Yo yo yo, Unpro-ites! It's late July and I heartily commend your survival skills if you haven't melted yet.
So yesterday I took part in not one but TWO outdoor festivals. This is worth noting, because on a good day I loathe these things. There's nothing wrong with wandering around drinking/eating/looking at art with your friends. Nothing at all. But you see, I grew up within spitting distance of county fairgrounds (and there was no rest in the off-season, as the county fairgrounds doubled as a racetrack, meaning on Friday nights at least six months of the year we were treated to an hours-long VROOOOOOOOOM. El train noise is a picnic compared to that shit). Therefore, anything that involves crowds, sweat and booths is a bigger turnoff to me than Michael Scott describing his reverse vasectomy.
The latter fest was a work necessity, and by late afternoon the temp had cooled a bit and there was a nice breeze, so my three-hour shift was relatively pleasant. (Plus, free chicken fresh off the grill afterwards!) The former, however, marked the occasion of My Very First Flash Mob (TM). One of my dance teachers and her company decided to get their Stevie Wonder on, and I was ecstatic to take part. I've wanted to be in a flash mob ever since seeing this video clip. And I don't even like Weeds!
Though an early morning thunderstorm had me hesitating, I realized that years of outdoor theatre (and we're talking wearing a long-sleeved cowgirl costume in 100+ degree weather) had conditioned me to perform in the most precarious of situations. Besides, if I'm gonna perish in a tornado, I'd rather go down dancing than huddled in a basement Hail Mary-ing for my life. Luckily, the weather cleared up in plenty of time, and rehearsed-to-look spontaneous merriment ensued:
Check out the dork in the blue skirt. Trust me, her inner theatre geek was positively squeeing.
Anyhoozle, the name of the game this week is blogs. I've previously done some shout-outs, and thought it was high time I introduced some new faves. Feel free to click, explore, and give these talented and fab ladies (and one gent) some lurve.
1. Ms. Friendly's Comprehensive Guide to Inner-City Teaching. A while back, one of my readers contacted me to check out her blog. Three months, one bout with bronchitis, and one intense workload later, I finally stopped dragging my feet, and was I glad I did! I have other friends who are teachers, and have done some instructing myself, and I'm always entertained to hear school horror stories conveyed in a witty way. Not to mention I admire the hell out of educators for boldly going where Unpro would never dare to go full-time. From skewering her assistant principal to calling out her students on their snarkiness and their sweetness, Ms. Friendly is a lot of fun, and she'll return to regular posting in the fall. Think Jen Lancaster Goes to Public School.
2. Obsessions of a Workaholic. A few months ago, my good friend hopped on the blogging bandwagon and never looked back. (Tis a big responsibility but highly addictive.) She too is a teacher--most specifically an adjunct and assistant professor--as well as an English Lit PhD student. Oh yeah, and she's recently jumped back into the online dating scene. For those of you who don't have the pleasure of knowing this woman in real life, enjoy her clever turns of phrase as she navigates writing, educating and the randomness of city life.
3. Anthroholic. Lately I've gotten into fashion, and no one is more surprised about this than I. Even more shockingly, I've started to patronize Anthropologie. I'd previously written off this store as being too Euro-y and exclusively for chicks built like coat hangers. But in May, when I was looking for a cocktail dress to wear at a hip L.A. bar for Bob's and my ten-year friend-iversary, I hit paydirt at Anthro's downtown Chicago location. I've been hooked ever since--granted, on my budget I have to be careful, but they do have good sales on well-made pieces built to last. And wouldn't ya know it, there are some cool Anthropologie-related blogs out there, the most quintessential of which involves a lovely lady named Kim who also lives in Chicago (Windy City repreSENT!). Join Kim as she makes recommendations, mixes pieces old and new (and not exclusively Anthro), and showcases outfits from fashionable and fun readers. Granted, the fitting room reviews don't help me a whole lot (Kim's all tiny and perfect and I have boobs and hips to burn), but for a relatively new clothing enthusiast, Anthroholic's been a godsend.
4. Questionable Taste. Truth be told, I'm kind of mad at my sister Meg. It was her "oh my God that is the cutest dress EVER you look so pretty full price is totally worth it!" that got me into Anthropologie in the first place. Enabler. (For the record, she also led me to Anthroholic. Double enabler!) Despite my wallet's anger at her, I do enjoy her blog. Again, as someone who's just starting to care about what she puts on her bod, I appreciate any and all help on where to find cute things and how to put them together. I also enjoy her pop-culture musings, funny random videos (Alan Thicke-hosted aerobics competition, anyone?), and pictures of her adorable putty-tat, Nessa.
5. Zip and a Kick! This one comes to us courtesy of my L.A. pal Joe, a nerdy-yet-hip dude whose finger is on the pulse of all things comic, comedy and Disney. He also likes hot boys, so we have that in common. One of my favorite features of this blog is Mix-N-Mash Mondays , where Joe showcases whatever remix or mashup he's been sweatin' lately. Joe's a laugh and a half in real life, but for those of you not fortunate enough to know him, give his zippy blog a whirl.
As an added bonus, remember the Deception review and giveaway? Our winner, Ms. LadyJ3000, reviewed the book on her blog--check it out!
Showing posts with label deception. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deception. Show all posts
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Who You Gonna Call? Deception! (and a GIVEAWAY!)
First off, I know it's been said a million times, but a big "thank you for being a friend" goes out to the divine Ms. Rue McClanahan. Blanche was always my fave Golden Girl, and real-life Rue was no slouch herself. Hope you're eating cheesecake with other fabulous people in the big condo in the sky. I'll publicly defend condoms in your honor any day:
So, guess who got another free book in the mail? The folks at Bloomsbury asked if I'd review a new paranormal YA for them--Deception: a Haunting Emma Novel, by Lee Nichols--and I was happy to oblige ('cause I'm a sucker for all things free). If you're a fan of my super-awesome reviews, throw your mittens around your kittens and awaaay we go!
For seventeen-year-old Emma Vaile, life has gotten a bit weird of late. Her antique dealer parents left for an overseas business trip and haven't been heard from since. Alone in the house, Emma's beginning to experience the very same visions that plagued her as a child, and at school, she finally finds a group of friends . . . only to lose them when a house party goes bad. Enter her brother's former BFF and Emma's longtime crush, Bennett, who whisks her away to suburban Boston and a fancy private school. In this brand-new environment, Emma learns just what these visions mean: she and Bennett are ghostkeepers, meaning they can communicate with ghosts. As Emma's powers grow stronger, she must work with Bennett to track an otherworldly murderer who may be linked to her parents' disappearance--while also balancing school, new friendships, and a budding relationship with a golden-boy quarterback. Oh, and she's still mad hot for Bennett.
Deception isn't one I'd have picked up while browsing: as a rule, paranormal isn't my preferred subgenre. To me, the most interesting things happen in the here and now. That said, Nichols does a great job of integrating the here and now with the ghostly elements of Deception's core plot. I liked Emma's sassy, sardonic voice, and I believed her tentative navigation of high school's caste system of popularity. Bennett is every inch the YA dreamboat, the type I want to crush on even though as a grown woman I feel sort of pervy doing it. The dialogue is snappy, the descriptions tight and vivid, and the pacing just right. I sped through this book not because I was on a deadline, but because I was genuinely interested in what would happen next.
I did have a couple of issues with the book. First, this is more my personal taste than a reflection on the writing, but I really don't like long action sequences. Do what you need to do, characters, but I'm more about reading your verbal and emotional interactions. Reading fight scenes just doesn't do it for me.
Also, I detected a bit of Bella Swan syndrome in Emma. Not in her character, per se--for the most part, Emma is strong and witty--but in the way that she is taken in almost immediately by the popular crowd for no real reason. Nichols tries to explain this away: it's a small school, everyone's known one another forever, and new blood is always welcomed and appreciated. As someone who went to a small private school, I can acknowledge that this is often the case. Still . . . here, I didn't quite buy it. I liked Emma's new friends, and appreciated how the popular kids were nice people underneath their rich-kid facades, but I would have liked a bit more relationship development and a bit less, "boom, you're one of us now."
Overall, however, Deception is a fun read that provides equal parts spook and snark. In a Bella Swan world, strong female heroines are always welcome, and Emma Vaile fits the bill. As an added bonus, the book ends on a cliffhanger that promises more ghostly adventure to come.
A'ight, who wants to play Armchair Casting Director?
Emma: Leah Pipes
From the category of Should Have a Better Career, Ms. Pipes has appeared in the little seen girl-power soccer flick Her Best Move and the trashy Audrina Patridge cameo-ing Sorority Row. Still, I like her. She's got the acting chops and is beautiful but slightly gawky--make her look a few years younger (and in Hollywood, the teens are almost always played by twentysomethings anyway), and you've got a pretty awesome Emma.
Bennett: Aaron Johnson
Maybe I'm prejudiced because a) I've interviewed the guy, and b) he's already played a Bennett in the film The Greatest. But the name suits him. He can pull off New England preppie with secrets (again, The Greatest), he's a Brit but can do a very believable American accent, and he looks older now than he did in Kick-Ass. Plus, would you look at those peepers? YUM.
Deception: a Haunting Emma Novel will be in stores tomorrow, June 8. Lee Nichols is also the author of three adult novels--click here to learn more about her.
And now it's GIVEAWAY TIIIIIME!
Want to win a copy of Deception? You know you do! And it couldn't be easier: all you have to do is leave a comment. Anything remotely enthusiastic or intelligent is cool; no haters please. Make sure you include your email address.
The contest will be open until end of day Friday, at which time I'll select a commenter at random and email the winner. You must live in the continental United States to be eligible (publisher's rule, not mine).
What are you waiting for? Comment away and win!
So, guess who got another free book in the mail? The folks at Bloomsbury asked if I'd review a new paranormal YA for them--Deception: a Haunting Emma Novel, by Lee Nichols--and I was happy to oblige ('cause I'm a sucker for all things free). If you're a fan of my super-awesome reviews, throw your mittens around your kittens and awaaay we go!
For seventeen-year-old Emma Vaile, life has gotten a bit weird of late. Her antique dealer parents left for an overseas business trip and haven't been heard from since. Alone in the house, Emma's beginning to experience the very same visions that plagued her as a child, and at school, she finally finds a group of friends . . . only to lose them when a house party goes bad. Enter her brother's former BFF and Emma's longtime crush, Bennett, who whisks her away to suburban Boston and a fancy private school. In this brand-new environment, Emma learns just what these visions mean: she and Bennett are ghostkeepers, meaning they can communicate with ghosts. As Emma's powers grow stronger, she must work with Bennett to track an otherworldly murderer who may be linked to her parents' disappearance--while also balancing school, new friendships, and a budding relationship with a golden-boy quarterback. Oh, and she's still mad hot for Bennett.
Deception isn't one I'd have picked up while browsing: as a rule, paranormal isn't my preferred subgenre. To me, the most interesting things happen in the here and now. That said, Nichols does a great job of integrating the here and now with the ghostly elements of Deception's core plot. I liked Emma's sassy, sardonic voice, and I believed her tentative navigation of high school's caste system of popularity. Bennett is every inch the YA dreamboat, the type I want to crush on even though as a grown woman I feel sort of pervy doing it. The dialogue is snappy, the descriptions tight and vivid, and the pacing just right. I sped through this book not because I was on a deadline, but because I was genuinely interested in what would happen next.
I did have a couple of issues with the book. First, this is more my personal taste than a reflection on the writing, but I really don't like long action sequences. Do what you need to do, characters, but I'm more about reading your verbal and emotional interactions. Reading fight scenes just doesn't do it for me.
Also, I detected a bit of Bella Swan syndrome in Emma. Not in her character, per se--for the most part, Emma is strong and witty--but in the way that she is taken in almost immediately by the popular crowd for no real reason. Nichols tries to explain this away: it's a small school, everyone's known one another forever, and new blood is always welcomed and appreciated. As someone who went to a small private school, I can acknowledge that this is often the case. Still . . . here, I didn't quite buy it. I liked Emma's new friends, and appreciated how the popular kids were nice people underneath their rich-kid facades, but I would have liked a bit more relationship development and a bit less, "boom, you're one of us now."
Overall, however, Deception is a fun read that provides equal parts spook and snark. In a Bella Swan world, strong female heroines are always welcome, and Emma Vaile fits the bill. As an added bonus, the book ends on a cliffhanger that promises more ghostly adventure to come.
A'ight, who wants to play Armchair Casting Director?
Emma: Leah Pipes
From the category of Should Have a Better Career, Ms. Pipes has appeared in the little seen girl-power soccer flick Her Best Move and the trashy Audrina Patridge cameo-ing Sorority Row. Still, I like her. She's got the acting chops and is beautiful but slightly gawky--make her look a few years younger (and in Hollywood, the teens are almost always played by twentysomethings anyway), and you've got a pretty awesome Emma.
Bennett: Aaron Johnson
Maybe I'm prejudiced because a) I've interviewed the guy, and b) he's already played a Bennett in the film The Greatest. But the name suits him. He can pull off New England preppie with secrets (again, The Greatest), he's a Brit but can do a very believable American accent, and he looks older now than he did in Kick-Ass. Plus, would you look at those peepers? YUM.
Deception: a Haunting Emma Novel will be in stores tomorrow, June 8. Lee Nichols is also the author of three adult novels--click here to learn more about her.
And now it's GIVEAWAY TIIIIIME!
Want to win a copy of Deception? You know you do! And it couldn't be easier: all you have to do is leave a comment. Anything remotely enthusiastic or intelligent is cool; no haters please. Make sure you include your email address.
The contest will be open until end of day Friday, at which time I'll select a commenter at random and email the winner. You must live in the continental United States to be eligible (publisher's rule, not mine).
What are you waiting for? Comment away and win!
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