Spring Reads

I'm currently reading THE GLASS CASKET by McCormick Templeman (creepy fairytale time) and DON'T LOOK NOW by Michelle Gagnon (sequel to the impressive action thriller DON'T TURN AROUND).

This spring I hope to get to all the books on this Goodreads bookshelf: Next Up. Let's see how I do!

edit

Book Review: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

Even though our main character Liv is murdered halfway in, LIV, FOREVER turns out to be quite a fun and moving novel.

Liv is a new “scolly” (scholarship) student at the prestigious Wickham Hall, admitted due to her promising art portfolio. Though most of the students ignore her, Liv becomes friends with Gabe, a fellow “scolly” who claims that ghosts are talking to him (and the reader knows he’s right thanks to the passages where the ghosts – all female “scollys” – tell us how they died in gruesome ways).

Liv also catches the eye of Malcolm, a legacy student who is a member of the creepy Wickham secret society. Though their relationship is an egregious  case of instalove, I can forgive it because it’s delightfully swoony. For example, Malcolm leads Liv on a campus tour complete with a playlist to go along with the various locations, beginning with Bright Eyes’ “First Day of My Life”. Also, they use each other’s bodies as art canvases. So what if Malcolm is unrealistically perfect? This is a paranormal ghost story, guys.

When Liv dies, Gabe has to convince Malcolm to help him solve the mystery of Liv’s murder, a murder they suspect is connected to his secret society and to all the other ghosts. Hijinks ensue.

Author Talkington uses Liv’s artistic training to great effect to shape her voice. Metaphors including art references abound, and while those readers with less knowledge of art might find their inclusion pretentious, it really helped me to connect to Liv.  For example, Liv describes Malcolm’s eyes as “Yves Klein blue” and that gave me an instant mental picture. Or this passage when Liv talks about her feelings for Malcolm:

I was dying inside. Brain exploding like a Pollock. Heart melting like one of Dalí’s clocks.

What an original way to describe an intense crush. I love it! And I loved this book. I might have even been misty-eyed by the end.

LIV, FOREVER is out in hardcover now. Find out more about it at the author’s website.

FTC disclosure: Amazon Vine

Let Me Be Your Book Fairy

I'm in Benton, KS right now and I'm surrounded by packages.  One box included lots of these:

Isn't it exciting?

To celebrate, I want to make you an offer. How about I fill up a medium flat rate box -  including a copy of CHASING BEFORE as well as ARCs of some of 2014's hottest books* -  and send it to YOU? Or even better how about I do that for two of you?

This has gotta go down before I go back to Germany, so fill out this form by Tuesday night and I'll send the books out on Wednesday.

Good luck!!

*NOTE: This giveaway is US only, but I will be doing an international CHASING BEFORE giveaway later on. If you need a copy of THE MEMORY OF AFTER too, let me know that on the form. Medium flat rate boxes can fit approximately 10 books. Some ARCs may be from 2013. Most or all will be YA.

57 Lives of Alex Wayfare by MG Buehrlen Blog Tour: Use of Flashbacks

Once in awhile a book comes along that I just fall in love with from page one. The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare hits so many of my sweet spots: time travel, afterlife, a treasure hunt, twists, and a romance across time. It's a ridiculously good read and definitely a 2014 favorite.

So I'm especially excited to have MG on the blog today for a guest post. Enjoy!

Let’s Talk About Flashbacks, Baby

Today I’m hijacking Lenore’s fabulous blog to talk about flashbacks. Lenore wrote a great post last year about her top ten books featuring flashbacks, and two of those books, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, were direct influences on whether or not I would include flashbacks in my novel, The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare.

Some readers might lament finding a flashback in a novel, almost as if it’s a no-no or a sign of lackluster talent, but when flashbacks are done well, they can add immense depth to a story, not to mention the characters.

In The Book Thief, Death narrates his story by recalling each time he came in contact with Liesel (the book thief) over the years. Death’s narrative is straightforward from the beginning. At times, the author even goes so far as to tell us exactly what we’re in for at the beginning of each section:

 

I adored Zusak’s use of flashbacks as well as flash forwards in the novel. I don’t want to spoil anything, but his flash forwards concerning Rudy’s fate didn’t ruin the suspense for me. On the contrary, knowing Rudy’s fate beforehand made me keep turning the page, wanting to find out exactly how Rudy’s destiny manifests. I didn’t lose interest. My interest skyrocketed.

Same for the flashbacks. Death’s memories of Liesel are poignant and poetic. Zusak puts the reader into those memories and gives them intense and exciting life. You never feel bogged down by them -- they push the story forward in the most heartbreaking ways.

In Code Name Verity, the narrator of the first half of the book has been captured by the Nazis. As they interrogate and torture her, she recounts all the memories that got her to that point by documenting them on paper as though she’s writing a story. Some of the memories aren’t even her own, they belong to her friend Maddie, but she does her best to embellish and make each flashback just as exciting as if it were happening in real time. I devoured each one.

Those are the kinds of flashbacks I love to read, and those were the types of flashbacks I wanted to include in The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare.

While there are only a handful of flashbacks at the beginning of the book, they were necessary in establishing my main character’s core dilemma. Alex had been suffering from crazy visions of the past that were affecting her school work and her family life. She wanted to get to the bottom of them (or just get rid of them by popping some pills). The book opens with Alex relaying these visions to a psychiatrist. This was the first time Alex ever divulged her secret of the “visions” to anyone. 

Soon after, the reader discovers that Alex’s “visions” were actually moments when she traveled back in time to her reincarnated past lives. From then on out, there are no more flashbacks in the novel. Even when Alex learns to travel back in time and does so willingly, she lives those scenes out in real time instead of simply remembering them like she would in a flashback. Her modern day self actually slips into her past life’s body, and she is able to walk around in the past, perhaps changing history bit by bit in the process... Eeep!

So, as you can see, I certainly love a good flashback novel (so much so that I wrote one). I also enjoy flashbacks in television and film. In my experience, most people don’t seem to mind flashbacks in TV and film as much as they do in literature. It could be that flashbacks lend themselves more naturally to the visual format than the written. With the use of different camera angles or filter colors, it’s easier to know when we’re watching a scene from the past, and therefore we’re less confused.

I love the use of flashbacks in the TV version of The Vampire Diaries, especially those with The Originals and how they became vampires all those centuries ago. I also loved seeing flashbacks of Steffan when he was The Ripper. Those flashbacks helped solidify the characters for me, giving them more depth. I could understand their present-day choices much better knowing where they came from.

Another great example is the BBC’s Sherlock. That series uses so many flashbacks that it’s become an integral part of the show’s storytelling. If you’ve seen the wedding episode from Season 3, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

The entire episode was a montage of flashbacks based on Sherlock’s and John’s cases -- cases we didn’t get to see play out in full episode format. Judging from the episode’s success, viewers certainly didn’t mind the use of flashbacks. Just like in The Book Thief and Code Name Verity, the flashbacks were entertaining and helped push the story forward.

What are some of your favorite novels, TV shows, or films that use flashbacks? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks so much for having me on the blog today, Lenore!

***********************************

Official book summary:

One girl. Fifty-seven lives. Endless ways to die.

For as long as 17-year-old Alex Wayfare can remember, she has had visions of the past. Visions that make her feel like she’s really on a ship bound for America, living in Jamestown during the Starving Time, or riding the original Ferris wheel at the World’s Fair.

But these brushes with history pull her from her daily life without warning, sometimes leaving her with strange lasting effects and wounds she can’t explain. Trying to excuse away the aftereffects has booked her more time in the principal’s office than in any of her classes and a permanent place at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Alex is desperate to find out what her visions mean and get rid of them.

It isn’t until she meets Porter, a stranger who knows more than should be possible about her, that she learns the truth: Her visions aren’t really visions. Alex is a Descender – capable of traveling back in time by accessing Limbo, the space between Life and Afterlife. Alex is one soul with fifty-six past lives, fifty-six histories.

Fifty-six lifetimes to explore: the prospect is irresistible to Alex, especially when the same mysterious boy with soulful blue eyes keeps showing up in each of them. But the more she descends, the more it becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want Alex to travel again. Ever.

And will stop at nothing to make this life her last.

Author bio:

When she’s not writing, M.G. moonlights as a web designer and social media/creative director.

She’s the current web ninja lurking behind the hugely popular website YABooksCentral.com,

a social network for YA (and kids!) book lovers. The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare is her debut novel. M.G. lives nestled away in Michigan pines, surrounded by good coffee and good books, with her husband and son and three furbabies. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.

Order links:

Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | Amazon | Indiebound | The Book Depository | Waterstones

Bookanista Review: Panic by Lauren Oliver

Every year in Carp, the graduating HS seniors play the dangerous game of Panic. This year, it's Heather and Dodge's turn to try for the winner's purse of over $60,000.

Some reasons I loved Panic:

-- a fantastical situation grounded by gritty realism. Is it crazy unbelievable that seniors play a game every year where people often end up dying and getting paralyzed by doing stunts like breaking and entering, running across a busy interstate and walking a tightrope without a net and the police don't/can't do anything about it? Yes. But Oliver sells the hell out of it with down-on-their-luck characters that have heartbreakingly believable motivations.

-- the games. I would never, ever join Panic (way too wimpy), but I don't have to because Oliver described the feeling of participating so well, I felt like I was there. Heart pumping thrills.

-- the writing. I love the way Oliver crafts her sentences. Her prose is always atmospheric and fitting of the situation. A pure joy to read. Here's a quote I like:

PANIC will be out March 4th, but you can already go and read the first chapters on iTunes.

FTC disclosure: eGalley from Edelweiss. Also, Lauren Oliver is a friend.

What the other Bookanistas are talking about this week:

Christine Fonseca is captivated by SHINOBI by Cole Gibson

Jessica Love raves about WHEN AUDREY MET ALICE by Bookanista Rebecca Behrens

Katy Upperman swoons for THE SUMMER I FOUND YOU by Jolene Perry

I Have A Serious Series Problem

One of my reading goals for 2014 is to complete some of the many, many series I've started. With the help of my Goodreads shelves, I've sorted my series books into:

Completed Series (currently at 25)
Series To Finish (currently at 72)
Series Graveyard (currently at 62)

And this not even taking into account the series I still need to start - where I own the first book but haven't read it yet.

I'm drowning in series! How about you?

Top Ten Tuesday: The Books That Made Me Weep

I actually covered this "books that make you weep" topic on the blog back in 2008 (is that 6 years ago? OMG) and those books still stand. I've reread DOOMSDAY BOOK by Connie Willis again since then, and yep, still made me cry. There are not that many books since then that have me reaching for the tissues, but I did manage to rustle up three more to add to the list (four if you count THE HUNGER GAMES).

IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS by Cat Winters (my review)

CRACKED by K.M. Walton (my review)

NOT A DROP TO DRINK by Mindy McGinnis (my review)


And ... I cried while writing CHASING BEFORE ... does that count? ;)

The Debut Author Challenge 2014

This will be my fourth year doing the Debut Author Challenge (unofficially). In 2013, I read 22 2013 debuts, which was down from 52 2012 debuts I read in 2012. This year I'm aiming for 15.

I've already read 3 2014 debuts (and can highly recommend all three):

Burn Out by Kristi Helvig
Loop by Karen Akins
Fake ID by Lamar Giles

Already in my TBR pile:

Landry Park by Bethany Hagen
Alienated by Melissa Landers

The Fifty-Seven Lives of Alex Wayfare by MG Buehrlen 

Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington 

Here are some others I have my eye on:

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Gilded by Christina Farley

Stitching Snow by RC Lewis
Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano

Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis

Extraction by Stephanie Diaz
Pointe by Brandy Colbert

Let’s Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

Check out this list for more suggestions!

Any others I should be on the lookout for?

Book Review: Fake ID by Lamar Giles

On his first day at a new school, Nick already catches the attention of the biggest bullies, the hottest girl (Reya) and the editor of the school paper (Eli) - which is not good when you're meant to keep a low profile. See, Nick's family is in the Witness Protection Program, and Nick isn't really his name.

Eli convinces Nick to work on the paper with him, confides in him that he's working on a HUGE story, and then winds up dead. Meanwhile, Nick starts to suspect that his father, a former accountant for the mob, is somehow involved.

This is just the kind of thriller I like - a juicy central mystery, lots of great twists, and characters that feel real. There's a palpable sense of danger throughout, but also bits of comic relief and a side of sizzling romance.

Nick isn't someone who trusts easily and he's never had many friends, so it's both rewarding and heartbreaking to follow the developing relationships between him and his classmates. It was also fascinating to see Nick's inner turmoil as he tries to come to terms with his father's past and what that means for his future.

FAKE ID is available now! Find out more about it at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: Edelweiss

Books Read/Reviewed in 2014

Total so far:

73

YA Fiction

Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo
Panic by Lauren Oliver
Fake ID by Lamar Giles
Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
In the Age of Love and Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Landry Park by Bethany Hagen
The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare by MG Buehrlen
Plus One by Elizabeth Fama

Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt
Cured by Bethany Wiggins
(secret beta read)
Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon
Minders by Michelle Jaffe
Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington
Don't Look Now by Michelle Gagnon
The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman
Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano
This Side of Salvation by Jeri-Smith Ready

Noggin by John Corey Whaley
She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick
Enders by Lissa Price
Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke
The Fearless by Emma Pass
The Aftermath by Jen Alexander
The Falconer by Elizabeth May
Rebel by Amy Tintera
The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes
Chorus by Emma Trevayne

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Killer Instinct by SE Green
Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater
Defector by Susanne Winnacker
The Haven by Carol Lynch Williams
Divided by Elsie Chapman
On the Fence by Kasie West
Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by AS King
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Blackfin Sky by Kat Ellis
Falls the Shadow by Stephanie Gaither
The Jewel by Amy Ewing
One Death, Nine Stories (Anthology)
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne-Jones
Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas
The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters
Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
The Goats by Brock Cole
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton
Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta
Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn
Pointe by Brandy Colbert
Zig Zag by Ellen Wittlinger
Sisters Fate by Jessica Spotswood
Repossessed by AM Jenkins
Latitude Zero by Diana Renn

Lies My Girlfriend Told Me by Julie Ann Peters


Fiction

Come See About Me by CK Kelly Martin
Dare Me by Megan Abbott
Precious Thing by Colette McBeth
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
That Night by Chevy Stevens

MG Fiction

Screaming at the Ump by Audrey Vernick
Jessica Darling's It List #1 by Megan McCafferty
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Non-Fiction

The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot by Charles Baxter
From Where You Dream: The Process of Writing Fiction by Robert Olen Butler
Reading Like A Writer by Francine Prose
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder

...