Carrie Read-A-Long - Part 3: Wreckage

Kate from Midnight Book Girl and I are co-hosting the Fall Stephen King Read-A-Long.  

Head on over to see what Midnight Book Girl thought about Carrie (The Wreckage) up to now HERE.   

Also, don't forget about our Twitter party tonight starting at 8:00pm EST.  Use the hashtag #CarrieEnd!

We're done with September and we're done with Carrie.  I hope everyone had a good time reading it.  Don't forget to sign up for the Read-A-Long of Stephen King's Salem's Lot.  
The starting post and sign up will be up tomorrow at Midnight Book Girl or here at Midnyte Reader.

Here are questions for Part 3 of Carrie: The Wreckage.

1. If you've seen the movie, how did the book compare?

2. Carrie: Victim or Villain?
3. If you had TK powers what would you do with them? 
4. The Wreckage talks about the demise of the town.  I've noticed the theme of SK's setting as a character in other works.  What are your thoughts on this? 
5. Does anybody think they know what line from Bob Dylan was written in Carrie's notebook? 
6. Finally, what are your final thoughts/review of Carrie by Stephen King?

Answers:
1. Cop out answer, but I really can't remember the movie.  I haven't seen it in so long.  However, what I really love and what surprised me is that the book is as much about Sue Snell as Carrie.  I loved seeing into the character's head (as is true with any book when compared to the movie).  I also felt more of a weird supernatural vibe.

2. Definitely both.  She is a victim of her circumstances.  Not only does she have this extraordinary power, but unfortunately, she has a crazy mother who is abusive and she is bullied.  I can't help but think that if she had just made it to Graduation she could have overcome her home situation and lived with her gift.  If someone has been abused and bullied enough they may eventually snap.  Seems like this story could also be compared to all the stories of kids in schools who snap and kill classmates.

3. If I had TK powers...oh what wouldn't I do!  Nothing evil of course, but lots of mischief.

4. I have noticed in many King books, he talks of the town the evil takes place in. Sometimes the town is a factor.  Sometimes the evil effects the town and sometimes the town effects the evil.  I think this could be a commentary on social situations where corruption breeds more corruption.  There is a thought that evil can't enter a person unless they're susceptible, so maybe King is working off that theme.

5. Another cop out answer, but since I'm not familiar with Dylan's work that much, I can't answer.  However, I googled it and found this on Wikipedia.org.

In Stephen King's novel Carrie, a notebook is found that the title character had filled with the repeated lyrics, "Nobody has to guess/That Baby can't be blessed/Till she finally sees that she's like all the rest." These lines are taken from the second verse of "Just Like a Woman".

6. Stay tuned for my review on Carrie coming this week!

Bloggiesta Starting line - Bang! (September, 2012)

This is my very first Bloggiesta!  I'm a little intimidated of getting totally overwhelmed, but I'm also very excited to research the mini-challenges and discover methods and tips to improve my blog.

A huge thanks to It's All About Books and There's a Book for organizing this event.  If you want to join in, please visit their blogs.

I won't be around Friday at all so I'll have to catch up when I return on Saturday.  Here is my to do list.  I've kept it extremely brief, and hopefully I'll be able to meet and surpass my goals.   Wish me luck!

1. Update reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.  Done!
2. Update my archives. Done!
3. Finally write up an about me page.
4. Participate in a few mini challenges.
5. Write up a few posts for October.
6. Learn stuff.

Added 9/30/12 - Add icons to Archives page.

HWA-Halloween Haunts

Want to go trick or treating every day in October for something spooky to read?  Halloween Haunts is an event in October that the Horror Writers Association is presenting on their blog Dark Whispers. 

No need to wait until October 31st for your scary fix.  You can visit Dark Whispers every day for posts from horror and dark fiction authors as well as giveaway announcements. 

Who will be scaring you this October?

The Near Witch

Title/Author: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab.

Genre:  YA/Supernatural.

Publisher: Hyperion Books.

Source: Received at BEA.

Favorite character: Lexi.

All in all: Beautifully written, spooky story.

Synopsis: "The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. "

"If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. "

"And there are no strangers in the town of Near."

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger--a boy who seems to fade like smoke--appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi's need to know--about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab's debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won't soon forget. ~Goodreads.com.

My Thoughts:  (Contains Spoilers!)
"Listen..."  This is what Victoria Schwab wrote on her inscription of The Near Witch to me.  I almost shivered when I read it as it gave me a delicious hint of what was to come.  So I did listen as I read this book.  Schwab describes sounds with as much variety and nuance as if each sound has its own personality.  Branches snapping, clothes whipping, birds calling, but the biggest character is the wind and how it sings and moans and cries. 

The writing is astoundingly beautiful and I found myself re-reading passages so I could bathe in them.  The words are rich and lush and so is the myth of this story and the lessons as well.  The characters are simple yet very strong as their actions convey their character and what is in their hearts.   

Although Lexi's father passed away, he is still an important character as her memories of him guide and soothe her.  His wisdom and gentleness make him as alive as Lexi and in a way because of his  role in her life, he is.  I also really liked her mother, who though still grieving, does all she can to help Lexi.  I love that she has faith in her daughter and doesn't try to make her something she is not. 

It is also interesting that the two characters who are dead are not really dead.  The Near Witch and her father.  They balance and contrast each other.  One who means harm and one who is trying to fix things.  I also love how Lexi takes up her father's mantle.  His sense of right and wrong is instilled in her.     

Swoonworthy romance.  It was kind of instant, but not really.  It was very believable as Lexi first tries to find the stranger, whom she names "Cole," then protect him, then finally save him.  I love the dynamics of fear that is present in the small town.  Fear of strangers, fear of the unknown, fear of change.  Rash decisions are made, history may repeat itself unless Lexi can solve the mystery and find what she needs to complete her tasks.

The only thing that I had a small issue with is that she had to keep going to the woods over and over again.  I was frustrated.  I wanted her to fix the problems even though I knew she just didn't have time and had to be home by dawn.  However, this also served to build tension as she had to outwit and outrun several people who are working directly against her. 

There are some heartstopping moments and I honestly didn't know which way fate was going to serve Lexi.  The story is full, the characters are colorful and the writing is absolutely delicious.  If you haven't read The Near Witch yet, try it soon.  It'll go perfectly on a crisp Autumn evening.   

One more thought-contains spoiler:
I really wasn't sure if Cole was going to die at one point.  I was very upset, but I also thought it would still be a good story.  Bittersweet for sure, but sometimes a good story does not always have a happy ending.  I am glad that he lived and now he and Lexi can live happily ever after. 

Carrie Read-a-Long - Part Two: Prom Night

Kate from Midnight Book Girl and I are co-hosting the Fall Stephen King Read-A-Long.  

Head on over to see what Midnight Book Girl thought about Carrie up to now HERE.  Next time we will be discussing Part Three: Wreckage on September 30th. Twitter party on that evening will start at 8:00 pm.  

Also, don't forget about our Twitter party tonight from 6-7pm EST.  We'll go to 8 if we generate enough dialogue. Use the hashtag #Carrieprom!

Questions:

1. There is a part quoted form "My Name is Susan Snell" when she stated that she is not really sorry that Tommy is dead anymore, because the idea of him was too perfect.  I was kind of shocked by this.  What did you think of this?

2. Miss Desjardin talked to Carrie about her own prom.  And for Carrie, the prom was magical up to a point.  Did you have any glamorized feelings about your own prom?  

3. When Sue was at home on prom night she said that she was still uncomfortable about her own motives and was afraid to examine them too closely in case she discovered selfishness.  Can you elaborate on this?  

4. Do you think that Tommy could have fallen for Carrie?

5. Tell me what you think of the significance or symbolism of blood.  (Tommy pricked his finger, Mrs. White cut herself, Sue either got her period late or lost a pregnancy.)

6. If that prank had not been played on Carrie at the prom, what kind of life do you think she would have had?

7.  What did you think of Billy and Chris's relationship?

Bonus question: Did you catch the mistake Stephen King made with regards to Carrie's dad? Thanks to Courtney from Abducted by Books for catching this!  

Answers:
1.  I think she glamorized the idea of Tommy.  I mean what a perfect guy to take someone else to the prom because she asked him to.  He was also popular, nice, got good grades and was a star athlete.  I think that this is the way that Sue wants to remember him.  He was a fantasy and because he was killed, he could continue being a fantasy, the epitome of a wonderful boyfriend and student without the fantasy ever ending.  I wonder if Sue maybe felt that the reality of adulthood, real life and responsibility would whittle that fantasy down whether they ended up together or not.  I also think that this way she could make him a martyr.  Maybe because she knew she wasn't in her heart?

2. I definitely had high expectations for my prom, but not over the top like you see on movies.  Even though it was at the end of high school, it still seemed very much like a high school event.

3. I think that the only way Sue was going to feel any kind of redemption was if she made the ultimate sacrifice.  And at that moment it was offering Carrie her place.  Her place with her boyfriend, her place at the prom.  She admits that she felt disgust for Carrie herself and perhaps she doesn't want to be in the same league with Chris H., so she does this to lift herself above her and all the people who feel disgust and pity for Carrie.  I almost think this was a token gesture and Sue was going to feel bad for a very long time about the shower incident.  But I think that part of her thought that since she made this plan, she was the person who appeared to be truly sorry.

4. I do think that Tommy could have fallen for Carrie.  Or, at the very least, I think they had some moments where they felt connected.  Carrie turns out to be funny, intelligent and talented.  This surprised me and I bet it surprised and delighted Tommy.  There were moments when the narrative said that Carrie was in his head, that he heard her name pulsing in his mind.  Whether this was a psychic connection created inadvertently by Carrie, or an emotional one created by the evening who's to say.

5. At a panel at World Horror Convention this year, one of the experts on Stephen King stated that Carrie started in blood and ended in blood.  Carrie's shower scene all the way through to when Sue either gets her period or has a miscarriage.  I think blood in this book was a foreshadowing and also symbolizes death.

6. I would like to think that Carrie would have gotten out of the house after graduation.  I think that she came into her own power and if things hadn't gone horribly wrong at the prom, she would have had the courage to leave her mother.  I like to think of her getting a job as a seamstress.  Nothing glamorous, but just something of her own.  Her own life.

7. Billy and Chris have a typical bad boy and rebellious girl relationship.  I think Chris became dependent on Billy and Billy became disenchanted with Chris.  As soon as Chris sensed that Billy was losing interest, she became more clingy.  He treated her different than most other boys treated her and I think this novelty was attractive.  At first the plan was hers, but then it became Billy's.  Even Billy said it wouldn't have mattered if the pig's blood was dumped on Chris herself.  He just wanted to "get back" at the people in town.

Bonus question: I didn't catch the mistake.  Apparently there is a discrepancy in the story.  In one part it states that Carrie's father died before she was born and in another part it states that he was alive when Carrie was one or two.

What did you think about this section?  I thought it was very rich with characterization and symbolism. A terrific read.  I'm looking forward to discussing Part Three: The Wreckage.

Hudson Valley YA Society. (Plus Contest!)

Where: Oblong Books, Rhinebeck, NY.

When: Sunday, September 16, 2012.

Who: Kat Rosenfield, Mariah Fredericks, Jillian Larkin, and Andrea Cremer (pictured below left to right.)

The event started out with refreshments and Jennifer from Oblong Books picking names for awesome prizes (books, gift cards and more books).  The authors told a little bit about why they wrote their wrote their books and read a passage.  The event went to a very informative Q&A and ended with the author signing.  The bonus was when Jennifer brought out two boxes of ARCs for us to go through. 

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone is Kat's first book, but she has been writing for young adults for 3 years for SparkLife and MTV's Hollywood Crush.  Mariah was born with a cleft palate so she didn't talk a lot.  She wrote and she listened.  She wondered what would make a person who listened speak up.  Also, she was inspired by the Jenn Levin trial from 1988.  Jillian chose to write about the 1920's because she is obsessed with that time period.  Andrea wrote Rift as a prequel to her Nightshade series, which takes place thousands of years ago and is about how the war began.

Q&A

How do you come up with characters?

Andrea - Her character's talk to her.  They insist their stories be told.  The world's she writes become very full and so do the characters.  "They direct me."

Jillian - Every character in her Flapper series has a little bit of her best friend growing up, but aside from that they grow into their own people.  They act and she writes it down.

Mariah - Her character's are usually quiet and shy but her latest work the character speaks up.  There is a tad of herself in a character so she writes accurattely. 

Kate - Her characters are usually an amalgamation of people.

Plotter or Pantser?

Kat - When she first started she was very much a pantser but she became a plotter.

Mariah - Begins with a "what if?" question.  She knows the starting point, the middle and she knows how it will end, and she has to fill in the rest.

Jillian - Used to be a pantser then a few years later she started to become a plotter when she had a Fantasy novel that was a thousand pages.  She also has to have an ending point of she'll just keep going.

Andrea - "Outlines make me claustrophobic."  She explained she is a jigsaw puzzle writer.  She has scenes that inspire her and then makes the big picture fit.

Bad Reviews?

Andrea - She read reviews for the first book, but then she stopped.  "Writing has to matter more than your reviews."  (BTW - Totally Love, Love, Love that quote!  I think this could apply to so many things.

Jillian - Read all her reviews for Vixen and then realized it's subjective.  She would find opposite reviews and opinions on the same exact subject.  "Just enjoy when they're good and ignore when they're not."

Mariah - She remembers the time when she wasn't published and wished that she was.  She understands it comes with the territory. 

 

Kate - Admits to reading thoughtful, appropriate reviews which give her the opportunity to think about her book and her writing. 

What's next? 

Andrea - Rise, the sequel to Rift is coming out in January.  In May 2013 she is co-writing a book with David Levithan about a boy who is born invisible and what happens when he meets the only girl who can see him.  In the Fall of 2013 her first book in a new Steampunk series is coming out and she is also working Erotic Romance for adults set in the Nightshade world.

Jillian - Is working on a Dystopian trilogy and an early Middle Grade Horror Fantasy. 

Mariah - Finished Season of the Witch, a book about bullies that has a slight witchcraft slant.  She is also thinking about trying a Middle Grade book about a boy who gets all his answers in life from 70s Disaster movies.

Kat - Finished the first draft of her second novel. 

Their opinions on the criticism that YA is "dark and horrible" today?

Mariah - Pointed out that YA first started out with "best friend" books.  People asked why YA is all so frothy, why aren't important issues being tackled?  There will also be criticism to what is out there. It's easy to criticize anything when it comes to young women.  "It's not the subject, it's how you handle it."

Jillian - Feels that people want to jump on something without knowing anything about it.  She was criticized for putting smoking and drinking in her book, but she is being historically accurate.  Critics feel that we don't want kids doing it so no one should write it

Kate - Thinks it's a terrible idea that kids need to be protected from controversial subjects.  She thinks that YA books are criticized because adults don't want to have a conversation about it. 

Andrea - Feels that most of the criticism is targeted at young women.  She relayed a story where a publisher or book store owner (I can't remember) conveyed her concerns about sex in a book.  She was more concerned if it was consensual than if the female was forced because women are not supposed to  want to have sex.  She also pointed out the feeling by some that it is okay for Katniss (Hunger Games) to be a killer, but it wouldn't have been okay if she was a sexual person as well. 

Writing Advice?

Andrea - Advises that a writer should want the book they put out to be the best book they can write.  Writing should not be a race to get published.  Write the book you truly love, not what sells. 

Jillian - Pointed out that if you are writing, you are never wasting time.  Even if it is not something great, you've learned.

Mariah - Write what makes you excited.  Don't be afraid to write badly, don't be a perfectionist.  Also, she encourages writing every day.  If you sit down every day you don't have to be brilliant every day. 

Kat - Read everything.  The more you read the more you can improve your own craft. Also, don't be afraid that you missed the boat.  You can come to writing late. 

CONTEST:

~This giveaway is for the books pictured.  All books are signed!  I am giving away five (5) prizes.
1. Signed copy of Rift by Andrea Cremer. 
2. Signed copy of Diva by Jillian Larkin
3. Signed copy of The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks
4. Signed copy of Amela Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield.
5. Signed copies of Nightshade Trilogy by Andrea Cremer.
~The first winner will pick their first choice.  Second winner picks from the remaining prizes and so on.

To Enter:
~Leave your name and e-mail address on the Rafflecopter form.
~Tell me which book you would like in order.
~Extra entries are optional.
~If you are choosing to do extra entries, please read the questions/instructions CAREFULLY! If you do not follow the instructions, I reserve the right to disqualify that entry. (For example, if I ask you to leave a comment and you do not, or you don't answer the question, that entry will be removed.)

Rules:
~Please see my contest policy HERE.
~Contest ends on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 12:01 a.m.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and thanks for entering!

Book Blogger Confessions (Monday, September 17, 2012)

Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that allows book bloggers to discuss issues unique to what we encounter in the blogging world. Every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month we will post a question and invite you to answer, comment and discuss opinions and different views.

Please keep the dialogue courteous. No bashing!

If you would like to participate in this meme sign up below and please feel free to to grab the button to include in your post with a link to For What It's Worth Reviews or here at Midnyte Reader.

Question - Blogger relations: Are there blogs you visit and comment on because you like their style, voice etc.(maybe you even converse with the blogger on Twitter & Facebook) but those comments are never reciprocated on your blog?. Do you get a bit offended or do you understand that they may be busy? Or do you comment just because you like a post not expecting anything in return?

Answer -  One day I realized that a blogger that I often left comments for and tweeted to never reciprocated.  I mean ever.  Not a comment on my blog or a tweet back to me.  I was surprised at my observation and my initial reaction was a sad little, "Heyyy."  But then I was amused.  Whether it was at my observation or the situation,  I'm not sure.  I don't know what made me realize this and I started to think about if this was really bothersome and why.

While I would love to have the people that I follow and leave comments for, in turn comment on some of my posts or tweets, I get that they simply might not have time.  I have a relatively low following, don't get a ton of comments, receive a manageable number of e-mails and I still have trouble leaving comments on all the blogs I would like to.  I can't imagine bloggers who receive dozens and dozens of comments, e-mails, etc., that they have to moderate and reply to having time to visit every single blogger who leaves a comment.

There are tons of blogs that I absolutely love and I am thankful for their tips, help and insights.  Truly that is why bloggers have blogs, right?  To entertain, help, share, and communicate thoughts with their readers.  To express themselves and be creative.  Not necessarily to comment on other blogs.  Just because Blogger A comments on Blogger B's blog, doesn't automatically mean that Blogger B is obligated to comment on Blogger A's.  I mean it's really nice when it happens, but it's not always feasible and it's not always going to happen.

There are several bloggers that I love that don't comment on my posts, but at least they acknowledge me and/or are friendly with me on Twitter.   I appreciate those relationships just as much as the people who comment.

So I guess the next time I feel that an online bloggy relationship is one sided, I will ask myself why I am commenting and/or tweeting.  If I feel slightly slighted it would be my prerogative to stop commenting/tweeting.  However, if I am getting something out of their blog, whether it is a great book recommendation, an idea or even just a laugh, I will probably continue visiting that blog, commenting and tweeting.

What do you think about reciprocal commenting in the blogosphere?  Do you think my initial reaction was too sensitive?  What do you think of commenting/tweeting to bloggers who have never commented or acknowledged your comments or tweets?

Carrie Read-A-Long - Part One:Blood Sports.

Kate from Midnight Book Girl and I are co-hosting the Fall Stephen King Read-A-Long.  Kate came up with some great discussion questions for Stephen King's Carrie (Part One: Blood Sports.)

Head on over to see what Midnight Book Girl thought about Carrie up to now HERE.  Next time we will be discussing Part Two: Prom Night on Sunday, September 23rd.   

Also, don't forget about our Twitter party tonight from 9-11pm EST.  Use the hashtag #CarrieBS!

Questions:
1. Is this your first Stephen King book?

2. What do you think of the style Carrie is written in?

3. Do you think the bullying/attack on Carrie that occurs in the late 1970's in the book could happen today?

4. What are your thoughts on Carrie's mother?

5. Young Carrie brings the rain of rocks down on her house at the tender age of three, but then there are no major events for years. Why do you think her powers remained fairly quiet until now? What role does her mother play in Carrie's use of her power?

6. Do you believe that telekinesis exists?

7. What is your favorite moment so far?

8. What do you think of Sue's plan to have Tommy take Carrie to the prom?

9. Any predictions (um, only if you haven't read this before or seen the movie! ;)

10. Just how crazy is Mrs. White?!

Answers:
1. No, this is not my first Stephen King book by a long shot.  However, this is the first time I've read Carrie.

2. I love the style that Carrie is written in.  I am so used to the movie, that I didn't realize that it had all the other points of view (the reports, the books, the people).  It makes it richer, more interesting and more intricate.  It's not just about the event, it's about people's memories of the event and their analysis of it.  I usually don't like a bunch of different pov's but I find it works extremely well in this book.

3. I definitely think the attack on Carrie in the late 70s could happen today.  Look at how things have progressed with cyberbullying.  People today are commiting suicide over bullying.

4. I don't have any kind thoughts on her mother.  Where are Social Services?

5. I think this is interesting that there are no major TK events with Carrie from the age of 3 to about the age of 17.  I think that perhaps Carrie suppressed her powers out of fear of her mother.  When she got her period and thought she was dying she couldn't suppress her emotions anymore.  She was in a hostile environment and didn't know what was happening to her.  It was like her abilities couldn't be held back any longer.  The beginning of her cycle made her come into her power.  I think that blood in this book is symbolic not only for death but for power as well.

6. I'm not sure if Telekenisis exists.  I've personally never seen it or read any reports about it.  I do think that it is not out of the realm of possibility.

7. My favorite moments so far are when Sue and Tommy talk about their futures.  They seem bleak and boring.  I think this shows incredible insight for young people.  I also like when Tommy asked Carrie to the Prom, he urged her to go with him.  I think his good character shines and he is on the same page as Sue.  I also like seeing Carrie's character as well.  "You know I'd say yes." She tells him.  To me, this shows she is insightful as well.  What I also really love is that this book is as much about Sue as it is about Carrie.  They mirror each other in a way.  They are both growing and coming into their power. 

8. I'm still not sure why Sue did this.  I know she is very passionate with this plan.  I think she not only wants to assauge her guilt and to "atone" as they keep mentioning, but I think she wants to go beyond the predictability of her life and be part of something bigger than herself.

9. No predictions.  I've seen the movie, but what I love is discovering all the awesomeness I've been missing out on with the book.

10. How crazy is Mrs. White?  She is cock-a-doodle coo koo! 

Thank you Kate for coming up with these awesome questions.  If you've read Carrie what are your thoughts?

Angels of Destruction.

Title/Author: Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue.

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell.

Genre:  Fiction.

Publisher: Random House Audio.

Source: Library. 

Favorite character: Sean. 

All in all: Lovely but a bit slow for my taste.

Synopsis:  Angels of Destruction, opens on a winter’s night, when a young girl appears at the home of Mrs. Margaret Quinn, a widow who lives alone. A decade earlier, she had lost her only child, Erica, who fled with her high school sweetheart to join a radical student group known as the Angels of Destruction. Before Margaret answers the knock in the dark hours, she whispers a prayer and then makes her visitor welcome at the door.

The girl, who claims to be nine years old and an orphan with no place to go, beguiles Margaret, offering some solace, some compensation, for the woman’s loss. Together, they hatch a plan to pass her off as her newly found granddaughter, Norah Quinn, and enlist Sean Fallon, a classmate and heartbroken boy, to guide her into the school and town.

Their conspiracy is vulnerable not only to those children and neighbors intrigued by Norah’s mysterious and magical qualities but by a lone figure shadowing the girl who threatens to reveal the child’s true identity and her purpose in Margaret’s life. Who are these strangers really? And what is their connection to the past, the Angels, and the long-missing daughter?

Angels of Destruction is an unforgettable story of hope and fear, heartache and redemption. The saga of the Quinn family unfolds against an America wracked by change. As it delicately dances on the line between the real and the imagined, this mesmerizing new novel confirms Keith Donohue’s standing as one of our most inspiring and inventive novelists. ~Product Description.

My Thoughts: I grabbed this book because I read The Stolen Child and absolutely loved it.  I was hoping that  Angels of Destruction would be as compelling, but I felt that while the premise was interesting and I enjoyed the characters, the story just didn't grab me.

The novel begins with Margaret Quinn taking in a little girl who just shows up on her doorstep.  She calls the girl Norah and they cook up a story about her being Margaret's grandchild.  Norah fills the void that Margaret has felt since her daughter ran away many years ago.  The relationship between the two is very sweet and Margaret opens her heart to Norah. Their neighbor Sean Fallon soon becomes Norah's best friend and the two are practically inseperable.  Sean is also missing somebody, his father, who left their family.  The way that Norah comforts Sean as well as Margaret by trying to pull them out of their lonliness is what I would expect a fledgling angel to behave. Soon however, Norah goes a little too far with her claims and "magic" and the people in town become frightened for their children's safety and fearful because Norah is just too different.

The book also tells the journey of Erica, Margaret's daughter, who ran away with her politically radical boyfriend and their adventures and experiences on the road. She encounters many people along the way who warn her that she is on the wrong path, but unfortunately she doesn't listen. Violent actions and unplanned surprises once again change the course of her life. 

I did love how the theme of birds is threaded throughout the story, echoing that Norah is an angel.  There is never any definitive resolution to this which I don't mind.  I like to wonder and ponder about events in a story.  Perhaps it reflects what the characters in the book went through.  Wondering if her claims are true.  For those who have faith no miracle is necessary, for those who don't none will suffice.  There was a splash of magic, enough for the reader to question but I think I was expecting a little bit more.

The narration is very nice. Cassandra Campbell's voice is soothing and lyrical, with a lovely cadence. I feel it fits the mood and tone of the story.

I think that the story took place too much in the character's heads.  I was privy to memories,  feelings, hopes and dreams.  The writing is very gentle, melancholy and contemplative, but I just felt it was too much. 

Also, who is the menacing man/creature that occassionally appears?  I took him to be either a demon of some kind or another angel who was trying to make Norah go "home."

I didn't feel that the story was exceptionally gripping and I don't mind unanswered questions, but I would have liked to have had just a few more answers.  I would recommend this book to people who like literary fiction and epic stories. 

Bloggiesta

I've heard of Bloggiesta ever since I started blogging over 3 years ago.   I've always wanted to participate but scheduling wouldn't allow me to devote the time I feel it deserved.  This is the first year I'm going to join in and give it a try.  Especially since some of the topics that will be covered will be:

• Scheduling Posts and Organization
• Increasing Blog Traffic
• Using a Variety of Applications in Conjunction with your Blogging. (ie. Evernote, Microsoft Access, etc.)
• WordPress vs. Blogger
• Discussion Posts…How-to

Bloggiesta will take place September 28-30 and is hosted by There's a Book and It's All About Books.

Wish me luck!

Book Blogger Confessions (Monday, September 3, 2012)

Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that allows book bloggers to discuss issues unique to what we encounter in the blogging world. Every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month we will post a question and invite you to answer, comment and discuss opinions and different views.

Please keep the dialogue courteous. No bashing!

If you would like to participate in this meme sign up below and please feel free to to grab the button to include in your post with a link to For What It's Worth Reviews or here at Midnyte Reader.

Question: Following:  How do you follow blogs?  Do you use Google Reader?  Are you on an e-mail list?  Are you more apt to follow people who have less followers?  Would you follow a blog to enter a contest?  What makes you unfollow a blog?

Answer: 
I don't do well with Google Reader for some reason.  It feels very overwhelming to me. Sometimes I'll look at it and if I see a post that interests me I'll click on it, but I use another method to keep up with the blogs I love.  I simply group them together in my bookmarks toolbar. 

I know this may not sound very efficient, but it works for me, mainly because I like to put a "face" or a "voice" to the blog I'm visiting.  If I meet people in a certain forum I'll put their blog sites in a folder with that forum title.  For example, I have all the blogs that have joined my AAD Reading Challenge in one folder and when I participated in the Book Blogger/Publisher Online Conference, I made another folder for the blogs of the people that I met there.  It helps remind me where I came in contact with the bloggers.  It's hard to keep up with all the blogs I like to visit as it is, but with my bookmark folders I can just go down the list.  Another way that I follow blogs is through Twitter when someone Tweets something that catches my eye.  This is a great way to keep up with people and what is going on currently.   

I'm not really on any e-mail lists.  I get so much e-mail as it is and it's such a time suck.  

I will follow a blog to enter a contest if I like that blog to begin with.  More often than not, if a contest requires a follow, I really contemplate if I want to enter or not.  I feel I have so many books already, so  I don't enter a lot of contests. 

The follower widget.  That controversial little box.  Why is it important?  Are those numbers real?  Well, I for one like my follower widget(s) and I'm thrilled when the number climbs.  Maybe those people are only clicking to enter a contest, maybe they click and never return, maybe they really are faithful followers.  Whatever the reason, it's a small thing that makes me happy and I think it's fun.  I am still thrilled when someone follows me.  So, I like to give blogs that are just starting out a follow.  Of course, it has to be a blog that I have some interest in as well.  

I will unfollow someone (or remove them from my bookmarks) for a variety of reasons.  If they haven't posted in a very long time, or if I feel I'm not really connecting with that blogger.  Maybe what they post doesn't resonate with me and I don't feel like I'm getting anything out of reading their blog.  I also don't like to follow someone who is extremely sarcastic or negative...whether it's on their blog or on Twitter.  

So, what is your take on following?  

Halloween Hootenanny - 2012!

Please join me for my 2nd Halloween Hootenanny, celebrating all through October!

• Creepy reviews. 
• Ghoulish giveaways.
• Scary posts. 
• Frightening interviews.
• Spooky goodness.

If you would like to contribute with a guest post, please contact me at  midnytereader@gmail.com.

Please grab a button!

 


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