Stacking the Shelves (September 28)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews! It's a way to highlight the books that everyone got throughout the week.

Purchased

 Marie Antoinette Serial Killer by Katie Alender


Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger . . .

Acclaimed author Katie Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of revenge, betrayal, intrigue — and one killer queen.

The Wizard of Oz (The First Five Novels) by L. Frank Baum

I haven't read any of these (although the original was read to me when I was young), so I figured that I should buy them. Plus, it was bargain price!

The Taming of the Tights by Louise Rennison

Gadzooks! It's another term at Dother Hall for Tallulah and her mates. But can they keep their minds on the arts with all those boys about...After the thing-that-will-never-be-mentioned last term, Tallulah is keen to put all thoughts of Cain behind her. But that seems like that the last thing he wants. Their performing arts college may have been saved by Honey's mystery benefactor, but for how long is anyone's guess. So will Tallulah finally get to wear those golden slippers of applause or will Dr Lightowler swoop down on her glory days? And with Seth and Flossie forever snogging, Vaisey and Jack loved-up and Phil and Jo fondly biffing each other can Tallulah resist the call of her wild boy? Don your craziest tights and Irish dance your way to some surprising and hilariously unexpected answers...

For Review: 

 Slimed!


SLIMED! An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden Age tells the surprisingly complex, wonderfully nostalgic, and impressively compelling story of how Nickelodeon -- the First Kids' Network -- began as a DIY startup in the late 70s, and forged ahead through the early eighties with a tiny band of young artists and filmmakers who would go on to change everything about cable television, television in general, animation, and children's entertainment, proving just what can be done if the indie spirit is kept alive in the corporate world of contemporary media... All from those who made it happen!

*Nickelodeon was my childhood, and I still watch some of the shows that I grew up with, so I'm pretty excited about this one. 

 

Waiting on Wednesday (April 16)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.

 The Taming of the Tights (Tallulah 3) by Louise Rennison

There's no official synopsis yet, but I imagine there will be more adventures in Irish comedy dancing, Wolfe boy drama, some fabulous owls, and me bursting with laughter at socially inappropriate times. Hilarity, full speed ahead.

Published by HarperTeen
Release Date: August 13, 2013

Teaser Tuesday (July 17)

What is teaser tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules:
Grab your current read...
Open to a random page
Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page
Don't include spoilers.

"There is a slight frost on the window. On the inside. When I rubbed it away I could see that even the sheep are huddling together for warmth. And they are practically walking jumpers." 
-A Midsummer Tight's Dream, Page 33, by Louise Rennison

In My Mailbox (July 15)

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren. Here's what I got this week:



All links go to Goodreads

Books Mentioned:
Bitter End by Jennifer Brown
Hush by Donna Jo Napoli
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot
7 Clues to Winning You by Kristin Walker
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin
Won from Epic Reads: A Midsummer Tights Dream by Lousie Rennison

Book Blast from the Past

This feature was inspired by a post by Eleni at La Femme Readers. My goal for this new feature is to go back to the books that I loved as a pre-teen/teen, and write about why I still enjoy them.

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Although the final book in this series was released this year, the Georgia Nicholson series is definitely one of my favorites. First published in the US in 1999, this is perhaps the funniest book/series that I've ever read. Over the course of 10 books, I laughed until my sides hurt. Plus, this series also taught me an important life lesson about reading in public. If you start laughing in public, everyone will stare at you like you're insane.The books also gave me my first taste of British slang (there are definitions at the back of the book, so that readers can look up slang they don't understand). Some of it, and other saying from Georgia have stayed with me.

One of the things that makes this series great, aside from the humor, is the cast of characters. They're all fun, and completely human. They all have their flaws, and Georgia is quick to point them out. She also has a group of friends that is equally as crazy as she is. I can only imagine how idiotic I looked when I tried to seem cool at 15. Actually, I'd rather not imagine it. I should also mention the cats, Angus, and later his son Gordy. As someone who has owned some seriously evil (but lovable) cats, I loved reading about Georgia's struggle with hers.

A Couple Quotes: "And the kittykats would have to erect scaffolding and a pulley to get him down. Mind you, I wouldn't put that past them. Sometimes when they are behind the sofa supposedly purring, I think they are drilling." -Startled by his Furry Shorts

"Everyone is so obsessed with themselves nowadays that they have no time for me." - Dancing in my Nuddy Pants

Waiting on Wednesday (May 12)

This was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Waiting on Wednesday shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.

Withering Tights by Lousie Rennison

Hilarious new series from Queen of Teen – laugh your tights off at the (VERY) amateur dramatic antics of Talullah and her bonkers mates. Boys, snogging and bad acting guaranteed!

Picture the scene: Dother Hall performing arts college somewhere Up North, surrounded by rolling dales, bearded cheesemaking villagers (male and female) and wildlife of the squirrely-type. On the whole, it’s not quite the showbiz experience Tallulah was expecting… but once her mates turn up and they start their ‘FAME! I’m gonna liiiiive foreeeeeever, I’m gonna fill my tiiiiights’ summer course things are bound to perk up. Especially when the boys arrive. (When DO the boys arrive?) Six weeks of parent-free freedom. BOY freedom. Freedom of expression… cos it’s the THEATRE dahling, theatre!! (From Goodreads)

Published by HarperCollins
Release Date: July 8, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (December 29)

What is teaser tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules:
Grab your current read...
Open to a random page
Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page
Don't include spoilers

"He said, 'You are.'
'I'm not.'
'You are.'
'I'm not, and just repeating something doesn't make it an argument.'"

-Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me, Page 191, by Louise Rennison