Since I have no YA lit to review (currently reading: The Breakup Bible, Bergdorf Blondes, and Prep), I thought I'd dip into my supply of classics.  These include, naturally, all 6 of Jane Austen's novels, but there are one or two others that aren't as well known.  This one, however, deserves as much praise.


Think of it as the Pride and Prejudice of its time.  It was published in 1778, a somewhat different time than the 1810s, in which most of Austen's books were published.  But it deals with many of the same themes.

( Oh sir, shall I ever again involve myself in so foolish an embarrassment? I am sure that if I do, I shall deserve yet greater mortification. )

This is kind of the question, or at least one of many, that this books asks.


I picked this book up as soon as I saw it, and since then I've read it at least three times.  I'd definitely equate it to the nearly perfect Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and even suggest that Naomi and Ely goes above and beyond.  This is in no way a Nick and Norah copycat; it has a different story, different characters, and different lessons that each of them must learn.  Let's get into it.

( Somehow I think he's never looked more beautiful. Teary-eyed, splotchy-cheeked, runny-nosed, laughing and crying. My boy. )

I've been waiting to read this book for literally months.  I put off reading it mostly because it looked longed and the plot summary on the back sounded a lot like a story I'm still currently writing.  Well, I read this book on Saturday afternoon ... and finished Sunday morning.


Based loosely on the frog prince fairytale.  As you can see in the small type below, Robin Palmer has also writtien something called Cindy Ella.  I'll definitely keep a lookout for it the next time I go to Borders.

( Okay, so, there's three levels of popularity ... )

Okay, class, settle down.  This session of Rachel Cohn's Library is now starting.


This is definitely one of the heavier YA novels I've read, as it deals with the aftermath of suicide and drug abuse.  But I trust Cohn, and of course I was ultimately satisfied with this.  A couple minor things about the covers: the one above is the hardback version, which is different from the paperback I have - however, both covers feature a pretty, slim blonde girl surrounded by nature.  This is not our protaganist, but rather the girl who committed suicide.

( She wishes the went-away girl was here now to play their old game, to help her invent a better ending. )

Another survivor from my booklist for Shakespeare & Children's Lit class last semester.


Flipping through it again, I don't remember why I kept it.  It's based on A Midsummer Night's Dream, although the actual plot of the play doesn't play out (no pun intended) until the very end, making for an odd adaptation.

( I do not pine, and I am not fond of lavender OR skirts, so I do not see how anyone could get us confused. )

And I love books by Jerry Spinelli.  That I got this book two weeks ago and finished reading it before some books I've had for months is evidence of this fact.  Also, just in general, I love Stargirl.


You could call Love, Stargirl a sequel or, as my cover has it, a companion novel (which sounds a little better, I suppose).  It takes place about six months after Stargirl has left her boyfriend Leo, one true friend Dori, and the rest of Mica High.  She's moved to a faraway place called ... um, Pennsylvania. 

( You be you and I'll be me, today and today and today ... )

This was too weird to pass up, or so I thought reading the description.  It's still too weird.  I have no idea how I'm going to review this thing.


This is one of my "grown-up" books (as opposed to YA), and what cinched it for me was a blog describing it as akin to "Pushing Daisies," one of my favorite shows. 

( A-l-l GREAT s-t-o-r-i-e-s contain within themselVEs SOMEthing ... faMiliAr )

... as I explained to my father while driving home from Borders.


Translation: Stargirl.

I first read this book last summer (or the summer before last - can't remember) and I'm so glad I did.  That's right - this book is so good, I'm thankful that it came into my life.

I read this because this was the only Rachel Cohn book at my university's library, other than Nick and Norah.


I have no interest in the music business, and even less after reading this (assuming this is an accurate portrayal, which it seems to very well be).  But I loved the story nonetheless, mostly because the main character is much smarter and funnier than Britney and her ilk.

( Lick it, chew it, blow it, pop it ... )

Some time ago, I decided that I absolutely had to read a book written solely by David Levithan, for two reasons: a) I read a book solely by Rachel Cohn, and I didn't think it was fair that I hadn't read a book of his, and b) his protagonist would more than likely be a guy, and gay on top of that, thus - me broadening my reading horizens. 


This was part of my graduation present for me (the other half being Toy Monster - review to come).  It felt so good to check this off my Amazon Wish List.

( I've always known I was gy, but it wasn't confirmed until I was in kindergarten. )

Here's the deal I made myself concerning Meg Cabot: I wanted to read one of her books, but not any in the Princess Diaries series.  The movies (yes, the first and second) were enough for me.  I believe this is her most recent offering - published in March 09 - and I snatched it up at a used book store.  About $5 for a four-month-old book - and in hardcover.  I was proud.


Great ass, right?

( Tommy Sullivan is a freak. )

I had to read the second volume in this series for a class, and it was so insane I had to check out the first one.


Two things you need to know right away: a) it's a graphic novel and b) it's a video game.  No, I don't mean it's based on a video game - I mean that the world Scott lives in is a video game.  Got it so far?  Because there's so much more.

( I mean ... there are ... reasons ... for you to hang out with me? )

Blah.  I bought this book with the vague intent of snarking it for 1bruce1, but it's still too soon.


Quick background: Random House decided to reissue the first dozen of the Sweet Valley High series for ... well, I'm sure they had a good reason.  I'm guessing they thought it'd be the perfect thing to bring back to compete with Gossip Girl, A-listers, and other bitchy books.  Only because of my loyalty to 1bruce1 did I spend $5.99 (plus tax) of my money on this slight contribution to the world of YA literature, Playing with Fire.

( The girl would not be able to pull off Jessica's outfit after a month on Weight Watchers, but it wasn't as if she could say that to her face. )

I read a so-so review of this book a while ago, but I was so curious to see how it all plays out, so I felt okay in picking it up for myself.


Plus, I think the cover is intriguing.  It's all bright colors and big font, not to mention the Ken doll.  Kate Brian has many books out, including two series that look like Gossip Girl copycats (judging from the covers).

( We can make him as incredible as we want him to be! )</div>

This is one of TV's best shows, first of all.  Even if you only know Judd Apatow from his movies, which seem to be taking over the entire comedy genre in Hollywood, you have to know that this is where it all started - and worth your while to check out.  It's in a class all of its own (no pun intended).


Like, I'm sure, many people, I didn't watch this show when it aired.  I was in middle school then, and I guess not especially the show's target audience.  In a way, it was probably for the best, since I probably wouldn't have appreciated it as much.  It's amazingly well-written with a large cast of aforementioned freak and geek characters, not to mention other staples of high school like jerky jocks, bitter math teachers, eager guidance counselors, and of course well-meaning parents.


( Read more... )</div></div>

So way back before Christmas 08, I was checking around for the latest popular YA books, I discovered this gem.  I took one look at it and immediately put it on my Christmas list. 


This was also part of my ongoing campaign to read more YA books with male main characters (see Flight, Stargirl).  Larry Doyle used to write for The Simpsons, as I mentioned, which was all the more encouraging.  I read this book in less than a week.

Confession: I am not tech-savvy at all.  It took me months to learn how to put something in a link.  I don't own a cell phone, and am very clumsy at dialing numbers when I use someone else's.  It's a miracle I even have a livejournal account.  But this caught my eye, and it was so cute and cheap that I thought, "Why not?"


Since I've been on this YA kick, I decided I needed to venture out into the realm of the tech-savvy.  It's not my thing at all, but that's no reason to be so closed-minded.

( *gets ready to write a book review* )

Yeah, I do.


Unfortunately, the cover of the book I own doesn't have this cool purple sketch of New York City; instead, it's an iconic shot from the movie, which obviously means that I didn't get around to reading this book until after they filmed the adaptation.  I knew I should've checked it out from the library almost two freaking years before the movie, but alas, I was young and foolish.  Then I started to hear how good the movie was (which I can attest to, having pleaded my brother to download it for me), and I knew I had to read it before I could see it.

( You're like my musical soul mate. )

This is pretty much gold, right here.


Like many, many of the books I'm now reading, this one was recommended by the excellent blog Pop Culture Junkie.  I believe it's a first novel for Robin Benway, and I am curious to read her next one.  This book pretty much blew me away.

( I broke up with Evan, and eight hours later, he had a song in his head and guitar in his hand and it snowballed from there. )