Prized Blog Tour: Will Character Interview

Today's post features a new character in the Birthmarked series by Caragh M. O'Brien, a guy you don't meet until book 2, Prized, but who kind of stole my heart a little. So meet Will, and then check out how to collect the letters and enter a code for an awesome giveaway!

Thanks, Kari, for your interest in talking to Will. He’s an elusive character, hard to track down when he’s off-screen from the novel, so to speak, but I found him one evening working on the addition to his barn, and he came down from the ladder to talk to you. Crickets are starting up in the pasture behind you, and the air is soft with slanting light. He’s having a little trouble suspending reality to accept that you’ve appeared in Sylum, but here goes.


Kari: Describe yourself in four words.

Will: I’m the morteur, Mlass.

Kari: When you first saw Gaia, what was your reaction?

Will (turns his hammer slowly in his hands before speaking): Mlass Gaia surprised me. My brother had told me she’d arrived in the village, but it never occurred to me that she might come to my barn. She was different. Interesting. Mind your step, there.

Kari: Ah! Thank you. What's the hardest part about knowing there are not nearly enough women to go around for the men?

Will: You get used to it. It takes a while, but you do. What’s hard are the times when you start hoping a mlass will take an interest in you. You know, if she starts coming around, or if she laughs a certain way with you. Part of you can’t help imagining. That’s what’s hardest. I don’t know what it’s like for the other men, but I try to do the best I can with my work. I focus on that. It’s better that way.

Kari: If you had to choose between Gaia and your brother, who would it be?

Will: I have no claim on Mlass Gaia. I have no right to “choose” her in any way. If you’ll forgive me, I need to return to my work.

Kari: What kind of cake would you describe yourself as?

Will (starting up the ladder, laughing): Cake, huh? That’s an odd one. I’d be more of a pie than a cake, anyway. Pumpkin pie, straight up. Watch your step on your way out, Mlass.


Prized Code #2: S

Kari, thanks again for having me by! I had no idea a blog tour was going to be such a challenge, but it’s fun. Tomorrow I’m heading over to The Bookmonsters. I hope I’ll see you at the Goodreads chat at the end of the tour. Take care! Caragh


For full information about not only all the blog tour stops, but the Goodreads chat and collecting the codes, check out the MacTeen Books Post Here!

Character Book Picks: Richard from Second Hand Heart

We're mixing things up again around here, and instead of just firing off some questions for a character, I've asked Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Second Hand Heart, to tell me what books one of her characters would love. So with that, I bring you guys a little look into the reading choices of Richard!


1) Nine Stories, by J.D. Salinger. Yes, he read Salinger when he was much younger. Like most of us. But some of those stories (particularly the one about Bananafish) still resonate in that place Richard is only marginally aware of having. Maybe he wants to be more aware of that place in himself. Maybe that’s why.

2) Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Persig, because it makes him feel calm, and as though the world is okay. As though everything is going to be okay. Even him.

3) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. Though it’s difficult to articulate why. But it’s such solid fiction, emotional without a trace of sentiment. And suspenseful. He leans a bit toward the suspense/page-turner type of novel.

4) Primary Colors by Anonymous (who turned out to be Newsweek’s Joe Klein) This is Richard’s kind of humor. He voted for Clinton, of course. He’s not at all right-wing. But that wouldn’t stop him having a laugh at the foibles of that administration.

5) Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein. Which he read in college. And which he barely remembers in much detail now. But he remembers that it taught him to question his own thoughts and perceptions. So he is of the opinion that everybody should read it (not to tell others what to do—he thinks this, he doesn’t go around saying it).

6) Okay, this is hard. It’s hard for me to type this. But…Moby Dick. Okay. I tried twice to read Moby Dick, and failed both times. (And I’m not trying again, either!) I thought it was the most boring book ever. But Richard is a more patient reader than I am. And he enjoyed the adventure of this one.

7) Electric God, by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Well, like I said with Vida’s book picks, these are my characters. So it’s not like they wouldn’t know I exist when choosing their books. Electric God because, like Hayden, Richard has occasionally looked skyward and wondered if somebody up there has it out for him. Then again, who hasn’t?

8) The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. Because he was a boy once. Still feels like one sometimes. And he has noticed that about them. And it’s comforting to have someone else notice it, too.

9) Catch-22 by Joseph Heller because it’s subversive and smart and appeals to his sense of irony.

10) The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. Which, frankly, I could not get through. But as I say, he is a far more patient reader than I am. In fact, I think he likes a good challenge in the patience department. And this one was soothing to him in a way neither one of us can quite pin down.


Thank you, Catherine, for sharing Richard's choices!

Second Hand Heart is out now, so pick it up and get to know Richard better!

In My Mailbox

I didn't do one of these last week, mostly because I was lazy, so this is two week's worth of stuff.

 For Review:

Balthazar by Claudia Gray (Already read: SO Good!)

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

The Ivy by Lauren Kunz and Rina Onur

My Own Worst Frenemy by Kimberly Reid

Rival by Sara Bennett-Wealer (Read awhile ago- awesome)

Vampire Crush by A.M. Robinson

(Huge thanks to Harper Collins, Phoebe Kitanidis, Big Honcho Media, and Kensington Teen)

Bought:

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (I LOVE This book!)

Eve by Anna Carey (Such a brilliant novel)

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Bought:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (Had a friend get me a signed copy in San Fran)

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Finally bought one for my shelf, ha)

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

Book Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

SUMMARY: Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.


OPINION: 4 STARS

The Short Version:
Enticing and chaotic, Shatter Me is the perfect blend of dystopian with realistic elements and bold, engaging characters. Centered on a truly interesting and sympathetic character, with some of the best overall development and personal progression, but building the side characters just as strongly, Mafi’s talent with not only the story but the characters as well shines. With an absolutely distinct and unique narrative style, a well crafted plot, and a multitude of subtle intricacies that make this book memorable and mindblowing long after the fact, this one breaks all the rules in all the right ways.

The Extended Version:
Juliette is unique and distinct in the most endearing of ways, starting out as a clear product of someone who has been cast out by not only society but her own family, and has rarely felt the touch of another. Locked away in isolation at the opening of the book, her mental state, internal narrative, and weak personality are easy to understand and heartbreaking. As things start to progress, however, Juliette shifts and changes, growing stronger not only physically but mentally as well in a way that cannot be pinpointed to any one of event but has an astounding overall effect. The shell she's become, the hopelessness that resides in her, and the weakness that is starting to drag her under are easy to see from the start, yet the determination in her also resonates. Despite being a broken mess, she has this incredibly ferocity to her, refusing to let her past and isolation define her, and so much of where she ends up at by the end of the book comes purely from herself. She is easily one of the most well done characters, from start to finish.

Adam is determined and perceptive, having a softness to him even in the roughest of situations that makes him easy to like. The way he responds to Juliette, and the growing emotion between them, go far to build both their characters and progress the plot without being reliant solely on that. Adam has this underlying intensity about him that isn't immediately obvious, this focus in his eye that both defines him and transcends him. He doesn't carry a hero complex, nor does he try to subdue Juliette simply because she's a girl, but rather lets her be on his level and doesn't let the stigma against her keep him from really getting to know her.

It's easy to understand why Juliette seems to fall for Adam so quickly, considering her past, and the almost visceral way she internally reacts to being touched. Not having to fear killing him, and trusting that he won't use her ability for his own purposes, Adam provides some very basic but much yearned for comforts for Juliette. Yet what sets this romance apart is not the fact that there is an inherent element to drive them together, but the way they both shift and change, adjusting to and falling for the other. Able to take the other into account, yet not throwing all caution to the wind, they find a system that works for them even in the face of everything else going on. Broken apart but perfectly pieced when together, Adam and Juliette are by far one of the most endearing couples around.

The basic concept behind this one is fantastic, and Mafi does a stunning job weaving the effects and nature of Juliette's power without giving immediate and obvious explanations behind it. While the overall plot with The Reestablishment and the bigger dystopian elements was not necessarily immediately unique compared to others of its genre, the driving force behind Juliette and the stunning characterization certainly help make up for it. A little slower in pace, but rich in character development, this one is much more mental and emotional than action packed. There are, however, plenty of small elements and twists added in that show not only the level of thought and intricacy that have gone into this book, but will make a reader grin with new appreciation at each one. With clues both subtle and blatant at the bigger things to come, this book closes out its main points while still leaving readers wanting more and ready for the next step.

The writing is absolutely unique, essentially breaking all the rules and doing it right. There is such vivid voice and life in Juliette, not only hinting at her own level of disconnect and insanity, but giving her depth and intrigue as well. This book is, in a lot of ways, rambly, but it's not so much a turn off as something that gives unflinching insight into Juliette's state of mine, and is certainly a style specific to this character and pulled off in large part because of who the character is and what she's been through.

With absolutely stellar characterization and an achingly beautiful writing style, Shatter Me is a stunning debut. Though slower overall in plot, and stronger with the internal and mental components, this one will still keep readers intrigued and engaged. Holding a huge amount of depth, most of which is subtle yet powerful, Shatter Me will taunt and lure readers from page one.

Details: 

Source: ARC borrowed 

Reading level: Young Adult 

Hardcover: 352 pages 

Publisher: HarperCollins (November 15, 2011)

Book Review: Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

SUMMARY: Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend?

As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?

Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob,Wherever You Gois is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light.


OPINION: 4 STARS

The Short Version:
Captivating and affecting, Wherever You Go blends grief with new romance and coming of age in a poignant way. Shifting easily in perspective between the three characters, yet keeping the overall focus on Holly, this one will draw readers in and rally them behind her. Intense at times and sweet at others, Wherever You Go is a solid, well scripted and memorable read.

The Extended Version:
Holly is a very easy to like character, with a fierce and admirable loyalty to her family before all else. Now the primary caretaker for her grandfather with Alzheimer’s who’s moved in with them, and a mother who has to work long hours to help make ends meet, she is supposed to be the strong, infallible one. Still hurting over the death of her boyfriend, Rob, and now cast out of his social circle and living with survivor’s guilt, Holly’s story and struggle is aching, moving and endearing. Watching her not only learn to trust Jason, but fall for him as well, hits true and hard on raw emotions that come with not only her age but her circumstances, giving her character depth and intensity. Though seemingly closed off to the world, it’s clear early on that is the only way Holly can keep herself together and get through her day to day. Embarrassed by her family’s not only money situation but having her ill grandfather there, she is content to fly under the radar, even unwilling to immediately let Jason in. She goes through tremendous character strides and development, and will leave readers stunned and shocked more than once.

Rob’s character is presented in a unique way, not only with a second person voice for his chapters that make the reader feel as though they’re really the one going through everything, but because of the way both who he was in life and now in death are shown. Still in love with Holly, and having a hard time accepting that he can no longer help her, Davis does a remarkable job giving better rise to his turmoil and frustration. It’s easy to see why he and Holly made such a great couple, and the connection between them easily transcended his death. Though his family had money, and he seemed to have it all, he was far from stuck up and was charmingly sweet to Holly.

Jason is a bit of a mess in his own right, hurting over Rob’s death but also feeling increasing guilt over the group’s shunning of Holly. With stronger feelings for her than he knows what to do, and making plenty of mistakes along the way, Jason’s own story is woven throughout in a great way, while the overall book still stays central to Holly. Moving things along with Holly more slowly than he might otherwise do, and with a sweet note that rivals what was between Rob and Holly, the romantic element of this book is as strong and beautiful as the grief and loss one. Jason goes through strong development as well, not only coming to terms with his own issues but getting better insight into Holly as well.

Though there is a lot that happens in the book, and it often seems as though the world will never stop dumping on Holly, the premise itself is basic and strongly present. Blending Holly’s home life with things at school, and adding both Rob and Jason into the mix, there is something always happening and going on. The pacing has a steadiness to it that will keep readers engaged without a constant twisting roller coaster feel, and Davis does a great job easing the reader into not only the characters but their situations as it is now. Adding in a growing mystery about what actually happened the night Rob died, and giving him at least some human connection through Holly’s grandfather, the relationships between everyone drive the book.

The writing has a great flow, and though Davis not only has different narrators but shifts their perspective between first person for Holly, second for Rob and third for Jason, the jumps easy to fall into. Choosing the perfect scenes to show from each character’s side, and holding a heavy and constant emotional air, Davis’ writing shines throughout the book.

Hitting hard on some relevant and heartrending elements, and unflinching in its honesty, Wherever You Go does a fabulous job of blending not only grief and pain with new love and beginnings. With a well developed and focused cast, and a wrecking and emotional air, this one will definitely gut and grip readers.

Details:

Source: Netgalley

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Publication Date: November 15, 2011

Character Feature: Daniel from On the Fringe

I'm doing things a little differently this time around, and instead of sending in interview questions, this character is doing his own narrative and introduction. So with that, I bring you guys Daniel Holland from On the Fringe by Courtney King Walker!


You can say I’m an expert at recalling memories now, that I’m a lot like a computer but more intuitive. For instance, you ask me for a specific moment, and—bam!—you get it on demand. Pretty cool, huh? You want me to show you the day I first met Claire? Or better yet, when I first started liking her? Well, you’ll have to check out the book for that. But since you bothered to read this interview and all, here’s a little bonus (This memory is from a few years back, when Claire and I were too young to notice each other, but old enough not to not notice each other, either. You could say we were in a state of limbo back them, sort-of stuck on the fence and completely content to stay there until our acne toned down a little and my voice got much deeper):

Moonlight fell across the lake, the heavy summer heat reluctant to leave. We floated together side by side, my arms stretched outwards as my legs kicked through the soothing water. I could have stayed out there all night, the cool water and quiet air a welcome refuge. Claire wasn’t bad company, either. There was always something calming and peaceful about her—such a refreshing break from my sister.

Sailing by Claire, I reached for the canoe and untied it, then hauled myself overboard and stretched out in it like a bed. I tried not to laugh as she splashed around for a while, struggling to pull herself up inside, too. Finally she succeeded, and immediately settled in beside me, staring up at the star-speckled sky. I secretly watched her, wondering what she was thinking.

“I love this time of night,” she said, her wet eyelashes fluttering up and down.

I turned away from her and to the stars again. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”

Other than an occasional cricket or frog noise, we drifted in silence for almost an hour, letting the canoe carry us wherever it wanted to go. I think I was almost asleep when Matthew started calling from his front porch, telling Claire to come home.

She sat up abruptly while I jumped overboard and taxied us back to the dock. There, between the slippery rope and my fumbling fingers, it appeared I couldn’t manage a knot to save my life. Just when I was about to throw out a couple of choice words and give up, Claire was right behind me. Without saying a word, she finished off the perfect knot, and then smiled, like she was waiting for a compliment.

“Thanks, Claire,” I said, pushing the hair out of my eyes, feeling a little weird about being so polite. Then, for the first time probably ever, I looked right in her eyes; I guess they were brown. They caught mine for a second, and then she looked down at her feet.

“You’re welcome,” she said.

Before I realized what I was doing, my hand was already extended outward, aiming to take down a wet leaf still clinging to her arm. For some reason, I wanted to touch her—to make one final connection before the night vanished.

But I chickened out, of course. I was only fourteen, you know.

Just as my hand reached her arm, I lost all courage, and flicked her on the back of the head before darting away into the dark.

Just one of a thousand or more memories…

I’m glad I have them with me now to keep me company. They keep me alive, somehow.


So there you guys have it, a little look at both Daniel and Claire! On the Fringe is out now, so be sure to check it out!