBroody-Faced there are both looking at Elena.
Is she looking at either of them to suggest a preference? Or that she
cares? Or that she is actually interested in either of them? No.
She's looking at the camera and reveling in the manwichy goodness.<br />
<br />
<br />
Because it's all about her. The apex of a love triangle has to
engage in questionable behavior along the way and suddenly it becomes
hard to root for a character when their biggest problems in life are
choosing between rich, handsome, brooding and loving Bachelor #1 and
rich, handsome, badass and loving Bachelor #2.<br />
<br />
<br />
Then there are the illicit smoochies, the using of one Bachelor
to aid another, playing them off against each other, controlling them
etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
I think everyone can agree that whilst there may be a Team Jacob
and Team Edward - there is no Team Bella and probably for a very good
reason.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But at the end of the day, authors seem intent on using this
cliched trope. Probably mostly because, in pictures, their protagonist
looks great sandwiched between two paranormal studs with perfect
profiles.<br />
<br />
<br />
And in this instance, I can't bring myself to disagree with them.Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-26907169047841776272011-12-23T02:16:00.001-08:002011-12-23T02:17:25.968-08:00Divergent by Veronica Roth<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10089874-divergent" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Divergent (Divergent, #1)" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YVl9vfscL._SX106_.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10089874-divergent">Divergent</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4039811.Veronica_Roth">Veronica Roth</a><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText11122843211062353577">In Beatrice Prior's
dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated
to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest),
Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful),
and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all
sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the
rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with
her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes
a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
<br />During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice
renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really
are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating,
sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also
has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been
warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that
threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that
her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy
her.
<br />
</span></blockquote>
<br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/199537242">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Today I almost attacked a man in public. A man who was yelling at and abusing his partner. Kicking the trolley, shoving her and screaming obscenities at her. I ditched the trolley I'd been pushing and stormed toward them, my mind blank of anything but ruthless fury.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The next part was like out of some stupid romance novel. Mr Kennedy pulled back on my arm and said, "No. There is no way you're going over there!" He took off the baby sling, handed it to me and sent me to go put the groceries and baby in the car while he handled it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Usually that's the part of the novel where the female heroine swoons or something but I only got angrier. Did he just relegate me to child-minding and packing away groceries? Because I have a uterus? To say I was unimpressed would be an understatement.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Never before have I actually wanted to be a man. I love being a woman and I think being a woman is a fantastic thing to be. But I wanted to kick that man's ass. I absolutely hated myself for being weak and puny. It's not fair. To not be able to fight your own battles, to not be able to stand up for weaker people when you want to. It's so, incredibly, painfully unfair. Why can't I have big muscles? Why couldn't Mr Kennedy wait by the car while I got to go up and play harpsichord with his lower intestinal tract? Why must I swallow my pride and accept that I'm just not as strong or muscular as Mr Kennedy?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Perhaps it's that drive that made me connect so much with Tris. I wonder what kind of personality types would enjoy this novel? I've seen a lot of three star reviews and I just can't fathom why when this book was a solid five stars for me. Even with it's somewhat implausible storyline I loved it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I loved all the characters, especially Tris, for being a hardass, cold motherfucker when other YA protagonists would whither and melt into a gooey puddle of patheticness. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/9pnnlw.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Maybe I connected with it because I could absolutely imagine being Dauntless. Catching moving trains? Abseiling? Fighting? Sign me up now. I think I would have loved every minute of it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The writing was quite smooth and the action sequences were clear, concise and well-explained. The pacing and the plot never really give up, making this book difficult to put down. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Over all, I thoroughly loved this novel. I'm hard-pressed to come up with any flaws or issues that annoyed me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most of all, it made me wish I really could kickass and take names like Tris does. Perhaps taking up kickboxing would be a good place to start. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-3539685999055501822011-12-21T18:19:00.001-08:002011-12-21T18:24:32.255-08:00Across the Universe by Beth Revis<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8235178-across-the-universe" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1)" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301828495m/8235178.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8235178-across-the-universe">Across the Universe</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4018722.Beth_Revis">Beth Revis</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText13099808207247159911">Seventeen-year-old Amy
joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and
expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future.
Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end
fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new
world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.<br /><br /> Amy quickly
realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone -
one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill
her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.<br /><br />
Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her
list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future
leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.</span></blockquote>
<br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/248277967">1 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I've heard it mentioned before that DNF(Did Not Finish)reviews were useless and self-indulgent. Why would someone want to read a review by someone who didn't even finish the book? <br /><br />My answer to that?<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="have a fucking cookie" class="escapedImg" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/129183659172523550.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There's always going to be a small fraction of reviewers who don't connect with a book and can't finish it, but to dismiss all DNF reviews, I think, is problematic. Especially for an author.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Because it's not necessarily the reader's fault for not being able to connect to the book. Often there are rookie mistakes made in writing, plot or characterization that inhibits readers from investing in the story. Being able to hook a reader within the first couple of pages is an essential skill of any artisan storyteller and if you're having a lot of DNF reviews or simply bad reviews then they probably contain a goldmine in advice to help improve your range of skills.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I credit Revis with imagination and thoughtful plot. The language changes and mono-ethnic parts of this book showed the kind of forethought and deep, intensive investigation I generally like in an author.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My issues were that the writing is very vague and sloppy. One of the first events in the book, Elder attempting to save the ship, is vague in the writing which makes it difficult for readers to visualize the scene or get a handle on what's happening.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The characterization is equally nonplussed, taking quite a while to really root down. There is little incentive to connect with the characters or anything that makes them feel particularly vivid or well-constructed. It's basically one cardboard cutout after another, filled with overused archtypes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
By page seventy-five I knew who the antagonist is, which is bad storytelling. I even flipped to the end to double check and was able to easily verify that I was right because I had trouble believing that Revis had made it so obvious. Do not hang giant, obtrusive warning signs over your secret antagonist. Please.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall I couldn't bring myself to invest in the story and characters. This review may be useless or self-indulgent to some but I think reviewing even the first 125 pages of a book to give feedback is a higher compliment than if I'd ignored it entirely.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Also, and this is the important part, bite me. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-146360530411155912011-12-19T20:10:00.001-08:002011-12-19T20:12:15.852-08:00Before I fall by Lauren Oliver<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6482837-before-i-fall" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Before I Fall" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1289341713m/6482837.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6482837-before-i-fall">Before I Fall</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2936493.Lauren_Oliver">Lauren Oliver</a><br />
<br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/248277876">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText5972761899025867445"> What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? <br />
Samantha
Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three
amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson
High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot.
Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. <br />
Instead, it turns out to be her last. <br />
Then
she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day
during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding
her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of
losing. </span></blockquote>
<span id="freeText5972761899025867445"></span><br />
<br />
I have to confess something before I write this review. This book is about a teenager, Sam, who is a Mean Girl who trips into Groundhog Day world and is set on a path to redemption. My confession is that I used to be a girl almost exactly like Sam.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Shallow, egotistical and worst of all - mean. Really, really mean. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I've commented before on the fact that I was a terrible teenager. My parents did not so much try to raise me through these years. More like they're tried to survive me. In this book, Sam comes to the final realization that she is a bitch. I know I related to this book more perhaps than some other readers would because I had to come to my own realization about that. It is a strange and aggravatingly unsettling experience to wake up and realize the world neither revolves around you, nor should it, because you are a horrible person. Yet, that's nothing compared to living your teenage years on the receiving end of bullshit people like me dished out to other people.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I can imagine growing up with that kind of experience would make you quite unsympathetic to Sam. But Sam is on a path and a journey. Oliver doesn't withhold on characterization. Every petty, mean, shallow act and thought is shamelessly paraded here. I loved the cast and the complicated relationships they all had. I loved Sam and Kent's relationship as well as Sam and Lindsey's relationship. Most of the people in this book felt like people I'd known or met in real life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The writing worked well for this novel. Never too flowery or explanatory but rather serving the purpose of translating complicated thoughts and feeling to the reader without being burdensome or boring. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Every time I felt Sam was a little too...<br />
<br />
<br />
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<img alt="Annoying Facebook Girl" class="escapedImg" height="320" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/kym-assets/photos/images/newsfeed/000/129/382/jbs.jpg?1318992465" width="320" /><br />
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Oliver managed to turn it around and make her...<br />
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I think it took a lot of courage to write Sam's characterization as she did. A lot of YA fiction depicts the Perfect Female ala Bella Swan. Where character flaws amount to being clumsy and everyone they ever meet thinks they're amazing and mature and wise beyond their years. (Note: Zoe Redbird, no, you are not.)<br />
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My only complaint about the book is in the spoiler down below. Basically, I loved it, I connected to it. I felt like the themes were handled in a believable, realistic way.<br />
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I guess this book made me melancholy. I think about Juliet Sykes and remember that I once had my own Juliet Sykes. I wish I could go back in time and change that. I wish I could somehow make amends to her. Hell, I wish I could even remember her real name and not just all the disgusting nicknames we gave her. I wish I'd been the kind of teenager I could be proud of. Yet this book made me glad that I did change, that I have tomorrow to keep trying and learning and growing. It makes me happy to think that even I deserved a chance at redemption and to choose a different way to live my life. <br />
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Most of all, this book makes me really bloody happy that I'm an adult now and that I never, ever, have to go back. Ever. <br />
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<spoiler><br /><br />Perhaps the only real critique I could give of the book is this:<br /><br /><br /><br />Do you remember that scene from Shakespeare in Love when Ben Affleck's Ned Alleyn is talking to Shakespeare about the ending of Romeo and Juliet and he says, "But there's a scene missing between marriage and death."<br /><br /><br /><br />And in case you skipped school for the Obvious lesson in your Obvious class, he's talking about: boning.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img alt="dinosaur bones boning" class="escapedImg" height="325" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/Boning-Bones.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><i>It's this but it's not this. If you know what I mean...</i><br /><br /><br /><br />Now I'm not actually saying that I wanted Sam and Kent to bone but I felt there needed to be more to the final part of the book than just a few vague kisses and a goodbye. I mean, poor Kent, right? he wakes up one day and, out of the blue, the girl he's in love with decides to give him a break and actually kiss him. Then she tells him that he's the best thing that ever happened to her. Then she dies. <br /><br /><br /><br /><img alt="Dawson crying" class="escapedImg" height="240" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/Kemisz86/fark-welcome-guy.jpg" width="320" /><br /><br /><i>At least give the poor guy a happy ending... of sorts.</i></spoiler><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3270188-kat-kennedy">View all my reviews</a>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-88248326280068123022011-12-17T20:46:00.000-08:002011-12-17T20:46:59.668-08:00Writing Workshop #1<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Writing is a skill that grows with time and practice. Which is also
why I'm a good person to teach you. Not because I'm a writer with great
writerly wisdom like you. But because I'm a reader and there are some
tips that can only be gained by reading a few hundred novels with a
critical eye. <br />
<br />
For some things, it takes a Kennedy. A Kat Kennedy, that is.</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
There are certain things you can learn from DVD Director's commentary and not just that your favourite director is a giant dick with an ego the metaphorical size of the Earth's rotation around the sun.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ae3rFSG6aBY/Tu1Sm2fmWgI/AAAAAAAAAkw/h-d28MPW334/s1600/Joss+Whedon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ae3rFSG6aBY/Tu1Sm2fmWgI/AAAAAAAAAkw/h-d28MPW334/s200/Joss+Whedon.jpg" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I feel like a Whedon reference is appropriate here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But even if they are a pain in the ass with all the tactile charisma of the creature of the Black Lagoon, there is no denying that if you like their movies, they probably know a thing or two about story-telling.<br />
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Story-telling is important because it's not always something you can teach but it is something you can learn. Most of the writing technique can be taught by anyone and you'll find a thousand useful guides to constructing sentences and and prose.<br />
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But story-telling isn't like that and sometimes finding good advice is hard which is why it's sometimes interesting to try a different medium for examples. That is exactly where movies and TV shows come into it.<br />
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Sometimes authors, because of the book-medium, think they have all day to get about making an idea or passing on a point to their reader. Whilst technically, they do, that doesn't always make good writing. TV shows and movies have a very limited format to get across some big ideas and a good director, on a good commentary track, can have some really insightful things to say.<br />
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On the director's commentary for season 2, episode 14 ("Innocence") for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joss Whedon makes a comment on a scene between Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Oz (Seth Green).<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"A very important scene and I've talked about this before, but, people not loving Oz, people very angry that Willow was not with Xander because she was so clearly into him. We introduced the character of Oz who was based on an actual guy I knew, uh, in college. Somebody just so cool he that he would just see how cool Willow was, even if she was wearing a big Eskimo outfit. In fact, because she was wearing a big Eskimo outfit. People not responding and so I wrote this scene very specifically as the scene that would make them love Oz. because it's the scene that makes Willow loves Oz. Where he turns her down and refuses to kiss her. Again, kind of gauging the audience's reaction is a big part of the show and making things not just work, making you not just accept a plot twist or character, but making you need them. Making you feel about them the way your character's supposed to. It's the most important thing and, of course, Seth is so beautifully restrained and so completely charming and, look at Aly. Fall in love with him. Right now." </blockquote>
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You see, Joss had a problem and it was that he needed the audience to sympathize with and invest in Oz quickly and effectively but he couldn't waste a lot of time building their relationship. He had to do it quickly and effectively in one scene. Here is a transcript of that scene:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Willow: Do you want to make out with me?<br />
Oz: What?<br />
Willow: With me. Make out. Do you want to?<br />
Oz: That time you said it backwards.<br />
Willow: Forget it. I'm sorry... (beat) Well do you?<br />
Oz: Sometimes when I'm sitting in class, I'm not thinking about class, 'cause, that could never happen, and I'll think about kissing you and then everything stops. It's like, freeze frame. Willow kissage.<br />
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She is drawn in by this -- so a bit taken aback when instead of kissing her, he just looks out the window again. There is a moment of confused wilence before he remembers himself and speaks again.<br />
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Oz (cont'd): I'm not gonna kiss you.<br />
Willow: What? But... freeze frame...<br />
Oz: Well, to the casual observer, it looks like you want to make your friend Xander jealous. Or even the score, or something. That's on the empty side. You see, in my fantasy, when I'm kissing you... you're kissing me.<br />
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She can't reply -- she's touched, but she knows he's right about Xander, Oz smiles at her, serene.<br />
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Oz (cont'd): It's okay. I can wait. </blockquote>
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I'm not saying every part of your novel needs to be snap frame, but sometimes you need to get an important emotional resonance across, or an important point. Instead of spending fifty pages and three different scenes trying to get it across, find a way to bring out the emotion in one, significant act. Sometimes it's just so much more powerful.<br />
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<br />Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-29029613451695678582011-12-15T02:24:00.000-08:002011-12-15T02:24:27.752-08:00Beauty Dates the Beast by Jessica Sims<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/120000000/120009515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/120000000/120009515.JPG" width="166" /></a></div>
<i><span id="freeText16314382583996384232">WANTED </span></i><br />
<i>Single human female to join charming, wealthy, single male were-cougar for a night of romantic fun—and maybe more. </i><br />
<i><strong>Me: </strong>The tall, sensuous, open-minded leader of my clan. </i><br />
<i><strong>You: </strong>A
deliciously curvy virgin who’s intimately familiar with what goes bump
in the night. Must not be afraid of a little tail. Prefer a woman who’s
open to exploring her animal nature. Interest in nighttime walks through
the woods a plus. </i><br />
<i>My turn-ons include protecting you from the worst the supernatural world has to offer. Ready for an adventure? Give me a call. </i><br />
<i>Vampires and doppelgangers need not apply.</i><br />
<br />
Author blurb for Jill Myles from the author profile for Jessica Clare:<br /><i>After devouring hundreds of paperback romances, mythology books, and archaeological tomes, she decided to write a few books of her own - stories with a wild adventure, sharp banter, and lots of super-sexy situations. She prefers her heroes alpha and half-dressed, her heroines witty, and she loves nothing more than watching them overcome adversity to fall into bed together.</i><br /><br />If you are wondering why I'm quoting Myles' author blurb and why it exists on Jessica Clare's author profile and why it's applicable to a Jessica Sims' book then congratulations - it worked. It worked because for some reason I purchased this book and you might have too. I read the author bio for Jessica Sims which says some shit about owning cats and playing games. What it doesn't say is that Jessica Sims in a nom de plume for Jill Myles and so is Jessica Clare. <br /><br />I feel absolutely cheated. I'd already read <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/94457758">Gentlemen Prefer Succubi</a>, and knew Myles' writing to be infantile, her characters dumber than rocks and her so-called plot - pathetic. I never would have bought this book if I'd known that she wrote it. I can only assume that is why she has three pen names in the same genre and why two of those pen names are even in the same subgenre! <br /><br />It's enough to say that nothing about her writing has improved. At all. If anything, the characterization has degraded. Myles' blurb might lead you to believe that all those mythology books and archaeological tomes would imply that her writing is full of intelligence and research. It might make you think that her dialogue is smart, witty and sharp. You might think that her romance heroes are sexy and her heroines are strong but funny. It's all a lie. One big fucking lie.<br /><br />Once again her plot was pathetically simple and juvenile making me suspect on how many mythology books and archaeological tomes she's actually read. There is nothing funny or cute about her writing. It is cheap and sloppy as hell. <br /><br />And her characters.<br /><br />Fuck my life.<br /><br />There is nothing witty about them. Nothing. Her MC, Bathsheba is a capitulating moron who has no sense - common or otherwise. Beau is an obsessive, controlling psychopath. From the moment he meets her he controls everything about her. There first date is nothing but creepy, gross sexual innuendo. Just a few hours after meeting her he has drugged her and kidnapped her to his hotel (for her own safety, of course). Within days he's kidnapped her again and dragged her to a remote location where he puts her completely within his control. This doesn't stop. The entire book continues like this. <br /><br />I'm sure Myles will dismiss this as a caring man, concerned about his woman and taking care of her. My response would be to tell her to go volunteer at a woman's shelter at some point because that's exactly where Bathsheba would wind up one day.<br /><br />When is the picture of what's sexy and appropriate going to change? This is not sexy. Abusive isn't sexy and Beau shows ALL the signs of an abuser. Spend three months helping a woman escape her abusive, controlling husband and come back and tell me this shit is still okay. Hear her cry on the phone night after night while he's in the shower because she's terrified for her life but physically can't leave. She can't leave because he controls her money, so she has to secretly work over time and squirrel the money away. She can't just take her passport and banking stuff. No. She has to pretend to be clearing out the study and she has to secret her documents away. Spend THREE MONTHS storing things for a terrified woman who is agonizingly working, inch by inch for moving day. I can not express the amount of thought and planning that goes into those moving days. Some of them will haunt me forever.<br /><br />When we all have to show up but can't park in front of the house in case he drives by so we end up carrying boxes two blocks away to where our cars are. Where we have to board her cat and secretly arrange a garage for her car to stay in and keep plane tickets hidden in her name. Live those three months with the knowledge that ONE WRONG SLIP and he'll track her down and beat the shit out of her, kill her or worse - force her back to him. Something forgotten at home meaning an early return, a call to work where a careless coworker reveals she didn't come in, him accidentally stumbling on a clue to her plans beforehand. <br /><br />Do all this and then come back to me and tell me it's alright to write this piece of crap. I don't think there's anything that's going to convince me that Beau's characterization was harmless and just a sexy break from reality. It's a fucking tragic reality for far too many women. And it isn't romantic. <br />Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-54214298168682860262011-12-11T19:54:00.001-08:002011-12-12T04:12:53.974-08:00Incarnate by Jodi Meadows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jToEJTecmzQ/Ttf4F4Ugb1I/AAAAAAAAAcM/soujWgwJh9c/s1600/Incarnate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jToEJTecmzQ/Ttf4F4Ugb1I/AAAAAAAAAcM/soujWgwJh9c/s200/Incarnate.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span id="freeText10978716402806966307">NEWSOUL
<br />Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have
been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences
from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and
no one knows why.
<br />
<br />NOSOUL
<br />Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things
to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion
and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of
Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence
means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
<br />
<br />HEART
<br />Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands
up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may
live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them
be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone
else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy
the promise of reincarnation for all?
<br />
<br />Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.</span></i></blockquote>
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Incarnate had such an interesting premise that I rushed to request the ARC. The concept of a society of people constantly reincarnating and being reborn to each other was too good to pass up. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/208504458">Blue Bloods</a> had a poor crack at it and I hoped Incarnate would fare better. Alas, no. What Incarnate had the opportunity of doing was taking philosophy by the horns and riding that bull like a cowboy at a rodeo. Instead, incarnate chose Philosophy!Bull's friend, Philosophy Show Pony and skipped along very slowly and sweetly to Romance Ranch. There it stayed, refusing to budge from it's very comfortable stall until the last thirty pages where it promptly collapsed in a fit of seizures and died. I can only hope Meadow's next book in the series won't be beating a dead horse.<br />
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One could reasonably argue that this is <i>just</i> YA literature and perhaps I was expecting too much. However, I think that's not crediting teenagers with enough. A book such as Incarnate has the opportunity to reflect on our society in so many ways, to do so much! How does possession change when no one really dies? How does parenting change when babies are really just miniature adults waiting to get back to their own lives? How does society change? Is there really murder and would it even be a big deal? What about debt? What happens if you can't die to escape that? What does it do to a psyche to die and be reborn constantly? Over time you will have probably given birth to, married, or been parented by almost everyone you know. How does that change the way you see people?<br />
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These questions are only very briefly looked at and none are truly answered in any satisfactory way. Instead, the world of Incarnate is eerily like our own with only a few minor changes to the facade.<br />
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This is not meant to imply that Meadows is a bad author. What she does do, she does well. The focus in the novel is heavily situated on the romance. It's a very sweet, endearing romance and the characters are lovely. Yet, if I'd wanted a cutsie romance then I have chicken soup for the soul for that.<br />
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No, Meadow can write well with lovely descriptions and sweet romantic talk and tense, dramatic, emotional scenes. If I were to sum up her writing style and JUST the romantic aspects of this book, I would say 'lovely'.<br />
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But this book looked to be more than just a YA romance and in that it failed. The mystery was flirted with occasionally but otherwise forgotten until the very end, there was almost no action or suspense to speak of outside the very beginning and very end. Some characters were contradictory and nonsensical, some plot elements just didn't fit, etc.<br />
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Mostly, where the book failed is that I have no interest in reading any more of this series. I've read my fill of chaste kisses, reluctant love, obstacles to affection, with a cursory nod at plot that only advances at a snails pace amid so much potential. That's all this book was and I currently don't see any potential for the series to be anything more than that. Thus I have no intention at the moment of reading this book's incarnate.<br />
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F30408221">
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F30408221" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/katkennedy/incarnate-by-jodi-meadows">Incarnate by Jodi Meadows</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/katkennedy">KatKennedy</a></span>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-4260334963610651242011-12-10T21:12:00.001-08:002011-12-10T22:39:06.878-08:00Kat's Christmas (Book) Wishlist<br />
There's a ritual in our family. Everyone does up a list and tells everyone else what to buy for them. So I basically know the majority of what I'm going to get for Christmas. My rule is that Christmas time is my time to support the publishing industry. So my entire Christmas list consists of books. Lots and lots of books.<br />
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These are those books:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eD-jtwlqL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eD-jtwlqL._SL500_.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9413044-everneath" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KnZFvCavaUA/TtytJBESohI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/hiOvRFCT7xQ/s200/Everneath.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4YFkE05tvUI/TtsuKKlPqyI/AAAAAAAAAhY/wZqFap5BPJI/s1600/Froi+of+the+Exiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4YFkE05tvUI/TtsuKKlPqyI/AAAAAAAAAhY/wZqFap5BPJI/s200/Froi+of+the+Exiles.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1227961623l/4932435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1227961623l/4932435.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2999475-jellicoe-road"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301035921l/2999475.jpg" width="138" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11594257-under-the-never-sky" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Evagv-_cRtg/Ttf4Gxx_WeI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/AJT2ovOtedM/s200/Under+the+Never+Sky.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9378297-anna-dressed-in-blood" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317793801l/9378297.jpg" width="137" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2986865-eon" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1299076175l/2986865.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9433912-burn-bright" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312805103l/9433912.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293655399l/518848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293655399l/518848.jpg" width="120" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FG4f0Gfy_M/TsQ7twDIYlI/AAAAAAAAAYE/MIfN0iv9zu4/s1600/Daughter+of+Smoke+and+Bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FG4f0Gfy_M/TsQ7twDIYlI/AAAAAAAAAYE/MIfN0iv9zu4/s200/Daughter+of+Smoke+and+Bone.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/82434.Saving_Francesca" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eDy-vKAYL.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6725255356165847450.post-73746992385532574102011-12-09T13:09:00.001-08:002011-12-09T13:09:25.296-08:00The Blog Has Lost the PlotSo basically, as you can see, my blog has lost the fucking plot.<br />
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It's not working to the point of aggravation but I'm waiting for the template maker to get back to me soon.<br />
<br />
Hopefully it won't continue to be such a disaster.<br />
<br />
Thanks for your patience.Kat Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05768408902595007324noreply@blogger.com3