The Novel Hermit

daydreaming about books

Letters

SINCERELY, CEE | A letter from yours truly to Liars, Inc by Paula Stokes

Comments : 2

liars inc paula stokes

Dear Paula Stokes and Liars, Inc,

Liar, liar, pants are on fire.

[quote cite=”Goodreads” url=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18009950-liars-inc”]It all starts with one little lie…

Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell lies to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts a business providing forged permission slips and cover stories for the students of Vista Palisades High. Liars, Inc. they call it. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer.

Can Max find the real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit?[/quote]

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Recommendations

DO ME A FAVOR | 2014 YA Book Cover Choice Awards!

Comments : 8

Do Me A Favor! is a new and sporadic feature where I ask, you, my dear friends and followers for recommendations of books, TV shows, Tumblrs, places, and just about anything I should check out.

I know I haven’t done one of these posts in forever, but THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I NEED YOUR HELP.

You know how I’m super into book covers? Well, guess what! I’ve decided to host:

YA Book Cover Choice Awards
(There will be a better banner.)

I was wondering why there wasn’t a “Best Of” celebration post or Book Cover Choice Awards specifically for YA covers that had been decided by readers. You have Epic Reads’ Book Shimmy Awards and Goodreads Choice Awards, but those aren’t based on the book cover designs. There are sites like Buzzfeed that create best book cover lists compiled by a single person (or what seems to be), but where are the best YA book covers picked by readers?

This is where you come in.

I need your help in coming up with award categories. Spare a few minutes and suggest what categories should be in this Book Cover Choice Awards in this form, tweet with the hashtag #YABCCAwards, or comment below.

The plan: Suggestions for award categories will close Thursday 12/11 9 PM PST, and book cover nominations will begin Saturday 12/13 (or perhaps sooner). Sound good? :)

Holy Mother Cover

HOLY, MOTHER COVER! | Changes in Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Comments : 7

holymothercover

Inspired by What She Reads, Pure Imagination Blog, and Stacked.

I admit I’m a book cover snob. Who isn’t though?

Book covers are the first thing that attracts readers to a book. A good cover can draw someone is, just as a bad cover can easily draw someone away. It can essentially make or break a book. Holy, Mother Cover! is where I showcase the book covers that stand out (or make me cringe), and discuss cover changes.

(A big special thanks to Georgie at What She Reads for bestowing me this fabulous name and to Charlotte at The Simple Tales for creating the beautiful feature banner you see before you.)

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COVER CHANGE: Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

[row][column size=”1/2″]What do I think about the cover design? Simple. Bold. Striking. Love it.

This cover definitely catches my eye. It has those two lines, illustrating the antennas of the praying mantis, and a bright green coloring that covers the entire jacket. It’s not every day that you see a bright green cover like that. It just demands your attention. I’m always struck by how my eyes can’t seem to look away. There’s nothing much to look at, but it weirdly mesmerize me. Although it’s very simple and straightforward, it’s completely unique and kind of creepy.

The only thing I don’t really like is the font for the title and author name. I just feel like it’s kind of dated and not fit within this bold cover. (I think I’m associating these bubble letters with my childhood and how I overused it a lot. Ha.)

Would I buy this book based on the cover? Why not?[/column] [column size=”1/2″]What do I think about the cover design? LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

Yeah, you no longer have that bright hardcover design, but this paperback cover has a pretty awesome redesign; one that I love. It really illustrates what this book will bring you, and that is praying mantises. I love the illustration of the praying mantises and the cutout effect of the letters. I especially love that the praying mantis’ forelegs break out from inside the letters; it looks as if it’s getting ready to jump out of the cover and attack you. It fits so perfectly.

I wonder if the blurb from Rolling Stone is really framed like that on the book. I’m bothered that it’s too much to the left. It’s so glaring. Just center it, people!

Would I buy this book based on the cover? YES. A MILLION TIMES TBH.[/column][/row]

Final Verdict: Hard decision! Ultimately, I’d pick the paperback.

Which cover design do you prefer? Would you buy the hardcover or paperback cover? 

Letters

SINCERELY, CEE | A letter from yours truly to The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

Comments : 4

the wrath and the dawn by renee ahdieh

Dear Renée Ahdieh and The Wrath and the Dawn,

Who knew that I wanted A Thousand and One Nights retelling? I sure didn’t until I read the synopsis.

[quote cite=”Goodreads” url=”http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18798983-the-wrath-and-the-dawn”]A sumptuous and epically told love story inspired by A Thousand and One Nights. 

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi’s wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.[/quote]Read More

Monthly Recap

MONTHLY RECAP | November 2014

Comments : 6

november

Another month has gone by, and we are a month away from the end of the year. :o Again, I have to ask: where had the time go?

  • I GOT MY NETGALLEY RATIO TO 100%!!!! (I was jumping in joy when that happened because that was unexpected.) When I was trying to get it up, I mistakenly read Thousand Words instead of Torn Away (the ARC I requested) because I didn’t check which book it was, so that set me back a bit.
  • Earlier in the month, I became productive-Cee, where I churned out three reviews in one sitting. Very unlike me, but boy, it was so rewarding to get it done.
  • I RECEIVED A PHYSICAL COPY OF WE ARE PIRATES AKA THE BOOK I WAS DYING TO GET BECAUSE OMFG PIRATES!
  • My blog hit major milestones. I reached over 500 followers!! HOOORAY!
  • I did not win NaNoWriMo. *cries* I just got sidetracked by other writing that I never went back to my Spy/Thieves project. I am so disappointed in myself.
  • Remember my top secret project I talked about months ago? Well, it’s almost ready. I’m just prepping posts, and I can’t wait to talk about it. I’m aiming for a January debut. ;D

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Letters

Happy Thanksgiving! (aka Authors I Am Thankful For)

Comments : 3

Today is all about giving thanks (and eating tons of food). I want to thank all my family, friends, fellow bloggers, and followers for always being there and creating an awesome community. I don’t think my life would be as bright and enjoyable if I didn’t have any of them.

Last year, I wrote a brief Thanksgiving letter dedicated to “you,” but this year, I wanted to thank the authors I adore, the ones who fill my life with awesomeness.

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