Review: Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press (January 12, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385344139
ISBN-13: 978-0385344135
Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis: Alice Liddell Hargreaves’s life has been a richly woven tapestry: As a young woman, wife, mother, and widow, she’s experienced intense passion, great privilege, and greater tragedy. But as she nears her eighty-first birthday, she knows that, to the world around her, she is and will always be only “Alice.” Her life was permanently dog-eared at one fateful moment in her tenth year–the golden summer day she urged a grown-up friend to write down one of his fanciful stories.

While this was an excellant diversion away from my usual reading material, I was a bit intrigued at the whole "wild gypsy girl" scenario between Alice and Mr. Dodgson. It was just so hard to believe a child so young could be so seductive and alluring. There has always been a bit of mystery revolving around the relationship between Alice and Charles Dodgson and I felt Melanie did a great job filling in her version of what could have been and what may have happened here in Alice I Have Been.

Review Copy Provided by Publisher/Author

2010 Debut Author (3) Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Kristi of Story Siren has an awesome challenge up for 2010 called 2010 Debut Author Challenge. In preparation of that I thought I would highlight a few on my list that I cant wait to read!

The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 11, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375861823
ISBN-13: 978-0375861826

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.


If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

This lovely and memorable debut by Alyssa B. Sheinmel contains many of the hallmark themes found in young adult literature—friendship, coming of age, finding a place to belong, and overcoming the death of a loved one. Emotionally moving from start to finish, The Beautiful Between introduces a strong new voice to the genre, a voice with a long future ahead of it.
Description Courtesy of Amazon

For Those Doing Monthly Mixer Mele

For Those Doing Monthly Mixer Mele; Michelle from True Book Addict has graciously made an adorable button for this challenge and gave permission to use it.  I LOVE it hon!  Thanks so much!  {{{{HUGS}}}

 

There's still plenty of time to sign up for this challenge HERE

 

 

 

Read Your Name Challenge

The Read Your Name Challenge is being hosted by Victoria at Phantom Inkheart.
The challenge guidelines:

1. Using your first name, or blogger name, or your pets name, or even your favorite literary character's name; whichever you like, choose books with first title letters that spell out your name. (Audio books and eBooks are also okay.) Such as my name: Victoria. the first book's title would start with the letter V, then the next book title begins with I, etc. Make sense? (I hope so!) :p

2. Come back here every month if you wish, and leave your link in the Mr. Linky that will be up containing the link to your challenge page containing the books you've read or each review you've written for books that count for this challenge. (Crossovers with other challenges are okay.) I will make a new post for this during the first week of every month.

3. The challenge runs from Jan. 1st 2010, to Dec. 31st 2010. You may join at any time.

4. Last but not least, be sure to sign up using Mister Linky ! & Leave a comment with what name you're going to use, and the name itself of course! Oh, and don't forget to link back to the challenge from your blog to show you're participating! (If Mr. Linky does not appear to be working, then please just leave a comment with your info!)

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Countdown Challenge

Oh no here I go again but doggone it I can't help it! Challenges make reading twice as fun and I am addicted! hehehe

1.The goal of this challenge is to read the number of books first published in a given year that corresponds to the last digit of each year in the 2000s — 10 books from 2010, 9 books from 2009, 8 books from 2008, etc. The total number of books required, therefore, is 55.

2.This challenge lasts from 9/9/09 through 10/10/10.

3.Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and your lists may change at any time.

Click here to go to the site and sign up/link with Mr. Linky.

MY LIST OF BOOKS

2010

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2009

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9)


2008

1) The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
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8)


2007

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2006

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5)
6)


2005

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5)


2004

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2003

1)The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
2)
3)


2002

1)
2)

2001

1)

Trailer for Thursday

This is on my wishlist. Awesome Trailer! 

Review: A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine

A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine

Mass Market Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Forever (January 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446618594
ISBN-13: 978-0446618595
Rating: 3/5

Synopsis: Fashion curator Athena Smith will do anything to get her perfectly manicured hands on the Clayworth family's celebrated couture collection for her exhibit. So when she's called in to make sure the gowns are the real deal, she's ecstatic...until a dress she's examining turns out to be loaded with toxins (talk about killer threads!) and Athena faints, only to wake up face-to-face with the One That Got Away, notorious Chicago bachelor Drew Clayworth.

Drew still believes Athena betrayed him all those years ago, and he's sure he can't trust her. But when the priceless gowns go missing, she offers to help track them down. Reluctantly allied in the quest, Drew and Athena are soon stunned by the barely restrained passion still sizzling between them...and memories both bitter and sweet. Is their new partnership just a business arrangement? Or is this something more than...

This was a fun and flirty read but a little dissappointing and weird at times like I cant believe they stayed apart for over 15 years over something so petty and also because it ends and never really closes the door on who actually stole the dresses?

Review Copy Courtesy of Publisher

Enjoy the trailer

Review: H.E.A.V.E.N by Nan Becklean

H.E.A.V.E.N by Nan Becklean
Paperback: 186 pages
Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc. (March 17, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601457472
ISBN-13: 978-1601457479
Rating: 5/5

This is a work of fiction but it truly makes ya sit back and say hmmmmm.

To help the overpopulation problem the government forms H.E.A.V.E.N. (Homeland Equitable Alliance for a Victimless Economy and Nation) and basically what happens is once you apply for H.E.A.V.E.N. you are free to love out the rest of your life in peace and joy with no worries of bills nor health issues whatsoever. Your meals, residence, and healthcare are all provided for you free of charge and all your possessions are passed to your beneficiaries with no taxes or nothing! Sounds like pure HEAVEN right? Ready to sign up? Oh yeaaaa I forgot to mention that well here's the catch.... once you sign on the dotted line you get all this free and clear BUT you have to agree to have your life terminated at age 95 whether your in good health or not.

This brings us up to speed on our issue at hand now which is where Sarah is about to reach age 95 but she is not ready to be put to rest yet and is bound and determined to find a loop whole and get herself out of this mess!

I Loved this story! It's a bit of everthing rolled up into one. It has romance, mystery, intrigue, and technolgy all for ones reading pleasure.

Review Copy & Trailer Provided by Author

Reviews:Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: HarperFestival; Mti Rep edition (October 28, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061649694
ISBN-13: 978-0061649691
Rating: 4/5

I watched the movie and read the book this weekend and this is the first time I can honestly say I have no preference which I liked better! They both were pretty cool. I only noticed one major difference from the book to the movie and that is in the movie Coraline has a friend tagging along and in the book she doesn't.

Coraline is a bored little girl whoses parents are far to busy to play with her and she must make up games to amuse herself in her new family home. While exploring she finds a locked door and upon entering it she finds herself in an apartment just like hers with parents just like hers except not so much like hers in that they have button eyes and cater to her every joy. Coraline must determine if the grass is greener on the other side or if she is happier with her world as she knows it.

This was the cutest and strangest book/movie I have watched in a while!

Review: Monster Republic by Ben Horton

Monster Republic by Ben Horton

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Corgi Childrens (January 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 055256057X
ISBN-13: 978-0552560573
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: An explosion in a nuclear power plant. Kids patched up with scavenged body parts and bionic implants. A growing army of superhuman soldiers programmed for destruction. 'No', whispered Cameron to the monster in the glass. And he watched it shaking its hideous head. 'That's not me. You're not me'. As commercial and compelling as a computer game, this is the first book in a major new series.

Review: IN one word; Explosive! I devoured this book and am anxious for the next installment! Nonstop action from the first page! At first I felt pity and sadness for the Monsters and what Dr Fry had done to them but as you get into the story you begin to see them as more than pitiful beings and more as super hero's in the making. I want to see what happens between Cameron, Slater, and Rora. I am wondering if that will open up into a love triangle or if Dr Fry will bring back Marie? Okay I am gonna hush before I release any spoilers but ya'll this was a really really dynomite debut and I can't wait for book 2!!

Enjoy the trailer.

Also posted at http://www.teensreadtoo.com/
Review Copy Provided by Author/Publisher

Yeahhhh! 100 + Followers Giveaway

Thank you all for following my blog and all the kind comments you leave! It's been a wonderful coupla months for me here on Jen's Book Talk and I hope to have many more with you guys! Thanks again for all your help!

 

Now onto my gift for you all.  I wish I could send each and every one of you a gift but it's just not possible so what I decided is to let 3 lucky followers choose a book from Book Depository up to a $6 value each.

 

This is open to EVERYBODY not just USA so please feel free to enter and Good Luck to all!

To enter just leave a comment below and keep checking back to see if you won.  Winners will NOT be emailed! Winners will be chosen on January 31, 2010 and have until February 2 Midnight (Eastern) to respond.