Thursday, February 28, 2013

Delirium by Lauren Oliver [Review]

Genre:
Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance, Dystopia
Publication.Date  February 1st 2011
Pages:441
Published By:  Harper Teen
WebsiteLauren Oliver

Delirium on Goodreads
My review copy:Bought
Where to get:


They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever. 

And I've always believed them.

Until now.

Now everything has changed.

Now, I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until ninety-five days before her eighteenth birthday and her treatment, when she falls in love.

(Goodreads)

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Delirium Discussion Post [Chapters 22-27]



Hello and WELCOME to DELIRIUM READ-A-LONG's FINAL DISCUSSION POST!

Oh boy! What a crazy and heart-pounding story this one was! I don't know about you guys, but I loved this book to pieces and am seriously amazed by how perfect, beautiful and gorgeously constructed it was! But let's save all the raves for my actual review (which will be posted here tomorrow!). Tonight, we discuss!

Once again, huge thank you to all who have signed up for our second Read-A-Long this year, I hope you guys enjoyed reading Delirium with us! Thank you for all the tweets, comments and blog posts - you are all absolutely fabulous! :) Nothing compares to being able to read a fabulous book such as Delirium together with a bunch of seriously awesome people (that's right! YOU'RE ALL AWESOME!).

In case you missed it, the previous discussion post for Delirium was hosted by Rachelia over at Bookish Comforts, you can find it HERE <- click!

Before we move on to the discussion questions Rachelia and I have prepared for you, here's a quick re-cap of what happened!

Chapters 8-14 RECAP:

- Lena discovers that her mother didn't commit a suicide. She was held prisoner in the tombs (Ward 6) for 12 years. She also learns that her mother managed to escape not long ago.

- Lena and Alex plan their escape into the Wilds. They're preparing to leave in 7 days (gathering food and clothes, etc).

- Lena tells Hana about their escape plan. She asks Hana if she want's to come with them. Hana says she can't leave everything behind.

- Few days before their escape, Lena and Alex run into raiders. Lena is captured and held captive at home. Her procedure is rescheduled to an earlier date.

- With the help from Hana, Lena gets a message to Alex about her procedure. On the night before the scheduled procedure, she escapes (with the help from Gracie and Alex).

- When trying to escape, Lena and Alex are cornered by the police.  Alex tells Lena to jump off the bike and climb over the fence into the Wilds, promising to be right behind her. When Lena climbs across, she turns around and sees Alex on the other side of the fence. Captured.

OMG! Talk about dramatic cliff-hanger ending! So glad I have Pandemonium on my shelf, I definitely will be reading it ASAP!



Now, onto the discussion!

1) Were you surprised that Hana would not go with Lena & Alex into the Wilds? Do you think we will see Hana again?

2) Gracie helped Lena escape, and also broke her silence in the process. Can we interpret her silence then as her own form of resistance all these years? Why or why not?

3) What did you think of Alex's sacrifice in the end?

4) Which scene / passage / quote in the book made the biggest impression on you and why? (feel free to quote it!)

5) Where do you think is Lena's mother now? Do you think she managed to make it to the Wilds? 

6) What do you make of the last passage in the book and Lena's promise to remember and to resist? Can you think of any ways she could try to free Alex? 

7) What do you think will happen in book two? 

8) Which character in the book did you identify with the most?  

These are all the questions we have for you! Please leave your answers in the comments below. Feel free to break them apart (1 comment per 1 answer!), or omit the questions you do not feel like answering! I am looking forward to discussing Delirium with you guys! 
I have upgraded my comment system to Disqus so that we can have a more interactive discussion! :) Please feel free to comment with more than just your answers to the questions! I'd love to hear your random thoughts and opinions!!!


Discussion Schedule for FebruaryDelirium by Lauren Oliver
  • 2/17: Chapters 8-14 (hosted @ Bookish)
  • 2/27: Chapters 22-27 (hosted by @ Bookish)
Remember to stop by tomorrow for the wrap-up:
  • 2/28: Favorite quotes and moments, reflections, review and a place for YOU to link up your review/thoughts! (posted at @ Bookish and @ Bookish Comforts)


Great news for you guys! I just heard back from the lovely Harper Collins and we've got a prize to share with the participants!!! And guess what?!?! You can win a copy of the last book in the DELIRIUM Trilogy, Requiem!!!
This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY - Harper Collins can only ship within US, but if an International participant wins, I will ship the book to them personally!

You know what to do?! Tweet your thoughts, pictures with Delirium, favorite quotes etc with the #TBRRaL hashtag and you're entered to WIN! :) The winner of the giveaway will be announced on March 1st (still time to tweet!)

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Blog Tour: The Midnight Spell by Rhiannon Frater and Kody Boye [Review+Giveaway]

Genre:
Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Publication.Date  February 28th 2013
Pages:234
Published By:  Create Space Independent Publishing 
WebsiteRhiannon Frater | Kody Boye

The Midnight Spell on Goodreads
My review copy:Review copy provided by the author via Xpresso Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Where to get:



Best friends since kindergarten, Adam and Christy have always been the perpetual outsiders in their small town in Texas. The other kids call Adam gay and Christy a witch.

On both counts the bullies are right.

Their junior year in high school seems destined to be the same old same old until Christy decides to cast a love spell for Adam at the midnight hour. The next day an alluring and mysterious boy enrolls at school and sets hearts aflutter, including Adam’s. Meanwhile, Christy’s mad crush on the handsome football player Ian seems to be going nowhere fast and her witch puberty is making her life miserable.

When a great evil arrives in town that threatens everything they hold dear, the best friends realize that finding a boyfriend is the least of their worries. Soon Adam and Christy will have to battle a force of darkness that has killed in their town before, and will again.

(Goodreads)

Friday, February 22, 2013

Friday Reads 2/22/2013

Here's my Friday Reads video!
Let me know what you're reading this weekend and if you're enjoying it!
PS. I actually just finished Things I Can't Forget and it was good (4 stars from me), though I really (REALLY) couldn't stand the heroine, Kate. I kind of hoped she'd trip and, well, die. 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Top 10 Tuesdays: Favorite Paranormal Characters

Top 10 Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted over @ The Broke and The Bookish

This weeks topic:
Favorite characters in your genre of choice.

Boys Of Summer by C.J. Duggan [Review]

Genre:
New Adult, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Chick Lit
Publication.Date  December 17th 2012
Pages:294
Published By:  Create Space Independent Publishing 
WebsiteC.J. Duggan

The Boys Of Summer on Goodreads
My review copy:Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Where to get:



It seemed only natural to nickname them the ‘Onslow Boys’. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’s work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him ... Toby Morrison.

Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins.
To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.

How did she let her friends talk her into working?

After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’, who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess’s summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos.

All with the one boy she has never been able to forget. 

It will be a summer she will always remember.

(Goodreads)

Monday, February 18, 2013

Announcing: MEN in YA2 in March!

So just a quick announcement! MEN in YA2 (YA Galaxy Defenders) is going to be taking place here, on Bookish, throughout the month of March :) If you take a look at the picture below, you'll see some of the books I will be featuring during the event (these aren't all of them, just the ones that were handy).


Add to the list awesome titles like: Release by M.R. Merrick, Elemental by Antony John, Zombies Don't Forgive by Rusty Fischer, Rotten by Michael Northrop and a few other that I'm hoping to get to and what you'll get is a pretty mind-popping event :) There will be giveaways, guest posts and interviews - as usual - but no dress ups this time (awww.. I know, disappointing!). I will be coming back to the original concept of MEN in YA (men+sun glasses +  guns) at the end of the year, when I'll be hosting my man-candy calendar edition!

This is the final call for authors and publicists to pitch their books or arrange a feature during the event. I still have a couple spots left, and am open to suggestions!

I am also looking for bloggers / reviewers who would be interested in guest posting during the event! If you'd like to guest review your favorite/recently read male-written YA book, or would like to share with us your thoughts on male-written YA novels, give us your top 10 favs or most anticipated releases - please contact me @ evieseo@gmail.com and we'll talk details! I am hoping to have my schedule finalized before the weekend rolls in, so you still have a couple days to get in touch! :)

Super excited for this event! :) Let's have even more fun than we had with the previous edition! :)


Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson [Review]

Genre:
Young Adult, Mythology, Fantasy, Paranormal
Publication.Date  October 9th 2012
Pages:352
Published By:  Harper Teen | 
WebsiteIngrid Paulson

Valkyrie Rising on Goodreads
My review copy:Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Where to get:



Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there. 

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

(Goodreads)

After all, there was no quieter place in the world than Norway. Nothing ever happened there.
I felt warm. Once upon a time my grandmother was supermodel caliber. The pictures on her wall made that more than clear. I didn’t really know what to say. But I rarely did when I was talking to boys other than Graham and Tuck—and they hardly counted.
The old lady reached me, so I turned and smiled, struggling to remember how to say sixteen in Norwegian, since holding up fingers for my age hadn’t cut it for a while.
“You shouldn’t be here,” she said. Her English was thickly accented, and it took a moment for the words to register, even though the malice behind them was unmistakable. “Stay out of our town.”
“Let her live. There’s no justice in punishing the ignorant. And they understand just enough to carry an important message home.” She locked eyes with me. “Consider this a one-time courtesy.” The last word stuck to her tongue as if it were the vilest combination of letters in the dictionary. “Next time you won’t be so lucky. When I hunt, I kill anything that gets in my way—predator or prey.”



   
     While overall decent and readable, Valkyrie Rising certainly failed to impress me. The plot was full of holes and randomness. I found most of the developments to be either totally predictable or, at the very best, simply improbable. There were certain moments when things conveniently happened even though they shouldn't. And while I didn't find the writing especially bad, or the characters especially annoying, I can't say that I enjoyed this book a lot. The lack of tension, shallow worldbuilding and mythological and cultural backdrop that wasn't explored nearly enough - all that left me feeling unsatisfied and disappointed. 

     I've read my share of mythology/folklore based books and I find that they're either hit or miss with me. And this one was definitely a miss. When I pick up a book that not only draws from mythology, but is also set in a foreign (i.e. exotic to me) country, I expect it to have a rich cultural tapestry, unique atmosphere, or - at the very least - a well-researched, interesting background (including myths and folk stories, religious beliefs, traditions and/or local superstitions). And while I can't say that I'm an expert on Norse mythology - or Norway in general - I also can't say that I felt even a tiny bit more knowledgeable after reading Valkyrie Rising. In my opinion, the biggest fault of this book is that non of the plot threads were explored to the fullest. The mythology and culture was there, but it was scarce and flavorless (honestly, all that stuck with me is that Valkyries are beautiful, powerful and can make people fall in love with them). The action part of the story was unevenly paced and not as thrilling as I hoped it would be. The evil villains were quite stereotypical, too. Ellie's love life seemed to be the primary focus of the plot, but it, too, seemed cliched and forced to me. Tucker was somewhat cute, but I can't say that I was especially interested in him. He was charming, handsome, funny and protective of Ellie, but didn't have any unique characteristics that would make him stand out of the "YA love interests" crowd. The thing that annoyed me the most, though, was Ellie's incredibly low self-esteem and her constant "I'm not pretty/interesting enough" act, when it was obvious from the very first page of the book that she looked like one of Victoria Secret's models and wasn't lacking in the brains department either. The whole set-up was just so cliched! The gorgeously hot, older guy and the wallflower girl who is blissfully oblivious that she's hotter than Sun! Oh, come on! 

     Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that this book was horrible or a total waste of time. There were certain aspects of it that I really enjoyed. I liked the small and creepy village of Skaveopoll where most of the action took place. It was a picturesque setting with a lot of history and I liked the way Ingrid Paulson depicted it. I especially enjoyed the scary vibe the town folk gave off, being all secretive, protective and unwelcoming. I also enjoyed reading about Ellie's grandma, though I must admit I don't understand why she had to put on the "I don't see no pink elephant in the room" act. She knew all the secrets and was aware of the evil lurking behind every corner, and I just can't comprehend why she chose to keep all that from Ellie, putting her life in danger. 

     Overall, I thought this book was OK. While it didn't exactly blow me away and I had some problems with the way the story progressed, I also thought the premise was unique and intriguing. If only it was explored more in depth! I would have loved to learn more about Norway, its culture, history and mythology. I probably won't be picking up the next book in the series, but don't let my review discourage you from giving this novel a shot! Who knows? You might end up loving it!


Blog Re-Design: The Violet Hour


Hello lovelies! I have another re-design to share with you guys today! This was a quickie one, as it's a bit simpler than the ones I've done in the past, but I think it's one of my very favorites nevertheless. I love the teal+violet color scheme and I absolutely adore how the vector image turned out (I know the vector baby isn't nearly half as cute as Audrey really is, but hey, she's just impossibly adorable, you can't top that!). 

So, this is going to be a quick announcement, as I have a ton of stuff to do today. And I'm sorry, but no giveaway this time, but we'd still love to hear what you think about the design in the comments below! <3

Here's how The Violet Hour looked before:


And here's how it looks now:


Make sure to stop by The Violet Hour and take a closer look around! Also, please do follow Lindsay, she is a wonderful, sweet gal and her posts have been rocking my face off ever since I myself started blogging! :)

Let us know what you think in the comments! MWAH!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Delirium Discussion Post [Chapters 8-14]



Hello and WELCOME to DELIRIUM READ-A-LONG's SECOND DISCUSSION POST!

Thank you to all who have signed up for our second Read-A-Long this year, I hope you guys enjoyed reading Divergent with us and are having just as much (or more!) fun with Delirium! Today we'll be discussing chapters 8-14 of Delirium!

In case you missed it, the first discussion post for Delirium was hosted by Rachelia over at Bookish Comforts, you can find it HERE <- click!

Before we move on to the discussion questions Rachelia and I have prepared for you, here's a quick re-cap of what happened!

Chapters 8-14 RECAP:

- Lena catches Hana listening to illegal music streamed from an illegal website. .Hana explains how she found out about the website and that there is more than one out there. She tells Lena about the people who write about the cure and the government- people who don't agree with the cure. She seems very excited about her discovery. Lena is very uncomfortable, scared and worried. She freaks out and accuses Hana of being reckless and putting her life in danger.

- Later that night, Lena is lying in bed and thinking about what happen. Her thoughts drift to a memory from when she was just a little kid and she hurt herself while riding a bike. Her mom lifted her to her feet, held her tight in her arms and told her everything will be OK. A woman passing by told her mom that she "should be ashamed of herself". After that her mom made sure to never display any emotions in public.

- After giving it some thought, Lena decides to go to the party. She sneaks out, hops on her bike and makes her way to Roaring Book Farms. There she sees a crowd of uncureds, both boys and girls laughing, dancing,  drinking alcohol, having fun. She finds Hana and is introduced to her friend, Drew.

- As she is about to leave the party, Lena runs into Alex. He explains that he is there to listen to the music. When Lena tells him that he is doing something illegal, Alex shrugs and says: "Nobody's hurting anybody." When Lena tries to ask him about the incident on Evaluation Day, Alex sticks tells her it was just a mix up, and he was only there to get a coffee. He also tells her that he saw her before the Evaluation Day, running past the Governor anymore, and that he even left a note for here there. The dance and agree to meet again tomorrow.

- Lena and Alex meet on the beach. Lena opens up and tells Alex about her mom, how she died and how that made her feel. They race, laugh and for the first time Lena is truly happy and worry-free.

- Alex confesses that he was never cured. He also says that he came from the Wilds. Lena panics and runs away.

- We learn more about Lena's sister, Rachel, how she fell in love with Thomas and had to be forced to be cured. We also learn now both Rachel and Thomas were successfully cured and they're now both married. The couples even meet sometimes, making polite small-talks, not remembering anything about their tragic pasts.

- The days that follow are foggy. Lena is doing her best to make sure she didn't contract the deliria from Alex. She is evaluated and scores a high score of 8. She is matched with Brian Scharff.

- Lena runs into Hana, they talk briefly and part on not-so-good terms.

- On the night when Hana attends an illegal party there is a raid. Lena decides she has to do anything it takes to warn Hana and the party attendees. She sneaks out of the house after midnight. On her way to the party she stumbles upon Riley (the neighbors' dog). The dog, badly beaten by the raid officers, passes away.

- Lena is too late. Shortly after her arrival at the location of the party, the place is raided. Lena's leg is badly wounded, but thanks to Alex she manages to escape.



     "Most things, even the greatest movements on earth, have their beginnings in something small. An earthquake that shatters a city might begin with a tremor, a tremble, a breath. Music begins with vibration. The flood that rushed into Portland twenty years ago after nearly two months of straight rain, that hurled up beyond the labs and damaged more than a thousand houses, swept up tires and trash bags and old, smelly shoes and floated them through the streets like prizes, that left a thin film of green mold behind, a stench of rotting and decay that didn't go away for months, behan with a trickle of water, no wider than a finger, lapping up into the docks.
      And God created the whole universe from an atom no bigger than a thought.
     Grace's life fell apart because of a single word: sympathizer. My world exploded because of a different word: suicide.
     Correction: That was the first time my world exploded.
     The second time my world exploded, it was also because of a word. A word that worked its way out of my throat and danced onto and out of my lips before I could think about it, or stop it.
     The question was: Will you meet me tomorrow?     And the word was: Yes."
"I'd never understood how Hana could lie so often and so easily. But just like anything else, lying becomes easier the more you do it."
 "Sometimes I feel like if you just watch things, just sit still and let the world exist in front of you - sometimes I swear just for a second time freezes and the world pauses in its tilt. Just for a second. And if you somehow found a way to live in that second, then you would live forever."

Now, onto the discussion!

1) Lena says she is looking forward to the cure because it is a "chance to be reborn: newer, fresher, better". Although we don't have "the cure" can you relate to Lena? 

2) What events do you think shaped Lena's world view? Why do you think she is so eager to accept the cure and be rid from love once and for all? 

3) Music plays an important part in these chapters -- when Lena goes to the party in the field she experiences been swept up by the unauthorized music and it moves her. Have you ever had a similar experience? If you were to make a Delirium playlist what songs would you include?

4) Carol said that believing in Invalids living in the Wild is similar to believing in werewolves or vampires, make-believe stuff, but then we learned that Alex is from the Wild. What do you think is really out there? 

5) We learned a bit more about the society Lena lives in, particularly about the cure and the often violent raids. What do you think about the worldbuilding in Delirium after reading chapters 8-14? Why do the raids have to be so violent and humiliating? 

6) Which particular event do you think caused a breakthrough in Lena's perception of the political system and cure? When do you think she first started having doubts? What affected her the most? 

These are all the questions we have for you today! Please leave your answers in the comments below. Feel free to break them apart (1 comment per 1 answer!), or omit the questions you do not feel like answering! I am looking forward to discussing Delirium with you guys! 

Meanwhile, happy reading and remember Discussion Post for CHAPTERS 15-21 will be posted over @Bookish Comforts! 


Discussion Schedule for FebruaryDelirium by Lauren Oliver
  • 2/17: Chapters 8-14 (hosted @ Bookish)
  • 2/27: Chapters 22-27 (hosted by @ Bookish)
Wrap-up:
  • 2/28: Favorite quotes and moments, reflections, review and a place for YOU to link up your review/thoughts! (posted at @ Bookish and @ Bookish Comforts)


Great news for you guys! I just heard back from the lovely Harper Collins and we've got a prize to share with the participants!!! And guess what?!?! You can win a copy of the last book in the DELIRIUM Trilogy, Requiem!!!
This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY - Harper Collins can only ship within US, but if an International participant wins, I will ship the book to them personally!

You know what to do?! Tweet your thoughts, pictures with Delirium, favorite quotes etc with the #TBRRaL hashtag and you're entered to WIN! :) 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Blog Tour: Out Of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys [Review]

Genre:
Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Thriller
Publication.Date  February 12th 2013
Pages:348
Published By:  Philomel Books | 
WebsiteRuta Sepetys

Out Of The Easy on Goodreads
My review copy:Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Where to get:



It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

(Goodreads)

My mother's a prostitute. Not the filthy, streetwalking kind. She's actually quite pretty, fairly well spoken, and has lovely clothes. But she sleeps with men for money or gifts, and according to the dictionary, that makes her a prostitute.
Willie said normal was boring and that I should be grateful that I had a touch of spice. She said no one cared about boring people, and when they died, they were forgotten, like something that slips behind the dresser. Sometimes I wanted to slip behind the dresser. Being normal sounded perfectly wonderful.
"Welcome back," said Dora, dressed in apple green satin with a huge bow that looked like a melted rainbow.
"What the hell is that?" said Willie.
"Something special for the rich Mexicans that are coming," said Dora. She twirled around for Willie.
"They're Cubans, not Mexicans! Go change into your velvet gown. You're a prostitute , not a pinata, for God's sake."
"You're salted peanuts," said Willie.
"What? What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're salted peanuts, and those people out East are petits fours. Don't be cliche, thinking you're going to be Orphan Annie, who winds up in some kind of castle. You're salted peanuts, Jo, and there's nothing wrong with salted peanuts. But salted peanuts aren't served with petits fours."



   
     Out Of The Easy is a gloomy yet - in many ways - inspiring book that explores themes such as poverty, prostitution, mental illness, abandonment, murder, abuse and making one's own destiny. It's a story of a girl who dreams of a normal life - a life that doesn't involve cleaning brothels, sleeping in a book store and constantly trying to appease her abusive, Hollywood-star-wannabe prostitute mother. An engaging, thoroughly captivating tale full of phenomenally depicted settings and masterfully fleshed-out characters that you'll never forget. 

     17 year-old Josie Moraine has never had it easy. Her mother, a self-absorbed and thieving prostitute in a Conti Street brothel, has made it clear to her that she was nothing more than a burden and a mistake. Her father is unknown, he could be any one of her mother's many clients. Despite being abused, neglected and unloved, Josie's determined to get away from the filthy streets of French Quarter and make a good life for herself. She dreams of attending Smith College in Northampton. She's saving every hard-earned penny, hoping to one day escape from the Big Easy. When her mother leaves for California with a brutal criminal, Cincinnati, Josie is worried, but also relieved. But before long, she learns that her senseless mother managed to make a mess out of her life yet again, leaving her with a dead-man's watch, a mob debt and entangled in a high-profile murder case. 

     Well-read, street-smart and strong-willed, Josie is a phenomenal lead character. Her story really pulled on my heartstrings. She's the kind of girl you can relate to, even though your lives and personalities are worlds apart. She's kind, understanding, giving, but she can also be fierce and unstoppable. She's gone through so much! She's more mature than any other girl her age, clever, thoughtful and not easily broken. I admired her and cheered for her. Ruta Sepetys did an amazing job creating three-dimensional characters. All her characters - from the crude but caring madam, to the two love interests - are written with exceptional clarity, authenticity and conviction. Having first-hand experience with mental illness (Alzheimers), I was especially moved by Charlie's story. The passages describing his violent behavior and how it affected his son, Patrick, were truly heartbreaking. Sepetys wrote about his suffering with frankness and sensitivity and I must say I teared up a few times. 

     Sepetys prose is flavorful, descriptive and deeply penetrating. I didn't just read Out Of The Easy, I gobbled it down. It definitely was an unforgettable reading experience, full of thought-provoking passages, unique New Orleans atmosphere, authenticity and breathtaking visuals. Most of all, it was a beautiful and sophisticated story - both touching and inspiring - about life, dreams, and self-esteem. A story about the harsh reality of the New Orleans French Quarter, rich people with broken souls, prostitutes, gamblers and criminals. And one girl determined to break away from the life she's told she's destined to live. A reflective story that wraps its arms around you like a soft blanket and holds you in a tight grip all the way through. I found myself lost in the world Ruta Sepetys so skilfully crafted. Her writing style had me hooked from the opening lines. I admit, I became a Sepetys junkie. 

     Out Of The Easy is a soul-stirring and fascinating story, written with care for historical and cultural detail. Sensual, rich and perfectly satisfying. Poignant. All in all, it's a phenomenal tale written by a very capable writer with undeniable talent for words and character development. I highly recommend picking it up, it's one book you really don't want to miss!


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