Retro Friday (1) - Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

I just saw this meme in Sandy's Blog (Pirate Penguin's Reads) and I loved the idea of it, so I decided to join. 

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time!

Isn't the cover super cute?

For my first book I chose Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta, which I re-read recently, and even though I already reviewed it (you can read it HERE), I decided to write a new mini-review of it.

At First Sight: There are many things that are currently making Francesca Spinelli's life difficult. She's attending St. Sebastian's - an all boys school that just opened it's doors to girls - instead of the same school as her old friends; she's hanging out with the Psycho Girls (Dorky Justine, Slutty Shioban and Ultra-Feminist Tara), and even with them she isn't sure she fits in; the very boys of St. Sebastian (the surprisingly insightful Tom and Jimmy, and Will Trombal); and the fact that her Mom, the driving force of her family, currently can't get out of bed and is depressed out of her mind. 

In a year when nothing makes much sense, Francesca might just have to find the strength to save herself. 

Second Glance: Saving Francesca is such an awesome book, with characters that feel so real that you ache for them and cheer for them and just plain love. And I did love all of them. Also, I had forgotten just how funny this book is, I was surprised at how many times I snorted and giggled. I cried a bit too, but they were good cries. 

Bottom Line: This book is one of those that you simply cannot miss. It's like a rite of passage to read it, I swear. One of my all-time favorite reads.

Favorite Quote:  "It's a weird smile, but it reaches his eyes and I bottle it. And I put it in my ammo pack that's kept right next to my soul. The one that holds Mia's scent and Justine's spirit and Siobhan's hope and Tara's passions. Because if I'm going to wake up one morning and not be able to get out of bed, I'm going to need everything I've got to fight this bastard of a disease that could be sleeping inside of me."  - Francesca.

List Maniac #16 - The Boys I Would Date

So, Valentine Day is Coming, and I decided to make a list of the boys my 16 year old self would have loved to date.

Jonah Griggs (Jellicoe Road) - I love Jonah - he's one of my Favorite Guys of Fiction - because, even with his conflicted past he's a great brother, a great friend and goes all out with his feelings toward Taylor, and though he has enough personality to take over, he manages to take care of her without doing so. Who wouldn't want a guy like that? Plus, he's in great physical shape due to all those drills in military school. ( I just remembered, there is this terrific scene in Jellicoe Road where he underhandedly puts in his place this guy who had been giving Taylor trouble, and Taylor is all "Don't help me" and he's all "I didn't do it for you", and then his second in command is all "Based on what I know about you and your history, yeah, you were doing it for her" *giggles)

Derek (Darkest Powers) - Okay, so yeah, he's moody as hell and not at all good with feelings, but he's so protective of those he considers his pack. And when he starts to (MILD SPOILER) build something with Chloe - and though it takes him a while to accept that that's what he wants - he really does try hard to control his temper and his mood swings. Plus, even though Chloe is tiny physically, she can still put him in his place, and he listens to her. She's probably the first person he lets in since his brother and Dad. He's so guarded in his feelings, which to me makes it even more special in case he ever let you in!

Rob Wilkins (1800- Where-R-U) - Rob is another guy who struggles with his feelings toward his girl. One because he's older than her - 18 to her 16 which could land him in trouble with his parole officer - and two because Jess is so much trouble!!! Half the time he's against her plans, but he always ends up going along to watch over her - she can protect herself just fine, but she does need someone to watch out for her, and Rob is the only one who mans up for the job. Again, he is someone who doesn't take over, and he really tries hard to become someone her parents could accept in their daughter's life. Plus he's a mechanic, so he knows how to use his hands *wink wink, nudge nudge*

Aaron Samuels (Mean Girls) - One, I love the actor (though, funnily, when I first saw the movie I didn't think he was all that hot, now when I look back and see him through my inner 16 year old, I go "Oh, yeah, he's hot!"). And I really love his character in the movie: someone who cares about his friends, his mom and soccer. Such a normal guy. I love me some normal, I have to admit. Also love he tells Cady it's stupid that she makes herself dumb so he likes her - to me, that shows his character.

Wes Baker (The Truth About Forever) - Yeah, I struggled a lot to figure out who was my favorite Dessen-Boy, the one I would totally date out of all the others. But in the end Wes won because: he's talented, he's a great big brother, learned from his mistakes, and is so honest. When he first meets Macy he's in a relationship, and he never makes a move - even though you can tell he wants to - because of that, he waits until he's in the clear before going there. Again, a young man with character, what's not to love? Plus, he's the kind of guy who makes girls go Sa-woon, so I he's totally gorgeous and humble about it too!

So, those are the boys I would date. What about you?

Also, on V-Day I shall do a list of the Men I Would Marry

Book Review: Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson

At First Sight: At 25, and following the death of her mother, all Autumn Haven wanted was to relax in Vegas and do all the silly, touristy things you can do in there. She didn't plan on running into Sam LeClaire. Already a successful hockey player based in Seattle, Sam was just looking at a few days of mindless entertainment in Vegas, anything to keep his mind occupied on a day that is difficult to him. But, from the moment he saw Autumn at a club, he became a little bit obsessed with having her.

A few days later, things had spiraled out of control, and their hook up ended up on a quickie marriage and a bitter divorce. And they would have rather never seen each other again, but with a young son between them that was impossible. Not that they didn't try to stay away from each other, but after a few years without seeing each other, an small work emergency (Autumn is an event planner) forces Autumn to be around Sam more than she had in years.

Having matured a little in the years past, and with the realization that he hasn't been the best of father - that in fact, he's turning into his own father - Sam is determined to do better by his son, which forces him an Autumn together, something that in turn forces them to examine their relationship and what exactly they feel for each other, even after all the years that have passed.

Second Glance: I was both reluctant and excited to read Any Man Of Mine, I'm a long time fan of Rachel Gibson, but I haven't loved her latest books. I'm happy to say that I liked Any Man of Mine a bit more. It wasn't exactly what I expected - for some reason I thought it was more of a secret baby plot - but it was a nice story. Gibson knows how to write a funny story, and I really liked how she wrote Conner - Sam and Autumn's son - and made him sound like a 5 year old.

I liked Autumn, I just did, even though she could hold a hell of a grudge for a really long time, usually I wouldn't like that, but I liked it on her because it made sense due to the stuff Sam had done to her in the past. Sam was harder, he was a big jerk for a large part of the book and his transformation was very slow (which sort of made sense for who he was, but I thought he was a jerk for more than half of the book, which put off some of the enjoyment).

But by the end, I was happy of how things had progressed. 

Bottom Line: Over all, I think that the characters could have been developed a bit more and a bit better, but I still enjoyed the book (though I did roll my eyes a few times). Some things were left hanging - sort of fell by the side and were forgotten and never explained, through out the story. But I did have a good time reading it. It was fun. Just not the best book by Rachel Gibson, but not so bad either.  

Cover Comment: I really liked this cover, mostly because Autumn it's supposed to look like that! The guy isn't really like Sam - because Sam is blond - but it's still nice. I like it better than the covers for the last couple books by this author. 

2/3

*This book comes out April 26th, 2011

At the Movies: Return to Me

One night, the lives of Bob Rueland (David Duchovny) and Grace Briggs (Minnie Driver) changed drastically and got tangled irrevocably, and neither of them knew it. Driving home from a charity function, Bob and his wife get into a car crash and his wife is killed. Meanwhile, Grace is in the hospital, waiting for a heart donor. 

Months later, they are both trying to adapt to the changes in their lives. Bob is still grieving, but working hard at building a new Gorilla habitat at the Chicago Zoo (his wife was a vet there, and the habitat a long-time dream of hers). Grace has recovered from the transplant and it's happily enjoying being able to simply do things - like ride a bike, and paint, and just move about. 

After a series of close calls and near misses, Bob and Grace finally meet and get together. They are pleasantly surprised at how well they fit together and how much they have in common. But Grace hasn't told him about her heart transplant, and neither of them knows that Grace's donor was Bob's wife. 

I don't think Return to Me was ever a very popular movie, but it's the kind of movie that I watch each time that comes on TV. It's funny and sweet without being saccharine. I really liked Grace's best friend Megan (Bonnie Hunt), she gives lots of humor to the story and sort of keeps it grounded. Plus, there is Grace's grandfather and all of his friends - who lovingly and over-protectively watch over her - and I loved all of them, they were just so cute. 

Really like this movie, I give it a B+

Cover Love #19 - Uncommon Criminals

I hadn't done this for a while, and just last Thursday, Ally Carter reveled in her site the cover for the sequel to Heist Society, Uncommon Criminals.

I really like it! I like the Aqua and Purple, and that they are keeping the theme with the sunglasses.