Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without love ... a world where you never experience the ridiculous symptoms of euphoria or thought preoccupation of that first love, or the physical and emotional heartache of lost love?  However, it is also a world where you do not experience even the parental instinct to laugh and love when you look at your own children.  You receive a cure to release all love from your body and the choices in life are simply a list provided to you for potential mates and a government assignment of your life-long occupation.  Oliver attempts to tackle this very world in her young adult novel, Delirium.

When we first begin Oliver's story, we are introduced to Lena, a teenage girl only months away from receiving her cure.  The cure is what removes her capability to love and opens up her life to a whole new possibility.  However, she becomes infected with this disease called love, and it sends her world whirling around her, allowing secrets to be revealed and truths to be uncovered about what this so-called happy life is really like.  What can a world without love be but one filled with fear?

The concept of this book alone fascinated me.  It made me begin to think about the role and importance of love in our current lives.  Love motivates us to move on.  It keeps us from feeling hopeless and helpless and not alone.  Love puts a smile on our faces and fills our hearts with unimaginable strength.  It drives us to be better people.  It drives us to reproduce.  Love is what allows the human race to survive.

The focus of the book was about a first love.  It was a thought provoking read.  However, a small re-occurring detail is what hit a chord most with me ... the lack of parental love for the children in this world.  Lena's memories of her mother include dancing, laughing, giggling, playing ... but all within hiding.  It is not seen as acceptable to do these things with your children.  It is a sign of infection!

As I was reading this book, it actually took me back to my college years and the well-known attachment study by Harry Harlow.  Harlow separated rhesus monkeys from their mothers and paired them with a wire "mother" and another "mother" wrapped in terry cloth.  The experiment was revolutionary during its time, proving the importance of a physical bond between parent and child, not just the meeting of a basic need.  (For more information on the study, you can click here for more details on the theory and experiments.)  I found myself pausing in my reading, thinking to myself about the effects on the children having the lack of love in their home environment.  I pondered what made Lena special and realized it was the love provided by her mother.  Her mother's love allowed Lena strength to find the truth of her world and helped her to open her eyes to the possibility far before she was truly "infected" with her first love.

I truly could go on and on about this book.  It is more than just a good story.  You are not just left wondering what Lena will do next.  It takes you much farther than that.  It is a story that makes you think.  It makes you think about what you love, what you would do for love, what would happen without it.  It brings out the importance of one four-letter word.  Who knew such a harmless word on paper could have such a profound effect in life.

Delirium was a Tales to Tomes pick for June 2011.  Did you read it?  What were your thoughts?  

The Only Constant . . .

Over the last couple of years, I have made a number of changes to Tif Talks Books.  Some of the changes, I felt would allow me to get back to the reasons why I started writing here to begin with.  Others I thought would be just plain fun or would allow me to dig a little deeper into different areas of literature.  I have been having one of those urges to bring on another change.  I have been debating my priorities for the blog.  I have asked for your opinions on what you have liked here.  And, now it is time to share the results!

These results include items that you have seen here before, one that was discontinued and another that I simply have neglected.  Other items are new, new, new.  A couple I have even already begun posting.  Without further ado, let's take a look at what's to come . . .

MORE REVIEWS!  This is the item that I have horribly neglected.  As I was recently cleaning off my review shelf, I realized that there were some books from more than two years ago that I did not review.  With my big move around that time, I simply set them aside and never got back to them.  The books continued to pile up and few actually were reviewed.  When the cleaning commenced, I realized that I needed to prioritize those that I still was able to write the reviews for and abandon those that the distance was just too much (and that I did not have notes for).  Now that I have narrowed down that shelf, I'm feeling much better about getting caught up and look forward to sharing them all with you!

LITERARY LOCALS is returning!!!!  This is one of two changes that I am really, really excited for!  When I moved a couple of years ago, I felt disconnected and naive about my literary community.  I am now much more involved, attending a number of local author events, visiting local indie bookstores, and have been in contact with a number of local authors personally.  This will not necessarily be a scheduled feature, but you can expect to see this logo around again and on a pretty regular basis.  I already have confirmations from at least three local literary people and cannot wait to share them with you!!

FUN FRIDAYS will be around to spice things up and bring in some . . . well, fun!  These are completely random pictures, videos, topics, etc. that will have some sort of literary theme or connection to them.  The feature will not appear every Friday, but rather just as I have the material for you and feel like sharing!

Last, but not least, RAMBLINGS OF A NIGHT WRITER is a feature that I have been debating about for months and months about sharing here.  I finally decided to put it out there.  Maybe because I thought I could use the accountability.  Maybe because I know that some of my readers are writers and could maybe provide me with support, encouragement, and tips.  Whatever the reason, you will be seeing these posts pop up every now and then about my personal writing journey.  From the time that I was young, I have been writing in one form or another.  In the younger years, I loved writing short stories.  In the angsty teen years and a bit beyond, I moved to writing poetry.  And for the past four years, I have been writing here at Tif Talks Books, writing for organizational newsletters, and periodically writing guest articles for other blogs and sites.  I've had these random ideas popping into my head lately.  I've been writing them down.  And now, I want to do more than just write the ideas down.  I want to take them a step further.  It will probably start with just a bit of journaling here and there.  Who knows where the journey will take me.  It is possible that it go no further than my journals.  But, I will never know until I try!

I do have one more change coming besides those listed above, but I won't be sharing that one for another few weeks at least!  It is one that is a recent development and one that I may be even more excited for than all those listed above!  Be watching for this secret change in late July or early August!

There you go!  The changes that I began talking about a while ago have now come to fruition!  I hope that you enjoy and I look forward to sharing them all with you!

Sunday Synopsis: June 26, 2011

Today marks the last day before my busy, busy season at work is done!  I am ready to finally be able to relax, sit down with a good book, and maybe even sneak in a few minutes of reading here and there during the upcoming down time.  These last few weeks have been so exhausting for me and I feel like I have not been as productive as I could have been.  Today, however, I could already start seeing the shift coming . . . I cleaned out the garage, got completely caught up on laundry, worked on organizing a few boxes from our move two years ago, and will soon be off to read a bit before going to bed.  I'm feeling like I may finally be starting to get back to my old self . . . I'm not quite there yet, but I'm feeling potential that I have not felt in a long time.

Speaking of potential . . . I feel like maybe some of this could be coming from my increased exercise.  I have been making it a point to walk at least five miles a day the last month or so, and most days I have made that goal.  In fact, this last week, I have made it every single day with some extras!  With this in mind, I have decided to bump my goal up to six miles a day this week!  I finally feel like my original goal that I posted about in early January of increased exercise is coming around!

On the blog front, I have been working on getting caught up and have a few things planned for this week, including another addition to my wish list and a review of Delirium by Lauren Oliver.  I think that I have also finally gathered up the last minute details for the changes I mentioned a while back and will be announcing those early this week as well!

Before signing off for the night, I also wanted to share my reading agenda from this last week and the week to come!  I completed Blankets by Craig Thompson and am currently reading Fables:  Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham.  I can't decide if I will read Emerald Atlas or A Discovery of Witches next though.  Any thoughts?

How are you doing on your goals for the year now that we are half way through?  Or, you can simply share what you will be reading this week!  I want to hear any and all of it!

The New Tales to Tomes Book Selections!

It is now time to announce the July read for the Tales to Tomes Online Book Club; however, this time around I am announcing more than just July because we have had a three-way tie from our latest vote!  I very well could just have us vote again on these three books, but since it is so late in the month, I thought we would just go with all three over the next three months.  If you would prefer to narrow down the options and maybe vote on those that I have assigned to August and September, just say so in the comments below or in the announcement post on Goodreads.  If you are fine with it, then we now know our books well enough in advance that we can plan accordingly!  I will also post reminders for those who may forget between now and then.

Now, for the next three selections for Tales to Tomes, randomly assigned . . .

JULY

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

AUGUST

Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy, Book 1) by Mira Grant

SEPTEMBER

Juliet by Anne Fortier

Will you be joining in with any or all of these selections?

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

During the month of April, I read Incarceron by Catherine Fisher for the Tales to Tomes Online Book Club.  As soon as I read that last page (even if it was for the second time!), I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of the sequel, Sapphique.  I had to know what would happen to Claudia, Finn, Keiro, and Attia.  Would those who remained in the prison ever escape?  Would we ever discover the mystery surrounding Finn?

Sapphique opens with a bit of confusion.  It does not immediately pick up where the first began, so it took me a while to adjust and understand just where and when the story was.  Thankfully, it did not take long to fall back into the world Fisher created, especially with a lot more action this time around.  Fisher's creatures and battles easily came alive in my mind with her brilliant descriptions.  For example, imagine this chain gang . . .

"There was something out there.  It lurched in the shadows.  As the light it carried flared up she glimpsed a creature, lumpy, as if it had many heads.  It clanked as if its body was made of chains. ... It has many voices, and its heads turned, hydra-like, to one another.  Then it began to lope raggedly, awkwardly, parts of it falling, being dragged, staggering up.  It yelled and swore at itself, bunched in a dark bristling mass.  Sword blades and flames gleamed in its hands.  Green aurora flickered over it."  (pg. 120)

Isn't that description so amazing?!?  I not only could vividly see the chain gang, but could also hear every lope.  The book is filled with these descriptions and I got lost within it every single time I cracked the spine.

As Fisher takes us into the darkness of Incarceron, traveling with Claire and Finn, taking risks with Keiro and Attia, and constantly wondering who the Warden is, I did not experience a dull moment.  As I read that last page this time around, and slowly closed the book feeling satisfied with the way the story ended.  And, I am feeling thankful that the duo is now a part of my personal library.  There is definitely a possibility for a re-read with these ones!

Have you read Fisher's tales?  What did you think?

WISH LIST: Bossypants by Tina Fey

Description (Google Books):  

Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV. 

She has seen both these dreams come true. 

At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon -- from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence. 

Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.  ("Includes Special, Never-Before-Solicited Opinions on Breastfeeding, Princesses, Photoshop, the Electoral Process, and Italian Rum Cake!)" 

Recommended by:  

BookHounds

That's What She Read

Special Notes:  I have never been a fan of Saturday Night Live and I do not watch 30 Rock, but I do like Tina Fey.  Who wouldn't be up for a little humor with some real life mixed in?!?

Sunday Synopsis: June 19, 2011

The Sunday Synopsis has been my way to share the wrap-up for the week, with mainly book-ish thoughts among a few other random items.  This week, my week has looked about the same as it did last week and how it will look for the next couple of weeks.  My life currently entails student orientations for the local university that I work for.  That means giving students a big presentation about college life and then assisting them with planning their first semester.  At this point in time, I feel that I am just a broken record.  I repeat the same thing over and over and over again.  I come home exhausted, with no desire to talk.  I really just want to get lost in a book and sleep. In fact, this last weekend, I have been doing a lot of the latter.  This afternoon alone I slept for more than 4 hours and I am still tired.  Ugh!  I guess what I am trying to say is that over the next few weeks, I am not going to have a lot to talk about here on this feature.  Bear with me!!  What I do have for you tonight . . .

I finished Delirium by Lauren Oliver this last week and in short, I loved it!  Be sure to be watching for the review at the end of the month and visit the Tales to Tomes Goodreads Group for more chit-chat!

I started reading Blankets by Craig Thompson.  So far, I'm really liking this story.  I'm not very far yet, but I plan to finish it before Tuesday when it is due back at the library.

I cleaned out my shelf of books that need to be reviewed.  As you all have noticed, I have not been good at posting reviews these days.  I think a part of it is because of the overwhelming pile.  I cleaned it out and now it looks much more manageable!  And, I've already been working on a number of reviews!!

Last, but not least, I think I forgot to mention that I signed up my kids and myself for the library summer reading program a few weeks ago.  We love these programs so much, that we in fact, are signed up at two different libraries!!

Okay, that's it for me this week!  How has your week been?  Have you signed up for summer reading programs with your kids?  What books are on your reading agenda this week?

Fun Friday: Fairy Tale Dreams

In our household, we have had a big milestone . . . transitioning my daughter to her big girl bed.  I was on a hunt for the perfect bed for my little princess, and thanks to a posting on Craig's List, I found one.  With a little cleaning up, I think that the little princess will definitely be having some fairy tale dreams!

What fairy tales would be featured in your dreams?!?

Vote NOW for July Tales to Tomes Read!

It's that time of month again to vote on our next read.  I have taken the books from last month with the most votes and carried them forward to this month.  I have also included a couple of new additions from the vote as well!  Each title is linked to a Google Books description and the poll is listed at the end of this post.  Voting is open for one week, until Friday, June 24th at 11:59 pm CST.  Any questions, just let me know!

Juliet by Anne Fortier

Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy, Book 1) by Mira Grant

Looking For Alaska by John Green

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 

The Necromancer by Michael Scott

Leviathan by Scott Westerfield

Uglies by Scott Westerfield 

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Sunday Synopsis: June 12, 2011

This week has been a very productive week even if it may not be obvious here on the site.  I have completed a number of projects or am almost done with a number of others.  One of these projects is the final giveaways for Armchair BEA, which should be completely wrapped up by the middle of this week.  What does all this mean for the blog?  It means that I may actually get back to posting on a more regular basis again!

I am still working to finalize a few details for the changes that I mentioned a few weeks ago.  Some of my original thoughts I have reconsidered and have really been thinking a lot of what I really want out of this blog ... what my focus will be, what I want to write about, etc.  As I work through all of this, I invite you to take my survey if you have not already.  I am still looking to hear your thoughts and it won't take more than a few minutes to complete the five quick questions.

Speaking of changes, one thing that I did decide to do this week is set up a Facebook account associated with this site.  I've received a number of friend requests to my personal account, but I like to keep things separated in my life.  Now, I can still have those boundaries, but I still get to have more book-ish (and other random) conversations with all of you.  If you are interested in "being friends", you can find me here or by searching my email address:  tiftalksbooks at gmail dot com.  Of course, I also still have my page, so you can always just "like" me there as well!

I am currently in the midst of reading Delirium by Lauren Oliver for the Tales to Tomes Online Book Club.  If you are joining in this month, be sure to let me know because I really want to talk about this one!!  I have moved most of my conversation about the books to Goodreads, so be sure to join the group!

Last, but not least, I realized this last week that I missed doing a giveaway this year for my 4 year blogiversary.  I think I'm still going to do one, but it will come later in the summer.  I'm still trying to figure out what to do this time around!  If you have any ideas, be sure to share them!

That's it!  I'm off to bury myself in Oliver's loveless dystopian!  While I am away, tell me what you are reading, what you have planned for the week, what you are looking forward to ... you get the idea!

2011 Fairy Tale Challenge: May & June Selections

I missed the link-up for May, so I am now posting a link-up for both May and June this time around for the 2011 Fairy Tale Challenge. Due to the lateness, I am simply going to leave you with a couple of TV series that I will be looking forward to this Fall . . . Grimm and Once Upon A Time.  

Can't decide which one I'm looking forward to the most . . . I think I'm leaning towards Grimm.  How about you?

Sunday Synopsis: June 5, 2011

Not a whole lot to report this week on the book-ish front!  I think the largest piece of news is the article that was published in the Wall Street Journal just yesterday titled Darkness Too Visible.  The following quote from the article sums up the point to this article very nicely . . . 

If books show us the world, teen fiction can be like a hall of fun-house mirrors, constantly reflecting back hideously distorted portrayals of what life is. There are of course exceptions, but a careless young reader—or one who seeks out depravity—will find himself surrounded by images not of joy or beauty but of damage, brutality and losses of the most horrendous kinds.

As with many in the literary world -- authors, bloggers, publishers, etc. -- I completely disagree with this comment.  In today's modern world, this darkness is no longer in hiding as it once was.  It is important for struggling teens to know they are not alone in these struggles.  It is important for those not struggling to know that there are some who are and to learn to empathize, not just sympathize, with their experiences.  It is important for parents to know what their teens (or younger) may be facing.  In short, this literature is more than just a story.  It is this literature that may begin the healing, that may be the friend, and that may be the catalyst for recovery!  Literature, both the dark and the light, can be life-changing.  I say . . . BRING IT ON!!


I could write more about what happened on the blog this last week.  I could write about my weakness of walking into a bookstore and leaving with more books than planned.  I could write about what is to come this week.  I am not.  I am going to leave my Synopsis at that this week and I want you to share your opinions with me on this article.  


Do you feel that teen lit is too dark?  What is your opinion on the dark and daunting being so visible in literature these days?  Do you really think this is the only time that literature has bore the secrets of teens or society?


For those interested, I highly encourage you take a trip to Twitter and read all the #YAsaves comments in response to this article.  

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

This month for Tales to Tomes, we read Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.  Clockwork Angel is the first in the Infernal Devices series and is a companion to The Mortal Instruments series, only set in an earlier generation of the Shadowhunters.  Many people have posed the question . . . Should I read these series in a specific order?  I answer it like this . . . Who cares?!?  I have now read both series' firsts, and they both stand strongly alone with unique characters and plots, and those that are the same only strengthen the tales!

As for the story, let's get a quickie synopsis . . . Tessa, the shape shifter meets bad boy Shadowhunter Will, after a kidnapping and rescue from the Dark Sisters.  Tessa's brother goes missing, only strengthening the bond between Tessa and the Shadowhunter clan.  And, add Jem to the story, a Shadowhunter shining where Will lacks . . . Charlotte, a strong, caring leader . . . Henry, a surprise fighter . . . and a number of "real" characters that you grow to love and love to hate.

Clockwork Angel is filled with it all . . . action, paranormal elements, love, lust, mystery, friendship.  It goes beyond just a fun story filled with good guys versus bad guys.  It stretches beyond the black and white.  It challenges the beliefs of the time period, and delves into the very modern world issues of understanding and acceptance of differences.

For those who have already read the book and are dying to read the next in the series, mark your calendars for December 6, 2011, for Clockwork Prince will be hitting bookstore shelves!  And, just last week, the cover for the new release was revealed at BEA and those of us Armchairing it even got a sneak peek via Mundie Moms.  Click on over and take a peak.  Do you love it as much as I do?!?  Do you get excited as me for the next in the series by just viewing that cover?!?

I think that my thoughts shared demonstrate just how much I enjoyed this piece of art, but one thing that I loved the most about the book was the amazing book-ish quotes you can find throughout.  As an example, let me just leave you with a few of my favorite . . .

"One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us." (page 87)

Tessa . . . "Are you laughing at me?" . . . "Not at you," said Will, grinning, "more because of you.  I've never seen anyone get so excited over books before. You'd think they were diamonds." (page 94)

He didn't know what books meant to her, that books were symbols of truth and meaning . . . (page 97-98)

For other reviews via Tales to Tomes members (and more!), link below and then read what others had to say.