The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Release Date – March 10, 2009
Publisher – Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages - 308
My Rating- 8/10

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

In Mary's world there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future-between the one she loves and the one who loves her.

And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

This was my first real Zombie book (as I count Die For Me as something else). I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I am so glad I read it.

The story is heart pounding, and sad. The world Carrie Ryan has created is harsh, and full of danger. I was rooting for the characters to survive and make it through. This is the type of book that has you edge because you can feel the danger, and it seems so real.

Part of me liked Mary and part of me wanted to smack her. She couldn’t make up her mind at all. She bounced all over the place with what she wanted, and never seemed satisfied with anything. She ended up only realizing what she truly wanted when it was too late. I found her to be very realistic though. I think a lot of people don’t truly know what they want (or what they have) until it’s gone.

I loved Travis and Harry. I really enjoyed them both and had a hard time picking between the two in terms of who I liked better (Travis won out in the end). I also enjoyed Cass, Jacob, and Jed as well.

I love that Carrie didn’t sugar coat what would happen in a world like this. People would get bitten, die, and this is the case in this novel. People I didn’t expect to die ended up not making it through this novel. It was different from anything I had read as I wasn’t expecting it.

This book had moments of amazing awesomeness and other moments I felt moved a little slower. They balanced each other out, but I felt itchy to get to the good stuff sometimes.

The ending left a lot of questions unanswered. I want to know the fate of a few of the characters as some are unknown at the end of the book. I know there is a second and third in the series, so hopefully they will answer some of the questions I have. I liked the ending though. Not everything gets tied up in a nice “happily-ever-after” bow.

Waiting on Wednesday - The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith

Here is the Goodreads synopsis -

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

This sounds like a really cute, fun read. I am a sucker for love/romance books and this one sounds like I am going to really like it. The cover is really cute.

Expected release date - Jan 2,2012.

Tabitha Suzuma Interview

I loved Tabitha's Forbidden so much I asked her if she would allow me to interview her. She was extremely nice, and let me ask her a few questions! To learn more about this fantastic author, and her other novels please visit her site here.

When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?

I was six years old when I declared to my mother I would become a writer when I grew up. Then I stuck a picture on the cover of an exercise book and started writing a story about a blind boy.

Who is the first person that gets to read your work?

My best friend.

Can you please tell us a little about your novel Forbidden?

Forbidden is a love story between sixteen-year-old Maya and seventeen-year-old Lochan. They are brother and sister.

What gave you the idea for Forbidden?

Consensual incest was a subject I had wanted to write about for a number of years. I kept rejecting the idea because I thought there was a good chance the subject matter would never get past the gatekeepers. I was only able to take the plunge once I had built up confidence in my writing ability through my previous four books. I was inspired by the desire to write a tragic love story. It came down to incest by a process of elimination. I wanted the book to be set in contemporary London and I needed the two teens in question to be old enough for their love for each other to be taken seriously. But I quickly realised that (fortunately) in modern-day Britain there are very few - if any - obstacles that could keep a couple in love apart. Cultural and religious difference maybe, but if the couple were determined enough to go against their families' wishes, they could always run away together. I needed something that would be condemned by everyone wherever they went - a relationship that could never be and moreover, was against the law.

Did you realize when you were writing it that it would be controversial?

Of course. I actually gave up on the book after writing the first few chapters because I believed that no-one would agree to publish a book for teens about consensual sibling incest. I was persuaded to keep going by my editor, however. But yes, the worry was there all along and the whole book was a battle between keeping the story as realistic as possible (i.e. not glossing over the sexual scenes) and writing a book that wouldn't be banned from every school and bookshop.

What kind of research did you do for this novel?

I got in touch with a wonderfully helpful woman at the Metropolitan Police who answered all my endless questions, both about the characters' legal positions and the details of what they go through at the end of the story. I was also very fortunate in that shortly after starting the book I caught two brilliantly-made television documentaries on the subject. I also found a couple of fascinating magazine articles about siblings who'd had consensual incestuous relationships during their teens.

Did any of the characters grow and have a larger part than you had originally expected?

Yes. I suppose that thirteen-year-old Kit became a more important character than I had anticipated when planning the book. He became much more than just an annoying younger brother, I really began to feel for him as a person and I did not plan the crucial role he would play at in the denouement of the novel until I reached the end.

Which character was the hardest to write? The easiest?

They were all quite easy characters to write because they were all based on people I know - at least in part. Lochan was undoubtedly the most complex, the most unusual, the most emotional and the most intense. Then again, he was the character I identified with the most.

Is there anything you would want someone to know before picking up Forbidden?

Yes. That it's a book about consensual sibling incest. And there are a few explicit love scenes and so it is not a book for children, nor for the faint-of-heart!

Forbidden is quite dark. Do your other works have that same tone?

Yes. Most of my books revolve around mental illness or mental suffering because it is something I am very familiar with. Clinical depression is a condition I have lived with for most of my life and one which has come close to ending it. I guess I write about what I know, what fascinates me, and what I think is important, and all of these topics fall into at least one of those categories. The genius in A Note of Madness and its sequel A Voice in the Distance is Flynn, who is a musical prodigy, and his ‘genius’ was greatly influenced by my then teenage brother who is currently training to become a professional concert pianist. I am also fascinated by the link between mental illness and the artistic temperament. I studied psychology for a while, and one of my favourite books is Touched With Fire by Kay Redfield Jamison, which studies this link by exploring the lives of the many, many illustrious writers, musicians, composers and artists who suffered from some sort of mental illness.

The cover is great. Did you have any input? If not who designed it?

I didn't have much input into the cover of this one. It was designed by the artistic team at Random House UK.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything about any of your books?

No.

What is the last book you read and enjoyed?

We Need to Talk about Kevin, by Lionel Shriver

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
Release Date – June 28, 2011
Publisher – Simon Pulse
Pages - 464
My Rating- 10/10
*Special thanks to the S&S Galley Grab for this one*

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

I don’t know that there is a rating high enough for this book. I know a lot of people after reading the synopsis might be a little leery of picking this one up. Do yourself a favour and read it! I haven’t been as impacted by a book since Stolen by Lucy Christopher. It’s the type of book that grabs your heart, squeezes and leaves you changed.

The writing in this is so hauntingly beautiful. Tabitha manages to break your heart with the littlest words. She makes you feel everything - the pain, the love, the joy, the fear, and the happy family moments too. You are sucked into this little world of Lochan and Maya’s and are so invested in these characters.

I don’t think it’s possible for me to dislike a character as much as I disliked the mother in this book. She’s horrible. The fact that two teenagers were left to be the adults in the house and care for three younger siblings was awful enough, however her coming in and out of their lives was much worse. It broke my heart each time the children would get excited when would come back. I knew she would disappoint them eventually. You see them slowly become more and more broken until your heart shatters for them.

The 5 siblings are so fully developed. You understand why each one does the things they do. You want to protect them, and at the same time shake Lochan and Maya and make them see reason. Lochan and Maya are both so broken. They both have issues even making connections to people outside of the family for fear of people finding out about the home situation. The pressure and stress that these two have would be a lot for most adults, never mind teenagers.

I also ended up caring about the other siblings (Kit, Tiffin, and Willa). I especially loved Willa. Poor, young, Willa. I couldn’t help feel bad that this adorable little child seemed old beyond her young years. It’s almost like she wasn’t getting to be a child. Kit and Tiffin each broken their own way, and act out in different ways. You could see the bond and love between all them (even when Kit pushes Lochan to his breaking point).

The end of the book devastated me. You can see the ending coming, and as you speed towards it you want to scream at the characters to stop. You want to try to prevent it, but really this is the outcome you’ve already come to expect. I will suggest having tissues on hand as it’s a sad, haunting ending that will stay with you.

It’s a heavier read, so make sure you’re in the mood for this type, otherwise I recommend this to everyone. It’s one that is going on my bookshelf in hardcover once it gets released.

Follow Friday/Blog Hop

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends. This weeks question is:

Q. In light of the Summer Solstice. Also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

My favourite fairytale. Hmm....Beauty and the Beast. I've always liked it. The Grimm brother's version and the Disney movie.



Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy-For-Books.com. It's a great way to meet new people and friends around the blogworld!

Q-“When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?”

I was pretty young. I liked to read as long as I could remember, however, I really got into it with the Sweet Valley High books when I was like 12 or so. I went through a faze where all I would read was those book (over and over again). I've pretty much always liked to read though.

Happy weekend and Happy reading!

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty
Release Date – April 26, 2011
Publisher – Balzer + Bray
Pages - 323
My Rating- 6.5/10

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.
When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable.

I picked up Bumped and was so wanting to love it. I love the premise. It seems really believable, and scary. I felt like it could happen in the future. However, this was just an ok read for me

I thought it was interesting to have the two sides - having babies for profit vs. having them to raise yourself. It made me think about what it would be like if this actually happened. I could see the world McCafferty built as being a likely possibility. It definitely made me think, and ask questions of myself.

I found myself getting frustrated with the slang, and words the characters used (ex rilly, for serious). It was really prevalent throughout the whole book and I honestly found it distracting.

The two main characters Melody and Harmony. Harmony is the religious twin, while Melody is the “Pro”. She has a contact to give birth for a wealthy family. While they seem very different, I found their voices very similar. I found it sort of confusing to keep straight whose point of view I was reading as it switched back and forth. It got better as I got more into the story but I really felt like there wasn’t an overt difference. I also had a hard time connecting to either of them. They seemed to be there just so we could see what the effects of both ways living were. They succeeded in this but at a cost of having me really become invested in them.

The one character I really did like was Zen. He was sweet, really loves Melody (even though she won’t admit she likes him too). I just wanted him to get the girl. He provided some chuckles and I hope he has a happy ending when the series ends.

I do think that there will be people who love this book for the exact reasons that I just couldn’t get into it. I just wish that there had been less of a distraction from what was a really interesting premise.

Waiting on Wednesday - A Beautiful Dark

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Here is the Goodreads synopsis -

Skye never questioned the story of her life. Her Aunt Jo adopted her after the death of her parents when she was just a child, and together they flip through memories the way some people flip through photo albums.

She never questioned if the stories were true.

Until the night of her 17th birthday, when the arrival of two strangers intrudes on her cozy life. Polar opposites, like fire and ice, Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair, cold, and aloof. Skye has no idea what they want—only that their presence coincides with the beginning of some shockingly strange events. Events that Skye, if she dares to think it, might be responsible for causing.

High up in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado, Skye finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient battle, one that began untold millennia ago. Torn between unpredictable Asher, whom she loves, and the infuriating Devin, who she can’t stay away from, her fate is murky as a starless night. And as the secrets of her true identity are revealed, Skye realizes that her destiny may reside in the Heavens—or somewhere darker

I love the cover of this. It's really pretty. I also love the synopsis. I like the sounds of the triangle, and the paranormal aspect sounds like it might be different than what is out there now. I have a copy of this waiting for me to read it, and I may have to bump it up my to be read list.

Expected release date - September 27,2011.