The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

The Boyfriend List
by E. Lockhart
Genre: Dating, Friendship
Published: 2005
Hardback: 229 pages
Rating: 4

Inspiration: the froggy on the cover

Description from the book:
A Seattle fifteen-year-old explains some of the reasons for her recent panic attacks, including breaking up with her boyfriend, losing all her girlfriends, tensions between her performance-artist mother and her father, and more.

My thoughts:
In-a-word: debacle
Interesting way to sort out your life in regards to relationships - a boyfriend list. Each chapter, boyfriend themed, presented different aspects of the character which finally helped solve some of the main character's problems. After reading this book, I created my own boyfriend list. I ended up with about 13. The 13th dude ended up as my hubby. Although breaking up is hard to do, from each relationship I learned what likes and dislikes I had for a partner. All the boyfriend crushes, dates and acquaintances sure make sense in the end.

Series:
The Boyfriend List
The Boy Book: A Study of Habits and Behaviors, Plus Techniques for Taming Them


I like this cover version too!

In My Mailbox - 5

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. A post where we share books acquired via your mailbox, library, store, etc.

You can find out more information on how to setup your own In My Mailbox here. Make sure and add yourself to The Story Siren's Mr. Linky to share the books you've recently received.

Below is a list of books I've acquired this past week. Can't wait to dip into them.

Bought:

Silver Phoenix
by Cindy Pon

-because she rocks and I saw her at her San Francisco event

My Big Nose and other natural disasters
by Sydney Salter

-because of Author Guest blog at My Favorite Author

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith - my review

-because of the zombies, of course

Celeste by V.C. Andrews

Celeste
by V.C. Andrews
Genre: Horror
Published: 2004
Hardback: 405 pages
Rating: 3

Inspiration: VCA Challenge

Description from book:
Celeste and her identical twin brother, Noble, are as close as can be -- until a tragic accident takes Nobel's life. It's a loss that pushes their mother, a woman obsessed with New Age superstitions, over the edge...

Everyone in Celeste's tiny rural town gossiped about Sarah Atwell and her strange beliefs in crystals and herbal potions. But no one except her daughter, Celeste, can know the depth of her madness in the wake of Noble's death. Desperate to keep her son "alive," Sarah forces Celeste to cut her hair, wear boys' clothes, and take on Noble's identity. Forbidden any contact with the outside world. Celeste has virtually disappeared -- until a handsome boy moves in next door, and Celeste will risk her mother's wrath to let herself come back to life.

My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): half an ear
All the elements of the V.C. Andrews template were in place, but the crazy Mother's antics just left me with the question WHY? I didn't mind that she was New Age-y and that she could commune with ghosts. But what was her motivation for treating Celeste the way she did?

Poor Celeste. I felt no sympathy for her. She was obedient and followed along naively. Her predicament made me think of what hermaphrodites must go through when forced to pick a gender and the struggle that occurs.

I think I'm gonna stick with the classic V.C. Andrews novels for the rest of the VCA Challenge.

Gemini Series:
Celeste
Black Cat
Child of Darkness

Author Reading: Cindy Pon

I'll be there, will you?
So far, Tales of a Ravenous Reader said she'll be there too!

Launch Party and Reading:
CINDY PON presents Silver Phoenix

Time:
Friday, May 8, 2009 7:00 p.m.

Location:
Books Inc. in Laurel Village
3515 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone: 415-221-3666

Come to the Northern California Launch Party for CINDY PON, who will read from her debut teen fantasy book, Silver Phoenix, at Books Inc. in Laurel Village. With a sweeping quest and Chinese-inspired mythology, this book introduces a heroine who sheds the constrictions of her sheltered life, discovers the well of power within herself, and vanquishes an age-old evil.

Cindy's blog here.

Cindy's raffle contest --> deadline June 8. Prizes include an original framed brush painting, signed Silver Phoenix book, gift card.

Cindy's brush artwork here. Such sweet pieces. I love the Joy in Spring with the two blue birds and the Afternoon Snack with the panda.

Book Trailer:

Stop, Drop & Read

Book reviews (so far):

my review coming soon...

Books by their Cover

Dear Author

Presenting Lenore

The Story Siren

The YA YA YAs

Author interviews:

AuthorsNow!

Elise Murphy Books

The Enchanted Inkpot

Frenetic Reader

Katie's Bookshelf

Reading Keeps You Sane

ReviewerX

The Road to Publication

YA Bookmark: Novels for Young Adults

Feel free to comment below with your review links.

Post event thoughts:
It was a nice warm evening in San Francisco which is rare. I grabbed some dinner at a new wonderful foodie place called beautifull! located a few doors away from Books Inc. The turkey burger with chipotle ketchup and guacamole was yum! but I digress.

OK, so afterwards I walked over to Books Inc. to check out the store and YA section. Living in SF for a year and a half, it was my first visit. I've been frequenting Borders bookstores because of convenience and the Borders rewards card. I liked this nice small bookstore which had a pretty good children's, teen and graphic novels sections. I got a copy of the Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon and joined Books Inc.'s discount card program. I'm jazzed.

Because I was in the shop early, I got to see Jennifer (hostess of the event and not your mother's book club) setup the table with Cindy's book and vase of flowers. Once the chairs were in place I picked out my spot and started on the first chapter of the Silver Phoenix. Meanwhile, Cindy popped in with her hubby and two kids in tow. She brought cupcakes to treat us with. Cindy looked beautiful in a red Chinese dress. I didn't have a camera but you can check out pictures at Martha Flynn's I Am Procrastinating blog.

The audience started to finally assemble after 7pm. I was worried it was going to be a small crowd. But the event had people standing in the back. The room was filled with Cindy's friends, fellow writers, would-be authors, online acquaintances, fans and new fans (like me). Hey! Cheryl Renee Herbsman, author of Breathing was also in the house!

Our hostess, Jennifer (also of not your mother's book club), read the first paragraph of the first chapter of the Silver Phoenix to kick off the night. BTW: this event is the second for Cindy in her blog tour line-up.

"The eunuchs said the windows were ceiling height to allow the concubines their privacy, but Jin Lian knew it was also a way to keep them trapped. These quarters had walls taller than any courtyard tree. No one could survive the drop to the other side. No that any concubine in possession of ther wits would ever attempt to escape the Palace -- or her duties to the Emperor."

Pretty engaging first paragraph, eh? Reminds me of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon's jumping on roofs sequence.

Then, Cindy took questions from the audience before signing books. Most of the questions were regarding her writing and research process. At one point, Cindy's daughter asked when her next book was coming out. To which Cindy answered 2010 and it was going to be a prequel sequel or did she say pre-sequel. hmmm. Regardless, it sounds like an interesting twist on things normally done.

All-in-all a nice event in a friendly and casual setting.

Thanks for coming to San Francisco, Cindy!

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updated: 5.9.09
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Willow Dress

Ahhh, if books were dresses...

The Willow Dress

I was playing around with Photoshop and came up with this concoction. I haven't read Willow by Julia Hoban, but plan to someday. Willow is one of those books I pine for as The Story Siren would say.

Description from amazon.com:
Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow’s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy —one sensitive, soulful boy—discovers Willow’s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down.

Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl’s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy’s refusal to give up on her.


*source for silhouette

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updated: 5.12.09
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