What’s on my nightstand? The Used World, by Haven Kimmel.
No review of this book because I’m just starting it, but oh-oh-oh I’m so eager to read it! It’s going to be a slow read because 1-I’m a slow reader, and 2-Haven’s writing is the delicious kind you want to savor. Thanks, Shelly, for turning me onto her.
The title above links to a review by Jules and Eisha, writers of the Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast blog. I generally link titles to reviews, not Amazon or some other bookseller; I figure you know how to get to those places.
What’s on my mp3 player? Jinx, by Meg Cabot.
It’s official: I’m on a Meg Cabot kick. Last week’s mp3 title was a Meg title, and I just downloaded another Meg title, which you’ll probably hear about next week. I’m a fan. Meg’s books are just the right balance of hip, fantastic, and real for me. I can understand why she and her books are so popular with teens.
Jinx is about family, friends, teen love, and witchcraft. That alone is a recipe for success with teens, don’t you think? Jean’s nickname is “Jinx” because she seems to be a magnet for bad luck. She’s a wholesome Iowa girl sent to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in NYC after a boy who is obsessed with her begins to sort of stalk her.
Jean and her cousin, Tory, have heard stories from their grandmother about an ancestor who was a witch burned at the stake. The girls believe they, too, are witches, but while Tory relishes the idea, Jean prefers to keep it under wraps. Add a cute boy next door, love spells, and competition, and you’ve got a bewitching read.
As a writer, I can’t do the whole teen love thing, probably because I couldn’t do it as a teen. Listening to Meg’s version brings back those feelings of awkwardness and embarrassment. Seriously, it still makes me squirm. Which begs the question: Might that–the squirming, awkwardness, and embarrassment over teen love–make for an interesting read? Hmmm.
Categories: Reading
I finished The Used World a few weeks back. While I’m entranced with Kimmel’s writing, I was underwhelmed by this book. I think the writing here falls short when compared to her autobiographical writing. Perhaps I had set my hopes too high.
Jinx sounds like a lot of fun. I’m impressed you can still get some reading in this month. That’s gone by the wayside for me.
Hmmm… I haven’t ever tried any Haven Kimmel. (At least not that I remember.) I do like authors, once in a while anyway,whose writing you have to savor. I”ll have to hunt one down and read it!