Showing posts with label Elizabeth Norris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elizabeth Norris. Show all posts
Top Ten Tuesday: Authors Who Deserve More Recognition
Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
(1) Jessica Shirvington
Seriously I can't speak highly enough of this woman. Not only are her stories amazing, but she had such a beautiful writing style that needs to be celebrated. You can tell her books are well researched and thought out. Just read The Violent Eden Chapters, that's all I can really say without turning into an embarrassing fan girl. (Who am I kidding it's too late for that - I am a total fan girl!)
Seriously I can't speak highly enough of this woman. Not only are her stories amazing, but she had such a beautiful writing style that needs to be celebrated. You can tell her books are well researched and thought out. Just read The Violent Eden Chapters, that's all I can really say without turning into an embarrassing fan girl. (Who am I kidding it's too late for that - I am a total fan girl!)
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(2) Julie Cohen
I first discovered Julie through the Little Black Dress books - basically cute little chic lit novels. However Julie's books are so much more than fluffy chic lit! I especially loved Girl From Mars, I absolutely fell in love with this book. Getting Away With It was amazing too. The way she writes her heroines with charm, realistic floors and the perfect amount of wit make her stories so memorable. Philomena is still one of my favourite heroines, I just connected with her in so many ways.
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(3) Magan Vernon
Writing a story centred around political opinions is not easy but Magan did a seriously amazing job at it in The Only Exception. Both main characters, Monica & Trey have very different opinions, but instead of having one have the 'correct opinion', Magan allows them both to voice their views and gives the reader the opportunity to make their own choice - that is great writing IMO. And not only that but she wrote a nice boy hero - yes that's right heroes do exist that aren't tortured man whores with abusive families *claps for Vernon*
Writing a story centred around political opinions is not easy but Magan did a seriously amazing job at it in The Only Exception. Both main characters, Monica & Trey have very different opinions, but instead of having one have the 'correct opinion', Magan allows them both to voice their views and gives the reader the opportunity to make their own choice - that is great writing IMO. And not only that but she wrote a nice boy hero - yes that's right heroes do exist that aren't tortured man whores with abusive families *claps for Vernon*
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(4) Autumn Doughton
I discovered Autumn's book One An Edge Of Glass a few months ago, and it's still one of my favourites for the year! I think it has a lot to do with the hero Ben - a musician who plays in a rock band & and orchestra - yeah this boy has many layers! I've read a lot a NA romances this year and although I've enjoyed them, many lack great writing, but Autumn's writing style was just so refreshing!
I discovered Autumn's book One An Edge Of Glass a few months ago, and it's still one of my favourites for the year! I think it has a lot to do with the hero Ben - a musician who plays in a rock band & and orchestra - yeah this boy has many layers! I've read a lot a NA romances this year and although I've enjoyed them, many lack great writing, but Autumn's writing style was just so refreshing!
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(5) Nichole Chase
When I first read Suddenly Royal I wasn't expecting such an amazing book - but I simply loved it. More than just another NA romance, the characters had substance and the storyline was engaging. I can't wait to read the sequel or her soon to be released book The Accidental Assassin
When I first read Suddenly Royal I wasn't expecting such an amazing book - but I simply loved it. More than just another NA romance, the characters had substance and the storyline was engaging. I can't wait to read the sequel or her soon to be released book The Accidental Assassin
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(6) Rachel Harris
I absolutely loved her YA novel My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century and I'm currently reading the sequel A Tale Of Two Centuries. Her writing is so wonderfully descriptive her stories just come to life. Not only does she write YA but also adult fiction to with Taste the Heat just being published - a woman of many talents!
I absolutely loved her YA novel My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century and I'm currently reading the sequel A Tale Of Two Centuries. Her writing is so wonderfully descriptive her stories just come to life. Not only does she write YA but also adult fiction to with Taste the Heat just being published - a woman of many talents!
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(7) Diana Peterfreund
Her book For Darkness Shows The Stars which was an futuristic adaptation of Persuasion by Jane Austen was absolutely beautifully written. I had very high expectations as Persuasion is my favourite Austen novel and this didn't disappoint! She cleverly included all the necessary character traits & important plot points, but added enough new elements to make this a unique adaptation.
Her book For Darkness Shows The Stars which was an futuristic adaptation of Persuasion by Jane Austen was absolutely beautifully written. I had very high expectations as Persuasion is my favourite Austen novel and this didn't disappoint! She cleverly included all the necessary character traits & important plot points, but added enough new elements to make this a unique adaptation.
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(8) Elizabeth Norris
I loved her novel Unraveling and the fact that it's a sci-fi novel that still appeals to those who are not big on sci-fi. She has made the genre more accessible which is fabulous! The series deals with science fiction elements without becoming too clinical.
I loved her novel Unraveling and the fact that it's a sci-fi novel that still appeals to those who are not big on sci-fi. She has made the genre more accessible which is fabulous! The series deals with science fiction elements without becoming too clinical.
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(9) Melina Marchetta
I remember reading her first book Looking For Alibrandi in high school. It did go on to win many awards in Australia and was also made into a movie, however I still feel she deserves more recognition (especially overseas) for her amazing writing talent. I'm still surprised by how many people haven't even heard of her
I remember reading her first book Looking For Alibrandi in high school. It did go on to win many awards in Australia and was also made into a movie, however I still feel she deserves more recognition (especially overseas) for her amazing writing talent. I'm still surprised by how many people haven't even heard of her
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(10) Sawyer Bennett
I've recently read her NA books Off The Record & Off Limits, and loved that she was not only able to write a steamy romance but match it with a solid storyline! Her characters are well developed and her sexy scenes are quite creative!
I've recently read her NA books Off The Record & Off Limits, and loved that she was not only able to write a steamy romance but match it with a solid storyline! Her characters are well developed and her sexy scenes are quite creative!
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Well those are my Top Ten Ten - what about yours?
Review: Unraveling (Unraveling #1)
Labels:
Book Review,
Elizabeth Norris,
Sci-fi,
Unraveling,
YA,
Young Adult
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Title: Unravelling
Series: Unravelling #1
Author: Elizabeth Norris
Published: 24th April 2012
Genre: Sci-fi Romance
“Those deep set eyes that look like they could tell stories for days, and that wavy brown hair that feels soft between my fingers. I try to memorize the angles of his jaw and the lines of his lips, because I know. I know this may be the last time I ever see him."
***Spoilers***
THE GOOD:
The story:
It's exciting to see a sci-fi story in the YA section. There was strong X-Files vibe to the story, with Janelle's father being in the FBI & well…of.course there is the fact that it's mentioned several times that they all love watching the X-Files DVDs.
In the blurb it mentions how Ben bring Janelle back to life, however that's not really the focus story. It's more about the FBI cases that Janelle's father is investigating & the mystery where/why/who Ben is. It's a really exciting sci-fi mystery, to say anymore would ruin the fun in trying to work it out!
The romance:
There was a hint of insta love here, but not enough to make their relationship unbelievable. They do spend time getting to know each other before any declarations of love occur. I also liked the fact that Janelle is actually dating another guy Nick at the beginning of the story. Nick is a nice guy, he's sweet & it's obvious that he likes Janelle. But as Janelle spends time with him, she realises that they don't really click and she breaks it off. I also appreciated that she didn't dump Nick for Ben, she did it for herself.
When Ben & Janelle start getting closer, Ben begins to pull away **major spoiler**>>> because he knows that if he gets the opportunity to go back to his universe he doesn't want to make the choice between leaving or staying for Janelle. Eventually the tension spills over and they declare their love for each other, in a rather passionate scene (involving a washing machine - and yes it was on…) **end spoiler**
The characters:
Ben is really sweet, and it was a nice change to see that it was the guy who been harbouring a crush on the girl for all these years. He's also smart, as he has been studying anything he can find about <spoiler> the science of wormholes & multiverses etc </spoiler>. Descriptions of him don't just consist of "omg he's so dreamy & has amazing pecs", he actually has a personality!
Janelle could be a little stubborn at times, she wanted to solve everything by herself, even though she could have gone to Struz to ask for help. After all she says on several occasions that he's like family to her. She also ignores her brother when he needs her the most which I didn't really like. But she always has good intentions, even is she does make the wrong decisions sometimes.
The Writing:
Norris has written an intelligent story, she doesn't throw the answers in your face at the very beginning, we are left in the dark as much as Janelle. We have to follow the clues as Janelle discovers them. Not only is this more exciting as a reader, but it also prevent the characters from looking like complete idiots, as we're left screaming at the characters to see the obvious answers that are staring them in face (ie. there are claw marks on the back of his bedroom door, he doesn't like going out on the full moon, and sometimes he growls when we're making out…what could his secret be?? *facepalm*)
THE BAD:
Subplot - Janelle's Mother:
I felt the storyline of Janelle's bipolar mother was not really handled all that well. This women is clearly ill and Janelle is left to look after her and incidentally her brother. Why does her father not get her Mum the help she so clearly needs. I felt that her condition was not taken seriously enough, and Janelle just whined that she couldn't take any more of her crap. It's not like her Mum's a drunk or just an angry abusive mother - she has a mental illness. I felt this is a very serious storyline and either needed more attention & be written more realistically or just left out completely.
FINAL WORD:
Overall Unravelling was an interesting and thought provoking read. It's going to be interesting to see where the story leads to in the next instalment. <spoiler>Hopefully we get to see more of the other universes and have that storyline explored a little more</spoiler>
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / heavy kissing, flashback of sexual assault
Violence: medium-strong / descriptions of radiation burnt bodies, murder scene with characters shot
Language: medium / several sh*t, f**k
Drugs & alcohol: medium / underage drinking at party, **spoiler**flashbacks of main character's drink drugged **end spoiler**
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