Book News Night #5: Goodreads Choice Awards 2012 (and MY Choices)

Every week, on a random night, I will report the latest newsworthy items in the world of books with some thoughts from myself.

It's been 3 weeks from the last Book News Night, but I'm back to reporting all the latest and greatest in the world of publishing! For tonight, there is just one item, though...

If you've been on Goodreads lately, you'll find a link to the Goodreads Choice Awards! It's an annual book awards, decided by votes from readers. There are 3 rounds, the first of which is closed by now, and the voting ends on November 27. You can read more about the schedule and the rules here!

Now, without further ado, here are the categories, and who I'm voting for picking in each of them. I'm not voting, because I haven't read any of the nominees, and I don't think it would be fair if I voted in that case. So basically, my picks are based on the cover/synopsis/reviews I've read :)

1. Best Fiction

My pick: This is a hard one - I've heard of all the books, and most of them have been well received. I wish I could split my vote between The Casual Vacancy and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore!

But my final pick is Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. I haven't read neither, but The Casual Vacancy's reviews have been too mixed.

2. Best Mystery & Thriller

My pick: A hard one again. But my pick is Defending Jacob by William Landay after reading the synopsis :)

Book News Night #4: Movie Adaptations!

Every week, on a random night, I will report the latest newsworthy items in the world of books with some thoughts from myself.

Hi guys, and welcome to the 4th Book News Night! I know I'm a bit late for this (it's actually noon on Monday where I live), but it's not Sunday midnight yet for West Coast folks right? Still count!

In preparation for the 1st Movie Edition (stay tuned!), I'm dedicating this post for all the upcoming movie adaptations that I'm so anxious for.

(Disclaimer: All photos courtesy of IMDb)

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (December 14th, 2012)

As a Tolkien fangirl, how can I not be excited for this? Moreover, this movie sees the return of (almost) the entire crew from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy! *squeal* And like Lord of the Rings, I hope it will appeal to fans AND critics as well - though it's probably too much to expect an Oscar sweep like The Return of the King.

The only thing that I still don't get is the decision to make The Hobbit into a Trilogy, but Peter Jackson will work something out. He always does.

You can watch the trailer below, or try creating your own trailer!

Book News Night #3: October New Releases! Pt. 2 and J.K. Rowling Live Webcast

Every week, on a random night, I will report the latest newsworthy items in the world of books with some thoughts from myself.

We are at the third Book News Night, and I'm continuing the list for October New Releases! There are just so many good reads this October!

And stay tune till the end of this post, because there's news on the one and only 

J.K. Rowling, and also a surprise for you guys!

1. Crewel (Crewel World, #1) by Gennifer Albin: October 16th, 2012

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

I was so lucky to receive a review copy of this book, and can't wait to start reading! The synopsis and the anticipated world-building sounds amazing. But I'll try to not let my hopes up too high just in case.

Get this book on Amazon |  Amazon Kindle | Book Depository | Barnes and Noble Nook

 

Book News Night #2: October New Releases!

Every week, on a random night, I will report the latest newsworthy items in the world of books with some thoughts from myself.

It's the second Book News Night! To tell you the truth, I never expected to return to this feature so soon, but with October coming, book releases are getting me so excited and I can't wait to share with you the most anticipated on my list!

1. Skinny by Donna Cooner: October 1st, 2012.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Find your voice.

Hopeless. Freak. Elephant. Pitiful. These are the words of Skinny, the vicious voice that lives inside fifteen-year-old Ever Davies’s head. Skinny tells Ever all the dark thoughts her classmates have about her. Ever knows she weighs over three hundred pounds, knows she’ll probably never be loved, and Skinny makes sure she never forgets it.

But there is another voice: Ever’s singing voice, which is beautiful but has been silenced by Skinny. Partly in the hopes of trying out for the school musical—and partly to try and save her own life—Ever decides to undergo a risky surgery that may help her lose weight and start over.

With the support of her best friend, Ever begins the uphill battle toward change. But demons, she finds, are not so easy to shake, not even as she sheds pounds. Because Skinny is still around. And Ever will have to confront that voice before she can truly find her own.

I sense some potential for this book to be inspirational!

Get this book on Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes and Noble Nook
Also, if you think the odds are in your favor, enter to win a free signed copy of Skinny on Free Book Friday!

Book News Night #1: The Casual Vacancy and The Mark of Athena

Welcome to the first Book News Night! Every week, on a random night, I will report the latest newsworthy items in the world of books with some thoughts from myself.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling top several best-selling lists on release date!

It also set the record for biggest "started reading" date on Goodreads!

And I'm not going to pretend I'm surprised for this one. J.K. Rowling, affectionately dubbed "The Queen" by her fans from the Harry Potter days, is probably one of the most prominent and influential authors of our times. And so it goes without saying that anything she publishes is going to get the hype, not only from Harry Potter fans, but also from critics waiting to see if she is just a one-hit wonder (or in this case, a one-series wonder). The Casual Vacancy is the first (and hopefully not the last) one to get this treatment...