How many people can you name that have had 15 minutes of fame and then disappeared into obscurity? Or rather how many celebs can you think of that are popular only because someone on their family tree is well known? Can you name a celeb who's world was turned topsy turvy after they gaining fame? Theresa Rebeck's Three Girls and Their Brother gives the reader a backstage pass to the seedy world of the entertainment business where sharks and prey are abundantly available.

Description: Now that it’s all over, everybody is saying it was the picture–that stupid picture was behind every disaster. . . .They may be the granddaughters of a famous literary critic, but what really starts it all is Daria, Polly, and Amelia Heller’s stunning red hair. Out of the blue one day, The New Yorker calls and says that they want to feature the girls in a glamorous spread shot by a world-famous photographer, and before long these three beautiful nobodies from Brooklyn have been proclaimed the new “It” girls.
   But with no parental guidance–Mom’s a former beauty queen living vicariously through her daughters, and Dad is nowhere to be found–the three girls find themselves easy prey for the sharks and piranhas of show business. Posing in every hot fashion magazine, tangling with snarling fashonistas and soulless agents, skipping school and hitting A-list parties, the sisters are caught up in a whirlwind rise to fame that quickly spirals out of control.
   When Amelia, the youngest of the three–who never really wanted to be a model in the first place–appears in an Off-Broadway play, the balance of power shifts, all the pent-up resentment and pressure comes to a head, and the girls’ quiet, neglected brother reaches a critical point of virtual breakdown. And against the odds, even as the struggle for fame threatens to tear the family apart, the Hellers begin to see that despite the jealousy, greed, and uncertainty that have come to define their relationships, in the celebrity world of viciousness and betrayal, all they really have is one another.

Review: I was looking through the Alex Award book lists trying to figure out what book to read next for this reading challenge and I stumbled up Three Girls and Their Brother. I had never heard of the book and author before, but the synopsis caught my eye and I thought I would try it.
  Straddling the line of dark comedy and satire, Three Girls and Their Brother takes us backstage to the caprious entertainment industry where fame and luck sometimes intertwine and not always in the best interest of the person involved. The New Yorker does a piece on the Hellers, grandchildren of a late literary critic who are riding the coat tails of his popular and just so happen to be ravishingly beautiful. After a single photo shoot, the three teenaged sisters, ranging from 14 to 18 years old, modeling party girl careers are off to a careening start. 
 The book is told through each of the sibling's point of view, which allows us to get a closer look into this dysfunctional family and to help dicepher was is true and fantasy when fickle fame appears. The siblings are practically the only family unit as the looney mom and distant father appear on the outter fringes of the siblings' lives.
  Out of all the point of views, I really enjoyed reading from Philip, the brother who is 15 and seen as the 'plain one'. He narrates the first part, dubiously chronicling how their former Miss America mother blithely yanks the girls out of school and throws them to the jackals of publicity. It is through Philip's point of view that we remain grounded and witness how fast and easily fame takes a toll on a family that is already distant. Ironically, out all of the siblings Philip is the most sensible one but he gets shipped out to live with his distant father and stepmother for being unruly.
  My next favorite point of view was from the youngest sibling, Amelia, explains how one photoshoot became a juicy scandal for tabloids and celebrity magazines and how acting instead of modeling may be her true calling. Like Philip, Amelia's point of view points out the cut-throat aspect of the entertainment industry whether it's Hollywood or Broadway, the danger is the same- someone is always trying to steal your thunder and use you to their benefits.
  I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the Showtime TV show Entourage as it covers similar themes.  Funny and searing, Three Girls and Their Brother is an enjoyable read where you are glad that you are not a celebrity and may make you think twice about ever wanting fame.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: Strong language, underage drinking, and sexual situations. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: The Year of Living Famously by Laura Caldwell, Celebrities in Disgrace by Elizabeth Searle

  Like many of Kristin Cashore's fans, I was impatiently waiting for the release of Bitterblue. I wanted to know what happened to the adolescent who fought tooth and nail to survive. I also was super curious what happened to Katsa, Po, Fire, and a whole slew of characters that I've grown to love in this series. Though Bitterblue takes place after Graceling, I would highly recommend reading Graceling and then Fire before tackling Bitterblue as a lot of important plot events and reoccurring characters reappear and have important roles in Bitterblue not to mention that the world of the Graceling realm is incredibly intricate.

Description (from Goodreads): Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.
  Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

Review: Like Graceling, Bitterblue takes place in the Seven Kingdoms, where Queen Bitterblue rules over the realm of Monsea. To your ordinary landscape of castles, villages, mountains, and kingdoms comes a unique layer of fantasy. There are people who are born with a grace, an extraordinary ability (some may call it superhuman) to perform a task, which can range from a expert fighter to a lie detector. People with graces have two different eye colors. People either embrace their grace or run away from it. Bitterblue's father, King Leck, had an awful grace that he used to rule his kingdom with an iron fist. After eight years after his death, the kingdom is in rumbles and his eighteen year old daughter, Bitterblue has fully become the Queen of Monsea.
  We are immediately told from the stark and direct opening line of the first chapter that we are on a  journey in search of truth. Though she was technically a queen at the age of 10,  Bitterblue begins her responsibility as a ruler. Unlike Katsa and Fire before her, Bitterblue doesn't have a grace to rely on. She must use her instinct, intellect, and struggle in earnest to find her way through the fog of secrets hidden within her kingdom. Cashore expertly weaves mystery, suspense, and revelation into her story. Some reviewers have commented on the slow pace and the circuitous route that Cashore took her characters to find the truth, but I loved the slow burn plot and found the story utterly absorbing.
  While Bitterblue may lack the action sequences or the focus of romance unlike Graceling and Fire, it is a story about reconstruction. The enemy isn't a physical being, but rather an idea and memory. How do you rebuild a kingdom where trust, loyalty, and the truth have been so manipulated? There is a tangible cloud of confusion that inhabits each and every corner of the kingdom— the nature of the terrible depravity of her dead father, Leck; the condition of her court and her subjects; the true identities of her companions; the ciphers (which were so compelling that I had to reread them to figure out the clues hidden inside) she must recognize and solve.    
  There’s also an element of romance in Bitterblue, but not the sole focus of the story. Bitterblue does fall in love for the first time, and it is unconventional. Here, as in her previous novels, Cashore handles sexuality in a very unique way that stays true the personality of her characters rather than the how they are suppose to be because they are a lord or a lady.    
 What I find interesting with the Graceling Realm trilogy is that the books don’t form your conventional trilogy. Though similar characters may appear, the events aren't sequential but rather interlocking that span well over fifty years, which is why I recommend that you read Cashore's previous books to enjoy Bitterblue to its fullest.  
  I absolutely loved how the theme of power comes a full circle in Bitterblue. Since Bitterblue is not responsible for or needs to watch her limits of extraordinary power, that doesn't make her powerless. Bitterblue's struggle is to accept her obligation of having power and using it correctly in order to rule her kingdom. She is forced to embrace her station with limitations and all. She must come up with her own system of law virtually from scratch.
  Bitterblue is high fantasy at its best. While Bitterblue and company may live in a far removed world from us, they all deal with very real issues which is why they are very appealing when it comes to their stories. Cashore creates a mesmerizing world of complex characters where good and evil may be on the same flip of the coin. I'm already determined to do a reread of all three books just to uncover new gems that I might have missed the first time when Bitterblue comes out in paperback.          I can't recommend Bitterblue highly enough for readers who love strong female characters that carve out a future for themselves. It's nice to have a series where begin a female isn't seen as a weakness but rather different aspects of the gender is celebrated.

Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution: There are some disturbing images, some language, and sexuality which is implied and not explicitly described. Recommended for strong Grade 8 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce, Star Crossed by Elizabeth Bunce, Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, Study series by Maria V. Snyder

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Today I'll be reviewing the sixth volume of Nana.

Description (from back of the book): Nana Osaki's band Blast is taking off in a big way--from sold-out club dates to a record label waving a contract at them. But the Trapnest menace still lurks, stealing away everything she cares for. Trapnest took her boyfriend, and even though Ren is back in her life, his band still comes first. And now her trusty sidekick Nana K. is being lured away by Trapnest's bassist. But this time, Nana O. won't give up without a fight!

Review: What happens when two bands who share a past collide? Drama! Volume 6 of Nana solely focuses on relationships, those that are developing at a very fast pace and others that starting to show a bit of fraying. Nana O. is thrilled to have Ren back in her life, but his band comes first. She refuses to attend to his sessions in fear of her fierce competitiveness taking over. She is reluctant to get closer to Ren because she knows how devastated she will be when he goes away. She does sense a distance in Nana K. though as she starting acting weird in asking her of Trapnest's whereabouts.
    Nana K. is worried that she may be labeled as someone who is 'easy' after her own night stand. As much as she would like to keep her one night stand a secret, everyone finds out as Trapnest's bassist reveals the information nonchalantly and claiming that Nana K. was virtually begging him to sleep with her. None of the characters like the Trapnest's bassist playboy ways. They all feel that he is not good for her and is taking advantage of her being a big fan of the band. I'm also getting a sense that Nana K., herself, isn't sure of what is going on with her and the bassist, as they virtually have no communication between one another besides nightly visits. Nana K. is hoping she's not just someone to make a bed warm, because that's not what she wants. She wants to be in a loving relationship. She finds herself in a weird love triangle as Nosbu stands up for her and finally declares that he has feelings for her. He is now on a mission to prove that he is better than the playboy bassist. I really hope that Nosbu is the better person for her.
  Meanwhile Shin and the leader singer of Trapnest seem to have gotten together. At the moment, the relationship seems to be purely physical. I'm wondering how long this 'relationship' will last. We also find out that the same lead singer use to be in a serious relationship with Yasu from Blast until they went their own separate ways to pursue their careers.
 The promise of a big music label for Blast means that both Nanas are not spending much time together. Dark tones and serious rhetorical questions are asked by both which makes me think that these best friends may break apart. Good thing I have the next volume on hand to see what happens next!

Rating: 4 stars

Word of Caution: Strong sexuality, some language, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 7 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

 

 With less than three weeks before the new school year begins, I wanted to do something fun before things get out of control. I decided to join some awesome bloggers and read a fun book while participating in Don't Fear the Reaper Read-along, which is celebrating the upcoming release of Fourth Grave beneath My Feet, the fourth book in the Charley Davidson series. I've heard great things about this series and I can't wait to read it. Many thanks go out to Christy of Love of Books, Lila of Babbling About Books and Stuff, Jen of In the Closet With a Bibliophile and Heidi of Rainy Day Ramblings for setting up this read-along!

  The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern has been a popular book at my public library for quite some time. I had planned on reading it when it was listed on the ALA's Alex Award, a resource that I often use when I'm stumped to read for adult fiction. I was excited and curious to read the book after hearing such enthusiastic responses to it. Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me.

Description (from the publisher): The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Cirque des Reves and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway - a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love - a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Review: I have no idea who wrote the above description for The Night Circus, but the book I read had none of the epic selling points. No huge duel, no sweep off your feet romance, and while there were a myriad of characters I wasn't able to tell if they were extraordinary or not because they went in and out of the story at arbitrary times.
  I read The Night Circus for a book club that I recently joined. It was met with plenty of positive reviews except from me. I didn't love it or hate it but was rather confused as to why everyone seemed to get something out of the story which I did not. I couldn't get comfortable with the story nor the characters. It was as if I was looking through a misty window that failed to clear up no matter how much I try to wipe it down while trying to see what was outside.
  After much thought, I think I understand why this book didn't work for me. I really do think your enjoyment of the book depends on what type of learner you are. Why does it matter? Well, The Night Circus is written entirely in third person omnipresent with an occasional interludes of a second person narrative. The book heavily relies on visuals. The book is almost entirely composed of description. While I thought the description is very cinematic and beautifully done, as a reader I felt immediately alienated. You already begin the book knowing that you're an outsider, a spectator of the events that unfold in front of you. You can only watch from a distance but not touch or come any closer. After a few lovely passages, the narrative became contrite, dull, and indulgent. I don't mind great imagery, but I'd rather have imagery to support the novel instead of becoming the novel. The writing style severely impaired my reading ability and I really had to push myself to finish it. I had already spent a few hours reading it, what more could a couple of more do to actually finish it?
   As someone as a visual and auditory learner, none of the characters became three dimensional people to me. I never got a chance to hear their own voices. I knew about them without really getting to know them per se. Sure, I could tell you who they are superficially, but they didn't mean anything to me as a reader. I can also tell you want the games were about, but I thought the whole point of it was long winded and frankly, boring. With the exception of timer periods noted at each chapter which I really didn't understand their significance because we are told virtually nothing about what is happening outside of the circus, there weren't many context clues, to give me much sense of the character's personalities. I felt the book could really have been written at any time period.
  People who I've talked to who didn't like the book often say it's because they don't care for the fantasy genre, but for me it's not the genre that bothers me. Perhaps if I listened to the story instead of reading it, I might have liked it a bit more. I know that the book rights have been bought by Summit Entertainment but there's probably going to be a lot of tweaking with the plot and pacing for the story to have action. In the case of The Night Circus, maybe just maybe the movie might be better for me than the book.

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, a small non-explicit sex scene, and disturbing images. Recommended for teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: The Art of Disappearing by Ivy Pochoda, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanne Clarke, Vaclav & Lena by Haley Tanner