Summer Mini-Readathon Mini-Challenge #3

Jenn at Booksessed hosts Mini-Challenge #3:

Pick one of the books that you're reading during the readathon. Post a pic of the cover. Then go find a cover of another edition that you love: paperback vs. hard, second editions, international, fan-made...whatever strikes your fancy. Or pick one that you don't get/like or both! Post both pics in your blog stating what you like or don't like about the covers, then link up your post. It's that simple.

I was reading Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (Immortals After Dark #4) by Kresley Cole. This is the cover of my edition:

I think this cover fits the title and the content perfectly, especially the background elements - the Moon, winter, headstone. The characters are represented well, and I like the fact that their faces are obsured. I want to make my own image of the characters and places, so I don't like too revealing covers, such as:

This is the cover of the German edition. It reveals far too much (and the people on the cover are miles from the characters' depiction). Also this cover gives an impression the book is all about sex, which is not at all the case. Sex is a part of the book, but it is not even its focus on my opinion.

However, my absolutely favourite cover is:

According to Goodreads, this is still the same book, just titled differently. I think the original title tells more about the book than this one, although all the titles in this series are in a way misleading and do not tell a lot about the content. The cover, though, is beautiful and fits the title. It also fits the content - the dark purple of the rose, frosted, emerging from the darkness. It is simply gorgeous.

Summer Mini-Readathon Mini-Challenges #1

Sarah at Sarah Says hosts Summer Mini-Readathon. The first mini-challenge! It's pretty basic - a start-of-the-event survey.

1. Tell everyone three random things about yourself:

- 1) I sometimes watch cycling races TV broadcasts to see some great places – right now the scenery – nature, cities, castles – on Tour de France is amazing.

- 2) Over the past few months I’ve become a little (okay, a lot) addicted to anything connected to The Vampire Diaries – watched the show, currently working through the books (so far read four), and of course love the music from the show.     

- 3) I eat fish, but I don’t like seafood. 

2. Is this your first readathon?

Yes.

3. Do you have any specific goals for today? (# of books or pages to read?)

I want to read two books (or 500 pages).

4. Do you have any specific snacks, drinks, or books planned?

Snacks: I will have some chocolate-vanilla-strawberry ice-cream, and sin with some chocolate, though.

Drink: I usually drink water, nothing special in that department.

Book plans: I was saving Kresley Cole’s Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night for this event; otherwise I’ll grab what I feel in the mood for.

5. What hours do you plan on reading during? 

I’m planning on reading during noon to midnight European Central Summer Time – CEST (that is 6. a.m. to 6. p.m. US EST, if my calculation is correct).

It’s Summer Mini-Readathon Day

So, today is the day. Sarah at Sarah Says hosts Summer Mini-Readathon.

As it often happens to me, I was not sure how much I would be able to participate up until the last minute, even though I signed up pretty early. However, a friend cancelled our meeting (*makes sad, disappointed face*), but that’s what the books are for, to make us feel better, right. So, on the good side, I can do a lot of reading.

I decided to do the Mini-Readathon between noon and midnight European Central Summer Time - CEST (that is 6. a.m. to 6. p.m US EST, if my calculation is correct). I chose this time, because I had things to do in the morning (going to Church being one of them) and I don’t have to get up early tomorrow.

My book pile at hand: 

It Must be Love by Rachel Gibson

Sacred Sins by Nora Roberts

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night  (Immortals After Dark #4) by Kresley Cole

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Nightfall (The Vampire Diaries #5) by L. J Smith

I decided to just add updates as they come to this post. I will, however, put up separate posts for mini-challenges. 

And since it is 4 p.m. here, this starting post already needs updates.

UPDATE #1

• Time: 4 p.m. CEST (10 a m. US EST)
• Books read: 1 – It Must be Love by Rachel Gibson (276 pages), Slovene translation, 
• Reading time: 2 hrs 15 min
• Break time:  50 min for lunch & washing up, 45 min and still running for doing this post, posting….

UPDATE #2

•  Time: 8 p.m. CEST (2 p m. US EST)
• Books read since the last update: I'm on page 80 of Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night by Kresley Cole
• Reading time: 1 hrs 40 min

•  Total number of pages read so far: 355
•  Total reading time so far: 3 hrs 55 min

UPDATE #3

•  Time: 12 p.m. CEST (6 p m. US EST)
• Books read since the last update: I'm on page 184 of Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night by Kresley Cole
• Reading time: 2 hrs 5 min

FINAL STATS:

•  Books read: 1 and a half
• Total number of pages read : 460
• Total reading time: 6 hrs 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I had a blast doing this. I felt a little tired and sleepy towards the end, but otherwise it was great, especially knowing other people are reading at the same time as me. I would have probably read more if I started with the second book and then read the first but it really doesn't matter. I did quite a lot of reading - it does not happen often that I read one and a half book in a day. Of course I will be reading the remaining books on the pile (see above) in the next days (or better said - weeks). Overall, this was a fun experience. 

The Luxe (Luxe #1) by Anna Godbersen

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): In the self-contained world of young Gilded Age Manhattan socialites, Elizabeth and Diana Holland reign supreme. Or so it seems. Scratch the surface, though, and you can detect festering jealousies that threaten to topple them. Elizabeth suffers a more literal fall when her carriage overturns and she is carried away by the swift East River current. That's only the beginning of the action and suspense in The Luxe, the launch volume in a teen series by Anna Godbersen.

MY OPINION:

Through more than three quarters of the book I was wavering between loving it and hating it. The last sixty pages or so made me tilt to the first option.

The Luxe is basically a soap opera in the written form. I love soap operas. And I hate them. That is, I love splendour and romance, but I hate scheming and misunderstandings.

Now, I must explain myself. I am the kind of a reader who suffers when being in the know of what the characters have no idea about, especially when it hurts them. It makes me nervous and I wish I could skip all of it and just find out what happens. Although, I am perfectly fine with scheming when I can solve it alongside the characters. Knowing the core of the problem in advance, however, does not work from me. Unfortunately, The Luxe follows the let-the-reader-be-in-the-know concept, which I don't like. 

Godbersen knows how to create ambience. Her writing conjures luxurious homes, glamorous attires and dazzling people right before your eyes. Then it takes you from all the wealth to the modest rooms of the less fortunate, their rough dresses, and daily toiling. As Godbersen lets you take a look at the lives of the New York society of the late 19^th century, she shows you a two-sided canvas: one side out in the open for everybody to see, and the other hidden, dark, full of secrets.

What bothered me the most in The Luxe was the insincerity in the relationships between people. Everyone is so concerned with decorum that nobody says what they truly mean. Even family members cannot openly speak to each other about what troubles them, because it is not appropriate, thus the relations between them are often unaffectionate due to numerous misunderstandings. 

The one character I truly liked and rooted for in this book was Diana Holland. She is a rebellious girl who speaks her thoughts. She is pristine, full of life, adventurous and unlike any other society girl. She reads inappropriate books in her craving for knowledge and breaks rules. Wanting to find out what happens to Diana was what kept me reading all those times I was about to give up on the book.

Her sister Elizabeth is a good character, too, but she feels bound by duty to her family, which almost makes her ruin her chances for happiness. I was really sad for her alienation from her sister, but I was really happy that the circumstances forced her to step out of conformity and try to make her own luck.

Overall, the social atmosphere of the era with its hypocritical conventions does not appeal to me, which made me struggle thorough the book. However, the story of the Holland sisters is intriguing. Therefore, I will continue reading the series, because I am very curious about how their lives continue.

RECOMMENDATION: This is the book for someone who likes a well-described settings and vivid atmosphere of the Gilded Age. 

Book Blogger Hop, July 8 – 11, 2011

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books. It is a great way of discovering new blogs and meeting fellow book bloggers, talking about books and authors, and sharing our love for literature.

This week Jennifer gave us a task:

This week’s question isn’t a question at all! I thought I would do things a little differently this week and give all of you a chance to promote a giveaway (or two!) from the blogosphere.

The catch?

IT CAN’T BE YOUR OWN GIVEAWAY!

Gotcha!

You have to find another blogger who is having a giveaway and promote their giveaway for them! If possible, promote a giveaway from a blogger doing the Hop (hey, you are visiting other blogs anyway, right?). Have fun with this one! It’s not an easy task this week! 

MY RESPONSE:

Ellie of Musings of a Bookshop Girl gives away two books from an amazing selection. Go and check it out!

Booking Through Thursday – Dog Days

 

Since my dog is turning 10 today … what animal-related books have you read? Which do you love? Do you have a favorite literary dog? (Snoopy, anyone?)

White Fang by Jack London is the first book that comes to my mind, then Lassie, naturally. I am sure I read quite some animal-related books; I just cannot remember titles and authors.

My absolute favourite literary dog of all times though is Kazan, the protagonist of Kazan by James Oliver Curwood. Kazan is a tamed half-wolf/half-dog and the book is mostly written from his point of view. Kazan is a loyal and smart dog. His life is very hard as he changes a lot of “owners”, some very cruel, has many adventures and helps many people. It is an amazing, heat-wrenching story which I read several times and it made me laugh and cry every time. I recommend this book to everyone. I love it.

Coming Soon! Bookie Brunch

Coming soon: Bookie Brunch 
Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)
Come join the discussion! 
* Every Sunday*

Is there anything better than getting together with your friends and discussing something you are all passionate about? Maybe, but not much. So, let’s get together on Sunday over Bookie Brunch and talk authors, characters, stories, genres, and everything else related to what we love – books, books, books.

What’s Bookie Brunch all about?: Bookie Brunch is a weekly

meet-up, held every Sunday, where book bloggers can have a cup of tea

and chat about a particular bookie question of interest.

The discussion is open from Sunday through Wednesday, and you’re

welcome to drop by any time to add your opinion or read what other

people have to say.

This discussion is open as well to general readers or bloggers in a

different field, authors, publishers and publicists.

Courtesy guidelines: All thoughtful comments will be considered

and probably get a response from fellow bloggers. In fact, you’re

encouraged to talk about it and share viewpoints or include links to

relevant materials. We’d like everyone to have a nice time. Differing

viewpoints are just fine, even if strongly expressed, but inflammatory

or off-topic comments will be removed.

Contact Bookie Brunch

Be a guest at an upcoming brunch: @StoryWings 

Bring goodies for a giveaway: @StoryWings 

Suggest a question: @LiederMadchen

Browse Bookie Brunch discussions (after July 2011, archive):
The Fluidity of Time

Find Bookie Brunch

You’re invited! Feel free to join us every Sunday for great

company, fun discussions, and occasional goodie giveaways. Some upcoming dates are listed below, it’ll be great to see you there.
Calling all bookies - grab a seat and let’s talk books.

Upcoming Bookie Brunches in July 2011:

We’ll be talking about e-readers vs. print editions, fantasy vs.

realism in books, characters vs. plot, and lots of other cool and

bookish questions.

Sunday, July 10

Host: Songs and Stories (@LiederMadchen)

Sunday, July 17

Host: Moonlight Gleam’s Bookshelf (@MoonlightGleams)

Sunday, July 24

Host: This Miss Loves To Read (@MissIrenne)

Sunday, July 31

Host: Beyond Strange New Words (@StrangeNewWords) 

More Bookie Brunches: Every Sunday, July 2011 through December 2011:

Upcoming dates on the schedule.

Would you like to be a guest on an upcoming brunch, bring a giveaway,

or send a question? Feel free! Please leave your info below, and then

contact the Bookie Bruncher who can help get you set up:

Contact Bookie Brunch

Be a guest at an upcoming brunch: @StoryWings 

Bring goodies for a giveaway: @StoryWings 

Suggest a question: @LiederMadchen 

The first Bookie Brunch is open for a delicious discussion on July 10, at Songs and Stories . 

I’m going to be a host at an upcoming Bookie Brunch on July 31, feel free to drop by. See you there!

The Reunion (The Vampire Diaries #4) by L. J. Smith

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Elena summons the vampire trio once more to unite and challenge their fate. Together they will be called to face the most terrifying evil Fell's Church has ever known.

MY OPINION: 
The fourth book in The Vampire Diaries series is written mostly from Bonnie’s point of view. After a short period of respite, during which Fell’s Church recovers from the last manifestation of evil paranormal forces, strange things begin happening again.

Through an unlikely way, Bonnie is warned of a great evil which is threatening the town and its inhabitants. In order to fight it, Bonnie seeks the help of the Salvatore brothers, who for once seem to get along and try to work together although for different reasons. While the relationship between the brothers slowly changes, some intriguing information about each of the two is revealed.

Bonnie takes over the lead role in The Reunion. Although people consider her fragile, and her friends want to protect her, she is smart and resourceful and proves her strength when the least expected. She and the other characters give the reader plenty of surprises throughout the book.

In The Reunion, Smith keeps the secretive and suspenseful style from The Fury, leaving the readers on pins and needles about the development of events. The big battle between the good and the bad side is messy and hectic. Pandemonium ensues and everything goes on so fast it makes your head spin. Smith creates a tangible atmosphere which puts the reader right in the middle of action. Also, Smith creates tangible spiritual and subconscious experiences, which I liked very much.

I could say much more in this review, but I am rather making it vague as to avoid including spoilers. Overall, I loved the book, and I will probably have to reread it soon to really grasp all the tiny details. 

RECOMMENDATION: This is an action-packed continuation of the series, full of surprises. It is a fast and thoroughly suspenseful read which puts you in danger of wanting a reread.