Waiting On Wednesday #11

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Publication Date: February 12 2013

Goodreads Summary-

Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with–her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the "Norms," or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school–but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through...and who she can't live without.

The cover of Pivot Point is gorgeous and the summary is very intriguing so I'm really looking forward to it. What are you waiting on ?

   Janhvi

Review- Normalish by Margaret Lesh

Goodreads Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Stacy questions the strange world of high school, love, her role in a harsh universe, and life, in Normalish.

People tell you high school's so great and wonderful, but they're lying. It's mostly horrible and full of disappointment. It sucks. Your best friend abandons you. The jerk you're in love with pretends to be into you, and then the big dump. The boy you've really clicked with as a friend decides to go all crushy over you, so you break his heart just like yours was -- smashed into little pieces. Your sister goes mental, and you get involved with a guy who’s even crazier than she is (who you know is a very bad idea, but you do it anyway). Math only adds another stink of failure to the whole thing.

High school blows. Just ask freshman Stacy. She’d want you to know.

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Normalish from Musa Publishing in exchange for an honest review. We thank the publishing house for the book! 

Stacy is a fifteen year old whose life is anything but normal after the sudden death of her father, her sister's unusual and crazy behaviour, a sort of fall-out with her best friend and creepy gestures from the guy she is obsessed with. Normalish is about Stacy trying to get her life back on track. It's about moving on even when the problems of the world seem to be knocking on your door. A wonderfully sweet and moving story, Normalish is a nice and quick read. 
I really liked Stacy. She was smart, had a great sense of humour and she isn't afraid of saying what's on her mind and doing what she feels is right. Honestly, at first I was a little irritated with her constant longing to have a boyfriend. But as she moves on, she realises that there are so many other things she needs to think of and work towards making better. 
Stacy's best friend, Summer was a typical blonde who came with all the flare of being blonde. I really appreciated how Stacy forgave Summer after their crush on and heart break from the same guy. That same guy, Anthony, was a weird dude. 
Stacy also has two other friends in school, Rose and Bethany. Both of them were extremely nice and loyal. 
There is also Chad, Stacy's childhood friend and a really great guy. I loved reading about how the relationship between them grew and evolved. 
At home, Stacy has a troublesome sister cum roommate, Becca. Becca has some psychological problems and is sent to an institution to help her recover. 
That's where Stacy meets tattoo, music and disturbed guy, Bobby. I loved reading about Stacy and Bobby as much as I loved reading about Stacy and Chad. I was devastated about what happens with Bobby. 
Stacy and Becca have an elder sister, Jill. She was caring and cool. 
Their mom was such an awesome woman. The mother and three daughters shared a lovely relationship. I found it easy to relate to Stacy's relationships with her mom and sisters. 
The most amazing person though, was Becca's boyfriend, Roman. He was such a sweet-heart, always there for Becca and her family. It's just great when the guy is so dedicated and helpful. 
Overall, Normalish was a really wonderful read. Author Margaret Lesh has written an absolutely lovely story about the ups and downs of life and how, if not normal, we can always settle for 'normalish'. I really liked this book a lot. Normalish does seem a little Middle Grade, but I loved how the book brought back so many memories of my own school days and how easy it was to relate to Stacy and her story. It was a fresh, pure, innocent and really sweet read. 

RATING:

X 4

 Sarika

Teaser Tuesday #11

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser:

It wasn't until I'd walked halfway across the parking lot that I realized:

1. I wasn't wearing shoes.

A. Or a shirt.

2. I didn't bring my keys.

A. Or anything really. 

3. I'd just left a complete stranger in my apartment. 

A. Naked.

-Losing It by Cora Carmack

Goodreads Summary:

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier. 

What's your Teaser Tuesday? 

Sarika

P.S: 

Guys, I have a little request to make. Kindly check out this blog post made by Cassie @ The Anfractuous Bookaholic about a 'Long Chapter vs Short Chapter' challenge. It would be great if you could participate, it is going to be fun. :D 

Review- Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz

Goodreads Summary:

In the wake of the post-9/11 sniper shootings, fragile love finds a stronghold in this intense, romantic novel from the author of Break and Invincible Summer.

It's a year after 9/11. Sniper shootings throughout the D.C. area have everyone on edge and trying to make sense of these random acts of violence. Meanwhile, Craig and Lio are just trying to make sense of their lives.

Craig’s crushing on quiet, distant Lio, and preoccupied with what it meant when Lio kissed him...and if he’ll do it again...and if kissing Lio will help him finally get over his ex-boyfriend, Cody.

Lio feels most alive when he's with Craig. He forgets about his broken family, his dead brother, and the messed up world. But being with Craig means being vulnerable...and Lio will have to decide whether love is worth the risk.

This intense, romantic novel from the author of Break and Invincible Summer is a poignant look at what it is to feel needed, connected, and alive.

Gone, Gone, Gone was my last and final read for the LGBT Reading Event being hosted by Adam @ Roof Beam Reader. I feel proud to say that I read all the books that I'd planned to read for the Event. I know I've said this a million times already, but thank you again, Adam for hosting the Event! :)

I've realized how much I like reading these books, and I am inclined on further exploring the LGBT genre! 

REVIEW:

This is the first time that I've had to write two reviews for a book. I wasn't happy with the initial review that I wrote, plus I had so many thoughts about Gone, Gone, Gone that I missed in the original one, which is why I had to rewrite it. 
I had high expectations from Gone, Gone, Gone and I was super excited about reading it. 
When I started the book, I found it very hard to keep going on with it. But once I was thrown smack in the middle of it, it became un-put-downable and I read almost 75% of the novel in one sitting. I wanted to love it. I really did. It isn't that the book didn't meet my high expectations, it's just that it wasn't as powerful and impacting as I thought it'd be. That does not mean that I didn't like the book, because honestly, I really liked it and it was a really really good book. 
Most stories revolving around 9/11 are very moving and emotional. I expected Gone, Gone, Gone to be more emotionally empowering, but it didn't go there with me. It is more of an eye-opener and puts the facts out straight. It is about the statistical and practical scenario after the devastating attack on US in 2000.  
Craig is heart-broken and torn between waiting for his ex-boyfriend Cody or just moving on. He has this crazy obsession with animals and has so many of them as pets, until one day, after a burglary in his house, his pets free themselves and he goes out to find them one by one. It was beautiful reading about his attachment with these animals and the cute names he gave them. I loved Craig's family, which was close-knit.
Lio was my favourite character. He's the tortured hero here. There are so many things going on with him that makes you feel bad for him. His mom leaves their family, his twin brother, Theodore dies and his family is literally all over the place. I loved his relationship with his dad and he was an amazing brother to all his sisters. His point of view was simply astounding and I was so happy to see that the book ended with Lio's POV. 
There were many secondary characters in Gone, Gone, Gone who really shined in the book and gave it a strong base.  
I loved the two fifteen year old protagonists, Craig and Lio. They seemed very mature for their age, but I suppose that being witness to acts of terrorism makes you grow faster, emotionally and mentally. They were mature, complex and very likable  The emails and IMs between Craig and Lio were absolutely crazy and it made me think if fifteen year olds write that way, but oh well... it was good reading it and that's what matters. I really liked the fact they were sure and open about their sexual orientation and how easy their relationship seemed when it was actually pretty messed up. I think this is where author Hannah Moskowitz deserves a huge round of applause for putting raw emotions and thoughts just the way they are, without any filtration. Craig and Lio share an amazing relationship and it was wonderful reading about it. I loved how they met, got to know each other, shared their deepest secrets, strived towards making their relationship work and how they were just together.
Hannah Moskowitz has written a fast paced and action packed book with great emotion, power, love and friendship and that's what makes Gone, Gone, Gone a really good read. 

RATING:

X 3.5

Sarika

Review + Giveaway (INT): Murmur Of The Lonely Brook by Debashis Dey

Welcome to another International Paperback copy giveaway! This time, author Debashis Dey is giving away one copy of his novel, Murmur Of The Lonely Brook, a moving tale of life and hardship, set in the majestic Himalayas in India. My review of the book can be read in this post or here. 

GOODREADS SUMMARY OF MURMUR OF THE LONELY BROOK:

After marriage Nisha comes to a remote village near the mountainous Tibetan Border to lead a life among a nomadic clan who follow a simple lifestyle with customs and rituals dating back to ancient times.

Pravin is happy to marry Nisha, the girl of his choice. Nisha loves her husband but also enjoys the infatuation from his brother. She spends her days happily with a perpetually sad mother-in-law Parvati repenting on her past life sins, a short tempered Shevak, a love-stricken sister-in-law Ria, a kid goat munching everything, a lamb with a baritone bleat and her husband’s brother Diwakar lost in dreams. 

Everything goes well until Nisha’s life is torn apart by a proposal, and assumed betrayal, by the one and only love of her life, her husband Pravin when he suggests common marriage, an ancient tradition still followed in this region in which both brothers share a single wife, Nisha. The family is supportive save Nisha who is horrified by the thought of sharing her love with someone for whom she has a brotherly affection. 

She cannot protest or disagree as it will make her an outcast and the family will throw her away. Her universe crumbles and she feels humiliated and tormented with the new turn of events. As ancient ways confront modern mores, Nisha will be torn between her values and age-old customs in this brilliantly observed novel of ancestral folkways and contemporary families.

Will Nisha compromise her values… or will she fight the age old traditions?

BOOK TRAILER FOR MURMUR OF THE LONELY BROOK:

REVIEW:

*NOTE: Author Debashis Dey provided us (The Readdicts) a copy of his novel,Murmur of The Lonely Brook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank Debashis for the book!

Author Debashis Dey spent a lot of time in the remote areas of the Himalayas to find out more about the general lifestyle of the village folk and it shows in his first novel, Murmur Of The Lonely Brook, which is a result of detailed research and profound understanding of the subject at hand. 
Murmur Of The Lonely Brook starts out with a brief description of the main characters; Shevak and Parvati, parents to two boys, Pravin and Diwakar and a girl, Ria. I really liked the idea of introducing the protagonist family in the initial part of the novel so that we get a general idea about them all. Pravin, the eldest son of the family, marries Nisha, his bride by choice. Nisha adapts to the ways of her new family very easily. She is a good wife to Pravin, takes care of her in-laws, has a sweet and tender relationship with her brother in-law, Diwakar and is an idol to Ria, her sister in-law, who is obsessed with movies, the city life and the idea of love. 
For me, Nisha was the core of Murmur Of The Lonely Brook. Everything seems to be going great for her and she is so devoted towards keeping her family happy; until Pravin proposes that he and his brother share a bride to avoid any land distribution disputes within the family.
The book is explained from various points of views, but I found Nisha's to be the most acute and emotional. She is a firm giver and is willing to do anything for her family so long as they are happy. When she is put into the situation where she has to accept the practice of polyandry, her views about it evolve and it is very easy to understand them. I liked how the novel focuses on women, how much they have to go through in order to keep others happy and how they selflessly devote themselves to the needs of others.
Murmur Of The Lonely Brook introduces us to a new culture, customs, traditions and a general way of life in remote tribal areas. It focuses on life in village and how much the villagers have to struggle to put up even one proper meal for their family. The faith of the villagers in God is simply astonishing. They believe that as long as their Devta (God) is watching over them and blessing them, everything will turn out fine in the end. The religious customs did seem a little uncanny to me, but that is the way things work.  It was an enlightening experience to read about it. 
Author Debashis Dey has done an excellent job in researching and writing in his first novel, which is well-written, refined and gives us a glimpse into an India that we thought was a story of the past, but is still very much existent. I enjoyed reading the book and for me, as a reader, it was very informative.

RATING:

X 3.5

ABOUT DEBASHIS DEY (FROM GOODREADS):

Born in Calcutta, Debashis worked for media and television in Mumbai for twenty years. After chasing the rat race through senior corporate positions, he realized he couldn’t take another day. he sold my apartment and my car, gave away his possessions, and moved to the Himalayas to live in a remote village populated by tribal nomads.
Debashis have been writing poetry and short stories since his college days and also contribute to The American Chronicle. His first novel, Murmur of the Lonely Brook, reflects his immersion in an ancient culture that continues to follow age-old rituals, customs, and traditions. A major portion of the proceeds from this book will be used to build a health facility for the downtrodden women of the region.

ADDITIONAL LINKS:

Debashis Dey's Website

Murmur Of The Lonely Brook on Facebook (Liking this page gives you additional entries in the giveaway.) 

Murmur Of The Lonely Brook on Amazon

Murmur Of The Lonely Brook on Barnes & Noble

GIVEAWAY:

Debashis has generously offered ONE Paperback copy of his novel to one lucky reader! 

The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL! 

Giveaway rules are simple: 

• Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter form for the giveaway. 
• Winners will be announced here on the blog and also emailed, after which they will have 48 hours to respond  or else we'll be compelled to choose another winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for stopping by and goof luck in the giveaway! May the odds be ever in your favour! 

Happy reading! :) 

Sarika

Review- Murmur Of The Lonely Brook by Debashis Dey

Goodreads Summary: 

After marriage Nisha comes to a remote village near the mountainous Tibetan Border to lead a life among a nomadic clan who follow a simple lifestyle with customs and rituals dating back to ancient times.

Pravin is happy to marry Nisha, the girl of his choice. Nisha loves her husband but also enjoys the infatuation from his brother. She spends her days happily with a perpetually sad mother-in-law Parvati repenting on her past life sins, a short tempered Shevak, a love-stricken sister-in-law Ria, a kid goat munching everything, a lamb with a baritone bleat and her husband’s brother Diwakar lost in dreams. 

Everything goes well until Nisha’s life is torn apart by a proposal, and assumed betrayal, by the one and only love of her life, her husband Pravin when he suggests common marriage, an ancient tradition still followed in this region in which both brothers share a single wife, Nisha. The family is supportive save Nisha who is horrified by the thought of sharing her love with someone for whom she has a brotherly affection. 

She cannot protest or disagree as it will make her an outcast and the family will throw her away. Her universe crumbles and she feels humiliated and tormented with the new turn of events. As ancient ways confront modern mores, Nisha will be torn between her values and age-old customs in this brilliantly observed novel of ancestral folkways and contemporary families.

Will Nisha compromise her values… or will she fight the age old traditions?

REVIEW:

Author Debashis Dey spent a lot of time in the remote areas of the Himalayas to find out more about the general lifestyle of the village folk and it shows in his first novel, Murmur Of The Lonely Brook, which is a result of detailed research and profound understanding of the subject at hand. 
Murmur Of The Lonely Brook starts out with a brief description of the main characters; Shevak and Parvati, parents to two boys, Pravin and Diwakar and a girl, Ria. I really liked the idea of introducing the protagonist family in the initial part of the novel so that we get a general idea about them all. Pravin, the eldest son of the family, marries Nisha, his bride by choice. Nisha adapts to the ways of her new family very easily. She is a good wife to Pravin, takes care of her in-laws, has a sweet and tender relationship with her brother in-law, Diwakar and is an idol to Ria, her sister in-law, who is obsessed with movies, the city life and the idea of love. 
For me, Nisha was the core of Murmur Of The Lonely Brook. Everything seems to be going great for her and she is so devoted towards keeping her family happy; until Pravin proposes that he and his brother share a bride to avoid any land distribution disputes within the family.
The book is explained from various points of views, but I found Nisha's to be the most acute and emotional. She is a firm giver and is willing to do anything for her family so long as they are happy. When she is put into the situation where she has to accept the practice of polyandry, her views about it evolve and it is very easy to understand them. I liked how the novel focuses on women, how much they have to go through in order to keep others happy and how they selflessly devote themselves to the needs of others.
Murmur Of The Lonely Brook introduces us to a new culture, customs, traditions and a general way of life in remote tribal areas. It focuses on life in village and how much the villagers have to struggle to put up even one proper meal for their family. The faith of the villagers in God is simply astonishing. They believe that as long as their Devta (God) is watching over them and blessing them, everything will turn out fine in the end. The religious customs did seem a little uncanny to me, but that is the way things work.  It was an enlightening experience to read about it. 
Author Debashis Dey has done an excellent job in researching and writing in his first novel, which is well-written, refined and gives us a glimpse into an India that we thought was a story of the past, but is still very much existent. I enjoyed reading the book and for me, as a reader, it was very informative.

RATING:

X 3.5

Sarika

Cover Reveal: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (The Sweet Trilogy #2)

Publication: April 30 2012

Summary-

Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a claim. She’d been naive about a lot of things. 

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

This cover is just as gorgeous as that of Sweet Evil. It has a more darker feel to it. Sweet Evil was an okay read for me but I will be reading Sweet Peril because I really want to know what happens next with Kai and Anna. The third book in the series is called as Sweet Reckoning and it is slated for a 2014 release. What do you think of it?

Janhvi

Sweet Evil Read Along: Week 4

 

                                             This week's topic is: Halloween

We're from India so we don't celebrate Halloween here but it sounds really fun! Here are some of the things we'd love to do on Halloween-

Read scary Halloween type books:
These are some seriously creepily awesome books which you should read for Halloween. I haven't read all of them yet but they sound awesome :)

Watch awesome TV shows:

The Vampire Diaries and Supenatural would make the perfect Halloween shows. Sam and Dean are awesome and Damon/Ian Somerhalder is just hot! *sighs dreamily*

 Eat Halloween Candy:

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you don't need a reason to eat chocolate but Halloween is as good as any, hell, breathing is as good as any ;)

My thoughts on Sweet Evil:

I loved and hated the Halloween party scene. It was sad and heartbreaking. I loved getting to know about the Dukes. That was the most interesting part. I loved the alley scene between Kai and Anna but again I hated Kai's behavior what with sleeping around with every girl in the vicinity. The end left me totally unsatisfied though it wasn't a cliffhanger ending as such. Sweet Evil was an okay read for me. I really liked some parts but some parts were just not good for me. But I will definitely be reading Sweet Hope to see what happens with Kai and Anna. My review of Sweet Evil should be up in a couple of days.

This was our very first read along and I loved taking part in it. All the topics for each week were totally awesome and I had loads of fun creating those posts. I will definitely be taking part in the future read alongs. :)

  Janhvi

Feature & Follow Friday #10

Feature and Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. 

Today's question is:

Q: What writing device or trick most irritates you when reading a book? For example, if an author employs an omnipotent narrator that is sometimes considered bad form.

My answer:

I know, love, understand and respect the fact that each writer has his/her own unique style of writing and I like to explore them all. 

However the two things that seem to irritate me while reading are:

Multiple Points Of Views: Especially in the same chapter and without the mention of the character from whose POV we are reading. 

Elaborated description of the place: If it is a Fantasy novel, it is necessary to describe the place. But in Contemporary novels, I want to know what is happening rather than where it is happening. 

What irritates you when reading a book?

Follow us and we'll follow you back. 

Happy Friday, everyone! 

Sarika

Review- Annabel by Kathleen Winter

Goodreads Summary: 

Kathleen Winter’s luminous debut novel is a deeply affecting portrait of life in an enchanting seaside town and the trials of growing up unique in a restrictive environment. 

In 1968, into the devastating, spare atmosphere of the remote coastal town of Labrador, Canada, a child is born: a baby who appears to be neither fully boy nor fully girl, but both at once. Only three people are privy to the secret: the baby’s parents, Jacinta and Treadway, and a trusted neighbor and midwife, Thomasina. Though Treadway makes the difficult decision to raise the child as a boy named Wayne, the women continue to quietly nurture the boy’s female side. And as Wayne grows into adulthood within the hyper-masculine hunting society of his father, his shadow-self, a girl he thinks of as "Annabel," is never entirely extinguished.

Kathleen Winter has crafted a literary gem about the urge to unveil mysterious truth in a culture that shuns contradiction, and the body’s insistence on coming home. A daringly unusual debut full of unforgettable beauty, Annabel introduces a remarkable new voice to American readers.

I read Annabel as part of the LGBT Reading Event being hosted by Adam @ Roof Beam Reader. I saw the book on Adam's blog when I decided to sign up for the event and since then, I was intrigued by the idea of Annabel. Luckily, a few days later, I came across the book while browsing the local bookstore and quickly purchased a copy for myself. 

For some odd reason that I cannot seem to figure out, my comments don't get published on Wordpress. So I would just like to take this opportunity to thank Adam for initiating and hosting such a grand event. Also, I know that Adam has been eager to read Annabel since it was published in 2010. I would like to dedicate this review to him, and I hope he gets to read the book very soon as I think he will like it. 

Thank you, Adam! The LGBT Reading Event is going brilliantly! 

REVIEW: 

Wow. Simply wow.

I have no words to describe how much I adored Annabel. Honestly, I don't even consider myself worthy of reviewing such a masterpiece, but I feel that I should share the beauty of this novel with other readers, which is why I will try my best to do justice to this glorious piece of literature.

I was actually searching the dictionary for words that I could use to describe Annabel when I came across the word "dainty", which means 'delicately beautiful' and that is precisely what Annabel is.

In 1968, in Croydon Harbour, Labrador, Canada, Jacinta Blake gives birth to an unusual child who is neither male nor female but both in one body. The child is born with the reproductive organs of both males and females. Doctors come to the conclusion that the baby can be raised as a boy and the truth remains concealed with the boy's parents, Jacinta and Treadway Blake and a trusted neighbour, Thomasina Montague.

Annabel is the story of Wayne's journey from the time of his birth to his infancy, adolescence and youth. But above all that, Annabel is about seeing and appreciating beauty in all the various forms that it presents itself in. It is about how society perceives anything and everything that is strange and unusual.

Jacinta and Treadway were cherubic. I loved reading about the progress and ups and downs of their marriage. As parents, both of them want the best for their child and as humans, they want others to accept their child for who he is even though their discomfort and confusion about him is evident in the early phase of Wayne's life. Treadway tries to mould Wayne into a young man whom he can be proud of, at the same, Jacinta has this deep urge of guarding the part of Wayne that screams to be a girl. Jacinta and Treadway share a wonderful relationship with each other and with their child. When author Kathleen Winter describes Jacinta and Treadway, she doesn't just elaborate the two of them, but you get a glimpse into the live of any inhabitant of Labrador, a glimpse into society in general.

I absolutely admire Jacinta and Treadway Blake's neighbour and the woman who first realised the strange notion that came with Wayne's birth, Thomasina Montague. I am in complete awe of Thomasina. She was a caretaker, mentor, teacher and in a very uncharacteristic manner, mother to Wayne. After losing her own husband and daughter, Graham Montague and Annabel Montague, she is inclined to selflessly devote herself to Wayne. She decides to secretly reincarnate a part of her lost daughter in Wayne by naming him Annabel. They (Thomasina and Wayne) shared an enchanting relationship. Thomasina was brave and resolute. She was everything you wish every individual on this planet could be or could strive to be.

Another character that I really admire is Wally Michelin, Wayne's childhood best friend who, in a secret and sublet way, makes Wayne reach out to parts of himself he didn't even know existed. She was everything Wayne wished he could be. They shared a lovely relationship and I loved how their story ended.

I have read in many reviews that the reader wants to hug the character they read about. I always found it rather funny. Until I read about Wayne. I now know exactly what someone means when they say that they want to hug a book character. Reading about Wayne and getting to know him made me want to pull him close and hug him tightly. I loved Wayne. As a child, he seemed so mature for his age and curious too. I loved his curiosity. I felt for him. At times, I was silently weeping for Wayne. From his obsession with a Russian swimmer's suit to his discovery of make-up products, Wayne comes a long, long way and as a reader, I found myself accompanying him on his journey. As he grows up, he becomes his own individual and it was absolutely enthralling to read about him stepping into the world, trying to figure things out, meeting new people, seeing how people react to him. Wow. I cannot even put into words how much I loved Wayne and how much I cared about him throughout the book.

Annabel is all about growing up, learning, seeing, observing, contemplating, becoming and above anything else, loving...

Annabel is an exquisitely crafted novel. It has so much to tell the reader. I found myself contemplating over how we see the world with such a narrow mind and there really is so much out there. Whether man or woman or both at once, we are all beautiful in our own way and the least and best that we can do for someone is accept them for who and what they are and let them be. I had never thought I'd love Annabel so much. Author Kathleen Winter has written an exceptional and remarkable novel that has made me open my eyes and heart to all the hermaphrodites out there who, in the end of the day, are just like you and me- human beings.

I am in complete awe of Annabel and I am so elated that I read it. An unforgettable book, Annabel will always remain very close to my heart. 

RATING: 

 X 4.5

Sarika

Winner: Valley Of Dust Giveaway

It's time to announce the winner of the Valley Of Dust Paperback + Swag Giveaway by author Karoleen Vry Brucks.

The lucky reader who has won this awesome prize is...

Sara Viti! 

Congratulations, Sara! 

The winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond or else I will have to choose another winner. 

All of the other participants, thank you SO much for taking part in the giveaway and helping spread the word on Facebook and Twitter. 

Those of you who 'liked' author Karoleen Vry Brucks's Facebook page, thank you for doing so and you all get entered into Karoleen's Facebook giveaways for her fans, so there are lots of chances of winning! 

Karoleen also did an Author Interview with us. 

Make sure you stop by next week as we have another INT Paperback giveaway coming soon!  

Happy reading until then and better luck next time! :) 

Sarika

Waiting On Wednesday #10

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Whisper Falls by Elizabeth Langston

Publication Date: November 2013

Goodreads Summary:

While training for a mountain bike race, high-school senior Mark Lewis spots a mysterious girl dressed in odd clothing, standing behind a waterfall in the woods near his North Carolina home. When she comments on the strange machine that he rides, he suspects something isn’t right. When Susanna claims to be an indentured servant from 1796, he wonders if she's crazy. Yet he feels compelled to find out more.

Mark enters a ‘long-distance’ relationship with Susanna through the shimmering--and temperamental--barrier of Whisper Falls. Curious about her world, Mark combs through history to learn about the brutal life she's trapped in. But knowledge can be dangerous. Soon he must choose between the risk of changing history or dooming the girl he can't stop thinking about to a lifetime of misery.

Whisper Falls seems really interesting and different and the cover is so nice. I'm looking forward to this one! 

What's your Waiting On Wednesday?

Sarika