A Sprinkling of Pepper

If I ever moan that my luck stinks point me to this post. Look what came in the mail today. The most gorgeous bookmark (and stickers - I'm debating whether to stick them to something fabulous or save them for when KC is famous and buy myself a house with the proceeds - even if it's a lego house) for Jack of all Trades by K.C. Shaw, a most wonderful fantasy tale set in Merry Olde England.

God, I love this book. I've read many fantastic books this year including Unwind by Neil Shusterman, Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, and The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan to name a few. These are the books I couldn't put down, the ones that made me wish my favourite tv show would end or would pull me away from the internet, the ones I had to finish and when I did, I regretted rushing through them as I didn't want to leave the worlds they'd created, Kate's book did that.

I love her characters, but most of all I love Pepper, an Emperor Dragon with a personality that just leaps from the page. It's a lightish tale, not too dark at all (I normally like my tales almost pitch black) despite harbouring a man made of bees and a curse that could destroy our hero, that would be Mr. Jack Bywater, a man of many talents. There's mystery, evil doings, unicorns, fairies, and a budding romance. You're a fool if you don't treat yourself to this book, and I know none of you are fools.

Da Surname Meme

The wonderful Nathan Shumate, editor of Arkham Tales has tagged me in a most wonderful meme that proves I do have a lot of books on my shelf and leaves me thankful I don't have a really weird, long name. Here be the rules....

From the biggest bookcase you have, pick out one book whose author’s last name starts with each letter of your last name. If you have no books by an author whose last name starts with a particular letter, go to the next letter. If you have two of the same letter in your last name, get two separate authors, not two books by the same author. Bonus: If you can, pick the first book you haven’t read off your shelf, unless you’re one of those people who’s read all the books you own.

- Post the first sentence of each book, along with the author and title. Feel free to skip prefaces and such, especially if they’re by a different writer.

***

I expect you might think the story I am about to tell you is untrue or perversely Gothic in some unhealthy way. (Love Curse of the Rumbaughs by Jack Gantos - read and most truly a brilliant book).

So she tells me, the words dribbling out with the cranberry muffin crumbs, commas dunked in her coffee. (Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - read and loved).

My mother used to tell me about the ocean. (The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - excellent, sequel now please).

Peter Trilling watched quietly as the other children played in the dust by the side of the porch. (The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. Dick - memorable).

Maybe if he had one more drink they'd leave him alone. (The Twelve by Stuart Neville - to be read).

And out of the Darkwood Mr Toppit comes, and he comes not for you, or for me, but for all of us. (Mr Toppit by Charles Elton - to be read).

The pipe under the sink was leaking again. (The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan - can't wait for the sequel).

***

And I tag: Aaron Polson, Carrie Harris (who can make hers up if she wants and do a super twist on it), Jamie Eyberg, and if he has the time, Barry Napier (to wake him up).

Turning Folk Green

The post to make you all feel very, very jealous. Look at the goodies that I received in the post over the course of a week.

I shall list them all and then sit back and watch your green-o-meter increase with each line.

From left to right (top row):

Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley (MG)

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston (YA, First Novel)

Talebones issue 37

Sand issue 3

Space And Time issue 106

From left to right (bottom row):

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson (YA)

Dead Girls Don't Write Letters by Gail Giles (YA)

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (YA, First Novel)

Unwind by Neal Shusterman (YA - reading, fricking brilliant)

Actually Unwind is leaving me with a slight dilemma. It's one of those books that is so wonderful (I am sure the other books are too, but I haven't got to them yet) that you want to pass it onto someone else. Half my family don't read books (the shame) and as for the ones who do... It's not my mother and cousin's type of book, the little ones are too little and the not so little one is still too young at only 9 years old. As for my friend, she has had a book for the last eight or so years in her desk drawer and she's still only on about page nine. Why am I surrounded by these people? Anyhow, as such it will join the other goodies in the competition due some time this month.