Angieville

Tomorrow if the first of July, which means it's time for Round 4 of  Tell Me What to Read . The suggestion box is open for business.   Tell me what book I should read this month. It can be any genre, any age level, and have been published last week or three hundred years ago. You can pick it because it's a book that everyone should read or because it changed your life or because it is great literature or just because it entertained you. So far we've had two fantasies and one contemporary YA . What will this month bring?  As my friend and inspiration  Janssen  says--here's how it goes: Comment with the title and author of one book you think I should read (any book you want). One title only, please, lest my brain explode. I'll select one comment at random. On the off-chance that I've already read the book you select, I'll contact you and ask for a follow-up suggestion (make sure there is a way to contact you either by blog or email). I'll get a copy of ...

I picked up an advanced copy of  The Ivy   last month at  BEA . I had seen it pop up on  GoodReads  awhile back and flagged it as interesting in that it's a YA take on the whole Ivy League experience. So when I was offered a copy at BEA, I grabbed it and stuck it in my bag. And, given  how much I enjoyed   Diana Peterfreund 's  Secret Society Girl series , it seemed only fair to give this similar series a go. Written by best friends and former roommates at Harvard themselves, Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur, I like the simplicity of the cover and, having read it now, the deep red over the wrought iron gates definitely hits the right tone for this dishy delving into the outrageous underbelly of freshman year at Harvard. I started this one while still in New York and finished it on the plane ride home. It reads fast and furious and is the first in a four-part series following a humorous and diverse cast of characters. Word is each installment in the seri...

Sometimes it's hard for me to get going on a Monday morning. So if you could do with a little kick start to your day as well, click on over here and listen to Greg Wise (a.k.a. Willoughby from Sense & Sensibility) read the pivotal scene from Persuasion , in which Anne Elliot reads Captain Wentworth's letter . I think my favorite part is when he pauses and says in that perfectly modulated voice, "I can listen no longer in silence." Yeah. That should do the trick this Monday morning. Thank goodness for Jane Austen. What would the world be like without her? Thanks so much to Diana for the link!

Retro Friday   is a weekly meme hosted here at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time! I include roundups from participating bloggers in my post every week. A little over three years ago I decided to try my first Markus Zusak book. I had heard everyone and their grandmother go on about what an amazing accomplishment   his later novel The Book Thief was, so naturally I walked right past that one in the bookstore and grabbed a copy of I am the Messenger . Will I never stop being so obstinate when it comes to hype? But in this case, though, I have to say I'm sort of glad I read this book first. It's just so freaking unique. And hilarious. And moving . And that is not to say that The Book Thief isn't all those things and more. Because it is. And let it be known that I think it is a perfect...

I think the cover gods may be trying to kill me with these three. Seriously, cover gods? How long am I to drool over these pretties before they are mine? They each look so deliciously foreboding. I want to know what these girls are running from, hiding from, suspicious of . . . and I want to know now. The Space Between Trees by Katie Williams So Lenore and I saw this book at the Chronicle Booth at BEA and were immediately struck by the cover. Trust me, it's even more awesome in person. But, alas, they had no advanced copies to dole out. It did stick in my mind, though, as a great example of title/art synergy. And I love the way the girl's silhouette and the author's name match. Billed as "not your everyday coming-of-age novel," I am very much looking forward to finding out more about Evie and the body found in the woods. Due out today! The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney The Book Smugglers got the scoop on this gorgeous cover the other day and I've bee...

Well, well, well. It's still June and here I am posting my review for this month's Tell Me What to Read selection. This is very encouraging. It helps that my library had a copy in right when I checked and it's a very fast, engaging read. My friend Karen has been trying to get me to read Audrey, Wait! for the last few months and I was happy it popped up this time around. I really had meant to read it when it came out in 2008 and the host of favorable reviews spurred me on, but somehow it got lost in the shuffle. I knew just the very basic premise of the book and I knew it involved a lot of great rock music--always a plus--and something about the title just sort of grabs you, doesn't it? I'm also a fan of the original hardback cover. I think the swirling neon colors surrounding the girl with her head flung to the side combine to form a good representation of the sort of eye of the pop culture hurricane Audrey finds herself in in this story. Audrey never thought th...

A couple of fun images for you guys today. First off, my artist brother-in-law came across this demonstration that artist Dan Dos Santos did for the oil painting process he went through on the artwork for   the cover of  Moon Called -- the first Mercy Thompson novel. Adam thought it was awesome and that I'd like it and he was right on both counts. I thought you would as well. I have to say, I really sort of love that first sketch, even if it didn't end up in the final cover. Enjoy ! Second, the official trailer for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader film is out and my boy and I are so excited we can hardly wait. The scene where the water comes pouring out of the picture on the wall gave me chills. It's set to come out right around his birthday so I already know what we'll be doing to celebrate...

Retro Friday   is a weekly meme hosted here at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time! I include roundups from participating bloggers in my post every week. It's no secret that Patricia McKillip is a most beloved author for so many fantasy readers. I discovered her late in the game, when I ran across a beautiful reissued omnibus edition of The Riddle-master Trilogy in a Barnes & Noble several years ago. After finishing that excellent trilogy, I went looking for any other McKillip books I could get my hands on. The result was a binge, of sorts, in which I blew through six or seven titles without a by-your-leave. And it was an immensely good time. But it did result in a little bit of fatigue, as her writing style is very specific and lyrical and I wound up needing to cleanse my palate a l...

I am very excited about these two upcoming releases, you guys. Instead of getting a third installment in Patricia Briggs ' Alpha and Omega series this year, we're being treated to something different and new. Masques was first published fifteen years ago and it is Ms. Briggs' first novel. It is also the first in a series (of sorts) called the Sianim series, which includes previously published books  Steal the Dragon and When Demons Walk . These are self-contained standalone novels that take place in the same world. The direct sequel-- Wolfsbane -- was written but never published. Until now, that is. This fall we get a repackaged, revised edition of Masques September 28th. And then, in November, we get Wolfsbane for the first time in print. And these are the new covers. All I know is that the books involve shapeshifters and a character named Wolf. Sign me up!

Today you can find me over at Book Chick City talking about a few of my favorite books. As part of her fortnightly Books We Love feature, Carolyn invited me to blather on a bit about one or two of my most beloved reads. Any guesses as to which author or books I picked? Make sure to stop in and say hi !

First up, I have incredibly good news! You'll remember my confusion and dismay when I discovered The King Commands --the sequel to Meg Burden 's Northlander --was nowhere to be found despite having been published not quite two months ago. Well, a couple of days ago Charlotte contacted me to let me know that she talked to the publishers and they informed her that Amazon had just placed an order and that the book, in fact, was now in stock there! Charlotte and I (after doing the happy dance) naturally concluded that it was the review that got the ball rolling. So way to go 'Villians! When I first checked it said there were five copies in stock at Amazon and more were on the way. Those five copies have now been sold, but there are new copies available for the original sale price of $8.95 all over now. Barnes & Noble has them shipping in two days , and now  The Book Depository and Powell's does as well. My copy is already on its way. It's a midsummer miracle! ...

And the randomly selected winner is Audrey, Wait!   by R obin Benway , as suggested by KarenS ! I heard about this one when it first came out a couple of years ago and  thought it looked all kinds of fun. I'm glad this is giving me the final push to go ahead and read it . I'm in the mood for something delightful, which is what Karen says it is.  Here is the full list of suggestions: • A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers ( pirate penguin ) • Galax-Arena by Gillian Rubenstein (Katy) • The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (Mhyrrine, Chachic , & Amy) • Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson ( April ) • The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford ( Alexa ) • Diamond Ruby by Joe Wallace ( MarnieCollette ) • A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer (Ceci) • The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson ( Carla ) • Precious Bane by Mary Webb ( melissa @ 1lbr ) • Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway (KarenS) • The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting ( Rosey ) • Trick of the ...