What Books Make You Tick?

What books make you tick?

How do you find your genre? What is it that draws you to a particular author? Do you get adventurous and try different books?

When I was younger I would only read fantasy and history books (very limited). Working in a bookstore has opened my eyes to many books I would love to read as well as reading books that I can’t stand. Now I love to read my fantasy & history – but also Y/A, conspiracy thrillers and sometimes a bit of chick lit. 

One book that I read and loved was ‘Daughter of Smoke and Bone’ by Laini Taylor (which is due in October 2011) that had a wide sweeping story, colourful descriptions and wonderful characters. A fantastic book- one which I can’t wait to be released. Then there are other books like a Lora Leigh I read recently. I love Lora Leigh, but this one just didn’t do it for me. Sometimes it is a bit of hit and miss. My reps come in with a book they rave about and they desperately want you to like it, no they want you to love it. I hate disappointing them when I can’t get into it, but it is great to see their faces light up when you turn out to love it as well.  

 

One book which was a turning point in my life was ‘The Neverending Story’ by Michael Ende. This book changed my life. I got to thinking what if? What if there is a universe for each book that is written and its story is being played out somewhere. A bit farfetched, but it was these questions that opened my eyes for the magic of books. Imagination is the key to a healthy happy existence and books provide that. Sometimes you wonder about the authors who write certain books haha but each novel has its place in the world (even the bad ones)   

So my question to you is this.

What books make you tick? How did they change your life and was there a particular one that just did it for you?

Book Review - Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor ARC

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is a thrilling story about Karou and her secret life as an apprentice to a wishmonger.

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

DUE OCTOBER 2011

I received an ARC of this book from our Hachette rep with the words - You are going to love this!

When I read the blurb, I was intriqued. A magical gateway to another world, wishes being granted, teeth used as some sort of bartering system. It sounded like it was up my alley. So I started to read this book and once I started - I couldn't put it down. The story grabbed me from the get go, Karou is a mysterious, strong willed girl who attends prestigious art school in Prague. She is a brilliant artist and all of her drawings tell a story that would never be belived to be true.

She works for the Wishmonger -who raised her as a child. Karou doesn't know who her parents are or where she came from. She goes all around the world, via the doorways that all open to the Wishmongers workshop, to gather teeth. Then she meets an Angel and all hell breaks loose. 

This isn't a religous book, it just happens to have angels and demons in it. Wonderfully written, Laini Taylor captures the essence of the wonderment of the unknown. Her writing is lyrical and enganging, and I can't wait for the next book!!

Laini Taylor is the author of three previous books, the most recent of which, Lips Touch: Three Times, was a silver medal finalist for the 2009 National Book Award. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, and their baby daughter Clementine.

Her website is here