Archive | February 2013

Jane Austen Scarves by Brookish

February’s Literary Item Spotlight is brought to you by the fantastic guest blogger Flaneur in the City! Please take the time to check out her amazing and intelligent blog filled with original opinions on ‘Reading between the lines of pavement cracks and pop culture.‘

The scarf is the from the talented Brookish on Etsy. They do more than just scarves but everything is inspired by memorable quotes in literature!

“It’s a long scarf, my favorite kind, since I can wear it in different ways with different outfits. I wore to the grocery store yesterday, doubling it over and wrapping it “turtleneck” style over a long sweater, paired with leggings and boots. I tied it so the ends intertwined and the Mr. Darcy quote became a swirling pattern beneath my neck. Tomorrow I’m meeting a fellow writer for dinner and I can’t wait to show it off. Literature and fashion, unite!

The quote, of course, is simply romantic. What girl wouldn’t melt if such words of love were spoken? Oh, Mr. Darcy! As a writer, I can only hope (and dream and pray!) to one day capture such romance on the page.

I am truly, truly blessed to have you as a friend and every time I wear this scarf I think of you.”

Many thanks to Flaneur in the City for the lovely post! I’m just as lucky to have such a talented friend! Many thanks to Brookish for your amazing projects and handiwork!

Prized by Caragh O’Brien

Feb5

Gaia Stone has escaped the Enclave with her newborn baby sister Maya. Out into the wasteland she ventured, but with little food, water and baby formula, they’re doomed to die if they don’t find help soon. Days pass and just when death looms near, a hero on a horse rescue Gaia and takes her and Maya to Sylum.

Sylum is a community where the women are in charge. Something is happening to all the newborn babies, they’re always male. Females are in high demand and marriages are a battle. Kissing is outlawed and when Gaia joins the people of Sylum she doesn’t understand why everyone isn’t equal. Sylum isn’t better than the Enclave, it’s almost worse.

Gaia is determined to figure out the mystery of Sylum, but her heart is distracted. As a new female she gathers the attention of every eligible male. When a familiar face returns Gaia must look inside her heart and trust what she feels if she, Maya and the people of Sylum have any chance of continuing their existence.

I loved the first book in this series, Birthmarked. I was looking for something that would grab my attention like The Hunger Games and Birthmarked filled all that criteria. However, once I leaped into Prized, I found myself disappointed. It started off great, and finally here is a scenario where women have all the power and treat men like they have treated us for thousands of years! Power to women! What a fantastic choice to move the story I originally thought.

Instead I found myself being embarrassed to keep reading. The women in power were just as bad as stereotypical male lead characters and it was a huge disappointment. What had the potential to be a great story line got somehow lost. My disappointment grew as the lack of originality progressed. I still want to read the last instalment in the series. The ending at least in Prized wasn’t a disappointment and I’m happy O’Brien captured my attention. I’m excited to see how things end for Gaia in Promised.

Ariel

Feb4

Harrods. London, England. 2012. Partnered campaign with Disney.

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Feb2

Seventeen-year-old Penryn used to live in what was known as California. Six weeks ago she was concerned with makeup and teenage angst. Now it’s fight for survival. Food is scarce, safe shelter unheard of and above all else; watch the skies. The skies are the keepers of the danger that rip off limbs: Angels.

All Penryn tried to do was keep her seven-year-old paralysed sister Paige safe. Together with their schizophrenic mother they fled their home for a new hiding place. It wasn’t supposed to be easy, but they didn’t think a group of angels would fall to the ground, trying to execute an archangel. One false sound and Paige is abducted. Gone. Taken away in the sky.

Penryn will do anything to find her sister, even if it means saving a dying angel. It’ll take going into the lion’s den and seeking help from the angelic demon himself to bring her family together.

This isn’t your traditional Angelic story. The tales of angels being godly and kind are transformed into the opposite. Instead they are evil beings that are unsure of why they are on Earth, this story only gets more interesting as each page is turned. This is a totally surprising read and as one progresses through the chapters the better it gets. Penryn reads a bit younger than seventeen, where the rest of book follows along general fiction.

For a Young Adult read it’s also startlingly grown up. Violence is present and shockingly adult. For being post-apocalyptic, Ee has hit the nail on the head with how humanity loses all aspects of right and wrong. Yet, there is also hope in this novel, on a scale that even Penryn is surprised to see. I really enjoyed this book, but I’d recommend this to older readers. I loved changing the Angel theme from good to evil, it’s not something I expected and there is lots of room for the story to grow. I patiently await the second book!