Flippin' Fabulous- A Reader's Record: December 2010

Thursday, December 30, 2010

End of 2010 Survey

A fellow (favorite) blogger, Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner, posted this on her blog for people to take part in. Because of Blogger's eternal hate for me I am just now getting to this. I know I posted The Fab List: 2010 Releases but I figured with it being the end of the year I'm allowed to over indulge in my favorites of the year.

So READ ON if you want a little more insight to what made reading this year so great!

READ ON...

2011 Debut Author Challenge

2011 Debut Author Challenge

The 2011 Debut Author Challenge is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. You have until November 30, 2011 to sign up, so you still have plenty of time to sign up.
What is DAC: A Challenge which includes the books from Debut Young Adult and Middle Grade Authors. The goal is to read 12 Debut Author Books in 2011. While the goal is to read 12, there is no maximum and if you can read more then go for it!

Here is my 2011 Debut Author Spreadsheet. Books I receive/review will go on this list. When I review them I will mark them as reviewed with a link.
Scroll to the Right to see the color key.

The Fab List: 2010 Releases

The Fab List:

2010 Releases

These are just a few 2010 releases that I highly recommend to you. Some are by debut authors and some are the work of veterans. A last minute add (read) actually Either way, these 2010 releases have made my Fab List despite maybe not receiving a 5 star review.

Fab List Top Five-ish of 2010
(in no particular order... one-ish for each month I've been officially blogging)

Note this "-ish" Sometimes there is no way to number fabulousness.

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

July 20, 2010
MTV Books

Why Read It: Completely Hot and fabulously REAL! Jennifer Echols definitely doesn't hold back.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

August 31, 2010

Atheneum

Why Read It: Totally one-of-a-kind and hauntingly extraordinary. This story and characters have totally stuck with me.

Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupula
June 22, 2010
Harper Collins

Why Read It: Amazingly raw and heart wrenching.

Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison

March 4, 2010

Razorbill

Why Read It: A tragically, beautiful tear-jerker which had me vested from the get go. This is another book that has followed me around. I purchased it as a NookBook (e-book) but I will soon be looking for a hard copy. I have to have this in print.

The Iron King + The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

February 1, 2010 + August 1, 2010

Why Read It: Absolutely, one hundred percent, magical and unforgettable. I just love the characters, even those who maybe I shouldn't.

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

May 04, 2010

Simon Pulse

Why Read It: Beautifully dark and freakishly fascinating. Jeri Smith-Ready roped me in on the very first page with a plot that wasn't one tracked or one sided. A unique read with a little bit of everything thrown in.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
April 09, 2009/April 06, 2010 *

Why Read It: You know, this was originally released in 2009 but the paperback came on in 2010, which is why I let this make my list. Beyond that, this book was amazing and I couldn't not let it count ;-) I was crying by page 22 and couldn't set it down. It was intense and heart breaking all at the same time soothing.

Here are a few books I have yet to read but come HIGHLY recommended according to the blogosphere and some are already sitting in my TBR pile and others are at the top of my TBB (to be bought) list.

Anna & the French Kiss |Goodreads| |Amazon|

The Clearing |Goodreads| |Amazon|

Personal Demons |Goodreads| |Amazon|

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

What's to come in 2011... Meme's, Features and Something New

So I figured with the coming of a new year I would make some adjustments to my blog. Nothing big just some small stuff.

Here is what it is looking like so far...

READ ON...

Review: It's Not Summer Without You

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han (Summer, #2)
Date Released: April 27, 2010
Published by: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: Hardcover, 288 pages
Young Adult
Overall: Photobucket

Last year, all of Belly's dreams came true and the thought of missing a summer in Cousins Beach was inconceivable. But like the rise and fall of the ocean tide, things can change--just like that. Suddenly the time she's always looked forward to most is something she dreads. And when Jeremiah calls to say Conrad has disappeared, Belly must decide how she will spend this summer: chasing after the boy she loves, or finally letting him go.

My thoughts:
NOTE: Contains potential spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty, book #1.

READ ON...

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Holiday Giveaway Winners

According to Random.org the winning entrants are #11 and #92

($15) Jessie E. of Elliot Review

and

($25) Mia C of Girl About Books

Congratulations, you both have 72 hours to respond to the emails once I send them out.

Thanks to everyone who entered and thanks for your comments and recommendations.

Monday, December 27, 2010

ARC Review: Unearthly

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly #1)

Release Date: January 04, 2011
Published by: Harper Teen
Pages: Hardcover, 448 pages

Young Adult
Source: Harper Teen- Net Galley

Overall: Photobucket

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees. . .Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what it is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place--and out of place, at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make--between honesty and deciet, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Synopsis via Goodreads

My thoughts:

READ ON...

Thursday, December 23, 2010

MidWinter's Eve Giveaway Hop Winner

Winner of my MidWinter's Eve Giveaway Hop is

LISA M381

Congratulations! I'll put putting your books in the mail after the holiday!

Thank You to everyone who stopped by and entered!

I hope everyone has Happy Holidays!

Third Degree Thursday (1)

Yes, I haver a way of continually changing a Meme's name to fit my blog don't I?

Third Degree Thursday, otherwise known as Booking Through Thursday, is a weekly meme hosted by:

Booking Through Thursday.

I actually do not yet have a graphic for this :-/ I found this through G-Reads and thought the question was a great first question for a new meme I will participate in from time to time.
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What Book Changed Your Life

Ah, yes, my answer tends to be a pretty popular book (series.)

Twilight. Yes, I am a fairly new AVID reader. The Twilight Movie had just come out. Girls were flailing their arms everywhere and I just so happened to be at the store. Oh Lucky Me. So I wanted to know why people everywhere have Twilight totes, shirts, necklaces, scribbling on their shoes, EVERYTHING! So I pick up the movie. Then I decide to do a little test and I purchased the first book to go with it. I wanted to read the book then watch the movie. I wanted to dissect it all, along with my best friend.

Needless to say the rest is history. I went out the next evening to buy the rest of the books. Approximately six days later I was purchasing The Host. Then from there House of Night. The obsession grew with each book. Instead of buying one book at a time I was buying several.

Don't misunderstand me when I say I'm a new reader. I was an avid reader as a child and young teenager but high school, college prep courses, friends, part time job, cheerleading, and six days of the week gymnastics made it to where reading was simply something I couldn't do beyond required high school reading.

So, while Twilight is merely a blip on my list of books I have most enjoyed (and downright became obsessive over) I 'heart' Twilight for what it actually is I have to thank it and the gaggle of insane and obsessed girls who helped push me toward Twilight. Without them I would have never found the never ending list of books I am fabulously in love with. Nor, would I found this fabulous community of book-bloggers.

I promise, all future Booking Through Thursday posts will be much shorter ;-)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (9): Instruments + Devices

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. It is a great way to draw attention to those books not yet released but well awaited.

Here is my Seventh Edition of Waiting on Wednesday and it's a bit bigger! I couldn't help myself. There are just too many awesome books I am dying to get my hands on!

Make sure to check out some fabulous WOW posts below that you may have missed, my 'SIMON PULSE "Elizabeth" Edition' and my my 'Fabulously Large Edition of Dancers, Flappers + Iron' :-)

I can't believe how long I have to wait for these! Isn't City of Fallen Angels cover gorgeous though? I can't wait to see Clockwork Prince's cover- I'm a total steampunk lover. I even happen to know a certain blogger *cough*me*cough* that's getting steam punk inspired jewelery for Christmas.

The Mortal Instruments Book 4: City of Fallen Angels

By: Cassandra Clare
Expected Release: April 05, 2011
Published By: Margaret K McElderry
|Series Website|

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever. Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels Synopsis Via Goodreads

The Infernal Devices Book Two: Clockwork Prince

By: Cassandra Clare

Expected Release: August 30, 2011

Published by: Margaret K McElderry

The Infernal Devices is a series of prequels to The Mortal Instruments series, set in 19’th century London. The story concerns 16-year-old orphan Tessa Gray, whose quiet life is thrown into turmoil when her older brother Nathaniel suddenly vanishes, leaving her alone. Her search for him leads her into Victorian-era London’s dangerous supernatural underworld, where warlocks throw masked balls for half-demon Downworlders. When Tessa discovers that she herself is a Downworlder, she must come to trust her natural enemies, the demon-killing Shadowhunters, if she ever wants to learn to control her powers and find her brother. Torn between the beautiful Will, a Shadowhunter who isn’t what he seems, and the devoted Jem, whose own deadly secret is slowly destroying him, Tessa must draw on all her strength to save her brother and keep herself alive in this deadly new world Synopsis Via Goodreads

Here are a few books releasing soon that would will be eternally on my 'Waiting On' until it releases:

I think I'll be official broke on January 04, 2011 :-) At least I'll be insanely happy!