Homecoming

First Lines Fridays: October 20, 2017

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First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

First Lines:

The woman put her sad moon-face in the window of the car.
“You be good,” she said. “You hear me? You little ones, mind what Dicey tells you. You hear?”

Interested? Scroll down for the cover and summary!

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
(Tillerman Cycle, book 1)

It’s still true…

That’s the first thing James Tillerman says to his sister Dicey every morning. It’s still true that their mother has abandoned the four Tillerman children somewhere in the middle of Connecticut. It’s still true they have to find their way, somehow, to Great-aunt Cilla’s house in Bridgeport, which may be their only hope of staying together as a family.

But when they get to Bridgeport, they learn that Great-aunt Cilla has died, and the home they find with her daughter, Eunice, isn’t the permanent haven they’ve been searching for. So their journey continues to its unexpected conclusion — and some surprising discoveries about their history, and their future.

August 2017 Wrap-Up (Part 2)

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Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
(Strange the Dreamer, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★★★
Review:  Yes
Reading Dates:  August 18 – 25
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Lazlo’s love of and respect for books and stories.
Least Favorite Thing:  Thyon Nero’s love of and respect for nothing. (The little prick.)

I spent 1/4 of my time reading this book going back and forth checking the prologue against things I learned to try and brace myself for the inevitable utter fucking heartbreak of the ending!

Trigger Warning:  Descriptions of the Carnage include the murder of infants. It doesn’t go into gory detail, it’s a little more abstract, but it’s still vivid and mentioned many times.

My Posts About Strange the Dreamer

Specials by Scott Westerfeld
(Uglies, book 3)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Review:  No
Reading Dates:  August 16 – 27
Read Count:  2  (I really think I read this one other time, but I haven’t got a record of it…)
Favorite Thing:  Special Tally’s Special skillz!
Least Favorite Thing:  The way Shay treats Tally…

Raise your hand if you want to be a little teen angst Special!
No? Just me? Well then…

Seriously though, the Specials are so cool, if only they weren’t Like That (looking at you Shay!). I honestly wouldn’t mind a whole separate book that’s just Tally’s adventures as a lone Special.

Trigger Warning:  Self-harm (cutting, some passing mention of burning). Only one character really treats it like it’s a bad thing, everyone else treats it as normal and/or good for the majority of the book.

My Posts About Specials

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
(The Tillerman Cycle, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Review:  No
Reading Dates:  August 28 – 29
Read Count:  3
Favorite Thing:  “Parents?” “Not noticeably.”
Least Favorite Thing:  Eunice…

I missed this series so much! I’m sitting here now (having just finished it) with a warm, fuzzy contentment that only the most special books give me. Thank goodness for Cynthia Voigt.

My Posts About Homecoming

The Cursed Queen by Sarah Fine
(The Impostor Queen, book 2)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆
Review:  Yes
Reading Dates:  August 29 – 31
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Scrappy little (bisexual) protag 🙂
Least Favorite Thing:  Kill marks… (Why does every author feel the need to have a raider race that cuts themselves as a mark of honor? Can we stop that?)

This one was better than the first book. Somewhat less predictable, less annoying protag, more interesting people around the protag.

Trigger Warning: Self-harm (cutting). The protag glorifies it along with pretty much everyone else in her tribe, but towards the end of the book she seems to have realized it’s not a good thing. However, it is never explicitly decried.

My Posts About The Cursed Queen

Ash by Malinda Lo
Rating:  ★★★☆☆
Review:  No
Reading Dates:  August 31
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The Fairy Tales
Least Favorite Thing:  Lady Isobel (duh)

I’m not 100% sure how to feel about this book. That is, I liked it, it’s a nice story, but it’s not what I was expecting. I’ll try to review it soon.

My Posts About Ash

In Progress

WWW Wednesday: August 30, 2017

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Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at Should be Reading and revived on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three W’s!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:  The Cursed Queen (The Impostor Queen, book 2) by Sarah Fine
I’m not loving the way cutting is being addressed so far, but I’m only in the first chapter. I hope this book will turn out to not glorify self-harm…

That aside, I’m definitely looking forward to learning more about the world outside Kupari. When I was reading the first one I found myself wondering what the rest of the world must think of them.

I don’t know if I will struggle with this book, but if I do, I have Dicey’s Song, the second in the Tillerman Cycle, to reread alongside this.

Recently Finished:  Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, book 1) by Laini Taylor
I loved this book! It hurt me a little, but I forgive it because the story was so lovely and enjoyable.

The problem with loving this book though? Now I have to wait ages for the next one to find out what on earth happens to all those beloved characters! I’m so worried about them!

Actually, reading this one has me wanting to reread Laini’s other books, so I grabbed them from the library too.

I actually managed to write a review for Strange, which can be read here.

Specials (Uglies, book 3) by Scott Westerfeld
This whole series is so easy to breeze through, I’m glad I chose to reread it.

I very much wish I could be a special, only I hope they wouldn’t adjust my brain because I already have problems with anger management and impulse control!

I still don’t know if I want to reread Extras (book 4), but I might…

Trigger Warning:  Self-harm (cutting, some passing mention of burning). Only one character really treats it like it’s a bad thing, everyone else treats it as normal and/or good for the majority of the book.

Homecoming (The Tillerman Cycle, book 1) by Cynthia Voigt
I honestly didn’t intend to read this so quickly. I meant to read it in-between reading The Cursed Queen, but once I started I couldn’t read anything else until I’d finished it. And I also couldn’t bring myself to put it down for any significant amount of time.

There is some indescribable quality in Cynthia Voigt’s books that always leaves me feeling great and looking at the world in a very specific way (that also happens to be indescribable). It’s really so enjoyable.

I also really love the Tillermans. I feel, and have felt since the first time I ever read this book, like they are somehow my family too.

Reading Next:  Ash by Malinda Lo
I’ve had this one from the library for a while, long enough that I can’t remember when I got it, so I think it’s time to actually read it! I always love a fairytale retelling.

I’ve heard good things on tumblr so I’m fairly confident going in that this will be a decent book. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where Lo has taken the classic Cinderella story. I’m also especially excited at the prospect of a non-heterosexual protagonist. YA Fantasy is my favorite genre and it’s so rare to find queer representation in it so the existence of this book is already refreshing.

Some quotes from Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt (The Tillerman Cycle, book 1)

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Here are the quotes I liked from Homecoming that didn’t go into separate posts:

Part One

Dicey felt a great weight settle on her shoulders. She tried to shrug it off, but it wouldn’t move.

– Page 11 (Chapter 1)

He took his time getting to her, as if he was sure she’d wait, sure of his own strength to hold her, even at that distance. He moved like he thought she was afraid of him, too afraid to run.

– Page 13 (Chapter 1)

Throughout the meal, Windy’s voice blew over them, smooth and steady. It didn’t matter what he was saying.

– Page 113 (Chapter 7)

Part Two

There could be no home for the Tillermans. Home free — Dicey would settle for a place to stay. Stay free.

– Page 205 (Chapter 1)

Out here, there was salt on the wind itself that fell on your skin like rain. You could taste it. Out here the sun heated and the wind cooled, and the waves sang their constant song.

– Page 244 (Chapter 3)

The No filled the whole air of the house. Every time she breathed in she breathed in that No.

– Page 362 (Chapter 10)

He was studying his grandmother, as if he was hungry too, but for something not food, hungry in a way that food could never fill.

– Page 386 (Chapter 12)

Version:
Hardcover, 400 pages
Published March 6th 2012 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Teaser Tuesday: August 29, 2017

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She felt funny, strange, making up lies as quickly and smoothly as if she’d been doing it all her life.

– Cynthia Voigt, Homecoming (The Tillerman Cycle, book 1), page 14

Version:
Hardcover, 400 pages
Published March 6th 2012 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

Top 5 Wednesday: August 23, 2017

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Books from Before You Joined ________

These are some of your favorite books from before you joined the online book community, whether that be booktube, goodreads, blogs, bookstagram, twitter, tumblr, etc.
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, just head over to their Goodreads Group and join the fun!

  1. Tree by Leaf by Cynthia Voigt
  2. Homecoming (The Tillerman Cycle, book 1) by Cynthia Voigt
  3. Elske (Tales of the Kingdom, book 4) by Cynthia Voigt
  4. It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It by Robert Fulghum
  5. The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern, book 1) by Shannon Hale

Gee… I guess I sort of like Cynthia Voigt, huh?

What were your favorite books from before you joined the online reader community? Comment here or make your own post and leave me a link so I can check the books out!

WWW Wednesday: August 23, 2017

LeeLeave a comment

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at Should be Reading and revived on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three W’s!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:  Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, book 1) by Laini Taylor
I’m not very far into this one yet because I hit a bit of a slump for a few days, but I really like it so far. I love the way Lazlo thinks. Except for the part where he doesn’t try to just straight murder Thyon Nero. Fuck that guy…

I’ve just gotten into Part II and I’m fascinated by the blue people! I’m still not all that sure who they are or how they play into things, but I am definitely fascinated and eager to find out more!

It’s also just really refreshing reading a book about someone who loves books and words and stories.

I’m still working on Specials by Scott Westerfeld (I’m trying not to rush through it because it’s just an easy reread) and of course Persuasion by Jane Austen.

Recently Finished:  Crashed (Cold Awakening, book 2) by Robin Wasserman
I reviewed this book.

I’m glad I got back to this story. Wasserman gave a masterful depiction of prejudice and institutional oppression. I don’t want to put it all down to Wasserman’s being Jewish, that would feel like I was disregarding her intelligence and writing ability, but I don’t doubt her heritage played some part in making her so good at accurately portraying an allegory for racism.

I still maintain that I don’t really like any of the main characters personality-wise, but I don’t think that detracts much from my enjoyment of the story, and anyway it’s just a personal preference.

Reading Next:  The Cursed Queen (The Imposter Queen, book 2) by Sarah Fine
I got my hands on this one and despite my problems with the writing of the first book, I’m eager to know what happens next in the story. In fact, I read the first bit of this one to see if I wanted to use it in a First Lines Fridays post and found myself reading past the prologue and into the first chapter!

I did notice mention of some sort of marks that indicate how good a warrior is, which seem to be self-harm. I’m a little worried about that and I really hope this doesn’t go the way of Carve the Mark with glorification of self-harm… I’m hoping that Fine won’t do that though.

Homecoming (The Tillerman Cycle, book 1) by Cynthia Voigt
I have been wanting to reread The Tillerman Cycle for a while now, and this seems as good a time as any.

I love Cynthia Voigt’s writing style. I’ve mentioned this before I think, but I’ve noticed there are some books that just completely change the way you look at the world. Cynthia’s books are like that. It doesn’t matter how many times I read them, they always make me see things in such a unique way, a way I can’t quite manage without Cynthia’s writing voice.