The Book Thief Review

*** A SMALL PIECE OF TRUTH***

I do not carry a sickle or scythe.

I only wear a hooded black robe when it's cold.

And I don't have those skull-like

facial features you seem to enjoy

pinning on me from a distance. You

want to know what I truly look like?

I'll help you out. Find yourself

a mirror while I continue.

(p. 307)



With Death as the narrator, one would expect The Book Thief to be a haunting tale. It is. Everyone knows that World War II was a terrible time, a sad scar on the face of history to say the least. With so much death and destruction have you ever wondered what Death’s perspective on war was? Author Markus Zusak show readers how he believes Death must have felt, and it is truly intriguing.

"It was a year for the ages, like 79, like 1346, to name just a few. Forget the scythe, Goddamn it, I needed a broom or a mop. And I needed a vacation." Throughout the novel, Death takes on the rather surprising role of a being skeptical of humanity since he has witnessed so much war and irrational evil. The idea that Death has a heart is constantly proven through the narrative. He begs the question, how can the human race be “so ugly and so glorious” at the same time? He describes taking the souls of people, of being amused by humans portrayal of him as the grim reaper, and throughout the novel he surprises readers with his bluntness and reflections. Zusak uses the witty and compassionate character of Death to weave a story full of emotion and imagery. "Mystery bores me. It chores me. I know what happens and so do you. It's the machinations that wheel us there that aggravate, perplex, interest, and astound me." Death frequently uses foreshadowing to reveal the fates of characters, but although readers know what the general outcome of a novel during WWII will be, it is still an impressive and emotional journey that continues to captivate until the very last words on the final page. Readers will go on an emotional rollercoaster. They will feel the love of family, the despair of great losses, the joy of accomplishments, and shock at the ability of people to act both with compassion and with cruelty.

The story chronicles the life of Liesel Meminger. Readers discover how she lived, what she witnessed, the love she gave and received, and how she dealt with the tragedy around her. Death witnesses Liesel’s first act of thievery, at her brother’s graveside she picks up an object in the snow; The Gravedigger’s Handbook. With the help of her foster father, Liesel learns to read and so sparks her love of books. Soon she is stealing them whenever she can. Stealing books is not all Leisel has to worry about though. When her foster parents hide a Jew in their basement, Liesel becomes aware of how truly dangerous the times are. With each page Liesels ignorance and innocent is stripped away and replaced with knowledge that both frightens her and makes her stronger. With every act of brutality she witnesses, Liesel is also shown the extent of human kindness and love.

Through elegant writing Zusak gives readers a glimpse of what life was like in Nazi Germany and shows the true power of love and compassion in saving people. By the end of the novel readers will feel as Death does, “that although it broke my heart, I was, and still am, glad I was there." This novel will haunt readers just as Death say humans haunt him.
 
A highly recommended book. One of my Absolute favorites!
 
♥ Allie

Banned Books Week extras

Hey guys,
So I saw this post/article on a site and thought that it was interesting.
This shows a little about what happens when a parent takes issue with a book, and what subsequent responses may be. In this case the book is the Hunger Games.
So read the article, and please tell us what you think

♥ Allie

http://mockingjay.net/2010/09/30/banned-books-week-the-hunger-games-challenged-at-new-hampshire-middle-school/

Banned books week

It is banned books week!
This event started as a protest because too many books (over thousands now) have been banned from schools and stores due to the fact that some people found them offensive in some way shape or form.
I have read a number of these books, and trust me, they are fantastic!
I urge everyone to go out and read what makes you happy, not what others say is good or not.
Sometimes the fact that something is challenged is point enough to read it.

Below is a link with more information about banned books week, along with a list of banned books.
I hope all of you look at it

♥ Allie

http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/info.html

Another Awesome Contest!

Hey all, I'm very sorry we havn't been keeping up on our posting. Whenever a new semester of college starts it's always chaotic, and this year more than most, so please forgive us.
 To make up for it though I have details on a new contest being put on by one of my favorite blogs, Reading or Breathing.

Here is the link to it. it explains everything. hope you enjoy! :)
http://readingorbreathing.blogspot.com/2010/09/favorite-five-giveaway.html

♥ Allie

Review - Mockingjay

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

This was definitely the most anticipated book of the year for me. I absolutely fell in love with this series and the characters! Of the three books I think this was my least favorite, but that is because it was so bittersweet seeing it come to an end. Don't get me wrong though, the book was amazing, the whole trilogy is! Unlike some series, where it seems like the author just needed to finish so the final book never meets expectations (which trust me, happens to me all the time when it comes to series), I actually enjoyed Mockingjay. It was so bittersweet to see this come to an end, but since it must, I accept this end. Collins' writing takes the reader right into the world of Panem. I felt for each of the characters, and I'll admit, I got choked up at the end. Mockingjay was an intense read that kept me going until the last page. I absolutely love this series, it is definitely one of my all time favorites, and I highly recommend it to everyone!

♥ Allie

Recipe - Mockingjay

In honor of Katniss, the heroine of the Hunger Games, here is a recipe of her favorite meal from the capitol: Lamb Stew.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds lamb stew meat
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 large onions, quartered
3 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
4 small potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 (14.5 ounce) can beef broth
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons minced chives
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
note: if you dont want to buy fresh herbs, then use the dry one's you have at home.
note: many people do not like lamb, if you are one of these people, then it is perfectly fine to substitute a different meat.

Directions:
1.In a large pan, brown meat in 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Remove with a slotted spoon; set aside. Add onions, carrots and remaining oil to pan. cook for 5 minutes or until onions are tender, stirring occasionally. add potatoes, broth, salt, pepper and lamb. bring to a boil.
2. Reduce to low heat and cover pan. Let everything simmer for about 45 min to an hour. (until potato and lamb are tender)
3.With a slotted spoon, remove meat and vegetables to a large bowl; keep warm. Pour pan juices into another bowl; set aside. In the pan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in pan juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the parsley, chives, thyme, and meat and vegetables; heat through.
 
Enjoy :)
♥ Allie

Contest!

hey guys. i thought everyone would be interested in this epic contest that is going on!!!

The Great YA Bake Sale of 2010

It’s here, it’s here – The Great YA Bake Sale of 2010!

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Get your napkins and cups of coffee and glasses of milk ready, because the sweetest contest of the year has begun! The whole thing started when I realized that YA authors seem to have one big thing in common – an obsession with sweets and baking.
That gave me an idea. I started calling (well – okay, emailing) around and ended up with more than a dozen kind, sugar-loving authors on board to bring you one amazing contest.

Here’s the deal:

To enter, simply leave a thoughtful comment on an author’s Bake Sale blog post, or tweet about the contest with the hashtag #YABakeSale10. Voila! You’re entered.
When you enter, you become eligible to win any one of the Personal Prize Packs (i.e. a comment on Saundra Mitchell’s blog may net you the Cyn Balog prize pack. You’re entering the whole contest, not just that particular author’s part of it.) You also become eligible to win the humongonormous Grand Prize Basket.

What’s in the Grand Prize Basket?

Each author has hand-written two copies of a favorite sweet-treat recipe. One copy has gone into a beautiful recipe book that is part of the Grand Prize Basket. In addition to the (hand-written! Did I mention that?) recipe collection, the Grand Prize winner will receive:
A signed copy of Cyn Balog’s SLEEPLESS
Bookmarks for KAT, INCORRIGIBLE by Stephanie Burgis
A signed copy of GIVE UP THE GHOST by Megan Crewe
Signed bookmarks for THE CRESCENT and HALF MOON, pencils, and a crescent moon and crystal-studded star necklace from Jordan Deen
A signed copy of 13 TO LIFE, a chap book of the prologue and first chapter of SECRETS AND SHADOWS from Shannon Delaney
A copy of THE BODY FINDER, a THE BODY FINDER tote bag, sticker and bookmarks from Kimberley Derting
An EVERLASTING-themed notebook, bookmark and pin from Angela Frazier
A signed copy of CLAIRE DE LUNE, signed stickers and a silver, moon-themed bookmark from Christine Johnson
A signed copy of SHADOWED SUMMER, matching chocolate candies, Twilight-themed heart candies, bookmarks and THE VESPERTINE dance card from Saundra Mitchell
A signed copy of THE PACE, by Shelena Shorts, along with bookmarks and THE PACE pencils
A signed hard-cover of SHADE and a Keeley Brothers pin from Jeri-Smith Ready
A signed copy of PERSONAL DEMONS, a PERSONAL DEMONS tank top, temporary tattoos, and bookmarks from Lisa Desrochers
. . . AND MORE!!! All for ONE LUCKY WINNER!

But that’s not all!

Each author has one other handwritten recipe that will be part of each author’s own Personal Prize Pack.

The prize packs include:

Cyn Balog – Signed copy of SLEEPLESS and a handwritten recipe for Coconut Bread.
Stephanie Burgis – UK paperback copy of A MOST IMPROPER MAGICK and a hand written recipe for Apple Muffins
Kay Cassidy – Hand-written recipe and giveaways
Megan Crewe – Hand-written recipe and signed copy of GIVE UP THE GHOST
Shannon Delaney – Hand-written recipe and signed copy of 13 TO LIFE
Jordan Deen – Basket with Pampered Chef baking gear and a recipe for Orange Pineapple Cake
Kimberley Derting – Signed copy of The Body Finder, stickers, a totebag, bookmarks and a recipe for Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lisa Desrochers – A copy of PERSONAL DEMONS and a recipe for Sunday Coffee Cupcakes
Angie Frazier – A signed hard-cover copy of EVERLASTING, bookmark, and a recipe for Butter Rum Cupcakes with Coconut Buttercream Frosting
Judith Graves – Copy of UNDER MY SKIN, a character card, and a recipe for Dead Lady Fingers
Christine Johnson – A signed hard-cover copy of CLAIRE DE LUNE, stickers, a silver moon-themed bookmark and a recipe for Chocolate-Chip Butterscotch Blondies
Saundra Mitchell – Recipe and giveaways
Jennifer Murgia – ANGEL STAR swag, Octogram earrings, and a hand-written recipe
Shelena Shorts – Signed copy of THE BROKEN LAKE and bookmarks and a hand-written recipe
Jeri Smith-Ready – SHADE UK paperback edition and a recipe for Scottish Oat Scones
Get ready, get set . . . . enter away! Good luck, everyone.
Fine print: The contest entries must be posted by midnight eastern time on September 20th. This contest is open to the U.S., U.K. and Canada. Questions? Leave them in the comments or email me – christine(at)christinejohnsonbooks.com

Review Oh. My. Gods.

Oh. My. Gods. is  about a young girl who is forced to transfer to a high school inhabited by the decedents of Greek gods. Pheobe is the only student without mystical powers, so between homework, racing against teammates, and crushing on a boy with Greek god good looks, she must figure out how to survive high school.

 

I rather enjoyed this book. It was an extremely quick read, but very enjoyable. I am intensely fascinated by Greek mythology so having the classical mythology thrown into the high school world, made it so interesting. I found Oh. My. Gods. wildly entertaining. I definitely recommend reading this book.

~ Stevi

Recipe Oh My Gods

Phoebe and the rest of her school are all in insanely good shape, plus their god given good looks. While we normal folk don't have the advantage of being part god, we can still look good and stay healthy. Here is a recipe that is sure to taste great, but also keep us looking and feeling good :)

Greek Salad
Ingredients:
1 cucumber
2 roma/plum tomatoes
1 cup kalamata olive
1 small package of feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 red onion
1/2 packageof romaine lettuce
1/2 package of baby greens

Directions:
Cut everything up and throw it together. how easy is that!

Now for the vinaigrette dressing..
Ingredients:
6 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp each of: garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, dijon mustard, lemon juice
1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar

Directions:
whisk everything together and pour  as needed on salad :)

~ Stevi

Author Interview - Rachel Vincent

Rachel Vincent is the author of the YA book series Soul Screamers, along with her adult series Shifters. She has done us the honor of stopping by to answer a few questions about her books, publishing, and a few other things. :)

Q: Rachel, can you give us an overview of your Soul Screamers series?

A: Soul Screamers is a young adult urban fantasy series narrated by teenage bean sidhe (banshee) Kaylee Cavanaugh as she tries to balance a normal high school experience with the threat of the Netherworld, a terrifying, hidden world full of reapers, hellions, and countless other mythical monsters out to possess her, body and soul. 

Q: Kaylee is a Bean Sidhe, a being of Irish mythology. How did you come across this particular myth and what made you decide to write about it? 

A: Actually, I already knew what a “banshee” was, from growing up hearing phrases like, “scream like a banshee,” but when I was doing research, looking for something mostly unexplored in urban fantasy, I rediscovered the lore I already knew and realized there were enough unanswered questions about bean sidhes to leave a lot of the creation up to me. Which made Kaylee a perfect subject for both YA and urban fantasy.

 Q: Would you want to have Kaylee's powers?

A: Nooo! No way. I don’t want to know when someone’s going to die.

 

Q: Who is your favorite character in Soul Screamers and are any of them based on yourself or anyone you know?

A: No, none of them are based on anyone real. Other than Kaylee, my favorite characters are Tod and Sabine, because they both have completely different outlooks on life than normal humans have, and that makes writing them a lot of fun.

 Q: I absolutely love all of the covers to the Soul Screamers books. They are gorgeous! How did you decide on the images?

A: I didn’t. That’s not how the cover art process works. Most authors have little-to-no say on their cover art or design, and even those who do get approval or significant input (major bestsellers, for the most part) don’t actually pick out the images. The cover is entirely up to the publisher.

My role in cover art is simply to describe the characters, their world, and the plot for my publisher, who then designs the cover. With foreign covers, I usually don’t see them until they go up for pre-order online.

Q: Readers may not know this, but you also have a series, Shifters, that is geared more towards adults. Is writing for one genre easier than the other?

A: I actually started out writing for adults. Stray, my first novel and the first in the Shifters series, came out in 2007. But no, neither genre is easier than the other. My YAs are a little shorter than my adult books, though not much shorter at this point, so they usually get written faster. But writing is hard work. Period. There are zillions of details that go into it, and I’ll have read through each book a minimum of eight times before it’s printed, doing various rounds of revisions, edits, and proofreading.

Q: What book are you currently reading and what is your all time favorite book?

A: I’m about to start an ARC of Delirious. My favorite adult book is The Stand, by Stephen King, and my favorite YAs right now are Some Girls Are, by Courtney Summers, and White Cat, by Holly Black. I heartily recommend all three of them.

 Q: Many readers are also aspiring writers. How did you get your books published and what advice would you give when it comes to writing?

A: I don’t have any advice, about writing, because it’s just not that simple. No one tip is going to make you a brilliant writer. All you can do is practice—a lot—and study your craft by reading—a lot. However, if you want to study technique, there are hundreds of books about writing fiction out there. But be careful; too much advice too early in the process can stifle your creativity and block the development of your own “voice.”

As for how I got published, I wrote a book. Then I wrote another book. Then I wrote a third book. I thought this third book (Stray) was good enough to publish—but I was wrong. So I spent several months polishing and rewriting (through six different drafts), then started querying literary agents. My future agent Miriam Kriss read and loved my partial (sample chapters) and called to ask for the whole thing. She read it and liked it, so she offered to represent me. I accepted, then she started pitching my books to editors.

Stray received offers from four publishers, and a couple of weeks later, we accepted my first book deal, for the first three books in the Shifters series.

Because a LOT of new writers fall victim to scams, let me add this:

The thing to remember about publishing is that money always flows TO the author, never from the author. If a literary agent or publisher asks you for money to represent or to publish you books, turn around and run. You ARE being scammed. I do not pay my agent. I do not pay my publisher. My publisher pays me for the right to publish my books. My agent gets 15% of what my publisher makes me. That’s how it works. Period.

                                                                                                       

Q: What are you working on now? Is there more to the Soul Screamers series that readers can look forward to?

A: Right now, I’m working on the first draft of IF I DIE (Soul Screamers book 5, which comes out sometime in the summer or fall of 2011.

Q: Finally, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, I really appreciate it. Is there anything else you want readers to know about you or your books?
 

A: Thank you for having me! You can keep up with my latest book news, releases, and contests on my website, blog, or Facebook.

http://rachelvincent.com/

http://www.facebook.com/rachelkvincent

http://urbanfantasy.blogspot.com/

I hope this encourages everyone to go out and read Rachel's books, they are truly awesome. I have a review and a recipe for My Soul to Keep under the Read and Eat tabs on the blog too, so you can get a little more information.

I'd like to once again thank Rachel for answering my questions. I love the information given about the publishing process.I'm sure readers will find it very helpful too.

♥ Allie

Hunger Games!

I dont now about you, but I am beyond words excited about Mockingjay, the final installment in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins!!!! I think this could quite possibly be my favorite series, or at least close to it!
If you havnt read it, do it now! If you have, then you know what im talking about :)
Here is just one(of many) link to a site that is devoted to the hunger games. There are contests and giveaways too so go check it out!!! :)
http://www.myhungergames.com/

☮ Allie

update! ツ

Hello there!

I hope everyone is enjoying our site. We really are trying to make something that will interest everyone.
We have decided to do one recipe and one review every week, so make sure you log on every week to check it out.
Remember, there is more than just the home page. if you click on the other tabs you will find more stuff :)
Also, communication is key. For all we know nobody actually reads anything that we post, or at least doesnt care about it. So, if you do stop by the blog, how about you leave a note or a comment to let us know what's going on. Dont like something?  Tell us! Love something? Tell us! Do you think 1 review and recipe a week is enough, or should there be more? Let us know! Like our review? have you read the book also? have somethign to add? By all means, tell us!
we would love it if people interacted with each other and with us, so please, do so :)
Finally, i have added a subscribe gadget to the page on the right. Please subscribe so you can be updated when we actually do post new information.

Thank you all for your support
We truly Appreciate it!

☮♥ Allie

Shiver Review

Shiver by Maggive Stiefvater

Shiver is the first book in a three part series. It stars a young girl, Grace, who has always been fascinated by the wolves that live in the woods behind her house. There is one wolf in particular that she feels eerily drawn to, one who she feels she can't live without. Little does Grace know, she is about to meet her wolf for the first time...

I really enjoyed this book, it was a rather quick read due to the fact that I was so entranced by the language; it definitely kept me wanting more. It contains quotes that appeal to romantics, such as myself…quotes such as these: “'You're beautiful and sad,’ I said finally, not looking at him when I did. ‘Just like your eyes. You're like a song that I heard when I was a little kid but forgot I knew until I heard it again.’ For a long moment there was only the whirring sound of the tires on the road, and then Sam said softly, ‘Thank you.’” and also...  "It is possible to be in love with you just because of who you are."

The language can be intense, lyrical, and romantic. This is a great read and I highly recommend it!

❧ Stevi

Shiver Recipe

Feeling that distinct Shiver? Try this tea to warm your blood and ward off the change:


Fine Wolf
Ingredients:
1. Masala spice chai tea (1 tea bag unbrewed)
2. 2 cups apple cider
3. 1 tsp agave nectar
4. 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Preparation:
1. Pour nectar and lemon juice into a mug
2. Heat the apple cider to a near boil
3. Pour cider into the mug, stir, then add the tea bag
4. Allow to steep 3 to 5 mins before removing tea bag

Original sight: http://cocktails.about.com/od/mocktailmocktail/r/fine_wolf.htm

❧ Stevi

Radiant Darkness

Review - Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

He smiles. "Hello."

It's a deep voice. I can feel it reverberate in my chest and echo all the way down to my toes.

I know I should leave, but I don't want to. I want to keep my senses like this forever. I'm all eye, all ear, all skin.

Persephone lives in the most gorgeous place in the world. But her mother's a goddess, as overprotective as she is powerful. Paradise has become a trap. Just when Persephone feels there's no chance of escaping the life that's been planned for her, a mysterious stranger arrives. A stranger who promises something more—something dangerous and exciting—something that spurs Persephone to make a daring choice. A choice that could destroy all she's come to love, even the earth itself.

In a land where a singing river can make you forget your very name, Persephone is forced to discover who—and what—she really is.~

This is a retelling of the Greek myth of Persephone. The Greeks once used myths to explain the phenomena of the world around them. Persephone's story is the way they explained the reason for the seasons. I dont wan't to even give out the other names of characters in this story, because I don't want to give it away, just in case you do not already know the story. You'll just have to read it!

Whitman does a lovely job of retelling this myth, in a way that makes the reader think about Persephone, and her fate, in a different light. I always love it when authors make me feel for the "bad guy" and this story does just that. Radiant Darkness is fun and easy to read. I love the romance and love that is so clearly felt between the characters. I couldn't put it down because I needed to know how everything turned out, even though I already knew what had to be the ending. When an author can make me keep reading, even though I already know how the story ends, then I know they're good!

You should definitely find a way to read this book! :)

♥ Allie

p.s. the recipe that goes with this review is below

Radiant Darkness Recipe

Pomegranate Fruit Salad

According to myth, if you eat the food from the underworld then you are cursed to never leave.
In some versions of the original myth Persephone becomes forever trapped in the ominous underworld because she is tricked into eating the seeds of a pomegranate.
Lucky for us mortals, we can eat all the pomegranate we want and not have to worry about getting stuck somewhere with the dead!
Pomegranate is a wonderful fruit, and it's full of lots of things that are super good for you too. So, why not indulge.

Ingredients:

1 pomegranate

1 green apple

1 small can of mandarin oranges in light syrup

Strawberries

Blackberries

Directions:

Make sure you wash all your fruit before cutting and eating it

Cut open Pomegranate and take out all the seeds, placing them in a small-medium sized bowl

Core and cut the apple, place into bowl

Drain excess syrup from mandarins and put them into the bowl with the apple and pomegranate

Slice up as many strawberries as you'd like

Add as many blackberries as you like

Ta-da! You're done!
This is not only a quick and easy snack to make, but it is also very healthy and light.
You can always add more or less of anything that you want, these are just my favorites, and they go well together.
Also, it is perfectly safe to eat the whole pomegranate seed. In fact, part of the nutritious value is in the seed itself. :)

♥ Allie

INFO :)

Hello there everyone. I hope you are having a fantastic summer. I know I just got back from a lovely vacation.
I just wanted to keep everyone updated:
At the moment I am working on getting a few things set up for our pages so they will be a bit more organized.
I have a lot more reviews and recipes to post, so look forward to that.
Also working on getting some author interviews for our site. Are there any authors or books that anyone is particularly interested in?
In the meantime, I posted a new discussion on the LIVE page. I hope all of you will comment and participate in that.
and remember, tell your friends! the more people we have the more activities we can do, and that leads to prizes for you! :)
Thank you all for reading and keeping up with The Book Cafe
♥ Allie

Help :)

Hey Everyone!
So, I know this has nothing to do with books, but I thought I would share it with you anyways :)
I entered in this contest and if I win I get to serve my Cupcakes to the stars on the red carpet :)
So, all I need to do is have the most votes to get to the next round. So I would really appreciate it if you guys voted for me (you can vote once a day until the contest ends :)
http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/42530/voteable_entries/5909546?order=recency
Devils food cupcakes with vanilla bean cream cheese frosting :)

please please please help me out and vote everyday

much love
and i hope you all had a great 4th of July weekend!!!

♥ Allie

Hey :)

Hey everyone!
So last night was the premiere of Eclipse, and Stevi and I went. It was actually surprisingly good. Definitely way better than the first two movies! Did anyone else see it, or plan on seeing it?
Also, I am working on getting the menu bar fixed, so if it seems a little spastic I'm sorry, I fail at being a techy, that's why I read haha.
Remember to check out all apects of this site. The recipes section is being added to and trust me, everything is delicious :)
Finally, please encourage your friends to follow us. Obviously you dont need to have a blogger account o follow, and it costs nothing, so why not? Once we get enough followers we will be able to give away prizes and have more fun stuff on here. So please, tell your friends!!!

♥ Allie

p.s. other than the spastic menu bar how does everyone like this site? any suggestions or feedback? I'm working on getting more recipes up too. Does everyone like those?

Welcome!!!

Hello to anyone who has happened upon The Book Cafe! My name is Allie and my co-blogger is Stevi. We are the managers, or baristas if you will, of this blog :)
The Book Cafe has so much potential, and it can be fully achieved with the help of loyal readers, such as yourself. We look forward to reading and discussing books, among other things, with you. Here you will find YA book reviews, recipes to go with your book choices, some games and contests, great conversation, and much much more! We hope you enjoy and keep coming back for more!!! :)