New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

This week I have a lovely package from my #otspsecretsister filled with wonderful goodies!

Love Letters To The Dead by Ava Dellaria (goodreads)

A huge thank you to my #otspsecretsister 'Hermonie' for my November goodies! Love Letters To The Dead is one of my favourite books I've reviewed and I was so happy to finally have a copy (and it's hardcover!).

What books made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week.

BOOK

Cover of Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas (goodreads)

 Dangerous Girls is a dark and twisty read. It sucker punches you and totally messes with your head. As soon as I heard Abigail Haas was writing a companion novel, Dangerous Boys, I knew I would want to read it. I am curious to see what twists she has in store and I've been hearing good things already.

The cover was released, and I pretty much love it. I am unsure if this will be the North American cover, but I kind of hope it is.

*side note - can Dangerous Girls become a movie?! Please? It would be amazing.

Anne and Henry by Dawn Ius (goodreads)

It's no secret that I am a big fan of Tudor history. I was immediately intrigued when I saw this in Publishers Weekly recently

A contemporary retelling of the romance between King Henry the VIII and Anne Boleyn, in which Henry is a wealthy, popular teen destined for political greatness, and Anne is the manic pixie dream girl who ensnares him and threatens to destroy the life he's worked so hard to build. 

A contemporary twist on the story of Anne Boleyn and Henry. I am cautiously intrigued because this synopsis. Not thrilled about the whole 'manic pixie dream girl' thing, or the 'ensnares and threatens to destroy his life' bits, but I hope it's a misleading synopsis. I see that Henry might feel this way, so perhaps it's from his point of view. Either way I am intrigued enough to check it out.  

TV/MOVIE 

Movie options Love Letters To The Dead, and We Were Liars

With the success of The Fault In Our Stars it seems more of the contemporary novels are going to be destined to hit the big screen. Two of my recent favourites have recently been optioned. We Were Liars already has a screenplay in place.It was written by E. Lockhart (as per Deadline). I believe that I heard Ava Dellaira is writing the screenplay for her novel as well. I approve of this trend of author's adapting their own novels. I feel it helps keep the tone of the work intact, and the author knows this material better than anyone. 

What are you obsessed with this week?

Favourite Books Since I've Started Blogging

I was recently asked about my favourite books. The books I would make everyone read if given the chance. The books that stayed with me years after I've finished reading them (or will stay with me).

Since I am out of town, I figured this would be a perfect chance to create a list of those titles (at least so far). I am keeping it to ones that I have reviewed on the blog. They'll all link to my review if you wish to check them out.

1 Stolen by Lucy Christopher

My first review, and I still love this one more than words can express. It's literally become a joke with the ladies of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Club because I mention it so often during our chats. Incredibly written, emotionally draining, and it's a book that plays with your head. In the most beautiful way possible, of course. This one is making it's way to the big screen with Ryan Kwanten as Ty.

2 Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Jodi Lynn Anderson's beautiful writing reduced me to tears as Tiger Lily ended. This retelling of Peter Pan not only feels fresh and different, but is one of my favourite adaptations of all time. An unforgettable story about the girl with the crow feather in her hair, and the lost boy she fell in love with. It gets bonus points for being narrated by everyone's favourite pixie.

3 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

One of the best twists, EVER. I didn't see it coming, and (for me) it was brilliantly executed. Gillian Flynn's sharp, smart writing combined with a wrenching story of a couple falling in, and out of love serves to add a depth to this anything but typical mystery.

4 Tarnish by Katherine Longshore

Pretty sure Katherine's next book Brazen will be added to the list (I am halfway through and it's beautiful) but it's her portrayal of Anne Boleyn that stunned me. A novel that focuses on Anne's life, rather than her death. It shows that everyone deserves, and should fight for, their voice to be heard. A surprisingly uplifting and hopeful message that adds a bitter-sweetness to Anne's fate.

5 Vicious by V.E. Schwab

A deliciously dark look at what it means to be a hero, and villain. Unforgettable characters combined with Victoria's brilliant writing, and a rich, complex plot to create what is basically a perfect book. I ache to go back to this world and these characters. This one surprised me in the best way possible, and made me a Victoria Schwab fan for life. Apparently this one is also on it's way to the big screen. #DaneDehaanForVictorVale

6 Anna and the French Kiss/Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Cute and fluffy is what most people probably think when they read the titles for these books. WRONG. They are adorable, but they are also filled with humour, heart, and a realness that seeps from the pages. The characters are so completely developed they feel like friends, and it quickly became one that I want to read over and over again. Both of them. There are plenty of swoon worthy passages throughout the novel. The stand out in both is Stephanie's attention to the little details that go into a romance. The inside jokes, the little gestures, and the moments that make everything stop. She captures that falling in love moment effortlessly.

7 Just One Day/Just One Year by Gayle Forman

A duology that when combined tell the romantic, and engrossing story of two people's journey to each other. Often romance is about the couple, but Gayle shines a light on the two individuals inside that couple. We get to know them each so well, and this is a case where each novel is dependent on the other. Allyson's story isn't complete without Willem's and vice versa. It's the kind of novel that inspires wanderlust, and might just inspire you to take a few chances.

8 We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

The less I say about this one the better. E Lockhart's gorgeous writing will pull you into the dreamy, summer vibe, but the mystery will keep you burning through the pages. Read it. Lie about it. Just make sure you experience it unspoiled as it's one that is meant to be experienced along with the characters.

9 Love Letters To the Dead by Ava Dellaira

A novel that is both heartbreaking and healing. It's letter style narration was done impressively well, and the emotions and character development impressive for this style as well. Ava's work reads gut-wrenchingly real that it feels like you're reading someone's personal letters at times, rather than a work of fiction. The celebrity angle works for the character and the story in a charming way. They become characters themselves. This was another surprise for me, but I was happy to fall under it's spell.

10 Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

I hugged this book when I was done. It's that adorable, and fun. It's one of those books that makes you feel good. The journey you take with the characters comes complete with a musical playlist which only adds to it's charm. The characters, the writing, and the depth this novel has is wonderful. It's one to pick up this summer and enjoy by the beach.

This is my no means a full listing, but these are the books I would want to make everyone read if I could.

What books make your EVERYONE MUST READ list?

Love Letters To The Dead by Ava Dellaira

Love Letters To The Dead by Ava Dellaira
Release Date - April 1, 2014
Publisher Website - Raincoast Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 323 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received from publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was; lovely and amazing and deeply flawed; can she begin to discover her own path.

Dear Ava Dellaria,

I am going to do this review a little differently than I normally do. I don't think you'll mind. See, I was inspired by the use of letters in Love Letters To The Dead, and I thought it would be a fantastic way to showcase one of the elements I loved about your book.

I'll start with a compliment. Everyone likes those right? I love your writing. Your prose is beautiful, and lyrical. Mesmerizingly so at times. You created a voice, and a character using letters, and still managed to convey so many emotions within them.

I kind of knew going in that your book was going to be a sad one. I even made a joke on twitter about the level of crying it would most likely produce (sobbing to full on ugly crying). As sad and emotional as Laurel's story is, it's also really hopeful. Grief is something excruciating to work through, but your novel had little moments of happiness that Laurel tried to grasp. As Laurel worked through everything, I came to want more of those happy moments for her. I hope, however her story continues, that she keeps finding them.

I am someone who can remember exactly where I was when I found out River Phoenix had died. I was 12, I had just watched Stand By Me, and like May was instantly smitten. I was told just a few short months later, by my older sister, that he had died. It was the day after Halloween. It stunned me. This part of the novel could have been me talking....

And then we saw that you had died. Of a drug overdose. You were only twenty-three. It was like the world stopped. You’d been just right there, almost in the room with us. But you were no longer on this earth.

When I think back to it, that night seemed like the beginning when everything changed. Maybe we didn't have the words for it then, but when we found out you’d died, it’s like the first time we saw what could happen to innocence.

You captured with these words the exact feeling I had upon hearing the news. It's even more evident after watching Stand By Me a second time (or in my case a 100th time). After hearing of his death those final moments of Chris Chambers' story are tainted in a way. You can't help but think of what happened just a few years later. Your words managed to say that, and so much more. It sort of felt like you might have felt that way too.

That's the thing, all these people Laurel writes letters to, I think they must have touched you as well. They became characters in your story in their own right. Because of this, I think they inspired you, and their stories stayed with you. It comes across in the care, and heartfelt way you entwine their stories into Laurel's narrative. The haunting way you have her break apart Kurt Cobin's suicide note, and the aforementioned River Phoenix section that stayed with me long after I finished reading. You captured both the allure these people had, and at the same time the tragic sorrow at how short some of their lives were. You captured why they linger still, and fascinate us, in some cases, long after their deaths.

We only get Laurel's perspective, and that makes sense, it is her story after all. However, some of the characters still linger with me. Hannah and Natalie especially. I wonder if they are okay, and while reading I found myself wanting to get inside their head. I wanted to know more about them. Even through Laurel's voice I came to care about them. It impressed me that you managed to create secondary characters that I ended up caring so much about using this format. It's something I worried about before starting your novel, and happily, I need not have.

May is a force that is larger than the novel's pages. She comes to life through Laurel's love for her. As we begin to unravel the mystery of what happened the night she died, my heart sank. Your writing captured not just Laurel's emotions, but what May must have felt in those pivotal moments. I felt like I got to know May just as well as I did Laurel, even it was just only Laurel's version of her. This broken, beautiful girl who maybe had more secrets than Laurel could ever know.

At the end of all this, basically what I am saying is thank you. Thank you for giving me a book that left me feeling everything I felt while reading Perks of Being a Wallflower. Thank you for Laurel, and her heart crushingly beautiful story. I can't wait to read what you write next.

Sincerely,

Kathy

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

I had an awesome book week. I purchased a few books that I am super excited about

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (goodreads)
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (goodreads)
Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin (goodreads)
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby (goodreads)

I enjoyed Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn a lot, and cannot wait to read Dark Places. I read Shiver and really enjoyed it, so I grabbed Linger and hope to finish off the trilogy before Sinner comes out. Dance of the Red Death is a replacement for the copy my friend destroyed (said friend is never borrowing a book from me again). Lastly, A Long Way Down is an impulse purchase because I saw the trailer for the movie, and had to read the book.

I also got two review books. A huge thank you to Raincoast Books for these. I've heard good things about both of them.

Love Letters To The Dead by Ava Dellaira (goodreads)

The Cellar by Natasha Preston (goodreads)

Happy weekend, and happy reading!