Review of ARC: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Goodreads Book Description: A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay.
 
When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

My Review:
I'll just say this first. If a book description has to remind the reader that DON'T GIVE UP YET! There is ANOTHER book coming! That's probably a sign that either this should be a stand alone, OR it needs to be reworked. If one of these two had happened, I think this would have been a better book.

My Rating of 3 out of 5 stars is generous because the last 100 pages were much better than the first 200.

I received this book from the Early Reviewers Librarything program in exchange for an honest review.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman is the first book that I've read by this author. Since I've heard a lot of wonderful things about Forman, I knew this was one I wanted to read. This book is about a girl, Allyson (aka Lulu for one day), who is on an abroad program prior to starting college. She meets a boy (a Shakespearean actor of all things) named Willem, who stands for everything she wants to have-- freedom. She has been a coddled only child for her whole life, and primped to become a medical doctor. He spends a glorious day with her in Paris, and then the next morning, vanishes. She ends up in college, in massive depression before she decides to pick up her life and start anew.

I wish that everything I told you happened in 30 pages or less. I'm not even giving you spoilers because everything I've said is in the synopsis on the back. But unfortunately for the reader, this takes up a dragging 3/4 of the book. It's such a stereotypical story-- American girl meets sexy foreign actor, gets dumped, and then is a complete mess, over a guy that she met for ONE DAY. I mean I know the author is trying to branch out and make this out to be how Allyson is finding herself, but it's all geared towards some guy she doesn't even know.

Then something changes. I can even tell you exactly where it does-- page 234. Allyson stops feeling sorry for herself (which she does for SO MANY PAGES), and gets her life back together. The rest of the book is pretty darn good. And it makes me sad that it could have been so much more. This book suffers from "build up" syndrome. The first 200+ pages should have been compressed, and the rest would be the meat of the story. As it is, we are left with a cliffhanger, and the promise that a SECOND book, about Willem is coming. Are you freakin' kidding me?!

Overall, I found this book to be trite and boring that really only came to life in the last 100 pages. It's too bad. This couplet of books should have been one stand alone book.

People loved her other books. But after this one, I'm not sure when I'll read her previous works.

Current Giveaways
1. Interview and Giveaway of dystopian YA novel, There Comes A Prophet by David Litwack, US/Canada giveaway of paperback of his book
There Comes a Prophet giveaway

2. Interview with Jennifer Lane, author of Streamline, US giveaway of signed paperback + bookmark and International giveaway of e-copy, 12/16
Streamline Giveaway

3.  Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop Featuring Keary Taylor, author of Eden and What I Didn't Say! (US only), 12/21-27
Keary Taylor Giveaway

Writer's Cramp: A Honky Tonk Life

Prompt: Place anywhere in the story, the sentence- "This was the life of a country star."

Tommy Lee didn't give himself a chance to think too hard; if he did, he might just plumb give up. He set his guitar case down by his feet. The dust on the road swirled around his worn brown boots, and he tilted his hat forward to keep the sand out of his eyes. His hair had been long prior to the apocalypse, but it was longer and dirtier now, some dark strands caked to his face with old sweat.

The last few days didn't go so well. He lost his shotgun two days prior to a zombie girl, who he thought he had recognized from his past-- blond curls and a dress with faded flowers. Maybe an old fan? Maybe, but he couldn't recognize any features when she turned around, with her face half rotten off with visible gums and teeth from the hole in her cheek. She took him by surprise, and when she lurched towards him with gnarled, moldy fingers, he took his guitar and ran... and left the gun sitting where he had been sunning himself. It was obvious what his priorities were. And as he knew from experience, he was good at running away.

He figured playing and singing kept him sane, kept him human. Kept him different than the lumbering ghouls that followed his every step. He was used to followers running after him. But they usually didn't want to eat him. Usually.

He had been an alcoholic—he could admit that now, now that he couldn’t drink booze anymore, since dulling one’s senses increased the likelihood of being caught by a zombie. He hadn’t been the nicest guy either—he cringed when he remembered how he treated some of his most devout fans. He almost fell on one in a drunken stupor, threw up on another, and shouted expletives to yet another. At the time, he had rationalized, telling himself, “This is the life of a country star.” What would he do to get another chance to make up for past mistakes? But now, there were no stadiums of fans chanting his name. There were no chances for him to shine in the spotlight. Now, it was surviving by the edge of his teeth.

He had been on his own for a long time, and was hoping one day to find someone else in this barren wasteland. Plenty of empty houses with cupboards to plunder; plenty of houses with zombies that never escaped. Apparently, they weren’t so good at turning door knobs. He had a nasty surprise when he opened a closet a week ago.

He stuck a blade of grass in the corner of his mouth. There were benefits to the end of the world. Instead of writing songs about dead dogs, pickup trucks, or a wife that left him, he could sing verses about losing a limb, escaping death at every turn, or a relative or ex-wife that became a zombie. He was in the middle of the unfortunate observation that the most obvious rhyme with "zombie" was his own name "Tommy," when he heard an excited little whisper.

"Mister? Mister? Are you him? Are you really the famous Tommy Lee?"

Tommy turned around and saw a young boy wearing tattered rags and no shoes, streaks of soot on his cheeks. At first he was shocked, because he had not seen another human being in days, maybe months. He was losing track of time. “Who are you?” The words came out harsher than he intended.

The boy took a step back. “Artie. I’m a huge fan. My dad--“ he stuttered. “My dad used to play your music all the time on our stereo system. That is, when he was still alive.”

Tommy couldn’t believe this kid had survived this whole time. Who was taking care of him? He was skin and bones. Then he realized. This was his chance. His chance to make up for a lifetime of mistakes and disappointments.

He knelt down in front of the boy. “Do you have a favorite song?”

The boy gave him a shy smile. “I really like It’s a Honky Tonk Life.”

Tommy had to laugh. That was his least original song, but probably his most well-known. And the irony of singing that particular song now was not lost on him.

He flattened the case, popped the latches, and took out his guitar. He would have to break into another music store soon—he only had one set of strings left in his case. “For my biggest fan,” he said to Artie, who was clapping his hands gleefully. “I’ll sing this song.”

He started strumming with his worn pick. Chord after chord swelled from the well-loved instrument. He had been through everything with his guitar—the highs and lows. And now, it was helping him earn his redemption.

Hope you enjoyed it! Now don't forget to enter some great giveaways!

Current Giveaways
1. Interview and Giveaway of dystopian YA novel, There Comes A Prophet by David Litwack, US/Canada giveaway of paperback of his book and INT giveaway of e-copy
There Comes a Prophet giveaway

2. Interview with Jennifer Lane, author of Streamline, US giveaway of signed paperback + bookmark and INT giveaway of e-copy, 12/16
Streamline Giveaway

3.  Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop Featuring Keary Taylor, author of Eden and What I Didn't Say! (US only), 12/21-27
Keary Taylor Giveaway

Feature and Follow: What have I learned from blogging?

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Here are the rules to the blog hop!
To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

• (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
• (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers

• Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
• If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q: What have you learned from book blogging that you didn’t know before about the publishing industry?

 

Geesh. What have I NOT learned? I have met so many people, other bloggers, authors, etc who have taught me so much. I've learned how people promote their books-- the difference between self publishing and the standard publishing route. I've learned about ARCs, and other acronyms (TBR list, dreaded DNF list, etc). I've learned the difference between selling a book as a complete book and selling by proposal. I've learned the importance of crit partners. I've learned that it may take 30 drafts or more to get to your final copy and sometimes, editors take you in a direction you didn't want to go.  And so much more! It's been such an educational ride!

 

Enter some great giveaways and Happy Friday!
Current Giveaways
1. Interview and Giveaway of dystopian YA novel, There Comes A Prophet by David Litwack, US/Canada giveaway of paperback of his book
There Comes a Prophet giveaway

2. End of the World Blog Hop Giveaway, Interview and Giveaway with Elizabeth Richards, author of Black City, 12/13-12/22
Black City Giveaway

3. Interview with Jennifer Lane, author of Streamline, US giveaway of signed paperback + bookmark and International giveaway of e-copy, 12/16
Streamline Giveaway

4.  Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop Featuring Keary Taylor, author of Eden and What I Didn't Say! (US only), 12/21-27
Keary Taylor Giveaway

Part II Interview with Keary Taylor, author of Eden and What I Didn't Say and US giveaway

Welcome back to Part II of this great interview. The second book I want to highlight is WHAT I DIDN'T SAY. I just read this a few months ago, and it was a really cute book!

Goodreads Book Description: Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review: What I Didn't Say Review 

Author Blurb:
Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night. She is the author of the FALL OF ANGELS trilogy, EDEN, and WHAT I DIDN'T SAY.


Author Interview Part II. 
1) What I loved most in your book What I Didn't Say was how it portrayed someone who has lost a major mode of communication-- speech. I know you remarked on this some in your afterword, but it was so moving that I hope you'll remark on your personal experiences again here that inspired the creation of this story.

I won’t give you the details of everything here, you’ll have to read the book for that.  But I will say that much of the events in What I Didn’t Say came from my own experience as a teenager.  I experienced a drastic change in my life and it was very difficult to deal with.  I was angry, it didn’t seem fair.  But I knew, just like Jake from the book, that I had a choice.  I could let this define me, or I could rise above.

2) You write convincingly in a male perspective in What I Didn't Say. Was that tough?

Surprisingly, no.  I’ve actually written more stories from a male perspective than a female!  Isn’t that weird, lol!  I really enjoy writing from a boys point of view for some reason.

3) Tell us a little about the movie, Eden! 

Yeah, how exciting is that!  Back in November of 2011 I was contacted by Black Forest Film Group.  Mark Morgan, who produced the Twilight Saga, and Kami Garcia, co-author of Beautiful Creatures turned producer, found Eden, read it, and loved it.  They called me up and told me they wanted to option it!  So we are currently in the (very slow) process of bringing it to the big screen!

4) What do you have next on the horizon?

I actually just released the prequel to Eden, titled Rebirth.  It’s short, 11,000 words, but it gives you a totally different view of the world of Eden.  And from there I’m afraid my future projects are under wraps for now!

Thanks, Keary, for visiting! We can't wait to see the movie!

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Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop, Featuring Keary Taylor, author of Eden and What I Didn't Say

It's time for the....

Third Annual - Mid-Winter's Eve Giveaway Hop

December 21st to 27th

Co-hosted by Oasis for YA

Thanks to both I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Oasis for YA for sponsoring this great giveaway blog hop! I am featuring a terrific author, Keary Taylor.

Welcome Keary Taylor, who is the author of the books Eden and What I Didn't Say. I remember reading Eden a year ago, and being really impressed by it! I'm so excited to be able to interview her on my blog and share it with all of you!

Goodreads Book Description of Eden: Eve knew the stories of the Fall, of a time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. She's seen the aftermath of the technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter, able to grow new organs and limbs, how it evolved out of control. The machine took over and the soul vanished. A world quickly losing its humanity isn't just a story to her though. At eighteen, this world is Eve's reality.

In their Fallen world, love feels like a selfish luxury, but not understanding what it is makes it difficult to choose between West, who makes her feel alive but keeps too many secrets, and Avian, who has always been there for her, but is seven years her senior.

The technology wants to spread and it won't stop until there is no new flesh to assimilate. With only two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. While fighting to keep Eden alive, Eve will discover that being human is about what you will do for those you love, not what your insides may be made of. And even if it gets you killed, love is always what separates them from the Fallen.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

My review: Eden Review

Author Blurb:
Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night. She is the author of the FALL OF ANGELS trilogy, EDEN, and WHAT I DIDN'T SAY.

Author Interview Part I.

1) Tell us a little about your journey to starting your writing career-- was there a certain person/book/inanimate object that inspired you to start?

I started writing when I was about 13.  My best friend and I were WAY into Harry Potter and we started writing this epic fan-fiction.  Harry Potter was really the only young adult fiction I ever read as an actual young adult.  After I had my first child my sister introduced me to some other YA and that was when I became addicted and started writing my own.  It took me a while to figure out what I was doing, but I love every moment of my writing journey!

2) I absolutely loved your book Eden and the world you created. Can you tell us a little about how you got this idea and your brainstorming process in general?

I actually got the idea while watching Star Wars III.  There was this shot of Anakin with his new mechanical hand and I had the thought “wouldn’t that be cool if he’d grown that himself and it was a part of his DNA?”  And Eden just started blossoming from there!

3) I think most people remarked on this in their reviews of your book Eden-- both love interests (West and Avian) are great and very hard to choose between. Without giving too much away, did you know starting out who you were leaning towards or did it just play out as the story progressed?

This is part of the big Eden secret that I revealed on my blog a few months ago.  When I started writing Eden Eve was supposed to end up with the other guy.  I had it all planned out.  But then Eve surprised me by saying this line to one of the guys: “You mean more to me than anyone here in Eden.”  And that changed the whole course of the book.  Eve told me who it was she needed and that really surprised me.  But I am very happy with her choice!

Tune in tomorrow for the rest of this awesome interview.
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