Waiting on Wednesday - Blue Lily, Lily Blue (Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting.  This week I've chosen a book that I'd really, really hoped would be an ARC at BEA.  Instead we got another book in one of my favorite series by one of my favorite authors, Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater.  Two years ago when I went to BEA I got a copy of an ARC of the first book, The Raven Boys.  Now I didn't read it right away, even though I love this author's books.  But when I did read it, I fell in love.  And then last year, the year I didn't get to go to BEA, they gave away the ARC of the 2nd book, The Dream Thieves, which I traded for on YA Book Exchange in order to get an ARC, so I would have a matching set.  Now, I haven't heard of any ARCs of this third one though.  :-(  Anyone else?  If so, how can I get one?  

There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel.

I love that cover so much!!!  And I just need to read on and know what happens next.  Maggie Stiefvater is supposed to be in Kansas City again this coming November, so I'm hoping to see her then.  The book will be out by then. And I'll either have an ARC if I can find it, or will have purchased the book.  

Have you read this series yet?  Or anything by this author?  What book are you eagerly awaiting this week? 

And while you're here, you might want to sign up for the September is for Sequels Giveaway Blog Hop that I'm co-hosting with I Am A Reader. 

2013 Truman Possibility 12: Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Okay, this will be my last Truman book for about 3 more books.  I've got 3 e-galleys that are expiring in the next 2 weeks from Netgalley, and of course I must re-read Breaking Dawn before the movie comes out in about two weeks!  So, once those 4 are done, back to speeding through the last 13 books I hope.  I may have to sort them from smallest to biggest and get done what I can, and then just skim the others.  We'll see. I hate to do that.
Okay, on with the actual book for this review, Memento Nora.  This was a pretty quick read at only 184 pages.  I'd have been done sooner, but Mondays are always crazy with being the first day back to work.  It was a pretty good story.  As I said, very short, but quick and to the point.  In a way I like that we didn't have to spend so much time on all the side stories and world building, etc.  It was pretty succinct I'd say.  A good dystopian, that was pretty much left as a stand alone book.  Although, there is always room to go on, I think it's okay if it stays at just one.
Our main character is Nora, of course.  She lives in a future world where there have been so many terrorist attacks that no one feels safe.  In fact, the rich people live in "real" gated communities.  Nora is from a wealthy family, and her father works for a big security company that actually works for the major group called TFC, Therapeutic Forgetting Clinics.  In this new world, you can go to these places, and they can help you forget things.  Like when Nora and her mother are out shopping and a bomb explodes.  Nora is finally going to TFC for the first time.  Something weird happens in the waiting room, this guy writes "memento" on his cast, and as he is walking back out from the clinic, he sticks his tongue out at Nora, and she can see the pill on his tongue as he spits it out.  When Nora goes into the back room with her mother, her mother is setting the example by talking about the memory she wants to forget.  Only, it isn't the bombing memory that Nora figures, it is a memory of her father being abusive.  And because of this, Nora decides to not take the pill.  When she gets home, she begins remembering hearing her parents argue a lot, but that's all.  Back at school Nora goes to talk to the guy, whose name is Micah.  Micah tells her what memento means.  And she explains why she didn't take her pill either.  Micah is quite an artist and he kind of begins sketching out a comic of Nora's story.  They take the story and actually print it up with the help of Micah's friend Winter.  Then they secretly leave it around the school for the kids to find.
This causes a big ruckus as you may imagine.  Soon there are cops hanging around watching the school more.  And Nora now sees her father treating her mother badly and knows what is happening.  But when she tries to bring it up to her mom, well she's already been to TFC and forgotten.  As they get deeper in, the learn more and more scary things, even stuff about Nora's own father begins to fill into the blanks.  I won't tell any more, but there is so much more to this story really, and it is crazy how detailed it really is for such a short story.  If you like dystopian, this is something you should definitely pick up.  It's a quick, interesting read.

Breaking Dawn Movie Review

Yeah, yeah, I know this is a book blog, but as Breaking Dawn is a movie based on one of my favorite book series, I think this works. I personally felt this was the best of all the movies so far. I do have a few complaints, as anyone would. First, one thing I loved in the book was the banter between Jacob and Rosalie, the dumb blonde jokes, and then when Rosalie made the bowl into a dog dish to bring Jacob his food. That was left out, and I was a bit disappointed. Second, a lot of people laughed at the part where the wolves were talking, but I didn't think that was bad. I mean, come on, we're talking a movie about vampires that sparkle and werewolves that can communicate telepathically. How else would they do that? I was okay. One part that made me cringe was when Emmett and Jasper came to take Edward to his "bachelor" party. The way they laughed and shoved each other around down below Bella's window was kinda dorky and stupid seeming. Also, I know Alice is supposed to be the "fashion" queen, and I know I'm not really a fashionista, but at the beginning when she's got on shoes that are a lighter color than the hose/tights she is wearing? I can't stand that look, it looks dumb to me. And the other part that really made me cringe was at the wedding the way they were showing Alice and Jasper dance as if it was really stunning and impressive, but it was only a little jump they did. Really? Kinda dorky.
Other than those complaints, I loved it! I know people have complained there wasn't much action, and I can see their point, but the movie ended at the EXACT point I wanted it to. Although not sure the dress Bella is in is really what was descrbied in the book, so may be a little disappointed in how the next movie starts. But we'll see. I've seen it 3 times, and know I'll see it at least 2 more times. If not more as usuall. And now, well, I've got to wait until next November to see the next one! Which sucks because that means I'll have to go to New York again to see it. :-)
Anyway, I'm looking forward to my Christmas break from teaching and actually getting some reading done! So that I can post more book reviews on here.