Picky Pledge Check-In #1

Picky Pledge Check-In #1

Mar 30, 2015

What is The Picky Pledge? Well, it's a partnership between me and Alexa from Alexa Loves Books where we hold each other accountable for the books we've acquired in 2015. For more details on The Picky Pledge, be sure to visit the introduction post. We're excited about making more intentional reading choices this year! 

We're tracking our book acquisition stats throughout the year - focusing specifically on the books we buy and the books we read for review. I've created a page to track my progress, and it's definitely helping to hold me accountable. There's nothing like posting something for everyone to see to shame you into staying on track! Alexa and I were chatting recently and decided to post quarterly check-ins analyzing what we've learned so far and where we have room to grow. With three months down, here's how 2015 is shaping up...

For this section, we were inspired by our original stats post from earlier this year. Since our Picky Pledge keeps us on track with review books and buying, our check-ins will highlight the two charts relevant to those areas!

SOURCE BREAKDOWN

At the time I'm writing this post, I've read 32 books in 2015. I've been in a bit of a reading slump this year, and I just haven't felt the pull to pick up a book. I spent almost all of 2014 on a major reading binge, so I'm really not surprised that a slump finally hit. I have a feeling my pace will pick up as the seasons change, but we'll see! Either way, I'm quite pleased with this breakdown: 3 borrowed, 5 bought this year, 6 review and 18 owned (TBR and re-reads). My goal is to read no more than 36 review books this year, and I'm definitely on track!

        

        

BOOKS BOUGHT BREAKDOWN

I'm conflicted on my progress with this one! My birthday was in February, and I definitely received some books and gift cards. I didn't include the books that I was gifted, but I did count the ones I bought with gift cards. I've purchased 24 books: 7 with gift cards and 17 on my own. Of those 24, I've read 7 since I bought them, 7 are still on my TBR and 10 were books that I read prior to 2015 (either didn't own or owned a different edition). It's not awful, but I know I can do better. Either way, it's still an improvement over 2014 - and that's worth celebrating!

1. Having an accountability partner can make a huge difference. I knew teaming up with Alexa was a great idea, but I had no clue how much it was going to help! Whether it's offering my advice to her or seeking her input on a decision, it's so amazing to have a sounding board. She's helped me decide if I really wanted to request a book... and whether or not a book was worth buying. And the best part? We both have realistic and reasonable goals that gives us some needed structure but still has some flexibility.

2. It's easier to evaluate review books if I ask myself, "Why?" Prior to this year, I didn't really think about why I wanted to read a book for review. Now, I'm forcing myself to ask that question with every book I request or accept. And it's totally changed my perspective! If my reason for requesting/accepting it is anything other than "I am dying to read this book!" then I don't let myself do it. Being intrigued by a book or wanting to build a relationship with a publisher/publicist aren't good enough reasons to add a book to my TBR!

3. Shopping my shelves can be so much fun! I think I'm most proud of the fact that I've gotten better about choosing books from my shelves. If I want to make a dent in my TBR, I have to focus on actually reading what I own. I've also been re-reading a lot this year, which has been so delightful. Even though my reading pace is a bit slower, I'm way happier with what I've been reading! The reading choices I've made so far (fewer review books, more re-reading, grabbing from the TBR) are all in line with my Picky Pledge goals.

1. Avoid boredom browsing on NetGalley and Edelweiss. I've only read six books for review in 2015 and currently only have nine on my TBR, which is a significant improvement from last year. However, I'm definitely still guilty of boredom browsing on NetGalley and Edelweiss! Whether or not I even request anything, it just puts more books on my radar - and that's the last thing I need right now. I need to be better about avoiding these two websites unless I'm specifically looking for something!

2. Online shopping (and free two-day shipping) is not my wallet's friend. I've discovered that I'm actually the opposite of Alexa in this area! It's way easier for my to walk away from a book in a store than it is for me to stop myself from online shopping. I don't know why, but I find it hard to resist buying something once I let myself explore a retailer's website. I think I might need to ban myself from even looking in the first place! Because putting stuff in my cart and noticing that I could have it all in just two days is really not working for my wallet.

3. Stop justifying acquiring more copies of books I've already read. I frequently buy copies of books that I've already read. It usually happens when I'm getting a finished copy of a book I read for review and absolutely must own... but I've noticed another trend lately. I'm basically collecting copies of books I've already read and already own. I'm most guilty of it with my favorite classics (there are way too many gorgeous editions out there), but I've been known to do it with multiple formats, too. It's time to crack down on this bad habit!

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"Barely even friends, then somebody bends..."

"Barely even friends, then somebody bends..."

Mar 27, 2015

Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

Release Date: July 23, 2013
Publisher: Random House | Delacorte
Pages: 389 pages
Source & Format: Bought; Hardcover
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Summary (from Goodreads)

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.

Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.

Thoughts on Of Beast and Beauty

Racquel and Carrie both raved about Of Beast and Beauty, so I decided to grab it in one of the big Book Outlet sales last year. While I don't necessarily seek out fairytale retellings, I generally really enjoy reading them. I love twists on familiar tales! For some reason, however, I wasn't racing to read this book. But I found myself in a bit of a slump a few weeks ago - nothing was grabbing my attention. Randomly, I decided to read a few pages... and the next thing I knew, I'd read almost half the book.

Of Beast and Beauty tells the story of Isra and Gem. Isra is a Smooth Skin living enclosed within the dome that surrounds the city of Yuan. She's royalty - a Princess raised to be a human sacrifice. Her death will bring prosperity to her people. Outside the city, Gem faces starvation and fights for his life. He's a mutant - one of the Monstrous. Isra and Gem are from two very different worlds, and they want to achieve different ends. Isra wants to help the city's Banished people, and Gem wants to save his starving people by stealing Yuan's enchanted roses. When Gem is captured and becomes Isra's prisoner, everything will come to a head. Secrets will be revealed, and a choice between duty and love must be made.

While I had high hopes for Of Beast and Beauty, I didn't expect to love it as much as I did! This was such a fantastic read. As I said, I'd been in a bit of a reading funk when I started it, but this had me hooked almost immediately! The writing, especially in the beginning, is absolutely gorgeous. This was my first experience with Stacey Jay, and I'll absolutely be reading more from her in the future. There is a lyrical quality to her writing that just immediately captured my attention. I can't do it justice, so let me just highlight the opening:

"In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret. The secret was as old as the cracked cobblestone streets of Yuan, as peculiar as the roses that bloom eternally within the domed city's walls, as poisonous as forgotten history and the stories told in its place.  

By the time the girl was born, the secret was all but lost. The stories had become scripture, and only the very brave - or very mad - dared to doubt them. The girl was raised on the stories, and never questioned their truth, until the day her mother took her walking beyond the city walls. 

In the wilds outside, a voice as fathomless as the ocean spoke to her of a time before the domed cities, before wholes became halves and bargains were made in blood. It told of a terrible choice and even more terrible consequences. It begged her to listen, to live..."

It helped that the book started in such a memorable way because the summary for this book had always thrown me off. Smooth Skins? Monstrous? HUH? Thankfully, it wasn't difficult to imagine the settings and the characters inhabiting it once I was actually reading. Jay brings this world to life! While the city of Yuan and the desert beyond it could have been a little more fleshed out, the characters completely made up for it. All of the characters had so much depth, including the villains. People are complicated, and Jay depicted that perfectly. Just when I was determined to hate someone, they'd have a moment that made me reconsider!

Another bonus? This book has one of my favorite tropes - a hate-to-love romance. I can't get enough of this kind of love story! The plot had me on the edge of my seat, and the pacing was just spot on. It was such a creative retelling - the perfect twist on a story I've always loved. Whether you're a fan of Beauty and the Beast or just interested in fantasy, you can't go wrong with Of Beast and Beauty. It was better than I ever imagined it would be, and I'm so glad I took a chance on it! I just had to look past the beastly summary to see the beauty inside. Ha! I'm sorry, but I had to do it.

So Quotable

“Beauty is wherever you find it, and Beast is there when you need to defend it.”

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Buy the Book / No. 1

Buy the Book / No. 1

Mar 26, 2015

Back in December, Cassie and I posted our Favorite Factor Gift Guide. I had so much fun finding gifts inspired by books that I'd loved, and I knew I wanted to do it again! After creating a gift guide for The Liza Palmer Party and a gift guide for The Orphan Queen blog tour, I realized that I wanted to make this a regular feature.

I'm calling it Buy the Book - a little play on "by the book" since all of my gifts will come directly from quotes or scenes in the book featured and, you know, since it's all stuff you can buy. I'm also going to include a snippet from the book for each item so you'll know exactly why I picked it! I'm hoping to share at least one per month, but we'll see how it goes. And if you like book-inspired gift guides, the lovely ladies at Rather Be Reading have also shared some in the past (this Nantucket Blue one is my favorite!).

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

"The script occupied the small, secret spaces of my days, though I'd never planned to do anything with it. At least I hadn't until I discovered a summer screen-writing program at New York University."

1. Final Draft 9 ($169) - Paige wants to be a screenwriter, so I picked this software to help her pursue her passion! While it's not a huge aspect of the book, it's a central part of Paige's dreams for her future.

"It was my grandmother who taught me that TV shows start with writing. We were watching I Love Lucy when I was eleven, and I said, 'Lucy is the funniest lady ever.'"

2. I Love Lucy: The Complete Series ($142) - Paige's relationship with her grandmother is a huge part of the book. I love books that deal with family, but it was extra special to see Paige's love for her grandma!

"My parents just liked the name Paige, I think, but Elizabeth is because my mom is a huge Pride and Prejudice fan." I thought for a second. "I don't think I've ever told anyone that, actually."

His head jerked toward me. "Really?"

"Yeah. Guess it never came up. Elizabeth is a pretty standard middle name."

"No," he said. "I mean really 'Elizabeth?' You seem much more like a Jane Bennet."

My jaw dropped in offense. "That's kind of mean!"

"No, it's not! Jane is deeply underappreciated." 

3. Pride and Prejudice "Bingley" and "Jane" Earrings ($9) - When I saw the Pride and Prejudice reference, I knew Paige and Max were my kind of people. And I particularly loved Max's defense of Jane and Bingley!

"There were at least fifty paper airplanes that I could see, made from all different patterns of paper. They were attached to a string, suspended around the room, as if flying in neat lines. I thought of the note Max had passed me earlier in the week, folded into a tiny plane." 

4. Sterling Silver Paper Airplane Necklace ($70) - Max's love for paper airplanes is quirky and nerdy! I love that he proudly displayed them, and I can just imagine Paige wearing a paper airplane necklace for him.

"Why not Paris? My world had crumbled around me. Like your friend Mr. Chase, I found a place to dance."

5. Paris Is Always a Good Idea Audrey Hepburn Quote Printable ($9) - Paige's grandmother helps her to move forward from her grieving, and she's also the inspiration for several items on Paige's plan to begin again.

"Whatever happened next with my parents, my friends and I would still be here trading stories and sips of our lattes. Together, we made four walls, holding each other up even as the world around us shifted."

6. Starbucks Double Wall Traveler Gold Dot ($19.95) - I absolutely love the friendships in this book! Paige, Tessa, Kayleigh and Morgan are always there for one another, and it's so refreshing to read about friends like these.

"Morgan insisted on painting my nails every weekend while we marathoned TV shows. It seemed so silly, so pointless. Until I looked down at my mint-green or petal-pink nails in class: one beautiful, glossy thing in my life. My friends added the first colors to my black-and-white world."

7. Butter London Nail Lacquer in Fiver, Fruit Machine & Molly Coddled ($15) - I had to pick one more thing to represent Paige's friends. They add so much to the book and made me wish I had a group like this of my own!

"Although, when I was little, I thought I was named after Max from Where the Wild Things Are."

8. Where the Wild Things Are Bow Tie ($13.99) - While Max is not named after this character, I couldn't help but include something related to this classic children's book! I mean, maybe he could wear it to prom?

"When Tessa bought me the planner a few Christmases back, I knew she was kind of teasing me about what she called 'type A tendencies.' But I didn't care. It was love at first sight: lavender leather with my initials embossed in the corner and pages of clean white paper, segmented into weeks and months."

9. Filofax Metropol Lavender Personal Organizer ($34.95) - Although this is Paige's actual planner, I thought this one still worked. As a huge planner nerd myself, I just had to include this item!

"'Sure,' I said, snapping out of my tactless staring, and we stood there in the foyer for a moment as I glanced at his shirt - a black tee with some sort of spacecraft and the word 'FIREFLY' across the top."

10. Firefly Serenity Diagram Black T-Shirt ($15.79) - This isn't exactly the shirt Max wears, but it's close enough. I loved the nerdy references throughout the book - and the way Max and Paige tease each other about them!

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How to Begin Again

How to Begin Again

Mar 25, 2015

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Release Date: March 31, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 384 pages
Source & Format: Publisher; ARC
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Summary (from Goodreads)

It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for a year, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school... and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

Brimming with heartfelt relationships and authentic high-school dynamics The Start of Me and You proves that it’s never too late for second chances.

Thoughts on The Start of Me and You

Emery Lord has done it again! I fell head over heels in love with Open Road Summer last year, as you probably know if you read my review. It wasn't just one of my favorite reads of 2014 - it's an all-time favorite for me. So, I jumped at the chance to read The Start of Me and You for review. Let's be honest: I was going to read it either way.

When I love an author's debut, I sometimes worry that their subsequent books won't live up to my expectations. With Emery, that thought never crossed my mind. I knew this was going to be an unforgettable read, and I was right. I first read it in September, but I put off writing about it. I like to let my favorites sit with me for a while! But then, I decided to re-read so I could do this book justice with my review. Since I listed reasons I loved Open Road Summer, I thought I'd do the same with The Start of Me and You. Let's begin!

1. Best Friends.

I have to start with this first because I have so much love for the friendships in Emery Lord's books. It was one of the most memorable aspects of Open Road Summer, and the same is true for The Start of Me and You. So many of my favorite quotes in the book revolved around Paige and her best friends (Tessa, Kayleigh and Morgan).

"Whatever happened with my parents, my friends and I would still be here trading stories and sips of our lattes. Together, we made four walls, holding each other up even as the world around us shifted."

I feel like I don't often see female friendships portrayed in such an admirable way (especially in YA). And what made it even better? The Start of Me and You focused on a group of four friends. I loved watching them all interact with one another! If you asked me to describe the female relationships in this book, I'd use words like loyal, supportive, protective... and then add in teasing, familiar and comfortable. Though they may not always agree, they're always there for one another. And it's such a beautiful thing!

2. Max Watson.

Sweet, darling Max Watson. I wasn't sure how he'd compare to the talented and gorgeous Matt Finch, but Emery certainly knows how to write some swoonworthy boys. In a way, he reminded me of Cricket Bell (from Lola and the Boy Next Door). His quirky goodness is just irresistible!

"Max was the human equivalent of a cult-classic TV show. Most people didn't get it. But the people who did? They loved it for all of its quirks."

Max is adorable, kind, smart and more than a little nerdy. He's such a great fit for Paige, and I couldn't wait for them to realize how perfect they could be together. I loved that he is wise beyond his years and isn't ashamed of his passions (even if other people don't get them). And it's probably not surprising that I'm a sucker for a boy who knows a thing or two about Pride and Prejudice, too!

3. The Perfect Plan.

Paige is a planner to the core! She's definitely Type A, which I related to a lot. It's been a year since her first boyfriend died in a tragic accident, and she's just now returning to the world around her. Grief has changed her, but she wants to feel normal again. So, she develops A Plan.

"There, I thought. A plan. At the top, I wrote: How to Begin Again."

I'll let you read the book to find out what happens next, but I definitely felt Paige was a kindred spirit. From a shared love of planners to the need to turn plans into lists, she's my kind of heroine. I loved seeing her growth in the book - and was just waiting to see how she's react when things didn't work out the way she planned.

4. Nerdy References.

Paige and Max are both totally nerdy, and I adored them for it! I can't even begin to tell you how many fun things they referenced - including two of my all-time favorite things (Anne of Green Gables and Pride and Prejudice). I kept catching myself wishing I could hang out with them and just talk!

"Sorry to break it to you on your birthday," I said, "but you're not my type." 

"Oh?" He grinned, raising his eyebrow. "You have a type now?" 

I shrugged. "Possibly."

"Yeah." He thought for a moment. "Your type is nerd." 

"Maybe your type is nerd." 

"Oh, it absolutely is."

And though the book is filled with fun nods to popular culture, it never feels forced or too dated. It fits these characters and makes them feel so realistic! I wish they were real because I'd totally work my way into their little friend group if they were. These are my people.

5. The Real Thing. 

Sometimes when I read YA, I get swept up in the relationships... and later question whether or not it's something that would last in the real world. After all, you don't often end up with the boy you fall in love with in high school! But sometimes you do. The romantic relationship in this book just seems like the real thing.

"But Max was the first bite of grilled cheese on a snowy day, the easy fit of my favorite jeans, that one old song that made it onto every playlist. Peanut-butter Girl Scout cookies instead of an ornate cake. Not glamorous or idealized or complicated. Just me."

I could explain all the reasons I love Max and Paige, but Estelle already said it best. She absolutely nailed all the reasons I loved the romance in this book, and why I related to it so much. While I didn't meet Nick in high school, this love story reminded me of my own. I adored the way this book portrayed falling in love - and how, as Paige says, "It was also a choice." So true!

6. Introspection & Reflection.

Even more than Open Road Summer, The Start of Me and You is a character-driven book. There isn't a lot that happens with the plot. Sure, there's a little conflict and a climax, but it's ultimately focused on the people in it (especially Paige). I absolutely love character-driven books, so this worked perfectly for me.

"I had changed... It was a new group of friends, it was freedom, learning, failing, grieving. It was getting back to my old self and defining a new self at the same time."

Paige is an introspective character, and there's a lot of reflection in these pages. A lot of the conflict is internal - Paige's desire to face her fears and her slow realization that what she thought she wanted might not be right for her after all. So, the pace is a little slower and it doesn't always feel like a lot is happening, but it was a strength of the book for me. Bonus: I was highlighting away because I loved Paige's thoughts!

7. Just Pick It Up.

Do I really need to keep rambling about my love for this book? Just read it already! When I reviewed Open Road Summer, I wrote "Emery Lord has written a story about loyalty, love and loss... and all the complicated things in between." And honestly, that's true for The Start of Me and You, too. Emery's debut blew me away, but this release proves she's here to stay. And I, for one, can't wait for more!

So Quotable

"But knowing what happens isn't the same as knowing how it happens. Getting there is the best part."

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

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Never Too Old for Childhood Favorites

Never Too Old for Childhood Favorites

Mar 24, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week they post a new topic/top ten list and invite everyone to share their own answers. I'm so obsessed with lists - so it makes perfect sense that I'd love this feature!

Top Ten Books From Childhood I Want to Revisit

I struggled a little bit with this topic, but only because I posted about books I wanted to re-read (but didn't own) and books I read before blogging that I want to re-read. Not to mention my 2015 Re-Read Challenge sign-up post! I tried not to repeat a bunch of the same books, but I couldn't help it with four of these books.

1. Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix - This is one of a very small number of books I saved from elementary school. I read it so many times that the pages are practically falling out. Definitely time to revisit it!

2. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor - This was one of my favorite books growing up, and I actually had the entire Taylor family series. Hmm... now I kind of want to track them all down and do a series binge.

3. The Coal Miner's Bride by Susan Campbell Bartoletti - I loved the entire Dear America and Royal Diaries series (and still have most of them), but this one always had a special place in my heart. But I can't remember why!

4. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - I can't remember the first time I read this book, but it's considered a classic for a reason. It's been so long since I read it, and I think I need to re-read and then follow up with the movie.

5. The Felicity Series by Valerie Tripp - Felicity was always my favorite American Girl. I shared her love of horses and admired her independent spirit. And she's the reason I've always been interested in the Revolutionary War.

6. Hannah and the Best Father on Route 9W by Mindy Warshaw Skolsky - My grandmother bought this for me when I was a kid because my name is in the title, and I loved it! I'm glad I've held on to it all these years.

7. Rachel's Journal by Marissa Moss - I used to own a ton of books by Marissa Moss, but I think gave away all but two. Reading these books was always such an experience because of all the illustrations and details.

8. Eloise by Kay Thompson - Oh, Eloise. She's a total brat - but such a fun one! I think I was in middle or high school when I discovered the book, and I might have purchased it solely because it made me laugh.

9. The Lost Princess by George MacDonald - I was thinking of this book recently, and I've been craving a re-read ever since. My third grade teacher read this aloud to our class, and it's still such a vivid memory for me.

10. Mad About Madeline: The Complete Tales by Ludwig Memelmans - Madeline was my childhood love. I had the entire first book memorized as a little girl, and I can still recite a lot of it. I was destined to be a book nerd!

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