In My Mailbox (3)

Welcome to this weeks in my mailbox where we discuss all the new books we acquired through the week. This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren.

This week after scouring charity shops and the internet I got the following haul -

Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund

In a fabulous blend of the bestselling traditions of Prep and The Devil Wears Prada, Secret Society Girl takes us into the heart of the Ivy League’s ultraexclusive secret societies when a young woman is invited to join as one of their first female members.

Elite Eli University junior Amy Haskel never expected to be tapped into Rose & Grave, the country’s most powerful—and notorious—secret society. She isn’t rich, politically connected, or…well, male.

So when Amy receives the distinctive black-lined invitation with the Rose & Grave seal, she’s blown away. Could they really mean her?

Whisked off into an initiation rite that’s a blend of Harry Potter and Alfred Hitchcock, Amy awakens the next day to a new reality and a whole new set of “friends”—from the gorgeous son of a conservative governor to an Afrocentric lesbian activist whose society name is Thorndike. And that’s when Amy starts to discover the truth about getting what you wish for. Because Rose & Grave is quickly taking her away from her familiar world of classes and keggers, fueling a feud, and undermining a very promising friendship with benefits. And that’s before Amy finds out that her first duty as a member of Rose & Grave is to take on a conspiracy of money and power that could, quite possibly, ruin her whole life.

A smart, sexy introduction to the life and times of a young woman in way over her head, Secret Society Girl is a charming and witty debut from a writer who knows her turf—and isn’t afraid to tell all.... - Goodreads

The Nine Lives of Chloe King (Books 1-3) by Jo Braswell

Chloe King is a normal girl. She goes to class (most of the time), fights with her mom, and crushes on a boy…or two. But around her sixteenth birthday, Chloe finds that perhaps she isn’t so normal after all. There’s the heightened night vision, the super fast reflexes – oh, and the claws.
As she discovers who she is – and where she comes from – it is clear she is not alone. And someone is trying to get her.
Chloe has nine lives. But will nine be enough? - Goodreads

All American Girl (All American Girl #1) by Meg Cabot 

Samantha Madison is an average, cool Washington, D.C., teen: She loves Gwen Stefani (who doesn't?), can draw like nobody's business, and enjoys being opposite to her sister's annoying ultra-social personality. When she ditches art class one day, however, she doesn't expect to be jumping on the back of a wannabe presidential assassin. Soon, the young hero is receiving worldwide acclaim for her bravery, having dinner with her family at the White House, and is even being named teen ambassador to the UN. As if this weren't enough, she and David, the president's son, strike up a friendship that everyone wants the dirt on, which starts to give her romantic "frisson" feelings. Unfortunately, Sam thinks her sister's boyfriend, Jack, is the true love of her life, and she makes a few wrong turns that could screw up what she's developing with David. Will she ever stop following what she knows and start following what she sees? - Goodreads

 I am looking forward to getting started on reading these books. What did you get this week?

Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Published: 5th May 2009
Series: Summer 1
Source: Own Copy

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along. - From Goodreads

OH MY GOD!!! Next time I need a good cry I will pick up either this book or "It's Not Summer Without You" and I will re-read them and weep! Belly, Isabelle, has always spent summers with the Fisher family in their beach house. Susannah Fisher is like a second mother to Belly and both Conrad and Jeremiah treat Belly like an annoying little sister, that is until this year.


This book gives the appearance of being a light-hearted girly romance - but don't be fooled!! This is a touching story of growing up, extended family and first love. It deals with some honest and real situations in a lovely way and I could completely relate to secretly pining over the "close family friend" (although if you ask my mother it was not so much of a secret!!) For me, Belly became such a real and well rounded character to me so that when she was happy, I was happy and when she was sad, I weeped!!


If you are looking for a YA book which is more than a book about a teen crush then I would turn you around, march you to the nearest bookshop and order you buy a copy!

Mondays Bite:Twilight Re-read Along Week 3 Discussion

OK so I have totally fallen behind in my Twilight re-read along so I will answer the 10 questions in one sweep. Questions for chapters 11-15 are hosted by The Secret Life of an Avid Reader and questions for chapters 16-20 are hosted by the Reading Housewives of Indiana, Jasmine and Jacinda. If you want to join in it is not too late to sign up at Greads or leave a comment below.

Chapter 11-15 questions

1. Do you think the name "Twilight" for this book is fitting with the story? Do you think a better name could have been chosen? What about the series and the names as a whole?
I like the name twilight and the thinking behind it. I like that all of the book titles were thought about to be symbolic of the theme of the story.

2. On this re-read, what’s your favorite part of the book? Is it the vampires, setting, plot, characters, Edward, or something else?
On this re-read of the books i have really enjoyed the characters the most. I think having read the book a "few" times and having watched the film a "few" times, I like watching the progression of the characters and thinking about the motivation behind everyone's actions.

3. Edward shows his stalkerish/controlling tendencies during these chapters for the first time (at least Bella is aware), did this bother you the first time you read Twilight? Does it bother you now that you’re re-reading it? Should Bella be more worried about it?
Ehhh... even on the first reading of this book I was a little worried about the stalker tendencies from Edward "I watch you while you sleep"!!! You would think that after 70 years he would know that this is just not socially acceptable! I do think if he had been a bit less full on then things may have been less dramatic!

Review: Jessica Darling 1 and 2 by Megan McCafferty

Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Published: 28th August 2001
Series: Jessica Darling 1
Source: Own Copy

From Goodreads: “My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Don’t they realize that Hope’s the only one who keeps me sane? . . . I don’t see how things could get any worse.”
When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?

Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Published: 22nd April 2003
Series: Jessica Darling 2
Source: Own Copy

From Goodreads: “Knowing that I’ve just done something that will take decades off my parents’ lives with worry, you’ll excuse me for not getting into the fa-la-la-la-la Yuletide spirit this year. . . . The only difference between Christmas 2001 and Christmas 2000 is that I don’t have a visit from Hope to look forward to. And Bethany has already packed on some major fetal flab. Oh, and now Gladdie doesn’t need to ask a bizillion questions about my boyfriend, because she’s already gotten the dirt from you know who.”
Jessica Darling is up in arms again in this much-anticipated, hilarious sequel to Sloppy Firsts. This time, the hyperobservant, angst-ridden teenager is going through the social and emotional ordeal of her senior year at Pineville High. Not only does the mysterious and oh-so-compelling Marcus Flutie continue to distract Jessica, but her best friend, Hope, still lives in another state, and she can’t seem to escape the clutches of the Clueless Crew, her annoying so-called friends. To top it off, Jessica’s parents won’t get off her butt about choosing a college, and her sister Bethany’s pregnancy is causing a big stir in the Darling household.

Review:This a 2 for 1 review special! I started reading the Jessica Darling series on holiday and read both Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings back to back. I loved these books so much. Not so much of a quest type story than a chronicling of Jessica Darling over the course of a year after her best friend moves to the other side of the country.

The characters are all lovable and I am sure I'm not alone in wishing I had had my own Marcus Flutie growing up!! I think that everyone will be able to relate to these books in some way as they really are a coming of age book for the normal teenage girl!

Now I can't wait to see what Jecssica's next few years will bring!

Revew: Forest of Hands and Feet by Carrie Ryan

Publisher: Gollancz

Published: July 2009

Series: Hands and Feet #1

Source: Own Copy

From Goodreads: 
In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

I loved that this was a story about zombies where the focus was on the living. Mary lives in a simple time where the focus is on surviving. The Unconsecrated (zombies) are not a recent development but something everyone has lived with all of their lives. Living in a village surrounded by fences Mary's daily life is simple and full of chores, but if the warning bell rings there has been a breach and everyone must get to elevated platforms built into trees to stay away from the dead. To ensure survival the sisterhood demand that everyone marries as soon as they are ready. Mary has the weary task of marrying someone who loves her even if she loves someone else. Soon Mary starts asking questions such as who gave the Sisterhood their power, what are they hiding and what are behind the gates in the village?

From very early on in this novel I felt there were similar tones to the M. Night Shyamalan film "The Village". You have that feeling of being isolated and only knowing the village but suspecting that there must be something else outside through the Forest of Hands and Feet. The writing in this book made me fell that I was full immersed in the life (even if I was lying on a sun lounger beside a pool!!) and was feeling all of the doubts along with Mary.

I loved the characters in this book, well I didn't LOVE them all, I thought there were some nasty characters, but I thought they were all well written. The story does not rush along either. I read this book in a day, but I felt like I had been reading it much longer as the story took it's time to unfold and develop. There were certain parts to the story, where she would find something which we would be familiar with but was completely foreign to Mary, which made me want to shout at the book. I thought it was a really interesting concept that whatever education they had was focused on the present and how to survive, and never looking at the past.

I can't wait to pick up the sequels to this book and see what is to become of the world we live in.

waiting on Wednesday (5)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we can show the books we are eagerly awaiting released.

Title: The Language of Flowers

Author: Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Publisher: Macmillan
Release Date: 19th August 2011

From Goodreads: The Victorian language of flowers was used to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it has been more useful in communicating feelings like grief, mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen, Victoria has nowhere to go, and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. When her talent is discovered by a local florist, she discovers her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But it takes meeting a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realise what's been missing in her own life, and as she starts to fall for him, she's forced to confront a painful secret from her past, and decide whether it's worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness. "The Language of Flowers" is a heartbreaking and redemptive novel about the meaning of flowers, the meaning of family, and the meaning of love.

I stumbled across this book pages and pages into my Amazon recommends pages and thought it sounds really charming and sweet. Looking forward to being able to check it out.

Google Plus

I have now spent a couple of days playing with Google+ after being sent an invite. If you can cast your mind back to the dark ages of Facebook when you had your friends (before you started adding people you have just randomly met on a night out) and it was all clean and fresh, well that's what Google+ looks like at the moment.

My particular favorite feature is the circles. If you wanted to post a status updated that only a select number of people could see then the logistics of this are quite complex on Facebook, the people you want to see it have to be in a group and then you have to set the posting settings for each post so that only they can see it. Well with Google+ your contacts get split into circles of friends, acquaintances, etc... and for each post you quickly select who you want to see it. No more will my mother read drunken status updates!!

Anyway if anyone thinks that they might like an invite, it is still at invite only stage, send me an email and I will shoot you one out! My email address is in the contact me box on the left!

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we can show the books we are eagerly awaiting released.

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Release Date: 27th September 2011
Series: Mara Dyer #1

From Goodreads:
Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

So excited for this book to come out!! The cover is amazing and I can't wait to get my sticky mitts on this.

Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 7th June 2011
Series: Herafter #1
Source: Netgalley

From Goodreads: Can there truly be love after death?
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.
Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

Review:
This is the story of Amelia after her death. When we meet Amelia all she really know is that she is dead. Slowly Amelia begins to remember things like her name and where she is. I like going into a book where the character has about as much knowledge as we do and as they find things out we slowly begin to learn about the character. Amelia is minding her own business one day when a car flies off the bridge, where Amelia knows she died. The driver of the car, Joshua, is drowning and Amelia manages to save him. From this moment on the only person in the living world who can see Amelia is Joshua and they begin to form a bond.

I loved this book. It took a couple of chapters for me to be really invested, but once I was I could not put it down. I liked how the story started off really slowly. It begins with only one character with little memory and very little going on and then another character is introduced and they interact for a while. This builds up to a handful of characters and some good otherworldly action and adventure. I really liked the character of Amelia and thought it was sweet that she suddenly worried about how she looked when she met Joshua. Hello your dead, you have probably looked better!

Joshua was a great character and I liked how he interacted with Amelia. However I would like to have known more about his family and his destiny but this will probably be covered in the next book. I thought this was a really charming and sweet story tinged with an underlying sadness that at times made me want to weep for them. The tragedy of love after death!!

Mondays Bite:Twilight Re-read Along Week 2 Discussion

This week's discussion is on chapters 6-10 in the Twilight re-read along and this week is hosted by the lovely Reading Housewives of Indiana, Jasmine and Jacinda. If you want to join in it is not too late to sign up at Greads or leave a comment below.

Moving swiftly on to this week's discussion points -

1. because we have to talk about it sometime - are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?  does that impact how you re-read the book?

I am firmly in the camp of Team Jacob. Looking back at all the books I have always found Jacob to be a much more identifiable and accessible compared to Edward. I think this is apparent in this book. I know that Edward eventually opens up to Bella but for me it is far too slow. Why choose the ice-man when you can have the toasty warm wolf?

2. Bella spends a lot of her time by herself in her room when she's not at school. what do you think this says about her as a character? can you relate to her introverted nature?

I may be a little biased with this question as I spent a lot of my time by myself in my room when I was younger (and still now whenever I get the chance!) So really I don't see this as anything too peculiar or unusual. I think this just shows that as a person she thinks things through and possibly more selective of her friends. I completely relate.

3. probably my favorite chapter of the entire book, chapter eight brings us dress shopping, nearly getting assaulted, and then wraps up nicely with a quaint dinner and confession time. in this we see the blend of typical teenage existence starting to get tainted by the paranormal world. if given the choice right then, would you push to know more about the paranormal, or bury your head in the sand and live the teenage dream?

I am pretty sure I would want to know everything I could if someone told me a nice juicy secret about themselves. Even when things are weird, freaky and or gross I can't help but to pick at something until I know everything. In this case especially I would need to keep asking questions and nagging until I felt I had pulled out as much of the secret I could.

4. already, it's pretty clear that Bella is falling for Edward. is this happening too quickly to be plausible, or is it totally reasonable to you? what about Edward do you find to be swoonworthy at this point?

I find it plausible that she could fall quickly for Edward. As I mentioned in discussion point 2 above I think Bella being an introverted person means that she is more selective in who she becomes close to. I think that being so selective means that she really connects to someone when she chooses to. 

For me, even though as a person I like to think I am strong and can take care of myself, the most swoonworthy moment is when Edward swoops in to save her when she is being attacked. I think most girls enjoy the thought of being rescued by the white knight and I am definitely one of them.

5. Jessica has to forcibly remove all of the details on what's going on from Bella, but through that we learn more about how she's feeling and how she's falling for Edward already. if you were in Jessica's shoes, what would you say to Bella?
I like to listen. I find that especially with my friends showing a little excitement is all that is required to get all of the information, so I am not sure what I would say. Probably just tell her to spit it out and keep pestering until I get the gossip goodies!


So what are your thoughts on the discussion points above? Fell free to weigh in or disagree with me in the comments below.


Next week the discussion will be lead by The Secret Life of an Avid Reader looking at chapters 11-15. The questions up for discussion are - 


1. Do you think the name "Twilight" for this book is fitting with the story? Do you think a better name could have been chosen? What about the series and the names as a whole?

2. On this re-read, what’s your favorite part of the book? Is it the vampires, setting, plot, characters, Edward, or something else?

3. Edward shows his stalkerish/controlling tendencies during these chapters for the first time (at least Bella is aware), did this bother you the first time you read Twilight? Does it bother you now that you’re re-reading it? Should Bella be more worried about it?

4. Do you find yourself, during or after reading another paranormal/supernatural book, comparing it to Twilight? If you do, why do you think that is? Is it because it’s popular or because it’s just a book that makes an impact?

5. Bella is introduced to the Cullen Family in chapter 15, who is your favorite Cullen and why?

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we can show the books we are eagerly awaiting released.


Title: Shut Out
Author: Kody Keplinger
Release Date: 5th September 2011

From Goodreads:
Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention
Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...

I think this book sounds awesome and I just love, love, love the cover!! Can't wait!

Review: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Publisher: Knopf Books
Published: 28th August 2008
Source: eBook

From Goodreads:
It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.

This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be—and where the next great band is playing.

Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you’ll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

Review:
A life lesson I live by is that anyone who likes or can reference My So-Called Life gets my vote. Well this book had two!! I saw the film before I read the book and love it, so I knew the story before I picked up the book.

This is a story which takes place through the course of one evening and each chapter alternates between Nick and Nora. The writing style is fun and light and runs along bringing you with it. I found this very easy and compelling and managed to finish the book very quickly. I liked the book better than the film. The alternating aspects gave you a better view of the situations... however there were times when this insight did make me want to shake the characters and yell at them!

There are also lots of pop culture and music references peppered through this book. I know lots of books try and veer away from references so as not to age the story. I may have been just the right age when I read this, but I got all of the references (or maybe I missed some and didn't even notice) and I felt that this increased my enjoyment of the book and did not hinder it.

I liked both the characters of Nick and Nora and often at times I really related to Nora and felt that her actions were very similar to something I probably would have done myself. If you want a light and feel good read I would recommend picking up this book. I will leave you with some fantastic quotes and let you all know that I love Jordan Catalano!

I kind of hate Nick right now, too, but there's someone else higher on my list, someone I hate more than Saddam Hussein and any asshole named Bush combined, hate more than that fuckhead who cancelled My So-Called Life and left me with too-small boxed DVD set that does not answer the questions of whether Angela and Jordan Catalano ever did it, or if Patty and Graham got a divorce, or if there really was something to all that lesbian subtext between Rayanne and Sharon.

If Caroline were here, we could dissect Nick via My So-Called Life Script/ Jordan Catalano moments.

Mondays Bite:Twilight Re-read Along Week 1 Discussion

So week 1 of the Twilight re-read along hosted by Greads. There is still time to sign up and just catch up with the reading or join in in the comments below. This week Lisa is hosting the discussion and will sent the discussion questions for next week.

I was off work sick this week and since I spent most of my time sleeping I only just finished my required reading of chapters 1 - 5.

1. Have you ever had to start over in a new place, like Bella did in Forks? This new place could be a school, job, or town... just something with a new setting. How easy or difficult was this for you?

I have never moved town and I moved school when I was 10 from the local primary school to high school. While doing my teacher training I moved schools quite a bit. Even as an adult I found moving from school to school difficult, with both the pupils and the other teachers. Whenever I enter a new setting for me people around me usually perceive me as being quite shy... I am not! I just like to watch the proceedings for a while and get the lay of the land. This usually works for me and keeps me calm.

2. Do you picture the actors from the movie as the characters in the book while you are reading?

Most of the time I do. I think this may be because I saw the film first and then bought all the books on my way home from the cinema. (I can be impulsive at times.) There are a few character who I see differently. Unfortunately for Rob P I see Edward as taller, more broody and more handsome. Bella a little more graceful. I see Alice a little more petite and elfish. Most of the other characters I see just as they are portrayed on screen.

3. What are your first thoughts on meeting Edward in Bella’s Biology class? At first he was annoyed by her presence, but then after a week away he returns & finds him self very interested in her. Do you think this helped or hindered the storyline?

I think that the hostility felt in the first meeting between Bella and Edward, and the subsequent meeting over a week later, helped the storyline. I think without the animosity at the beginning of their relationship helps to cement Bella's obsession with seeing him and constantly seeking him out wherever they are. I believe that had Edward been overly friendly, as the other guys had, Bella may have been less intrigued in the beginning.

4. Out of the secondary characters Bella meets at school, who is your favorite and why? (I am referring to the humans, not the vampires in this question)

My favorite secondary character introduced at school is Jessica. I relate to her been friendly with the new girl. I also understand her actions when in her head Bella has come into the school and all of the attention from Mike suddenly shifts to Bella. I get Jessica and I think we would be buddies!

5. There is a lot of dialogue between Edward and Bella in these first few chapters that I feel played a major role in developing their relationship. What are some of your favorite quotes? or moments?

In the first 5 chapters of the book my favorite Edward-Bella moment is not a conversation, but is an acknowledgement between the pair.

'"Hello Edward" I said pleasantly, to show him I was going to behave myself.

He turned his head a fraction towards me without meeting my gaze, nodded once, then looked the other way.'

I like that this shows that even though they are trying to ignore each other they can't pretend the other does not exist, even at the beginning of their relationship - love, love, love that simple gesture!

Next week's discussion points for chapters 6-10 are :

1. because we have to talk about it sometime - are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?  does that impact how you re-read the book?

2. Bella spends a lot of her time by herself in her room when she's not at school. what do you think this says about her as a character? can you relate to her introverted nature?

3. probably my favorite chapter of the entire book, chapter eight brings us dress shopping, nearly getting assaulted, and then wraps up nicely with a quaint dinner and confession time. in this we see the blend of typical teenage existence starting to get tainted by the paranormal world. if given the choice right then, would you push to know more about the paranormal, or bury your head in the sand and live the teenage dream?

4. already, it's pretty clear that Bella is falling for Edward. is this happening too quickly to be plausible, or is it totally reasonable to you? what about Edward do you find to be swoonworthy at this point?

5. Jessica has to forcibly remove all of the details on what's going on from Bella, but through that we learn more about how she's feeling and how she's falling for Edward already. if you were in Jessica's shoes, what would you say to Bella?

What do are your views? Post in the comments below...

In My Mailbox (2) - AKA the week I bought too many books!!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren. Basically you show off all the awesome books that turned up in your mailbox (or letterbox as we say in the UK) during the week.

OK this week I bought loads of books and in a change from the norm I have been buying print books over kindle books this week. I feel it is not too bad though as some of them were from the charity shop (as you can see from the pictures). Here is the round up...

Bought:
What Alice forgot by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads)
Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs (Goodreads)
Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers (Goodreads)
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney (Goodreads)
Before I Die by Jenny Downham (Goodreads)
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (Goodreads)
I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter (Goodreads)
Forgotten by Cat Patrick (Goodreads)
Black Hills by Nora Roberts (Goodreads)
Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon (Goodreads)
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (Goodreads)

Adding Twilight on to my list of Mailbox books may seem like a strange thing to do, however I lent my copy to a friend of my sisters never to be seen again. I saw this in a charity shop recently and bought it for my Twilight re-read along with GReads!