American Gods Series on HBO

I read this article about Neil Gaiman's book, American Gods, becoming an HBO series with a mixture of excitement, confusion and dread.  The book was great, yes, but I'm not sold on the idea that it's series worthy.  Maybe 10 episodes to flesh out all the characters and successfully portray the complicated world, but anything beyond that is new material, and I'm not sure I want that.   Why mess with what is considered Gaiman at his best?  

If HBO wanted a new show, why couldn't they have chosen the five book Fever series by Karen Marie Moning,  an urban fantasy with everything HBO loves best: lust, sex, greed, power, romance.  It could easily be adapted for a five year run on the network.  I would love it, especially if the writers tweaked the ending just a bit like they are known to do.  : D

Gaiman Discusses HBO's American Gods Series

In an interview with MTV, Neil Gaiman discussed the newly released 10th anniversary edition of American Gods, as well as an adaptation he is working on for HBO. Gaiman is attached as executive producer and will co-write the series pilot with cinematographer Robert Richardson. The project is being developed by Tom Hanks's Playtone production studio. "The overall plan right now is that the first season would essentially be the first book, with a few interesting divergences," Gaiman said. "You don't want people who've read the book to be able to go, 'I know everything that's going to be happening here.' [They will] know a lot more than anybody who's starting from here, but we will do things that will surprise [them] too." MTV also asked Gaiman about his plans for an American Gods sequel. "I've been [planning] to do a second American Gods book since the first American Godsbook," he replied. "What I basically have right now is a boxful of stuff. Things go into it. I always knew there was going to be more story. The first book was very much about the grifters and the lowlifes, and you don't really get to see much of the new gods and you don't really get a sense of those gods who are doing incredibly well in America. In the second book, I definitely want to go into both of those things." (Article from Shelf Awareness) Have you read American Gods?  How do you feel about it becoming a series on HBO?

Creepy Book Trailer: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Looking for something a little different to read this summer?  Amazon named "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs best book for young adults for the month of June, and you just might want to read it before the movie release.  After a heated auction, Twentieth Century Fox snatched up the rights, but there's no mention of dates, actors or director.   All the buzz has piqued my curiosity.  It's gotta be good, right?


The author recently went to Belgium to shoot this goosebumpy trailer for his novel.  What do you think?

Which Book Will Get Kicked Off the Shelf: Series One of the YA Bloggers Best Overlooked Book Battle 2011

Check out the books in round one of the YA Bloggers Best Overlooked Book Battle 2011.  Book mark this page and stay tuned for the winners that will advance to round two and beyond. 


How many of these good overlooked books have you read?  How will they fare in the cage match against other recommendations?    Will your book get kicked off the shelf? 


I was a judge this round, and it's been a great experience because I was given two books to read that I never would have picked up on my own.  Aside from these two books, I've read two others on the list:  Keturah and Lord Death and Bloody Jack and I absolutely adore them both; plus the winner of my match is amazing, but there can only be one!  (The winner of my match will be announced Friday if my inner critic allows me to finish my post!  She's such a witch!)


OH MY GOD!  I can't stand it!  I'm so excited!  Sadly, I've just revealed to my precious following few that I'm a total book nerd!

Keep reading,

What is J.K. Rowling Up to Now?

J.K. Rowling is up to something!  She admits the latest project isn't another Harry Potter book, but could it be a MMORPG where we can play Quidditch together, and practice wizardry?  Or could it be something way more awesome... a Potter theme park to rival Disney World?

Check out Pottermore and click on the owls to see the mysterious countdown for yourself.

So what do you think?

Lauren DeStefano, Author of Wither, Talks About Goodreads

On her Vlog, Lauren DeStefano talks about Goodreads and the effects of reading reviews of her book, Wither. Funny. I've never heard of the book, but I enjoy reading debut authors. The book sounds intriguing.

YA Bloggers Best Overlooked Book Battle 2011

For the month of of June I'll be participating in the second round of YA Bloggers Best Overlooked Book Battle 2011, hosted by The Shady Glade.

This battle is such a great idea. Some of my favorite YA books are outside the "big bookstore" spotlight, such as Keturah and Lord Death and Bloody Jack. Hot new titles are fun to read, but I'm hesitant to follow trends, and don't always choose from the in your face displays. I'm selective, picky even, always wondering what else is out there. I'm excited about finding original YA titles that have been overlooked for what ever reason, and I can't wait to see which novel wins.

Follow the links to see if any books you've read made the first list, and if they've advanced to round two.

Exciting, right! My partner, Melissa, and I will be reading Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth and Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell. After reading, critiquing, and a lively debate, we'll choose a winner. The winner will move on to the next round.

Stay tuned for my reviews on Keeping Corner and Song of the Sparrow, and which book Melissa and I chose as the winner, and don't forget to follow along to find the best overlooked book of 2011!

*I'll link Melissa's blog as soon as my laptop stops trying to take over the planet. The battle trailer is eating up blog space, but I'll leave it because it's so cool!

Help a Child

Help a child with the click of a button; it can't get much easier than that.

Deanna of Polishing Mud balls explains apraxia, how it effects her son and what we can do to support the institution dedicated to helping her son, and children like him. She's not asking for a monetary donation- just exercise your clicking finger on Facebook!

Just log on to Facebook, go to http://www.vivint.com/givesbackproject/charity/82 and "like" Vivint, then click on the orange ENDORSE button. That's it! For even more support and personal feel good, click that wonderful orange ENDORSE button everyday until June 11.

I wish I could write a more elegant post, a post the subject matter deserves, but I'm off to work, but follow this link for Deanna's post on how to help, click that button, and let the feel good flow through your body. I did!