Waiting on Wednesday #16 - The Six Rules of Maybe by Deb Caletti

A funny, poignant, uplifting, and truly authentic novel by National Book Award finalist author Deb Caletti.

As of now, that's the only summary out there. I'm sure something else will turn up in the near future but for now, this book will go on my "waiting for" just for the cover and title. Also, I haven't read a Deb Caletti book yet (what's wrong with me?) and this one looks like it might be funny, poignant, uplifting, and truly authentic. What else could a reader want? I do have her book, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart sitting on my shelf at home so hopefully I'll get to that one before The Six Rules of Maybe is released on April 20, 2010. Hopefully.

preorder

Waiting on Wednesday #14 - Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn

No description/summary yet...

Rachel Cohn's stuff has been very hit or miss for me in the past. I found her contribution to Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist to be quite enjoyable but I thought that You Know Where To Find Me was a pointless book.
Judging by the cover (yeah, totally horrible) I think this will be a "hit" book. The girl looks mysterious and the title is sort of circus, crazy-like.
So I'm definitely looking forward to this one.

Released January 12, 2010.

Waiting on Wednesday #13 - Solace of the Road by Siobhan Dowd

Memories of mum are the only thing that make Holly Hogan happy. She hates her foster family with their too-nice ways and their false sympathy. And she hates her life, her stupid school, and the way everyone is always on at her. Then she finds the wig, and everything changes. Wearing the long, flowing blond locks she feels transformed. She’s not Holly anymore, she’s Solace: the girl with the slinkster walk and the supersharp talk. She’s older, more confident—the kind of girl who can walk right out of her humdrum life, hitch to Ireland, and find her mum. The kind of girl who can face the
world head-on. So begins a bittersweet and sometimes hilarious journey as Solace swaggers and Holly tiptoes across England and through memory, discovering her true self and unlocking the secrets of her past.
(Summary from Amazon)

The cover is sort of boring and colorless but the summary sounds quite cute. With all those "mum"s and whatnot. How can you not like a book set in Ireland?

Released October 13, 2009.

Waiting on Wednesday #12 - We Were Here by Matt de la Pena

The story of one boy and his journey to find himself. When it happened, Miguel was sent to Juvi. The judge gave him a year in a group home—said he had to write in a journal so some counselor could try to figure out how he thinks. The judge had no idea that he actually did Miguel a favor. Ever since it happened, his mom can’t even look at him in the face. Any home besides his would be a better place to live. But Miguel didn’t bet on meeting Rondell or Mong or on any of what happened after they broke out. He only thought about Mexico and getting to the border to where he could start over. Forget his mom. Forget his brother. Forget himself. Life usually doesn’t work out how you think it will, though. And most of the time, running away is the quickest path right back to what you’re running from.
(Summary from Amazon)

Sounds like a pretty good guy-ish book, right? If done right, I think that the character development and analysis could turn out to be awesome. And breaking out of jail? That's right up my alley.

Waiting on Wednesday #11 - Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

You only hurt the ones you love.

Logan Witherspoon recently discovered that his girlfriend of three years cheated on him. But things start to look up when a new student breezes through the halls of his small-town high school. Sage Hendricks befriends Logan at a time when he no longer trusts or believes in people. Sage has been homeschooled for a number of years and her parents have forbidden her to date anyone, but she won’t tell Logan why. One day, Logan acts on his growing feelings for Sage. Moments later, he wishes he never had. Sage finally discloses her big secret: she’s actually a boy. Enraged, frightened, and feeling betrayed, Logan lashes out at Sage and disowns her. But once Logan comes to terms with what happened, he reaches out to Sage in an attempt to understand her situation. But Logan has no idea how rocky the road back to friendship will be.
(Summary from Amazon)

Oh my goodness gracious, this looks like a weird but interesting book. I don't quite understand the circumstances yet, just from the summary, but I'll definitely be picking this up to see what the deal is. The edginess and the unique topic are a huge plus.

Released October 13, 2009.

Waiting on Wednesday #10 - Touch by Francine Prose (#22)

What really happened at the back of the bus?

Did they, or didn't they?

Did she, or didn't she?

Something happened to fourteen-year-old Maisie Willard—something involving her three friends, all boys. But their stories don't match, and the rumors spin out of control. Then other people get involved . . . the school, the parents, the lawyers. The incident at the back of the bus becomes the center of Maisie's life and the talk of the school, and, horribly, it becomes news. With just a few words and a touch, the kids and their community are changed forever.

From nationally acclaimed author Francine Prose comes an unforgettable story about the difficulties of telling the truth, the consequences of lying, and the most dangerous twist of all—the possibility that you yourself will come to believe something that you know isn't true.

Could be awesomely edgy. Could be a disaster. But I like the cover and I think I'm going to like the book...we shall see. Hopefully the "back of the bus" incident doesn't disappoint.

Released June 16, 2009.


ALSO: followfollowfollow. 41 more followers in 8 days? yikes.

Waiting on Wednesday #9 - The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd (#8)

A little weekly/everyotherweek meme in which I get to pine for books that aren't out yet. *sighs* Started by Jill.
It’s Dade’s last summer at home. He has a crappy job at Food World, a “boyfriend” who won’t publicly acknowledge his existence (maybe because Pablo also has a girlfriend), and parents on the verge of a divorce. College is Dade’s shining beacon of possibility, a horizon to keep him from floating away. Then he meets the mysterious Alex Kincaid. Falling in real love finally lets Dade come out of the closet—and, ironically, ignites a ruthless passion in Pablo. But just when true happiness has set in, tragedy shatters the dreamy curtain of summer, and Dade will use every ounce of strength he’s gained to break from his past and start fresh with the future.
(Summary from Amazon)

A promising plot, an awesome cover, and an intriguing title? I think that that'll add up to a pretty great book.
Released May 14, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday #8 - Are U 4 Real? by Sara Kadefors

Kyla is exactly the kind of girl Alex could never talk to in real life. She’s a gorgeous, outspoken L.A. girl who parties to forget about her absent father and depressed mother. He’s a shy ballet dancer from outside San Francisco who’s never been kissed. Luckily, when these sixteen-year-olds meet for the first time it’s not in real life—it’s in a chat room, where they can share their feelings of isolation and frustration away from the conformity-obsessed high school scene. Alex and Kyla quickly forge a friendship that’s far from virtual— maybe they’re even falling in love. But what happens when the soul mate you’ve never met moves from online to in person?

(Summary from Amazon)

Ah! This look sooo good. And the authors from Sweden to boot. 

This kind of reminds me of the book "m or f?" except without the homosexuality aspect...

I will definitely be picking this up as soon as it comes out. 

Plus, the cover's adorable.

Released May 14

Waiting on Wednesday #7 - The Orange Houses by Paul Griffin

Meet Tamika Sykes—Mik to her friends (if she had any). She’s hearing impaired and way too smart for her West Bronx high school. She copes by reading lips and selling homework answers, and looks forward to the time each day when she can be alone in her room drawing. She’s a tough girl who never gets close to anyone, until she meets Fatima, a teenage refugee who sells newspapers on Mik’s block. Both Mik and Fatima unite in their efforts to befriend Jimmi, a homeless vet who is shunned by the rest of the community.
The events that follow when these three outcasts converge will break open their close-knit community and change the lives of those living in the Orange Houses in explosive and unexpected ways.

(from Amazon)

Looks good, eh? 

With my little WoW posts, I like to find books that nobody's heard about yet...so this is it. And it really looks like it could be great. :)

Also, I'm a huge fan of the cover. Kind of grungy yet simple. Very New York street-ish.

Waiting on Wednesday #6 - Swim the Fly by Don Calame

Fifteen-year-old Matt Gratton and his two best friends, Coop and Sean, always set themselves a summertime goal. This year's? To see a real-live naked girl for the first time — quite a challenge, given that none of the guys has the nerve to even ask a girl out on a date. But catching a girl in the buff starts to look easy compared to Matt's other summertime aspiration: to swim the 100-yard butterfly (the hardest stroke known to God or man) as a way to impress Kelly West, the sizzling new star of the swim team.

(summary from Amazon)

Bad cover. Funny story line. 

Plus, I'm a swimmer so I like that aspect of it. 

And seriously? A book that focuses around seeing a naked girl has got to be at least sorta good, right? Right. 

Released April 14, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday #5 - Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Jason Blake is an autistic 12-year-old living in a neurotypical world.Most days it's just a matter of time before something goes wrong. But Jason finds a glimmer of understanding when he comes across PhoenixBird, who posts stories to the same online site as he does.

Jason can be himself when he writes and he thinks that PhoneixBird-her name is Rebecca-could be his first real friend. But as desperate as Jason is to met her, he's terrified that if they do meet, Rebecca wil only see his autism and not who Jason really is.

By acclaimed writer Nora Raleigh Baskin, this is the breathtaking depiction of an autistic boy's struggles-and a story for anyone who has ever worried about fitting in.

Sounds like it could be pretty decent, eh? I like books that deal with issues not often tackled. So if this is pulled off, I think it'll be great. 

Mostly I just picked it for the cover. :P It's an AWESOME cover.

EDIT: March 24, 2009 = release date. :)

Waiting on Wednesday #4 - Alis by Naomi Rich

At fourteen, Alis has never been outside her strict religious community. But when her parents arrange for her to marry a forty-year-old man, she flees desperately to the dangerous, unfamiliar city. She learns quickly that the only way to survive there is to become a thief—or worse. Facing an impossible choice between a forced marriage or life on the streets, Alis seizes control of her own fate. But the path she chooses sets off a disastrous chain of events that leave her accused of murder. Steadfastly loyal, Alis must decide: will she betray a loved one or sacrifice herself?

Hmm...I haven't read historical fiction in a while and this looks like an interesting plot. Strong female character plus forced marriage plus adventure on the streets equals a good book, I think. As I haven't really heard anything about Alis yet, I'm not going to get my hopes too high, but I'm crossing my fingers that this book won't prove my little hunch wrong. I think it'll be quite good. 

Oh. Just did a little google search and found out that this book has been released in the UK for quite a while. Well. I think it still qualifies for a Waiting on Wednesday post. I'm not in the UK, am I? :P

Waiting on Wednesday #3 - Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian

Emily is ready for a change. She's been in the same town with the same friends for a long time...and none of them really understand her art. But when she goes to Philadelphia for a summer art institute, she suddenly finds like-minded people. One in particular, Fiona, intrigues and challenges her. But there are some things Emily is going to have to find out for herself -- like what the balance is between life and art, and which is more important when push comes to shove.

Check out that lousy snyopsis from Amazon.

Um. It's Siobhan Vivian. I don't think anything else needs to be said. 

She's pretty much made of awesome and as this book just received a starred review from Kirkus, I think I might pee my pants waiting for March 1st. That release date could not come soon enough for me. 

And the cover? Beautiful. :)

Waiting on Wednesday #2 - Envy by Anna Godbersen

Jealous whispers.

Old rivalries.

New betrayals.

Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South.

Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune - and her fame - are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press.

In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets. . . .

I need to read this book sooo bad. I've read both of the first books in the series, The Luxe and Rumors, and am completely in love with them. Scandal, romance, suspense, juice, all taking place in New York City, drama capitol of the world. I'm really excited to see what Envy has in store because the ending of Rumors left me with my jaw-dropped. Anna Godbersen is going to have to step it up a notch after she um...did something to one of my favorite characters. And let me just say that if you haven't started this series yet, then you are seriously missing out. Please start reading them ASAP. It'll be your Christmas present to me. :P

Envy comes out January 29th, 2009.

PS: And just a little note, I've decided that it's too much pressure to stick to my reading schedule for The Lovely Bones so while I am still reading it, the posts won't be regular. Sorry! 

Waiting on Wednesday #1

I'm really just completely changing my whole blog around aren't I? 

I've decided to start participating in the viral meme thing called Waiting on Wednesday because it's way cool to see what new books are coming out and what people think about them. Don't you think so? 

But you always have your "Bits 'n Pieces" feature on Wednesday, Liv! 

Why yes I do, and we will still have that. Only WoW and BnP will alternate weeks so there's no super feature overload thing happening. That way we're all satisfied. :)

Is this an okay change? Possibly? 

And so...my first choice is:

Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti

Derek

Friendly and popular

Style: Cali surfer boy

Awesome at flirting

Future career: landscape architect

Boyfriend potential: high

Nash

Shy but sweet

Style: totally geeked out

Only talks to girls when absolutely necessary

Future career: robotics engineer

Boyfriend potential: none

Derek is clearly the boy Marisa's been waiting for, but there's just one problem. He has a girlfriend. Nash is wrong for Marisa, but he wants to take care of her. As if life wasn't complicated enough, Marisa's also dealing with overcoming a major problem from her past, a family that's acting totally bizarre, and a secret crush on a guy whose identity is a mystery - even to her.

Sophomore year is going to be intense.

YES. 

I've read one of Susane Colasanti's books before, When It Happens, and loved it. Her other book, Take Me There, is high on my list of books to read. She just writes such great light fluffy novels that surprisingly have a hidden hint of depth to them. Perfect for a warm summer day, sitting in the sun with your girlfriends, eh? 

And the characters in this book seem like they'll be pretty amazing. I love a classic underdog story and I also have a secret thing for nerdy guys so Nash looks like my kind of character, exactly. I'm hoping that this jock-ish Derek guy doesn't ruin his chances. :P

Then you have the little surprise at the end of the summary which tells of a mysterious guy who's captured Marisa's heart before she even knows who he is. Three guys now! Yikes! But that should make for good juice and drama, right? Yes!

Even the cover is great. So simple, pretty, romantic, and peaceful.

I'm uber excited for this book to come out...on July 9, 2009. That's waaaay too far away. But I shall sit and wait patiently because Waiting For You promises to be amazing. :)

Two Weeks in Hawaii

VACATION!!! hehe. I wish. 

Instead, Kelsey tagged me for a very musical meme. It was quite fun. Enjoy reading my bizarre answers!

1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp, etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put the artist after a dash following the song name.
5. Put any comments in brackets.
6. Tag some lucky people to spread the disease.

How would you describe yourself?

Crush - David Archuleta [that sounds a little egocentric...]

How do you feel today?

Another Place to Fall - KT Tunstall 

What is your life's purpose?

Fidelity - Regina Spektor

 
What is your motto?

I Don't Dance - High School Musical 2 [no I don't dance, and yes I do have the HSM soundtracks...]

What do you think about very often?

Intuition - Feist

What is your life story?

Carrying Cathy - Ben Folds [o_O]

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Fever - Michael Buble [why yes, I love making people sick]

What will you dance to at your wedding?

Even So - Rachael Yamagata

What will they play at your funeral?

Between the Lines - Sara Bareilles [except for the fact that this is a love song...]

What is your hobby/interest?

Seasons of Love - Rent

 
If you could do anything right now, what would it be?

Stay Beautiful - Taylor Swift [haha. yet another egocentric sounding answer]

What do you want most of all?

Amnesia - MoZella [actually no, I really wouldn't want this]

What is your greatest fear?

Keep Breathing - Ingrid Michaelson

What is your darkest secret?

Since You Been Gone - Aretha Franklin

What is your favorite thing in the world?

Over the Rainbow - Ingrid Michaelson

If you could have one wish, what would you wish for?

Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson [HA!]

What is your theme song?

Lions Roar - The Hush Sound

The next time you hear this song (aside from now, that is), you must dance.
Near to You - A Fine Frenzy

What will you post this as?
Two Weeks in Hawaii - Hellogoodbye

and I tag whoever wants to do it...!