Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: The Quantum League
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
The Quantum League by Matthew J. Kirby
Release date: January 28, 2014

From Goodreads:

A magical crime saga filled with marvelous thrills, high action, and extraordinary adventure, from critically acclaimed author Matthew J. Kirby.
After Ben Warner is recruited to join a "science camp" led by the eccentric quantum physicist Dr. Madeleine Hughes, he quickly realizes it's no regular science camp. Along with his new friend, Peter, Ben discovers the secret, powerful art of Actuation -- the ability to change reality by simply imagining it differently.
When a mysterious group of men invade Dr. Hughes's laboratory, abducting her and stealing her precious equipment, Ben and Peter are suddenly caught up in a turf war between dangerous actuators desperate for Dr. Hughes's innovative technology. And as Ben and Peter are pulled into a perilous, hidden world full of impossibilities now made possible, will their combined powers be enough to save Dr. Hughes and vanquish their enemies before it's too late?

Why I'm waiting: I love reading books out loud to my kids and we loved Matthew Kirby's book The Clockwork Three. We are hoping this will be just as good. 


The Forbidden Library

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler
Release date: April 15, 2014

From Goodreads:

The Forbidden Library kicks off a brand new classic fantasy series perfect for fans of CoralineInkheart, and The Books of Elsewhere

Alice always thought fairy tales had happy endings. That--along with everything else--changed the day she met her first fairy

When Alice's father goes down in a shipwreck, she is sent to live with her uncle Geryon--an uncle she's never heard of and knows nothing about. He lives in an enormous manor with a massive library that is off-limits to Alice. But then she meets a talking cat. And even for a rule-follower, when a talking cat sneaks you into a forbidden library and introduces you to an arrogant boy who dares you to open a book, it's hard to resist. Especially if you're a reader to begin with. Soon Alice finds herself INSIDE the book, and the only way out is to defeat the creature imprisoned within.

It seems her uncle is more than he says he is. But then so is Alice.

Why I'm waiting: Again this book looks fun to read out loud to my kids. We loved The Grimm Legacy and this looks similar.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

 Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Worlds I'd Never Want To Live In OR Top Ten Characters I'd NEVER Want To Trade Places With
brought to you by the broke and the bookish


Jeni's Picks:
Characters 
1. Dashti from Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale: I just know myself and if I was stuck in a room with a brat like Lady Saren I would've strangled her. 
2. Kate in Heart on a Chain by Cindy C Bennet: I grew up in a loving family and it would be hard to grow up in one like Kates. 
3. Karigan G'ladheon from The Green Rider by Kristen Britain:  I feel so bad to what happens to Karigan in book 4.  I hope better things happen for her in book 5 Mirror Sight coming out in May. 
4. Nick Dunne from Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: This book is insane. I can't even imagine being in this characters shoes. I don't want to ruin the book for anyone that hasn't read it so I'll leave it at that. 
World
5. Allegiant by Veronica Roth: I'm pretty sure if I was a character in this book I would've ended up dead. So nope I definitely wouldn't want to live in this world. 

Emily's Picks

World:
1. The Maze Runner by James Dashner. This world would be one that I would not survive in.  I would have died just from sheer terror.  After finding out I was locked in a arena with a bunch of hormone infused boys.  No thank you. 
2. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong. I really liked this series, but I would not like to live on the run, constantly wondering if someone was after me because I was a supernatural.  It would get tiresome really quick.
3. Tess of the d'Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy. I hated, hated, hated this book, and I felt horrible for poor Tess the entire book. Angel?  Not so Angelic. I would have hated living like Tess. This book makes the stark reality of living in England as a poor person graphic. And very heart wrenching and come on, every one wants a happy ending, which you will not get with this book. (yeah, I know it's a classic)
Characters:
4. Fanny Price from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. Fanny, oh Fanny.  She is just so sweet, and understanding, and good.  Maybe too good.  She should have confessed her love to Edmund and all the silliness would have been avoided. Am I right?  I'm right.
5. Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Yep, I went there.  I would not have had the guts or the where with all, to one, hunt for food, two, volunteer, and three survive in a world like that.  I would have hidden under my bed until it was safe to come out..or in their case, until I starved. I would not envy that world, not one second.  It sure makes for a great read though.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Debuts I'm Excited for
brought to you by the broke and the bookish

Jeni's Picks:
1. Trolls, witches and curses sounds fantastic. 


2. Assassins and thief's. I'm hoping it's as good as some of the other books I've read lately like The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen and The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner.

3.  A girl can see strange aura's around people. Sounds interesting. 

4. I was excited for this assassin style book until I went to the book debut. I wasn't impressed with the author she was boring and rude. 

5. A music academy with a myth about a creature that lives in the forest. I love the cover. 

6. Set in a futuristic world where the murder rate is higher than the birth rate. 

7. About a girl that is a fallen fate that has to guide people to their destinies. 
8.  WWII setting. This is one of my favorite time periods to read about. 
9. Set in an underwater world. 
10. A retelling of Beauty and the Beast what could be better? 


Top Ten Tuesday:Top Ten Goals/Resolutions For 2014 (bookish, not bookish or a blend)
brought to you by the broke and the bookish

Jeni's Picks: 
1. To read more from my TBR list. I tend to forget about what I've wanted to read in the past and just read newer books.  
2. To be more organized.
3. Read 150 books this year. 
4. Bug my sister Emily to finish her book.
5. Use bookmarks instead of folding the pages of my books. 


Emily's Picks

1. To read book genres I wouldn't normally venture into.
2. To finish some of the books on my TBR that have been sitting on that list oh, for two or three years.
3. Go to a book signing (and maybe tease Brandon Sanderson again)
4. Maybe finish my book (Jeni....)
5. Get my husband to read a book with me.