Top Ten Tuesday #4

Sorry I'm a bit late with the Top Ten Tuesday, but I've had an overload of homework that keeps and piling up on my desk... Anyway, here's the list...

Top Ten Underrated Books:

1. The Declaration by Gemma Malley
2. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
3. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
4. Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bowe
5. The Book of A Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
6. Clair de Lune by Cassandra Golds
7. Kat Got Your Tongue by Lee Weatherly
8. The Girls by Lori Lansens
9. Once by Morris Gleitzman
10. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

In My Mailbox #3

I'm so sorry that I'm a bit behind with the meme's... You know, homework and holidays and stuff! So will you forgive me? :(

This week, I borrowed...

About time, too! It was out from the library since the rats carried the Black Death. So I'm pleased that it's in my possession now! Earlier in the year, I read an excerpt of it and I loved it. I can't wait until I finally finish reading my current book so I can move onto Gone! ☺

Follow Friday #4

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

A. Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone. No doubt about it. This was my first major step to Obsessive-reading-land! I read the first Harry Potter book when I was 7 years old though, so luckily I got a good, early start!

WWW Wednesdays #3

What are you currently reading?                             I'm currently reading Accidents of Nature by Harriet McBryde Johsnon. So far it's pretty interesting!

What did you recently finish reading?                        I recently finished reading Pink by Lili Wilkinson. I thoroughly loved the subject matter of the book, and can't wait to get my hands on Lili's other novels!

What do you think you'll read next?                        I'm either going to read Gone by Michael Grant, or The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, next. Let me know which one you prefer, because I need someone to help me out with which one I should choose!

Top Ten Tuesday #3

Top Ten Trends I'd Like To See More/Less Of

More of:

1. Teen issues - a large majority of Laurie Halse Anderson's books are an excellent example of this.
2. Family oriented - too many absent parents in books! The only popular y-a novel that I can think of which mainly revolves around a family is If I Stay.
3. Odd mysteries - by this, I specifically mean more books like the A Series of Unfortunate Events Series.
4. Innocence - sure, it is y-a fiction, which is for teens, but I'd like to come across more PG-rated books from time to time. 
5. Indie books - I really love unique books with unique plots and characters. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is a good way of illustrating what I mean.

Less of:

1. Vampires - yes, this is probably in many lists already, but just to rub it in further, people do get bored easily, especially readers. So do authors really think we want approximately 786 vampire books shoved in our faces? The answer is hopefully no.
2. Pretty covers, ugly books - there are too many books out there deceptively giving us a nice, attractive cover when the actual content inside is terrible and not attractive at all. I haven't read it yet, but judging from most of its book reviews, this book is a good example of this >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
3. Fast-tracked romances - I'm really sick of books where the main character (usually a girl) gets to Base 2 after a week of becoming acquainted with the 'love of their life',
4. Typos - nitpicking is what I do. I have what you call 'eagle-eyes', so I always notice at least one typo in each book. And I thought there were editors!
5. Series - enough is enough sometimes. Don't you ever get slightly annoyed when another book pops up in a series (that you thought you'd finished)? This happened to me with the Uglies series. By the time I reached the end of Specials, I gave up and never read Extras, even though I loved the series! Same goes with spin-offs.

Cover Crazy #3

This is the UK edition of Where She Went. To be honest, I really do prefer the cover of this edition to the US one.

• The female pictured right in the front. Her hair is windswept, and her expression is dreamy and/or lost. She may be looking for something.
• The backdrop of New York city. Glittering lights, busy, bright and bold. It contrasts to the peaceful girl in the front.     
• A mysterious grey 'mist' surrounds the girl. It's almost as though she's shying away from us, or has something to hide.                                                    

Interview with Jodi Picoult!

Get excited! Jodi Picoult, author of My Sister's Keeper and Sing You Home (and many more novels) is our featured author! 

1. If you had endless possibilities of promoting your books, which method would you choose?

TV advertising.  On Grey's Anatomy, American Idol, and other top rated shows.

2. Which character do you feel you connect with most from any of your books?

Nina Frost.

3. If you weren't an author, what would you be?

A pastry chef.

4. What's your life motto?

Why Do It When You Can Overdo It?

Thank you Jodi!

Coming Up...

This Tuesday, A Novella's Tale is pleased to be the FEATURE BLOG for Blogger Lift, hosted by In Between Writing and Reading!