2009 March 02 » Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog

Mailbox Monday: March 2

Posted by Anastasia on March 2, 2009 No Responses »

Mar 022009

Photo by alde on Flickr.

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page. Check out her blog for this week’s MM post and to see what other bloggers got in the mail!

I got two books in the mail from people I don’t know (though I did ask for them), plus several from my dad for my birthday! Also, I, er, bought a lot of books last week, and they should be coming in the mail sometime soon (hopefully). I’m not entirely sure where I’m going to put them all (my bookshelves are getting rather dire), but I’ll work something out. Maybe I can sneak a few boxes of older books into my brother’s room…

Fire and Hemlock was a bit of a surprise; when it came I couldn’t remember where I had ordered it from! I thought it might be FrugalReader, but couldn’t find any record of the transaction. No record at BookMooch, either, and I haven’t used PaperbackSwap in a while. I might have bought it, but I didn’t remember doing that, either.

Then I remembered– I had asked for it from a FrugalReader member, only they didn’t mark it sent within the time frame and FR automatically marked it as cancelled! So, whoever that member is? Thank you so much for sending the book to me anyway! I’ve started reading it today, and I think I’ll enjoy it.

The Teashop Girls is an ARC from the author/publisher (though of course it’s already been published). @teashopgirl offered a free copy for book bloggers to read (and review, obviously) and I was lucky enough to get one! I’m really looking forward to reading it; it looks horribly cute. Love that cover, too.

Birthday books:

Obviously I’ve read House of Many Ways already, but now I have my own copy!

What did you get in the mail last week?

Review: All-American Girl by Meg Cabot (2002)

Posted by Anastasia on March 2, 2009 2 Responses »

Mar 022009

All-American Girl by Meg Cabot
Publication: HarperTeen (2003), Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages / ISBN 0064472779
Genre: Chick Lit, Teen
Rating: 4/5
Find @ Amazon
First sentence: Okay, here are the top ten reasons why I can’t stand my sister Lucy: I get all her hand-me-downs, even her bras.

I’ve never read Meg Cabot before. I know, I know! I kinda remember reading part of The Princess Diaries, but I didn’t like it enough to continue and I never tried anything else. Until now, obviously.

Summary from Amazon:

While waiting for her ride home from an after-school art class, Samantha Madison, a sophomore at John Adams Preparatory School in Washington, DC, inadvertently saves the President’s life by jumping on the back of a would-be assassin. Suddenly, she is a celebrity, invited to the White House for dinner, named the teen ambassador to the U.N., and revered by her fellow classmates. Yet, even her new star status doesn’t allow her to get what she really wants-a date with her sister’s boyfriend, Jack. Hoping to make him jealous, she asks out the President’s son. The plan backfires, but Samantha discovers who she really is in the process.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book! Yeah, the situation is impossible but it’s fun, and cute, and it’s got some good thoughts hidden in amongst the silliness. Samantha unfortunately annoys me a little too much, but it’s more in a stupid-little-sister way than this-character-is-fake way. If that makes sense. I still rooted for her and David (the President’s son) to get together, and for Sam to change into a better, less irritating person. The other characters don’t really stand out as much, even Lucy and Jack, but honestly, when I was reading the book I didn’t really care.

The writing was good, for what the book was, and though some of the pop culture references are now horribly dated (poor Heath Ledger, for instance, makes a cameo as one character’s dream man) it still holds up pretty well. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fluffy, quick read.

Apparently there’s a sequel; I’m not sure how it’d work, but I might check it out. The thing is, All-American Girl doesn’t really seem like it needs a sequel. Which book sequels do you think are unnecessary?

Other reviews: Bookworm Burrow | semper me invenio | Reading Is Sexy

WIN a copy of Boca Knights!

Posted by Anastasia on March 2, 2009 No Responses »

Mar 022009

Book Giveaway Carnival

The Book Giveaway Carnival is back and I’m super excited to participate in it! Yay, free books! For more contests and BGC participants, check out Book Room Reviews. I know I’ll be entering in a few; what about you?

For this carnival I’m giving away one hardback copy of Boca Knights by Steven M. Forman, released just last month. Comes with the jacket and everything, oooo.

Boca Knights

Summary from Amazon:

In a debut novel sure to both excite passions and elicit laughter, a different kind of hero emerges in that most unlikely criminal hotbed: Boca Raton.

Eddie Perlmutter is capable of fighting with fearless frenzy, but only does so to defend the defenseless. Eddie’s career as a much-honored Boston cop has come to an end. At sixty, he’s still energetic and virile, but decades of harsh New England winters and collaring the pug-uglies of Boston’s underworld have taken their toll—especially on his knees. So what does a lonely, retired cop with arthritic knees do? Head to sunny Florida, of course.

Country-club politics and early-bird specials are a far cry from the street toughs, scuffles, and arrests of his former life. But some things never change. Instead of enjoying a relaxed, laid-back retirement, Eddie quickly discovers the darker side of Boca Raton’s endless sun and palm trees, where hate crimes, counterfeiting, and worse lurk beneath the deceptively calm surface of cushy retirement communities.

With his no-nonsense crime-fighting skills and roll-with-the punches attitude, Eddie hits Boca Raton like of a Nor’easter from Hell, fast, fresh, and unstoppable.

You can read my review of it here.

Okay! To be entered to win simply comment on this post. Since it’s a hardback I’m only going to send it to residents of the US/Canada. I’ll use random.org to determine the winner. The contest ends Saturday, March 7 at midnight (EST). The winner will be announced on Sunday, March 8. Be sure to leave me your email address. If I can’t contact you I’ll have to disqualify your entry! And that’s sad for everyone, believe me.