[SproutQ]

I'm not done yet, so I can't offer a full review.  But let me say this:

When child protective services comes to my house to ask why my children are unfed and unclothed and playing unsupervised in my unfinished basement, I am going to give them Maggie Stiefvater's name.  If I can pronounce it.

Yum.

[Jessica Burkhart Posts: 12 Status: Offline I'm back :)]

I'm in love with it. Will most def be reading it again.

[Llehn Posts: 45 Status: Offline I'm a cool ninja cat]

Psssttt ... SproutQ  it's Steve Otter.

[Carrie Posts: 77 Status: Offline Caffeine, please!]

I am so excited about getting a copy. I can't even tell you how long I've been waiting to read this.

[Aimee W. Posts: 382 Status: Offline MADNESS]

Tomorrow!! Right? 

[ello Posts: 673 Status: Offline]

I picked it up at the bookstore and read half of it before I even bought it - cause it was so freaking good! I liked Lament - but I love Shiver!

[TrueImage]

I finished reading SHIVER last night and it was great!

The author has a beautiful way of telling the love story between Grace and Sam. And Sam? Okay, where can I sign up for Team Sam? LOL...

Also, it makes me realize how much I do love poetry...especially when it's recited by a hot werewolf.

I can't wait for LINGER. The ending had more yearning for more and I want to see what happens next!

I'm letting my god-daughter read it next--she is going to LOVE it!

Great job, Maggie!

[m_stiefvater]

I am pretending that I'm not reading this thread so that people can feel free to be critical.

You never saw me.

[SproutQ]

Okay, I finished it.  Actually I finished it late that night the first time I posted.

This book is so much fun.  The person who handed it to me said, "Here.  It's Twilight, with vampires."  I am here to tell you it is not.  Yes, there's a doomed-love-with-a-monster kind of scenario.  And it has all the must keep reading adventure and make your heart flutter romance.  But it's like the antidote to Twilight.  All the characters are likable, the romance is on equal terms between two solid characters, and, my favorite part: it ends!  None of the usual YA leave you hanging wait for book 2.  How nice to read a book that keeps you on your toes and then actually satisfies at the end.

Because I always think a good review mentions the downsides (stop reading, Maggie), I will say that the MC's BFF annoyed me; I think it's possible she was supposed to be annoying, but still.  This, however, is a minor point.  Also, I'd add that there is sex.  Good, clean, totally consensual and healthy sex, but it may affect to whom you recommend the book.

My 16 year-old cousin is going to flip when I send it to her.

[m_stiefvater]

Because I always think a good review mentions the downsides (stop reading, Maggie)

I have to say I've always preferred them this way -- about everything I do creatively/ music/ artwise. A good review that just goes OMG OMG OMG is not to be as trusted or as revered as one that says OMG but also. An OMG from a thinker is always WAY better!

That said, thank you so much!

[AriannaB]

I agree with everything that has been said. It's an amazing book and I couldn't put it down. I actually attempted to cook with one hand while reading this with the other.

Cannot wait for LINGER!

[PatEsden Posts: 474 Status: Offline]

I just posted an interview in which Maggie Stiefvater answers questions about SHIVER on my lj blog.

Needless to say, I read and loved the book. 

[writercat Posts: 39 Status: Offline]

I bought it already and am excited to read it. I have like 8 in the queue in front of it but I may move it up. Esp. since TrueImage loved it and we almost always agree on books.

[redheadedali]

I have to say I've always preferred them this way -- about everything I do creatively/ music/ artwise. A good review that just goes OMG OMG OMG is not to be as trusted or as revered as one that says OMG but also. An OMG from a thinker is always WAY better!

Well, in that case  ...

I did feel that some of the supporting characters could have been a little stronger (though I did come to really love Isabel). But the relationship between Grace and Sam is clearly the main attraction, and I loved it and them. The intensity and intimacy of their connection reminded me of one of my other favorite love stories, The Time Traveler's Wife. Like that book, I think this is a romance for people who think they don't like romance. Good job, Maggie  .

[m_stiefvater]

The intensity and intimacy of their connection reminded me of one of my other favorite love stories, The Time Traveler's Wife. Like that book, I think this is a romance for people who think they don't like romance. Good job, Maggie  .

And one of my favorite books, for the record! :D

[Joanna Posts: 162 Status: Offline]

So after a trip to my local indie bookstore yesterday morning, I spent the better part of the day reading this.  Was going to leave the last seventy pages or so for this morning, but made the mistake of reading juuuuuuuust a little more before bed and so of course had to stay up and finish it.  I really liked it. It was beautiful and sad in all the right places, and I loved the rhythm of the prose. It also got a lot of audible exclamations out of me—good thing there was no one else around! Hats off, Ms. Stiefvater!!!  

[Amaris Glass Posts: 76 Status: Offline]

The bathroom scene was pretty amazing. I kind of can't stop thinking about it.

[Deb]

  this book as well, and very good to know re Time Traveler's Wife (have not read yet, but is on my list)-it's always great to be able to recommend books saying--if you liked this, you'll like this.

D

[m_stiefvater]

The bathroom scene was pretty amazing. I kind of can't stop thinking about it.

My fav scene in the book!

[writermom Posts: 2,099 Status: Offline Wishin' and hopin']

Picking it up this weekend for my dd, but I'll probably not tell her until I'm done reading it.

[Running2StandStill]

Getting my SHIVER on at last!! It arrived in the mail today!

[Carol Anne Posts: 168 Status: Offline "Painting, Prose, and Pajamas..."]

Hey Maggie. Bought SHIVER today. Went to the biggest bookstore in Victoria, and there was only ONE copy left. When I bought it, the clerk said, "Oh yeah...this one's really popular!"

(That Maggie - she's kind of a big deal.)

[Cathie Posts: 180 Status: Offline]

Went to Borders today and they had two left, they were facing forward like the best sellers do! Looks like several in front were sold! Great job!

[writercat Posts: 39 Status: Offline]

Bought it, loved it, and hope to get you to sign it at Dragon Con if I can find you!

[WhitneyM]

I adored this book, and reviewed it here: http://whitneyamiller.com/2009/08/05/the-cold-the-heat-the-shiver-the-review/

Find out who I would take to a desert island and what the best excerpt is IMHO!

Maggie is the best!

[m_stiefvater]

*grin* Thanks, guys.

[olmue Posts: 3,559 Status: Offline]

I'm only partway through, but there's Rilke in this book! Put the rest of the day on hold for me, please... and keep the heat on. I can't have Sam losing himself to eternal wolfdom!

ETA: I love how the characters found real, tangible solutions instead of hocus pocus. Sam and Grace felt very balanced. I love the fact that there was, indeed, an ending! And hm...how to say without spoilers? I love the direction the ending went (as opposed to the direction all vampire novels seem to go).

The only character I didn't have a firm grip on was Olivia--I wasn't sure I followed the argument, and I didn't realize at first she was skipping school--I thought she had run away, gotten attacked, or was out sick. Got it at the end, though.

And--my favorite Rilke poem of all time is in there. Awesome!

[guitarnaiad Posts: 111 Status: Offline YA author and one-girl-band]

It definitely had its good points, but there were other elements that didn't work for me. But, as most know,  I'm one picky (insert what you wish here) *ahem* with weird taste. This book appears to be well on it's way to uber status though! Good luck to you, Maggie!

[xiaotien Posts: 360 Status: Offline]

i stayed up late several nights reading SHIVER.

so gorgeously written and so very romantic!
i loved the intense love and the intense fear / sense
of helplessness given grace and sam's situation.

[SPOILERS BELOW]

the ending surprised me.
i didn't realize it was a trilogy?

also, i expected grace to consider being turned
at some point. esp when it seemed sam had no hope
of staying human, given her expressed longing of it
earlier in the novel. also, when beck asked her to go
"mind" jack, i thought that would be an opp or even
when olivia said that jack had bitten her as a human!
i was like, a-ha!

i don't think that i needed grace to go through with it.
not even 50% be on board--but i needed her to
seriously consider it for a moment at the very end,
esp when she did lose sam?

my only minor quibble.
well done, maggie! and congrats on the well
deserved accolades!

 :pickflowers

[m_stiefvater]

Thanks, Cindy!! I can completely see where you're coming from on the Grace considering being turned thing . . . I dunno, for me, that was one of the points that I most disliked about the Twilight series; that Bella was so willing to throw away her humanity. To consider turning just for Sam seemed to me desperately unhealthy (not to say I wouldn't have been 17 and going MAKE ME A WOLF RIGHT NOW, YOU @#$%%%!!!). But that definitely gets played with more in the sequel, so I'm actually really glad that you wanted her to consider it more in this one.

Also, I know what you mean, Tara. There are a lot of books that I think are well-written, and a lot that i like, but very, very few that I *love*.