Review: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Title: Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares
Author: Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
Published: Oct 26, 2010
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 0375866590
Format: E-Book
Source: Netgalley

Synopsis:
“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors ofNick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

REVIEW:

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares was such an endearing piece of work. I was immediately interested in Dash. He just seems like my kind of snarly guy. And what I might have liked best about Dash is that he stayed himself, even in situations where it would have seemed easier to be someone else. Lily was all over the map with her thoughts and sense of self. However, watching her grow into the girl she is at the end of the book is totally worth it.

I very much enjoyed the supporting characters as well, even those with the smallest parts. Mrs. Basil E. was perhaps my favorite sense of humor throughout the book. Boomer was the perfect best friend for Dash because he is loyal and optimistic.

This book was really cute and fun and I loved the alternating points of view throughout the book between Dash and Lily. Overall, a very highly recommended read. Oh, especially for Christmas time! I didn't realize it when I started but the entire book mainly occurs around Christmas. Felt a bit odd reading it in March. LoL.

5 stars to Dash and Lily's Book of Dares.

Review: Shadowhunters & Downworlders...

Title: Shadowhunters and Downworlder’s: A Mortal Instrument's Reader

Authors Who Contributed:
Holly Black / Kendare Blake / Gwenda Bond / Sarah Rees Brennan / Rachel Caine / Sarah Cross / Kami Garcia / Michelle Hodkin / Kelly Link / Kate Milford / Diana Peterfreund / Sara Ryan / Scott Tracey / Robin Wasserman

Published: Jan 29, 2013
Publisher: SmartPop
ISBN: 1937856224
Source: Netgalley
Format: E-book

Synopsis: Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, epic urban fantasy set in a richly imagined world of shadowhunters, vampires, werewolves, fairies, and more, has captured the imaginations and loyalty of hundreds of thousands of YA readers. Originally a trilogy (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass), the series has extended to six titles, plus a prequel trilogy, the Infernal Devices, and a planned sequel series, the Dark Artifices. A feature film is planned for 2013.

Shadowhunters and Downworlders, edited by Clare (who provides an introduction to the book and to each piece), is a collection of YA authors writing about the series and its world.

REVIEW:

Although all the essays were extraordinary, there were two essays that stood out for me. Here is some more of my opinion of them…

The first essay by Kate Milford, Unhomely Places, truly captured my attention. She spoke of the “uncanny” which is usually associated with the occult. She used Freud’s work as an explanation almost as to how Clary must adjust from being “mundane” to realizing she can see the world in a whole new way. I also loved Milford’s view of New York City and how she intertwined the work of Freud into her own to get her point across. Sometimes things are scary and what you think you know is not true. The beauty is in accepting the “uncanny” that Milford speaks of so much. Her own story of adaptation from Maryland to New York is fantastic as well.

Second, Kami Garcia's article comparing Simon to the "Duckie effect" was absolutely hilarious! By far my favorite chapter, Garcia uses several 80s movies to showcase how the best friend guy always gets the shaft for the bad guy that the girl falls in love with. One of these movies is Pretty In Pink, where Duckie is so in love with Andie and she never loves him back. As Garcia puts it, "Until then, like crop circles, UFO's, the Bermuda Triangle, and ESP, the Duckie effect is an unexplained phenomenon. Only one thing is certain: Even if he's an adorable Jewish vampire, the best friend never gets the girl."

There are several references to the fact that Simon is a Jewish vampire throughout many of the essays. I thought it was interesting how the only symbols that would harm him were Jewish symbols. Also, I wondered why such a fascination with Jewish vampires.

Overall, this is an excellent Reader companion to The Mortal Instruments series. After reading it, I want to go back and re-read The Mortal Instruments series and look at it in a whole new way. Knowing more about the characters and the setting and the emotions that drives the action is going to make going back into this series amazing.

Excellent companion to the Mortal Instruments series.

5 stars.