Gretchen C. Hohmeyer's Blog, page 44
February 14, 2016
Weekly Wrap Up + What We Read 2/14/16
Happy Valentine’s Day, if that’s a thing you’re celebrating. I have the most beautiful date of all–the lovely Michaela. Here’s this week’s wrap up PLUS a giveaway announcement if you missed that! Also, at the end there is an announcement about the Betwixt the Books Discussion that you can JOIN IN ON next Tuesday, all about DNFing books!
Links:
Monday:
Gretchen’s From the Notebook: Top 10 Series I Can’t Believe I Haven’t Finished
Michaela’s Review of The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Tuesday:
Betwixt the Books Haul/BR for #readyourowndamnbooks
Wednesday:
#imbibliomancy – Drunk Book Club with Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Thursday:
Gretchen’s Thesis Thursday: I need your help!
Michaela’s Review of The Circle by Dave Eggers
Friday:
Gretchen’s Re-Review of The Falconer by Elizabeth May
Michaela’s Review of Eon by Allison Goodman
Saturday
Giveaway Annoucement! Win a YA Contemporary Prize Pack!
February 13, 2016
Giveaway Announcement! Win a Contemporary YA Prize Pack!
In many of our videos, Michaela and I have been hinting at doing a giveaway soon. SURPRISE! In honor of our very first joint review–and Michaela’s new job at Barnes and Noble, which is allowing her to host this giveaway–we’re giving away a prize pack of three contemporary novels!
If you missed it, me and Michaela’s first joint review was of John Green’s Paper Towns. In that vein, Michaela is graciously providing for this beautiful set of books:
That’s:
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Endless Summer by by Jennifer Echols
House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni (okay, this isn’t technically a YA contemporary, but it’s Michaela’s version of the same…)
This giveaway ends March 5th and is US only. Sorry!
Click the link below to enter away!
February 12, 2016
Re-Review: “The Falconer” by Elizabeth May
The Falconer (Falconer #1) by Elizabeth May
Heiress. Debutant. Murderer. A new generation of heroines has arrived.
Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844
Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.
Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.
But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?
Three and a half stars
A long, long time ago (okay, back in 2014), Bibliomancy for Beginners did a hangout on Elizabeth May’s The Falconer. To say that Michaela–and especially Taylor–didn’t like it would be an understatement. I remember enjoying it, even if I didn’t love-love it. But, once the camera started going and we all started chatting, something about what I had loved got lost. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a HILARIOUS hangout and you should totally watch it. But almost two years later I have realized something important: I don’t think I was fair.
I didn’t magically have this revelation. NetGalley approved me for an ARC of the second book, The Vanishing Throne, and I re-read the book (and watched the hangout) to prep for it. Why, you ask, did I request that book in the first place? I honestly have no bloody idea. But if the first 60% are any indication, I’m really, really glad I did.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
This book is not perfect, but it sure is a fun ride. Something that can shock you–and I know this bothered other Bibliomancers–is that this is no historical fiction injected with fae. (I guess the new description of this book tells you that, but the one above is what I bought the book based on.) This world is basically steampunk, although the whys and wherefores of why it’s steampunk are never explained. It just is–possibly just so Aileana can shoot AND stab things as opposed to just stab things. I don’t know.
But if you can get past that and enjoy the vaguely steampunkish scenery, like I did, then you’re in for a nice treat with our main character. Yes, she is a little one-dimensional with her quest for vengeance, but I do like her ferocity and her determination to always look after herself. Yes, her fighting prowess comes through magic, not lifelong practice, but May makes sure that Aileana isn’t automatically badass. She does have to work at her powers. She isn’t very good at using them sometimes. Also important to me is the fact that while Aileana talks about not being like “all those other girls” at parties and such, she doesn’t say it with the admonishment and condescension that often accompany an attempt at the Strong Female Protagonist. Aileana misses that life. She wants it back. But she’s also become unabashedly violent, and thriving. I like.
The other characters in the story are fairly generic. Aileana’s best friend Catherine is the typical lady who knows nothing of Aileana’s life, and Aileana’s father pops in and out when the plot needs him to. Catherine’s mother is your typical Proper Mom. I do still love Derrick, Aileana’s friend pixie who spends a great deal of the book drunk on honey.
I go back and forth on the romance in the book, because it does things that I like and don’t like. There’s Kiaran, the dark and brooding fairy who taught her to hunt, and then Gavin, Catherine’s older brother and childhood friend of Aileana. It’s not a total love triangle, though, which is why I held out small hope when I read this the first time. Aileana loved Gavin once, but she doesn’t anymore, but she’s into Kiaran. Kiaran keeps reminding her that no matter how much she tries to humanize him, he isn’t human and she shouldn’t trust him. The fact that she does continues to bug me, but whatever. Gavin and Aileana also have an interesting relationship that differs from the cliche–at least for now–and that makes me happy.
The plot of this book is action packed, and it makes it a really fast read. Aileana is always fighting something, whether she should be or not. She really does love to go on the hunt. The ending, however, gets to me because–without spoiling anything–it shouldn’t have ended like that. There are good cliffhangers and then there’s … that. Like there should have been a next chapter but wasn’t. It wasn’t at the end of the climax, but RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, leaving the final battle sequence feeling chopped in half and unfulfilled.
When I finished reading this book for the first time, before the Hangout, I enjoyed it a lot. I think I rated it three stars on Goodreads. I hold to that three and a half rating, mostly because there are some issues and flatness within this book that keep me from loving it completely. But I did like it. In the hangout, however, I think that I was unfair from mentioning all the potential I saw in this book. There’s A LOT OF IT, and I should have mentioned that then instead of riffing off all it’s problems. So I’m doing it now.
Also, like I said, I’m 60% of the way through the second book and (as long as the last 40% doesn’t tank horribly) I CANNOT WAIT TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. So far, the potential that I saw in the first book has PAID OFF. So. Yet another reason I was inspired to re-review this.
So there you have it. Taylor can fight me all he wants.
February 11, 2016
Thesis Thursday: I need your help!
Alright guys, this is a shot in the dark but: do any of you have any insight into YA book cover design and trends, marketing and/or publicity? Do you know anyone who does? Do you know someone who might have a kind of clue? I NEED YOU.
Here’s the deal: Chapter 2 of my thesis deals with tropism in YA book covers. (Remember year of the “girl in dress” or “half girl face”?) I’m trying to make a case as to why this happens with such frightening sameness in YA books. Chapter 3 deals with ways that digital marketing and publishing has effected the book industry, in particularly in YA.
I have searched my school’s sources, but the actual DATA behind these sciences is eluding
me. I’m not a marketing person. I don’t know how graphic design and marketing science works. But there has to be some of kind report on this stuff out there somewhere because there is a reason all these covers look the same and someone is keeping tight track of all these digital marketing trends. Someone. Somewhere.
Literally anything that you think would be useful would be helpful at this point. I’m in a research hole so deep, I’ve forgotten what sunlight looks like.
Comment away! Email away! Tweet away! Facebook away! …please?
February 10, 2016
#imbibliomancy: Drunk Book Club with “Queen of the Tearling” by Erika Johansen
GUESS WHAT TIME IT IS AGAIN! You may have guessed, it’s Imbibliomancy time! If you don’t know, this is a spin off of our regular Bibliomancy for Beginners series except us 21 year old college students imbibe ourselves and try to discuss like intelligent people anyways.
Today, not only are we talking about the fabulous Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (it’s my pick), but also TAYLOR’S GIRLFRIEND is our guest-mancer for this episode! As per usual during my pick, I yell at Taylor quite a lot but also we have a really good discussion so watch for some fabulous laughter and bookish discussion!
February 9, 2016
#readyourowndamnbooks TBR and Haul
Michaela and I have dedicated ourselves to the 2016 #readyourowndamnbooks challenge, which–if you can’t guess–is about actually hunkering down and reading all the books that you own but haven’t read yet. Sadly, Michaela and I have a BUNCH of such books. Good for you, though, because it allowed us to do this video and tell you about the top 5 books on each of our lists! (Also, as a bonus, you get a sneak peek into some upcoming Bibliomancy for Beginners and Imbibliomancy episodes!)
February 8, 2016
From the Notebook: Top 10 Series I NEED to Finish!
So, last week’s video was made of some rather unpopular opinions, as I discussed the Top 10 series I would never finish. On the heels of that, I boomeranged back the other way this week with a MUCH more positive (but no less expressive) video about the top 10 series I could have finished … but haven’t. Ergo, I need to get on finishing these series RIGHT THE HELL NOW. Ahem. Anyways, enjoy!
Blog posts mentioned in this video:
The Grave Mistake I Made with Grave Mercy
Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
ARC Review: Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore
ARC Review: Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
ARC Review: Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Review: Asunder by Jodi Meadows
ARC Review: What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang
ARC Review: Once We Were by Kat Zhang
ARC Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White
ARC Review: Battle Magic by Tamora Pierce
(Some) Favorite Books to Re-Read
February 7, 2016
Weekly Wrap Up + What We Read 2/7/16
Happy Sunday everyone! This week Michaela and I are back with not only an impressive set of posts, but also an impressive reading list! Okay, well, Michaela’s is always impressive but I’m trying to make up for all the reading I didn’t do LAST week. I got to three books. College is hard, guys. Anyways, here we go!
Monday:
Gretchen’s Top Ten Series I Won’t Be Finishing
Michaela’s January Wrap Up
Tuesday:
Betwixt the Books: Winter Tag
Betwixt the Books: Blizzard Tag
Wednesday:
Gretchen’s Worth It Wednesday: Silver & Gold by Talia Vance
Michaela’s Review of Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Thursday:
Gretchen’s January Wrap Up + PopSugar Challenge Update
Friday:
Gretchen (and Taylor!) Review the After Anthology (19 YA Short Stories of Apocalypse and Dystopia)
Michaela’s Review of Mr. Splitfoot by Samantha Hunt
February 5, 2016
Review: “After” Anthology: 19 YA Stories of Apocalypse and Dystopia
Welcome all to my first video review without Michaela! Given separation anxiety (and because he also read it anyways) Taylor from Bibliomancy for Beginners is also guest starring! It is a longer review, but that’s because this is a short story anthology … and we can’t stop insulting each other.
After: Nineteen Stories of Apocalypse and Dystopia edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
If the melt-down, flood, plague, the third World War, new Ice Age, Rapture, alien invasion, clamp-down, meteor, or something else entirely hit today, what would tomorrow look like? Some of the biggest names in YA and adult literature answer that very question in this short story anthology, each story exploring the lives of teen protagonists raised in catastrophe’s wake—whether set in the days after the change, or decades far in the future.
New York Times bestselling authors Gregory Maguire, Garth Nix, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Carrie Ryan, Beth Revis, and Jane Yolen are among the many popular and award-winning storytellers lending their talents to this original and spellbinding anthology.
Gretchen’s rating: 3 stars | Taylor’s rating: 4 stars
February 4, 2016
January Reading Wrap Up + PopSugar Reading Challenge Status
Thesis Thursday is taking a break this week because lol I’m not doing that work yet, I’m lazy as hell. Anyways. This post is as much for you as it is me, because I realized that while Michaela has been keeping track of her PopSugar reads while she’s been going along, I’ve been winging it. Even if I did make myself a wonderful TBR and everything. So. Here’s where we stand right now.
I read 9 books in January. 7 were young adult novels, 1 was historical fiction and 1 was general fantasy. Somehow, I also managed to tick off SIX different PopSugar challenge boxes as well! Here’s how:
The first book I read in 2016 was Jodi Meadow’s The Orphan Queen. I posted a very conflicted review of this book, and I’m still waiting breathlessly for The Mirror King to come out so I can figure out exactly how I feel about Wilhemina and the story as a whole. I really wanted to love this story, because I love Jodi, but something about this book just didn’t connect all the way. This is also my PopSugar book for “a book you can finish in a day.”
Switching out of YA for a second, I then read Indu Sundaresan’s The
Twentieth Wife. I read these books back in high 
school and remembered loving them, but I hadn’t managed to track them down again until now. What I read now is profoundly different than I remembered, and not in a good way. Read my review for more on that! This is my PopSugar book for “a book you haven’t read since high school.”
Needing a book I knew I’d love, I re-read The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead. This is one of my favorite books in her Bloodlines series. I didn’t review this book after re-reading it, though it did make it into my Favorite Books to Re-Read video that I made a few weeks ago. I also decided to count it as my PopSugar book for “a YA bestseller.”
Michaela and I recently started requesting ARCs again, and my first
ARC review came with Annabeth Neverending by Leyla Kader Dahm. It’s about a girl in modern times who starts remembering a past life in Ancient Egypt. I wanted to love it, but the romance and love triangle mostly prevented me from doing so. Check out my review for more!
When I got sick over winter break, I leaned into my favorite books of all time. My number one pick is Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, which … you could sneeze into my blog’s search engine and find 6 posts related to this book. My review came out forever ago, but I still love this book SO MUCH. I recently featured it in my Worth It Wednesday series. It’s my PopSugar book for “a book that’s guaranteed to bring you joy.”
Then, of course, because I’m a huge Stephanie Perkins fan
girl, I re-read Isla and the Happily Ever After as well. In all three of these companion books, Anna is my favorite and Isla my second. (There is nothing wrong with Lola, but this is how the cookie crumbles.) For more squealing, I do have an older review!
Unfortunately for me (and the entire Bibliomancy crew) I went straight for these novels to The Magician King by Lev Grossman. While Bibliomancy had a great discussion because of this book, the last 5% of this novel was the most disappointing thing I’ve ever had happen, and it completely destroyed the book for me. Sigh. Watch the hangout to find out why! (This is also my PopSugar book for “A NYT bestseller.”)
I jumped from a book I thought I would like but didn’t to a book I
thought I’d hate but didn’t, and that is John Green’s Paper Towns. Michaela and I did a joint review of this, and I’ll admit to being confused as to how much I liked it, even if I didn’t love it. I think this also counted for Michaela’s PopSugar, but a different category, as I counted it for my “book about a road trip.” Go check out the video review for more!
Lastly, I read another ARC, this time Lions in the Garden by Chelsea Luna. That review won’t be out until later this month, but for a teaser: I had a rollercoaster of a reaction to that book. The review will be great! …when it comes out.
So there you have it! 6/40 for the PopSugar challenge isn’t bad in the first month! My reading is about to slow down A TON while I’m here at school but I’m excited for all the new things that me, Michaela, Betwixt the Books AND Bibliomancy for Beginners have planned for you soon!
