Very Staten Island

So... despite the fact that it's been slow going, I have made progress in reading Very Valentine. I have a feeling that, with Valentine's trip to Italy taking place over the next few chapters, I will probably get really into the book. The weather has been getting nicer lately, and thus... I've been getting out of the house as much as I can and enjoying it, leaving less time for reading than I'd like. I'm working overtime on Staten Island today, so it gave me an opportunity to catch up on the ferry ride here. Hopefully, I'll complete a chapter or two on the ferry ride back as well.

The deadline for my completion of both books was extended for a month, leaving me to finish up "Valentine" before diving into the sequel, Brava, Valentine. Bernice McFadden, writer of "Sugar", was nice enough to happen across my blog and send me a copy of her book for an upcoming contest (I'll admit- I didn't even read the rules yet. I'm going to go do that right after this). I also won a 200+ ebook from Early Reviewers. PLUS, I had to take time out because of a mailing mishap where I got books from SLJ to review, but only got them 7 days after they were supposed to read + reviewed. It's a lot of homework, kids. I remember the good ol' days a year ago where I got to pick the books I read. Now, I'm part of so many different websites and contests it's a little overwhelming. I'm going to try to keep reading, though, and at least tell you if the stuff I am going through it crap. Valentine, for the record, isn't. I've just been so crazy lately it's hard for me to commit. Much like the character of Roman, who is so invested in his Little Italy restaurant he may not be committed to our heroine. I guess we'll see :)

Very Valentine [continued]

I'm keeping up with my reading of Very Valentine, albeit at a slower pace that I would like. I'm now on page 134. I wish I still had moving as an excuse, but I just got internet at my new apartment and have been using it to catch up on the variety of TV shows I've been missing (mostly House and Legend of the Seeker this weekend, for the record). I'm a bad, bad book blogger.

But the drama is escalating in my little tale. Valentine's father just got diagnosed with cancer, and her evil brother Arthur has brought a broker around to show him the shoe business's space. The only comfort Valentine has is her new beau, a successful chef with a small restaurant in Little Italy. The romance aspects of the book prove to be a nice break from the multitude of family problems that are plaguing our heroine.

In other news, I finally won another ARC book from our favorite website LibraryThing! The downside, kinda, is that it's an eBook, meaning I will have to stare at a computer screen to read it. The book isn't too long, however. I will probably review it when I finish up reading it sometime in the next month or so.

A Very Good Read, Indeed!

So, after a much delayed start, I have started to read Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani. Just as I thought I might, I'm loving every minute of reading it.

The story here is much more dense than Viola in Reel Life. It's interesting to read two different styles (young adult, then adult) from the same author. Valentine tends to include a lot more elaborate descriptions of things, especially the Greenwich Village home that the titular Valentine lives in with her grandmother. It's a place I'd like to live, too ... even if I'm stuck in what used to be the guest room (as she is).

I still have a lot to go in the story, but right now? Valentine is an apprentice for her grandmother who makes custom shoes, mostly for weddings. I don't know a lot about shoemaking, so I'm learning something new from this book. The business is in trouble since grandmum, in order to keep the business afloat, took out a lot of loans over the years which have finally ballooned into the badness that all loans become. Valentine is trying to find a way to keep the business afloat while her evil brother (okay, he's not evil... but he is the most villainous character so far) is seeing it as his opportunity to put grandma in a nursing home and get his way. Directly after all this happened, a chance encounter with a young PA from a movie filming near their shop (who happens to have THE SAME EXACT NAME AS MY REAL LIFE SISTER!!) gets their shoes in a movie production. Will this help save the shop? I'd like to think so, but I guess I'll have to read on to find out.

They'll be a little big of a delay since real life is getting in the way of my literary one; this weekend I'm moving a few blocks away into a studio apartment. After I'm settled, I'm planning on delving into the novel completely so I can move on to the sequel, Brava, Valentine.

CURRENT: Very Valentine!

So, after suffering through several chapters of The Seven Rays and still not finishing, I've decided to officially take a break from it. They'll be a full review when I finally finish... but... well, I wouldn't hold my breath.

I've finally started to delve into the charming Very Valentine book, which HarperCollins was nice enough to send me (and my contest winners!) for free. Valentine is exactly the type of a book I'm in the mood for; a woman slowly leaving her prime, living in New York City, who has yet to find true romance. Sometimes, I am that girl! I've gotten through the first chapter so far, where the titular character aptly named 'Valentine' is stuck attending her sister's lavish Italian wedding. Her family drama is on full display, including a stuff passive agressive brother, a lovingly overbearing mother, and her two sisters who are more like best friends than family. I have a feeling I'm really going to enjoy the book, and may immediately move onto the sequal (just released in hardcover) right when I'm done. Check back for updates!

The Dry Spell.

It happened again. I finished a few books all in a row... and now I'm taking a reading break. Since I did start reading The Seven Rays awhile back (was it only a month and a half ago?) I do feel obligated to finish. It's in my bag. I've been carrying it around with me. But... I read some reviews on Goodreads and on LibraryThing and two chapters later? I might be slightly agreeing with the negativity. Still, I'm going to give it a shot. Every book deserves a chance, I always say.

I did attend the ALA Conference in Boston last month and I did actually pick up an ARC book that's not coming out until later this year. It's an adult title, and kind of more geared towards the fantasy genre, so I might try that one after I finish up Rays. If I ever finish it up. Honestly... don't you just sometimes need a break? I think I will be recharged when I get my copy of Very Valentine in the mail because I love Adriani Trigiani, but for right now? I'm kind of enjoying the not reading.

IN REVIEW: X-Men Forever

As promised... here's my review of a certain comic book collection featuring a well-known mutant superhero team.

X-Men Forever picks up where Chris Claremont left off after his 30+ year run on the Uncanny X-Men comic book. Forever proves that his departure may not have been an entirely bad thing. In the first six issues of the book* (collected into this handy dandy trade paperback), Storm beings acting increasingly out of character (mostly by being belligerent and peeved at, well EVERYBODY) until she’s finally revealed… as EVIL! And not just your typical kind of evil, but she’s working with some weird evil organization we’ve never really heard of. And Jean Grey tries to read their minds, but obviously can’t. Speaking of Jean… she’s back to crushing on Wolverine, and the two share some awkwardly tender moments at the beginning of the story. This is weird, since Jean is still dating Scott. X-Men Forever takes place before Jean and Scott get married, but Jean suddenly desiring Logan kind of comes out of nowhere. Nightcrawler and Shadowcat have rejoined the X-Men, too… which kind of makes no sense. I guess the decided to quit Excalibur for… why? Are we even really given a reason? I think Kurt says they just left. The Gold and Blue teams have essentially been dissolved off-panel, and several of the X-Men (particularly ones from the Gold Team; Archangel, Colossus, Iceman, and newcomer Bishop… where you at?) have seemingly disappeared for no reason. Claremont’s excitement at pressing this new story forward doesn’t translate into a story the veers off from the original storyline. Every X-Man is so out of character, especially Jean Grey and, in particular Storm, that this almost reads like an X-Men story that takes place in the Bizarro World.


Oh, and Storm’s biggest evil act? Is killing Wolverine. With lightening. All that’s left is his adamantium bones. And if that isn’t confusing enough, the younger version of Storm that hung out with Gambit when he first appeared is suddenly back, casting doubt that the adult Storm, who’s all Wolverine-killing and being evil, is the Storm that we know and love. I guess she’s just… not. I can’t even pretend to be interested in this element of the story, as it’s more confusing than mysterious. Also, following Wolvie’s death, Kitty Pryde gets a “Wolverine Claw” appendage, but naturally it’s just one claw and it hurts every single time she “pops” it. This… makes absolutely no sense, but okay. Let’s go with it. In one of the few story elements that actually sort of makes sense, Nick Fury has set up shop with X-Men and is monitoring their activities. He also provides the X-Men with S.H.I.E.L.D. backup when necessary, which a lot of the X-Men resent. Nick Fury proves to be the voice of reason throughout the story, and makes a lot more sense than Charles Xavier does. I remember reading that Claremont wanted the “Shadow King Saga” to end with Xavier’s death (in fact, if you read it… it almost is as if Xavier dies at the end of story). Claremont’s inability to write Xavier shows a lot in Forever. Xavier would prove to be one of the most interesting X-Men in later years for me, especially with Scott Lobdell and other writers who followed Claremont up.

X-Men Forever proves to be ultimately disappointing (we didn't even GET TO Sabertooth's convoluted inclusion on the team). What happened in the Marvel Universe proper was what got me to fall in love with the X-Men. I can’t believe that what happens in Forever is how Claremont would have progressed with the title, since it essentially would have ruined the X-Men, if you’ll forgive the pun, … forever.

*a “book” is comic book nerd slang for an ongoing comic book title. Thus, X-Men Forever and Uncanny X-Men, two ongoing comic titles that are published monthly by Marvel Comics, are called “books” for short. Yeah, I don’t get it, either, but I’m used to calling it that so you should, too.

'Very Valentine' Contest WINNERS!

I am proud to announce the winners of the 'Very Valentine' Contest-

Scott B. of New York, NY
Elizabeth G. of Cambridge, MA
George P. of Elkridge, MD

Thanks for entering guys! Enjoy reading 'Very Valentine'

While shamelessly googling myself today, I came across a mention of my name from the Barnes & Nobel website. It turns out that the review I wrote for School Library Journal over the summer was published (albeit in a slightly modified, edited format) in the magazine for the October 2009 issue. I reviewed Out of the Blue, which was also included in my Top 10 YA Fiction Books of 2009. You can read the reviews for free, so go check me out on the website... if you want :) It's kind of cool that I'm there. I applied to do it again, so hopefully you'll see another review from me sometime this year. I'm finally finishing up Will Grayson, Will Grayson from a few posts back, then will read and review Very Valentine.

Visit Adriana Trigiani @ ALA Tomorrow!

Adriana Trigiani will be at the ALA Conference in Boston tomorrow. Can't see her? Check out this video of her doing a walking tour through Greenwich Village, NYC!