Happy Fairy Day!

In case you haven't heard today is Fairy Day.  For a chance to win a set of signed Iron Fey books, tweet, or post your favorite fairy quote.  Here is mine:

"And I swear, if there is a way for us to be together, I will find it.  No matter how long it takes.  If I have to chase your soul to the ends of eternity, I won't stop until I find you, I promise. "  by Ash in 'The Iron Queen'

To participate check Ms. Kagawa's blog.

My Bookmark This Week (#1)

I don't know about you but I probably own a good number of bookmarks.  I think this might be the case of all bookish people, but the problem is that I can never find one when I need it.  I end up using whatever I can find - receipts, post-in notes, ribbon, take out menus - because I really don't like to bend the pages of my books (and I often borrow them from the library.)

I though it would be fun to share with you what exactly I am using as a bookmark every Friday.  Today I am reading 'Cryer's Cross' by Lisa McMann and I am using a little flier from a department store that anounces watches at 20% off.

What are you using as a bookmark today?

Diversify your Reading Challenge!

Check out this wonderful contest and challenge to encourage bloggers and readers to read books that are diverse.  Check out the rules and the kick-off giveaway here.

Happy reading!

Guest Post: The Strange Case of Origami Joda

Title: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Published: April 1st, 2010 by Amulet Books
Source: Library

In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwight’s classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, he assembles the case file that forms this novel.

Review by 'B' (11 years old)

In order to encourage my kids to read this summer I promised to put their reviews in my blog.  Hopefully you'll like them and tolerate the proud mama syndrome.  So *roll drums here* this is B's first review:

This is one of the best books I ever read!  It is a combination of case files put together by Tommy to decide if  he should ask Origami Yoda an important question.  It keeps you wondering if he is magical or not.

My favorite character is Tommy because he likes Sara very much and wants to know if she likes him.  I wish there was an Oragami Yoda at my school so I could ask him stuff (I am going to sixth grade in August.)  The more annoying character was Harvey because he didn't believe in Yoda at all and try to make one of his own.  Dwight is just weird, but he doesn't know that he is.

I think that Dwight had a good plan from the beginning and it all works out at the end.  I would recommend this book to other fifth graders like me.  I'll read book two when it comes out.

Waiting on Wednesday: So Silver Bright (Théatre Illuminata #3)

Waiting on Wednesday idea from Jill at Breaking the Spine

Title: So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev
Published by: Feiwel & Friends
Release date: September 13, 2011

All Beatrice Shakespeare Smith has ever wanted is a true family of her own. And she’s close to reuniting her parents when her father disappears. Now Bertie must deal with a  vengeful sea goddess and a mysterious queen as she tries to keep her family – and the Theatre Illuminata – from crumbling. To complicate it all, Bertie is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate.

Why I want to read it:  If you have not read 'Eyes Like Stars' and 'Perchance to Dream' you are missing on a great series.  I know that the writing style might not be for everyone, but I think its brilliant (sort of Shakespeare goes Night at the Museum.)  I can't wait for the conclusion!

Top Ten Tuesday: Reasons I Love Being a Book Blogger

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week the topic is the top ten reasons why I love being a book blogger or bookish person.  Mind you that my blog is barely a month old, so I don't have any perks, such as ARCs yet.  However, I just love reading and would do it anyway, so why not share the love?


1. I love books.  What I love most about them is that great feeling of immersing myself in a story, getting to know new characters, new places, new plots, new normal or supernatural beings...

2. I want to share that feeling with others.


3. Everyone knows what to give me as a gift - makes it really easy for my family!


4. Belonging to a great community of people - your always have people to talk to - other avid readers and bloggers - that don't think you are crazy or obsessed.


5. Book recommendations - I read and follow a lot of other blogs and I usually get a lot of good recommendations from them.  I even pick up books that I would normally don't think are for me, because I trust other's opinions.

6. Learning how to blog - figuring out how to do my own blog and design was not easy.  Thank God for Google!

7. A good excuse to read - Sorry, can't do laundry now, I have to read this book for review...

8. A good example for my kids - I like to think that when my children see me reading (a lot!) they will follow my example and learn to love reading (so far is working with 'B' and 'C', my oldest is hopeless.)

9.  Giveaways - I learn about a lot of giveaways by using Goodreads, following other blogs, and twitter.  So far I have won one, but still worth it!

10. Organize my thoughts - Doing a review is a good way for me to remember what I felt when I first read a book.  It also helps me organize my thoughts in a coherent way that will make sense, not only to me, but to my readers.

Now is your turn,  Why to you love being a book blogger?

Review: Die for Me (Revenants #1)

Title: Die for Me by Amy Plum
Published: May 10, 2011 by HarperTeen
Source: Bought for Kindle

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

Review

I love paranormal and this is one of the best ones I have read this year so far.  Ms. Plum's writing is exquisite, so down to earth and easy to digest.  The novel has a similarity to Twilight in the sense of the innocent girl falling in love with the immortal handsome boy.  But, for me, that is were the similarity ends.  Die for Me introduces a new premise in the revenats, kind of an undead (zombie?) beings with a compulsion for saving lives. 

The characters in the novel were very well developed.  I felt that I got to know and like Kate a lot. Vincent is a boy after my own heart.  He has lived for a while, and knows that what he has found with Kate is precious and he treats it as such.  Their relationship was believable and so sweet.  I can't wait to see what happens next to this lovely couple!

The secondary characters don't necessarily take second place as they were also well developed and complement the story nicely.  The setting of the story, Paris, is another main character in the story and the descriptions of the buildings, river, bridges, all made Paris come alive in the pages of the story. 

If you love paranormal and are looking for something new that is also full of romance, this is the book for you.  Great debut!  The sequel, 'Until I Die' will not be published until next year, oh the agony.  Check out Ms. Plum's website, specially the extras (*wink*)

About the cover:  The cover is so pretty, the red makes it pop and the model facing away from gives it an air of mystery.  You can see Paris in the background which is very appropriate.  I also love the swirls.