Bibliomancy for Beginners Hangout Video: “The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making” by Cathrynne M. Valente

Welcome to this week’s Bibliomancy for Beginners! This week we read my pick, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by the fantastic Cathrynne M. Valente. As you may or may not know, I took a writing class from Ms. Valente last year and fell in awe. This should be a good one! Stop by next week when we read Possession by A. S. Byatt!

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.

Bibliomancy for Beginners: “Mansfield Park” by Jane Austen

Welcome to this week’s episode of Bibliomancy for Beginners! We took an extra week for this one because, well, classics can be dense. But we are here, finally and eager to please! This week we’re reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. Join us next week when we read The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente!

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Waiting on Wednesday #26

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine!

Title: The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There

Author: Catherynne M. Valente

ETA: October 2, 2012

Summary from Goodreads: September returns to Fairyland to reunite with A-Through-L, Saturday, and Gleam, and to confront her shadow-self, who has become the queen of Fairyland-Below, the upside-down world beneath the Fairyland of the first novel, filled with creatures of water and shadow, tales of ancient Fairyland before the human world was born, and not a few hungry buffins, blind birds of ice and moonlight. The yearly revels of Fairyland-Below climax in a mysterious rite September must avert or else lose her shadow forever.

Why I’m Waiting: GUYS. Clearly you did not see the part where, one, I MET Cat Valente. (You can see that HERE.) No, I have yet to finish Fairyland #1, but that would be the fault of college, not the book. Trust me, I will be soon because GUYS. When you find a book and you KNOW there is nothing else like it out there, you just HAVE to read it and every book to come after it.Seriously.

Stacking the Shelves #5

Hi guys! Here’s this week’s Stacking the Shelves, as hosted by Tynga’s Reviews!

Blog Tour:

Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy – Goodreads

For Review:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire – Goodreads

The Unfailing Light by Robin Bridges – Goodreads

Bought:

Captive Queen by Alison Weir – Goodreads

Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett – Goodreads

Fudoki by Kij Johnson – Goodreads

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente – Goodreads

Discount Armaggedon by Seanan McGuire – Goodreads

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross – Goodreads

Gilt by Katherine Longshore – Goodreads

Endlessly by Kiersten White – Goodreads

Top Ten Books I Have But Need To Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by the Broke and the Bookish!

So, this week’s TTT is a freebie, so I chose a topic very close to my heart. We bloggers are used to our TBR lists being out of control – that’s normal! However, it is our CHOICE to make the list of books we need to review get out of control as well, and I have so definitely done so. So, I figure, I can tell you guys all about the books I need to get around to and maybe y’all can provide some encouragement or sympathy. Or, you know, laugh at me. (All title links go to Goodreads.)

1. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

I don’t want to tell you how long I’ve had this one from NetGalley. However, since it isn’t published til November, I keep pushing it back in favor of reviews I have to get done first! Still, can’t wait to read this one. Sounds so good!

2. Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

This one isn’t so bad, because I did just get this from Edelweiss like yesterday. But still, I never should have requested it in the first place. Yet, I did. And I’m not sad about it at all. I’m way too intrigued by this.

3. Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch

Scholastics bombarded me on NetGalley the other day with THREE different review acceptances, when I’d requested the books all at different times. Oh how I’m not a fan of that. I already finished one of them, but I’ve still got this one and…

4. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE I HAVE THIS. Just … eeeek! I’m dying to get started on this one, since it’s next in my que to go! 😀

5. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente

This one begins the books that isn’t from NetGalley or Edelweiss, but it’s still really important I read this one soon. Why? I’M GOING TO MEET THE AUTHOR. (Don’t worry, I’ll tell you guys all about it.) Speaking of which…

6. Fudoki by Kij Johnson

This is another author I’m going to be meeting, at the same event as Catherynne Valente. I’m going, by the way, to the Alpha Fantasy, Scifi and Horror Writing Workshop for Young Writers. It takes place in Pennsylvania and is SPECTACULARLY AWESOME. I will also be meeting John Joseph Adams and Tamora Pierce there.

7. Tithe by Holly Black

I got this in a book swap a few weeks ago for good reason: Holly Black, Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan are doing a book signing in my area! I’ve read her stuff before, but I don’t own any of it, so I had to make sure I get on that. Oh, and actually reading this would be nice. Not to mention…

8. Valiant by Holly Black

This one as well! Thank you Vivien (@deadtossedwaves on Twitter) for making this possible! 😀

9. Morning Star by Desiree Finkbeiner

You guys may or may not remember that I interviewed Desiree a few months ago! Well, she also gave me an ecopy of her book the read and review at my leisure, and I’d like to make my leisure NOW because I’ve been dying to read this since she sent me the blurb! Still just haven’t gotten there, though.

10. Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck

Got this for my birthday because I’ve been dying to read it for FOREVER. I’m still taking my sweet time getting around to it, though! I wish I read so much faster.

BONUS ROUND! (Otherwise known as where I show you how insane I really am.)

Rounding out my have-but-need-to-read-list on Goodreads are:

Ten Thousand Saints by Eleanor Henderson ~ Chime by Franny Billingsley ~ Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce ~ Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray ~ The Iron King by Julie Kagawa ~ Crescent Dawn by Clive Cussler ~ Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick ~ Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce

Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

My TBR list is OUT OF CONTROL. Seriously. Trying to pick just 10 books is going to be super hard. However, I’ve tried to break this down so maybe it’ll make some sense. And keep me from going overboard. I’m going with 5 books I have but need to read, and then 5 books I want to get this summer!

Have but need to read:

Rapture by Lauren Kate ~ Insignia by SJ Kincaid ~ Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill ~ The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Cathrynne Valente ~ The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke