Marvelous Mara

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

* ARC read via Around The World ARC Tours
* Book will be released on September 27, 2011

This book gets a spectacularly spooky 5 out of 5 gnomes for being quite the trippy book with an unreliable narrator that might just actually be reliable.  The fun is questioning what to believe because you never know what might just be a delusion.

I loved this book so much.  Unexpected, intense, insane, those are just a few words that describe the experience of reading this book.  It just really absorbs you into the story.  I would start reading thinking, I’ll read one chapter then stop, then I’d find myself still reading chapters later.

The story opens with a note telling you that Mara is not the main character’s real name so right away you’re wondering what happened and how much time has passed between the note and the story she tells.

Mara wakes in in the hospital not remembering what happened to put her there and things only get weirder from there on.  Apparently she survived having a building collapse on her while the other three people there died, including her best friend.  

To start fresh her family moves across the country to Florida.  Creepiness and weirdness seem to follow her there too.  Mara’s not the only one with problems though.  Many of the characters in the story have something mysterious or strange going on in their lives.  So to borrow a famous line from Transformers these characters are “...more than meets the eye.” There are so many puzzle pieces to this story and they fit together in surprising ways.  

As the story progresses you’ll be wondering what’s going on just as much as Mara is.  The paranoia and craziness just seems to permeate the pages.  Mara does in fact have hallucinations so you have to wonder what’s real and what isn’t.  There are a lot of surreal moments where you’ll think you know what’s going on and then be blindsided by another surprise.

The love interest, Noah Shaw, is one complex guy.  While reading you may be suspicious of him and his motives.  As the story progresses, even more questions will arise about him.  I read the whole thing and am still not a hundred percent sure about him, he tends to have more than a few mood swings and be rather hard to read.  

The ending of the book may break your brain, that’s what happened to me anyway.  There is just so much and that final page is a doozy.  If you want a book full of everything from death, alligators, and plentiful WTF moments then The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is definitely the book for you.

Sentence Sneak Peek - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The first sentence from each chapter of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.

* All first sentences are from an ARC I read via Around The World ARC Tours
* Book will be released on September 27, 2011
* Spoilers are highlighted like this :)

“tHE ORNATE SCRIPT ON THE BOARD TWISTED in the candlelight, making the letters and num-bers dance in my head.”

“I OPENED MY EYES.”

“tHE SUN REFLECTED OFF THE POLISHED mahogany of Rachel’s coffin, blinding me.”

“YOU’RE KILLING ME, MARA.”

“SMILING AT ME LIKE HE KNEW ME.”

“IT WAS CLAIRE.”

“BY SOME STOKE OF LUCK, I FLUNG OPEN THE door to the closest classroom, 213, and it turned out to be Spanish.”

“I MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE REST OF THE DAY without being hospitalized or committed, and, after school ended, Mom was waiting for me at the cul-de-sac exactly as Daniel said she would be.”

“HONEY?”

“THAT SAME CREEPING, WATCHFUL FEELING escorted me to school the next day.”

“I WOKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH A scream in my throat and an anchor on my chest, soaked in sweat and terror.”

“SWEATY AND BREATHLESS, I ROUNDED THE parking lot by the school entrance and checked my watch.”

“tHE TREES, SIDEWALK, AND THE FLASHING lights spun around me as I felt it: the first unmis-takable snarl in the delicate fabric of my sanity.”

“I SETTLED INTO THE SEAT, ACUTELY AWARE OF MY proximity to him.”

“I MUSTERED UP EVERY OUNCE OF FREE WILL I HAD and extracted myself from his car.”

“WE PULLED INTO A LONG DRIVEWAY guarded by a rusting iron gate.”

“I KNEW RACHEL WANTED TO GO TO THE ASYLUM.”

“I HEARD HE E-MAILED HER A PICTURE OF HIS—OH.”

“tHE SEA OF REPORTERS PARTED FOR DANIEL’S car as he pulled into the driveway.”

“I SHOT OUT OF MY BATHROOM AND SAT ON MY BED, my mouth dry and my hands trembling.”

“BY THE TIME I ARRIVED BACK AT THE HOUSE, I’d composed myself.”

“MARA DYER?”

“I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO REACT TO NOAH IN CLASS the next day.”

“AFTER SCHOOL, I FOUND DANIEL WAITING for me at the back gate.”

“MY ALARM SHOCKED ME AWAKE SUNDAY morning.”

“I WAITED FOR NOAH TO LIGHT A CIGARETTE ONCE he started to drive.”

“ROWS OF PALM TREES SPRUNG UP FROM THE sides of the narrow street, and the ocean peeked out from the spaces in between homes.”

“NOAH’S ROOM WAS STARTLING.”

“MY BODY WARMED AT THE CONTACT AS Noah led the way into the bustling restau-rant.”

“A HALF-HOUR LATER, NOAH DROVE UP TO the front entrance of the Miami Beach Con-vention Center and parked next to the curb.”

“RACHEL HELD OUT THE MAP SHE’D PULLED from the Internet, which showed a detailed blueprint of the facility.”

“I TRIED TO OPEN MY EYES.”

“I EXPECTED SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AFTER my little freak-out.”

“tHE TEACHER STOOD A FEW FEET AWAY.”

“NOAH’S LIPS PRESSED LIGHTLY ON THE SKIN of my cheek and lingered there.”

“EXAMS WERE BRUTAL, AS EXPECTED.”

“I WAITED FOR JAMIE UNTIL THE EXAM WAS OVER.”

“NOAH PICKED ME UP THE NEXT MORNING, but I was unsettled and silent on the way to school.”

“I STOOD THERE, COMPLETELY DAZED AND STARING at the empty campus.”

“NOT HAVING AN ITCHY, SWEAT-COLLECTING bandage under my sleeve was the only bright spot in the next two days.”

“tHE NEXT DAY BEGAN ABNORMALLY.”

“tHE NEXT FIVE SECONDS FELT LIKE FIVE hours.”

“WHEN DANIEL AND I ARRIVED BACK AT the house, my father’s open accordion files were uncharacteristically strewn all over the dining room table.”

“HE WORE A RATTY BASEBALL CAP WITH THE brim pulled low over his eyes, and I couldn’t see much of his face except to tell that he looked exhausted.”

“tANGLED ROOTS OF MANGROVE TREES SANK unseen into the black liquid, and on the opposite side, grass stretched in front of us for infinity.”

“WE EXPLODED INTO FLIGHT, OUR FEET beating down the muck beneath us.”

“I WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY IN A SKELETAL, INSTITU-tional bed inside the Tamerlane State Lunatic Asylum.”

“tHE SOUND OF MY MOTHER’S VOICE SHOCKED me awake.”

“tHERE WAS NO STREET PARKING NEXT TO THE Botanica, so we parked three blocks away.”

“WHEN I AWOKE, I FACED A WALL OF books.”

“SITTING NEXT TO NOAH WHILE HE DROVE ME home the next morning was the worst kind of tor-ture.”

“I MUST SAY, I THINK RATHER LIKE THIS SLEEPING arrangement.”

“tHE NEXT MORNING, I WOKE UP NEXT TO Noah.”

“MY SENSE OF DREAD INCREASED EXPONEN-tially as we drove down the dark, palm-tree lined driveway to the zoo.”

“tHE STENCH OF ROT FILLED MY NOSTRILS, AND a voice buzzed in my ear.”

“I WRAPPED MY ARMS AROUND NOAH’S NECK AND buried myself in him.”

“I COULDN’T GO TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY, EITHER—that much was obvious.”

“I WAS BREATHLESS BY THE TIME WE REACHED THE wide glass front doors.”

“A MACHINE BEEPED TO THE LEFT OF MY father’s hospital bed as another on his right hissed.”

CLOSED Blogiversary Bonanza - Bibliognome Turns 1

Today is Bibliognome’s 1st Blogiversary.  It’s hard to believe that I didn’t know much or anything about books or blogging before one year ago today. 

Now I’ve discovered so many great authors and books that I might never have discovered and I’ve found so many more people that share my book obsession. 

It’s been a great year and as a thanks to everyone who supports Bibliognome, I’ve decided to have a giveaway of two mystery prize packs and an International Giveaway.  

Prize pack 1 will be the Bibliognome pack and will be put together by me.  It will have books, bookmarks, and gnomes or gnome accessories. Prize pack 2 will be the Tiny Reverse Vampire Pack which will be put together by her.  It will be full of a wide range of books, and other cool stuff.

International Giveaway - $20 from the  The Book Depository as long as you live in a country that the Book Depository ships to.


To win Prize Pack 1 you must write a haiku about gnomes, reading, or one of your favorite books.

Examples:

Nestor the small gnome                  Aliens are here
Loved to read every day                Looking fine in Armani
A fan of large tomes                        Fighting the Fugly

Rules for Prize Pack 1 - Bibliognome Pack
1.) Haikus must be in 5-7-5 form.
2.) Write your haiku along with your name email address in the comments.  If you don't want to leave your email address leave your Twitter, or Facebook details.  Just make sure I'm able to contact you to let you know that you've won the prize pack.
3.) You don't have to follow the blog to win, but feel free to follow if you like what you see and leave any comments on reviews or posts that you find interesting.  :)
4.) The contest will run from August 16 - 23.  It will start on August 16th at midnight (Central time) and end at midnight (Central time) on August 23rd.  

*  Winner will be chosen by me and posted on Friday August 26th.


To win Prize Pack 2 you must email us at geckyboz[at]gmail[dot]com your best drawing of a gnome, or a bat wearing a tiara.  Tiny Reverse Vampire’s favorite drawing will win.
Rules for Prize Pack 2 - Tiny Reverse Vampire Pack
1.) Leave a comment that lets us know you’ve emailed your drawing and your name and what email, Twitter, or Facebook identity you can be contacted at to know if you win.
2.) You don't have to follow the blog to win, but feel free to follow if you like what you see
and leave any comments on reviews or posts that you find interesting.  :)
3.)  The contest will run from August 16 - 23.  It will start on August 16th at midnight (Central time) and end at midnight (Central time) on August 23rd.  

*  Winner will be chosen by and posted on Friday August 26th.

Rules for International Giveaway
1.) Feel free to enter a haiku or a drawing.  Just make sure to let us know in the comment that you’re entering the International giveaway and then leave your name and email address.  If you don't want to leave your email address leave your Twitter, or Facebook details.  Just make sure I'm able to contact you if you win.
2.) You don't have to follow the blog to win, but feel free to follow if you like what you see and leave any comments on reviews or posts that you find interesting.  :)
3.)  The contest will run from August 16 - 23.  It will start on August 16th at midnight (Central time) and end at midnight (Central time) on August 23rd.  

*  Winner will be chosen by me and posted on Friday August 26th.

Top 10 Books I've Discovered because of Book Blogs and Blogging

Seeing as my 1 year Blogiversary is tomorrow :)  I decided to make a list up of the Top 10 books I've discovered because of book blogs and blogging.  I'm very thankful that I discovered book blogs and started Bibliognome.  I've discovered so many different genres and authors that I might have never discovered.  It's great to be able to discuss my book obsession with the world and meet so many people that have the same obsession.

This book had me hooked since the first chapter.  The writing and the characters are all compelling and the ending leaves the reader really looking forward to what happens next.

This book is insane, but in a good way.  It makes you really think about time travel and how much a character can change.  Its the most unconventional book I've ever read.

This book is so very good.  It's one of those books that has an eye-catching cover and an equally eye-catching story inside.

I won the first book from a contest from the author.  This book is great and I liked everything about it but especially Oberon the Irish wolfhound.

A series with quite the cool premise and a story that is intense and full of surprises.  I would recommend this series to anyone and I can't wait for the next book.

It surprised me how much I liked this story, I normally don't read contemporary books.  The story is engaging though and the characters are fun to read.

A complex story that shows the dark side of superheroes and a world full of chaos.  It has a truly surprising ending and I can't wait to see what happens next in that world.

This book is awesome.  Having a female alpha as the main character and all the mythology presented make for a book that's hard to put down.

A different take on the vampire genre with plenty of twists and turns.  It's intriguing to read about a vampire who wants to be human and see that it's not exactly an easy transition.

This series is definitely in my top 5 favorite series.  I don't think I would have discovered it without Twitter and book blogs though and I'm very glad I did. 

Sunday Smile - Pictures of the Week

This picture is from when my Mom was cutting up a giant $3 cantaloupe.  

Tiny Reverse Vampire and Me (the early years).  Found this picture the other day, not sure when it was taken originally  but we don't seem too happy to be there.  Also, don't remember the last time either of us wore a dress and Tiny Reverse Vampire kind of resembles an elf.

Weekend Reads

It's going to be a good reading weekend.  Here are the books I'm either reading or am going to start reading, the nose in the background belongs to my dog Opal.  :)

I'm in the middle of reading Down the Mysterly River, it's really good so far.
Also excited to read The Name of the Star, an arc tour book I received today.

Guest Post from Kendare Blake author of ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD

An Ode to Jerks

With Kendare Blake

Ah, jerks. They’re a special breed of character. Different from villains, who generally have nefarious purposes and some kind of plan. Different from monsters, as jerks don’t normally pose much of an actual threat. No, a jerk is just…well, to quote Wayne’s World, as I so often do, If a Jerk was an ice cream flavor, they’d be pralines and dick. They’re main purpose is to be there, and be hated. And how we love to hate them. So, in honor of jerks, I’m profiling three of my favorites.

1. Blanche Ingram

I know, there are more recent versions of Blanche, but I’m going with my favorite, from the 1996 production of Jane Eyre with William Hurt, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Elle Macpherson. Because come on, if some chick is going to try to muscle in on your man in a believable fashion, don’t you want it to be Elle Macpherson, in these ridiculous curls? Look at those curls. The minute she gets off her horse, you just want to grab ‘em and stuff em straight into her mouth.

Blanche Ingram. She’s a jerk. Clearly after Rochester for his money, and spoiled and conceited to boot. She’s rude, haughty and finds a peculiar joy in belittling Jane and her profession as a governess. But she’s no villain. The poor thing’s just a plot device. Annoying, sure. Every time she pops onto the page or screen I get the urge to growl and bite her. But she is one of the great literary jerks.

2. Wormtongue

Who, me?

Yes, you, you creeper. Skulking around castles trying to look up everyone’s skirts, wearing Jack White’s hairdo. You’re a jerk, I’m sorry. He’d qualify as a villain if only it was his own plan he was working on, rather than being Saruman’s butt puppet. As it is though, every time he’s on the page or screen you just find yourself…scowling. Even when he’s pretending to be nice, the second he leaves the room, you mutter, “I hate that guy.” And that’s sort of sad, I guess. Oh wait, no it isn’t. I hate that guy.

3. Draco Malfoy

You know you love me.

Well of course we love you. We love to hate you. And you’d better give that eyebrow a rest, Sport. You’re liable to pull something. Draco Malfoy is the jerkiest of jerks. Possibly because we’ve all known a kid like him. Always up in your business, making trouble for you for no other reason than you just rub him the wrong way. He’ll get you into any number of detentions, pranks, and assorted tomfoolery, but in typical jerk fashion, none of it’s really that serious. He’s just there to be annoying, or infuriating, depending on the day. He’s the snuggie in your trousers, basically.

The thing about jerks, is they’re absolute fun to dislike. Fun to root against. Fun to watch your hero or heroine triumph over. And they’re also really fun to write. If you’re a writer and haven’t tried out a complete jerk yet, I highly recommend it. You’ll hate them every bit as much as your readers should…but you might just find that you keep on writing about them. And writing about them. And writing about them some more.