Read of the Town: The Giver by Lois Lowry

I've got a review of the movie coming today, but I wanted to discuss the fact that the book, like most whenever a movie version is released, has been put on prominent display in most bookstores, thereby trying to get people to buy it. Duh!

I've read several reviews about the movie lately that suggest it is nothing like the book. The book was published in the early 90's and I remember reading it around that time. Almost a good 20 years ago, so I remembered very little about it when I saw the movie this past weekend. One thing it did do for me was make me want to go back and re-read (as if for the first time) The Giver. And maybe I'm alone in this discovery, but it turns out The Giver was one of four books written on the "dystopian" subject! So you know me, I had to buy all four books and to make it easier on myself, I decided to go with a newly published version that puts them all together for me.

It's beautifully bound and not as heavy as it looks since they used a kind of paper and binding that doesn't weigh much. And believe me, those days of carrying heavy books are OVER!

Have you read the Lois Lowry book? Just the first one or all of them? Were you like me and didn't know there were books beyond The Giver?

Look for my review of the movie soon!

The Collaborators, 4th Edition

Hard to believe Alaina of That's What She Read, and I, have only collaborated thrice prior to this collaboration! No offense Alaina but it feels like we've done at least 20 of these already! But it comes from much love of course.

Anywho, this year we just might come close to 20 books that we collaboratively review! She might disagree but I think if we push each other it can totally happen! And with that said, we chose this next book purely because it was on my TBR list (that I happen to put together, covering months ahead, and Alaina does not) and she was easily able to check it out of the library? If I'm wrong do correct me.

I hope we can do a few of Alaina's picks this year. I will broaden my pre-scheduled horizons and dip my toes into whatever she happens to stumble upon reading since she is less regimented than I am (and that's probably a better avenue to take when reviewing books).

But she and I differ in just about every way and that is what makes this venture (I believe) most exciting. And I do look forward to them whenever they come up. But enough of me souping up "Pinky's" ego!

Redwall by Brian Jacques is a 22 book series that started back in 1986. I was just 2 years old at the time but when I was older I do remember it being one of the books my mother read to me. That was more than 2 decades ago now so choosing to read this one (and eventually the whole set) will be like the first time.

I'm a sucker for a series or trilogy, especially if it sounds interesting and the cover is gripping. The cover of this book got me hooked and of course the nostalgia of it all. Going back to my childhood when literature was really great. No offense to the Young Adult and children's books of the 21st Century, but I believe some truly great stories came from the 80's (as well as movies, but that's for another post I'm sure).

This pre-review is coming a little late since I've already finished reading the book, but I have revealed nothing of what I've read. That will come once my cohort and I are good and ready!

To follow along with us on Twitter search for #TheCollaborators or simply follow us!

Alaina - @WillBeFunOrElse

Erica - @NYCBookWorm84

Top Ten Series I'd Like To Start But Haven't Yet

 

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

I know this is a top ten on "series I'd like to start" but I'm also going to mix in a few "series I'd like to finish!" because there are a few that the author has completed but I haven't had the time or opportunity to get to them. You will see what I mean by my list below. I try not to get too invested in series especially in the YA variety because there are SO many and I like to read different genres whenever possible. So without further ado...

Now bear with me. The first set will be series where I've read at least the first book in the series, and although all the books in the series have been released (and probably in paperback editions already) I have not had the time to finish where I started:

And now for the series I want to read also but because my TBR list for 2013 is already so bogged down with great books I hate to pass up I might not get around to reading them this year:



I realize the majority of these books are Young Adult in genre. Most of the "adult" books I read that are a series, like Sue Grafton's Alphabet Series or Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels, I wouldn't add on here because they are a series that are essentially "on-going"... Except for Sue Grafton which will probably end when her series reaches the letter Z...