What Do You Think (3) : The Interactive Book Experience

Last month, there was big hype over what Pottermore.com was going to be. We've since learned that not only is it for the exclusive distribution of the e-version of the Harry Potter books,  but Rowling said she "wanted to give something back to the fans that have followed Harry so devotedly over the years, and to bring the stories to a new generation". The site is an interactive environment and includes some 18,000 words of new writing! Just like Harry, users will be assigned a house by the sorting hat, mix potions, shop for their own wand and compete with their friends for a house cup by playing games. How cool is that! This week limited access to a beta version is being given to those who answer Magical Quill Challenge clue, with a full launch to all users in October. There is only a limited amount of registration spots available each day and only two days left.

Scholastic's 39 Clues series has a successful interactive edge to it, with cards in the books containing codes that unlocked even more clues. I loved this and so did my son, for him it was a great way to learn new things, in a fun way.  There was over $100,000 in prizes given away!

Now, Michael Grant, the writer of the best selling GONE series has a new series coming out. Where Pottermore came out after the series was complete, the fun begins for BZRK prior to it's release. Go BZRK, the book, "comes out this winter, but the interactive part starts now. One leads up to the other, but they're part of a complete package" according to Mr. Grant. You don't have to participate interactively, "but the deeper you plunge the wetter you get. I think every part of this is fun, I think people will enjoy the ARG, the app, the site and the books". You can get started by visiting societytwins.com and register with nexushumanus.com. There will be video, puzzles, community collaboration, and more!

I love seeing new promotional tools, something really different to create early buzz. I'm curious on how this will play out, what it is that will make me want to revisit which I think is the key to it's success. I know I've said this before, but the Harry Potter series is in a league of their own and I do see me wanting to spend time in that world again, not only to share it with my kids but because I love it so much!

So, what do you think? Is transmedia the wave of the future? Will you try it out? Is it something you see yourself coming back to regularly? What series would you love to see made interactive?

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Hardcover, 372 pages

Released: December 2, 2010

Publisher: Dutton

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Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

My thoughts:
Much to her dismay, Anna's parents ship her off to an American boarding school...in Paris. Not only is it her last year of high school, but she doesn't even speak French! It doesn't take long for her to meet new friends, including the charismatic Etienne St. Clair whom everyone adores. They quickly become best friends but he has a long time girl friend off campus and Anna is still eager to see Toph back home. Their connection, along with her best friends betrayal, show us that you can't always help who you fall in love with.

St. Clair is a French/American with good hair, sweet, smart and speaks with a British accent but he's no perfect and I love that! He is short (OK, maybe his charisma will more then make up for this), he is insecure about being alone and his relationship with his parents is not the best (he loves his Mom but his Dad is the controlling kind). Anna also has family issues. Her father is a best-selling author who left her Mom soon after her brother was born and she basically feels abandoned. I love the message that nothing is perfect.

Anna is a great character, someone you'd love to have as a friend and hang out with. I could relate to her fear of new things. What we see though is that her originally terrifying situation leads to so much good! Not only does she find love, she discovers that home isn't just a place, it can be a person too. It makes me wonder what I miss out on by avoiding change.

This is the cutest story ever! I think Stephanie Perkins has captured perfectly the essence of what being a teen is, the hardships, the choices and the confusing feelings. Everyone needs an Etienne in their life at some point! Oh, and just to warn you: if you have ever thought of going to Paris, this book will make you want to fly there tomorrow ;)

The end of September can't come soon enough. I'm dying to read the companion book, Lola and the Boy Next Door .

Book Blogger Appreciation Week - Nominate Your Favorite Blogs!

Registration for the 2011 Book Blogger Appreciation Week is now open! This is such a great way to find new-to-you blogs, celebrate our love for books and support your fellow bloggers.  I see there are some new bookish categories also added this year.

Here's a post explaining the process: http://bookbloggerappreciationweek.com/2011/07/the-2011-awards-process/. You must register to participate. There are quite a few categories to nominate so this will take some time! Nominations close August 13th.

ETA: Once you log in with google/twitter, you will then be asked for your details. After updating, click on the 'back' hyper link on the bottom left to find the link that then brings you to the nominations! A few of us got lost finding it, hope this helps!

Now go spread some book blogger love!

Review: Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Hardcover, 400 pages

Expected publication: July 26, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

ISBN13: 9781442421172

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Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

My Rating: 3 / 5

My Thoughts:

Ashline's sister, Eve, brings disaster along where ever she goes. In an attempt to get away from her, Ash transfers to a private school in the middle of no where.  An emergency call goes out and this changes everything! Ash, along with some school mates, discover they have special abilities and an important role to play.

The book seemed full of pointless violence and took forever to get to the point. I was hoping to learn more about the mythology but found we were not told too much other than the fact that the characters are reincarnated and they need to save the world.  I wanted to know more, not just see them fight/kill people with no remorse. It was full of action, but no real story. The characters all blended together, each one snarky & bitchy, resulting in no emotional tie to them at all. I had hopes that Ash may turn a new leaf & lose the anger once away from her sister, but nope...then again she is a Volcano goddess so is prone to errupt ;)

 I had no desire to even want to know what was going to happen next. I'm sitting here scratching my head, wondering what the hype was all about! Sorry guys but this dark and angry book was not for me. There seemed to be a lot of hype and so I kept reading, but darn I wish I could get those reading hours back!

In My Mailbox - July 30, 2011

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren where we show what books have found a new home with us!

This week I got :

The Map of Time by Félix J Palm - time travel in Victorian London...I was sold!

The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles -The protagonist Katya, sounds like a strong woman and it is set in New York City in 1938

The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison - a story about love during World War II

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenster - the circus, magic and fate...sounds like a winner to me!

Any of my goodies catch your eye?  What did you get?