Blog Tour- Bad Habits by Flynn Meaney

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BOOK BITE

Big hearted Alex is determined to take on the establishment in the name of Feminism.

Book Acrostic

Blatant

Antagonistic

Determined

Humorous

Assertive

Bold

Impassioned

Theatrical

Sympathetic

#Book Haiku

Laughs and lessons with

outrageous Alex who likes

to shock but counsels.

Good Night To Read Review

Alex Heck is on a mission. She wants to be expelled from her traditional boarding school so the more outrageous her behaviour the better. She decides that the ultimate affront to Catholic establishmentarianism is staging a play that puts Feminist issues out front, loudly and proudly urging women to reclaim their bodies. What else could it be but Eve Ensler’s seminal work ‘The V—– Monologues’. The trouble is no-one wants to mention the word except Alex who flouts authority and emblazons it across the school community’s consciousness.

Her checklist?

1. Use the V word at every possible opportunity
2. Employ shock tactics
3. Insult people
4. Find venue
5. Search for school approval
6. Assemble cast from St Mary’s Feminist Club [which only has six members who aren’t sure it’s such a good idea] and whose club room is in the bowels of the basement
7. Collect signatures on Club Fair Day for a petition
8. Attempt a casting
9. Put on a rehearsal
10. Defy various authority figures
11. Burn her bra

Much to Alex’s frustration, while she embarks on this chaotically shambolic adhoc approach, she has to contend with ‘do-gooder’ Katie Casey who just wants everyone to join her ‘Save Your Heart’ Club and has the temerity to use cupcakes as bribery. Alex laments, ‘Where is the freedom, sex positivity and Feminism?’ as she battles to be heard above the clamour of Varsity Hockey, Mansplaining and heckling. And why does Pat seem to be everywhere she goes? She can’t let him distract her from her goals. She’s got enough on her plate with acting as Den Mother to confused teens who come to her for advice because they know she cares.

Meanwhile her friend Mary Kate, who looks like she just wandered off ‘The Little House on the Prarie’ set, is on a crusade of her own. She will walk around the lake with a boyfriend before the snow falls or perish in the attempt. Who will make the grade? Will it be Jesus Sandals or Theology John? Cue extreme hilarity.

Meaney invites us to follow the girls over the course of a term from August to December as they aim to make their dreams come true. Ribald, riotous and rambunctious with real heart, it’s like ‘Derry Girls’ in a Minnesota setting. Imagine Michelle Mallon with a purple faux hawk dangling from a 2nd floor window. Meaney’s gloriously descriptive passages will have the reader in hysterics as Alex thumbs her nose at the establishment while Mary Kate watches on in horror and Katie blithely acts like a ray of sunshine. But deep down what do the girls really want?

‘Bad Habits’ highlights that people should not be judged on first appearances. Meaney’s characters are well observed and her prose is savvy and humorous. With frank advice about safe sex, discussion of gender stereotypes and a real sense of camaraderie this is a must read for everyone who is feisty and fierce, is a fan of Anne Shirley, has the anarchic urge to give a rebel yell or who would just like to burst into paroxysms of uncontrollable laughter.

#Don’tExpectTheSoundof Music

Book Chocoholic Rating- 4 Chocolate Libraries

Laughter Level- 😂😂😂🤣

Thank you to the wonderful @Write_Reads @WriteReadsTours@PenguinPlatform #FlynnMeaney #UltimateBlogTour for including Good Night To Read on ‘Bad Habits’ Blog Tour. Big shout out and massive thanks to #NetGalley.

DISCOVER MORE

Twitter- #FlynnMeaney

TAGLINE- Enrol here for Rebellion

Visit her website for a taster of her work-

http://flynnmeaney.com/

Five Facts About Flynn Meaney

1. Grew up in Mamaroneck, New York
2. Studied Marketing & French at the University of Notre Dame & has an MFA in Poetry.
3. Inspired to be a YA writer by her high school friends and their humorous conversations.
4. Celebrates teen identity in her writing.
5. Enjoys bagels and croissants depending on whether she’s in New York or Paris.

When you’re writing you have to get close to your subject and see the weird and unexpected ‘colours’ in there. Even a character who’s supposed to be incredibly sexy should have flaws. Even a tragic scene should have those weird moments of humour or joy.”- Flynn on writing.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

AUTHOR- Meaney, Flynn

TITLE- Bad Habits

NUMBER OF PAGES- 320

PUBLISHER- Penguin

PUBLICATION DATE- Feb 11 2021

ISBN- 9780241407196

MEME- AMY

Recommending an Adult novel, a Middle Grade read and a YA novel each month.

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For the month of November I’m selecting ‘Bone China’, an atmospheric and eerie historical Gothic tale set in Cornwall, ‘The Unteachables’, a hilarious and warm hearted story of a class whom everyone has given up on and a teacher who has no spirit for teaching any more, and ‘On Midnight Beach’ , a masterful YA reimagining of the ‘Táin Bó Cuailgne’ set in Donegal in 1976 during a hot and sultry Irish summer.

Adult Novel– Bone China by Laura Purcell

They listen and then they punish.”

A stranded troubled

house wreathed in past sorrows and

broken hopes and dreams.

Purcell expertly captures a sense of time and place when the fear of consumption was at its height. Deftly manipulating flashbacks she plays with psychological fears, the spectre of guilt and the ingrained superstitions of people on their guard against malign faery folk. Who is the prisoner? Who is the imprisoned? Is it all in their minds or is the reader not being told the whole truth? What is the significance of the bone china? Chilling.

Middle Grade Novel– The Unteachables by Gordon Korman

A plume of smoke is pouring out the single open window. It’s coming from the fire roaring in the wastebasket in the centre of the room. A handful of kids are gathered around it toasting marshmallows skewered on the end of number two pencils.”

Perfect combination of laughs and emotional heart

A gang of misfits

with real heart and loyalty

find someone who cares.

This is a feel good story of redemption with just the right blend of humour and poignancy to make it unputdownable. A class of students with diverse needs who are misjudged and dubbed ‘unteachable’ find purpose when they realise someone who has given up on himself believes in them. In turn Mr Kermit rediscovers his power to make a difference. A tale of missed opportunities, regrets, ambitious plans, madcap hijinks, life lessons and friendship.

I only recently discovered Gordon Korman courtesy of selections on my public library app Libby. I will definitely be reading more by this Canadian American author who is prolific.

YA Novel– On Midnight Beach by Marie Louise Fitzpatrick

I kept clear of Dog Cullen. Till the summer we turned seventeen, the summer the dolphin came to Carrig Cove . .”

Irrevocably

drawn towards each other Emer

and ‘Dog’ are fated.

An expert and powerful reimagining of an Irish epic where rival villages battle over a dolphin and passion and violence explode. Marie Louise Fitzpatrick expertly paces her plot, fleshes out her characters and captures the mind set of Ireland in 1976 bound by tradition and sitting on a powder keg of tensions exacerbated by a long, hot Summer. The ‘Táin Bó Cuailgne’ is brought to life with a realistic YA slant. As my friend who recommended the book to me said, “Just gorgeous.”

Spotlight- Here Be Dragons

Majestic dragons

blazing a fiery trail through

the amber night sky.

This poster was designed by our library’s student helper Kacper to promote our collection of dragon literature.

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Book Magic & the Joy of Stories

Magical dragon escapades

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Elizabeth flouts stereotypical roles

Dragons are fantastical beasts who can be depicted as dangerous or friendly or misunderstood. Their appearance and abilities spark the imagination and fuel quest narratives. Readers are exhilarated by their adventures. From Graham’s gentle ‘Reluctant Dragon’ to Smaug in ‘The Hobbit’ to the dragon challenge Harry Potter and his fellow champions faced in the Tri Wizard Tournament to Ladon guarding the golden apples of the garden of Hesperides to sinister Wyverns to hybrids like the Cockatrice [incidentally the heraldic symbol on our college’s school blazer] dragons are legendary creatures in fantasy and mythology. They are powerful, magical, enchanting and scary. Flying through the sky shooting tongues of fire, they are the epitome of fearlessness.

From picture books to YA to anime to manga, the world of dragons is exciting and magical. Here are a few favourites from our library’s dragon collection.

Munsch’s ‘The Paperbag Princess’ is an hilarious and wonderful story which subverts the reader’s expectations and has a fantastic Feminist message.

For Middle Grade readers Cressida Cowell’s entertaining ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ series about the exploits of the hapless Hiccup and his defiant dragon Toothless is a joy. Her characters are evocative and the books resonate with exciting set pieces. Hiccup strives to prove himself to his father Stoick the Vast as a true Viking with a courageous heart. He has a different way of training dragons other than yelling at them. Cressida’s illustrations are wonderfully expressive and the books resonate with adventurous exploits and zany humour.

In contrast, Tui Sutherland [part of the ‘Warrior Cats’ author team], has created a compelling world of dragons, Pyrrhia, in the enthralling ‘Wings of Fire’ – The Dragonets prophecy series. Competitive tribes battle for a Sand Queen’s succession as five dragonets vow to stop the futile war. Clay, a Mud Wing, Tsunami, a Sea Wing, Glory, a Rain Wing, Sunny, a Sand Wing and Star Flight, a Night Wing grow up in training together but long for love and comfort. Snatched from their homes when they were just eggs, they were kept under a mountain by The Talons of Peace but what is their ultimate destiny and will they ever be reunited with their parents? Dangerous journeys, difficult choices and painful realisations await them as they struggle to stay alive.

Each dragon has distinctive personality characteristics and each race have particular skills and deadly battle tricks in their arsenal. Themes like the importance of friendship, the precarious nature of prophecies, greed, prejudice and deception are explored with the added touch of dark magic. It is an absorbing, action packed and imaginative fantasy series where humans have been relegated to the role of scavengers, wicked dragons force others to fight gladiator style and brave dragons risk everything for each other. The first five books tell each dragonet’s story and are followed up by more adventures in Pyrrhia where the reader learns the origin stories of Ice Wings and Sky Wings.

This matriarchal world, which the reader can view on the opening maps, where each realm is ruled by a Queen is fascinating and addictive. We meet Peril, who has a deadly gift, Winter who must reassess his life choices, Anemone who has a special talent which terrifies her and Turtle and Moon who are also hiding secrets. Inspired by Anne McCaffrey’s Dragons of Pern series, ‘Wings of Fire’ is perfect for anyone who enjoys dragon fantasies but be prepared for vicious tooth and claw slaughter.

Shout out to Shannon McManus who brings each arc of this dragon extravaganza splendidly to life with an entertaining cavalcade of voices.

Alternately, Liz Flanagan’s epic ‘Dragon Daughter’ transports the reader to the imaginary island of Arcosi, represented by a map at the beginning, which Flanagan uses as a microcosm to explore the universal themes of class, prejudice, tyranny, war and the refugee crisis. Her story is about the desire to belong, to know where you come from and where your destiny lies.

The ‘Dragon Keeper’ series by award winning Australian author Carole Wilkinson is another delight. Set in Ancient China it follows the fortunes of servant girl Ping who pledges to protect the Emperor’s precious dragon and a mysterious stone. Her determination results in an epic quest across China. Along the way she discovers magic while being pursued by a relentless bounty hunter who wants to capture her dragon.

Chris D’Lacey’s ‘The Last Dragon Chronicles’ is an absorbing heptalogy. When David discovers that carefully crafted clay dragons in the house where he is staying can come to life, he is catapulted into a world of mysterious magic. The truth about them takes him on a perilous quest where he discovers an ancient secret.

YA novel ‘Seraphina’ by Rachel Hartman, long listed for the 2013 Carnegie Medal, is another triumph of high fantasy exploring courtly politics, control, appearances and prejudice through the world of dragons.

‘Burn’, another YA tour de force from Patrick Ness, is a unique reading experience. From its opening line it intrigues and teases as it plays with the ideas of alternate worlds, conspiracy theories, tangled relationships, prejudice and wilful destruction with a soupcon of dragon magic. At its centre is the right to love whom you choose and the human instinct for survival. It is a feat of Ness’s imagination taking the reader’s mind to unexplored places, challenging them to think and ponder the politics of 1950’s America while experiencing fantastical dragon sequences. It’s also an exploration of the dangers of discrimination and the importance of diversity and individuality.

‘The Inheritance Cycle’ was created by Christopher Paolini when he was only 19. Set in the land of Alagaësia, it begins when Eragon discovers a blue stone which plunges him into a world of adventure where he is pitted against the tyrant Galbatorix. He must use all his wits and courage to restore the legendary world of the dragon riders.

‘Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire’ and ‘Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows’ include enthralling sequences featuring dragons. Book 4 features the compelling spectacle of the Tri Wizard Tournament where the champions battle a vicious Hungarian Horntail, a Common Welsh Green, a Chinese Fireball and a Swedish Short Snout. Rowling also offers dragon fuelled thrills in her finale.

‘Dragonology’ from Templar Publishing is a cornucopia of dragon secrets, written by the fictional Dr Ernest Drake in the style of a scientific journal which encourages the reader to discover language, lore, runes and replica samples.

Another popular book with our students is ‘Dragons’ published by Scholastic which showcases literary, mythological and movie dragons.

‘Little Nezha Fights the Four Dragon Kings’ is a fabulous 1980’s anime. It’s emotive, humorous, poignant and exciting. Some sequences of martial arts are quite balletic. Originating from a classical Chinese folktale about a young boy imbued with God like powers that enable him to take on four wicked dragon kings who have power over the elements, it was remade into a 3D live action animated movie in 2019.

For more amazing dragon exploits in bookish worlds, check out ‘Neverending Story’ -book by Michael Ende and iconic movie [with catchy ’80s titular song from Limahl] and the lovable Luck Dragon, Falkor.

Extras

If you would like more thoughts on the wonders of dragons- @one_to_read has hosted a discussion on Twitter with lots of great dragon book recommendations that can be found at #BooksNearBedtime.

MEME- CHOCOLATE BOX

The genre I’ve selected for the month of July is Historical with a touch of dark Gothic humour. ‘The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place’ by Julie Berry @JulieBerryBooks is quirky and dramatic. Think Agatha Christie crossed with ‘Arsenic & Old Lace’ at Victorian Finishing school where seven determined young ladies go to hilarious lengths to keep a criminal secret. Will they be caught and what will be the consequences?

The central characters- Dear Roberta, Disgraceful Mary Jane, Dour Elinor, Dull Martha, Pocked Louise, Smooth Kitty and Stout Alice are much more than their stereotyped monikers. They all have distinctive personalities which are zealously and deliciously drawn. There is mistaken identity, secrets, lies and skulduggery afoot. If you like ‘bothersome dilemmas’ & mischievous mysteries in a Victorian setting mixed with a drop of farce you will love this.

It’s available in book & audio book format and downloadable on library apps.

Think dark chocolate with whole nuts.

Smooth Kitty tries to

control a scandalous deed

that could split sisters