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10 on Tuesday: the book series I enjoy edition

I posted last week about the books I'm looking forward to being released in 2012 and mentioned that there are a number of series (particularly YA series, since that seems to be the only way in which a book can get published these days -- as part of an ongoing series) that I'm excited to continue during 2012 with new releases. Here's a collection of the ones which I'm most excited about:

The Enchantress by Michael Scott:
I've really loved the entire pantheon of immortals and gods/goddesses that Scott has invoked in these books. There's such a wide variety of cultures represented, which is a bonus for a myth-geek like myself. Plus, he tells a great story, so it's a winning combination all around.

Black Heart by Holly Black:
Black's Curse Workers series is one of the most original series to hit the paranormal YA shelves in some time -- it's like a (much needed) breath of fresh air. She's one very talented writer, and she's constantly putting out strong, quality material.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver:
I think this book has already been released (just within the past week, maybe?) Or perhaps it will be released within the next week. Anyway, you can get it soon. While I thought the overall idea for the series seemed awfully similar to Westerfeld's Ugly series, I can't deny the appeal of Oliver's prose. She writes so gorgeously, that I can forgive a multitude of sins in her books just because of the writing.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth:
Roth's dystopian debut was one of the best additions to this wildly popular trend that I've read in some time. I'm excited to see how she continues building this future world and how her characters continue to develop.

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan:
While I don't enjoy The Kane Chronicles as much as I like the two Olympus series, Riordan's work still completely captures my attention while I read. I love his use of mythology, and he has a knack for action, dialogue, and compelling characters. I'm also excited about the next Lost Heroes book due out in the fall, The Mark of Athena.

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor:
This is one that I'm seriously excited about. Taylor writes like a dream, and the world she has created takes standard paranormal fare and turns it into something otherworldly. Not to be missed!

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare:
Even though I get so aggravated by her characters at times, this is a series that I can't imagine not completing. And I think the fact that I react to the characters the way that I do speaks to how much I enjoy the series, even when it makes me angry! ha!

The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson:
I was really (delightfully) surprised by the strength of Carson's first novel; it reminded me so much of Robin McKinley's The Hero & The Crown, which remains one of my favorite YA novels of all time ever in the history of the world. This is another one that I'm really excited about -- I know I'll be picking it up immediately upon hardcover release.

Timeless by Gail Carriger:
I've really enjoyed the magic and manners atmosphere of this series. The books are quick, light reads and they are a lot of fun. They're great for a break in between longer or heavier reads. Definitely a series to spend some time with if you need something a little fluffy.

The Darkness Dwellers by Kirsten Miller: (cover art not available)
The Kiki Strike series is just perfect: a band of misfit girls, each with some awesome talents, work as spies and discover a secret underground world in New York City. There's so much cool stuff in these stories, and they are exceptionally well-written.

And a bonus for you:

Cold Days by Jim Butcher: (cover art not available)
Harry Dresden is my favorite wizard by far, and after 14 books, Butcher is still able to keep me reading late into the night, wondering just what is going to happen next and stifling my snickers at Dresden's smart mouth. 

 

 

 

10 on Tuesday: the 2012 books I'm looking forward to

It doesn't matter that my to-read list at Goodreads has 444 books on it; it doesn't matter that I literally have a bookcase at home that's completely full of books I haven't read yet; it doesn't matter that I just went to both the public libraries to which I have access and checked out a stack of books from each. None of those things matter, because when the following 10 books are released this year, I will pick them up as soon as possible! Some of these are books that I've been waiting on for quite some time. Others are from authors whom I've just discovered -- and isn't that a nice feeling, to know that your newest author crush is quite prolific, rather than being someone you have to wait years to get another novel from (hello, Patrick Rothfuss!)

1. The Woman Who Married a Cloud: Collected Stories by Johnathan Carroll (June 2012)
This is probably the release I'm most excited about this year, for several reasons. One, it feels like it has been FOREVER since Carroll released something new. Two, this is a signed limited edition, and I was lucky enough to place a preorder in time. It will take a place of honor among my other signed books (I'm beginning to amass quite a collection, which makes me all goopy-happy). 

2. Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers (March 13 2012)
Tim Powers is another novelist that I adore; every time I go to the bookstore, I make sure to check the section where his books are, in case he released something and I wasn't aware of it. This novel is a follow-up, though not necessarily a sequel, to The Stress of Her Regard, and I'm really looking forward to immersing myself in the product of his imagination, intelligence, and sheer genius.

3. Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore (May 1 2012)
I can't wait to step back into the world of The Seven Kingdoms; Cashore's writing is a real treat, and I love that these books really feel like intelligent fantasy written FOR women. 

4. The Diviners by Libba Bray (November 6 2012)
Libba Bray makes my list of the best YA authors of all time; she's intelligent, screamingly funny, sarcastic, observant, talented. Her range is astounding, and I'm looking forward to getting into some well-written historical fiction with a supernatural slant again.

5. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (July 10 2012)
I thought this first book in this series was a great combination of a number of different subgenres that I enjoy: novels featuring academic research, time travel, paranormal. Wrap all that up in one package and it definitely appeals to me. I'm excited to see what some of my favorite historical characters will look like in Harkness's able hands.

6. The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Cathrynne M. Valente (April ?? 2012)
I am not positive that the sequel to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making will actually be released in April -- nothing seems as set in stone as these other releases are. However, this book definitely makes this list, because I have a massive crush on the first book and cannot wait to continue September's story.

7. The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King (April 24 2012)
The Dark Tower has always been one of my favorite book series, and when I thought that Stephen King might not live to finish the series, I was so distraught. I'm thrilled to see that he's revisiting Mid-world again.

8. The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan (September 11 2012)
This novel has already been released in Australia and (perhaps?) the UK, under the name Sea Hearts. I don't think I've ever come across an author whose work can move me like Lanagan -- her work is powerful, gut-wrenching, and hard to stomach, but it's also illuminating, lyrical, and eerily beautiful.

9. Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak (September 2012)
This is another book where the publication information is sketchy, but I'm hoping that the latest info I've seen is accurate. Zusak is another go-to YA author for me, and I wish he had a more extensive body of work, because it's hard to wait three or four years between books. 

10. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (September 18 2012)
Another great new series in the works from Maggie Stiefvater. She's got loads of talent, and she writes the kind of fantasy that I love to read, so really, it's a match made in heaven.  

 In putting together this list, I came across lots of series that will be continuing with new releases this year. Come back next week for a glimpse at some of the YA and mid-grades series that I'm most excited about continuing this year.

 

10 on Tuesday: the books about magicians edition

My visit with Erin Morgenstern the other night still has me thinking about her novel, The Night Circus, and how it has so many of the wonderful things that I like reading about most in books, particularly stage magicians. Because of that, I thought I'd do a 10 on Tuesday roundup for you of books that I think are particularly excellent that have magicians (stage or otherwise) in them, plus a few that just have the general feel of The Night Circus to them.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell  |  The Prestige  |  The Ladies of Grace Adieu

Normally, I would put these first two on my list, but since Ms. Morgenstern herself cited them as strong influences on the book, I'll just link them up again for you and then move on to my official list. Let it be understood that I recommend both of these whole-heartedly. (Let me also add that if you haven't read Susanna Clarke's collection of short stories, you should rectify that problem quickly, as well.)

Carter Beats the Devil  |  Something Wicked This Way Comes

(1 & 2) Gold's novel is one of the best about stage magicians that I've ever read. He perfectly captures the time period in this great rambling novel; unfortunately, he's not written anything that lives up to my expectations of his work since. Bradbury's novel is just a classic; I think that Morgenstern has done an excellent job of capturing the sensory feel of the circus, much as Bradbury does in all his novels.

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent  |  The House on Durrow Street  |  The Master of Heathcrest Hall

(3) I've only read the first book in this series, but it has that delightful mix of magic and manners that I enjoy so much more than just manners alone. 

The Magicians  |  The Magician King

(4) I can't rave about these books enough. Such a perfect combination of the fantasy novels from my youth, combined with a cynical, adult, literary fiction. I'm still waiting on information about Book #3 to be released.

Sorcery and Cecelia  |  The Grand Tour  |  The Mislaid Magician

(5) This trio is such fun. Again, it's a combination of magic and manners, with a delightful sense of humor. The novels are written in epistolary-style, which normally I hate, but in this instance, it works incredibly well, because each author takes a character, so there are two very distinct voices at work. Obviously, these are YA, but they remain some of my favorites in this subgenre.

A College of Magics  |  A Scholar of Magics

(6) These two take tales of magic and manners one step further -- they're both set on college campuses. And not just any college, but colleges for magic! Squeee! Spazzing aside, the first novel in the series is fantastic; the second is waiting patiently in a stack next to my bed, hoping to be the book I pick up next.

Soulless  |  Changeless  |  Blameless  |  Heartless  |  Timeless

(7) This series, known as The Parasol Protectorate series, is just a lot of fun. These are quick, light reads that combine the best of paranormal romance, Regency manners, and even a touch of steampunk.

The Stress of Her Regard  |  Hide Me Among the Graves

(8) This Tim Powers novel (and its sequel, which will be released in March -- YAY!) is much darker and scarier than The Night Circus, but it still gives me that same kind of feeling. Powers is known for writing "secret histories," which focus on historical events that are influenced by magic. 

Thirteenth Child  |  Across the Great Barrier  |  The Flight of Michael McBride

(9) These novels move the mixture of magic and manners from Regency England to the Old West. The first two are a series by Pat Wrede (who co-wrote the Sorcery and Cecelia series listed above), and the Snyder book is listed because it fits in so perfectly with these other two. Wrede's series will eventually feature a third book, of course.

Neverwhere  |  The Twelfth Enchantment

(10, Bonus) Gaiman's novel really doesn't share any similarities with Morgenstern's novel, except that his "Other London" has the same feel -- what's around the next corner? -- as The Night Circus, so it's more an issue of mood, I think. The Liss novel is a bonus -- I've never read it, but I came across it while compiling this list, and it looks interesting, so it's going on my own to-read pile. 

10 on Tuesdays: the books I want to read edition

source

The YALSA awards were announced yesterday; I spent a lazy hour in bed, curled up under my warm comforter, following the tweets as each honor book and winner was announced. It was pretty amazing to see BOOKS trending nationwide. As a result, my to-read list has grown immensely in just the past 24 hours. In particular, I'm always interested in the winners of the Printz award and the Alex Award. For those of you who enjoy YA fiction but like to dip into the adult shelves at your local library or bookstore, the Alex Award winners offer a great crossing-over place. In looking back through the past few years, I've read and enjoyed a number of each year's winners. Here's a look at the ones I recommend, as well as 10 books I've added to my list to pick up on my next library visit.

2012 winners:
Ready Player One
The Night Circus
Salvage the Bones
The New Kids: Big Dreams and Brave Journeys at a High School for Immigrant Teens
The Talk-Funny  Girl
The Lover's Dictionary
In Zanesville

2011:
Room
The Radleys
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
The House of Tomorrow
The Lock Artist
The Vanishing of Katharina Linden 

 2010:
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
The Magicians
Soulless
The Bride's Farewell

Have you read any of the titles that I didn't link? I've been aware of several of them for a while, but there are a few others that have made it onto my TBR list because of the awards. 

What about you? Are you more or less likely to pick up a book if you see it's an award winner? Sometimes I'm a little worried about the hype, because I do try to go into every reading of every book with an open mind, but it's oh so hard to do...

10 on Tuesday: Best Books of 2011

2011 was another good year of reading; early on, I set a goal (using Goodreads' Reading Challenge tool) of 100 books. I'm pleased to report that I ended up reading 122 books, thanks in large part to a huge reading spurt in late December while I was on Christmas break. 

Because I'm a nerd like this, I'll end up putting together some stats for my reading this year (again, something that Goodreads makes really easy for me), such as the total number of pages read, average number of pages per book, and number of books with 300+ pages.  Here's a breakdown of how many books I read each month this year. I may even go back and compare that to previous years, to see what kind of reading habits I've developed over the long run. I'll keep track of that info in my reading mini-album.

January: 5 books
February:  9 books
March: 16 books
April: 11 books
May: 7 books
June: 6 books
July: 9 books
August: 7 books
September: 7 books
October:  8 books
November: 16 books
December: 20 books 

(According to those stats, I'm only coming up with 121 books -- not sure where that extra book is.)

As always, I read a lot of YA fiction this year, as well as a lot of science fiction/fantasy. A lot of the novels I read were series, which I wish would quit being such a big thing, particularly in YA fiction. I read a lot of mediocre novels and some really, really excellent novels as well (thankfully, the list of stinkers is pretty short). Here's a look at my 10 favorite reads for 2011; not all of them were 5-star reads (and some 5-star reads didn't even make it onto this list). Just because I give a book 5 stars doesn't make it one of my automatic favorites; I've reserved this list for books that I tell others they absolutely MUST READ:

*Disclaimer: These are in no particular order.

  The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
A lovely, lovely book about sisters and growing up, among other things.

Chime by Franny Billingsly
I picked this up because of Andrea's recommendation, and I thought it was pure magic.  

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Cathrynne M. Valente
This book was everything that I want a children's fantasy novel to be. Perfect.

 The Magician King by Lev Grossman
More perfection, this time of the grown-up fantasy novel type.

 

 The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
Another look at sibling relationships, with excellent characterization and a truly unique narrative voice.

 A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
A  new addition to the paranormal romance genre -- a breath of fresh air.

 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
A fun and funny romp through a geek's gamer paradise.

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
The conclusion to Westerfeld's fantastic steampunk trilogy. 

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
A solidly crafted story for lovers of horses, mythology, and romance.

Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
One of the most distinctive literary voices I've encountered all year. Beautifully crafted.

 

10 on Tuesday: the "what I'm listening to" edition

Do you have music that you listen to at particular times of the year? I'm not talking about holiday music; rather, I'm talking about certain songs or albums that you only play in the summer or in the evenings or when the house is completely quiet... Maybe I'm the only person who does this, but I don't think so. I think it all comes down to the fact that music is such an emotional memory trigger for me. So much of the things I remember are tied to the music that was playing at the time, or the mood that the song creates. For example, the acoustic version of "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters is the perfect song for driving by yourself at night. There's something about the guitar and the yellow lines on the highway in the beam of the headlights rushing past...It's totally a mood thing. Anyway, here are the songs and CDs that I play most often in the fall.

1. Middle Cyclone -- Neko Case

2. Winter Birds -- Ray Lamontagne

3. The Reckoning -- needtobreathe

4. I and Love and You -- Avett Brothers

5. Deluxe -- Better than Ezra

 6. Wake Up -- Arcade Fire (live at Glastonbury 2007)

7. Into the Wild -- Eddie Vedder

 8. Change of Time -- Josh Ritter

9. The King is Dead -- The Decemberists

 10. Barton Hollow -- The Civil Wars

 

 

 

10 on Tuesday: the gifts for readers edition

Christmas is just around the corner and...

Wait. Seriously? How did Christmas arrive so quickly this year?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that in just two days, both of my children will have ages in the double-digits. BOTH of them. 

Anyway, I also have a birthday fast approaching -- two days before Christmas (my husband's is the day after Christmas, by the way) -- and I've been working on my Christmas and birthday wish lists. As always, many of my wants are book related (most of the time, my list is nothing but a long list of book titles). I thought I'd put together a 10 on Tuesday gift-giving guide for the readers on your shopping list.

1. Paddywax's Soy Wax Candles Library Collection: The scents in this collection are devoted to some of the world's most popular writers, such as Jane Austen (Gardenia, Tuberose, Jasmine),Oscar Wilde (Cedarwood, Thyme, Basil), and Charles Dickens (Tangerine, Juniper, Clove). You can purchase 9 oz. candles, diffuser kits, and travel candles. I've smelled these, and they all smell lovely, although I prefer Whitman, Poe, and Thoreau.

2. Out of Print Clothing offers your favorite vintage book covers on a range of products, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, coasters, notebooks, totes, e-reader cases, iPhone cases, and more. 

3. Personalized bookplates: There are tons of options available on Etsy (I put together a little collection two years ago), but I thought this vintage illustration was so charming. Plus, the name was already there. As a reader, I love the look of bookplates but I never seem to buy them for myself. They seem like just too much of a luxury, maybe?

4. Book Art: These adorable paper-pieced images are created from old books and made by my friend Melanie. There are lots of great options available in her shop. 

5. Book Totes: Although I buy a lot of books each year, I also check out a lot of books from the local library. It helps to have a dedicated tote bag just for library books (I keep it hanging inside our hall closet, and when I finish a book, it goes straight to the bag) so that when they are due, I can just grab the bag and go. This tote would make a really cute option. (Of course, you could also use my iron-on tutorial to make your own design.)

6. Classic Coup Atticus Finch shirt: This is one of my favorite t-shirt designs of all time. Any book lover would love it.

7. The Black Apple print: Emily Martin's prints are perfect, and this one perfectly captures a love of reading with a cleverly illustrated Morrissey quote.

8. Book-themed jewelry is always a great choice, whether the piece is serious or more tongue-in-cheek like the selection above. 

9. Bookends: I'm always looking for ways to corral extra stacks of books (on top of my bookshelves, on my nightstand, on my desk, etc) and cool bookends add some extra beauty AND function all at the same time. This set is one of my favorites from Etsy, though they aren't available anymore. Still, you can find tons of amazing options there with just a quick search. 

10. Bookmarks: You can never go wrong with a few sets of really cute bookmarks. I used to be one of those horrible readers who dogeared my books -- I know! There's a collective gasp of horror echoing around the internet right now. ;) But I broke that habit and now I use a bookmark in any book that I'm reading. I'm usually reading more than one book at a time, so having multiple bookmarks available is a great thing. Postcards work wonderfully too, by the way -- they are large enough that they don't get lost easily, and you can even jot a favorite quote on the back, if you so like. 

10 Things: Kelly Photo Session

For the past couple of years, I've had a chance to take pictures for my friends Scotty and Brooke. I love getting this chance to reconnect with them and their adorable family, to see what's new and just how much the boys have grown. I love how laidback their family is, and how comfortable they are together. Here are ten favorites from my session with them.

10 on Tuesday: my 10 favorite entries

This summer, I took an Educational Technology class and one of the assignments was to reflect on our personal journeys with technology. After thinking about it, I realized that I've been blogging for ten years now. This current blog has been going since 2008 -- September 2008, to be exact, which prompted me to spend all evening yesterday reading through my archives. In the process, I came across a number of posts that I really like -- either because I feel like I've really shared a part of who I am, or because I feel like I've done a good job of sharing ideas and techniques. In the spirit of The Scrapper's Workshop and their "Looking Back..." posts, here are 10 of my favorite entries. 

1. Ten Years: I do a post commemorating my dad's death every year, but this one stands out to me more than the others because I really feel like it captures what I miss most about him. Plus, having these photos all in one place makes it really easy to come back and look at them whenever I want.

2. Scrapping the Right Now: a simple post with tips on how to scrapbook what's going on RIGHT NOW in your life

3. Blueprints: Conversations in Album Design: Liz and I completed a series of posts about album planning that I am really proud of. There's a lot of information and free organizational tools in those posts. The original article is here, with follow-up posts here.

4. Counting My Blessings: a post written in the aftermath of the huge ice storm we experienced in January 2009. This post is a very real reminder of all I have to be thankful for -- and I adore those pictures of Cami learning to knit. (She was so little; it's hard to believe that was just two years ago. She's grown SO MUCH since then.)

5. Choosing a Story to Tell: This is a post I wrote about the process I use to select which photos to scrapbook and how to partner those photos up with particular stories. There are some good tips in the comments as well.

6. Guest Bloggers: So this isn't one post -- rather, it's a series of posts. But these entries offer amazing inspiration in the form of words and photos. Seriously one of the best ideas I ever had. ;)

7. Last Night There Was a Ghost in my Car: This is the type of writing that I'd like to do more of on my blog. Another post about my dad, and music, and driving. 

8. Pairing Photos + Words: My favorite technique for putting stories and photos together. It works every time. And it's proof that journaling doesn't have to be complicated to be good.

9. R3wind: This is a free journaling course that I developed which combines my love of memorykeeping with my love of scrapbooking (and it's heavily inspired by one of my favorite bands as well). 

10. 10 on Tuesday: Early on, I started creating themed lists, rather than just random tens. As a result, I've gathered a great file of inspiration, links, eye candy, and more. Browse through the archives -- you'll see several posts about great photography tools, digiscrapping supplies, and home decor. 

10 on Tuesday: the Avery edition

My sweet niece Avery just celebrated her first birthday at the end of last month, and my sister asked me to take a few pictures of her for her one-year photos. I absolutely adore this kiddo; she's so laidback and easygoing. She's walking now, and when she stomps around in her shoes with her belly stuck out in front and her butt all stuck out in the back, she reminds me of Mama from the sitcom Mama's Family -- she just needs some knee-highs rolled down around her ankles. She has this gruff voice, and she loves to point out all the "balls" she sees (which is anything round, of course). She gives great open-mouth kisses, and she'll sign a few things, like "more" and "all done." Here are ten of my favorite shots from the day (plus one extra -- you'll see why).