Blog entry: Arrived at the store late, found a homeless guy sleeping in the doorway. Hicks was already inside but gave no indication he’d noticed. I nudged the homeless guy and asked him, “How are you doing down there, fellow? You okay?”
The homeless guy grumbled something in his sleep.
“It’s getting pretty cold,” I said. “Don’t you want to come inside?”
“Inside?” He coughed and opened his eyes.
I pointed out the store, not convinced he’d actually noticed where he’d crashed the night before. “This is my antiques store,” I told him. “We’ve got the heating on inside, shame to waste it on just two people. And it looks like it might start to snow soon.”
The homeless guy gave me a suspicious look. “You want me to come inside? With you?”
“Sure, if you’d like.”
“Is that because you think that if I come inside with you, I’ll let you touch me?”
“What? No!”
“Okay, because I can tell you right now, that’s not gonna happen.”
“Well, I suppose it is good to get those kinds of things clear beforehand. But no, I was just thinking you might enjoy the warmth, maybe a cup of coco.”
“A cup of coco you say…” He scratched his stubble. “And you’ll be charging me for this cup of coco?”
“No, the coco is free.”
“I see. So, are you operating under the assumption that if I come inside with you, and I drink your free coco, that I will touch you?”
“What? No!”
“Okay, because I can tell you right now, that’s not gonna happen either. Just because a guy is down on his luck, that doesn’t mean he goes around touching people in exchange for cups of coco.”
“I understand completely. And thanks again for pointing that out. But no, my friend and I noticed that you were sleeping in our doorway and, well, we’d like to invite you inside.”
The homeless guy turned and peered through the window in the door. He made eye-contact with Hicks, who panicked and went looking for his broom. “That your friend?”
I followed his gaze. “Yeah, that’s Hicks. He’s a bit peculiar, but he’s okay.”
“I see.” The homeless guy pulled on his collar. “And this friend of yours, will he be drinking coco also?”
“I suppose. I’m not entirely sure, but it seems likely.”
“I see.” The homeless guy considered this. “So,” he said, after a long moment, “will this friend of yours be expecting me to touch him?”
“No! There is no touching involved in any of this!”
“Okay, calm down,” the homeless guy said. “There’s no need to get all homophobic!”
“I wasn’t!”
“You sounded homophobic to me.”
“Me? You’re the one who can’t stop talking about touching people!”
Artistically Amy
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Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore
Teen Wolf meets True Blood in this fun, boy-friendly story.
Being only half-vamp in a high school like Carpathia Night makes you a whole loser. But Danny Gray manages to escape the worst of the specists at his school. Thanks to the genetic treatments he had as an infant, most people assume Danny's other half is human. Which is a good thing.
Ever since the development of synthetic blood – SynHeme – vamps have become society’s elite, while wulves like his father work menial jobs and live in bad neighborhoods. Wulves are less than second class citizens; once a month they become inmates, forced to undergo their Change in dangerous government compounds.
For Danny, living with his vamp mother and going to a school with a nearly all-vamp student body, it’s best to pretend his wulf half doesn’t even exist.
But lately Danny's been having some weird symptoms -- fantastic night vision; a keener-than-usual sense of smell; and headaches, right around the full moon.
Even though it's tempting to live in denial, it's hard to ignore evidence. There's only a month until the next full moon, and Danny's time is running out.
Peter Moore speaks to adolescents in a voice that will have them laughing, set in a world that will get them thinking..[Source]
Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
A terrible secret. A terrible fate.
When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don't know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.
As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith's final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.[Source]
Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.[Source]
In honor of Halloween this weekend:
What reading skeletons do you have in your closet? Books you’d be ashamed to let people know you love? Addiction to the worst kind of (fill in cheesy genre here)? Your old collection of Bobbsey Twin Mysteries lovingly stored behind your “grown-up” books? You get the picture … come on, confess!
Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl
London, 1838. Sixteen-year-old Liza's dreams of her society debut are dashed when her parents are killed in an accident. Penniless, she accepts the position of lady's maid to young Princess Victoria and steps unwittingly into the gossipy intrigue of the servant's world below-stairs as well as the trickery above. Is it possible that her changing circumstances may offer Liza the chance to determine her own fate, find true love, and secure the throne for her future queen?
Meticulously based on newly discovered information, this riveting novel is as rich in historical detail as Catherine, Called Birdy, and as sizzling with intrigue as The Luxe.[Source]
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
the cold.
Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.
the heat.
Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.
the shiver.
For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future. [Source]
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Incarceron -- a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology -- a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, and a typical medieval torture chamber -- chains, great halls, dungeons.
A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here. In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison -- a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists.
But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device -- a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn's escape is born. [Source]
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth SteinI borrowed this book from the library and read it because it was highly recommended by several colleagues of mine. There are several of us that all trade books often, and I trust them when they say that I'll enjoy a book. I was told that this particular book is both funny and sad. Funny, I like. But I can't handle sad. I don't like crying over books. In the end, I decided that it was more amusing than funny, and more aggravating than sad. But I don't want to give away the ending.
Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.
On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side.
A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it. [Source]
2. What are you reading right now? Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
3. What books do you have on request at the library? I don't go to the library anymore.
4. Bad book habit: I hate lending books out, even though I know that I should share the wealth.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library? See #3
6. Do you have an e-reader? Nope... Idk if I'll ever get one.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once? One at a time.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? I used to be an avid reader, but I was too busy during grad school, so I took a break for a few months. Now, I am back into reading constantly and my TBR list has gotten much longer!
9.Least favourite book you read this year: My brother and fiance both tried to get me to read the WoW books, but I could barely get through one chapter.
10. Favourite book I’ve read this year: The Host by Stephenie Meyer
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone? Not often, but I am kinda starting to do it more often.
12. What is your reading comfort zone? Fantasy and series.
13. Can you read on the bus? Yes.
14. Favourite place to read: Curled up under a blanket with some snacks.
15. What’s your policy on book lending? See #4.
16. Do you dogear your books? Never!
17. Do you write notes in the margins of your books? Nope.
18. Do you break/crack the spine of your books? I try really hard not to.
19. What is your favourite language to read? English.
20. What makes you love a book? The characters are relatable and the story doesn't drag. Also, a hot guy works nicely. ;)
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book? Basically, same as above.
22. Favourite genre: Historical fiction and fantasy.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did): Contemporary fiction.
24. Favourite Biography: Shadow Life by Barry Denenberg - it's about the Frank sisters, Anne and Margot. I know it's kinda half biography and half fiction, but I love it anyway.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book? (And, was it actually helpful?) I started reading Emotionally Engaged by Allison Moir-Smith, but I stopped about halfway through. It was helpful, to an extent. But then I got nervous that I was trying to force myself to feel how she felt.
26. Favourite Cookbook: I can't remember the title, but it's something to do with beef. Different meals and ways to cook it.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction): Choice Words by Peter Johnston. It's all about the little nuances in adult language and what they mean to children. It includes lots of great techniques to change a few simple words
28. Favourite reading snack: Twizzlers Rainbow Twists or cereal
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience: The House of Night series. I loved the first 3 or 4, I think, despite the horrendous lack of editing and the rushed timeline. It had such great potential, and it was so freakin' popular. But when I read the 5th book, I got very turned off. I felt like the authors were just grasping at straws, trying to force a story.
30. How often do you agree with the critics about about a book? Hardly ever.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I try to be truthful, no matter what.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose? Italian.
33. Most intimidating book I’ve read: Dante's Inferno. I read it for extra credit in senior year of high school.
34. Most intimidating book I’m too nervous to begin: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.
35. Favourite Poet: Emily Dickinson
36. How many books do you usually have checked out from the library at any given time?I used to get 8-10 every week.
37. How often do you return books to the library unread? I never did.
38. Favourite fictional character: The little mermaid from the original fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen.
39. Favourite fictional villain: Victoria from the Twilight series. She was well-developed and had motive for all her actions. She was also very clever and cunning.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation: Beach books.
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading: Maybe 6 months?
42. Name a book you could/would not finish: Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I tried to read it several times in high school, but I just couldn't get any further than the first chapter.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading? The tv.
44. Favourite film adaptation of a novel: Where the Heart Is.
45. Most disappointing film adaptation: This is a toss-up between New Moon and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
46. Most money I’ve ever spent in a bookstore at one time: Probably about $100.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it? I never do.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book halfway through? If I just get disinterested, or if I can't relate to the characters.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized? I try to, but sometimes they just get so chaotic.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once they’ve been read? I am so selfish! I keep all of them, but I need to try to give them away more, or at least lend them out.
51. Are there any books that you’ve been avoiding? The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons, both by Dan Brown. I am just nervous that I will try to compare them to the movies.
52. Name a book that made you angry: Push by Sapphire.
53. A book I didn’t expect to like but did: The Host by Stephenie Meyer
54. A book I expected to like but didn’t: Hunted by PC Cast and Kristin Cast
55. Favourite guilt-free guilty pleasure reading: Chick lit. Everyone's reading it!
