Hi everyone! Welcome to another monthly wrap up here at Stardust and Words. It has been a super busy month for me outside of reading, and also the olympics being on put a major dent in the time that I would normally spend with a book, but I love the olympics so much that I didn't even care. I did manage 11 books, which is pretty good, but only three reviews, which is less so. I hope you guys had a good August. I feel like I kind of hate August because it tends to be the absolute worst in terms of humidity... but FALL IS COMING GUYS!! SOON!!
1. Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters #1) – Juliet Marillier (4)
Lovely Sorcha is the
seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a
mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her.
Sorcha is the light in their lives, they are determined that she know
only contentment.
But Sorcha's joy is shattered when her father
is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers
with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift-by staying
silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set to her by the
Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her
brothers forever.
When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of
Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire
to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once. Sorcha
despairs at ever being able to complete her task, but the magic of the
Fair Folk knows no boundaries, and love is the strongest magic of them
all...
2. Lunch Poems – Frank O'Hara (5)
Important poems by the
late New York poet published in The New American Poetry, Evergreen
Review, Floating Bear and stranger places.
Often this poet,
strolling through the noisy splintered glare of a Manhattan noon, has
paused at a sample Olivetti to type up thirty or forty lines of
ruminations, or pondering more deeply has withdrawn to a darkened ware-
or firehouse to limn his computed misunderstandings of the eternal
questions of life, coexistence, and depth, while never forgetting to eat
lunch, his favorite meal.
3. Mansfield Park – Jane Austen (5)*
'We have all been more or less to blame ...
every one of us, excepting Fanny'
Taken
from the poverty of her parents' home, Fanny Price is brought up with
her rich cousins at Mansfield Park, acutely aware of her humble rank and
with only her cousin Edmund as an ally. When Fanny's uncle is absent in
Antigua, Mary Crawford and her brother Henry arrive in the
neighbourhood, bringing with them London glamour and a reckless taste
for flirtation. As her female cousins vie for Henry's attention, and
even Edmund falls for Mary's dazzling charms, only Fanny remains
doubtful about the Crawfords' influence and finds herself more isolated
than ever. A subtle examination of social position and moral integrity, Mansfield Park is one of Jane Austen's most profound works.
4. Saving Francesca – Melina Marchetta (4)
Francesca is stuck at St.
Sebastian’s, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls
their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a
rumored slut, and an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no
better, from Thomas, who specializes in musical burping, to Will, the
perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop
thinking about.
Then there's Francesca's mother, who always
thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly
stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and
without an inkling of who she really is. Simultaneously humorous,
poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who
must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest
of all—herself.
A compelling story of romance, family, and
friendship with humor and heart, perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins
and Lauren Myracle.
5. Princess Academy (Princess Academy #1) – Shannon Hale (5)*
Miri lives on a
mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and
lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have
divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's
time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the
girls of the village.
The king's ministers set up an academy on
the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become
a princess. Soon Miri finds herself confronted with a harsh academy
mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting
desires.
6. I'll Love You When You're More Like Me – M.E. Kerr (3)
M.E. Kerr's beloved 1977
young adult classic tells the story of two very different teenagers,
both struggling to stand up to their parents. Whether it's going to
college instead of taking over the family funeral parlor, coming out in a
town where homosexuality is considered akin to demonic possession, or
choosing between a life of fame or normalcy, the young characters in I'll Love You When You're More Like Me bravely struggle to become who they want to be—even when they don't yet know themselves.
M. E. Kerr
was a winner of the American Library Association's Margaret A. Edwards
Award for Lifetime Achievement and the ALAN award from the National
Council of Teachers of English. She has been described by the New York Times Book Review as "one of the grand masters of young adult fiction."
7. As You Like It – William Shakespeare (3)
As You Like It is a
pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in
1599 or early 1600 and first published in the First Folio, 1623. The
play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton
House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility. As You Like It
follows its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's
court, accompanied by her cousin Celia and Touchstone the court jester,
to find safety and, eventually, love, in the Forest of Arden.
Historically, critical response has varied, with some critics finding
the work of lesser quality than other Shakespearean works and some
finding the play a work of great merit. The play features one of
Shakespeare's most famous and oft-quoted speeches, "All the world's a
stage", and is the origin of the phrase "too much of a good thing". The
play remains a favourite among audiences and has been adapted for radio,
film, and musical theatre.
8. Nevernight – Jay Kristoff (4)
The first in a new fantasy series from the New York Times bestselling author.
In
a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a
school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed
her family.
Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is
barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone
and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god,
hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for
speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer,
and a future she never imagined.
Now, Mia is apprenticed to the
deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If
she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the
subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed
Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer
is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past
return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is
unfolding in the shadows she so loves.
Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?
9. Along For the Ride – Sarah Dessen (4)*
It’s been so long since
Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the
fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with
her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.
A
job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their
talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too
busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets
Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to
the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel
quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been
denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death
of a friend.
In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.
10. And This is Laura – Ellen Conford (2)
Twelve-year old Laura is
an ordinary person in a family of superstars. Her beautiful older
sister is a talented actress, her older brother writes and performs
music, and her little brother can recite every commercial on television
from memory. Her parents are gifted, too—her mother is a famous author,
her father a brilliant scientist. However, everything changes for Laura
when she discovers that she has the ability to see the future. Suddenly,
she has popularity, attention from her parents, even media coverage.
It’s all new and so great—until her visions grow dark, and Laura
realizes that her gift could turn out to be a curse!
11. Lock and Key – Sarah Dessen (3)
Ruby, where is your mother?
Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on
her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother
will probably never return.
That's how she comes to live with
Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie,
whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he
founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house,
fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a
future; it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant
Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next
door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby
is just learning to give?
Best-selling author Sarah Dessen
explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen
circumstances and learning to trust again.
what did all of you read and love in August?
xx
Caroline
Showing posts with label sarah dessen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sarah dessen. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
top ten tuesday: authors with the most
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at the Broke and the Bookish, and this week's theme is: "August 11: Top Ten Authors I've Read The Most Books From." I always love a chance to talk about some of my favorite authors, so I am totally in love with this week! I can't wait to see what you all put as well :)
1. Rick Riordan = 15 books
After following Percy Jackson and all of the Heroes of Olympus books through their publications, I read the Kane Chronicles and the two additional novels in the Percy Jackson world that Riordan wrote. Aside from the tiny series with millions of books that I read when I was really little, Riordan is the author that I have read the most books from, by far, and will remain forever one of my favorites.
2. Lemony Snicket/Daniel Handler = 14 books
With 13 books in the Series of Unfortunate Events, it was easy for Lemony Snicket to secure a spot on this list. I love this author, for his strangeness as much as for his writing. I also read Why We Broke Up last year and loved it, proving that Daniel Handler can impress just as much as his alter ego, Snicket, can.
3. Sarah Dessen = 10 books
I went through a stage where all I wanted to read was Sarah Dessen books, and I literally read every single thing she had written within the span of a couple weeks. Since then, I've kept up with her new releases, and though they aren't some of my absolute favorite books, I do find myself going back to them from time to time and always end up enjoying myself when I'm reading one of hers.
4. Cassandra Clare = 10 books
Clare's Shadowhunter world is one of my favorite literary places to visit, and I know that this number will grow in the years to come. Between the six Mortal Instruments, three Infernal Devices and the Bane Chronicles, I have almost an entire shelf dedicated to Clare's novels. I can't wait for the release of Lady Midnight in 2016.
5. Ally Carter = 9 books
For me, as a thirteen year old girl in a boring southeastern town, the idea of girls being extraordinary was something really enticing, and Carter's Gallagher Girls series fed my need for excitement. I also enjoyed the three Heist Society novels, and though I haven't gotten to it yet, I feel sure I will like All Fall Down just as much as her other novels.
6. J.K. Rowling = 11 books
I think this is pretty self-explanatory. 7 Harry Potters, Fantastic Beasts, Quidditch Through the Ages, The Tales of Beetle the Bard, and a desperate read of the Casual Vacancy. I will love this woman forever.
7. Jennifer L. Armentrout = 7 books
This woman has written an incredible amount of books, and I really would like to get more into her New Adult series, as I have heard great things about them! For now, I have read the Covenant series and the first book in the Lux series, and I loved every single second of these novels. I know the number by this woman's name will grow, because she is super talented.
8. John Green = 6 books
(I had to be shameless and use my own picture with this incredible person lol) I've read everything that John Green has written and I will continue to do so until he chooses to write no more words. He is one an inspiration to me, from his novels to his youtube to his social media platform and what he does with it.
9. Richelle Mead = 7 books
I read the Vampire Academy series last year, then read Bloodlines in 2015. I haven't continued on with that series yet, but I plan to, once I acquire the rest of the books! I also can't wait for her new release later this year, entitled Soundless.
10. Sarah J Maas = 5 Books
Sarah J Maas is my queen, I bow to her, I will read her grocery lists if she would ever allow me to. Throne of Glass is, in my opinion one of the best series to grace the YA shelves, and I also adored her Beauty and the Beast retelling that came out this year.
What are your picks for this list??
xx
Sunny
1. Rick Riordan = 15 books
After following Percy Jackson and all of the Heroes of Olympus books through their publications, I read the Kane Chronicles and the two additional novels in the Percy Jackson world that Riordan wrote. Aside from the tiny series with millions of books that I read when I was really little, Riordan is the author that I have read the most books from, by far, and will remain forever one of my favorites.
2. Lemony Snicket/Daniel Handler = 14 books
With 13 books in the Series of Unfortunate Events, it was easy for Lemony Snicket to secure a spot on this list. I love this author, for his strangeness as much as for his writing. I also read Why We Broke Up last year and loved it, proving that Daniel Handler can impress just as much as his alter ego, Snicket, can.
3. Sarah Dessen = 10 books
I went through a stage where all I wanted to read was Sarah Dessen books, and I literally read every single thing she had written within the span of a couple weeks. Since then, I've kept up with her new releases, and though they aren't some of my absolute favorite books, I do find myself going back to them from time to time and always end up enjoying myself when I'm reading one of hers.
4. Cassandra Clare = 10 books
Clare's Shadowhunter world is one of my favorite literary places to visit, and I know that this number will grow in the years to come. Between the six Mortal Instruments, three Infernal Devices and the Bane Chronicles, I have almost an entire shelf dedicated to Clare's novels. I can't wait for the release of Lady Midnight in 2016.
5. Ally Carter = 9 books
For me, as a thirteen year old girl in a boring southeastern town, the idea of girls being extraordinary was something really enticing, and Carter's Gallagher Girls series fed my need for excitement. I also enjoyed the three Heist Society novels, and though I haven't gotten to it yet, I feel sure I will like All Fall Down just as much as her other novels.
6. J.K. Rowling = 11 books
I think this is pretty self-explanatory. 7 Harry Potters, Fantastic Beasts, Quidditch Through the Ages, The Tales of Beetle the Bard, and a desperate read of the Casual Vacancy. I will love this woman forever.
7. Jennifer L. Armentrout = 7 books
This woman has written an incredible amount of books, and I really would like to get more into her New Adult series, as I have heard great things about them! For now, I have read the Covenant series and the first book in the Lux series, and I loved every single second of these novels. I know the number by this woman's name will grow, because she is super talented.
8. John Green = 6 books
(I had to be shameless and use my own picture with this incredible person lol) I've read everything that John Green has written and I will continue to do so until he chooses to write no more words. He is one an inspiration to me, from his novels to his youtube to his social media platform and what he does with it.
9. Richelle Mead = 7 books
I read the Vampire Academy series last year, then read Bloodlines in 2015. I haven't continued on with that series yet, but I plan to, once I acquire the rest of the books! I also can't wait for her new release later this year, entitled Soundless.
10. Sarah J Maas = 5 Books
Sarah J Maas is my queen, I bow to her, I will read her grocery lists if she would ever allow me to. Throne of Glass is, in my opinion one of the best series to grace the YA shelves, and I also adored her Beauty and the Beast retelling that came out this year.
What are your picks for this list??
xx
Sunny
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
top ten tuesday: beachy reads
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish, where each week we highlight a different category relating to our favorite books. This week's category is "May 26: Ten Books I Plan To Have In My Beach Bag This Summer or Ten Books I Think Make Great Beach Reads." Now, this is one of my favorite categories of books, as in the summer I always feel particularly happy, which makes me want to read light and fluffy books. I have an entire post exclusively dedicated to my favorite summer-themed books, Here, but I will talk about some of my favorite beach reads today.
1. Anything by Morgan Matson. I'm counting all three of her novels as the top spot in this list, because they are all summer-y and swoony, combining the tough topics in life with amazing romance and classic summer activities. These are some of my all time favorite summer books.
2. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that this is one of my all time favorite books, one that I always recommend when people want to know what to read. It is one of those stories that you get completely engrossed in, and hours will pass without you realizing. I think that is perfect for a beach read, because it is something that you will get really into without having the commitment of starting a whole series.
3. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. All of Sarah Dessen's books would make great beach reads, actually, but this one is my favorite. It is kind of like Morgan Matson in that Sarah Dessen combines tough subjects with the thrill of first love, but I tend to think of these as books for younger teen girls. They deal with the tough subjects but in a manageable way, which I think is perfect for a summer read.
4. Paper Towns by John Green. This book is on the shorter side, but there is a lot packed into the few pages that make up the novel. This is one that can be read in a day or two, but it will stay with you for weeks and months after you finish it.
5. The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Though this book is a bit of a different genre than the others on this list, I still think it would make a great summer read. I know a lot of people like to read James Patterson-esque, fast paced thrillers in the summer months, and I think The Naturals is a good YA choice in this same vein. It was described to me as a teenage Criminal Minds, and I completely agree with that statement. A group of child prodigies, coming together to profile and arrest criminals for the FBI? Sounds great to me.
6. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. Though this takes place in a work environment, and that is the last thing that people want to think about while on vacation, I think it is a perfect beach read. Short, sweet, and hilarious, it is told through emails as well as prose, and the pages absolutely seem to fly by.
7. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. This isn't your typical summer contemporary. Though parts of it seem idyllic and carefree, there is a sinister undertone throughout the story. There is a huge mystery running through the plot, and the plot twist at the end will knock your socks off.
8. The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith. This is a cutesy contemporary story, and some of it does take place in the summer. This is a sort of mindless read, nothing to think too hard about, but it will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside when you finish it.
9. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I read this one last summer, and finished it in one long day, which may be the only reason I associate this with a summer read. I do think that it is something thrilling and different, a new genre to try while you've got the time to try it.
10. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han. I associate this book with both spring and summer, because of how light and sweet it is. It is one of the cutest books I've ever read, from the story to the characters, language and cover design. It's a perfect pick-me-up.
what are some of your ideal summer reads?
xx
Sunny
Labels:
beach reads,
ernest cline,
i'll give you the sun,
jandy nelson,
john green,
morgan matson,
paper towns,
rainbow rowell,
ready player one,
sarah dessen,
summer,
sybg,
tatbilb,
the naturals,
top ten tuesday
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