The Sunday Post ~5~

Elsewhere News

• Last week in Elsewhere, Desi was absent. She knows and is very, berry sorry. But don't worry--- in my free time, I'll still do all the posts I missed for DESPEREAUX which I hope you read--- it's such a wonderful story of love and forgiveness.
• This week, we're talking about Ally Carter's OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF TIME and if you participated in last month's Gallagher Girl Challenge, you're all caught up! Even though I was personally a bit disappointed in the fifth installment of the Gallagher Girls Series, I still recommend this book and the series wholeheartedly. It's an important development to the story's overall arch, and my tastes aren't your tastes--- my mind isn't your mind--- so you might like it more than I did! I admit the things that bothered me about this one were TRIVIAL, but I can't say it was better than GG3 or GG4, even though I really, really, REALLY want to say that! In my review, I'll talk on this further, but if you haven't picked up this book yet, I still need you to. You must pick it up. You must read it. You must talk to me about it. And then you must convince me that I'm a complete nutzo or something because unfortunately, I wanted to like it a lot more than I actually did.
• This month has brought changes for Elsewhere and no! That's not an April Fool's joke! Instead of just focusing on the book of the week, I'm going to do my best to talk about all of the books we're reading more so that if one of the books I've chosen didn't suit you but another did, you won't be out of the loop--- you'll just be in a different one. :) Keep in mind, the Book of the Week is still my main focus. If I forget or neglect to post about the "challenge" books, TECHNICALLY you can't hate me for it. TECHNICALLY.
• This month, I'll be providing "reading schedules" for the books we'll be reading just to give you an idea or a goal of how you can reasonably finish a book before our Friday Livechat. Since this is the first month I'm doing it I'm going to experiment: this week, I'm giving it to you on Monday, next week on Friday. For those of you who want to try it, let me know which works best for you after the trial run is over. 

New Releases April 2nd- April 8th

*All synopses are from Goodreads

April 3rd: FEAR by Michael Grant (Book #5 in the Gone Series---has anyone read this series? Is it awesome? Should we include it as our series challenge next month?Let me know!)

Despite the hunger, despite the lies, even despite the plague, the kids of Perdido Beach are determined to survive. Creeping into the tenuous new existence they've built, though, is perhaps the worst incarnation yet of the enemy known as the Darkness: fear.

April 3rd: THE FAME GAME by Lauren Conrad (first book in a spinoff series)

In Hollywood, fame can be found on every corner and behind any door. You just have to know where to look for it. Nineteen-year-old Madison Parker made a name for herself as best frenemy of nice-girl-next-door Jane Roberts on the hot reality show L.A. Candy. Now Madison's ready for her turn in the spotlight and she'll stop at nothing to get it. Sure, she's the star of a new show, but with backstabbing friends and suspicious family members trying to bring her down, Madison has her work cut out for her. Plus, there's a new nice girl in "reality" town—aspiring actress Carmen Price, the daughter of Hollywood royalty—and she's a lot more experienced at playing the fame game... When the camera's start rolling, whose star will shine brighter?

April 3rd: BLACK HEART by Holly Black (Book #3 in the Curseworkers series--- *NOTE there are other covers for this series--- covers I love SO much! But I'm not sure if they're circulating. Sadness!)

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy. 

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

April 3rd: PURE by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Book #2 in the Covenant Series paperback release--- was only available as an ebook before)

There is need. And then there is Fate... Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her. 

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her. When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

April 3rd: GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers (Book #1 in the His Fair Assassins Series)

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. 

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

April 3rd: RADIATE by Marley Gibson (looks like a standalone)

Hayley Matthews has one dream: to make it onto the varsity cheerleading team her senior year of high school. Odds are against her, but she doesn't let that stop her from trying and despite the odds, she makes the squad.

In an instant, Hayley's life changes. Now she's part of the popular crowd at school, dating a football player, and going to parties. And she's working hard to be as perfect on the squad as her captain expects them all to be.

But then one day Hayley notices a lump on her left leg and the steady throb she's been feeling has gotten much worse. She can barely walk. When Hayley goes with her mom to get it checked out, the diagnosis is cancer. The doctor can't say how bad it is or what the prognosis will be. At the minimum, she'll have to have surgery. At the most it could mean loss of her leg or even her life. Now she must face the odds again and show everyone, including herself, just how strong she is. And through it all, it's cheerleading that keeps Hayley focused and positive.

All she wants to do is cheer, and nothing, including cancer, is going to stop her.

In Theaters April 2nd- April 8th

April 4th: "Titanic in 3D"

Director: James Cameron

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Going to see it?: No because it'll make me CRY and I don't want to CRY.

Description: When 102-year-old Rose (Gloria Stuart) reveals she's the person in the portrait, she is summoned to the wreckage site to tell her story of the 56-carat diamond necklace and her experiences of 84 years earlier. The scene then shifts to 1912 Southampton where passengers boarding the Titanic include penniless Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and society girl Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), returning to Philadelphia with her wealthy fiance Cal Hockley (Billy Zane). After the April 10th launch, Rose develops a passionate interest in Jack, and Cal's reaction is vengeful. At midpoint in the film, the Titanic slides against the iceberg and water rushes into the front compartments. Even engulfed, Cal continues to pursue Jack and Rose as the massive liner begins its descent.

April 4th: "Iron Sky"

Director: Timo Vuorensola

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Going to see it?: Um! No.

Description: In the last moments of World War II, a secret Nazi space program evaded destruction by fleeing to the Dark Side of the Moon. During 70 years of utter secrecy, the Nazis construct a gigantic space fortress with a massive armada of flying saucers. When American astronaut James Washington (Christopher Kirby) puts down his Lunar Lander a bit too close to the secret Nazi base, the Moon Fuhrer (Udo Kier) decides the glorious moment of retaking the Earth has arrived sooner than expected. Washington claims the mission is just a publicity stunt for the President of the United States (Stephanie Paul), but what else could the man be but a scout for the imminent attack by Earth forces? The Fourth Reich must act! Two Nazi officers, ruthless Klaus Adler (Gotz Otto) and idealistic Renate Richter (Julia Dietze), travel to Earth to prepare the invasion. In the end when the Moon Nazi UFO armada darkens the skies, ready to strike at the unprepared Earth, every man, woman and nation alike, must re-evaluate their priorities.

April 6th: "American Reunion" 

Directors: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg

MPAA Rating: R

Going to see it?: Not my thing, but I admit! The commercial made me laugh!

Description: In the comedy 'American Reunion', all the 'American Pie' characters we met a little more than a decade ago return to East Great Falls for their high-school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn't and that time and distance can't break the bonds of friendship.

It was summer 1999 when four small-town Michigan boys began a quest to lose their virginity. In the years that have passed, Jim and Michelle married while Kevin and Vicky said goodbye. Oz and Heather grew apart, but Finch still longs for Stifler's mom. Now these lifelong friends have come home as adults to reminisce about--and get inspired by--the hormonal teens who launched a comedy legend.

April 6th: "The Hunter"

Director: Daniel Nettheim

MPAA Rating: R

Going to see it?: I don't know! It sounds pretty good!

Description: A mercenary employed by a highly secretive biotech research company sets out into the wilds of Tasmania in search of the elusive Tasmanian tiger - an animal assumed to be extinct by scientists, yet rumored to have been spotted in the area in recent years. Adapted from the novel by author Julia Leigh, The Hunter follows Martin (Willem Dafoe) as he ventures out on his mission and arrives at the home of Lucy Armstrong (Frances O'Connor), who has been heavily sedated since her husband vanished into the surrounding wilderness months ago, and who now lives alone with her young daughter Sass (Morgana Davies) and taciturn son Bike (Finn Woodlock). Shortly thereafter, Martin is accompanied to the edge of the wilds by Jack Mindy (Sam Neill), an old friend of Lucy's who has kept watch over her family and who balks at the newcomer's decision to navigate the rough terrain unaccompanied. In the wake of a clash with hostile local loggers Martin gradually begins to learn more about Lucy's family, and begins to develop a tenuous friendship with her two young children. But later, just as Martin begins to feel as if his goal is finally within reach, an unexpected development sends his mission into a tailspin, and causes him to question the motivations behind capturing this strange and majestic creature.

April 6th: "Damsels in Distress"

Director: Whit Stillman

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Going to see it?: ...Eh! Maybe! Sounds like my cup o' tea...

Description: 'Damsels in Distress' follows a trio of beautiful girls who set out to revolutionize life at a grungy East Coast College -- the dynamic leader Violet Wister (Greta Gerwig), principled Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke) and sexy Heather (Carrie MacLemore). They welcome transfer student Lily (Annaleigh Tipton) into their group which seeks to help severely depressed students with a program of good hygiene and musical dance numbers. The girls become romantically entangled with a series of men -- including slick Charlie ( Adam Brody), dreamboat Xavier (Hugo Becker) and the mad frat pack of Frank (Ryan Metcalf) and Thor (Billy Magnussen)-- who threaten the girls' friendship and sanity.

And that's it for this week, my dears! I'm excited to head down to the bookstore to pick up the April books and all that jazz. Oh didn't you know? The April Calendar is up! Be sure to check it out and participate in the contests going on! You know you want to. Everyone who spreads the word is entered to win! Hope you all have a blessed week. Love ya much and I'll talk to you soon!

Hasta la pasta,

Deserae