Waiting on Wednesday: The Waiting Sky and Struck

"Waiting on wednesday is a weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine, in which we share our most anticipated reads of the future"

You know what? I finally discovered why I *always* chose Contemporaries for my WoW picks. It was because I haven't find a non-contemp that was really, really good. Good enough to make my toes curl at the thought of finally have these in my hands.

 The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin

Seventeen-year-old Jane can’t quite face her mother’s alcoholism even though it sucks to spend all her time and energy keeping them afloat—making sure her mom gets to work, that the bills are paid when there’s money to pay them, and that no one knows her mom is so messed up. But when Jane’s mom drives drunk almost killing both them and Jane’s best friend, Jane can no longer deny her mom is spiraling out of control. Jane has only one place to turn: her older brother Ethan, who left years ago to go to college. A summer away with him and his tornado chasing buddies may just provide the time and space she needs to figure out whether her life still includes her mother.

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities, populated by millions of homeless. Downtown is a wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the attendees drawn to the destruction by a magnetic force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power in the wake of the disaster, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing prophecies. They know she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the worse storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but he’s hiding a more sinister truth. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must unleash the full horror of her strength to save them all.

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•  The Waiting Sky. Although it is technically a contemporary, it sounds like it is not, thanks to all the extreme elements, like tornado chasing. I ask you people, WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT TORNADO CHASING?!. God, I know I am going to LOVE this. Because in addition to the awesomeness of tornado chasing, there's personal growing, emotional relationships and sibling reconciliation, all those things I love in a book. And did I mention tornado chasing? No? Well, this book contains tornado chasers inside. Beware. *dies of excitement*.
  Oh wait, forgot to mention that this book has one of the most intriguing covers I've ever seen, I love it! and Lara is my last name, so I already feel like I love Lara Zielin :) and she will give me tornado chasing, she's the best!

•  Struck. Now Struck is definitely not a contemporary. It's about a girl, with an addiction, to lightning. How amazing is that idea? I don't even know how is that possible, but I don't care, I also have a thing for lightning. And when I say "a thing" I mean a slight obsession, and a weird fantasy of getting struck by lightning and getting super powers. So yep, I'm buying this. Oh and btw, it has Los Angeles' hobos in it. People who live on the street amaze me so much, you have no idea how much I admire their braveness.

Review: Major Crush by Jennifer Echols

Title: Major Crush
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published August 1st 2006 by Simon Pulse
Goodreads | Amazon

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I really love Simon's Romantic Comedies (it's practically written on girls' genetics that we enjoy a good laugh and a good romance). And as you probably guess by now, I love Jennifer Echols too.

This book was not the exception. From the strong-willed, sassy and totally likable rebelious girl; to the hot, troubled, more-than-meets-the-eye boy, I found myself completely absorbed by this cute story.

For it being Miss Echols first book, it did not feel like a debut to me, it was written masterfuly and I enjoy reading every single paragraph. It is fast-paced and full of wit, what's not to like?

Virginia is the protagonist here, she's very cool, you guys. I love her, she's the first girl ever to get the Drum Major position at her school band. And like you'd expect, this causes a riot in the Small-Town Nightmare she lives in. Especially in school, where everyone thought hot and popular Drew will get the position (like last year), but he had to share it with Virginia this year, and he's not happy to say the least.

I thought this book was the perfect example of girl likes boy, boy might or might not like girl, so girl goes and does whatever she wants to do without thinking what the boy thinks. And suddenly all the boys like her attitude. Virginia was a former pageant girl, people used to call her JonBenet Ramsey to tease her about it

Because she was blonde, small and pretty.

But Virginia wanted more than just than parading herself in pretty dresses (not that there's anything wrong with pageants, I love pageants!) so she quit, she stopped wearing make-up and sequined leotards and got a nose stud (IN SMALL-TOWN NIGHTMARE! THE HORRORS!). And did I mention that she stopped wearing shoes too?! no? well, she.stopped.wearing.shoes. Outside. How cool is that?

If I didn't live in the city where everything is gross, I would totally do that!

So basically, Virginia rocks. And even though there was a part (almost at the end of the book) where she kind of dissapointed me for being sorry for something she should not have been (something that have to do with her winning over certain someone) and I was like, "It's not your fault, girl! Get a grip and start acting like the butt-kicking heroine you are!". But I still like her, she was just likable.

And I also forgot to mention about how Miss Echols manages to combine important issues in such a quick, fun book, like Small-Town Nightmare's racism. Especially some awful comments about Virginia's best friend Allison, who is black. I really love Jennifer Echols books, for lots of reasons, one of them is that she ALWAYS has a diversity of races and cultures. The world is not all white ;)

My veredict is that this book is quick and very funny and a fresh read. (:

Thank you, my book.

It's almost thanks giving, and although we should give thanks every day of the year, it's nice to see every one gets to be grateful at the same time once a year.

And of course, book lovers like me are all thankful for the printed word (thanks, Mr. Gutenberg!), and Miss Beth Revis came up with a great way to show our gratitute, just making a post about a book you're grateful for, and in exchange you could win books.

But it's not about the books! it's about saying thanks (:

Waiting on Wednesday: Life is But a Dream & My Life Next Door.

It's that time again when thanks to Jill's meme, we get to share our anticipated reads.

You're all probably gonna yell at me

"CONTEMPORARY AGAIN?!?!?! Y U SUCH A BORING OLD LADY?!?! THERE'S DYSTOPIAN OUT THERE!"

But I had to, I have a soft spot for contemps, they are more real somehow, I don't know, but well here are my picks:

(click on titles for goodreads pages)

Life Is But A Dream by Brian James

 Alec and Sabrina are crazy in love. Problem is: Sabrina’s really crazy.

Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it's the world that's crazy, not the two of them. They are meant to be together; they are special. But when Alec starts to convince Sabrina that her treatment will wipe out everything that makes her creative, she worries that she'll lose hold of her dreams and herself. Should she listen to her doctor? Her decision may have fatal consequences.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

 

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen year old Samantha wishes she was one of them… until the day Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything.

Jase can sense that his beautiful neighbor is missing something in her sterile home, and as the two fall fiercely in love, his family makes her one of their own.

But when the bottom drops out of Sam's world, which perfect family will save her–and will her perfect love survive?

Life is but a dream: I loooove reading about people ill, for obvious reasons, and I find conforting to get to know the patient side of the story. In this case, it is particulary interesting because psychic illness are such an unknown and dark patch in medicine, some people love them, some people hate them and about 99% of the people are afraid of them, just like these kids in the book. I'm curious to see how the author handles this topic.



My life next door: Oh, how I looove to read about neighbors falling in love, it's so romantic and much more easy to believe 2 people are in love when they've known each other for a long span of time. Plus loud, numerous family? that's mine! who can't resist them?. And the cover? so cute. (: