Happy Halloween!

So, today at work I'm dressed as Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. So much fun.  I think I hit it pretty well on the nose.

*And for those of you sticklers, yes I know that in the series it is a Yankees cap that Athena gives Annabeth, but... I work in MA and the Red Sox won the world series last night...for my own safety I didn't want to risk a Yankees cap...LOL

Did anyone else do a character costume this year??

The Turning

The Turning 

by Francine Prose 

A dark house.
An isolated island.
Strange dreams
and even stranger visions . . .

Jack is spending the summer on a private island far from modern conveniences. No Wi-Fi, no cell service, no one else on the island but a housekeeper and the two very peculiar children in his care. The first time Jack sees the huge black mansion atop a windswept hill, he senses something cold, something more sinister than even the dark house itself.

Soon, he feels terribly isolated and alone. Yet he is not alone. The house has visitors—peering in the windows, staring from across the shore. But why doesn't anyone else see them . . . and what do they want? As secrets are revealed and darker truths surface, Jack desperately struggles to maintain a grip on reality. He knows what he sees, and he isn't crazy. . . . Or is he? (Description from Amazon.com)

I have to be honest. I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. The idea was spooky and I liked the beginning, but I got bored reading. I actually found myself trying to skip to the end just to see what happened, because I was too impatient to wait until I naturally got there. 

I didn't really connect to any of the characters and though I found the house to be cool and liked the remote setting, I don't think it was enough for me.  Sadly, I just didn't enjoy it overmuch. 

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my library

The Fifth Wave

The Fifth Wave
by Rick Yancey

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. (Description from Amazon.com)

An excellent read. This book feels real. Cassie has to deal with being alone, trying to decide if anyone can be trusted. When she realizes thatanyone could be one of them... how can she trust anyone ever again? Then Cassie meets someone that she desperately wants to trust...

Her devotion to finding and saving her brother is admirable and heartbreaking. Seeing in the alternating chapters what is happening inside the camp he's been taken to... I found myself wanting to yell through the book to the characters letting them know what was going on with each other. Though I could see where things were going most of the time, Yancey's writing still kept me on the edge of my seat.

For older readers looking for a thrilling, can't put it down type of science fiction read.

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my Library

The Gathering Storm

The Gathering Storm
by Robin Bridges
The Katerina Trilogy, book one

As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue--and pulled between two young men who belong to very different and warring royal bloodlines. The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power as a necromancer, but which side will she choose--and to whom will she give her heart? (Description from Amazon.com)

This book was very intriguing and yet at points it was also frustrating.

I liked the idea of the Russian aristocracy being filled with paranormal beings and I loved Katerina as the main character. She was strong and her power was interesting. I thought that the emotional roller coaster that Katerina experiences as events unfolds was very realistic.

What frustrated me, though, were the Russian titles. The author explains that each aristocrat would have a formal title and then a nickname, but to try to keep track of all the different princesses and counts was confusing at times. It took until I was more than halfway through the book before I was able to easily distinguish the different MAIN characters of the book.

Aside from that, I ended up enjoying this book a lot. The historical setting was vibrant and beautiful. The types of vampires and necromancers were interesting to read about... I definitely plan to continue the trilogy when I get time.

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my Library

Cover Cravings!

I just wanted to share with all of you a few of the gorgeous new covers I've seen for upcoming books!  They're all different genres, but boy, do they all have intriguing covers. 

Fan Art by Sarah Tregay
Pub date: June 2014

On the Fence by Kasie West
Pub date: July 2014 

Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff
Pub date: June 2014

*new cover*
Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan

My Last Kiss by Bethany Neal
Pub date: June 2014

Strange and Ever After by Susan Dennard
Pub date: July 2014

Wild Things by Chloe Neill
Pub date: Feb 2014

I like all of these covers for different reasons. The simplicity of Fan Art, the creepiness of Fiendish, the fractured beauty of My Last Kiss... What do YOU think?

Gold Star Review - The Diviners

The Diviners 
by Libba Bray

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first. (Description from Amazon.com) 

Creepy and Fun! 

This book is set in the 1920's, which is one of my FAVORITE historical eras. So glamorous.  Speakeasys, flappers, jazz...New York City must have been one happening place.  I would have loved to have seen it.  As it is, I envy the clothes and the sense of freedom that the flappers must have felt. 

I loved the way this book unfolded.  It was subtle at first how all the different characters were going to end up intermingled into one big story.  I liked how they fit all together eventually like puzzle pieces. I found the reason for them developing their psychic abilities intriguing and I'm desperate to get my hands on the next book ASAP! 

The serial killer story was gripping and while it had its gory moments, it wasn't overwhelming. It was the perfect blend of creepy and compelling. I found the language to be helpful in this... even when Evie was staring at a gruesome murder or was learning grisly details, her horror was offset with her attempts at humorous colloquialisms, "And how!," "Jeepers Creepers." These moments were helpful to deflect a little bit from the grotequeness of the crime scenes. 

With fun language, a sit on the edge of your seat plot, and great characters, I have to give the Diviners a GOLD STAR. I will most definitely read book two, Lair of Dreams, as soon as it hits the shelves! 

Full disclosure: Audio book borrowed from my Library

Books I Can't Wait to Get My Hands On...

Here are some books being released in November that I can't wait to eventually read!! They look so good, I'm going to have to try to squeeze them in somewhere...

After Eden by Helen Douglas
A mysterious boy... is he really from the future?

Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
Sophronia continued adventures at a very deadly finishing school...

Hostage Three by Nick Lake
When you are the least important hostage,
your life suddenly becomes worth a lot less...

Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
Zoe spills her deepest secrets to a death-row pen pal...

Pawn by Aimee Carter
Will Kitty take on someone else's life for fame and power?

This post was inspired by my librarian friend Jen's 

"Books I'm Dying to Read" posts at YABookNerd.

A Girl Called Problem

A Girl Called Problem
by Katie Quirk

Thirteen-year-old Shida, whose name means "problem" in Swahili, certainly has a lot of problems in her life -- her father is dead, her depressed mother is rumored to be a witch, her family bears the weight of a curse, and everyone in her rural Tanzanian village expects her to marry rather than pursue her dream of becoming a healer.

So when the elders of Litongo make a controversial decision to move Shida's people to a nearby village, Shida welcomes the change. Surely the opportunity to go to school and learn from a nurse can only mean good things. Nonetheless, mysterious calamities plague Shida's people after their move. Desperate to stay, Shida must prove to her people that life can be better in their new home. (Description from Amazon.com)

I found this book to be surprisingly easy to read and very interesting. I learned about a period of African history that I knew nothing about previously. I loved that Shida wanted so desperately to become a learned woman, a nurse, and that, though she met some resistance, there were people who supported her dream and that she persisted to help make her dream come true. I liked the mystery aspect of this book and was pleased with how things worked out.

A different book than I would normally read, but one that I would recommend!

Full disclosure: Borrowed through interlibrary loan 

Lost in the River of Grass

Lost in the River of Grass
by Ginny Rorby

A science-class field trip to the Everglades is supposed to be fun, but Sarah's new at Glades Academy, and her fellow freshmen aren't exactly making her feel welcome. When an opportunity for an unauthorized side trip on an airboat presents itself, it seems like a perfect escape–an afternoon without feeling like a sore thumb. But one simple oversight turns a joyride into a race for survival across the river of grass. Sarah will have to count on her instincts—and a guy she barely knows—if they have any hope of making it back alive. (description from Amazon.com)

Oooh. I was already kind of terrified of the Everglades and now, boy, I don't ever want to step foot in them without a majorly seasoned tour guide. This book was one dangerous encounter after another. I loved how as Sarah faced the possibility of death over and over, she became more and more capable. She is truly a survivor. One who when push comes to shove, must learn how to become more able on her own...one who will do whatever she must to survive.

If you like survival stories, ones that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is a good one!

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my Library

Blog Tour - Endless

 

I am happy to be participating in the blog tour for Amanda Gray's ENDLESS today.  Not only will I be posting my review of the novel in a few days, but today I actually have a guest post from Amanda Gray! So, I know you all want to know what Endless is about, right?

Jenny Kramer knows she isn’t normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them. When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumbles on an old music box with instructions for “mesmerization” and discover they may have more in common than they thought.

Like a past life.

Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But they weren’t alone. Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her own dreams was there, too. When Nikolai appears next door, Jenny is forced to acknowledge that he has traveled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back. While Ben, Jenny and Nikolai race against the clock -- and the Order -- the trio discovers a link that joins them in life -- and beyond death.

Amanda Gray believes in magic and fantasy and possibilities. She is a team of two bestselling authors who live only miles apart but have never met in person. They talk on the phone and are the best of friends and between them have written more than a dozen novels and novellas and have had their work appear on television.

The two authors who use Amanda Gray as a pen name graciously took the time to answer a few questions for me today! After reading their answers, I'm even more anxious to finish the book and report back to you all... it sounds so good. Check it out:

What type of fascinating things did you discover in researching Romanov Russia?
We didn't know very much about the princesses other than Anastasia, and learning about the rest of the family was at the same time wonderful and heartbreaking.  They were so close and in so many ways a typical family that simply met with a tragic, tragic end.

Endless features "mesmerization." 
What other types of "spiritualism" do you find the most intriguing?
We're especially interested in psycometry. Holding an object and knowing something about the person who owned it or held it before.  There's so much outside the realm of our current understanding.  It's lovely to still have so much mystery in life.

For more information about Amanda Gray and Endless:
Endless blog tour page
Goodreads
Amazon

Iggy Loomis - Superkid in Training

Iggy Loomis - Superkid in Training 
by Jennifer Allison

For fans of Captain Underpants, here comes Iggy Loomis -- already a huge pain in his older brother Daniel’s you-know-what. But when a science experiment gone wrong makes Iggy’s DNA mutate, Iggy gets cool super powers! Is Iggy going to turn into an alien? Daniel needs to stop Iggy right now—before EVERYONE gets in trouble! With aliens, gadgets, space travel, superpowers, spies, and Jennifer Allison’s humor, this story is an out-of-this-world blast! (description from Amazon.com)

Okay, you all should know that I'm a HUGE fan of the Gilda Joyce series.  I love Gilda! So, when Jennifer's assistant, Sophie, contacted me to ask if I wanted to check out her newest book, IGGY LOOMIS - SUPERKID IN TRAINING, I was delighted to say yes! (Thank you, Sophie!)

This book was fun and exciting for younger readers.  It has great and realistic family relationships.  Daniel is your average kid dealing with a younger brother and sister that happen to be twins! Iggy is a whirlwind of a kid...leaving trails of destroyed toys in his wake, and while Daniel loves him, there's also NO WAY that Daniel wants to share a room with him.  But... to see the way that Daniel protects Iggy, Iggy protects Daniel, the way that Iggy protects his twin sister... and the way that their parents love them all, what a great message for kids!  

Aside from having a crazy family, Daniel meets a cool, but strange boy from next door named Alistair. When he discovers Alistair's secret (he's really an alien, shhh...don't tell!) things start to get truly WILD. I died laughing as Daniel, and us readers, learned that Alistair's people were here to find the perfect conditions to grow new strains of broccoli, the only food his people eat.  All the technologies that Alistair uses, however, to test conditions and species end up becoming problematic for Daniel... especially when Iggy ends up mutating his own DNA with insect species' DNA by accident... 

I really enjoyed both the story of this book and the illustrations by Mike Moran.  I thought this would be a perfect book to give to any 3rd or 4th grader.  It has aliens, science, toys, and interesting friend and family relationships that just about any kid could relate to easily.  I'm happily going to be ordering this book for our library's collection! 

Full disclosure: Review copy provided by author

Mini Reviews: The Lost Prince and The Iron Traitor

The Lost Prince 
by Julie Kagawa
The Iron Fey, book five

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten. (Description from Amazon.com) 

I liked the change-up, getting to see the Nevernever from someone else's perspective. Someone totally human.  Ethan is tough, but totally terrified inside and that made him easy to relate to and still feel like a true hero.  I loved how desperately he tries to save Kenzie from what he knows to be dangerous and I loved getting to see Meghan and Ash and PUCK (MY FAVORITE, CAN YOU TELL?) again. 

Full disclosure: eARC received from Netgalley 

The Iron Traitor 

by Julie Kagawa 

Iron Fey, book six 

Publication date: Oct. 29, 2013

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for—his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all. (description from Amazon.com) 

I love Ethan and Kenzie's relationship.  I think that they work just as well together as Meghan and Ash did.  I'm anxious to see how they cope after the events of this book... in fact, I'm desperate to see what happens next because the cliffhanger this book leaves you on... WOWZA.  

Full disclosure: Review copy received from SLJ

Cover Reveal - Hollow City!

Today, EW hosted the exclusive cover reveal for Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. It is just as creepily enthralling as the first! Check it out for yourself:

Hollow City 
by Ransom Riggs

Publication date: Jan. 14, 2014

Isn't this cover crazy? I can't look away...

What's On My Hold List?

Welcome to the October 2013 edition

of

"What's on My Hold List?"

One of the most beautiful things about working in a Library is that I have the ability to put lots of things on hold and read them *before* I buy!! These are some of the books that I'm currently waiting for, though I may buy one or two of them after reading, as well.

I realized that I haven't done one of these posts since MAY! Wow. Being busy over the summer really put a cramp in my style...LOL. But, I'm happy to bring back this monthly post! Hopefully, you can let me know what you guys are all waiting for, too...

Allegiant
by Veronica Roth
Divergent, book three

Dead is Just a Dream
by Marlene Perez
Dead Is, book eight

Father of Lies 
by Ann Turner

In the Age of Love and Chocolate
by Gabrielle Zevin
Birthright, book three

Long Live the Queen 
by Kate Locke
Immortal Empire, book three

Summer of the Wolves 
by Polly Carlson-Voiles

You can click on each title to go to their Amazon page for a description...

So, these are the books I'm waiting anxiously to get my hands on...what are you waiting for??

Anxiously Awaiting...Dorothy Must Die

Dorothy Must Die 
by Danielle Paige

Publication date: April 1, 2014

I didn't ask for any of this. 

I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.

But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. 

They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die! (Description from Goodreads.com) 

Umm...yes, please.  I can only hope that this book hits me the same way WICKED did.  

Infinityglass

Infinityglass
by Myra McEntire
Hourglass, book three

No time like the present.
No time in the present.
No time left. 

From the moment the Hourglass group violated the rules of the space time continuum to rescue a murdered loved one, time has been in flux. People from other centuries slide into our time, intruding into our space, threatening our world.

Frantically seeking a way to turn back this tide, the Hourglass begins a search for the legendary Infinityglass, tracking it to the city of New Orleans, a place where the past rests easily with the present.

Quiet, reliable Dune, the group's favorite geek, is selected to travel to the Crescent City and somehow retrieve the renowned object.

But there's a problem.

Because the Infinityglass is not an object, it's a person.
A beautiful, headstrong dancer named Hallie, a girl so enticing Dune can't take his eyes off her.

And time is not on her side. (Description from Amazon.com) 

I love this series.  

They are fun, romantic, and while time travel doesn't always make sense in general, at least here it seems clear enough on the surface, and there are rules set in place so that there are consequences if things are not done properly.  

But... back to the swoony-ness!  Dune.  Ah, Dune.  He was very hot (and smart!! Which I love...) in this book.  Even better, I really wanted to BE Hallie. She was cool, confident, smart...and yet, totally human.  She was a kick-@ss character.  

The setting.  New Orleans. *sigh* Every book I read set there just makes me want to get on a plane immediately.  I really need to see N'orlens soon.  SOON! 

I'm sad that this was the final book in the series, but I was satisfied.  I hope to read more from Myra McEntire someday.  

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my Library 

The Case of the Deadly Desperados

The Case of the Deadly Desperados
by Caroline Lawrence
Western Mysteries, book one

When twelve-year-old P.K. (Pinky) Pinkerton's foster parents are murdered by Whittlin' Walt and his gang of ruthless desperados, Pinky goes on the run and is forced into hiding with Ma's priceless last possession: the deed to a large amount of land and silver mines in the Nevada Mountains. But relying on disguises will only keep Pinky hidden for so long, and the desperados are quickly closing in . . . (Description from Amazon.com)

I loved this book SO much more than I ever thought I would.  P.K. is a spunky, interesting (maybe autistic) main character that I had no trouble rooting for... I loved all of the side characters.  There were mean desperados, and helpful townsfolk, a new "foster" parent to look up to, and even an appearance by Samuel Clemens himself! The mystery was great and the setting was way more interesting than I'd thought it would be.  I found myself smiling as I listened (I did this as an audio book) and hope to read the follow-up soon! 

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my Library

The Savage Fortress

The Savage Fortress
by Sarwat Chadda

After three weeks of vacation, Ash Mistry is ready to leave the heat and dust of India behind him. Then he discovers a gleaming gold arrowhead hidden in the sands---a weapon used to defeat evil King Ravana in legend.

At least, Ash is pretty sure it's only a legend . . .

But when Lord Alexander Savage comes after Ash, the legends are suddenly way too real. Savage commands an army of monstrous shapechangers called rakshasas, who want only to seize the arrowhead and restore Ravana to power. As they hunt Ash through magnificent fortresses and brutal deserts, he must learn to work with a powerful rakshasa girl named Parvati, and find the strength within himself to fight on no matter what. Because this isn't just a battle to stop the end of the world. It's a battle to stop the end of reality as we know it.

No pressure. (Description from Amazon.com)

I thought that the Indian Mythology that was the background for the story was really interesting. I had a hard time, though, because I didn't really like Ash and I couldn't connect with him as the story went on. I felt like he made bad choices a lot and that he was never really convicted about anything.  He had no clear motivations and so he waffled a lot.

I think some readers will really love the action in this book. 

It just wasn't the book for me.

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my Library

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Turnoffs

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created and hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Today's Topic: My Top Ten Book Turnoffs 

1. Gruesomeness - I don't mind the stories in horror books and sometimes even find myself in the perfect mood for a well-written scary story, but I HATE graphic descriptions of gory details.  I personally don't find it at all necessary and will definitely put down a book if it becomes too much.

2. Lack of editing - I have to say that often this applies to self-published books, however I can think of several distinct examples of traditionally published books that NEEDED to be reedited before publication.  One in particular was about 100 pages longer than I thought it needed to be because the verbose author apparently needed to apply descriptors to every person, place, and thing in the book... (ie. - her shimmering, blond locks flowed lightly in the warm breeze, enticing him to reach out a strong hand to touch the soft curls...) 

3. War scenes - I used to say "war books" in general, but I've learned that's not true.  While I hate scenes that actually take place during battles, I don't mind books set in war time, as long as they have a focus outside of the battles.  For instance, I loved Walter Dean Myer's Sunrise Over Fallujah, which actually focuses on a troop of soldiers that follows the fighting to help rebuild in the war torn area... 

4. Eating Disorders - I actually have a really hard time reading books that deal with eating disorders. I know that it's a super important topic and I'm very glad the books are out there for the people who need to read them, but I just get so grossed out in so many ways reading about the issues other people have with food. 

5. Forced Love Triangles - *sigh* This didn't used to be such a problem, but nowadays, most books are being marketed with "Teams." I don't mind a well done love triangle where the heroine, and therefore myself, has a truly difficult time choosing between two guys that truly love her and want the best for her... but come on...when one guy is just being shoved into the equation to create "TENSION..."  No, thank you.  I'd rather have straight out love or none at all. 

6. ...Which brings me to... "Bad" (and sometimes Abusive!) Love Interests - As a fan of the Good Guy Next Door, I'm always sad that in more cases the good guy doesn't actually win the girl. I get extremely pissed at my female characters (*cough, Bella, cough, cough*) if they can't see the decent guy right in front of them because they've been wooed by the enticing "bad guy." I could get rant-y here, so instead, I'm just going to move on. 

7. Animal Cruelty - Defenseless animals being hurt to move the plot along. No. I can't do it.  

8. "Circus Freaks" - Let's just say that I was mentally scarred for life by GEEK LOVE in college and now if a book has circus freaks in it, I pretty much shy away.  It took years for me to be able to read any book set in a circus again... *shudders*

9.  Mean Girl Main Characters - Generally, I can't stand it when the main character is one of the "mean girls." That's not to say that I don't read books where it's not occasionally a facet of who they are, or that they hang out with the alpha chicks, but I tend to need to sympathize with my MCs to an extent and having never been one of the mean girls, that doesn't work for me.

10.  Being Too Heavy to Comfortably Carry - Thank goodness for my Nook, because now I can happily read those 800 page novels that used to make me crazy.  I read in bed a LOT and there's nothing worse than having a 800 pager slowly breaking your sternum as you try to rest it on your chest at night... LOL.

Well, that's all I could think of at the moment.  What are YOUR top ten book turnoffs?