Posts Tagged ‘reading’
Are there any bookstores open after midnight? Seriously, because I don’t think I can wait any longer – aka until tomorrow afternoon sometime – to get and read the new Sweet Valley Confidential book. I’ve been waiting long enough (uh, since I heard about it!)
I started reading Sweet Valley books when I was 7 or 8; and fell in love. As an advanced reader, I remember I had to get permission to rent books off the intermediate book shelves at school; including Sweet Valley books. Once I read all the Sweet Valley Twins books, I was SERIOUSLY itching to read the Sweet Valley High books. My mom forbade me from reading them, deeming me “too young” (and she was probably right, ’cause I’m pretty sure I was 9 or 10 at the time). Then one day, when we were at the library, I grabbed the nearest SVH book, started reading it, and when I heard my mom coming ran to the bathroom where I hid. For almost an hour. Until finally she banged on the door enough to get me to come out, where I was trying to hide the book under my shirt so I wouldn’t get in trouble. Long story short, I got caught, and she had to explain to the librarian that no, I wasn’t trying to steal and/or ruin the book – I wasn’t allowed to read them. Some kids play with fire, some sneak out, some don’t do their homework or get in trouble at school – but no, my worst crime at 11 was trying to read a book. Rebel, rebel.
Moving on, I eventually was allowed to read SVH books, and even got into the Sweet Valley University books. To say the Wakefield twins and Sweet Valley were an important part of my childhood is an understatement. In 1996, you were either a Babysitter Club fan, or a Sweet Valley fan – and I was 110% into those books.
I even had an Elizabeth doll (my younger sister had the Jessica doll) complete with an SVH letter jacket – my grandmother brought them back for us from Florida, as they were never sold in Canada. There was a short-lived TV series, and it sucked, but I watched it anyways.
I grew up with these books – as most girls my age did – so you can imagine how friggin’ EXCITED I am for this book to come out. (In case you missed it, the answer is a loud VERY!)
The guise is this is 10 years later, and the twins are all grown up. They’re both 27, and I think that’s another reason I’m so excited for this book – I’m 25, and it really feels like they’re old friends I’m about to reconnect with. I was reading SVH when I was around the same age as them. And now, I get to read a whole new book – and still be able to relate.
A few lucky people have gotten their hands on copies early; and the comments I’m hearing are only making me that much more excited:
“This entire book really just made me want to punch Jessica’s face in!” and “Some things never change, Elizabeth is STILL so uptight”
Uhm, yes please!
If I had to fathom a guess, between the YouTube videos the publisher is pumping out, and the free first chapter that’s available to read - I’m going with Jessica stole (and is possibly marrying?) Elizabeth’s guy. And it must be Todd, right? How many times has Jessica tried to steal Todd (or any other guy Elizabeth is dating for that matter). Because what else could be the “ultimate betrayal”, coupled with the tease that one twin is getting married? Jessica HAS always been boy crazy, and often disregards other people’s feelings – especially Elizabeth’s. Don’t come hunt me down if it turns out I’m right and just ruined it for you, ’cause that’s a TOTAL shot-in-the-dark-guess.
I really am about to explode waiting for this book – it was bad a few weeks ago after I read the first chapter; but now that it’s SO CLOSE it’s killing me. I’m grabbing a copy tomorrow afternoon as soon as I am free from my morning engagements… so, uh, don’t expect me to answer my phone, tweet, or Facebook until it’s finished. Which will probably only take a few hours or so, but still. EXCITED!
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has sold over 60,000 copies.
A few months ago, Quirk Books released “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies“, which quickly became a best-seller – selling over 60,000 copies. I by chance stumbled across the book in Chapters, and the back of the cover made me laugh so hard I simply had to buy it (yes, based solely on that!)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, according to the publisher, was 85% Jane Austen’s book, and 15% Zombie Madness – they can get away with this since Austen’s book is in the public domain… meaning anyone can reproduce, or use it.
I’m not terribly far into it yet – but so far, it’s been VERY entertaining. Take this excerpt from the first chapter (okay, first page):
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is occupied again?”
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not and went about his morning business of dagger sharpening and musket polishing—for attacks by the unmentionables had grown alarmingly frequent in recent weeks.
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters will be released on Sept. 15
Regardless of how far into it I am, I am thoroughly enjoying it… so it’s no surprise that it was much to my delight when Quirk Books announced yesterday they will be publishing a second book (by a different author): Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. They promise it will have more original material (they’re touting a 60/40 split – 60% Austen’s work, 40% original work) and more monsters and mayhem. The book has drawn inspiration from “Jules Verne novels and Celtic mythology, but also Jaws, Lost, Pirates of the Caribbean, even SpongeBob Squarepants!”
Quirk Books has even taken it one step further – and released a movie trailer for the book on YouTube.
As I mentioned before – Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is not written by Seth Grahame-Smith (who wrote Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) – but it’s not the last we’ll see from him. Apparently he’s working on a new book, called “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter“. Oh, hell yes!
I’d love to see Quirk Books turn some of my favourite classics into mash-ups; I’ve never actually read a Jane Austen book, so reading a classic book I have read (and loved) with a twist would be awesome.
The Great Gatsby meets The Prince of Darkness, perhaps? Or how about The Cider House Rules and zombies?
I can’t wait to see what other mash-ups Quirk Books has in store for the future! But for now, I’ll just wait for Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters to be released… and continue to enjoy the hilarious trailer.
