The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Hey readers, My hair is up cause its so HOT outside i could melt and Yes im holding a library copy of MockingJay. I do not actually own any of the Hunger Game books, however, i have read all of them. The reason I even know about the stories is because after the bookstore i worked at closed my boss continued to receive ARCs. One of them was the Hunger Games. I believed i asked to keep it and was declined. The next year she got the 2nd book also as an ARC. This year i had to settle for the library but it was worth it.

  Over all its an awesome series, but like most series the last book falls short of expectations. Its not the authors fault. It is the readers imagination that takes hold of a story set before them. As the mind wanders readers think of many possible endings. Endings are never fun. Its the same as saying good bye to someone you may never see again. Bittersweet really.

 BUT read it anyways. It is an awesome book that may spurt and interest in politics (may, it didnt work for me but it might for someone younger). I just recommended this book to a friend whose 12 year-old son is a reluctant reader. The goal is to find a book that will spark and interest in reading. This is a type of series that is capable of that. Im sorry if I am being vague. If you have any questions leave a comment and i will try to reply ASAP
         

TIGERS CURSE by Colleen Houck REVISISTED

 Much congratulations to Mrs. Houck on her public publication of the Tiger Curse series.  If readers were lucky enough to buy the original copies via kindle or amazon. You are now the beholders of a special edition to your library, and given bragging rights to say you discovered Colleen Houck before Hollywood did. You took a chance of a real good thing and therefore i give you bragging rights. So if you want to gift your friends with a possibly shorter but published version of your favorite tiger series "Tigers Curse" will be out in January, and "Tigers Quest" will be out in June.

 But like all those who discovered Mrs. Houck we are still waiting for the next chapter in the series. As you sit and grumble about the wait stop and think about how bless we are that Mrs. Houck took the energy to self-publish in the first place. After working in the book biz for a time i can tell you most would call self-publishing as money suicide. Thankfully it was not the case.

Heres the link for Tigers Curse republished. Be sure to tell everyone who (you) read it first!

Mrs. Beast by Pamela Ditchoff

 Mrs. Beast is currently available via Kindle on Amazon. I purchased it since Beauty and the Beast was my all time favorite fairy-tale (thanks Disney). Truely this book is not a happily-ever-after musical. In fact its rather Grimm and disturbing. It has a similar feel of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years) by Gergory Maguire. I admit Mr. Maguire is one of my least favorite authors but can twist a dirty tale. Ms. Ditchoff is a bit different. She is not afraid to make her readers blush. She has Beauty speak of her sexual encounters with the Beast and how she would wished he never became human. Therefore seeks out the witch to turn her prince back into the Beast.
    This book is not for the Teens of the Twilight Saga. Ms. Ditchoff is a Professor and writes and educational and questioning tale of the Grimm fairy tales. I can not say I loved this book. I think bringing Zoophilia into the story tainted it but I that subject just grosses me out.


 So why should you read this book?  Well it has an interesting take on fairy tales and what they represented to the people who created them. Some of the psychology surprised me. It asks the questions Disney painted over. What really happens after happily-ever-after? Can a prince really change his lifestyle after he is turned into a Beast? and What is the price beauty pays for beautiful people?

I must say this book is intriguing. I would like to meet the author and if ever partake in her classes. She must be something. I might regret it but I am strongly considering reading the sequel PRINCESS BEAST.

Buzz Worthy? Very Much So but not for the reasons i usually read books or my favorite fairy tale

LINGER by Maggie Stiefvater

   Sorry its been a month since I've read anything and months since ive posted anything. Having a month of free Netflix will do that to a bored college student. I was also waiting for...  [drumroll]... Its about time ..."Linger" by Maggie Stiefvater.  Finally! it hit bookstores or in my case delivered  to my front step by amazon (thank you amazon). I like it better that way its like Christmas in July. Linger is the sequel to one of the best werewolves book ever written. Sam and Grace are once again face with the problem of choosing humanity over becoming an free wild animal. 

  Its hard to say more with out adding spoilers to the blog. Heres what i can say. I cant wait until the sequel comes out and all the questions the book poses will be answered. I guess i could compare the Shiver trilogy to Romeo + Juliet. Nobody dies, thats not what im saying. Just the torn romance between two souls that belong together and the trials they go through to get there is just beautiful. It is another book i cannot put down and a series i shove in my friends faces. Pick up this series and you wont regret it.


This book is so buzz worthy i would move to Montana just to drink hot chocolate, read poetry and watch wolves.

DEWEY by VICKI MYRON and BRETT WITTER

      Now I do not usually post books that are non-fiction, so here is a special treat. Dewey the "Small-Town Library Cat who Touched the World" is the cat lovers equivalent of a dog lovers  "Marley and Me." It is written by the person closest to the cat, the librarian Vicki Myron.  Dewey is a orange tom cat that Vicki found in her Library's drop box on what is said to be the coldest morning in Iowa. The book is partly Vicki's autobiography and Dewey's biography. Dewey's story would not be complete without Vicki's recount of her life. Together Dewey and Vicki lives are heartfelt and hopeful. The story is as warm, sad, and funny as the entire book of Chicken Soup for the Cat lovers soul. I would not be surprised is a bit of Dewey's life wasn't found in Chicken Soup for the Cat Lovers soul. Readers, however, do not have to be a cat lover to appreciate the fight and miracle of an animal or towns survival in the middle of no where. Like I mentioned before its the cat version of "Marley and Me." Note to readers this books will probably not be made into a movie anytime soon but the cat in question has been in several movies before the end of the book and many more Cat friendly magazines and news papers. Perhaps I am wrong since there is already several children's book and a teen version of the Dewey's story. Dewey's story is a quick and light summer read.   Its one of those books you can pick up when you need something to read on vacation or between books.

This book is Buzz Worthy because it reminds readers on how special life is and how magical certain people can affect a life.

*TEASER* TIGERS VOYAGE by Colleen Houck

 With permission from Colleen Houck I am posting this excerpt from Tiger's Voyage. This passage may contain spoilers, therefore, read at your own risk.

TIGERS VOYAGE 

As a tentacle moved past its head, I saw the posterior surface change color. 

The purplish-brown skin briefly turned pale with black spots.  I saw the 

funnel above its eyes shoot out a stream of bubbles as it moved again, 

thrusting out powerful arms.  The water surged around us. Ren twisted the 

staff of his trident and shot three spear darts in quick succession towards 

the beast.  One missed, one speared a tentacle to the stalactite and one 

grazed the mantle.  Black blood clouded the area where the creature hung. 

With a quick move, it yanked its pinned tentacle away from the stalactite. 

Arms shot out in every direction.  I blasted one that wrapped around 

Kishan's throat but it hung on tenaciously.  He began sawing at it and was 

successful in getting it off but it tore away his breathing tube.  He 

reached for his back up and gave me the thumbs up sign.

Ren and I began pummeling the monster with lightning power and darts.  The 

mantle expanded and in a flash of light and a rush of water, the creature 

was gone.  I swam in circles trying to see where it went but with the lights 

off, it could have been anywhere.  I kicked my legs and moved closer to Ren, 

figuring it might help if we fought back to back.  Kishan had just started 

moving closer to us when the lights came back on.  It was right behind 

Kishan. Two fleshy limbs wrapped around his body and shook him in the water. 

One of his fins came off and dropped slowly into the chasm below us.  Ren 

swam powerfully forward and thrust the trident into the largest arm.  The 

creature squealed but held on.  Kishan slashed with the chakram and, at the 

same time, I raised my hand to blast through it.  That's when I felt a tug. 

The beast wrapped a limb around my waist and yanked me towards it at a 

frightening speed.  Attacking Kishan had been a diversion.  The creature 

pulled me away and shut off the lights.

HEARTS BLOOD by Juliet Marillier

    "Heart's Blood" by Juliet Marillier made my hearts blood pump fast.  So much so i stayed up to two in the morning before i convinced myself to put it down.  The  book is the retelling of Beauty and the Beast (my favorite fairytale). Im not too impressed by the cover art, but this would be a great example of not judging a book by its cover.  The book follows Caitrin,18 year old orphan whose relatives beat her for no reason. Running away she finds a position as a scribe at a castle that is cursed. A tragic young lord lives in the castle (of course) but the curse isnt his (which makes it so tragic). 

   Once i started reading "Hearts Blood" i could not put it down. There is nothing i love more than some good tragedy in a love story. Seeing everything through the eyes of a damaged but loving Caitrin lets the reader feel the passion, pain and terror that taking control of your own life entails. It reflects how negativity can destroy a person where hope can truly rebuild a broken heart.


"Heart's Blood" is so Buzz Worthy since i was tense through out the entire adventure. So good it gave be butterflies.

My other favorite book of Juliet is "Wildwood Dancing"
For more information on Juliet Marillier books check out her website.