Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Septys

Title: Between Shades of Gray 
Author: Ruta Septys
Published: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Philomel Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 344
Source: Library
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray

Synopsis
Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously--and at great risk--documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages 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, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
First, let me preface this book review by clearing up any confusion with this book and the Fifty Shades series. Between Shades of Gray has nothing to do with Christian Grey and eroticism, but every time I mentioned what I was reading to someone, they immediately assumed it was part of that series. Completely different book. Completely different spelling of "gray." Thank goodness.

I knew Between Shades of Gray would be an emotional read given the topic. There were many points during the book that I had to fight back a torrent of tears. While it was often upsetting, it was still beautifully written, making it a pleasure to read even if the events written about were far from pleasant. I would never want to be in Lina's place, but the author, against my wishes, brought Lithuania and the work camp in Siberia to life with her words. I really connected with the deported Lithuanians. I felt their despair and homesickness as they longed for Lithuania's faraway comforts. I was completely ignorant of the ongoing events in Lithuania during WWII because they had been forgotten amongst other horrors. I experienced a brutal awakening when I realized what Lithuania, and the other Baltic states, had suffered through.

Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To (14)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday, there's a top ten list following a bookish prompt. This week's Top Ten Tuesday is:

Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To

I had considered joining the 2013 debut author challenge, but I'm not one for reading challenges. I don't like to be held to reading certain books. I'm more of a free spirit, and once I have to read a certain number of books, I lose all enjoyment in reading. It's like having to read a book for class. When I feel like I must do something, it's just not as fun.

There are so many 2013 debuts I've already heard about so it was hard choosing just 10, but I finally selected the right number. The following ten are the ones that seem to be my type of books; something Courtney would most likely read but we'll see if I actually do read them this year or not. I'm trying to read more adult fiction, and all of these fall under the young adult category.

1. Coda by Emma Trevayne - I literally just heard about this book, and the premise is what reeled me in. "By encoding music with addictive and mind-altering elements, the Corp holds control over all citizens, particularly conduits like Anthem, whose life energy feeds the main power in the Grid." That's sick right there. What a wild idea! Music is already addictive enough, but using music as a means of controlling the population? Genius! I need to read this book.

2. An Infidel in Paradise by S.J. Laidlaw - I don't just read a great historical fiction book; I devour it. And then I can go up to my history teacher boyfriend, and say HA! I read something about history. :D An Infidel in Paradise is set in Pakistan in a diplomatic compound, and that sounds fascinating. Plus, the cover is appealing.

3. The End Games by T. Michael Martin - Zombies! Horror! Post Apocalyptic! Oh my! I don't read a lot of zombie books, but this one has caught my eye for some reason. First of all, that cover is amazing. What a vivid shade of red! It looks like just my type of book. And I love how the monsters are called Bellows. It's a very creative premise with this mysterious Game Master, sort of sounds like the Hunger Games except for the flesh-eating creatures.

4. Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz - In Breaking Glass, Jeremy Glass begins receiving messages from his girlfriend. The only problem with that is she's dead, and he has to solve the mystery behind her death before he's next. I'm always up for a great thriller and mystery novel, and this one sounds intense.

5. Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson - I've mentioned this retelling of the Bluebeard fairy tale way too many times, but that just shows how excited I am for its release. I really hope I won't be disappointed, especially with that enchanting cover.

6. Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton - What all of the books on this list have in common are intriguing premises. This synopsis, in particular, is original. Elizabeth Caldwell doesn't feel emotions because she sees them. And Elizabeth and her emotion Fear are trying to unravel a mystery that has something to do with strange paintings in the family barn. Not to mention, there's a "stalking menace" after Elizabeth. With a mixture of fantasy and suspense, I think I will love this book.

7. The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd - This book had me at "gruesome experiments" and a "dark and breathless Gothic thriller." It is inspired by H.G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, and I usually can't resist a retelling of classic literature. I mean, as long as the retelling looks halfway decent. I'll have to read the original before reading this book.

8. Premeditated by Josin L. McQuein - Oooooh, a mystery thriller with a revenge plot. After Dinah's cousin Claire cuts her wrists, Dinah reads her diary and finds out why. Now she's out to get the boy who hurt Claire. Sounds like a hell of a ride.

9. The Murmurings by Carly Anne West - Last but not least, we have The Murmurings. I actually had this as a WoW in the past, and it has been on my Amazon wish list for too long. With people hearing voices and suicide, this book sounds positively frightening. Should be an entertaining read!

10. Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn - I love that this book is listed as horror, paranormal, and mystery. All of the above genres attracted me. Apparently, Annaliese is trapped in someone else's body with no memory of how she got there. She has to remember her past before she can move on. I can't wait to read this!

I can't wait to see what 2013 debuts everyone is looking forward to!

2013 Reading Challenges

Alright, I've finally decided on my 2013 Reading Challenges. I'm not going to be doing many because I prefer to read whatever I want, whenever I want. That's why I'm not accepting books for reviews or doing any blog tours again. At least for awhile. It frustrated me having any sort of schedule with my books because I want to read them purely for enjoyment and not because I need to read them by a certain date or need to read a certain number.

Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge

I'm trying to be as realistic as possible so I challenged myself to 90 books this year. I hope to go over that and maybe even over 100, but we shall see. With work and such, I may not be able to read as many as I'd like. I'm already at 4!

The Stephen King Project

I'm so excited to hear that The Stephen King Project is continuing into 2013. I started blogging way too late in 2012 to participate, and I was afraid they wouldn't continue the project. Basically you spend the whole year reading Stephen King. You can include other non-bookish things, like reviews of the movies and so on. I look forward to reading even more Stephen King since he is my favorite author!

And that is all I'm participating in. It's not much, but I'm happy with it because then I am free to do whatever I want. I'm not one for challenging myself. I just sit back and read with a mug of hot tea. But I do want to participate in a Read-A-Thon sometime. Bring it on!

Review: Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Title: Unwind
Author: Neal Shusterman
Published: November 6, 2007
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Series: Unwind Dystology #1
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Pages: 335
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“In a perfect world everything would be either black or white, right or wrong, and everyone would know the difference. But this isn't a perfect world. The problem is people who think it is.”
― Neal Shusterman, Unwind

Synopsis
The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
It's perfect weather for reading and writing blog posts. We have an extreme case of The Fog outside. If I see zombie-like ghosts, I'll be sure to scream and grow some plants for Plants vs. Zombies time. But as of now, I'm staying in and nursing my headache with some hot tea. Onto the book review!

Unwind was not what I expected. It was not as horrific as I thought it would be from reading others' reviews. But you must remember, my dear followers, that I have different standards when it comes to horror. I watch horror flicks regularly and read Stephen King like nobody's business so I might be somewhat desensitized to what others call "disturbing." Don't get me wrong. There was a definite creepy factor throughout Unwind, but it did not give me nightmares. Did this interfere with my enjoyment? Of course not. I don't need extreme horror to make me happy, especially when a book is quality reading. Unwind explored some core issues and raised thought-provoking questions that had me thinking about reproductive rights long after I had finished the book. One of these questions is very relevant to today's society: do we have the right to choose what we do with our bodies? Basically, do we own our bodies?

Review: The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

Title: The Ask and the Answer
Author: Patrick Ness
Published: May 4, 2009
Publisher: Candlewick
Series: Chaos Walking #2
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 519
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

*Warning: This book review contains spoilers for The Knife of Never Letting Go*

“To live is to fight, to preserve life is to fight everything that man stands for.”
― Patrick Ness, The Ask and the Answer

Synopsis
Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode...(Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Patrick Ness, you are a genius. I'm indebted to you for writing such a fantastic series, one of my new favorites. After reading The Knife of Never Letting Go, I thought it would be near to impossible for Ness to top that. I was wrong. The Ask and the Answer was just as phenomenal as the first book, if not better. I was on the edge of my seat the entire book, rip roaring through the pages in order to find out what happened next. The Chaos Walking series is action packed, but it also carries a lot of emotion. As I was reading this, I often felt like there was a hand gripping my heart, wringing it dry. It was that heartrending and emotional.

Waiting on Wednesday (15) - Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every Wednesday, bloggers post books that they are eagerly anticipating. It's been awhile since I posted a Waiting on Wednesday, but I'm really looking forward to this book's release!

Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Hits Shelves on January 29, 2013

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis
DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.


SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy. (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting
I loved, loved, LOVED the first book in the Newsoul series, Incarnate, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel. I want to learn more about newsouls and Heart and, well, Sam. I hope Asunder does not disappoint!

What are you waiting for?

In My Mailbox (9)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. Every week, bloggers post the books they've received and such over the past week. I had some Amazon gift cards so I bought a few more books! 

Bought:

-The Maze Runner by James Dashner

-Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss

-The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

-Wild Magic (Immortals #1) by Tamora Pierce

-Wolf Speaker (Immortals #2) by Tamora Pierce

-Emperor Mage (Immortals #3) by Tamora Pierce

-The Realms of the Gods (Immortals #4) by Tamora Pierce

Borrowed:

-Red by Jack Ketchum

-Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

I can't wait to read these books! What did everyone else get this week?

Review: The Shack by WM. Paul Young

Title: The Shack
Author: WM. Paul Young
Published: June 20, 2008
Publisher: Windblown Media
Genre: Adult Fiction, Christian Fiction
Pages: 252
Source: Gift
Rating: 2 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“Each relationship between two persons is absolutely unique. That is why you cannot love two people the same. It simply is not possible. You love each person differently because of who they are and the uniqueness that they draw out of you.”
― Wm. Paul Young, The Shack

Synopsis
Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his "Great Sadness," Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I have put off this review long enough. To be completely honest, I've been avoiding writing this book review because I had no idea what to say. How do you review The Shack negatively without offending someone of the Christian faith? I've already offended two of my family members who are very religious because I told them I was not enjoying this book. They loved The Shack so they were a little peeved.

In My Mailbox (8) - My Christmas Haul

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren. Every week, bloggers post the books they have received, bought, been gifted, bargained with the devil for, etc. Of course, Christmas was this past week, and Santa was very generous. He knows how much I love books! And at last, my Amazon wish list has decreased in page length. Finally! It's been way too long lately.

Gifted:
-Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
-The Magician King by Lev Grossman
-A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
-A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
-A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
-A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
-The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott
-Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier
-Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
-Dark Companion by Marta Acosta
-Unwind by Neal Shusterman
-The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
-Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version by Philip Pullman

-The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
-Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
-Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
-The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
-The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (my second copy)
-Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
-The Sandman: Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman
-Guide to Tolkien's World: A Bestiary by David Day

Borrowed:
-Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

I had a wonderful Christmas, and I now have a lot of books to read! It's going to take me awhile. Plus, I also received Amazon gift cards and a Barnes and Noble gift card so more books are coming.

What did everyone else get for the holidays?

Review: Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Title: Sloppy Firsts 
Author: Megan McCafferty
Published: August 28, 2001
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Series: Jessica Darling #1
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Pages: 280
Rating: 4 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“I don't know anything about anything. The only difference between then and now is this: I may know more than I used to but my wisdom pales in comparison to that which I have yet to learn”
― Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts

Synopsis
When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
So Amanda and I decided to do our first read along, and the lucky winner was Sloppy Firsts. We've been trying to do a read along for the longest time, but we found it near to impossible since we read at different paces and are at busy at different times. But alas, it has finally happened. What a momentous moment of blogging history! Alright, I'll cut back on the dramatics. Don't forget to check out Amanda's review of Sloppy Firsts.