Yes or No: My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody, Review + Contest!

Hi there everyone!

Happy Friday to you.

It's been another crazy week in life and in books, here's hoping yours went a bit smoother.  Pardon the influx of "Roving Reader" posts of late.  There are simply too many interesting covers floating around out there and with my unusual online availability, it seems the perfect time to share.  So if you're worried that the blog is falling by the wayside, it's not...trust me.  It's simply that if I'm too incoherent to type at the wee hour of the morning that I manage to score some online time, I won't....it wouldn't be fair to you (because it'd probably come out in some alien language), the book/author featured (their "baby" deserves my fully alert self when typing the review), or to me (I'm a perfectionist....if I posted something less than par, you've NO IDEA how much it'd gnaw at my own sensibilities).  That being said, how's about we get to the review of the day.  Sound good?  I thought you might agree.  ^_^

Today's featured title is a new release, this past Tuesday in fact was its bookish birthday, and provided a rather interesting (if not irresponsible on some level) concept.  What if you didn't make the choices in your own life anymore?  What if you simply handed the reigns over to someone (or MANY someone's) else?  Would the results be GOOD or simply another form of bad altogether?  Brooklyn Pierce is about to find out.  Today's book of choice is....

My Life Undecided

by

Jessica Brody

From the publisher...

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.
But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else decide which book I read for English. And whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!
Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.
But don’t take my word for it. Read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

Brooklyn Pierce has a few decisions to make but based on her latest ones, she's not so keen on making them anytime soon.  That's okay, since she's decided on a more hands off approach.  That's right. YOU get to make the decisions for her no matter the situation...and she has to follow the results through regardless of what she wants.  To me, especially right about now (oye...life....she is a formidable foe... -dons battle armor-), this book presented an interesting and let's face it, appealing idea.  What would readers (as in YOU) decide if given the chance to make MY choices in any given situation?  I mean some of you "know" me to some degree or another so the trust factor is there, but for those of use that are merely acquaintances or down-right strangers....the outcome of such a choice is a bit more unknown and on the scary side.  Would you take the time to get to "know" me based on what I revealed in my blog posts and decide from there?  Or would you just click on the decision that you thought was best come heck or high water? 

I don't know.  As much as making decisions can make your (or my) head spin, I'm not certain I could allow others to make those choices for me FOREVER...but every now and again, yeah...most definitely.  Maybe its the adult in me talking but at some point responsibility kicks in and simply blaming the outcome on someone else (or even having that option available to you) seems like a cop out.  Am I entirely happy with every aspect of my life right now?  No.  But be honest.  Are you?  If you are, fantabulous....please tell me your secret.  But if not, you are among a myriad of company...and I'd say that's a great place to start when trying to accomplish your dreams in life no matter how big or small.



Moving from messages to....the cover. As bloggers and readers in general, we see the transformation a cover can take from start to final product. My ARC had one of those NOT FINAL COVER stickers on the front but from what I've gathered (thanks to Google), personally I preferred the original cover. I think it spoke more to what the story is about and to me just seemed more appealing. What have friends said? They're split on the decision 50/50. So let's put it to an informal vote (wow, how's that for fitting the theme...hehe)....which do you prefer? No harm done if its one over the other, just a friendly little question. Just leave your answer in the comments.....



Previous Cover Concept



Moving from the cover back to....the story.  I liked the mix of big decisions and small quandaries as well as the love interest angle worked in.  None of them overwhelmed the story thus allowing you a more well rounded view of her life.  The time she spent with Mrs. Moody was heart warming even if it was a trial of sorts for a young girl (let's just say the lady did not simply get her name from her parents) and showed how spending time with those of the generation before (or before that or before that) us can bring everyone a little more happiness in the end.  Her "best friend" Shayne....oye did I want to just slap that girl....why?  Oh, trust me...read it and you'll see.  I was a bit worried about Brooklyn for a while there though especially when Shayne's influence was gaining control once again....it was one of those times you just want to take the main character and be like "look, you KNOW better....what the heck are you doing?"....know what I mean?

In the end, a fun book with a great concept that would certainly lead to daydreams of trying it out for yourself (in small, non-lethal doses), but luckily the messages gleaned from Brooklyn's experiences are loud and clear....make your decisions to the best of your ability and live with the consequences.  You won't be alone whether the outcome is good or bad but it is the only way to gain control of your own life and have a say in the dream you eventually achieve.  Recommended reading for teens through adults...there's a little something for everyone in this quick and breezy read.  From love to friends, higher education to simply what to wear, the choices are varied, the outcomes uncertain but one thing is certain....you'll have a grand time seeing her adventure through.

ARC for review courtesy of Ksenia at Farrar Straus Giroux / Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.  (THANKS!)  For more information about this title including the book trailer as well as their extended catalog, visit them online, blog or follow along on Twitter.  To explore the world of Brooklyn Pierce as created by author Jessica Brody, check out the (still in development) website or author's page.  Now for what you've all been waiting for.....your chance to win!

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Thanks to the publisher's generosity, I have the chance to giveaway ONE copy of this fabulous new title.  Yep, just one, shiny copy....any takers?

Here's the scoop!

The prize...

(1) copy of My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

How to enter....

If given the chance to put YOUR life up to a vote....would you take it?

Leave your thoughts and comments (along with your email address) in the comments below and TADA, you're entered. 

If you're a follower of my site, you get a BONUS ENTRY as well....just leave the standard "+1" and your Google Friend Connect name for verification in the comment as well.

The rules...

*Open to US/Canada mailing addresses only!  No P. O. Boxes please.

* Entries will be accepted from Friday, June 10th, 2011 through Friday, June 24th, 2011 at midnight CST.  The entries will be tallied and entered into the random.org randomizer, after which a random number will be picked by their number generator.  (This way all the entries are mixed up nicely.)

* All entries must be submitted using the form accessible through this post.  You MUST include your email address in order to be counted as well as contacted should you be chosen as the winner!

*The winner will be announced and contacted via email by Monday, June 27th, 2011 and will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.  Should they fail to respond in the given time frame, a new winner will be chosen.  If you choose to include your full name and mailing address in your contest entry, no worries....the time frame issue is erased.

*Winner's name and address will be forwarded to Ksenia at Farrar Straus Giroux for prize send out only and then discarded.

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To enter, or not to enter....now that's an EASY question....but still, what will YOUR decision be?

Good luck everyone!

Until next time....happy reading...