The Secret Hour

What I'm listening to right now: All Around Me, Flyleaf
What mood I'm in today: Reading

Going back in time today, I wanted to review the first book of one of my favorite series of one of my favorite authors. The Secret Hour, first book in the Midnighters series, is a window into just what the title says, the Secret Hour. Every day has 25 hours, not 24. One of them is just hidden, and only those born at exactly midnight can be awake in this time. Not only that, but the hour only opens up in the city of Bixby, Oklahoma.

This is exactly how I pictured these things!

When Jessica Day moves to Bixby, weird things start to happen - weird even for the other midnighters who've lived there much longer than she has. The darklings begin to creep back into town, risking exposing themselves again because of their need to kill Jessica. Rex, Melissa, Dess, and Jonathan, all get involved in trying to understand why the darklings want to kill Jessica in particular.
I loved this book. Not only do the five kids get to be awake in a secret hour, but they each have different abilities that the 25th hour gives them. Rex has a special sight that allows him to see things belonging to the midnight hour ultra-clearly. Melissa can read minds, or I guess a better word is taste them. Dess is a mathematical genius, which turns out to be very important in the secret hour. Jonathan is the Acrobat. His power is different, because he can only use it in the midnight hour. As they try to find out exactly what it is Jessica can do, they get closer to the reason the darklings want to kill her.
She can kill them.
I won't give away too much here, but Scott Westerfeld's Midnighters series is intense fantastical realism that will keep you reading into the night. He captures the urgency of the situation, the personalities of every character and their importance to the story, and provides a little romance in the background (not that I would call this book romantic, but who doesn't want to see a great couple get together?). If you like books with a little bit of sci-fi/fantasy, set in the real world, this is your next read.
Until next time...keep reading. Let me know if you've read any good books! I'm always looking.

Of Creepy Towns and Other Things

What I'm listening to right now: Solitude Standing, Suzanne Vega
What mood I'm in today: Writing

Have you ever seen the X-Files episode Arcadia? If you haven't, I'll give a brief recap. Mulder and Scully move into a spotless neighborhood, undercover as a married couple. The houses all look pretty much the same, there are countless rules and regulations to follow, and if anyone ever breaks a rule they end up dead. This is why I've never moved to a structured development.

Candor by Pam Bachorz is somewhere along these lines. The title is actually the name of the town, although I still think it's meaning (The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.) has a sort of underlying, twisted implement as well.
We start out by meeting Oscar, the main character and voice. His dad runs Candor; charges insane amounts of money for people to live there. Everything is structure. No one breaks the rules. And the reason why is because he feeds them subliminal messages through music. Oscar, however, knows all about the Messages (I love that this is capitalized throughout the book). He creates his own messages to counter his father's. He helps kids escape Candor, as long as they pay him, right up until Nia moves in.
Nia's a little bit of a bad girl, and Oscar is afraid the town will turn her into something she's not. He likes her the way she is, and decides to feed her his own Messages and not tell her about leaving town or that it's even an option. He wants to keep her there.
After one of his client's escapes fails, things start to change. Someone knows about the Message, and his father will do anything to put a stop to it. When Nia finds out what's been going on, she accuses Oscar of making her like him and literally goes out on the town, vandilizing along the way. When she does get caught, Oscar's father takes her (and the fat kid who seems to ruin everything) into The Listening Room, a place where memories are wiped clean. Nia is changed into someone completely different, and Oscar finally realizes he has to help her escape in order to save her.
An interesting love story of sorts. My favorite part is what Oscar sacrifices for the girl he loves. Things don't go his way, but it's not necessarily the end for him either. I won't give a spoiler alert here; you'll have to read it for yourself!
Overall, I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. (By the way, I rarely give 5 out of 5). A new idea, this book, written in Collin's style (..I say, I sit down - present tense), is a great read for young adults and old alike.
As always, Happy Reading!

The Sky Is Everwhere

What I'm listening to right now: 21 Guns, Green Day
What mood I'm in today: Editing

Today I wanted to review a book that I've hesitated reviewing because of this tiny little thing about it that irritates me.  However, I've realized that as much as the tiny little thing bugs me, I loved this book. 

The Sky Is Everywhere tells us the story of Lennie, a high-school girl whose older sister dies very suddenly and unexpectedly.  Her life changes dramatically, and the most suprising for her is that boys are noticing her.  First Joe Fontaine, the new guy from France that plays music just like Lennie, only on forty different instruments.  Joe can make her laugh and smile, making her question if she should be laughing or smiling.  Didn't her sister just die? 
Second is Toby, her sister's boyfriend, who is as torn apart as Lennie.  They find temporary solace and comfort in each other, usually by making out in Lennie's bedroom or in her Gram's garden. 
The reason I love this story so much is it shows how Lennie finally overcomes her grief - without losing her sense of loss entirely.  She knows what she's doing with Toby is wrong; letting her emotions out this way isn't healthy, especially when she's falling for Joe, the one who makes her truly happy.  This little triangle can't go on for long without worlds colliding and falling apart again, and Lennie has to try to put everything right, learning and growing in the process. 
There is a side-story here between Lennie and her best friend Sarah that I adore.  Sarah, finally fed up with feeling ignored and like Lennie doesn't trust her anymore, confronts Lennie about it.  It leads to a friendship repair that helps Lennie get through this life upheaval that she's going through.  Loyal friends!  Love it! 
So now to spill it.  I'm a little hesitant to review it because I was a little hesitant to admit I read it.  Throughout the book, that little word (starts with an F) is sprinkled quite a bit.  Excessive swearing bugs me.  Yes, we make that word into a swearword and give it its negative meaning.  But that doesn't mean it doesn't bug me still.  So, with that little warning, I actually do recommend this book, especially to late bloomers like myself - awkward, shy girls who didn't really get noticed by guys until their junior year in high school.  Yep, that's me.  And no, I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Upcoming and Why I've Been Gone

What I'm listening to right now: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, background noise
What mood I'm in today: Reading

Happy New year! 
So after a few months hiatus, which I will explain briefly, I'm back.  And I have some exciting news.  Well, for me anyway.  Here's what my blog will focus on this year:
   1. Book Reviews (I've read enough now to actually review them.  Yay!)
   2. Short stories and Novellas (I'm going to actually post stuff that I've written.  Brace yourselves.)

I've been gone for a while because we've been dealing with a lot of issues in my family.  Illness, severe accidents, and death to name a few.  It's been rough, but we are doing a lot better now, and I'm ready to jump back on the bandwagon, so to speak. 

Hope your New Year goes well!
-Amanda

School Is Hard

What I'm Listening To Right Now: Candleburn - Dishwalla
What Mood I'm In Today: Writing

So school is literally kicking my butt.  But I love it.  Who knew what an adventure Literary Criticism would be?  I've read Saussure, Lacan, Freud, Barthes...and have yet to read more.  I have learned so much about language and everything that goes along with it.

Because I've been so busy, I'm not blogging as much.  But I will say this.  I've written several short stories lately, one on my own, and several with the help of my hubby.  He's got awesome ideas, I tell you what.  And now, I'm thinking about posting some of the short stories online, just to let people get a feel for them.  Look out, world. 

With Halloween upon us, I have several suggestions for good reads.  Who can resist?

Poetry: Edgar Allen Poe.  My personal favorite is The Tell Tale Heart.  Incredibly creepy.  Read it when it's raining, and twilight is just starting. 
Young Adult: Scott Westerfield's Midnighters Series.  If you time it right, read all three books, ending on Halloween.  Blue Noon has got a lot to do with it. 
Childrens: Fright Night Flight
Adults: Anything by Ambrose Bierce.  My personal favorite is The Boarded Window.  Love it! 

Happy Halloween Everybody!  Maybe in November, my blog will be longer...or I'll have a short story for you for Halloween, if I can get my butt in gear!