Wednesday, March 30, 2011

You Recommend Wednesday

Hey there lovely readers! How's things? I know I've been a little MIA lately and I'm sorry. School tends to get in the way of everything. :) I'm working on getting caught up. If you sent me an email that I haven't responded to, I'm sorry about that also. I'm hoping to get caught up on those in the next week or so here.

Ok, now to the point, it's You Recommend Wednesday, which means it's your turn to tell me what to read. So let's have it. What are you reading that I need to check out?

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Eyecatcher: When Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer

When Stars Go Blue
by Caridad Ferrer



St. Martin's Griffin
ISBN: 9780312650049
Release Date: November 23, 2010

from the author's site:

A dancer driven to succeed.

A musical prodigy attempting to escape his past.

The summer they share.

And the moment it all goes wrong.

Dance is Soledad Reyes’s life. About to graduate from Miami’s Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, she plans on spending her last summer at home teaching in a dance studio, saving money, and eventually auditioning for dance companies. That is, until fate intervenes in the form of fellow student Jonathan Crandall who has what sounds like an outrageous proposition: Forget teaching. Why not spend the summer performing in the intense environment of the competitive drum and bugle corps? The corps is going to be performing Carmen, and the opportunity to portray the character of the sultry gypsy proves too tempting for Soledad to pass up, as well as the opportunity to spend more time with Jonathan, who intrigues her in a way no boy ever has before.

But in an uncanny echo of the story they perform every evening, an unexpected competitor for Soledad’s affections appears: Taz, a member of an all-star Spanish soccer team. One explosive encounter later Soledad finds not only her relationship with Jonathan threatened, but her entire future as a professional dancer.

why it caught my eye:

As usual, this was a title I found while shelving books at work. I honestly can't remember at this point if it was the title or the cover that caught my atention first. I was a dancer when I was younger and dreamed of dancing professionally, so yeah, that's another plus. :) When Stars Go Blue is another addition to my wishlist. I'm looking forward to checking it out. Anyone read this one? Any thoughts?

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Eyecatcher: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray
by Ruta Sepetys
Philomel (Penguin)
http://www.rutasepetys.com
http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com
ISBN: 9780399254123
Release Date: March 22, 2011

from the official book site: 

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost. 

Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. 

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive? 

why it caught my eye: 

I read about Between Shades of Gray in Publisher's Weekly, while on lunch break at work. The minute I finished the article I ran out to the sales floor and pre-ordered my copy. I don't normally read books of such a serious nature, but I know this is one I need to read. Part of the reason for such interest on my part is that I'm of Lithuanian descent and it's not often that I find books about Lithuanians. Not only that, but Ruta Sepetys is writing about a part of Lithuanian (and Latvian and Estonian) history that many people know nothing about. I think it's great that this story is being told. I can't wait to get my copy and start reading it. I recommend you check it out today, or rather,  a week from today when it releases. :)