Sapphire Blue Readalong

Well, February is over which means I’ve reread Ruby Red and realized I don’t really know myself as well as I thought I did. It also means we’re closer to tax day, but I’m doing my best not to think about that because it makes me want to turn the Boston Harbor into a giant cup of tea.

But back to my identity crisis.

See, I thought I loved Gideon de Villiers from the first moment I met him. Looking back, I imagined this sweet guy who was also really capable and swoon-worthy and all of the other good things. Except he’s not.

As I reread Ruby Red, I was all “What witchcraft is this?” because Gideon was not kind and he wasn’t swoon-worthy and he was only mostly capable because he did need Gwen to save his life after all.

Then the month ended with me looking at a dress and seeing it go from white and gold to blue and black and back again, and that really cemented this personality disorder. Anyway, what became clear very early in the book is that Ruby Red is about Gwen being awesome and kicking butt even though pretty much everyone but her equally awesome BFF underestimate her.

So if you’re one book in and thinking, “These jackholes promised me a swoon-worthy boy and all I got was Judgy McJudgerson and his Cloak of Superiority,” well, you’re mostly right. But you also got an amazing heroine who learns quickly, stands up for herself, and is basically hilarious.

And there’s more of that in the second book, Sapphire Blue. There’s also a kinder Gideon and a gargoyle who steals every scene he’s in.

Join in the big readalong this month by tweeting your thoughts under the hashtag #SapphireBlueReread.

In other reading news, I have an announcement about the YA Book Club … but you’ll have to wait until Wednesday for that.

Ruby Red Reread

I’ve decided to give in to one of my favorite obsessions even though The Man will probably call me crazy. But The Man always calls me crazy, especially when my obsessions lead me to

A) Reread that note a fifth time and wonder why email is like a preschool gift exchange. No take-backs.
 B) Skip “real life” to read a really good book.

But I’m going to give in because my love for Ruby Red is deep and powerful. Also, timely.

See, Sara Biren and Rebekah Faubion had this idea to reread the series and they were all “Hey Tracey might want in because she’s got that obsession thing.” And I was like, YOU’RE ENABLERS AND YES.

So we’re taking February to read Ruby Red.

We’ll be tweeting our reactions with the hashtag #RubyRedReread, and we want you to join in.

Right now, you may be thinking, “How can I reread a book I haven’t read yet?”

Which is really strange since I just thought about that. Maybe my telepathy is coming back.

Anyhow. First-time readers are welcome. 

Obviously we’ll behead anyone who reveals a spoiler. Or, because we’re not, like, the Queen of Hearts or the guy who did Marie Antoinette in, we’ll silently curse them to three spoiled books.

But wait, there’s more!

In March, we’ll read book No. 2, Sapphire Blue. In April, we’ll read book No. 3, Emerald Green.

In May we’ll be sad the series is over, but we won’t be THAT sad because it’ll be May and we’ll look outside and not see snow banks taller than trucks.

Who’s joining us?