Interesting Reads Set in Exotic Places (Guest Post by Caroline @ Culture Coverage)

 

Books have the power to transport us to amazing places, and with summer finally here, for those of us not lucky enough to get away on holiday this year, delving into the pages of these fantastic reads offers a perfect cure for our wanderlust.

These five novels, with relatable characters, exciting plotlines and fantastically described settings, provide incredible vicarious traveling experiences and are sure to have you hooked in an instance.

1. The Devil & Miss Prym – Paulo Coelho

Set in the quaint coastal town of Viscos in southern France, this installment in Coelho’s famed series of moral narratives follows a young man seeking to instigate unrest in this peaceful and isolated community.  Miss Prym, a young and idyllic barmaid who longs to make her escape from the sleepy hollow, is thrown into a crisis of morality when the stranger explains he is willing to swap a large amount of gold for an unspeakable deed.

Th novel is set largely around the dynamics of remote village life. It includes picturesque descriptions of the scenic town that are reminiscent of Italy’s famed Cinque Terre and many other beautiful continental cliff-side settlements of coastal Europe. You can almost imagine the seaside breeze on your face and the smell of salt in the air as you turn the pages.

2. Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

What’s better than a novel set in one exotic place? A novel set in three! In terms of indulging in spectacular scenery, local culture and mouthwatering cuisine, “Eat, Pray, Love” does it best. This famed book has been gaining fans all over the world and is a wonderful representation of the transformation traveling can produce.

Liz is a divorcee, failed girlfriend and altogether discontented with her stale life in America. Instead of accepting her mediocre fate, she buys three tickets, boards a plane and grabs the world by the tail—visiting Italy to eat, India to learn the art of meditation, and Bali to follow her destiny.

Fans of this memoir will be pleased to know that the film version is available on Netflix, but only for subscribers from the U.S. and certain other countries. If you find it’s blocked where you are, then you can follow this Netflix guide by Secure Thoughts to help gain access. 

3. A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khalid Hosseini

Many know of “The Kite Runner,” Hosseini’s legendary novel and subsequent film, which is also available on Netflix. This fantastic release looks at growing up in war-torn Afghanistan from a female perspective.

The book follows two women: the first, a young illegitimate child whose hot temper regularly finds her in trouble at the hands of men; the other a lovesick young girl who is forced to succumb to her family’s wishes to marry her off to an older man when she discovers she’s pregnant.

It’s a harrowing tale, but also an inspirational one, as the two women eventually find solidarity in each other and a strength of spirit that can only be harnessed after so many years of abuse and oppression. Beautifully painted onto a background of the breathtaking Afghan landscape, this tale is truly an unmissable read. 

4. Wanderlove – Kirsten Hubbard

|A combined delight of pictures and drawings, this book does an incredible job of transporting readers to the many spectacular destinations that its plot ventures. “Wanderlove” tells the story of a young, rebellious girl named Bria who has set out on a journey of self-discovery. Readers are treated to tales of remote Belizean islands, ancient Mayan settlements and hikes beneath jungle canopies.

Another key text about womanhood and what it means to find yourself, this story is an essential read for all young girls who have felt the bite of wanderlust. The lessons Bria learns throughout her travels are poignant and relevant to every one of us. The book is a beautiful testimony to how being unsettled can eventually bring you to a place of true peace and understanding.

You can also follow the author, Kirsten Hubbard, and her own amazing adventures on her social media sites. For in-depth recounts of her travels and wonderful photography check out her Tumblr account, which she updates after every journey.


5. The Violet Hour – Whitney A. Miller

If you’re a fan of a little darkness and mystery alongside your vicarious travel, then this one is definitely for you. As part of a strict spiritual movement set in the Far East, Harlow is expected to be perfect at all times. With high hopes for her future and suspicions she will go on to be the next leader, there is no room for error.

However, Harlow fails to take the cult seriously and instead believes it’s all fiction and is more interested in the pop culture of the day than archaic beliefs. After embarking on a journey from Tokyo to Beijing, she realizes that all she’s been told is merely an understatement of reality. Skillfully navigating the supernatural, this epic tale is well crafted and ends with an incredible twist. It’s well paced, descriptive and perfectly structured, making it a truly successful piece of literature.

The sequel to this book, “The Crimson Gate,” has also recently been released, so it’s a great time to get involved with the franchise.

These fives books are all truly interesting reads that will transport you to exotic locations; however, there are many more to chose from. If you know of a novel or author that deserves a place on this list, then be sure to leave a comment below.

About the Author: Caroline is an entertainment blogger for Culture Coverage and a lifelong bookworm. When she’s not curled up with her latest must-read, she’s scouring the internet in search of new and exciting tales. 

Blog Tour~Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram~Kelly's Top Ten Cinderella Adaptations

Hey everyone! I’m excited to be here today to tell you a little about my new book. Cinder & Ella is a modern spin on the classic fairy tale Cinderella. I love Cinderella. It’s always been my favorite fairy tale, and every since I started writing I knew I’d eventually write my own version of it.

I am what you might call a Cinderella junkie. I will read or watch every version of Cinderella I come across. Doesn't matter if I've heard of it or not. It doesn't matter what age it’s geared at. If it’s Cinderella, I have to read/watch it. I’m compulsive about it even.  So, since there are so many different adaptations, I thought it might be fun to list my top ten favorites for you. I’m going to combine both books and movies on this list since I love reading and watching the different versions equally.

My Top 10 Favorite Cinderella Adaptations… Starting with number 10!

10. Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale (movie)
First of all I am a sucker for all cheesy teenie-bopper movies, but add in music and you’ve struck gold with me. (High School Musical and Lemonade Mouth anyone?) Also, Sterling Knight is a total cutie!

9. Ella Enchanted
The book or the movie, take your pick. I love both!

8. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson (YA novel)
This is a cute, clean, fun adaptation told from the viewpoint of Cinderella’s stepsister. Loved it!

7. Cinderella (The Disney version) (movie)
Come on, it’s a classic. It’s also the reason I love the fairy tale so much. I loved Cinderella’s dress!!

6. Cinder (The Lunar Chrinicles #1) by Marissa Meyer (YA novel)
This one was great because it was so unique. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it at first because I wasn’t sold on the idea of cyborgs, (yes, you heard me right, this is a sci-fi retelling!) but I really loved it. Marissa is amazing and the book is fabulous!

5. Ever After (movie)
With Drew Berrymore. You know the one I mean. Such a great story! And who makes a better wicked stepmother than Angelica Houston?

4. Another Cinderella Story (movie)
Yes, this is a Selena Gomez movie and I’m not ashamed to say that I love it (and her) to death! Like movies and books about rockstars, I am also a sucker for Channing Tatum dancing. Loved the dancing in this movie, loved the main characters, and Jane Lynch is great as always!

3. My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison (YA novel)
You aren’t going to find another book quite like this one. Fist of all, Janette is freaking hilarious. I love her books. She makes me laugh out loud all the time. And then there’s Chrissy. The fairy godmother from hell. This is a spin on Cinderella that you haven’t read before, so you really, really need to read it!

2. Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer (YA novel)
I love this book! It’s one of my favorites. This is a contemporary retelling. It’s a cute light fun read with loveable characters, a swoonworthy boy, and great writing. Robin has a series of retold fairy tales and they’re fantastic, but Cindy Ella is my favorite. (Again, with the Cinderella addiction.) If you like Cinderella retellings, you’ll love this book!

And my all-time favorite Cinderella retelling is…

1. A Cinderella Story (movie)
Three words: Chad Michael Murray! (Oh yes, I’m a fan.) But then add the cute and loveable Hillary Duff, and the brilliant beyond brilliant Jennifer Coolidge playing the hilarious wicked stepmother and you have one of my favorite movies ever. Also, did I mention this movie stars Chad Michael Murray???

CINDER & ELLA

It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder. 

… 

Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Cinder-Ella-Kelly-Oram-ebook/dp/B00MRLYO7K/ref=la_B003UPV4RA_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408987820&sr=1-9

About the Author:

Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen—a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which her family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and likes to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, four children, and her cat named Mr. Darcy.

Author Links:
Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website

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“Standing out in a sea of Dystopia” ~ Guest Post by Rebecca Finlayson

When I go into a bookshop or a library in the UK it’s always satisfying to see so many books on offer for the YA market. In our fast-paced world we can access everything we want, when we want, at the touch of a button – and even get frustrated when it doesn’t pop up instantly. (First world problems or what?) Anyway, to see so many YA books around and to know that teenagers are reading them and devoting hours to them, is great and exciting for any lover of books, particularly authors.

The challenge that I had with “X&Y” was making my book stand out. There are so many great YA Dystopian books out there, after all. It was a mountain to climb.

The first thing that encouraged me, though, was that I had a story to tell that – as far as I could tell – had not been told before. Genetic engineering had been touched on in various stories but it wasn’t the main story. I thought it would be fascinating to look at it through the eyes of a teenager.

The second thing was the position of my female lead. Olivia Adonane is from a very wealthy, very powerful family, and so to have a protagonist in a position where she literally has everything to risk made for very interesting writing from my perspective!

Another important thing was setting. Most of the YA Dystopian books I’ve read and enjoyed (The Hunger Games, Divergent, and the Gone series) take place in the USA. I thought it would be really interesting to have the focus on Britain, and how it would have adapted to the ‘System’ which is in place.

Apart from the authors of the above books, one particular author who has inspired me is Joanne Harris. She does plot so well, and the stories and twists of her novels like “Gentlemen and Players”, “Holy Fools” and “Five Quarters of the Orange” are just fantastic. I’ve learned a lot from her work about timing in particular – for example, what to reveal and when to reveal it.

I really enjoyed writing “X&Y”. The subject matter made for really fascinating exploration, and putting the characters in a quietly brutal setting was equally thrilling and difficult to work through. It’s been great having people read my work and give me feedback from it, not to mention seeing the number of downloads increase, particularly on my “free promotion” days!

Below is the opening chapter of “X&Y”. You can head over to Amazon Kindle for a free seven-chapter sample:

  

Thunder rumbles in the early hours of this morning and when I wake I think of Lily and what we’re going to do today. We’re meeting before school so we can post off our university applications together. To anyone who does not know who we are it seems such a little thing, but in this day and age it is not. My Ambition means I’m guaranteed a place at a prestigious institution, but Lily’s venture is a little more uncertain. Her portfolio, given to her parents when she was still in her mother’s womb, states that her Ambition is to be a waitress, which I’ve always thought was some kind of mix-up, as I’ve never thought she was right for the Service Industry. Very clumsy, and perpetually distracted by “higher things”, as she calls them, her different Preparation Experiences in cafes and restaurants have always ended spectacularly badly, though I will give her current boss come credit; she is unremittingly patient with her.

Lily is also extraordinarily clever, which is why I persuaded her to fill in a university application in the first place. Strange, I think, considering her family’s Ambitions, that her Tag gave her the chance to advance as much as she has. I know that Lily thinks this is too risky, bordering on dangerous – especially when the admissions boards find out about her humble family background. What harm is there in trying, though? Despite her reluctance, I know when she gets offered an opportunity to study Philosophy and Poetry she’ll be ecstatic and all the fear will have been worth it.

My own Ambition is very different. I will be following my father down the Designer route. First, six years of medical school followed by three more years of theoretical and practical study at the School of Human Design. I will learn how to create Tags with which to start unborn babies off on their uniquely selected paths, learn to further the research that reduces – and, hopefully, eventually eradicates – glitches in the System, and such like. My father is the most renowned Designer in the country, the head of the Triad – the Triad comprises of the country’s top three Designers – and one day I will take his place. It is a huge responsibility, but it is one for which I have specifically been Designed. I have no need to doubt myself.

“Good morning, father,” I chime, kissing him on the cheek as I bounce down to the dining room for breakfast, schoolbag and big brown envelope at the ready. I fling them down untidily on a chair and fix myself some cereal. “Where’s mother?”

“Still in bed; she’s a little under the weather this morning. Not to worry though, she’ll be up and about in no time,” he says while sipping his coffee and reading the newspaper.

“What is the news like this morning?”

“Calm, as usual,” he smiles, and my curious doubts are quieted. Why do I harbour them? Our Society is near perfect. While other nations are constantly embroiled in bitter civil struggles, slowly destroying themselves from within, our country enjoys peace and prosperity. The “Utopia”, that the old writers dreamt of, is being achieved at last. I just wonder what the other countries are doing so wrong. Father soon breaks me out of my reverie.

“Is that what I think it is?” he asks, indicating the brown envelope.

“Yes,” I say proudly. “I wonder which school will want me.”

“All of them, I expect. Look how strong your application is, after all.”

“It doesn’t hurt that I have your name on it, though,” I say slyly.

“True,” he says, winking at me. “But if your Ambition was not to follow in my footsteps, they would turn you down as any other school would turn down an applicant whose Ambition did not meet with their requirements.”

“There’s something I wanted to ask you related to that,” I say. “You know Lily, my best friend?”

“Yes?” His tone is careful. He has never met Lily and there’s something about his wariness whenever I mention her that makes me uneasy, like he doesn’t think we should be friends.

“Do you know if her Tag and her Ambition portfolio got mixed up somehow before she was born?” I ask.

“I don’t know; I wasn’t assigned to her case. You would have to find that out from her hospital. Why?”

“Well, her Ambition is for her to be a waitress, but she’s not suited to that at all.”

“Waitressing is a perfectly good and sturdy profession,” my father says, his tone reprimanding.

“I know; I’m not being high and mighty. It’s just that, Lily doesn’t seem to enjoy it at all. She seems much more interested in pursuing Academia after Mandatory Education is over. I just wondered whether her original Portfolio was along the lines of some kind of Higher Educator, and the folder got mixed up in the hospital.”

“That’s impossible,” he says, though his dark eyebrows narrow a little over his thick-rimmed black glasses. “Are you sure this isn’t just some Secondary Interest that she is feeling quite strongly about at the moment?”

“I don’t think so,” I say, although my instincts tell me to shut up. “Even in between her work breaks she’s always reading a book of some poet or another. She excels at school – really, she would do much better at my school – and it crushes me to think she can’t do what she really wants.”

“She wants to be a waitress,” my father says quietly. “If her portfolio says so, then that is what her Tag has prepared her for, and that is what she will do. I think you might be seeing more in this situation than there is.”

“But-” I start to argue, about to reveal that I’ve helped her fill in university application, but something in his voice tells me that would be dangerous. His mobile phone rings and he frowns when he sees who is calling him.

“What is it?” he snaps into the phone. His eyes widen as the speaker on the other end rapidly relays information, though I can’t hear what he is saying. “I’ll come immediately.” He clicks off, his expression a mixture of annoyance and something else. Dismay?

“We’ll talk about this later,” he says quickly as he dons his suit jacket and picks up his briefcase and I assume he means our earlier conversation. “I have to go. I’ll see you for dinner. We’re going out to The Glade tonight.” He kisses my head and leaves. Soon I hear the car rev up and speed away, gravel flying everywhere.

“Sure,” I murmur, wondering what on earth that was about.

About the Author: Rebecca Finlayson was born in the north of England - specifically Blackburn, Lancashire – but actually spent most of her childhood in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire (fans of Harry Potter will recognise that name!). Inspired by reading a children’s version of “The Odyssey” 20+ times while growing up, she decided to study Classical Civilisation at Warwick University and took a job as a Teaching Assistant upon graduating. After two years she decided to take a year out in order to do some charity work but, more significantly, pursue some writing projects that had been nagging at her for some time. The first of these projects to be completed, a Young Adult Dystopian novel entitled “X&Y” is now on sale on Amazon Kindle. The second – a fantasy novel entitled “The Secrets of Nethiaria: The Magician’s Book” will be out in Spring 2014.

Links: Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Author's Site

Book Review: The Earthquake Machine + Guest Post by Mary Lowry & Giveaway!

Title: The Earthquake Machine
Author: Mary Pauline Lowry
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Publish Date: 28 Feb 2012
ISBN: 1456795856 (ISBN13: 9781456795856)
Pages: 326
Links: Goodreads ~ Amazon
Summary: The book every girl should read,
and every girl’s parents hope she’ll never read.

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of a girl who crosses a river & leaves behind her family, her country, her language, her life; a girl who walks through rain forests alone at night, travels with bandits, rides a bus through a strange country, all to find her one true friend.

The Earthquake Machine, a fun, fantastical and exhilarating tale, explodes the distinction between Young Adult and adult coming-of-age novels, even as it explores the borders between the United States and Mexico, adolescence and adulthood, male and female, English and Spanish.

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda’s world, but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda’s life is her family’s Mexican yardman, Jesús. But when the INS deports Jesús back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation.

Determined to find her friend Jésus, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends to Big Bend National Park. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Milagros, Mexico. There a peyote- addled bartender convinces her she won’t be safe traveling alone into the country’s interior. So with the bartender’s help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jesús. Thus begins a wild adventure that fulfills the longing of readers eager for a brave and brazen female protagonist.

About the Author: Mary Pauline Lowry has worked as a forest firefighter, screenwriter, open water lifeguard, construction worker, and advocate in the movement to end violence against women. Due to no fault of her sweet parents, at 15 she ran away from home and made it all the way to Matamoros, Mexico. She believes girls should make art, have adventures, and read books that show them the way.

Mary Pauline Lowry is currently a novelist, screenwriter, and regular contributor to the Huffington Post. When her novel, THE GODS OF FIRE, based on her experiences as a forest firefighter, didn’t sell, Lowry hopped on a plane to Hollywood and convinced Bill Mechanic to option the book for film. (Former CEO of 20th Century Fox, Bill Mechanic has produced films such as TITANIC, BRAVEHEART, FIGHT CLUB, & CORALINE). Lowry wrote the screenplay, and the film is now in pre-production.

Rating: 8/10

          
Source: Got it from the author for review.

Cover Talk: The cover doesn't even begin to tell how amazing this book is! But it is definitely related to the story which is why I like it. Some books have covers that don't have anything to do with the story. I like how this cover is not one of them & it has a deeper meaning to it than what meets the eye.

My Thoughts: This book was a journey from girlhood to womanhood. It was like a roller coaster ride and I enjoyed it very much!

Starting: This book had me hooked from the start. I wanted to know about Rhonda. What would happen to her. What's the deal with her mother. And it got better and better as the story progressed.

Story: I loved the story. It was such a unique and amazing idea! I honestly think it's a must read for all the girls out there because a lot of them can relate to this.

Writing: Mary is an amazing writer! The way she described things in this book, it felt like I was really in Mexico going on the journey with Rhonda. All the feelings & emotions of Rhonda seemed so real! That is what made this book so incredible. That Mary was able to portray Rhonda's feelings in such an effective way.

Characters: There were so many likable characters in this book! I especially liked Jesus. He was such a sweet person, and I can see why Rhonda went all the way to Oaxaca to find him.
Rhonda is the main character of the book and you can really feel an emotional connection to her. I found myself wishing at times that everything would be alright for her. That she would get happiness. Rhonda is such a brave girl! And I really enjoyed her transformation from a girl to a woman. After all she went through, she deserved a happy ending.
The character I hated the most was Rhonda's father, from the start. He was an ass (sorry for my language but it's the truth) and he deserved what he got in the end (to know what, you'll have to read the book)!

Ending: I just love myself a happy ending! And after all that Rhonda went through, and the emotional roller coaster the reader has been through, this ending was the perfect ending and I wouldn't have had it any other way!

The Earthquake Machine is a book I will never forget. It is truly one of the most emotionally moving books I have ever read and I think this is a must-read for all the girls out there.

Favorite Quotes: ~That was what it meant to be a woman: to live in an unbearable agony hidden for a time

behind smoke and mirrors.~

~Most certain things are the most changeable.~

~There is pain in being a woman, yes, but there is pride in it, too.~

Guest Post

My Most Formative Experience

You can read more about Mary Pauline Lowry or to buy THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE at www.marypaulinelowry.com

As soon as I finished college I went to work in Colorado as a forest firefighter on the elite Pike Hotshot Crew of forest firefighters. I’m from Texas where we don’t have a lot of forest firefighters so my family was shocked. And worried.

I’d heard about forest firefighting from my college roommate Della. She’d done a little local work as a forest firefighter in Colorado and her big sis Addie was on a Hotshot crew. Addie had traveled all over the country fighting wildfires and she could do 80 pushups. She was officially my hero.

As soon as I arrived at the Pike Fire Center up in the mountains I loved it. I was one of the only women on the 20 person Pike Hotshot Crew so it was really important to me to do a great job and keep up with the crew. A lot to times we’d work 24 hours or more in a row, hiking, digging fireline and breathing in lots of smoke. And often we stood alongside raging forest fires.

I wrote a novel about the experience called THE GODS OF FIRE. The book hasn’t come out yet, but it’s been optioned for film. I wrote the screenplay and there is a director attached to the project. (BTW, I think it’s interesting that there is about the same percentage of female screenwriters as there are female forest firefighters—only 10%!)

The first book I’m publishing is THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE. It’s a wild fantastical ride that’s rooted in my adolescent longing to run away from home and have the kind of adventures that only boys are allowed…

Giveaway

Rules: 

1. Giveaway is international.
2. It'll end on 8 April, 2012 & the winner will be announced on 9 April.
3. You can only enter once.
4. There are 4 ways of entering, each containing one point value.
5. Winner will be chosen randomly.
6. Winner will be notified by email and must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.
7. Winner will be mailed a hard copy of The Earthquake Machine by the author, Mary Lowry.