Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Review: Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
Release Date: October 12, 2010 (Australia/US) Publisher: Penguin (Australia )/HarperCollins (US)
Genre: Historical
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 408
Source: Penguin Australia
Blurb (from Penguin Australia
THE YEAR IS 1929.
NEW YORK
FLAPPERS AND SOCIALITIES SEEKING THRILLS AND CHASING DREAMS
IN THE ANYTHING-GOES EAR OF THE ROARING TWENTIES
FLAPPERS AND SOCIALITIES SEEKING THRILLS AND CHASING DREAMS
IN THE ANYTHING-GOES EAR OF THE ROARING TWENTIES
Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey have escaped their small Midwestern town for New York Manhattan
Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamours than she could have imagined-and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.
The only person Cordelia can trust is Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.
Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the illicit speakeasies of Manhattan
The Quickie Review
There is a reason the 1920s is known as the roaring 20s and Godbersen manages to capture the fun, the frivolity and the decadence the 20s was renowned for in an entertaining, engrossing and realistic read.
The Full Blown Review
The year is 1929 and best friends Cordelia Gray and Letitia Haubstadt have dreamed of the day they’ll leave their small town for the bright lights of New York City where all the Bright Young Things are. Their chance comes sooner than expected when Cordelia makes the decision to escape to New York
Whilst separated Cordelia tracks down her long lost father - which happened to be her whole reason for coming to New York - and is suddenly introduced into a whole new world where wealth is flaunted and loving the wrong man can be dangerous. It is in this glittering setting where Cordelia meets Astrid Donal, a wealthy flapper in love with Cordelia’s brother, Charlie, who decides to take Cordelia under her protective wing. Meanwhile Letty is making it by as a cigarette girl in one of Manhattan’s numerous speakeasies attracting the attention of several men, some more respectable than others, soon discovering that it’s not just her singing talents many are interested in.
I have a confession I haven’t really read many historical novels before (oh I have read a lot of the classics just not much of the newer historical fiction), I just haven’t found many that have interested me but if all historical novels are as absorbing and as realistically written as Bright Young Things I’ll definitely be giving more a try. I found the realistic writing to be one of the main strengths of this book as I believe for a historical novel to sound convincing it needs a realistic tone and dialogue that is in keeping with the era it’s written in and Godbersen manages to pull this off effortlessly taking the reader back to a time where everyone seemed a lot more polite and genteel.
I also loved the setting, before reading this book I couldn’t even begin to envision what New York was like in the 20s but with Anna’s exquisite and descriptive imagery of the isle of Manhattan as well as the fabulous fashions of the time I was taken on a journey back into 1920s New York a place which I wouldn’t mind visiting.
From the moment I read the prologue I was hooked, it definitely draws you in especially the ominous sentence describing the fate of three girls where “one would be famous, one would be married and one would be dead”, how can you not want to read on after a revelation like that?
As is evident from my blurb there’s a lot happening in this book as we follow all three girls - Letty, Cordelia and Astrid - through their highs and lows yet it’s never confusing and always flows together. Of course there is a romance aspect to the book but it’s not the sole aspect of the novel, the friendships these girls make and loose are just as important.
I enjoyed reading about all of the girls as they each were their own woman. Letty may have been naïve yet she showed an amazing strength of character, Cordelia was always so sure of herself, underneath however she was dealing with her own demons from her past and Astrid was the socialite with the seemingly perfect life but beneath it all she was just as insecure as many young girls are. Whilst these girls seemed so different from one another there was one common thread that connected them which was the lack of a caring loving family, Letty’s father was miserable and unkind, Cordelia was raised by her harsh uncaring aunt and Astrid’s mother collected men like it was going out of fashion. So no matter how different these girls lives seem some things are universal no matter what social class or town you come from.
The dapper young men in Bright Young Things were just as interesting as the girls particularly so because they were very mysterious from Cordelia’s forbidden romance with Thom to Letty’s smitten admirer Grady and Astrid’s love of the aloof Charlie.
The final pages were a blur to me so much was packed into them I ate it up. The ending was a satisfying one, whilst there were plot points left in the open none were left dangling there taunting me, that said I can’t wait until the second book in the series will be released, I’m hooked on these girls and their fascinating lives.
So for those of you who don’t think historical fiction is for you I urge you to give this a try just for the beautiful imagery of the city and the fashions alone, you won’t be disappointed.
Rating
4 out of 5
There’s Another Book?!?
According to Harper Collins’ website Bright Young Things is the “first in an epic four-book series” that's all I know at the moment but I’ll keep you guys posted when I find out more.
Flapper Fashion
After reading this book I’ve been on a google picture search binge looking up all the pretty flapper fashions of the decade. So for your viewing pleasure I’ve included some of my favourites so you can see just how stunning the fashion from the 20s actually was, enjoy!
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Waiting on Wednesday: Flawless by Lara Chapman
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" is:
Flawless by Lara Chapman
Release Date: May 2011
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Age Group: Young Adult
A hilarious story of misguided matchmaking, a best friend's boyfriend, and a big nose.
Sarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-alright, enormous-flaw. Her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.
But on the first day of senior year, Rock Conway
This hip modern retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilarious mis-guided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws.
For those of you who don’t know (and I didn’t) the Cyrano story is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand about Hercule Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac, a cadet (nobleman serving as a soldier) in the French Army, who is a brash, strong-willed man of many talents. In addition to being a remarkable duelist, he is a gifted, joyful poet and is also shown to be a musician. However, he has an extremely large nose, which is a target for his own self-doubt. This doubt prevents him from expressing his love for his distant cousin, the beautiful Roxane, as he believes that his ugliness forbids him to "dream of being loved by even an ugly woman (taken from wikipedia.com). I haven’t read the play but I have seen the 1987 movie Roxanne based on the Cyrano story starring Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah which I adore, it is so funny.
So long story short Flawless sounds like it’s going to be such a funny and cute read, I have to get my hands on a copy when it’s released. Unfortunately there is no cover as of yet, I can’t wait to find out what it will be like once it’s revealed though, it should be interesting.
Well that’s my “waiting on” pick, what's yours this week?
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Teaser Tuesday #12
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
1. Grab you current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“She chewed her lip for a moment as she stared at the screen of her cell phone, waiting for it to buzz again. She wondered who it could have been and reassessed her initial assumption that it had been the wrong number ... who would call and then hang up when she answered three separate times?”
- p. 186, Desires of the Dead (The Body Finder #2) by Kimberly Derting
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I just received Desires of the Dead today - from Kimberly herself as I’m the first participant on the book tour (held by International Book Tours) - so I haven’t even read the first chapter yet, though I plan to tonight, I can’t wait to get into it.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Hanging out with Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood @ Borders
Whilst everyone was either at home watching the grand final footy match (take 2) or actually at the footy I hopped the train into the city with my mother in tow to go and see Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood at Borders Melbourne Central for what was billed as ‘Normal Romance - A Conversation & Author Signing’.
Unfortunately not many people turned up, probably due to that darn footy match, which was a shame because it was a really entertaining and interesting session plus we were supplied with delicious little cupcakes, yummy! I also got to meet Megan from Literary Life as well as author Emily Gale who wrote Girl, Aloud: The Teensy Talent of a Reluctant Rock Chick, which I haven’t read yet but it has been put in my ever increasing TBR pile.
Fiona, Cath and Simmone in discussion mode.
Anyway back to the discussion section of the event, Cath, Simmone and Fiona all spoke about romance in their books and read excerpts which described an aspect of romance. One of the first things that was mentioned was that many YA books today with a romance aspect in them seem to portray romance as this all encompassing love at first sight thing when in reality as well as in Cath, Simmone and Fiona’s books romance isn’t portrayed as something that suddenly happens when you see the person but it’s gradual and not all consuming. A discussion about romance in YA novels surely Twilight must have been mentioned you say, well yes it was in fact mentioned, but only briefly. Cath mentioned she hadn’t read Twilight before so I recommended she go to YouTube and watch Alex Reads Twilight which is very funny.
Group picture! I know I look a little awkward I do this weird straight hand thing in photos.
Afterwards I got my books signed, squee I love getting my books signed, and had a great chat with Fiona.
I had such a great day, Cath, Simmone and Fiona were so lovely I’ll definitely be going to anything involving these authors again! What happened to my mother who tagged along you ask well she also thoroughly enjoyed herself as well she even got to talk about her love of native Australian wildlife to everyone!
Cath’s Graffiti Moon, Simmone’s Everything Beautiful and Fiona’s Six Impossible Things are all available now from all good bookstores, so why not pick up a copy?
Also just a reminder my Six Impossible Things Giveaway is still going on, simply click the banner I have at the top of my blog post, you can’t miss it, this will take you to the page which has all the details.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
In My Mailbox #14
In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren once a week which explores the weekly contents of your mailbox and books bought.
Bought:
Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell (Pan Macmillan Australia/November 1, 2008)
I believe in Chloe and chocolate.
I believe the best part is always before.
I believe that most girls are shifty and most guys are dumb.
I believe the more you spill, the less you are.
I don't believe in life after death or diuretics or happy endings.
I don't believe anything good can come from this.
Riley Rose doesn't want to be at Spirit Ranch Holiday Camp. Riley wants to be partying with her best friend Chloe at the beautiful Ben Sebatini's house. She has a plan to get away from the jumpsuit-wearing counsellors, the feel-good mantras, do-gooder campers and the monotonous schedule of team-building exercises and outdoor activities.
But is everything at the Spirit Ranch as it appears? What secrets are waiting for discovery in the abandoned Fraser house? And why doesn't anyone want to talk about the accident that landed the mysterious Dylan in a wheelchair last year?
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley (Pan Macmillan Australia/August 1, 2010)
Lucy is in love with Shadow, a mysterious graffiti artist.
Ed thought he was in love with Lucy, until she broke his nose.
Dylan loves Daisy, but throwing eggs at her probably wasn't the best way to show it.
Jazz and Leo are slowly encircling each other.
An intense and exhilarating 24 hours in the lives of four teenagers on the verge: of adulthood, of HSC, of finding out just who they are, and who they want to be.
A lyrical new YA novel from the award-winning author of Chasing Charlie Duskin and the Gracie Faltrain series.
So yesterday I went to Borders Melbourne Central for an author event with Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood, which was really great, I’ll be posting about the event tomorrow (hopefully, I have to finish an assignment first) so keep your eyes peeled, there are going to be photos! Anyway while I was there I bought one of Cath’s books as well one of Simmone’s books, which I’ve been meaning to buy for a while now, but it worked out well because I got them signed (I have a bit of an obsession with getting my books signed).
Well that’s it from me, I hope you guys all had a great week, what books did you receive?
Friday, October 1, 2010
Book Blogger Hop #13 & Follow Friday #7
Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer @ Crazy for Books whilst Follow Friday is hosted by ParaJunkee’s View. ‘The Hop’ and ‘Follow Friday’ are a great way to find other people who love to blog about books just like me! So if you’re interested in participating why not check out both Crazy for Books and ParaJunkee’s View for more information.
Jennifer also asks us hopper’s to answer a new question each week, so today’s question for the Hop is (*drum roll please*):
How do you spread the word about your blog?
(e.g. Social Networking sites, Book Blog Directories, comments on other blogs...)
(e.g. Social Networking sites, Book Blog Directories, comments on other blogs...)
I do a whole lot of different things, I’m a member of Book Blogs which is a community of book bloggers where we discuss what we’re doing on our blogs, they also give some really helpful blogging tips. I’ve also added my blog to the YA Book Blog Directory where people go to find YA book blogs and the Australian Book Blogger Directory. I’m seriously considering starting up a twitter account, a lot of blogs and authors seem to be using it but I’m still not 100% sure just yet, what do you guys think?
Whilst I have found these to be good at spreading the word about my blog I think just interacting with other members in the blogging community is the most important so I do try to comment on lots of different blogs around. I like to receive comments so I’m sure everyone else does but I never leave my web address in the comment section for some reason I personally don’t feel comfortable doing that but I don’t mind when people do that on my blog though. I was also really lucky to get my blog onto the ‘blogs we like’ section under Penguin Australia’s YA book site ‘Behind the Lines’ as I won an ARC they were giving away, I simply sent them an email asking if it was okay if I could put a review for the book up on my site, I then received an email back asking me if they could put my blog on their website and asked if I would be willing to review some books for them. So I guess what I’m saying is there a whole lot of different ways you can spread the word about your blog some more standard than others but I really believe if you have a blog that people like other people will spread the word about your blog for you, word of mouth is very powerful!
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