Guest Post and Giveaway: Uma Krishnaswami

Why Bollywood?

I often get asked why I put Bollywood into this story. Am I a True Fan like Dini and Maddie? Did I admire a Bollywood star when I was young? Did I want to imagine my life as a movie? In short, no to all of the above. The term "Bollywood" hadn't even been invented when I was a kid!

I needed Dini to be passionate about something. It needed to be something with potential for tragedy and drama, humor, eccentricity, and hints of romance. What else could it possibly be? Dini had to be crazy about the kind of movie that is huge huge huge in India's popular culture, that the world now knows as the Bollywood movie.

It's always strange and funny when trends from India "hit" the West and suddenly get all kinds of media attention. That's what's happened with these movies, even though there's been a movie-making industry in India since the days of the silent films. I think that Dolly, the mega movie star in the book, probably doesn't care too much for the term "Bollywood." In a letter to her friend, she reveals that she's really a fan of classic Hindi films.

Here's a clip from an old Hindi movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdQwPwmsUC0

And here's something more recent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uIz1DFNJnY&feature=related

So what's the point to all this? Why take the pop culture of a country around the world from the United States and place it in a book for young American readers? Dini and her friend Maddie could have been connected by almost anything. They could be fans of a popular singer or a Hollywood actor. Well, one reason is that we don't have a lot of books that feature culturally grounded stories that are pure fun, so I wanted to turn the tables and have the hyphenated-American kid call the shots about what was cool. I also wanted a kind of wackiness factor, and nothing else can do that like these "fillums." Lucky for me, the popularity of these movies in the US and in many other countries (you really can get them with Arabic and Thai subtitles!) made it possible. Also the fact that the BFFs are Bollywood fans allows the story to stretch from here to India and back, and it allows the kind of cheery optimism that I was after. These movies are crazy and defy credibility but they have energy and the music is quite wonderful. And most of the time they have happy endings. Call me Pollyanna but in this world of ours, I feel a great need for happy endings.

*** Grand Giveaway***

Three lucky Grand Prize winners will each receive one copy of THE GRAND PLAN TO FIX EVERYTHING along with a starry assortment of bangles and trinkets that Dolly Singh, famous famous Bollywood movie star, would adore! An additional 3 runners-up will receive a copy of THE GRAND PLAN TO FIX EVERYTHING.

To enter, send an e-mail to GrandPlanGiveaway@gmail.com.

In the body of the e-mail, include your name, mailing address, and e-mail address (if you're under 13, submit a parent's name and e-mail address). One entry per person and prizes will only be shipped to US or Canadian addresses. Entries must be received by midnight (PDT) on 6/30/11. Winners will be selected in a random drawing on 7/1/11 and notified via email.

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The next stop on the tour is The Drift Record at http://julielarios.blogspot.com/.

Check out my review

Check out Uma's blog: http://umakrishnaswami.blogspot.com/

Check out the book trailer:

Tween Tuesday Review: Grand Plan to fix Everything

Dini and her BFF Maddie love watching Bollywood movies. They follow every more Dolly, the biggest actress in Bollywood makes.

Then Dini's mother breaks the news to them. Dini and her family are moving to India for two years. Her mother's just received a grant for her work.

At first the girls are heartbroken. What will they do without each other for two years. Then they form a plan. Dini must meet Dolly.

According to the latest gossip magazines, Dolly's heartbroken herself and has got into hiding. No one is sure where she might be living or when she might make another movie. It's up to Dini to uncover her location and uncover the truth.

My Thoughts: A very cute tween read. It fits into the summer reading program's theme this year. I loved the different perspectives - including all the mail room difficulties (which was so unique). I loved the relationship between Dini and Maddie and how they struggled when they were torn apart. I also loved the Bollywood feel of the book.

Cover Thoughts: Cute - I Love how it wraps around.

Source: Blue Slip Media

If You Like...Summer:

If You Like… is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love. June has arrived and it is time for beaches, camp, family vacations, and summer lovin’. This week’s IYL features summertime favorites.

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If you like Summer, you might like…

Review: Hourglass

* Comes out June 14th*

Em (Emerson) can see the past. She sees people that normal people can't see. And yet they are not ghosts. However, most people think she's crazy. In fact, she herself was convinced she was crazy.

Then she met Micheal.

Her brother hired him (along with countless others) to help her understand herself better. He made her feel normal. He made her feel safe. He explained the world to her.

It's mind-boggling and nothing like she ever expected. Could he really be telling the truth or are her feelings for him clouding her judgement?

My Thoughts: I loved it! I loved the meeting between Em and Michael. I love her sass and how she challenges people. I loved Michael's loyalty and his goodness. I loved his explanation of the world. I loved their playfulness between each other - the sass, the frustration, and the romance. I'm so interested in what comes next.

Cover Thoughts: I don't understand it - at all. Ever after reading it.

Source: review copy provided by Egmont

Stay Tuned later in the week for an interview with Myra McEntire

Sunday Matinee Review: X-Men First Class

I'm a HUGE fan of the X-men movies - so I was so happy to have a date with my husband on Friday night to see it!

I LOVED IT!

I loved learning to back story between Professor X and Magneto. I loved seeing them as friends and then understanding why they broke apart.

I loved the story of Mystique and Magneto - it's very telling of their path together.

I loved Beast and learning more about him - and I love that the boy who played him was the boy from About a Boy.

I LOVED Professor X. James McAvoy was perfect in this role. Plus he's dreamy and has a gorgeous accent *swoon*

I loved learning how the X-men originated (found each other) and how they came together as a group

I liked Jennifer Lawrence - it's the first movie I've seen her in and I think she'll make a great Katniss.

Plus I LOVED the Wolverine cameo. It's just not an X-men movie without him!!!

I also love how they left it open - for more movies.

Mysterious Saturday Review: Pizza to Die For

*third book in the series*

Eleanor owns a pizza joint. Her sister Maddie, a high school student, and a college boy all work for her. They can't believe their ears when they discover a rival pizza place opening just steps from their place. Eleanor and her crew go over to find out more information and their meeting with the new owner ends in a confrontation.

When the man turns up dead in his own building, the grand opening of the new pizza place is delayed. While Eleanor had motive, she had nothing to do with his death. Many people in town back her up, but there are some who stop coming to buy pizza.

With business shaky, Eleanor has no choice but to dig into the murder if she hopes to regain business.

My Thoughts: A fun mystery. I love the saucy sisters. I love the pizza descriptions. I once had a job at a pizza joint and it was my favorite job (in a non-library job world). I really loved the romantic storyline for Eleanor. All in all, this series is great entertainment and I'm looking forward to number four.

Fun Fact: Chris Cavender is a pseudonym used by Tim Myers - which is funny because there's a line in the book about craft books and publishers not buying them. It made me guess the author's identity. I LOVED his soap books.

Cover Thoughts: LOVE it! It makes me crave pizza

Source: Inter-Library Loan

10 Things: Recap of BEA

Last week on Tuesday and Wednesday I was lucky enough to attend BEA. I traveled with a fellow librarian from my library. We had a plan - but traffic once again played a little part in the trip. We were delayed an hour and thus missed a few signings. For the next two days, I waited in lines - chatting with various people, talked with many awesome authors I already knew, talked with several awesome new authors, stopped two authors in the middle of the floor like a complete fangirl, talked with publishers about upcoming titles, talked with people in the lines - book bloggers and librarians alike, and have two stacks of books I can't wait to read.

1. I scored Uncommon Criminals - which I'm reading and it's AMAZING. Plus Ally Carter said she likes my blog!

2. I didn't make the cut for the Harlequin Teen signing - which I really wanted to see great authors, but as I wandered away (after taking pictures), I stumbled upon Christoper Paolini signing Inheritance posters. I snagged one.
3. I saw Mike Holmes - I didn't get to meet him because his line was crazy long, but he looked so charming and sweet.
4. Seeing all the new books coming out and all the hype for the books!

5. Hanging out with Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Sarah Beth Durst, and Melanie from the blog Reclusive Blogger

6. I stopped Maureen Johnson in a booth. She was so sweet and after reading my name tag - she said that she knew my name.

7. Meeting Richelle Mead - even though I acted like a complete fan girl.


8. Seeing and meeting so many authors: Ridley Pearson, Harlan Coben, Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Ally Condie, Mary Jane Clark, Susan Mallery - just to name a few.

9. I went with Amanda from my library - we went to the Hard Rock Cafe and then Toys R Us before collapsing from exhaustion
10. The best part is I have new books for the library and prizes for teens for the summer reading program. My library doesn't spend much money on summer prizes for Teens, but I love getting books for them!!!!

11. Having so many great books to read and share with teens and other librarians!!!!!