Wednesday, November 9, 2011

inkcrush chats

So, time for some (random) stuff to share with you guys...

One: Cath Crowley shared the Italian cover for Graffiti Moon yesterday:

Oh, I am really liking it. It's one of those covers I can keep looking at. I love how it is the same cover scheme as the Aussie cover. I love how it is arty (Graffiti Moon is such an arty book, you guys). What do you guys think?

Speaking of covers...

Two: Braiden alerted us all to the Aussie cover of Cynthia Hand's Hallowed, #2 in the Unearthly series. Here it is, next to our cover for Unearthly:


I am rather fond of it. It is so wintery (a little bit Narnia-esque, LOL). It pulls me in. It feels a bit mysterious, the girl seems sad, bereft, even. It's a midgen whimsical. I think the white on the shelves will stand out. Overall, I am liking the atmosphere of the book. In other news I HAVE READ THE BOOK (thanks netgalley!) I will review soon in full. It has been so very well received so far, and I really (really) enjoyed it. I liked Christian a lot in #2. Also, it was a very sad book, in so many ways. What do you think of the Aussie covers for this series? 

Three: Speaking of cover reveals... I was REALLY excited to spot a cover for 2012 YA debut author Elissa Janine Hooles' book, Kiss the Morning Star (saw it updated over on goodreads):
I have been excited for her book ever since I first read about it. Seeing a cover makes it seem that much closer :)

Four: Did you guys know about Aussie YA Month over at The Crooked Shelf?

Carla has already had some BRILLIANT posts (interviews, guest posts and reviews) and I know there is so much more of the AWESOME to come. (including giveaways and more from some of my favourite authors).I am seriously LOVING it.  Here's a teaser where Carla interviews Melina Marchetta.  and a gorgeous post by Adele of Persnickety Snark. LOVE IT

Five: Speaking of Melina Marchetta...

I just finished reading her latest book Froi of the Exiles. (Book Two of the Lumatere Chronicles). It was especially fun as I had a read-along with one of my fave readerly people, Flannery. We chatted in a google document (sometimes live, which is so. much. fun.) and other times updating our progress as we went chapter by chapter. We raved and speculated and tried to predict what was going to happen (being an MM novel, you know anything could happen). We are both doing a bit of Nanowrimo this month and would love to count our Froi document towards it as our total word count for our Froi discussion was... 23, 462 (which is nearly half of the nano requirement). Good, good times.

In regard to the book (Froi): it is a brick of a book and the story itself is intricately woven. The world building is seamless, making the events and places seem real (how does MM do that? Just create an entire world out of her head). I wondered how I would feel about Froi as a narrator (after some of his early actions in Finnikin) but FEAR NOT! ;) I loved him from the start. He does not take himself as seriously as Finnikin did (he is a pretty funny guy) and he has some charming and tender moments, aww... Here's a perfect quote for the book...

'Why did everyone in Charyn seem to have a story in their eyes? And when had he (Froi) started caring?' p403

In terms of the story, my gosh, the people of Charyn (!) ~ some of their stories will make the stories of the Lumaterans (from Finnikin of the Rock) seem like children's bedtime stories in comparison. It is one wild ride. In comparison to MM's earlier work, I would say this would be the fantasy version of Jellicoe (so much more pain and suffering and heart-breaking history, also, there are moments of confusion for the reader, before the threads all start to ~ masterfully ~ pull together) More on Froi later... (before I launch into an impromptu review)

Six: The Inkys! wOOT!

Well, the winners were announced at the beginning of this month...

Winner of the GOLD INKY for most popular Aussie YA is 'Silvermay' by James Moloney
Winner of the SILVER INKY for most popular international titel is Cassandra Clare's 'Clockwork Angel.

Congrats to both winners!
The inkys are Australia's only YA awards voted for exclusively by teenagers :) More about the inkys on inkcrush :) For the Gold INKY, I had read all of the shot-list, except Silvermay ~ which I am SO hoping my library will add to ther catalogue soon, as I am very keen to read it (James Moloney is an Aussie YA author I grew up reading, and he is still going strong).

Seven: Back to Froi of the Exiles (I nearly forgot)... Fellow Aussie blogger, the lovely Kathy Bradey of Once Upon A Tine In Writer Land is giving away a copy of Froi and she is (generously) making it available INTERNATIONALLY for all you guys who cannot wait for the US release date (of who just want our gorgeous cover) Go forth and enter (and good luck!)

(closes 1st of December)

Eight: Not really a point, just signing out :)

..

Okay, maybe I have more to say, haha... Sorry for the random overload in this post... Also, I still have a backlog of reviews to spit out. I am a casual blogger, I don't commit to posting certain days and whatnot, and I let the blog lie dormant occasionally while I am cruising around in the real world... but, brace yourselves, as I am going to try and cram in a bunch of reviews before the end of the year stars catching up on me...

x Nomes


22 comments:

  1. Hooray for Aussie YA month! I am really loving it so far and so glad that she's done it. I loved the Adele post too. She's one of my favorite people. =)

    As far as that Graffiti Moon cover, let's just say that I LOATHE make-out kissy-face covers...but that one I definitely like!

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  2. I love the cover for Hallowed, it's gorgeous.

    I still haven't read Finnikin of the Rock, but desperately want to! Thanks for the interview :)

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  3. Thanks for the shout out, Nomes! <3

    PS. I love your eighth point, haha :D

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  4. Thank you! ( : It's really sweet!

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  5. FROIIII :D I definitely agree with your comparison to the fantasy version of JR, and I know what you mean by MM creating such an amazing world. Awesome post-- I adore that cover for Graffiti Moon :)

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  6. I am loving all the great covers for Hallowed and cannot wait to read more (especially more Tucker) Also love the new cover for Graffiti Moon, which I still cannot wait to read.

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  7. I adore the Aussie cover for Hallowed - you guys really got the best covers for this series! I have a copy from Netgalley too and I've been hearing quite a few people saying good things about Christian after reading this one. Since I've been Team Christian from day one I think I'm in for a treat! :)

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  8. OMG the Aussie covers of Cynthia's series are SO MUCH COOLER.

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  9. Awesome post - I love the wrap up of all things, and I LOVE the cover of Hallowed. How did I not know that was available on Netgalley? It must have slipped by my radar - corrected now! I've already entered Kathy's contest - double crossing my fingers because I so want it now, especially after reading that excerpt!

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  10. I can not wait to read your review of Froi, I am waiting (very impatiently) for it to arrive from FishPondWorld - I couldn't wait for the UK release in March :)

    I have just added Kiss the Morning Star to my TBR pile, it looks very good.

    And I love the Graffiti Moon cover.

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  11. Going to go point by poin:

    1. This is my favorite cover even with all the yellow I like it better than the US and Aussie ones.

    2.Both covers are prweety! I like the white one a bit more though.

    3. Kiss the Morning Star? hadn't heard of it. needs to check it out.

    4. AUSSIE YA MONTH! YAY!!!

    5. Melina rocks, ;) Can't wait to read Froi, even though is massive. I just wish it had a better cover in the US as that's the one I'll be getting.

    6. Inkys! YAY

    7. Froi. I wants it bad.

    8. Nothing, just going to check all the other pages I opened while reading this.

    Stay excellent!

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  12. I already want to do another readalong with you. I'd not heard of Silvermay until this post--I'll see if I can get my fingers on a copy. I cracked up at the casual blogger comment about you "cruising around in real life." CRUISING? I'm assuming you're talking about all that bike riding.

    Also, I just like to give you a little *conspiratorial wink*

    EAT THE CANDY!

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  13. oo Thanks for sharing the Hallowed cover - I'll definitely be on the look out for it soon!

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  14. I like the Italian cover for Graffiti Moon too, I think it's better than the US cover. But the Aussie edition is still my favorite and I'm glad I have a copy of that.

    Holly, Janice and I are doing a readalong of Finnikin and I'm hoping it would be just as fun as your readalong with Flannery was. :) In any case, I'm just happy I'll be reading another Marchetta.

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  15. Oh, I am so jealous right now, because sometimes you Aussie's get the best covers! I love the Unearthy/Hallowed set - typography, pictures, colors so much better than the US. Also, don't get me started on Finnikin and Froi - those are gorgeous - so much more striking than the US editions.

    Though I also love the graphic feel of the Italian. I do agree that I like it better than the US cover but maybe not as much as the Aussie one. :)

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  16. Hi Nomes! This is a great post. I didn't know it was Aussie YA month so I will check that out.

    These covers are just fantastic.

    Denise

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  17. Wow! Those Cynthia Hand novels sure look tempting...I'm thinking I must add them to my never ending TBR list!

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  18. Great newsy post, the cover of Hallowed is stunning :)
    Looking forward to those reviews!

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  19. Noooomes! How cool is Aussie YA Month? I might even participate if I can get my hands on anything good (since I'm in Texas and all) Freaking awesome covers. Looking forward to your spew of reviews LOL.

    p.s. How are you?! It's been forever!

    ♥ Trish
    Just a YA Girl

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  20. Lovelovelove the Graffiti Moon italian cover!

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  21. wow, your covers for unearthly and hallowed are soooo beautiful! i like them better than the US covers...):

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Thanks for the commenty love :)