February 1, 2012

Uncover January Winner

Thanks to everyone who participated.

Here are the covers - uncovered...

    


And the winner of the random draw is. . . 

Allie

Allie I've sent you an email, please respond within 48 hours with your book choice from one of the titles above. Congrats!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green


The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Published by Dutton Janaury 12 2012
Reviewed from library copy (though I've bought 2 copies since)

Summary

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.
 
This is not a review. I can't review it. This was my first journey into the genius of John Green and I don't ever want to come back. Perhaps I found this book so meaningful because of my mom's journey with cancer last year. Perhaps, it's the way he turns a phrase, or can make the saddest moments seem lighter with witty insight. What ever the reason, I clutched this book to my chest after reading it...heaved a great big sigh, cried, and then went back to the beginning and read it again. It was just that good.

January 26, 2012

A Wrinkle in Time: 50 Years, 50 Days, 50 Blogs Celebration

    

When it comes to books that I loved and read in my school age years, I tend to be a bit of a collector. I buy multiple copies of the book with it's various covers. I own 5 copies of A Wrinkle in Time, the four above and now the 50th Anniversary Edition. 
 I was thrilled when I was asked to participate in the anniversary blog tour for this incredible book. I remember checking it out the first time from the library. Taking it home and being completely transported inside it within just a few pages. It was one of the first books that ever did that for me. Made me forget the world going on around me. I was searching with Meg. Comforted by Aunt Beast. It's a story of sacrifice and unconditional love, and I remember even when I was a young reader, knowing that this book was special. 
 Years later I was able to revisit it, when we read and studied it in a children's literature course. I'm grateful for that opportunity as I was able to delve deeper into the story, and was able to experience it in a new way.
  Now, with my son and in my work at the library I'm lucky that I am able to share A Wrinkle in Time with others.

The new  A Wrinkle in Time, The 50th Anniversary Edition:

About the 50th Anniversary edition:
The 50th Anniversary Commemorative edition features:

       Frontispiece photo*†
       Photo scrapbook with approximately 10 photos*†
       Manuscript pages*†
       Letter from 1963 Caldecott winner, Ezra Jack Keats*†
       New introduction by Katherine Paterson, US National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature  †
       New afterword by Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte Voiklis including six never-before-seen photos †
       Murry-O’Keefe family tree with new artwork †
       Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery acceptance speech

* Unique to this edition                † never previously published

I highly recommend checking out the other blogs that are participating. I've really enjoyed reading their posts about this timeless classic.

Week 1: Revisiting A Wrinkle In Time
January 16 -20

Week 2: Sharing A Wrinkle In Time
January 23 - 27

Week 3: Characters in A Wrinkle In Time
January 30 - February 3

Week 4: Expressions of A Wrinkle In Time
February 6 - February 10

Week 5: Reading A Wrinkle In Time for the First Time
February 13 - 17



What does A Wrinkle in Time mean to you? Have you read it? Is there a book from your childhood that you treasure?



January 22, 2012

Uncover January - giveaway

   There are a whole bunch of amazing releases this month, and to celebrate I thought I'd host a giveaway! 
  Below are four covers of books that released in this month. Can you guess what they are? Answer and fill in the form below to be entered for your chance to win one of  the books!

Cover 1

Cover 2
Cover 3
Cover 4

January 19, 2012

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

by Jennifer E Smith
Published by Poppy January 2nd 2012
236 pages
Reviewed from finished copy provided by the publisher

Summary

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 18C. 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.

My Thoughts:

     It is such a good feeling  when you read about 10-20 pages into a book and you just know it's going to be great. That was the case with The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Hadley's still dealing with the break up of her parent's marriage, while on her way to her father's second wedding.  Forced to go, feeling trapped, a series of events lead her to miss her flight...and in steps Oliver. Handsome, British, (just think of the accent) and scheduled to be on Hadley's next flight. They share  an immediate connection, feel at ease, seem to understand each other and are destined to help each other more than they know. 
  
There were lovely phrases and moments along the way that I just had to mark:

"In the end, it's not the changes that will break your heart, it's the tug of familiarity"

"it doesn't matter that you once stood in front of all those people and said that you would. The important part is that you had someone to stick by you all the time. Even when everything sucked"

"No one is useless in this world", it reads "who lightens the burden of it for anyone else"

The story itself covers just over 24 hrs in their lives, but the characters are well developed and despite the short amount of time spent with them, I felt like I knew them well. An enjoyable contemporary read, it reminded me a bit of Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. Recommended.