Just finished Wither by Lauren DeStefano. I really enjoyed the prose, but the world building left much to be desired. Actually my favorite character was probably the least likeable - because she was so unlikeable.
I'm just about to start Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams. I bought it in Australia last September and it's finally reached the top of the to-read pile. That was one of several Aussie YA recommendations I solicited (hi, DrummerGirl) before I went, but in the end I just bought this one and one other - Melina Marchetta's Looking for Alibrandi, for the record. Australian books are expensive.
The really big sales happen in the last week. The last day, everything will be 90% off (or $1 if they're more expensive that that). The day before that, they'll be twice that price. The week leading up to that, they'll be 70%. But it's all going to depend on the store whether there's anything left to get. One of our Borders was pretty much cleared out by their last day, but the day before I picked up a great selection of adult SFF books (YA was pretty much gone for the last month). The other Borders had kinda hidden the YA/MG books to the side, and had a semi-decent selection in that last week.So I went to Border's today to check out their sale. I had an idea the discounts would be huge and a list of 20 or so YA books I wanted to get... The young adult books were only 10% off. So, yeah, I didn't end up going on my much anticipated book-shopping spree. It's sad, but even on sale many of the books there are still more expensive (or at most, the same price) than they are at Barnes & Noble (where I usually shop). I'm thinking I'll wait just a little longer and see if the discounts increase. Hopefully they'll still have some books left by that time.
First, I am so jealous you got to go to Australia. And second, yes, they are. There are a bunch I want to get that I can't order here in the US - to order them would raise the price to about 30$ a book. But both of those you mentioned are available internationally. *scratches head a bit puzzled*
Beatle Meets Destiny had a UK edition after I came back home... It has a single, one-star, review on Amazon UK. Boo.
As far as I can tell, only one Melina Marchetta novel has been published in the UK (Saving Francesca), though US editions of the others can be bought from Amazon UK. This was her first novel and I'd seen the film version (I have it on DVD) so I thought that would be a good place to start as I hadn't read her before. Ah, I see. I just knew that they were available from the Book Depository when I wrote my post. Wasn't really thinking about different editions. I love MM, Jellicoe Road is my favorite YA book now.
I bought just those two partly because they had reduced prices in the Sydney bookshop I went to - if money had been no object I'd have bought several others.
I'm enjoying Beatle Meets Destiny so far. It would make a good movie, I think. I somehow recall that it was optioned for film, though that doesn't mean much.
Oh and I'd wanted to go to Australia for about thirty years before I did it. It was much more expensive than I'd anticipated, partly due to the crap exchange rate, but I enjoyed my visit to Melbourne and Sydney. I'd go back in a shot, but unless I win the lottery it won't be for a few years. I'd really like to go there, but it's probably not tops on my husband's list of foreign countries to visit which means that I'm more likely to see Europe first. Like I said before, I is jealous.
The really big sales happen in the last week. The last day, everything will be 90% off (or $1 if they're more expensive that that). The day before that, they'll be twice that price. The week leading up to that, they'll be 70%. But it's all going to depend on the store whether there's anything left to get. One of our Borders was pretty much cleared out by their last day, but the day before I picked up a great selection of adult SFF books (YA was pretty much gone for the last month). The other Borders had kinda hidden the YA/MG books to the side, and had a semi-decent selection in that last week.
The sales at the beginning are pretty sad, especially since you can't use coupons (which were still being e-mailed to me at the time, though I assume they've stopped since everything's closing) which would take more off.
Got a bunch of great arcs and freebie books at ComiCon! LEG3ND by Marie Lu, DARK INSIDE by Jeyn Roberts, DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE by Laini Taylor, NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer, INFINITY by Sherrilyn Kenyon, HOUNDED by Kevin Hearne, and about fifteen more...
Can't wait to dig in! I am SO conflicted about what to try first! Gack!
Too much of a good thing?
On a separate note, can anyone recommend me any YA UF school stories? Protagonist goes to a weird school, weird stuff happens. Harry Potter, Vampire Academy, House of Night, etc.