The BIG TBR Pile

Just to give you an idea of how many books sound interesting to me compared to how many I can read and have read recently my Goodreads profile now tells me I have read and reviewed 133 books and I am currently reading 3 books and my to read folder has 201 books in it. If you're interested I am posting the widget for my Goodreads TBR list below. It is constantly changing, but this might give you an idea of how big "My Pile of Books" is!

Stacey's to-read book montage

Stacey's favorite books »

Review CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins

CATCHING FIRE
by Suzanne Collins
Published September 1st 2009 by Scholastic Press
Hardcover, 391 pages
PLACEMENT IN THE PILE: Top Picks!

WARNING: IF YOU HAVE NOT YET READ HUNGER GAMES DO NOT READ ON AND GO READ IT!

ABOUT:
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

REVIEW:
Firstly I have to say this is the best book I have read and reviewed for this blog so far. It is fascinating, makes you think, and has some incredible twists that I didn't expect!

I hope I gave you time this weekend to read the book. If you have not don't worry, I am not spoiling anything in this review. But you may want to avoid comments as I think those might get more book specific.

My first impression was that the voice is a little less minimalistic, and that Katniss is explaining a lot more than she used to. Honestly the beginning of the book is written so that it would be possible to pick up this book and read it without reading the first one, but I think you would be missing a lot of the emotion.

It made me cry, it shocked me, it introduced me to new characters that I love, and included all of my old favorites. Peeta surprised me in this novel. I no longer picture him the way I did before, and neither does Katniss. There are moments where I figured things out before Katniss did, but I think that it not only stays true to her character but develops her in a way that we the readers never imagined.

My biggest complaint with this novel is it is the quintessential middle book in the series. The book ends in a big cliffhanger because it is obviously not finished. The first book I felt like I NEED more, this book I felt like the story needs more. There is a big difference.

Suzanne Collins is simply brilliant. Her novels could not be more poignant for the world we live in today. I cannot wait for the next book!

If you are interested here is an interview with Suzanne Collins where she discusses where she got her ideas for the Hunger Games books. HERE.

Review SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater

SHIVER
by Maggie Stiefvater
Published: August 1st 2009 by Scholastic Press
Hardcover, 392 pages

PLACEMENT IN THE PILE: Reaching New Heights

ABOUT:
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. (from Goodreads)


REVIEW: (By SaraJ!)
I really liked this book a lot. The writing is beautiful, hauntingly so at times, and very emotional. The love story is moving and believable. It is an interesting take on the werewolf and I'm interested to hear the discussion at my book club. I was slightly disgruntled by the ending - because I wanted more! :-) As a mother, I found some of the situations/scenes described as somewhat disturbing and emotional. But overall, it was definitely worth the read. I’ve heard people say if you like Twilight, you’ll like it – I think that is true to some degree, but not completely. This has a much more melancholy feel to it than Twilight.

I know many readers out there are moms and want to know the content of books (to know whether they want to let their kids read it or not), so here’s my way of “helping”. I like to give books a rating, as if they were a movie. SHIVER would be PG-13 for violence, disturbing images/situations, language and sexual content.

The sequel, LINGER, will be published in 2010, also by Scholastic.

Welcome SaraJ!

Hey everyone! I am inviting a new blog contributor to add to the depth and perceptions of this blog (plus with two of us we can get through the pile a LOT faster!). I want to give a big welcome to SaraJ!

Hey everyone, this is SaraJ – one of Aubrey’s good friends. I have had a life-long love affair with reading and writing. I devour books, and while I read all genres, I have a special place in my heart for YA literature. When Aubrey (AKA Stacey) asked me to help contribute to her new blog, I eagerly told her I would. I tend to be very honest in my reviews, and I hope they will be helpful to you – but always remember, a review is still only one person’s opinion. Always read and decide for yourself!

Happy reading, and make sure to tell your friends and family about My Pile Of Books!

Review: LIAR by Justine Larbalestier

LIAR
by Justine Larbalestier
Published September 29th 2009 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Hardcover, 384 pages

PLACEMENT IN THE PILE: A Bit Buried, just barely out of Bottom of the Barrel.

ABOUT:
Micah will freely admit that she’s a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she’ll ever tell you. Over the years she’s duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents, and she’s always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as naturally as breathing?

Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them—and herself—that she’s finally come clean, Liar is a bone-chilling thriller that will have readers see-sawing between truths and lies right up to the end. Honestly.

REVIEW:
Where do I even begin with this review. Firstly, the book is not what I expected AT ALL. It is much too long. Justine Larbalestier came up with an interesting concept, let's write a story in first person from a self-proclaimed liar. This experiment with an unreliable narrator sounded very interesting to me. In the end it was extremely difficult to get through, slow paced and almost like two books in one.

It is too long. The book is split into sections 1, 2, and 3 and section one is slow, it drags and reads like the whining journal a teenager who lies all the time to both herself and the reader and is the secret "after-school girlfriend" of a guy whom she knows already has a "real girlfriend". This whole first section almost NOTHING happens. The main character does nothing. All she does is tell you background info about her, her family, her secret relationship with this guy, and her grief over his death. That is it. There are no real chapters just titles of mini-chapters and time frame lapses that start with "BEFORE", "AFTER", "FAMILY HISTORY", "PERSONAL HISTORY" and so on histories. It reads like one gigantic writing exercise.

Then section one ends and my head is spinning from the rediculous actions of this hormonal teenager only to literally laugh out loud and have to put the book down and complain to several of my friends and my husband when section two starts. It is a complete shock, in no way is revealed in the marketing for this book to expect a paranormal twist, that is if the narrator is even telling the truth.

HOWEVER, when the paranormal twist comes in is when I actually took interest in the book, for the last 200 pages. I think Justine and her editors would have been much better of highly condensing the first section of the book, or throwing it out almost completely. A lot of the background info we can get in the second section, and it is more fun to allow the reader to make things up rather than listening to the confessions of a rambling teenager detail out her life and her family history like a report.

This last section of the book and the sheer guts Justine had for writing a book with an unreliable narrator (because honestly that idea attracted me to the book) is why it is even still in my pile of books, and not thrown into the pit of despair.

GIVEAWAY!
Now I do have to say that I have read many great reviews about the book. It seems to be very dividing, so now here's your change people! My first giveaway. My copy of the ARC of LIAR by Justine Larbalestier!

Here's how you can get points to enter (this is an and/or thing):

1) Comment on my review of this book
2) Follow the blog (current followers will receive two entries, new followers will receive one) but you need to let me know you want to enter even if you are a follower
3) Respond with a story about a time that you lied and how it turned out
4) Post about this contest with a link on your blog/facebook/myspace whatever and let me know that in the comment section with one of your other entries.

The contest will be open through 11:59 PM EST Saturday September 12th.

TBR Pile

This TBR is focused on ONE book that is coming out TODAY! As you read this I am probably on my way to my local bookstore to buy my copy and crack it open. It is on the top of my pile! I am talking about CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins, sequel to THE HUNGER GAMES.

ABOUT:
Published September 1st 2009 by Scholastic Press
Hardcover, 432 pages

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Another one on my list that many of my friends have read and enjoyed is SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater
ABOUT:
Published August 1st 2009 by Scholastic Press
Hardcover, 392 pages

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.