Simmone Howell/Justine Larbalestier - Melbourne

The lovely Simmone Howell joined me last week on this blog. Her reader's snapshot gave me plenty of laughs and her interview regarding Everything Beautiful was fantastic also. Simmone will be guest blogging in the future and her plan for it sounds very cool. BUT we have to be patient.

In the meantime, if you are in Melbourne, you can catch Simmone with the fantastic, Justine Larbalestier, for a special appearance.

22 Feb 2009, 2:00PM - 3:30PM
Justine Larbalestier and Simmone Howell in conversation + cake
State Library of Victoria—Conference Centre
328 Swanston Street(Entrance 3 on La Trobe Street)
Melbourne, Victoria
Go here to book

Simmone has two novels that have been released: Notes from the Underground and Everything Beautiful. Check them out now!

Justine has the How to Ditch Your Fairy launch in Australia later this month.

Source

Soundtrack Saturday (1)

Music is universal. That, we all know. It just seems that it is becoming more and more intergrated into YA literature. I think that's a great thing.

I thought of starting this meme (click here for an explanation) because of The Outsiders (SE Hinton). My class and I are studying it at the moment and I played a few songs from the era. I asked the students to listen to the lyrics and write down how that song might relate to the novel or a character. I got some great answers.

Book: The Outsiders / SE Hinton
Song: My Generation / The Who

My class really identified My Generation with the book, in particular the character of Dally. The rocking sound, the aggression and sheer rebellion. It's perfection. It's drum rolls, guitar feedback and some awesome singing stuttering have made me adore this song for longer than I can remember! It was released two years before the book was published and I like to think it influenced the writing, whether subconscious or not.

Soundtrack Saturday Meme

How Soundtrack Saturday works:

1. Every week we'll post about how music meshed with your reading that week. I want to make this a looser meme where you can briefly mention the link between music and your book of the moment.

Ideas:
* A song mentioned in a book that you were introduced to because of an author.
*An author's playlist - is there one (link if there is)? What did you think?
*A song that you thought while reading and how you think it fits to a scene or character, etc.
*Lyrics that reminded you of a book that you haven't read in ages.
*Basically anything that links your book with a song or playlist.

Preferably posts will be made every Saturday, but feel free to choose a day that works best for you.

2. You're participating? Great, welcome aboard. Please then make the effort to see what others are thinking by commenting on their blogs. Imagine the new musicians you might be introduced to.

3. Welcome one, welcome all. Join at any point and post when you can. Link back to Persnickety Snark as well. Cheers!

The List - Ultimate YA Couple?

As you might know, I am the Australian author contributor to The Read Carpet Podcast. I am also contributing a segment in the alternate episodes called The List. This is an opportunity for you guys to have your opinions heard.

To your right is a poll I would like for you to vote in - which couple in YA do you consider to be "the ultimate relationship"? I consulted with the lovely Ana over at YA Romance Reviews, as this is her niche. In fact, she has a top 20 list of her favourite couple that you can take a gander at here.

We are missing some old school, I was thinking about Anne and Gilbert but they are almost too iconic to mention. I will reveal the results on the podcast as well as any comments you choose to make about coupledom in YA, whether negative or positive. I would really enjoy the constructive, who should be on the list and why. Who on the list is bliss and why? Give me some comments to discuss, people! Comment on this post to have your opinions said in my Aussie voice, try and include a country/state where you are from. It's own podcast version of a call in line!

Ana needs some followers, so make sure you do so because her breakdown of Melina Marchetta's Jellicoe Road is a great read. While you are at it, follow me too. I am very follow-able (or should that be stalkable?)

Also - what should be The List subject next month?

Crazy in Love / Dandi Davey Mackall

Summary - Mary Jane Ettermeyer hears voices in her head, but they're all hers-and she's going to need every single one of them to get through life, now that she's fallen hard for the amazing Jackson House. No matter how desperately she fights it, Mary Jane is crazy in love, even though: a) Jackson House can't possibly think she's cute enough to be his date, so it must be some cosmic joke; b) MJ has vowed to keep her vows made with best friends, who formed Abstinence in Action (in spite of the vow involving no action); and c) she shouldn't even be flirting with Jackson because he already has a girlfriend...who happens to be MJ's friend.

Review - This book is all about the two voices you have in your head; the conservative one and the party girl. I felt like this book had a bit of a split personality as well. It could have been good if it had disregarded the stupid premise and stuck to the story. The protagonist has conversations with her good and bad side continuously and I found myself immediately skipping over them right from the beginning.

This is a girl who has a mad crush on one her friend, Star's boyfriend and upon picking up pop from a store with him, get labelled with the tart tag. Although it was innocent, there were four minutes unaccounted for and as such Star starts an all out anti-MJ campaign. She uses the bullying as a way to justify the progression of her realtionship with Jackson. I admit to being pretty black and white (and maybe a tad judgemental) but this didn't sit well with me. Especially when MJ is painted as a victim of the gossip swirling around the school (she is one, but she put herself in that position).

There are many narrative points that I am going to skim over because I felt they were all rather cliche. There's the cute-as-pie sister with a disability, the abstinence pledge, a character that foretells what MJ's future could be if she betrays her pledge and a really mean girl. The fact that the mean, ex-friend is called Star just irked me from the beginning. Character development was minimal, clunked into scenes like I should be impressed. MJ makes some dubious choices and the fact that she is so loving and supportive of her sister seems to be put forward as a redeeming quality. At times, I felt like I was sitting in a (contradictory) morals class that I never signed up for.

In all honesty, the book didn't sit right with me but I can see some people liking it. To me, it appeared that Mackall had written it without passion, which sounds harsh but this discombobulated mess just annoyed me to no end.

Published: 2007
Format: Paperback, 192 pages
Publishers: Dutton
Origin: USA
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Dandi's Blog

City of Ashes / Cassandra Clare

Summary - Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter and your mother is in a magically induced coma? The Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

Review - As you may remember, I was a BIG supporter of the first of the Mortal Instruments Series. I was drawn in by many things; of which are continued in this novel. I hate it when sequels are described as “darker”, even when it’s a fitting adjective. It’s more intense, more action packed and simply more. And yet I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first. This could be a symptom of me overhyping it in my mind in the eighteen hours I needed to wait to get my hands on it.

While Simon’s transferal makes complete and utter sense, I was disappointed. I liked the idea of him being a Xander, a mortal and giftless observer of the magical chaos in this world. The fact that he is turned and then receives some extra perks at the end seemed too convenient. More of a device to make Simon and Jace appear to be equals on more levels.

I had no issue with the whole Luke/Leia romance angle in the first book but I think I miss there being a Han. Maybe I will find him in the third, upcoming novel, The City of Glass. I honestly don’t find Jace all that compelling. Yes, he’s attractive, strong and a jerk (it worked for Darcy) but I just didn’t feel the pull. You know what I mean? The sigh in your chest when they do something lovely. Clare’s done all the right things in creating well rounded characters with distinct voices and I feel sympathy for Jace. However, I would rather the Jace/Clary romance; VC Andrew-style got dropped. I suspect the whole sibling thing will disappear conveniently in the third book but I would prefer for them to finally deal with it and move on to being siblings that accidentally kissed once or twice.

I was a heavy proponent for Team Simon in the first book but now because of my qualms above, I am indifferent. I still like him as a character and I am glad the romance stuff dripped away. I think I am much more interested in the adults, whether or not that’s because I am one, I don’t know. I love Luke and would love to be in his head more often. I love the faeries but hated the kiss. I liked the return of Raphael and am falling more in love with Magnus (like another character pretends not to be). Magnus is like a combination of Ziggy Stardust and Perez Hilton crossed with some Dumbledore on acid, so he’s just as near to perfection as a character can be.

Clary. I like strong female characters. I love that she’s proactive, rather than reactive. Once she sheds both boys who are unworthy of her, I can see her breaking free and kicking some tail. That being said, I don’t see this happening but you never know. With the third book coming out soon I am more excited to see the resolution of the Luke and Jocelyn (just like Hannah and Jude in Jellicoe Road) I am really pulling for this long term, unrequited love.

Looking forward to Voldermort, oops sorry Valentine, getting his just desserts in City of Glass. (If I were a supervillianwarlock I would want a more intimidating name for sure).

Published: 2008
Format: Paperback, pages
Publisher: Walker Books
Origin: USA

Guest Blog: Melina Marchetta

Melina Marchetta is someone I have admired for (what sometimes feels like) forever. She's had an incredible fortnight and this is her blog on the Printz Medal (Jellicoe Road), The Aurealis Award (Finnkin of the Rock) and her grand plans for the White House.

Sunday 1 February, 2009

An unpackaging of all the strange wonderful surreal and unsettling things that happened to me in this less-than-ordinary-week in dot point:

An Aurealis Award for Finnikin of the Rock on Saturday night in the YA long fiction category from the Australian fantasy community (who I was secretly frightened of when Finnikin was released)·

An overseas phone call at 8am on Monday morning from the Printz committee telling me I won the Printz Medal for Jellicoe.

A copious amount of congratulations and well wishes from the gracious wonderful sublimely talented YA writing community, both here and in the US.

One ticket to Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from the film Once performing at the Opera House.

One ticket to see Leonard Cohen, who has made me re-think my view of a 76 year old man as possible romantic interest, based on the fact that I’ve never seen anything as sexy as him on one knee crooning into the microphone cupped in his hand.

Eight glasses of champagne since Saturday night.

Close to 40 degree days all week and a strong desire to move to the northern hemisphere.

Discussing my name being mentioned in the Washington Post and hypothesising with a friend the chance of the President of the USA flicking through the paper, seeing my name, liking the sound of it and inviting me to the White House to read to his daughters. (refer to dot point about champagne)

Half an itinerary worked out for Bologna in March.

Two bunches of beautiful flowers that have frightened the dog (King Charles Cavalier. Very gorgeous. Very very dumb.)

A handful of blogs insinuating Melina Who? Jellicoe What?

A handful of blogs shouting out Australian pride.

A second draft completed of The Piper’s Son.

A letter from a 15 year old in Columbus, Ohio telling me how she felt about Jellicoe.

Another from an Alibrandi fan telling me he doesn’t understand his wife.

Melina Marchetta
______________________________
I consider myself very lucky to have had Melina guest blog for me this week. Congratulations to her for all her success, she clearly deserves all the acknowledgment she is receiving! Those who don't know of Melina, Jellicoe or any of her other works are poorer because of it. I am very much looking forward to revisiting Tom (Saving Francesca) in The Piper's Son.

Big thanks from a long time reader!

The Read Carpet Update

First things first - Apologies - I haven't read anything since Friday thus no reviews. What can I say, podcasting exhausts you!

The Read Carpet Update:
Thank you so much to the many people that have downloaded or livestreamed out first kink-ridden episode. I have been comparing it to the first pancake, it's always a little wonky. Needless to say, I was so proud of all the contributors that were brand new to recording and all the effort they put into their segments.

Around the Web
First of all, a big thank to all of our YA blogging breatheran who really supported the heck out of our first episode. It was so heart warming to see the many supportive and very positive comments on our sites. Some authors have also started mentioning us, I thought I would take this opportunity to thank them.

Courtney Summers (Twitter) - "Check Hope's seg. on CUTB on The Read Carpet podcast: http://thereadcarpet.podbea... THANK YOU, HOPE! Listened w/big grin on my face. :)"

Alyson Noel (Blog)- who was the first author to plug us on her blog.

Sarah Dessen (Blog)- Excuse me while I squee, I'm considered "her friend" argghhh - "...The Read Carpet (get it?) and you can check it out here. There's a number to call in and leave comments, which I am planning to do as soon as I have something worthwhile to say."

We have also received comments on the podcast site from Beth Kephart and Jessica Burkhart. - 'harts are in The Read Carpet House yo!

If you come across any others, please let me know!

Interesting Facts
Currently 23 places are hosting our feed via embeddable players (we have only 15 contributors lol). People have listened from all across the USA, Australia, United Kingdom, Brazil (I think we know who this is), Korea and Denmark. We have had approximately 200 listens in only 2 days with the only advertising being blogger word of mouth. Thanks guys!

How to listen?
Click on the above icon and you'l go straight to our podcast host. There you can already click on the iTunes button to subscribe to our feed. There are applications that allow you to listen to it via Zune too.

I will also have a media player at the bottom left of my page so you can always find the three latest episodes there.

How you can be involved?
This is a truly collaborative venture. We have recruited three teen contributors since the episode aired. They were required to send me a WAV/mp3 file talking about themselves and what they would like to do as a column. You can find our contributors but referring to the TRC Crew blogroll on the top right navigation bar. Feel free to send in a submission but we will only take on another 2-3 people.

We have two surprises coming up. I haven't said anything to anyone, including the contributors but it will be cool.

If you are artistically inclined please think about sending in an icon for our podcast. We have two but I don't think we've got it just right yet. We would also love to feature music, unfortunately we are bound by copyright laws. So if you have a band or are a musical artist in your own right, consider sending it in and we might possibly use it.

Publishers - This is a great opportunity, consider running a contest through the podcast!

Voicemail - 206-339-3245
Email - thereadcarpet at gmail.com

Levithan + Green = JOY

I was reading John Green's (aka Dream Grammar Nazi) weblog when something caught my eye...

I am hard at work on the Paper Towns screenplay and revising the book I'm cowriting with David Levithan. (Spring 2010.) Source.

I am ecstatic that there will be a Paper Towns movie somewhere down the line BUT JG's cowriting with David Levithan. It's like the most awesome idea ever, kinda like the literary equivalent of peanut butter and jam (I am an Aussie, I refuse to say jelly because that's your jello). Waiting until 2010 sounds like the most miserable wait ever.

Also if you haven't been witness to the awesome/embarrassing news that John Green commented on my casting of him as my dream antagonist - make sure you check out this post.

It was very cool of him, especially as I wrote that blog as I thought the dream was ridiculous for two reasons; 1) JG would never visit my blog and 2) JG would never be that mean. I guess I was proved wrong on one of them!

Reader's Snapshot - Melina Marchetta

Straight on the heels of winning the Printz Medal (for Jellicoe Road), Melina Marchetta is dropping by Persnickety Snark to tell us her sordid reading past (not really).

Which book is the most memorable from your teen years?
Flambards. We were studying it in Year 7 and I remember someone read ahead and told everyone on the school bus the next morning about the kiss between Dick and Christina. There was hysteria.

Describe your high school English teacher in three words.
Annoyed with me.

Your book of the moment?
I’m going to have to be egocentric and chose the one I’m writing. I’ve lived and breathed Tom and his world and they’re not the easiest lot to banish.

What do you use to mark your page when reading?
Anything from a docket to a movie ticket. I dog ear as well. It’s not true that if you dog-ear books you don’t love them (according to my mother) because when I see my own novels dog-eared, I feel the love.

Favourite place to read?
In bed at night.

Favourite word?
Solace.

Favourite book store?
Shearer’s bookstore, Leichhardt.

Character you wish you had created?
Eugenides from the Attolia books (Megan Whalen Turner)

Bonus Question - Angel, Riley or Spike?
(I have just re-read Saving Francesca and couldn't resist).
Certainly not Riley. The college years never work (Veronica Mars is a classic example). I’m going to go Spike because some of my favourite episodes have him in it.
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Melina will be back on Wednesday with her guest blog detailing her week following her big wins. Thank you so much to Melina for kindly contributing to this blog. I am an unabashed MM adoree and knowing that she watches Buffy, Veronica Mars and writes awesome books just makes her a hat trick.

Jellicoe Road is a magical read. It is beautifully crafted with amazing characters and a mystery that dips throughout it's pages. Buy it now, I promise you will adore it.

In My Mailbox - 1 February

There are too many to include summaries this week. The publishers came through for me, big thank you to them all. Also a shout out to Erin, my new book buddy!

Tuesday
Scatterheart / Lili Wilkinson
The Shocking Trouble of the Planet of Shobble / LM Moriarty
Chasing Boys / Karen Tayleur
The Black Dress : Mary MacKillop’s Early Years / Pamela Freeman
Joan of Arc: The Story of Jehanne Darc / Lili Wilkinson

Wednesday
Savvy / Ingrid Law
The Year the Gypsies Came / Linzi Glass
The Last Days / Scott Westerfeld
Destroying Avalon / Kate McCaffrey
Just in Case – Meg Rosoff
The Luxe / Anna Godbersen
What I Was / Meg Rosoff
Slam / Nick Hornby
Butterfly / Sonya Hartnett
Broken Glass / Adrian Stirling
Kill the Possum / James Moloney
Bye Beautiful / Julia Lawrinson
Town / James Moloney
How I Live Now / Meg Rosoff
Doppleganger / Michael Parker
Rumours / Anna Godbersen

Friday
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian / Sherman Alexie
Girl Next Door / Alyssa Brugman **I actually bought this two days before it arrived!
Ocean Pearl / J.C. Burke
Pop Princess / Isabelle Martin
Give Me Truth / Bill Condon
If I Stay / Gayle Forman
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas / John Boyd
3 Willows / Ann Brashares

The worst thing is that with school and the podcast, I haven't had time to read any of them except If I Stay. I am also beginning to suspect that buying one bookcase might have been underestimating the publishers. Not that I mind!

Here's where it all began, with the lovely Kristi at Story Siren.