From my bookshelf>Nice Girls

Title: Nice Girls/Jane Jameson Series
Author: Molly Harper

Yes. I read this. In fact, I read four of these...and loved every minute of it. No shame.

 Jane Jameson is a straight laced librarian who, once turned into a vampire, gets into all sorts of saucy shenanigans, some of which take place in a restaurant called Shenanigans. This series was absolute fluff but carried with it a great sense of humour and some pretty fun naughty bits. Jane is a great character; she is snarky and sarcastic but also lovable. Molly Harper does a great job creating believable dialogue that made me laugh. I kept thinking "this sounds me and my friends". Plus did you see that cover? It's gloriously hilarious. 

My husband made fun of me so much over these. He's reading Game of Thrones and would say "I can't believe so and so died" and I'd say (minor spoiler alert) "yeah well, Jane is trying on bridesmaid dresses for a werewolf wedding"...cue husbandly eyeroll.

I would classify these as better written than the Sookie Stackhouse books with a more likable heroine and much better dialogue, but with less serious and less complicated story lines. 

Will I read more Molly Harper? Probably. But only if her next series has equally embarrassing titles and covers.

>Cassie

From My Bookshelf > Fifty Shades of Grey

Title: Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy 
Author: E.L James

Yep I jumped on this bandwagon...I had no idea what to expect, but I liked Twilight , and after hearing a friend say it was good, I thought I would try it - and I  actually couldn't put it down - which seems to be my MO when it comes to books I am against. 


So I imagine most of you know what it's about, and if not..well Twilight S&M fan fiction turned best selling trilogy.  It's explicit... - ban worthy? definitely not. I am not really sure what all the uproar is about. I didn't find it anti-feminist. for me it was a story of 2 people, from different walks off life, trying to find some middle ground. Instead of feeling offended by Grey's character and his umm ... relationship habits  I wanted to learn more about why he was the way he was. Having never read anything in this genre, I have nothing to compare it to  - but I am sure there is way more disturbing books out there.


So did you read ? I am not sold on the idea of this as a movie - unless it's a showtime or HBO series a la true blood... thoughts? It must be kinda weird for K-Stew and R-Patz knowing these were written with them in mind lol... 


> Jessi

From My Book Shelf> The Affinity Bridge

Title: The Affinity Bridge

Author: George Mann

This has been sitting in my goodreads "to read" list since November of last year, but I was too busy reading YA dystopian, Vampire, changling, psychic, romance to bother with this until now. 

I have mixed feelings about this book. The dialogue was pretty snappy and some of the concepts were great and really creative, but there was just so much going on! It was steampunk, and zombies, and mystery, and magic and psychics and it all seemed like just too much. At one point i was like "really? you want to include that genre too? okay then!" Romance was minimal, which is okay, but I like my steam punk mysteries like I like my TV crime procedurals, rife with sexual tension. I found what tension there was between the lead characters to feel pretty forced and one sided...and I'm not sure if I like the way Mr. Mann writes from a woman's perspective.

While I said most of the concepts were pretty creative, there were a few times where I thought to myself, "I've seen this used before" and I really haven't read that much steam punk. 

All in all I think I'll be waiting quite a while before I even attempt to tackle the next two books in this series. Now back to witches, vampires, pixies, demons, and weres! Loving The Hollows series <3 (and please CW make it a TV Series!!!)

>Cassie

From My Bookshelf > Perks of Being a Wallflower

Title: Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky

I think the driving force of me reading this book is that Emma Watson was in the movie lol - I am literary like that. 

I have to say for a coming of age book for a grade 9 boy (which I am not and have never been) I loved it, and have told most of my friends to read it. I had low expectations thinking it would be like Catcher in the Rye- which I read as an adult and just wanted to smack Holden the whole time, Perks' Charlie was likable!

The style of the book is written sort of diary style, letters to an anonymous friend, at first it was a bit hard to read, as his thoughts and witting were a bit scattered, but as he starts reading more (through books his teacher assigns him on the side) you can see the affect it's having on his ability to tell his stories... so what I am saying is don't give up after the first few letters! It's short it won't demand a lot of your time, and from what I can see online most people give it 5 stars - a handful give it 1 - I want to know what you think :)


Are you on GoodReads? Have you set up a 2012 reading challenge yet?

> Jessi

 

From My Bookshelf > Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me

Title: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? And Other Concerns

Author: Mindy Kaling

So I read this awhile ago but am not so good in the book review department so it has been sitting in drafts alone and feeling unwanted. It shouldn't feel that way - I very much enjoyed this book! 

It is one of those nice quick reads that makes you laugh out loud.. so yeah if you like the Office, you read Bossy Pants and liked it - and well you like Chelsea Handler books but are looking for something that isn't soaked in vodka and wrapped in a one night stand, you will find this a worth wild read .

I have read about 6 more books since this  - I need to get back on track! I hear a round up post in the works :)

What have you been reading?

> Jessi

From My Bookshelf: Cinder

Title: Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer

I have been waiting for this to come out since I saw previews for it online. Cyborg Cinderella? Uh, hello! Sign me up!  Plus the cover is pretty rad.

I thought it was pretty well written for the YA genre for which I usually  have low expectations. What I liked the most though was her concepts of how cyborgs would be treated and the twists on the classic fairy tale.  There were enough changes that the text didn't become stale, but still gave you the links to it's origins you were looking for.

I will say the heroine is kinda slow. I knew what was going to happen chapters before she did, but that may be because I had glimpses into what was happening with other characters. Either way, I spent a good amount of time yelling at the book :P

I'm glad I went into this knowing it's the first part of a trilogy otherwise I would have been pretty miffed but I was surprised that they did wrap up one of the major plot points before the end.  I can't wait for the next one, my sister Shmemadoo has been asking me "How long 'til the next one?!?"

> Cassie

From My Bookshelf > Summer Reads

I've discovered that book reviews are not my strong point, I like to read, but I am not great at reviewing them.. I hopeless with out a book club guide telling me what I should be taking away from it :)

This summer I also got hooked on using the kindle, they are kinda amazing! Here's what kept me busy this summer. What did you read?

great read!! loved this series though I felt it could have been done in 2 books

funny - but I think I had higher expectations for it and it was as funny as I hoped

total guilty pleasure - but really I couldn't even tell you what happened in this one, they all meld together in my brain

excellent!!! Totally worth checking out and then go see the movie!

Currently Reading: Swamplandia! By Karen Russell

> Jessi

from my bookshelf> Lady Julia Gray Series

Title: Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Silent on the Moor, Dark Road to Darjeeling
Author: Deanna Raybourn

I found this series after I read the Gail Carriger books.  I really enjoyed the Victorian setting and mystery in that series and I think I ended up googling "Victorian mystery". 

 While there's a lot less supernatural stuff happening in this series, there is a twinge of the other worldly.  Can't divulge more without spoiling it for you.  I think technically these are classified as "Mystery Romance" but they are way more mystery.  The leading man is a Holmes-y type character, which I kind of like (watching both BBC Sherlock and the new Holmes Movies) and a little rough around the edges.  The only quarrel I have with the series is that the heroine, Julia Gray, is sometimes incredibly slow...I feel like she should be a little more quick witted.  All in all though I really enjoyed them!

>Cassie

from my bookshelf> The Parasol Protectorate

Title(s): Soulless, Changeless, Blameless
Author: Gail Carriger

Like Jessi, I am also on a vampires and werewolves kick; but throw in a dash of steampunk, comedy, romance and mystery!  Mixing so many genres should be a mess but I found it to be funny and engaging.  I read this series a while back while I was looking for something to introduce me to steampunk writing and I guess you could call this steampunk light. Less automatons and dirigibles, more vamps, werewolves, & ghosts. I couldn't put the first book in the series down and quickly got the rest of them.


The Victorian mannerisms almost seem like a caricature and it's funny to see characters trying to keep up their decorum in situations that definitely do not call for it.  "Mr. Vampire, if you would kindly stop trying to attack me maybe we could discuss this in a civilized manner?"  I kind of love witty banter ... the same sort of thing that makes me watch old Bogey and Bacall movies :)


I also like it when love interests infuriate each other and there's plenty of that here! A stubborn, strong willed heroine and a fiery short tempered suitor? Yes, please!  I can't wait for the next installment, Heartless, that's being published this summer!


> Cassie

from my bookshelf > A Discovery of Witches

Title: A Discovery of Witches

Author: Deborah Harkness

Clearly I am on a supernatural/vampire whatever kick, and this book is all over that- so I had high hopes - and was initially feeling disappointing as it seemed to drag with no direction... or more accurately  multiple directions (is it about her powers? a book? vampire attacks? scientific studies on wolves? ), but near the end I started to really get into it and once I was done the more I thought about the book, the more intrigued I was with the world, it's like those movies you sit through, your not sure about and then days later you are still thinking about it and you decide you liked it? - it was like that.


She goes on a whole DNA, Evolution, survival of the fittest take with the supernatural beings and like other series, there are good vampires/witches and bad ones, the 3 species are a secret from humans and of course forbidden love... and well really what's the point of a vampire story without it?? 


I was a bit confused (and still am a little) about the several plot lines started -I didn't realize it was a series and once realizing that is made much more sense why things were touched on and then seemingly dropped. I am going to assume they will matter later in the books. To me it was a lot like The Fellowship of the Ring in the sense that it was just a build up & gathering of  to what should be a really great battle of beings for their place in the world.


next on my reading list: The Hunger Games

From My Book Shlef > Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea

Title: Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea

Author: Chelsea Handler

There isn't much to say about this book - it's a collection of short stories about comedian Chelsea Handlers life, and if you know her show or have read her any of her other books, you basically get what you expect - arrogant, brash tales of her drunken escapades...which is is exactly why I love her! This is definitely a quick fun read (it took me two days to zip through it) for people who enjoy her sense of humor - and if you don't then this book is absolutely not for you and would probably offend. For those not familiar,  I would suggest watching her show first before buying this - to make sure you share her brand of humor.

next on my reading list: A Discovery of Witches

From My Book Shelf > The Radley's

Title: The Radleys

Author: Matt Haig

I was immediately drawn to the cover, but once I read the back and saw it was about vampires, I put it back on the shelf. Then while trying to remember the name of the book I had planed to buy, I got out my phone to look EW website, and the first book that came up was "The Radleys" I took this as a sign I should probably read it - and not worry about my husband making fun of me for reading another vampire book, and I am glad I did!

The Radleys was a fresh take on the idea of vampires, and although there is romance it is not in the same vein as the tween vampire books. I read a review that compared it to America Beauty - and I can't think of a better way to describe it - American Beauty with Vampires, witty, dark and *gasp* smart!

Next on my reading list: Are You There Vodka? it's Me Chelsea 

I'd love top hear what are you/have you been reading!

From My Book Shelf > People of the Book

I  like to read. My taste vary, but I am definitely not a literary connoisseur  - (My book shelves have Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse on them... so yeah, I'm not exactly a book snob lol). However I read a lot and like to know what others are reading and always love to hear and share book suggestions!

Title: People of the Book

Author: Geraldine Brooks (a Pulitzer Prize winner!)

I was lent this book from a friend and was not really sure about it and it sat on my shelf for a few months waiting for me. So I finally decided to pick it up and was pleasantly surprised. I won't relay the whole synopsis when you can read better written ones on line here! 

It's not a long book, but does have a few lulls in the plot that I had to plow through, but overall it's well written, and well developed -especially as some characters only have a chapter to leave an impact. As a book highly built on religions - it's not preachy, or judgmental. The book is sad but hopeful and vividly described - she makes it easy to picture life over the years in Sarajevo - somewhere I know little about.

My only negative point would be that the main story line (the present day one) didn't have the same tone as the historical plot lines. It felt almost like it could have been from a different book (a Dan Brown book), but overall I would feel completely safe recommending it to people!

next on my reading list: The Radley's