Sundays with Scott - Here Lies Arthur

Here Lies Arthur
Philip Reeve

Life is rough but calm for Gwynna, a slave girl, until the night when her master's land is attacked and burned. Exhausted, out of breath, and cold, Gwynna is saved from death by Myrddin the bard, who travels with Arthur and his war band. After agreeing to assist each other, Myrddin uses Gwynna to give Arthur the sword Caliburn, nowadays Excalibur - which was really just a normal sword. To follow through on the agreement, he also makes Gwynna look like a boy and takes her on the road with Arthur as his apprentice.

But while traveling with Myrddin, Gwynna learns the truth about Arthur. Only she and Myrddin know what happened behind the stories, behind Arthur's cloak of myths. Can she accept the consequences of the knowledge, or will the real story finally be told? Only time will tell.


This book puts a nice spin on the traditional stories of King Arthur. Philip Reeve gives us an insight as to what Arthur might have been like, through the eyes of of his main character Gwynna. It's a classic adventure story, with a mix of magic and trickery. Definitely a great read for Arthur and Merlin fans everywhere!

Here Lies Arthur or The Mirror of Merlin?: I know T.A. Barron was interviewed before, so I'll assumed this book is already reviewed. Nicki's Note: Actually, that one hasn't been. But it is awesome. For the record. All things considered, though, Here Lies Arthur puts a new spin on Arthur and Merlin, which makes it better in my opinion.

Rating: 8.5/10, nice job!

- Scott

Final Fridays - Ellen Hopkins

Perhaps she's visited your school.
Or maybe you've seen her books on the New York Time's Bestseller's list?
There's also a chance you own them.

'cause, you know, they kind of rock my socks off.

Yes, it's Ellen Hopkins - and she's visiting WORD!

'ello, Ellen! What inspired you to write in the style you write in? What inspired you to write the stories you did?
Inspiration and amazing stories are everywhere--friends, family, in the news, readers' stories, even. I pull threads of real life into most of my fiction. I first decided to write verse novel because CRANK (my first novel and loosely based on my daughter's story of meth addiction) seemed all wrong voice-wise in prose. I'd heard Sonya Sones, another verse novelist speak, and it hit me that poetry (which I've always written) might serve the story better. It did. And then I discovered a talent for it.

And everybody is so glad you did. On the topic of addictions... what are /you/ addicted to?
Coffee. Chocolate. My home in northern Nevada.

Choooooccccooolllaaattteee. What's your favorite unhealthy addiction/substance to write about?

I don't know if it's a favorite, but because it was such a big part of my life (through my daughter's addiction), I've become something of an expert on crystal meth and hope to turn readers away from it. It has destroyed more lives than most people realize.

Saint Ellen Hopkins - She Who Saves Lives Through Writing. On the mention of destroyed lives... or at least those who the paparazzi destroys... whose your celebrity crush?

Johnny Depp. He's brilliant. And beautiful. And totally unattainable.

You're my new best friend. I ADORE Johnny Depp. What are your favorite TV shows?

I like reality TV like Idol and Survivor. As far as regular TV, we watch Lost, 30 Rock and cable fare like Dexter and True Blood.

I'm a huge Idol fan. I'm also dying to watch True Blood, but I'm waiting to get that on DVD. Alright... which would you rather do - fly to Italy, bus across America, or take a cruise around the Caribbean?

I'd fly to Italy, then see it by train and bicycle.

Italy is gorgeous. What are some of your favorite books to read? Least favorite?

I'm a big Stephen King fan and have read almost all of his books. I also love Annie Lamott's nonfiction stuff. If I mention my least favorite, people will probably say I'm jealous. (I'm most definitely not!) Let's just say they have to do with not-scary vampires and a wimpy protagonist who needs to learn to live happily without a guy in her life. Guys are great, don't get me wrong. But girls (and guys, too!), never make someone else central to who YOU are. Develop a great sense of self and love will come looking for you.

Five bucks says half the fans won't be able to figure out what that means... but I agree with ya to an extent, Ellen. Today, it's the "Ellen Hopkins Gets To Make Up Her Own Final Question" Question!
Okay, here it is: If you could change anything about your life, what would it be?

My answer: Not a thing. Because changing any one thing would most definitely put me somewhere else right now. And I love where I am.



Love ya, Ellen. Keep on writin'.

~N

Gym Candy

Gym Candy
Author: Carl Deuker
Series: ---
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
How Received: friend

"Look, Mick," he said, "you're going to find out from somebody in the gym, so you might as well find out from me. Those supplements you're taking? They might get you a little bigger, but just a little. If you're after serious results, there's other stuff that produces better results much faster, stuff that a lot of guys in the gym use." "What other stuff?" "You know what I'm talking about-gym candy." Running back Mick Johnson has dreams: dreams of cutting back, finding a hole, breaking into the open, and running free with nothing but green grass ahead. He has dreams of winning and of being the best. But football is a cruel sport. It requires power, grace, speed, quickness, and knowledge of the game. It takes luck, too. One crazy bounce can turn a likely victory into sudden defeat. What elite athlete wouldn't look for an edge? A way to make him bigger, stronger, faster? This novel explores the dark corners of the heart of a young football player as he struggles for success under the always glaring-and often unforgiving-stadium lights.

One of my guy friends lent me this, and for somebody who's not ridiculously into sports, I enjoyed it. The book kept a steady pace, and though it didn't have a plot high or a plot low, it was enjoyable. Deuker manages to capture the spirit of high school football and the motivation to win in a neat 322 pages. All in all, a solid read - albeit predictable.

Rating: 7/10
Gym Candy or Screwball?: Personally, I preferred Screwball - maybe because it emphasized more on things besides the sport.

~N

Sundays with Scott - The Book of Nonsense

The Book of Nonsense
David Michael Slater

When your father is constantly on the move, life can be a little weird. Such is the case of Daphna and Dexter Wax, a bookwork and misunderstood teen (respectively). It does not help that their mother died just after they were born and left their care to her best friend slash maid. However, when their dad comes home with a nearly destroyed book he intends to sell, things take a very weird turn for the worst.

After a visit to the new bookshop, Mr. Wax starts acting funny. At that time, Dexter and Daphna set out to solve the mystery of this strange new book. But why is the book so much trouble? Who wants the book badly enough to kill for it? And what does this all have to do with their mother's death?


The name of this book is The Book of Nonsense, and that's exactly what it is: nonsense! There were so many point of view changes that I got whiplash trying to keep up! In addition, the first half of the book made about no sense until the last three chapters of the book. Towards the end, the book does start to get interesting, but this is definitely not one of my favorites.

The Book of Nonsense or The Book of Names?: The Book of Names, no hesitation! Names had an easy to follow storyline with an interesting setting and characters. Nonsense was almost totally opposite: a confusing storyline mixed with a setting and characters you see in dozens of other books. I have got to go with the better book.

Rating: 6.5/10 - better luck next time.

- Scott

New Moon Poster

Opinions?

The Awakening

The Awakening
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkest Powers
Publisher: Harper Collins
How Received:

Chloe's back - and this time, after an escape from her Aunt Lauren and the others who had captured her - is back with the boys. (Tori being with her = unfortunate side effect of escaping.) Two kids with magical powers, one necromancer, and one werewolf whose due to Change at any time... what could possibly go wrong?

Books like these are the reason I shouldn't start reading five minutes before I go to bed.

Did I mention how much I love this series? The lack of plot holes, the characterization, the setting... it's just so well written. I'm still totally shipping DerekxChloe, and this novel makes it all the easier to do so.

Be warned: You may get so into it, you don't realize when you reach the last page. I didn't.
Me: -flips page- Wait, what? -goes back- That was the end!? Noooooooooooooooo!

Overall Rating: 10/10
The Hunger Games or The Summoning?: Oh. Dear. Oz. Don't make me choose. I may have to kill something if I'm forced to choose. (Most likely the person making me choose...) (But it'd be The Hunger Games.)

~N

Waiting on Wednesday - L.A. Candy

L.A. Candy
Lauren Conrad

Los Angeles is all about the sweet life: hot clubs, cute guys, designer . . . everything. Nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts can't wait to start living it up. She may be in L.A. for an internship, but Jane plans to play as hard as she works, and has enlisted her BFF Scarlett to join in the fun.

When Jane and Scarlett are approached by a producer who wants them to be on his new series, a "reality version of Sex and the City," they can hardly believe their luck. Their own show? Yes, please!

Soon Jane is TV's hottest star. Fame brings more than she ever imagined possible for a girl from Santa Barbara -- free designer clothes, the choicest tables at the most exclusive clubs, invites to Hollywood premieres -- and she's lapping up the VIP treatment with her eclectic entourage of new pals. But those same friends who are always up for a wild night are also out for a piece of Jane's spotlight.

In a city filled with people chasing after their dreams, it's not long before Jane wakes up to the reality that everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be.

By the author alone, I'm intrigued.

Comes Out June 16 '09

Sundays with Scott - Buggy Crenshaw and the Deadwood Principal

Buggy Crenshaw and the Deadwood Principal: Evolution
R.M. Wilbur
_{Others in Series: Buggy Crenshaw and the Bungler's Paradox}

Buggy Crenshaw isn't your average twelve year old. Within a couple of weeks of moving to Lloyd's Hollow, Buggy discovers a magical world, realizes she has traveled back through time to save the world, and defeats one of the most powerful demons of all time. You would think that, with all that she as been through, Buggy could take a break, right?

Well, you'd be dead wrong.

When Buggy is visited by a dying phoenix, everything takes a turn for the worst. Evil plants and creatures are taking over Lloyd's Hollow, and Buggy is being sent on yet another adventure. With the help of her friends Sid and Veronica, Buggy must uncover exactly what she has set in motion and discover a way to stop it. But can the trio stop another demon from entering our world?

Can they stop Mother Nature herself?


This book held my interest from start to finish. The scenery was incredibly realistic, and the characters seemed to jump out of the book. Contrary to my last review, I have no criticism for this book except that it should be made clear that this is the first of two books. Other than that, an awesome book!

The Deadwood Principal or the Artemis Fowl series?: Anybody who knows me knows how much I LOVE the Artemis Fowl series. I sat for dasys going through each and every one of the codes mentioned. This is why I am surprised to say that I prefer The Deadwood Principal and The Bungler's Paradox to the entire Artemis Fowl series! Wilburn has me addicted to his books like Eoin Colfer never could. Not an easy feat, so enjoy the praise.

Rating: 9.5/10 - there's always room for improvement!

- Scott

Same Difference

Same Difference
Author: Siobhan Vivian
Series: ---
Publisher: Push
How Received: ARC

Emily is ready for a change. She's been in the same town with the same friends for a long time...and none of them really understand her art. But when she goes to Philadelphia for a summer art institute, she suddenly finds like-minded people. One in particular, Fiona, intrigues and challenges her. But there are some things Emily is going to have to find out for herself -- like what the balance is between life and art, and which is more important when push comes to shove.

I didn't expect this book to be anything out of the ordinary - maybe good, but nothing great. So I was rather surprised when I wouldn't go to eat dinner because I wanted to know what happened next! Siobhan Vivian has written an amazingly realistic story that captures the mindset of somebody torn between two worlds so very well. I loved her characters, because everybody knows somebody like that.

Rating: 10/10. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Same Difference or Sloppy Firsts?: I love Megan McCafferty's series so very much, but if you're analyzing it by pure, one-stand book, Same Difference captures the essence of being torn into two, while Sloppy Firsts captures trying to fit into any world. Both are amazing, but it all depends on writing style.

~N

CONTEST EXTENDED

I extended last month's contest to this month, because I've had trouble updating my blog, and it's already the middle of the month.

So go on and enter! There's still time now! :D

Love You Hate You Miss You

Love You Hate You Miss You
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Series: ---
Publisher: HarperTeen
How Recieved: ARC

It's been seventy five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her, and she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone, and Amy doesn't want to talk about it. No one knew Julia like she did. No one gets what life is without her.

No one understands what it's like to know that it's all your fault.

Amy's shrink thinks she should keep a journal but instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia. As she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past holds its own secrets--and that the present deserves a chance.

Brilliantly written and well developed, Love You Hate You Miss You is Elizabeth Scott's latest masterpiece. No character falls flat, it's just...

Well, for it's topic, it's a perfect book. I actually have no arguments with it.

Overall Rating: 10/10
LYHYMY or Living Dead Girl?: Both are radically different topics that are brilliantly written. LDG is better for shorter periods of time, and LYHYMY is better for longer. Read both.

~N

Sundays with Scott - Buggy Crenshaw and the Bungler's Paradox

Buggy Crenshaw and the Bungler's Paradox
R.M. Wilburn

Life is anything but normal when your name is June "Buggy" Crenshaw. After her dad, a carpenter and self proclaimed "inventor", blows up their garage during a time travel experiment, Buggy and her family move to Lloyd's Hollow - a town that does not exist on any map. But when Buggy arrives, she discovers a world of magic, mystery, and confusion inside of this isolated little town.

With the help of her new friends, Buggy discovers that their world is close to the apocalypse. Using her new magic and her friends, Buggy will have to talk to a swamp witch, stop the apocalypse, and defeat one of the five most powerful demons of all time. Do you believe Buggy Crenshaw can save the world? She does - it is what she was born to do.



This book was a nice change from the usual humdrum magic books. R.M. Wilburn has developed Buggy's world extremely well; the characters were believable and the book made me feel like I was in the story.

The bad news: there were some problems. The first couple of chapters were a little confusing, and I had to go back and reread to understand what was going on. Besides that, a very good book, one I could read again and again.

The Bungler's Paradox or The Book of Names?: Although both books have magic wielding characters, The Bungler's Paradox focuses a little too much on the line of good versus evil. I would have to pick The Book of Names.

Rating: 8.5/10, for the little bit of confusion in the first few chapters.

- Scott

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre
Author: Charlotte Bronte
Series: ---
Publisher: various
How Received: bought

A homely governess with absolute faith in God.
A hideous master with a hidden past.
A romance tale for the ages.

It's an older novel, so I hate the style of writing and how the description runs on. (But it is an older novel, which is why I won't be comparing it to another book.

However, I positively ADORE the plot line, which is enough to make me want to buy the book. It's rather well constructed, and the characters are brilliant.

Overall Rating: Undetermined. But I love it.
Book or musical? Musical. The soundtrack is amazing, plus they cut out all of the unnecessary plot deviants from the book.


~N

Waiting on Wednesday

Part Of That World

First of all, I survived the SATs successfully! WOOOOOHOOOOO!

Nextly, the contest for this month has been extended by about a week while I catch up on everything I've missed. ^^

Thirdly...

I was talking to a friend online about WORD and this spawned. Enjoy!

Part of That World
Based off of "Part of That World" from The Little Mermaid
Listen to 'Part Of That World'.

Look at my blog.
Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my book collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl...
The girl that reads everything...
Look at my shelves
Treasures untold
How many books can one bookcase hold?
Looking around here you'd think,
Sure, she reads everything!
I've got Meyer and Rowling a'plenty
I've got Bloody Jack and Narnia galore.
You want Pern?
I've got twenty.
But who cares...
No big deal...
I want moooooore...
I want to be where the publishers are
I wanna see
Wanna see them edit
Walking around with those -
What do you call them?
Oh.
Pencils...
Flippin' pages, you don't get to far
Eyes are required for reading, learning
Strolling along past those - what's that word again?
Novels...
Up where they walk
Up where they run
Up where they flip pages beneath the sunnnnn
Thinkin' and free
Wish I could be
Part of that world...
What would I give
If I could live out of these waters...
What would I pay
To spend a day in an ACed office?
Betcha in their,
they understand,
and they don't reprimand their readers!
Bright young women,
sick of listenin',
ready to reeeeaddd...
I'm ready to know
What the publishers know!
Ask 'em my questions
And get some answers
Light a fire then
Watch as bad manuscripts burn...
When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love?
Love to read good books with the best...
In an office...
Wish I could be...
Part of that world...




Thank you, thank you.

Sundays with Scott - The Book of Names

Hey guys, it's Nicki. This is Scott's first review - he's following my format of review, it's just his opinions. Awesome, right? He has a little bio in the side bar now, and you'll see him up here every Sunday. Enjoy!



The Book of Names
D. Barkley Briggs

Life has been anything but normal for Hadyn Barlow and his brother Ewan. After having lost their mother, their dad took them and their two twin brothers across state to Newland, Missouri. While clearing a briar patch at the end of their new farm, Hadyn and Ewan receive scrolls, carried by ravens, calling them to a new land. Upon also finding a Viking runestone, the two brothers are mysteriously transported to the land of Karac Tob. In this new land lies magic, mystery, and danger. With their newfound friends, the brothers set out in this amazing new land to answer two questions: Can they be the heroes that everyone thinks them to be? And will they ever find their way back home?

This book was much better than I first thought it would be. The plot was extremely well-developed, and the setting made me fee like I was right next to the characters, seeing what they were seeing. The Book of Names is a little longer than it needs to be. Some confusing point of views also show up. However, these are the only criticisms I have of this excellent, well written novel.

Rating: 9/10 for the length and the confusing POVs.

The Book of Names or ?: Honestly, though it is similar to other fantasy books, Mr. Briggs has created a truly unique book. Well, that, and the book is so much better than any other fantasy book I've read.

-Scott

100 Followers

OMIGOD!

I HAVE ONE HUNDRED FOLLOWERS!

-does the WORD finally reached 100 followers dance-

It looks kind of dorky, like that kid in the school corner who dances with all her friends and doesn't care what everybody else thinks. What? That's me... pshh... -shifty eyes-



And, to celebrate this - and because my reviews have been non existent lately - I shall be starting you next weekend with a consistent guest review. My best friend Scott LOVES to read... and yes, he shall be doing Sundays with Scott!

(Which may just turn into Weekends with Scott; he's given me three reviews already and I haven't even started him yet! ^^)


THANKS GUYS!

I love you all!

~N


PS: I shall start blogging more regularly. With the project finished and the SATs tomorrow - wish me luck! - I shall be back to reading in no time. And boy, do I have some good books to read...