tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735946020850474092024-02-07T17:33:00.598-08:00Hyperman's Book BlogA blog of books. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-4721380246470448762017-03-09T02:00:00.001-08:002017-03-09T02:01:31.066-08:00Review: The Unexpected Everything<p><img style="margin: 4px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443203227l/17838528.jpg" width="301" height="447"></p> <p><br><strong>Title: </strong>The Unexpected Everything<br><strong>Author: </strong>Morgan Matson<br><strong>Published: </strong>2016 by Simon & Schuster<br><strong>Version: </strong>Hardcover<br><strong>Obtained: </strong>Purchased</p> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #ffff66" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Andie had it all planned out. When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future. Important internship? Check. Amazing friends? Check. Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).<br>But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life. Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected. And where’s the fun in that?</font></font></span></p> <p><strong><br>First Sentence:</strong><br>”<em>I flexed my feet in my too-tight shoes and made myself stand up straight, trying to ignore the rapid-fire clicking of the cameras going off all around me.</em>” <hr> <br>I LOVED this book! I have been a fan of Morgan Matson’s since I read <em>Second Chance Summer </em>a couple years ago. She writes such in-depth, yet realistic, young adult fiction. She delves into family dynamics and friendship struggles with such care and intensity, unlike many Contemporary Romance authors. It tends to be a more superficial, “fluff,” genre, so it is always a treat to read any of her books and not only get the fun romances and laidback summertime environments that make me happy, but also go deep into the protagonist’s life, friends, hopes, dreams, and family issues. </p> <p><em>The Unexpected Everything </em>is about making the most out of life when things go differently than you plan. Andie had a prime spot in an exclusive internship all planned out for her summer. Unfortunately, due to her father’s political career, she had to rethink her summer. She gets to spend more time with her friends (not always a good thing), meet a new boy, and try to understand her dad. It’s a fun story of a weird summer job (walking dogs), a nerdy love interest (homeschoolers, represent!), and an improvement of communication skills (with family and friends). </p> <p>Andie and her father have a complicated relationship. Her mom died five years ago, and they both dealt with their grief in different ways. Now that they are spending a summer in the same house, they have to come to terms with their relationship and figure out how to repair the distance. This involves change on both their parts. I enjoyed seeing the growth in their relationship throughout the book. After learning how to actually communicate their thoughts, it was fun seeing how her dad interacted with her friends and his job. He went through the most character growth, with the exception of Andie, of course.</p> <p>Friendships have never been more real than in this book. Usually the group of friends in young adult books consists of equal closeness friends and there is no acknowledge of tension that any group would naturally have. Two of Andie’s friends, Bri and Toby, have been best friends forever, and they befriended Andie in elementary school. Palmer joined their group of friends at the start of high school. There’s also Palmer’s boyfriend, Tom. This whole little crew has their quirks, party scenes, hang out spots, and traditions. With the “best friends forever” tension that occasionally puts Bri and Toby in a bubble, the constant worry over guys to date, the difficulty of matching up free time with different summer jobs, and the group texting conversations, all the nuances and struggles of friendships in high school are realized. There is boy drama, miscommunication, jealousy, sleepovers, and ultimately big changes. This is no flat, static, friend group. This is the reality of life: constantly moving and changing with emotions and situations. I love watching everything and seeing how this core group of friends influences Andie’s summer and her plans for her future. </p> <p>Clark. Precious, precious Clark. Classic homeschooled kid who wrote a bestselling fantasy book series and graduated high school early. As Andie slowly discovers more and more about Clark through the beginning of the book, she realizes that he is completely different from all the random boys she would date briefly. She always loved the excitement of the beginning, but was never interested enough to risk going further into a relationship than three weeks. As someone who understands this emotional state completely, I enjoyed seeing her realize that Clark was different. She was too intrigued by him to stop things. They developed as a couple very naturally. The miscommunications and drama were there too, of course, but overall, I found them to be a very interesting and different couple than you see in young adult typically. </p> <p>If you love dogs, if you love summer job romances, if you love high school friendships, if you love father-daughter relationship repairs, if you love classic movies, if you love old diners, if you love scavenger hunts, if you love a bit of scandal, if you love nerdy boys, if you love good books, or if you just love what I love, I would suggest reading this book. It is very fun and also very realistically deep. <br>(Side note, takes place in the same town/area as <em>Since You’ve Been Gone</em>, it even has some of those characters in it with cameo appearances.)</p> <p> <hr> </p> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warning:</strong> I can’t remember if there is any language, I would say probably very little, if any. <br>Definitely has the sexual content of a PG-13 movie, with references and steamy make-outs.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:<br></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Lv38wlmzN1uZ1O5r4gnqBo5t1hAWaDzopTGs4DNyVju-HXT56UPSJFBRc8rFTtGytn2h_TbWRLbJPPPSxPr51fcB6ww4MtBVBv2TWLtHOIqYMWbqJftFGYjKHoUknrBWOw-1hbB9YHhT/s1600-h/5%252520Pigs%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="5 Pigs" alt="5 Pigs" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG7Oatf-Zv_IROIoS5IttX9d6qcYFQPK9ZFPYY__kmbqdX8sldpfeOSUuIT9SnErJslurYgj6CvpCgZHTEkNRpjs_-XXdsjrWVp0RrQG0rGtfCIlE6m2o-kbB5J12nP7N0U-Pqnb8VBod/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="89"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcrtyZLCfydK1MkfhpjLDw5PX9Vq1bqQA4PD4_eEiDVoM3xdN0VQGtxMWUdHb4inGMR3hDxqOySjvU_NwHZOD-MN-CkImDqkJQqXc8qAGM94rLt2Ggxhf0D7zjTuI352ATaGnTv5vyMPH/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HUeM_NeODRs/WMEnrmAtk4I/AAAAAAAAGl8/KGb-WD6Ady8/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-84608938636969510772017-01-11T22:13:00.001-08:002017-01-11T22:13:00.663-08:00YALLFest 2016 Experience<p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 19px auto 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" src="http://yallfest.citypapertickets.com/imager/b/original/35556835/bbea/Screen_Shot_2016-08-11_at_9.26.19_AM.png" width="424" height="282"></p> <p>Hey guys!</p> <p>So once again I took a trip to Charleston in November for my second YALLFest Experience! It was just as beautiful and friendly and exciting as last year. While there weren’t as many authors that I was dying to meet as last time, I was still so excited to meet some of my favorites! </p> <p>For tips and tricks that I compiled last year, you can reference my <a href="http://amysbookblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/yallfest-2015-experience.html" target="_blank">2015 post</a>!</p> <p>This year, I unfortunately attended alone, but the atmosphere is so nice and conversational, that making friends with strangers in lines is the easiest thing in the world. If nothing else, you know you have books in common with them! It definitely helps pass the time in the long lines!</p> <p>This year, just like last I decided to forgo the panels to fully experience the signing lines and see the most authors. I scheduled out my order of authors and brought snacks and packed my backpack full of books. I knew who I could skip in case of unexpectedly long lines and who I absolutely had to see. </p> <p>So here are my pictures from YALLFest!! (Sorry for the awkward lean pose, you gotta make do with what you get in the moment, haha!)</p> <p> <hr> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBY8rRrdVvZVZ3JtSAIUyxf-ZaRaR6ryhlqpMTBc5M0IbiJhPcQTnnc-gOmXgTMu6d_i87Pj-Hqz2UYPNhrZPTWpZ2EnsUn2zwtYlsLv29Iuxl4v52kHl21LRBHFiHg1ZbzEQoO_4nISv4/s1600-h/IMG_1286%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Sarah Dessen" border="0" alt="Sarah Dessen and I" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UP7AjbBrqEo/WHcePLfQnrI/AAAAAAAAEp8/0mm7QUTwmF8/IMG_1286_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="292" height="229"></a></p> <p align="center">First up, I got to meet Sarah Dessen! I was getting books signed for a friend by her, I actually haven’t read anything she’s written (I know…), but she is the nicest person. I later bought some of her books, and plan to read them soon! </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-whWcimYrqss/WHcePZZHEzI/AAAAAAAAEqA/b9KFC4Bxf7s/s1600-h/IMG_1290%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Nicola Yoon" border="0" alt="Nicola Yoon and I" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1yw2STnOgiA/WHcePot4EKI/AAAAAAAAEqE/S9sT3KaprBU/IMG_1290_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xnY2TLnVZkLiLiIb-mz38OHWCp6Sk82TcgIGZzn4M4WoK-_WUYB2nIVj7vhuxaWe9b_W_mIJXLXPVuVD_IE6GZnnTZykt4cmf-vSVyYhjzkKZZFLJ9B59MXQhjfmBfyUOooP4Tf1orAM/s1600-h/IMG_1323%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Everything, Everything" border="0" alt="Everything, Everything signed" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16x6W6jZIt7MNkdpRs9pjcodEz2vArXeX2Jod4gaRvxyP4g4PjXSd-FjhaCIZ95heauVQ1Trm7p_hVq3_6waP38RWYNfVbCa5KCRVx533jJIhemEquGz1hfAOXqUQ8lACjnkQybQV7YCE/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y6GSHPtNm8M/WHceQsKVYhI/AAAAAAAAEqQ/Ox9V3vLgqA8/s1600-h/IMG_1291%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Nicola Yoon" border="0" alt="Nicola Yoon and I" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FB5QpjVwHKE/WHceRDDyziI/AAAAAAAAEqU/z4YYeHRkWAw/IMG_1291_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240"></a></p> <p align="center">Next I met Nicola Yoon! I had read <em>Everything, Everything</em> in the week leading up to YALLFest based off of rave reviews and the excitement of getting to meet her! It’s an amazing book, and she is a beautiful person. So friendly and hilarious. Definitely plan on reading <em>The Sun is Also a Star</em> soon!</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eO-W9uo8OC0/WHceRQidWsI/AAAAAAAAEqY/YErAEr47bik/s1600-h/IMG_1295%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 83px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Scott Westerfeld" border="0" alt="Scott Westerfeld and I " src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oP6lk6qnnn0/WHceRjxb_mI/AAAAAAAAEqc/hMZioJYGXk8/IMG_1295_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="196" height="270"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ih8rueMKt5s/WHceSAIFobI/AAAAAAAAEqg/pi96jqyM4wA/s1600-h/IMG_1300%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 39px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Scott Westerfeld" border="0" alt="Scott Westerfeld and I" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwZpUKcwLf3ARmQD20aUNgb22zt_xHhh3TqxbMLOBT0c6L3DIrQFCDDHhHZ67iW9NekQ0WAD1jUx7T5rxpAD3uKmAFikNtFLX8CYCWuHiRelAYy1GAEcHISuyhMCjRLiwflUWQr-FGGzI/?imgmax=800" width="195" height="269"></a></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EnU2KE4xRaw/WHceSk9FvxI/AAAAAAAAEqo/Pd0aBu7yFNc/s1600-h/IMG_1320%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 23px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Behemoth" border="0" alt="Behemoth signed" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmVROpux9f_f_tlw9YbI8vPkYE8zy6ww-N9luGxZCX0X_aySK1WLVkE2_0cQJ5hOk8EXg6iGbvJMXfiO4V6eyzxISQh508sB6Y-8aWYXfe6xlgh0zmm2LTnoyvnCZyQ4Tnj-DA8GMBt3N/?imgmax=800" width="267" height="209"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RCUC4cRIQOU/WHceTYWZlwI/AAAAAAAAEqw/cMfsBNU2f7w/s1600-h/IMG_1319%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 19px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Goliath" border="0" alt="Goliath signed" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TNuM7Akdwns/WHceTi3Go9I/AAAAAAAAEq0/Ha9r_Lhtyp8/IMG_1319_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="267" height="209"></a></p> <p align="center">So I finally got to meet Scott Westerfeld this time, and he is very kind. Such a nice guy! I love his books and loved being able to tell him how much. And now I have all three of my Leviathan books signed!</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qA5mAa_pGTycvyROIBKVaBsmd2Jq3iT6LCvopc4saJhQnW8kLffe-245CT6nKG5oOsTWPvz-qeZF6_5F91djJe2ii1Uk4HWmDeLwFdeRKWIhZ4EzSmX6ahmJCgmOP_KZfSUE60ZOHagZ/s1600-h/IMG_1322%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Pandemonium" border="0" alt="Pandemonium signed" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yzhI5Q1Sfo4/WHceUdMt2kI/AAAAAAAAEq8/_nrR3Qpt2p8/IMG_1322_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="172"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlPQ-SKP-8isM9g4YrK2y2RtzNuaf1TAK1VhZ3I8UmxkNa8JG25DPX1dg5_2dBaXKQUEMRJ4GItOtrZ2Ht5Gl2xh4wmvgHv6shERam9EIkXf4r2ckP2R29Rt5RjZYN0clYkHa-Et62_4V/s1600-h/IMG_1305%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Lauren Oliver" border="0" alt="Lauren Oliver and I" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PsNADinywn4/WHceU3BkjaI/AAAAAAAAErE/ZRJ9lfGjtkk/IMG_1305_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="175" height="241"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBysuo_5DDOKWuHrPAB7QLvSBYYBupOUZx3-mAL82GwgTAjJZ7zOv9wWPk4Mm6d40vWwFAAgW3hocLLXxTcj8Nn6wYOp0ovgRtojcJ_N7mAecCDyF8h4NKCk0FDbP1t8P0y5xk8XLVnhle/s1600-h/IMG_1321%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Before I Fall" border="0" alt="Before I Fall signed" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u7EC9-hVymE/WHceVWLtOVI/AAAAAAAAErM/8MA5Tc2e8d4/IMG_1321_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="218" height="171"></a></p> <p align="center">Lauren Oliver has been a favorite of mine for years now! While I have been bad about reading her more recent books, the Delirium Series is wonderful and <em>Before I Fall</em> holds a special place as one of the first Contemporary YA I ever read. Lauren talked to me about the upcoming <em>Before I Fall </em>movie and how excited she is. The trailer was released a couple days after YALLFest, and it does look amazing! </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUOf0wpHc23G9Y6_iOL9Q_oBXv-uOYU7vO0mTWxcPy7C8vrmvxPCMOTjuLzaw6mlsC7Ie2FuFaDY9bsQVKFI2H9oKj5Xlpu4leWQ8PO0MTUe6J1ejoPphfuxxONuyi5lvpN9DioAe0tIB/s1600-h/IMG_1309%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Jennifer E. Smith" border="0" alt="Jennifer E. Smith and I" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VnKZOXvzwGk/WHceWOht2UI/AAAAAAAAErU/ZjvApKWcyHw/IMG_1309_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="241" height="189"></a></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qSLzuXWrrRg/WHceWcKCbiI/AAAAAAAAErY/2SRQ7Xx6iKw/s1600-h/IMG_1318%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 47px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Signed" border="0" alt="Signed" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nm3FBjU2r-o/WHceWor05iI/AAAAAAAAErc/ajX7ZIbccWE/IMG_1318_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="188"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iQGszwuMSic/WHceW6YeYlI/AAAAAAAAErg/t9GkxYajk6A/s1600-h/IMG_1317%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 28px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Signed" border="0" alt="Signed" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n-4RN_uBILI/WHceXf30_vI/AAAAAAAAErk/qma9RPaEi6c/IMG_1317_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="188"></a></p> <p align="center">Next I got to meet the master of fun Contemporary Romance, Jennifer E. Smith! She is the absolute sweetest, and I loved getting to say hey to her in person.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAU8YfsLUT3ubvBlfIrEmj0rnDour4kfKKhyphenhyphenReyuIpj0vyePTM9_pUxulVXflRtMhBJtMV12F8DJDxaplJuj2f7BTavTdFhjZffaOR42rcmlC5gaSv4EU7dDsak9O7v_zL2mLlNgdPhnW/s1600-h/IMG_1324%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 46px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Between Shades of Gray" border="0" alt="Between Shades of Gray signed" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KhBZ26cPzwA/WHceX_6EWwI/AAAAAAAAErs/uLxjdNKfVNc/IMG_1324_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I0BiQU06E2k/WHceYauGN_I/AAAAAAAAErw/FO7IGYeyn3Y/s1600-h/IMG_1330%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 31px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Ruta Sepetys" border="0" alt="Ruta Sepetys and I" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y7I_Zc78kic/WHceYh16dxI/AAAAAAAAEr0/9qAH0r-x170/IMG_1330_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="240"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgvrnLiGd9mlD9HwBqMrEODvmZvho4iLFgZ92rt8j9iJKqAQWLFwZ9Ebee1t372Vy_Wyc-VKDmSxY1AE2I1NlrGwmG1McCuFvqFvGQsasxADdiqd1IO0PR1MxeaaQpwnsLP2DGlRB8xo4/s1600-h/IMG_1325%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 45px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Out of the Easy" border="0" alt="Out of the Easy signed" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqc7qTtXrA6CrqqrcTU7fiXRcES1U6UdxBai37PPnAYNLELLA5NGAlsTgMjdxH9U6d7kv0OP1ide0Bt3cUrp7_b4rJdr8P5QKHZR0qNaqoU96zaRdHRTBTMEdV5Bt083OfG01O-LSeeHA/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M1XhsTWW560/WHceZQBtoII/AAAAAAAAEsA/2DXGGOU1Er0/s1600-h/IMG_1326%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Salt to the Sea" border="0" alt="Salt to the Sea signed" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--DPxNqjnAJU/WHceZ5qMg9I/AAAAAAAAEsE/k3PzWMwnvJI/IMG_1326_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180"></a></p> <p align="center">The person I was most excited to meet was Ruta Sepetys. I have been an absolute fan of hers since reading <em>Between Shades of Gray</em> and have read each of her books since then. I love them all so much and recommend them to everyone who loves Historical Fiction, or who wants to love Historical Fiction. I have reviewed all of them on this blog. Her writing is phenomenal. In person, she is just as lovely and amazing as I thought she would be. I adored being able to tell her how much I love her books and how excited I was to meet her. She is the best. </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p> <hr> </p> <p>All in all, I got these books signed:</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MjFYTcj5nVk/WHceaEKwVjI/AAAAAAAAEsI/U60bSCtBE-Q/s1600-h/IMG_1329%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Signed books" border="0" alt="All the books" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kkiYa9GH1dE/WHceaRapcfI/AAAAAAAAEsM/GEoYD_RPANk/IMG_1329_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="253" height="383"></a></p> <p>And it was all amazing!! Definitely going back this year for YALLFest 2017! </p> <p>Thanks to all the friendly people I talked to in line for making the day all the more fun and exciting! </p> <p>All right everyone! I’m really going to try and actually blog and read more this year! New Year’s Resolutions! Woo hoo!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Sty1zo4OUhcbC7_6rjmap4ltP6i2EeIokyK3f_VQifIBwe6l5bmJTHT8dkimIBmKTgHRqc7VrMOPgWKFMAjwNMKPP2MqGXtUsRsjfZLwTLuDNmTmAHh0OCyHapbZ-HE3wumR0XUod1eg/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Blog Sig." border="0" alt="Blog Sig." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AlBmSMu8CGvnL2PI4_9stGcYcDtSj_OskNmUnJ6GzDaS6Imw_mnyW6WESge2kh0Ib3IPoPV1RN-0fZCucbwD1wP3FzbjoZhfdgC4d_CTBqh1shXhbh1atMHJndwK9-ScBWY2nR5lFtEb/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-46607811084135148622016-10-29T00:42:00.001-07:002017-01-11T20:18:55.524-08:00Review: Salt to the Sea<p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 4px 9px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" align="left" src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1437084512l/25614492.jpg"></p> <p><br><strong>Title</strong>: Salt to the Sea<br><strong>Author</strong>: Ruta Sepetys<br><strong>Published</strong>: 2016 by Philomel Books<br><strong>Version</strong>: Hardcover<br><strong>Obtained</strong>: Library</p> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; background: #b8cce4; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 102" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 16pt"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets.<br>Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war.<br>As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.<br>Yet not all promises can be kept.<br>Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope.</font></font></span></p> <p><strong><br>First Sentences</strong>:<br>”<em>Guilt is a hunter. My conscience mocked me, picking fights like a petulant child</em>.” <p> <hr> <p>Ruta has done it again. Every time I read one of her books, I am emotionally transported into a breathtaking story that breaks my heart and opens my eyes. I’m not trying to sound dramatic either. From <em><a href="http://amysbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-between-shades-of-gray.html">Between Shades of Gray</a></em>, with its tragic truth that many do not realize about WWII, to <em><a href="http://amysbookblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-out-of-easy.html">Out of the Easy</a></em>, with its tale of redemption and ambition in a seemingly dead-end life, Ruta always manages to scare me into reality, but remind me of the joy, hope, and love there is in life, no matter the circumstances. </p> <p>Therefore, I knew going into <em>Salt to the Sea</em> that I would adore it, and I did. This review will in no way, shape, or form do any good at describing how wonderful of a book this is. Therefore, take my words of advice and the knowledge that I have decent taste in books, and go find yourself a copy!</p> <p>This is the story of four teenagers who end up on the same path in life, heading towards assumed salvation from the Soviets during WWII. Many refugees are fleeing through the Nazi-controlled countryside near the end of WWII, attempting to get to the coast and freedom from the Soviets. Several large ships are waiting to take the refugees to safety. The story is told from all four perspectives, which at first I thought would be highly annoying. However, the chapters are short and it cycles from one point of view to the next quickly enough so that you never get too used to one person. Each of the four main characters have mysterious pasts that are slowly revealed throughout the novel. They are all running from something and towards something better, at least in their minds. The story takes them from their beginning journeys all the way to the tragedy on the ship. I do not want to say much about the plot, because that will take away from the excitement of seeing the story play out. </p> <p>Going into this story, I had no idea about this disaster during the war. I did a little bit of research afterwards to know more about it, and it is truly the worst. I cannot believe the biggest boat disaster I knew about was the Titanic. Maybe because this happened during wartime, it is more overlooked. Anyways, I would recommend not looking up too much about the event before reading the book, just so the story is still a bit of a surprise. </p> <p>I absolutely loved how Ruta introduces the reader to each character throughout the book. With the changing perspectives, first person narratives, and interwoven stories, each spoke into each other’s lives and interacted together to create beautiful growth of character. I felt like I knew each of them as well as they wanted me to know them, and that I learned much from their stories. I love how in each book of hers, Ruta does not shy away from the harsh realities of life, but shows how those hard moments can still have glimmers of truth and victory. </p> <p>I will never stop reading what Ruta Sepetys writes because she has yet to write a book that does not deeply draw me in and teach me about history and life. She writes with such talent and beauty, that you soak up every word on the page as you read, and that is the mark of a good writer and a good storyteller.</p> <p> <hr> <p align="center"><br><strong>Content Warnings:</strong> Nothing to worry about except maybe mild language.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:</strong><br></p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eIR5Q6JjUUw/WBRS_IgIcgI/AAAAAAAACTI/FwCKG25Xjls/s1600-h/5%252520Pigs%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="5 Pigs" alt="5 Pigs" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XCvifz2lOcA/WBRS__dVpWI/AAAAAAAACTM/LXPgMg9pztI/5%252520Pigs_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="299" height="83"></a><br> <p> </p> <p><strong><font size="3">SIDE NOTE:</font></strong><br>I am going to YALLFest in November in Charleston, SC, and I am SO EXCITED because Ruta Sepetys is going to be there, and I am going to get to meet her!! (Unless something crazy happens!)<br>Look for an upcoming YALLFest post in a few weeks!!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCb3CnLbzIe0n22XoqTi6kV7YD_byu6795ESzfLo3mwjQT5Xiz_eXdLC6tnDihNETxbIGmBe2ylY3C_Q97zHjvix3dX2AIb3zCMfqkHEuL594wzMwSHzcNOvXhaTXJkp_XUPI3JnL3N1Rw/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gLa6jFNyTeA/WBRTAux4zVI/AAAAAAAACTU/pULA5InorZg/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-29650530808240160772016-06-02T14:51:00.001-07:002016-06-02T14:51:47.899-07:00Review: Me Before You<p><img style="display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://3a376o1lveli4brgjcn2y118.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Me-Before-You.Cover_.png" width="233" height="342"></p> <p><strong><br><br>Title: </strong>Me Before You<br><strong>Author: </strong>Jojo Moyes<br><strong>Series: </strong>Me Before You #1<br><strong>Published: </strong>2012 by Penguin Books<br><strong>Version: </strong>Paperback<br><strong>Obtained: </strong>Purchased</p> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #b6dde8; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 102" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 16pt"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.<br><br>What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.<br><br>Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.<br><br>What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.</font></font></span></p> <p><strong>First Sentence:</strong><br><em>”There are 158 footsteps between the bus stop and home, but it can stretch to 180 if you aren’t in a hurry, like maybe if you’re wearing platform shoes.”</em><br><br> <hr> </p> <p> </p> <p>All right, so here I am, absent from blogging for so long, only to make a comeback beginning with the currently most popular book-to-movie adaptation. I know, I know, I am so predictable. However, I did genuinely love this book. It is worth all of the hype and all of the “feels.” Remember when <em>The Fault in Our Stars</em> came out and everyone was talking about how it explored cancer from a different perspective, with a different voice, and was new in the world of “cancer books”? This is sort of how I feel about <em>Me Before You </em>(only it’s better). While <em>Me Before You</em> doesn’t deal with cancer, it does take the sappy “injured person and healthy person romance” to a different level. Let me begin. <p>I will TRY my hardest to not spoil anything! It won’t be perfect, so if you are really worried, go read the book instead! <p>This novel is essentially a story about one man’s attempt to take control of his life after a debilitating accident, and also a story about one woman’s attempt to find purpose, joy, and meaning in her life. Thankfully, these accounts are really just one story about their relationship. We first see Louisa (or Lou) as she is getting let go from a job she loved. She has a bit of a crazy family, a steady boyfriend, and a unique sense of style. While job hunting, she comes across the opportunity to be a caregiver to a disabled man. SURPRISE! The disabled man is Will Traynor who is younger and more attractive than she expected, but also more mean and bitter. A bit of information is leaked to her that causes her to begin project Improve Will’s Life Now (my title of it). Through mishaps, deep conversations, and quality time, they begin to form a strong relationship. However, as you might have guessed from all the people crying after reading this book (I actually did not), the ending is unique, and quite emotional. <p>Now maybe this is my lack of experience in the Disabled Hero Fiction section of literature, but I thought the points brought up in the book were very real and very conflicting. As I read, I had to assess what I thought was right, but then also what I thought was good for the characters, which was not always the same thing. I love when a book makes me think about an actual issue and come to terms with my opinions on it. When an ethical dilemma doesn’t actually concern you or your family or friends, it is easy to just not dwell on it for long. However, it becomes different when you are invested in the characters and you feel like you know them enough to get involved in what affects them. I was concerned about so many things as I read, and the issues were realistic, so those concerns translated over into real life concerns for disabled people. If there is one crowning jewel on this book for becoming so mainstream, it is that it really tries to show how life is for a disabled person, and how those close are affected. <p>Another great aspect of this book was the overall message that Will wants Lou to really get. LIVE. He just wants her to get out of her bubble of a town and go see the world, experience things, and boldly live her life. She is already unique and decently confident on the outside, but the mental and emotional development of her character throughout the book is wonderful. Both Will and Lou overcome some of their burdens and struggles with the help of the other. Any book with the message of LIVE BOLDLY is one that I will support. Obviously, live boldly with a healthy dose of realistic caution is my caveat. <p>Bookish related aspects, I think the characters were very well done. I got connected to each one of them, and felt like they were all very multidimensional, even if some were static for plot reasons. Lou’s dedication to bringing in money to support her family was very sweet. She had many great qualities. The setting was this little town in England with a castle that is a tourist destination in the summer months. The small scale setting helped establish the overall feel that Lou needed to see more than just this town. It also contributed to understanding how Will felt so trapped being back there. The pacing of the book was pretty solid. At times in the beginning it moved slowly, but all the character-building and story background in the beginning added up to a better book in the end. <p>Over all, I really enjoyed reading <em>Me Before You</em>! Going in, I thought it would be just another tear-jerker love story, and I was not particularly pumped. However, I love the points it makes, the fun characters, the English charm, and the beautiful story of two people finding solace in each other. It is worth the potential tears to read this! (Also you still have some time before the movie comes out this weekend!) <br>There is also a sequel out, which I have not read yet, but I am sure it is wonderful too! <p>Go read it! <p> <hr> </p> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warning</strong>: Some strong language and brief, PG-13 sex</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating</strong>:</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k0EJCz8sDOg/V1CqajBzqaI/AAAAAAAACQ8/DMiKXItarDU/s1600-h/5%252520Pigs%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="5 Pigs" alt="5 Pigs" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dLZ_DGB0ZjE/V1CqbBP_cYI/AAAAAAAACRE/seeIT6ZvanI/5%252520Pigs_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="283" height="78"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMruVODlTDu62cRf0_CQpJf-wmwXpxD3AKrcgxaeH9XrMltx1R0MSPYphQgTOrIQ4IBMjbTA0gr2A6yT1Qt_OkJl4jhUi_VnIgWqLsnfqFJQMpSVAwEviA5MiO3tCSTGlLKNP8zQdSgVdT/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXS467CxPMsXuKwnwIK1hYFPqbBgzEvDb-3UF7XutLrsSLdyWIeSGXkjDprVqyeTVus1Af4dK_-i5McQlPsVwY3pmM1GuOCvfVeKC1HQV7t0BS_bORUZPXR53r55E1NMqcZEZI-M3w6fX/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-75695356477954911222015-12-27T23:36:00.001-08:002015-12-27T23:38:20.497-08:00YALLFest 2015 Experience<p> <p>Hey everyone! I know it has literally been forever since I last blogged, but I thought I would try to get back into it! <p>Something that sparked my determination to go back into blogging was going to YALLFest 2015 this year in Charleston, SC. I don’t know how I have been ignorant of its existence prior to this year (especially since I live in South Carolina)! <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LxlhVNo9zEpXpfJ9EcO1Ot5P9fzbQXo-OyFTmOsna-tZHX2JgL6Vgtd9lPvfIxnX3Qwr1T9A-eNqDLnc8UVNJHjtjIUQxIttA_qLDrq3Im_8j9BYCOFg-Kr83C4Wj3b-04qprPL4f_1b/s1600-h/yallfestival_081712_thumb2%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="yallfestival_081712_thumb2" alt="yallfestival_081712_thumb2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZSw5NmXMg48/VoDmIr6kX0I/AAAAAAAACJY/r-hJmlFmm6M/yallfestival_081712_thumb2_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="234"></a> <p>It was SUCH a great experience! Everyone should go next year! <p>There were an insane number of authors there! 63 to be exact. So many that I really had to narrow down my choices, which was difficult. I went with my friend Jessica, and we decided to forgo the panels in order to see all the authors we wanted to see. I think what I have figured out just from going this once is that you should do either panels or author signings. The lines for the different authors can be really crazy long, and so it is easier to jump from one to the next (sometimes ahead or behind schedule) to get a chance to get your book signed. We also decided that our interests were more in meeting the authors and getting books signed than sitting through panels (although many looked very interesting). <p>So first, let me tell you what I did, and then I will try to dispense any tips I can think of for next year! <p>First off, we arrived in Charleston too late to take part in the signings that happen on Friday afternoon. Thankfully our favorite authors were all signing on Saturday too. <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_W8iuRK5S04/VoDmJFQSlII/AAAAAAAACJg/tfH43oSy1mM/s1600-h/2015-11-14-10.26.00-1_thumb7%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: left" title="2015-11-14-10.26.00-1_thumb7" alt="2015-11-14-10.26.00-1_thumb7" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOSF0YOIg2At5QCSYcf6k1fnrPnVGF7LGz6II2sQVnyfk5BUgslh3VmbaPe_yA7pJlSbIjx8zFbxkiUAvEdNWnEXZmsntl12kOOicPIW5_WpKqHfjpAbeQJ8ckwpkmJhI1JXxRV8YEaRt/?imgmax=800" width="253" height="297"></a><br></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>We are so pumped to take on our busy day of being awkward in front of authors!</p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JOz-NgvIdSc/VoDmKHIe2dI/AAAAAAAACJw/kNekWWzDFtg/s1600-h/2015-11-14-10.16.38_thumb12%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-14-10.16.38_thumb12" alt="2015-11-14-10.16.38_thumb12" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L29NxKsN3lg/VoDmKTZ2DzI/AAAAAAAACJ4/GOkrwljT7e8/2015-11-14-10.16.38_thumb12_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="279"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nBC3tpa7MkY/VoDmKyW3-RI/AAAAAAAACKA/VqQ_Ke_plHI/s1600-h/2015-11-14-10.17.21_thumb8%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-14-10.17.21_thumb8" alt="2015-11-14-10.17.21_thumb8" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgP82F612g81Qk7cSRZUUq0a5dMRvsfgjneaL8jEytxNsJPTCsmtjBARLuUqUuq9kre3UGjYEx_4UoOJzquqFvNexDH8wqa-M9tL7Xvk_iZsh4rGuRRrhw2kHoAKOby60ybk0j_XZ-dTH/?imgmax=800" width="215" height="280"></a> <p>Our first signing of the day was <strong>Rae Carson</strong>! She was amazing (in her Hogwarts shirt) and so nice. I was able to get all three of the <em>Girl of Fire and Thorns</em> books signed. This book series is incredibly awesome, if you haven’t read it….go read it now. <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7bkKfoiEYoE/VoDmLbqvNvI/AAAAAAAACKQ/Hw8OYT0m5GM/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.13.09_thumb12%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.13.09_thumb12" alt="2015-11-25-22.13.09_thumb12" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCHdQyW8eCkbHhjvqTsyl15wWo5lb-O7_9op2QLJklDL7aNX7wl0_OfCmEFxS8EmscqTi_u1VtoEmNxTEmj1ik0qHj973p5WEhInhTScILT4nRMvJdA6SqXuPHPEHxHMmmJj06L0s2liQ/?imgmax=800" width="177" height="135"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gFSwUoD6LFw/VoDmMA8ep4I/AAAAAAAACKg/-OFn3mESPBE/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.13.20_thumb2%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.13.20_thumb2" alt="2015-11-25-22.13.20_thumb2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKMCXrq1OZ1hwPZY8XMuAaHMQ1FIsMgdaYYPQ72p7QtXwzAqYTG92HjDDpkAk8cTyxIhHvCMLdgFBSi7OzGmgx3b2IOUVxdOB6hwZpQclAYqlLwUBFaDa32iieML6pw7FlAfUdJu1tIFU/?imgmax=800" width="177" height="135"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UrY0NVk4xjs/VoDmMyh8lbI/AAAAAAAACKw/WjrMOoIjGTU/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.13.32_thumb2%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.13.32_thumb2" alt="2015-11-25-22.13.32_thumb2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QfgSzlxwzug/VoDmNHlqU_I/AAAAAAAACK4/XQFAG1kMjhA/2015-11-25-22.13.32_thumb2_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="177" height="135"></a> <p> <p>We thought we were doing excellent on time when we got finished with <strong>Rae Carson</strong>’s line early, but then we realized that <strong>Marissa Meyer</strong>’s line was already over 200 people long. I decided I had to go for it anyways, since I am in love with the <em>Cinder</em> series. Jessica decided to go and see <strong>Scott Westerfeld</strong> and take my books of his along with her (she’s the best!). <p>So while sadly I missed meeting <strong>Scott Westerfeld</strong>, I did get my books signed by him. Hopefully one day I can meet him!<br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUea748pOc5jhMVoLczx9FNdovvFIAW1dU6tznuPWtFw-haKSvdCyi44KHLxudlN1dYsertGilwgMt4i8u44b18oBHMyfWDKXZmrfaZztT8eZG2aXjz58j9xuzOCmYC6fzivymZSToTFpX/?imgmax=800"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h853eAXvbqU/VoDmOHn-6xI/AAAAAAAACLI/OjKRBvj7cHM/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.13.42_thumb2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.13.42_thumb2" alt="2015-11-25-22.13.42_thumb2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M_NXnHphRfs/VoDmObcknDI/AAAAAAAACLQ/XfU91jLZRuI/2015-11-25-22.13.42_thumb2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="194"></a></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYjPOAIDcXAjuwX4_s4Br-Bw7ttTqFsBjkzmCnArdoQsb0_rnRZdsSajPG9lkIh7U4hagLDQ4NKQoOrwdq_RzGmzdXls0xoanySn1IVaIRZNOlHAub5-TuSnj0rIxr6fsG4knWuzTxt8U/?imgmax=800"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HUnYwEFbt5o/VoDmPewpwzI/AAAAAAAACLg/5GB0DMSAcnE/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.13.54_thumb2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.13.54_thumb2" alt="2015-11-25-22.13.54_thumb2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sf_2IXNfIXA/VoDmPhS-wkI/AAAAAAAACLk/dK_Q6TkXPVM/2015-11-25-22.13.54_thumb2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="194"></a></a> <p> <p>After waiting 2 hours and 30 minutes, I was one of the last 40 or so people rushed through the line to get signed by <strong>Marissa Meyer</strong> quickly before she had to leave. I’m very glad I got a chance to meet her (so sweet) and see her lovely signature on three of my books. I love this series so, so much, and I am so glad I got to meet the genius behind it all! <br><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_XpTTj5PxGk/VoDmP6qrjsI/AAAAAAAACLw/wd6XbILzf14/s1600-h/2015-11-14-12.47.22-1_thumb1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-14-12.47.22-1_thumb1" alt="2015-11-14-12.47.22-1_thumb1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7lkbLcfIlmY/VoDmQYsRQmI/AAAAAAAACL4/a7pzig1G5M0/2015-11-14-12.47.22-1_thumb1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="260"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PyQ1VbNpjT4/VoDmQj6nopI/AAAAAAAACMA/8NR_nYg40kM/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.11.52_thumb3%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 33px; display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.11.52_thumb3" alt="2015-11-25-22.11.52_thumb3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vnS9x2stNno/VoDmQ1GlusI/AAAAAAAACMI/DROoPCa5E4U/2015-11-25-22.11.52_thumb3_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" height="186"></a> <p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_jWqwSsrVhWafTN76nfrrRwfCV8B5s8eprACtWUjG-OU_SuAHfC7NhN4-UkU8ppw5wDxHYKGS8aTI_FYfqHdiWhFeSata4hPma3k5ndXIkA5Ww5K81r4Mr1Uz4mwFRnvsTzjmlJmetEL/s1600-h/2015-11-14-13.38.25-1_thumb2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 9px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" title="2015-11-14-13.38.25-1_thumb2" alt="2015-11-14-13.38.25-1_thumb2" align="left" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Eq0nYhFOz90/VoDmRhAKLfI/AAAAAAAACMY/T_ciGZVPb9A/2015-11-14-13.38.25-1_thumb2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="271"></a> <p> <p> <p><br>I was just in time to meet up with Jessica in line for <strong>Daniel Handler (AKA Lemony Snicket)</strong>, the man of the hour. The fact that I met him is still astounding to me. He was exactly like I expected him to be: weird, hilarious, and loud. He made jokes with me about the old copy I brought, heartache, and receipts. Such a great guy and wonderful author. <p><br> </p> <p><br> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWmkcYdNslngxJQKIqgYT2Z2_AxDyhGtpD7um4o8Txj56_3jItD6BpZb4jLnUepQYAmEx5UVYcLgDsKDFFoVUvdzo2wYXxUt9_wtz1H3vPNf9RKnHTZSkyrWxiuh_vfHlS2359URUnBfQ/?imgmax=800"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sFjminMg0Cs/VoDmSmaBuvI/AAAAAAAACMo/NlX86HN_FUg/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.10.53_thumb2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.10.53_thumb2" alt="2015-11-25-22.10.53_thumb2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFdOcgyGclpv5atZpGzWcS2KDO86_6qRoNIL5Oi-kHBQvyzUeQbJBn2TGWBZ1P-y0OK8Jzx7yycB4g7wY3EUmGv_QAdF4gf3h8OR2J8qQkF9UhtxhBibZhizqcnZb-gedVUiooc35yiaC/?imgmax=800" width="260" height="194"></a></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MmupX2XhHNg/VoDmTegeX6I/AAAAAAAACM4/CYkTrZS5HLo/2015-11-25-22.10.444.jpg?imgmax=800"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW2oiHSfb1Bl9iimC6d0bUKmcexVqWgE0Nhj3HnsVhL8kefwj2U656S1Y2uIFq-OBgSrB2ThQ9HaPviJJHWqXUFihekxytzx9PhkNGQeyTbaHeOclOJes9CFN8j-cPX8AbDSkO_JwVx01/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.10.44_thumb2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.10.44_thumb2" alt="2015-11-25-22.10.44_thumb2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lClTVOobmcE/VoDmUJzc3CI/AAAAAAAACNI/CsrusQNNOfo/2015-11-25-22.10.44_thumb2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="194"></a></a> <p> <p>Right after that, we headed over to another area, where <strong>Libba Bray</strong> and <strong>Elizabeth Wein</strong> were signing. Thankfully I got a chance to meet them both. <p><strong>Elizabeth Wein</strong> is so cool. I loved talking to her about her book <em>Code Name Verity</em> and how all the technical descriptions came to be. She clearly loves airplanes, and I love how she is able to combine that love with her love for writing. Great, great lady. So glad I met her.<br><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LXZ_BnRE1D0/VoDmUw__v-I/AAAAAAAACNU/QqC_CwczmvM/s1600-h/2015-11-14-14.19.19_thumb3%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-14-14.19.19_thumb3" alt="2015-11-14-14.19.19_thumb3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DIUgKoYQ-JI/VoDmVLdhEWI/AAAAAAAACNY/zzc_sqR0qP8/2015-11-14-14.19.19_thumb3_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="206"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa1zESpEFnC3ZVk_CzgrlQVWjmACn3aMGbbAQlZvzDsqF1vZ3jOlzyZn53bbt78UZLvwuAAxtl4Qyadr2daL6QRZ8V3omEvvbaFk0HA6P_1kS_Wd0q6cZI9DltV1N4-OMRCZu7DOd9bqB/s1600-h/2015-11-14-14.17.22_thumb3%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-14-14.17.22_thumb3" alt="2015-11-14-14.17.22_thumb3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEfLwv_Qd7WgGqcvBkmQdWPv5qS8fPDTJNJuH7UBUY1Qwp3hF6iF01l6Rg3Kwbqi0okRLULJNrfyh4lGIIkhM5Cn9yevlMBYUEeRgq723PDFkgrw3GJe4nhxoEBpOxn_wNJWR9pH63lT9/?imgmax=800" width="275" height="206"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfB_CRkrJWgvYqRqgH1CLrmPvIglnglrHHai_AXzjQ8Kd-pIIgCxLzrkxa_QWiskeRucrHwCMv-HAvCGA6RKzlgwpY0GUnluVr9iG5AsCPvRFFWhRR6_4apuMDBdozrziZUAvGB3VJBwbv/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.12.58_thumb1%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" title="2015-11-25-22.12.58_thumb1" alt="2015-11-25-22.12.58_thumb1" align="left" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pxpeEw9e-_4/VoDmWVMnsFI/AAAAAAAACN0/J6bnn0gxEZs/2015-11-25-22.12.58_thumb1_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="194"></a> <p> <p><br><br>I forgot my book at home somehow, so she was gracious enough to sign a sticker for me to place in it when I got home. <p> <p> <p><br><br> <p>Next up was the incomparable <strong>Libba Bray</strong>! This lady is so awesome. Not only has she written so many great books, but she is so unique and hilarious. I loved getting to meet her! She also took a good amount of time with each person in line, which was really special. <br><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ogk9koz8eWU/VoDmW3W8feI/AAAAAAAACOA/9vnqp2FYsVA/s1600-h/2015-11-14-15.13.53-1_thumb3%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-14-15.13.53-1_thumb3" alt="2015-11-14-15.13.53-1_thumb3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NQbMaFZym98/VoDmXTvjEwI/AAAAAAAACOI/EMClpFkjxNM/2015-11-14-15.13.53-1_thumb3_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" height="288"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTCsdmFxZT2elYyzoXsvqDr-iTNBlk2zalPp_AoveVlZcniRFtJQosbwzsRW2GjwgyGfN5DWbLH8y6oYp0DTGP2Yv0dbdpmVa4nqn3xOuKQhATSQGzG_TcwsV7h468C7pe-niDkiy7bOM/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.10.02_thumb2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 41px; display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.10.02_thumb2" alt="2015-11-25-22.10.02_thumb2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWBJBgaJsFEZz4pQTv9pxkUTFFgfRh0BZLuS-I4VFdndFnQcunOSe1JRLAyRREo0d4Fispt6xmZe76VmqT2tfZkFea3uVWrqVKS3N3-2_OTeP2K6BiRBA2hxM_062Ze2ebtX3CHsU4M8M/?imgmax=800" width="260" height="194"></a> <p> <p>Next I got to meet the wonderfully quirky <strong>Gail Carriger</strong>! I love how she perfectly embodies what she writes. She is so friendly and I loved being able to express my adoration for her books. So many great novels!<br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N-CWhnXPF65R9oGWZSSZKHBhr-IbvYTM_M3F56i6-aGoAnCtgOA05lAPIGi69ymy4S-2FfaCCv19NzQshvqxBsl93Uf6-frwvlC0Txi4NhHS82oqld6nQUXtxeGinjAB6hBr4WVVtHvN/s1600-h/2015-11-14-15.34.14_thumb2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-14-15.34.14_thumb2" alt="2015-11-14-15.34.14_thumb2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nT-B4vvpPsc/VoDmY3R-oRI/AAAAAAAACOo/KrDTJnwraVI/2015-11-14-15.34.14_thumb2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="293"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnaKLDOhKoYAP55kZxahyphenhypheni9ZxwUBskhj6twUO-4Jy5abM6LvBWgwZEAoi-jwTk9kjuhMY2CoDCLG5tWoNqCh-kxc6bN3I_i0ZTDgZLNoBXMk5x3rrtnA51Z9GM37Val_Yh7LM2kIsPqpf/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.12.50_thumb3%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 45px; display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.12.50_thumb3" alt="2015-11-25-22.12.50_thumb3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MX6kYQ4nUK8/VoDmZnWQKUI/AAAAAAAACO4/Gwm7hoL7e4o/2015-11-25-22.12.50_thumb3_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="194"></a> <p> <p>Finally, Jessica and I got to meet <strong>E. Lockhart</strong>! She was super cool! I love so many of her books, so it was great to meet her and get my copy of <em>The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks</em> signed.<br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERil4Z620GUr-k4Gqe-JrsW1VGIEhUfkdiM5QPhk_Spg3nQdcWwzNLMH1hUXxFDOmfugVaCBMrstc5sj5bT3Q2a5yBrN5W3TcoXjP1OKI3sX2piX1uilNzs-uSakrh01rcBiTGJD05gyJ/s1600-h/2015-11-14-16.26.00_thumb2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="2015-11-14-16.26.00_thumb2" alt="2015-11-14-16.26.00_thumb2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-c9ZUjHEgQGW-k7C72kVQBDZqEcJ_Rqc6N9uOkKSxn7ySTCvjHlkSvUGpkQkiWVz3rgiBY_8mG8xW1dXz0pfX_vurrL3wSuf20w-672xlaA8BWyD9hFFDziHgdZsuUvRMOn_piqmXB8el/?imgmax=800" width="210" height="280"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhmGEcxhKylyr0Tlus6FqCOaKDFnkdJ5Th3GSGUD8AuPIV9hxboIaLHYATg_euBghFD5js71C1oLdBxQPnKEa_4rnDWFSZzjKY6Pl6vZ9bkmB-Q1iXEaiS2thq4nU8lZ94c-l28b8wXIQ/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.12.17_thumb2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 35px; display: inline" title="2015-11-25-22.12.17_thumb2" alt="2015-11-25-22.12.17_thumb2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSksFB1DpjvKGPabg_pM5kmyG9uWNNsPoplruPnvDJhpAcG0qtdPAsEcivyqW_4P6YqWzf8aTfUBYIHeIK4RITWC894fFQM64Lml46synz8KNwsiLST4M0WKapjzBtRzthvmlrb4eDwD9g/?imgmax=800" width="260" height="194"></a> <p><br><br>All in all, I got 15 books signed and met 7 of my favorite authors! It was such a great and crazy day!<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n8bNqB6ToB8/VoDmbUKMCaI/AAAAAAAACPg/iJOIFNZADB0/s1600-h/2015-11-25-22.09.33_thumb4%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="2015-11-25-22.09.33_thumb4" alt="2015-11-25-22.09.33_thumb4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3RhkwzZK6FA/VoDmb8nzrUI/AAAAAAAACPo/2L3zf6nAAZA/2015-11-25-22.09.33_thumb4_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="261"></a> <p>Okay! So for my YALLFest Tips! <p><u><strong><font color="#9b00d3" size="4">- YALLFest Tips and Tricks:</font></strong></u> <ol> <li>If you are confident enough to sport it, go for rolling luggage to carry your books around. If you are like me and have about 18 books with you all day, a backpack is going to start to KILL. I had to set it down so often, and I thought my shoulders would never be the same. <li>Schedule! Scheduling out our day was the best decision. We didn’t have to sit around thinking about who to go see because we already knew exactly what we were doing. <li>Be flexible! I know this goes against the above tip, but you also need to be ready to change things. Like when Marissa Meyer’s line was crazy long, Jessica decided to go see Scott Westerfeld because she knew we couldn’t both do both. <li>Have a buddy. Whether this be a mom or a friend, having other people to get to some other lines can really help. I saw so many mothers standing in lines while their kids were in other lines. This can really help you get some signatures that you want. Splitting up is wise with the limited time and spread out signing tents. We also had some great friends along who helped save us spots in some lines, and then they would go off and do something else. <li>Be friendly! Those in line beside you for hours can really be great people to talk to. I meet some people around me in Marissa Meyer’s line that were so kind and sweet and really helped the 2+ hours pass quickly. <li>Parking is expensive, expect that and deal with it, haha! <li>Wear good shoes that you can stand in for hours. <li>Know your way around the map! The tents are set up in different (but nearby locations), and you might have to walk back and forth throughout the day (and quickly). <li>Use the volunteers and the knowledge they possess. <li>Carry food and water with you to have in line (in case you are like us and did not have time to eat lunch). Eat a hearty breakfast before coming, so you won’t get as hungry! <li>Be okay with being awkward. Everyone is awkward, including some authors, so just relax and know you aren’t the only one saying dumb stuff. <li>Take plenty of pictures! <li>If you want to eat at one of the great Charleston restaurants for dinner, you might want to make a reservation ahead of time. <ol></ol> <li>Get all the free stuff you can. <li>Get to a signing line earlier than time stated, if possible. <li>Bring sunscreen and sunglasses! <li>Bring money to buy already signed books from the authors you didn’t get to see (if you want!) <li>Bring pain medication for headaches or muscle aches during the day. <li>Basically be okay with carrying around a buttload of stuff for the whole day, haha!</li></ol> <p>YALLFest was SO FUN. I am incredibly glad I went this year, and I hope you all were helped by my tips and tricks! I was in the dark mostly before I went, so maybe we both can be more clued in next year. <p>Go to <a href="http://yallfest.org">yallfest.org</a> for more information on the 2015 festival, and as we get closer to 2016 festival, new information will go up! <p>Bring it on, YALLFest 2016! <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QuoiUeFD-Io/VoDmcaTYhCI/AAAAAAAACPw/-CileOkbtZc/s1600-h/Blog-Sig.3_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog-Sig.3_thumb" alt="Blog-Sig.3_thumb" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTm4WvlO5m6-njAiI-t7OlJf-kOALpPvi_q8dhyphenhyphenEvSodXnt-ZFktCCp6OfaxcLThRUbrwrkHtMMI4Ya-8uuLftidUKyrpBMGK9sF9oiMY4fuvCEsYOOAEQyqmezt26-_3JS4UwSRrPL2mr/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="72"></a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-76709446478491227632013-09-25T13:13:00.001-07:002013-09-25T13:13:13.315-07:00Purple Moon Blog Tour Stop–Austin’s Diary Entry<p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uJ8LIkZzaA0/UkNDuh3-mXI/AAAAAAAACCc/utbXwmxSU3k/s1600-h/PM-Blog-Tour-Banner13.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PM Blog Tour Banner1" border="0" alt="PM Blog Tour Banner1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgYGoVJvsKOB2J4xAosgTTLniEaMVEUZ-9xDO97Z-d9huMMRj8WK9ikPhZYgkqZuJDkCQOaYkvFd58kig5AMNKB588nJ3c9vVhq4T_dI-DC4Rq5lhazPWdfS1FldPk1-qcGEnOOaiHVrY/?imgmax=800" width="602" height="283"></a></p> <p>Over the spring, I was given the amazing chance to be a beta reader for a new YA Christian novel. The book, Purple Moon, is now out and everyone should definitely go get it, because it was incredible. </p> <p>So I now get the chance to be a stop on the Release Tour! </p><br clear="all"> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijARaQuDAdDWhXFcdLu98kdAY_y7qkvVELaKR-ODAYA3cmekXloCgueeGAvfFdMndrhU3pEVhgaGKoERq-jHZVNXEiP1molAhNqlFDqsDVh9oT3HaIDgBQYvPhZaZZmFrF9i06ims1FwFq/s1600-h/Purple-Moon_Official-cover.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Print" border="0" alt="Print" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QqERXnjIWrs/UkNDwwCWRkI/AAAAAAAACCw/nRARdkU34Gw/Purple-Moon_Official-cover_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="420"></a></p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #ccc0d9; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; font-family: ; background-position: 0% 0%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size: 12pt">Selena's life isn't turning out to be the fairy tale she imagined as a kid. </font></font></span><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; font-family: ; background-position: 0% 0%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font style="background-color: #ffffff" face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size: 12pt"></font></font></span><span style="font-family: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size: 12pt">That hope seemed to vanish long ago when her dad kicked her and her mom out of the house. This summer might finally hold the chance of a new beginning for Selena ... but having to live with her snobby cousin in Lake Lure, NC while waiting for her mom to get out of rehab wasn't how Selena was planning on spending her summer. She soon begins to wonder why she committed to give up her "bad habits" for this.<br><br>Things don't seem too bad, though. Especially when Selena gains the attention of the cute neighbor next door. But when her best friend back home in Brooklyn desperately needs her, a secret that's been hidden from Selena for years is revealed, and when she becomes a target for one of her cousin's nasty pranks, she finds herself having to face the scars from her past and the memories that come along with them. Will she follow her mom's example in running away, or trust that God still has a fairy tale life written just for her?</font></font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #ccc0d9; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size: 12pt"> </font></font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #ccc0d9; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Purple-Moon-Tessa-Emily-Hall/dp/1938499875/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378757260&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size: 12pt" color="#0000ff"><u>Find “Purple Moon” on Amazon</u></font></font></span></a><span style="font-family: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></span></p> <p style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #ccc0d9; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17982956-purple-moon"><span style="font-family: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size: 12pt" color="#0000ff"><u>Find “Purple Moon” on Goodreads</u></font></font></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #ccc0d9; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 102" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/purplemoonseries"><span style="font-family: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size: 12pt" color="#0000ff"><u>Like “Purple Moon” on F<span style="mso-bookmark: _goback"></span>acebook</u></font></font></span></a><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></span></p></blockquote> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Felix Titling"></font></strong> </p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Felix Titling">My Review:</font></strong></p> <p><strong>First Sentence:</strong> <br>“<em>Once upon a time, there was a beautiful little princess named Selena.</em>” (Prologue) <hr> I absolutely loved<em> Purple Moon</em>! There truly aren’t enough books written for Christian teens. <p>This novel is the story of Selena Taylor who has been struggling in life for years. It started when her mom and Selena stopping living with Selena’s dad. But this summer, Selena has to stay at her bratty cousin’s house for the summer while her mom is in rehab. Selena might be completely depressed about the thought of staying with her relatives for the summer, but she initially tries to make the best of the situation. Sadly, it doesn’t take long for Selena to be swept back into the party routine and ignore her problems. The boy next door won’t let her completely forget though. Austin remembers Selena from when they were little and played together. He becomes her friend again and gently tries to witness to this girl who is so lost and determined to avoid God.</p> <p>Selena’s journey is such a realistic one. She has been through almost all the bad things one can go through. Boyfriend issues, friend problems, drinking, smoking, a disappointing mom, an absent father, etc. She is legitimately messed-up. But God can take even the most beaten, confused, and sad people and turn them into peaceful, joyful, and loving people. I connected to Selena throughout the whole story. Every time she made another mistake or pushed away someone who just wanted to help her, I felt so sad and desperate for her to turn her life around. Whenever she did make good choices, I was so, so happy for her.</p> <p>Sometimes I feel like Christians are presented as either hypocrites or perfect, and Austin was neither. He made mistakes in his friendship with Selena and he owned up to them. But I admired that he just kept being there for her and forgiving her when she was a complete jerk to him. I quite like him.</p> <p>The pacing and storyline were excellent. It did not wrap up too quickly and perfectly, like some books. The story was realistic in the timing and in the ending. Also, the ending was not all “la-di-da, everything is perfect.” There were some nice moments of certain mean side characters coming around and becoming better people, but not a completely unrealistic redeeming of all the not-so-nice characters.</p> <p>If I had to say something I didn’t like so much, it would be that Selena literally had every problem in the book (pun not intended). I felt she had an excessive number of hardships that were almost overwhelming. But that also added to the beautiful ending of moving past all of these troubles that had weighed her down.</p> <p>Also, the supporting characters were SO amazing!! Audrey, Brooke, Cole, Hayden, Lexie, Selena’s mom, Hilarie, and even the not so wonderful characters were all so fleshed out and entertaining! I especially loved Audrey and Brooke. I could totally read another book about them. </p> <p>Bottom line: I loved it. It is a fantastically written and inspiring book, and I look forward to more books from Tessa Emily Hall.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warning:</strong> Nothing.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:</strong> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Dbyew-Qe85Q/UkNDxcFgPkI/AAAAAAAACC8/bO4jN3MTVaQ/s1600-h/4-Pigs_thumb22.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="4-Pigs_thumb2" border="0" alt="4-Pigs_thumb2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9YjnNG1XrlBMBH_bHeSqAlKC43tw2C5bPl3hdtAP3IkkSvlMI9sPUv4mr-B4lRoROOIjXMtsojT1nGYQiXPMffYNBxgk9zq174aIC582_I5Pn3TQpPDK5AvZ8GRN_XU-crT0oFZ5PP6Z/?imgmax=800" width="265" height="97"></a></p> <p align="center"> <hr> <p align="center"><b><font size="5" face="Felix Titling">Now for the guest post!</font></b> <p align="center"><b></b> <p align="center"><b>Austin’s Diary Entry</b> <p>The <a href="http://laurakurk.com/blog/">previous fact or fiction</a> was <i>TRUE</i>. <p>In celebration of yesterday being the release day for PURPLE MOON, I’ve decided to give you all a peak into one of the main characters, Austin’s, diary. He wrote this entry at some point during PURPLE MOON. <b>If you can guess at which point of the story that Austin wrote this—and <i>email</i> your answer to me at christiswrite [at] gmail [dot] com—you will receive 10 extra entries for the “Purple Moon” Prize Pack. However, I will need your answer by October 25<sup>th</sup>.</b> <p>(Click the image to make it larger, or simply read the entry underneath if you’d rather.) <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5EktH6i_iQs/UkNDyC7gnGI/AAAAAAAACDM/TCAmRDgeaJ4/s1600-h/clip_image0023.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7inVMVtMhr0/UkNDynN9JII/AAAAAAAACDU/eqPKcHRd7aU/clip_image002_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="162"></a> <p>I’m beating myself up right now. Why in the world did I say that to Selena? I can’t explain how terrible I feel. She only lives next door, but I don’t even have the courage to go over there and apologize. I wish she understood the reason I feel so protective of her, and jealous of him, is because of how much she means to me. Regardless of what I told her, she’s nothing like other girls. That’s what I regret saying the most. I know it’s not true. It’s funny, how sometimes I judge people based on their behavior, but with Selena…with Selena, all I can see is her heart, and how beautiful she is. I wasn’t playing around when I told her I’ve known there was something about her, ever since we were young. Now she’s probably going to be so upset with me, and I feel horrible about it. <p>But the weirdest thing is—as much as I want to go over there and apologize to her right now, I’d rather not talk to her for a while. I think maybe is hold just back off and give her space. That’s what she told me to do anyway, right? In the meantime, I don’t care how long it takes, I’m going to pray my heart out for that girl. I’m going to pray until she somehow opens her eyes and sees how absolutely incredible God’s love is, how unending and beautiful his grace is. Guess that’s all I can do at this point: pray for the girl I haven’t been able to get out of my mind all summer. <p>Austin <p><b>Fact or Fiction?:</b> <p>Guess this fact or fiction, and be sure to stop by the next blog tour stop to see if you guessed correctly! (You’ll also receive one extra entry for the “Purple Moon” Prize Pack if you send me your guess.)<a name="_GoBack"></a> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FpDXEzx5993nrxbz5_RopnXLYZoRYknRHrj4OoKGtwd-83Nv-jyftdO0vQ-cnFJEMwLCA2elgp2cLiAaxKFvkA4DeEolNA8u1qpELXVdyr8YZvqfhGGTOa1nHrgY1VSv5PJQMfTzMJH6/s1600-h/clip_image0034.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image003" border="0" alt="clip_image003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mq6mRTvDQUg/UkNDz2_up-I/AAAAAAAACDk/p4HxrvUCvN4/clip_image003_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="184"></a> <p> <p><font size="4" face="Felix Titling"><strong>Great news! <br></strong></font><font size="4" face="Felix Titling"><strong>You can win a copy of this book!</strong></font> <p><b>Purple Moon” Prize Pack!</b> <p>Two people will receive the below prizes-- <a id="rc-b814e62" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b814e62/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script> <p> <p><font size="4" face="Felix Titling"><strong>Definitely go check out the other stops on the tour!</strong></font> <p><b><u>“Purple Moon” Blog Tour Stops:</u></b> <p><b>Wednesday, September 18<sup>th</sup>:</b> Purple Moon Blog Tour Launch: The Story Behind the Story: <a href="http://www.christiswrite.blogspot.com/">Christ is Write</a> <p><b>Thursday, September 19<sup>th</sup>: </b>5 Facts about Purple Moon: <a href="http://www.kimvandel.com">Kim Vandel</a><b></b> <p><b>Friday, September 20<sup>th</sup>: </b>Character Sketches + Character Cast Contest: <a href="http://christianteenbooksandreviews.blogspot.com/">Who YA Reading?</a><b></b> <p><b>Monday, September 23<sup>rd</sup>: </b>Behind the Scenes:<b> </b>Why I Chose Lake Lure: <a href="http://wordtodreams.blogspot.com/">Words to Dreams</a> <p><b>Tuesday, September 24<sup>th</sup>: </b>Release Day! Selena’s Diary Entry + Creative Photo Contest: <a href="http://laurakurk.com/blog/">Writing for Young Adults</a><b></b> <p><b>Wednesday, September 25<sup>th</sup>: </b>Austin’s Diary Entry: <a href="http://www.amysbookblog.blogspot.com">Amy’s Book Blog</a><b></b> <p><b>Thursday, September 26<sup>th</sup>: </b>Q & A: <a href="http://www.notebooksisters.com/">Notebook Sisters</a> <p><b>Friday, September 27<sup>th</sup>: </b>Purple Moon Playlist: <a href="http://awritespirit.blogspot.com/">Ashley Carr </a><b></b> <p><b>Monday, September 30<sup>th</sup>: </b>Purple Moon Excerpt: Wooden Swings: <a href="http://jesuschick13.blogspot.com/">Heather Brice </a><b></b> <p><b>Tuesday, October 1<sup>st</sup>: </b>Dealing With Anxiety—The Spiritual IV: <a href="http://destinyofone.blogspot.com/">The Destiny of One </a> <p><b>Wednesday, October 2<sup>nd</sup>: </b>Q & A: <a href="http://savedbygrace7.blogspot.com/">Saved by Grace</a><b></b> <p><b>Thursday, October 3<sup>rd</sup>: </b>Behind the Scenes:<b> </b>Name Meanings: <a href="http://labornotinvain.blogspot.com/">Labor Not In Vain</a><b></b> <p><b>Friday, October 4<sup>th</sup>: </b>Is It Okay To Be An Introvert?: <a href="http://alexinksit.com/">Alex Inks It </a> <p><b>Monday, October 7<sup>th</sup>: </b>Story Behind the Cover Art: <a href="http://candyapple-reviews.blogspot.com/">Candy Apple Books </a><b></b> <p><b>Tuesday, October 8<sup>th</sup>: </b>Purple Moon Excerpt: Cherishing the Sunrise: <a href="http://caseybond.tateauthor.com/blog/">Author Casey Bond</a> <b></b> <p><b>Wednesday, October 9<sup>th</sup>: </b>Q & A: <a href="http://writingwhilethericeboils.blogspot.com/">Writing While the Rice Boils</a><a name="_GoBack"></a><b></b> <p><b>Thursday, October 10<sup>th</sup>: </b>Behind the Scenes: Christian Human Videos: <a href="http://writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/">Writing in Wonderland </a><b></b> <p><b>Friday, October 11<sup>th</sup>: </b>Teenage Substance Abuse: <a href="http://www.emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com/">Emily Rachelle </a><b></b> <p><b>Monday, October 14<sup>th</sup>: </b>Behind the Scenes: Lake Lure Academy of the Arts: <a href="http://worthy2read.wordpress.com/">Worthy 2 Read</a><b></b> <p><b>Tuesday, October 15<sup>th</sup>: </b>My Middle & High School Experience: <a href="http://hellohighlights.blogspot.com/">Hello Highlights </a> <p><b>Wednesday, October 16<sup>th</sup>: </b>Purple Moon Excerpt: Meatless Turkey Sandwich: <a href="http://dianeestrella.com/">Diane Estrella </a><b></b> <p><b>Thursday, October 17<sup>th</sup>: </b>Body Image <a href="http://laurelgarver.blogspot.com/">Laurel’s Leaves</a><b></b> <p><b>Friday, October 18<sup>th</sup>: </b>Behind the Scenes: Brewer’s Coffee: <a href="http://www.splash-of-ink.blogspot.ca/">A Splash of Ink</a><b></b> <p><b>Monday, October 21<sup>st</sup>: </b>Purple Moon Excerpt: Farkle at the Park: <a href="http://sierrasbooklist.blogspot.com/">A Slightly Nerdy Bookworm</a> <p><b>Tuesday, October 22<sup>nd</sup>: </b>Teenage Dating: <a href="http://thegreaterpurpose.blogspot.com/">Tell The World</a> <b></b> <p><b>Wednesday, October 23<sup>rd</sup>: </b>Q & A: <a href="http://theyabookstack.blogspot.co.uk/">The YA Book Stack</a><b></b> <p><b>Thursday, October 24<sup>th</sup>: </b>How Much of My Personal Life Did I Put Into “Purple Moon”?: <a href="http://readforyourfuture.blogspot.com/">Read For Your Future</a> <b></b> <p><b>Friday, October 25<sup>th</sup>: </b>Fairy tales & Happy Endings + Contest Winners!: <a href="http://www.rachellerea.com/">Inspiring Daring</a> <p> <p><font size="4" face="Felix Titling"><strong>And finally, check out the fabulous author!</strong></font> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubTT4oZ9fH2NSRHGi3qRsxoe4iK4i_lx1spEOxeD0Ekh3s20Mqb5swXFZo3-VrAKqSCuJroiBduzuSSzIMzw0TRjyDD0855X7kNLldTUdIBV0qky0YW916I4Np3W6g84q6aJHGWfoU8jM/s1600-h/Author-Headshot_Tessa-Hall7.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Author Headshot_Tessa Hall" border="0" alt="Author Headshot_Tessa Hall" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lEUuPd2tgyY/UkND0za613I/AAAAAAAACDw/EHEX2WpzfVw/Author-Headshot_Tessa-Hall_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="166" height="246"></a><b></b> <p>Tessa Emily Hall is a 19-year-old author of <i>Purple Moon</i>, her YA Christian fiction novel to be published September 2013 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She is also the editor over the faith department for Temperance Magazine, a column writer for Whole Magazine, a contributing writer for More To Be, as well as the PR for God of Moses Entertainment. Other than writing, Tessa enjoys acting, music, Starbucks, and her Teacup Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.</p> <p><b>Website:</b> <a href="http://www.tessaemilyhall.com">www.tessaemilyhall.com</a><br><b>Blog:</b> <a href="http://www.christiswrite.blogspot.com">www.christiswrite.blogspot.com</a><br><b>Twitter: </b><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tessaemily">www.twitter.com/tessaemily</a><br><b>Facebook:</b> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tessa.h16">www.facebook.com/tessa.h16</a> <p> <p> <p>Thank you, Tessa, for letting me read your book and hype it up for you! <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lf0Txi80Br2JR9vC1Y81Mn7ufY8q8TRUwAbVPupGy65Nj5AGMen94qSfyf8rhG9toyvSdopInXNPMHLYhcifq5BKQrtwvwwlYVbg_9zGSI1Rc6SQn517rYrzfVPWKVwxvzIkEyP3LtM5/s1600-h/Blog-Sig.3.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozj_3IXIDRchvo-wGn5flwfFPT1aCPMgefoVp4zUrW-RRGs8tX7Aigypkf_W86BVAxzv5kfrZ8JSHSnmHEqzuNuB_jldB8d0S-TlnYGfxTA0GsMw_nD75kOtIOZ5TqbAP2z3hxvKoY_LB/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-12272414034375044102013-09-13T18:49:00.001-07:002013-09-13T18:49:34.774-07:00Review: City of a Thousand Dolls<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w8uE5-K407E/UjPAlYpz9GI/AAAAAAAACBk/3XYpRP_axA4/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img style="margin: 2px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" title="image" alt="image" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Gt26KtPRC4Wu0uGah3iOpFWpUBVgU3ykFStFSVrza-FxgoDWfMq4dNlRgOFMQ-OnkbyXcnA29rVBYeXLzZCQ-SFky6MM3UKpNCB9RToxjSJVXdfV7HoW2xggHR8qFYnRHZi2pRdkDqXl/?imgmax=800" width="291" height="454"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Title:</strong> City of a Thousand Dolls<br><strong>Author:</strong> Miriam Forster<br><strong>Series:</strong> Bhinian Empire #1<br><strong>Published:</strong> 2013 by HarperCollins Publishers<br><strong>Version:</strong> Hardcover<br><strong>Obtained:</strong> Library</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #95b3d7; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 153" class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 16pt; color: "><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">An exotic treat set in an entirely original, fantastical world brimming with deadly mystery, forbidden romance, and heart-stopping adventure.</font></font></span></span><span style="line-height: 16pt; color: "><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><br></font><font face="Calibri"><font color="#181818"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><span class="apple-style-span">Nisha was abandoned at the gates of the City of a Thousand Dolls when she was just a child. Now sixteen, she lives on the grounds of the isolated estate, where orphan girls apprentice as musicians, healers, courtesans, and, if the rumors are true, assassins. Nisha makes her way as Matron’s assistant, her closest companions the mysterious cats that trail her shadow. Only when she begins a forbidden flirtation with the city’s handsome young courier does she let herself imagine a life outside the walls. Until one by one, girls around her start to die.</span><br></font><span class="apple-style-span"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">Before she becomes the next victim, Nisha decides to uncover the secrets that surround the girls’ deaths. But by getting involved, Nisha jeopardizes not only her own future in the City of a Thousand Dolls—but her own life.</font></span></font></font></span></span></p></blockquote> <p><strong>First Sentence:</strong><br>“<em>’Don’t move, Nisha.’ The words were playful, but the sharp slash of light along the blade of the throwing dagger was not</em>.”</p> <p> <hr> </p> <p>Oh my goodness. <em>City of a Thousand Dolls</em> blew me away. I absolutely loved everything about this book and I NEED the sequel. Now.</p> <p>Nisha was abandoned as a child in the City of a Thousand Dolls. Orphan girls are brought up to be great at a particular skill that will make them useful as wives or workers in various fields. Nisha did not get the chance to join one of the groups, so she runs errands and helps out. Suddenly girls are being mysteriously murdered, and Nisha is best placed to gather evidence and quickly try to figure out the connections between the victims, while trying to figure out her own personal life.</p> <p>Combine murder mystery with fantasy awesomeness and you have this book. I think it is one of the greatest combinations ever. The mystery is complex, perplexing, and unpredictable. I think I only predicted one plot twist in the entire book (and there are quite a few!).</p> <p>Nisha is a wonderful heroine! She is determined to solve the mystery and stop these killings. Going to the far edges of the City, she does everything she can to figure it out. Many times endangering her own life in the process. Also, this book takes Nisha on a HUGE journey of self-discovery. What is she good at? How can she relate to her friends? Will a boy want to marry her? Why did her parents abandon her? And she is a boss and figuring these out. She never gives up until she has her answers.</p> <p>Um, so the “talking” cats were just about the coolest part in the whole book. I want one! Also, I could so easily visualize this City and each House and the paths and mazes and walls. The setting had incredible detail and vivid imagery. Perfect. </p> <p>This book series can go so many places with this amazing world Miriam Forster created. I know she’s writing a sequel and I’m calling it: it’s going to be so amazing that it will blow this book out of the water. She is a creative storyteller and anything she writes, I would read.</p> <p> <hr> </p> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warning:</strong> Nothing</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:</strong> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyhNCAkC91IVKNf0ZtC2CgzCCJDt6RUNV9xxy5J6sCD-I-NGEqCwj03z163Qn764h3w0kWU3hCJgV9DDBVcxL4q8SdxWDXJnTouoOuVsAwtnf-XpAJcaOWn2JkGD-BAOEq_A_X3Yx4n8E/s1600-h/5%252520Pigs%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="5 Pigs" alt="5 Pigs" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u1h3bq90d7o/UjPAn6MLM2I/AAAAAAAACB8/tOOMIPSf7Ro/5%252520Pigs_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="116"></a><br></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqawRPMXDIlZWTuVzNRXb7K4iDiuNgzeOiSw_fqiaaY8qgNWPEsYIr9KWNSoMw599HfnH3xfHBjugqQJ-Whsa0cyF_aHft0z9AsdOJWhCSDYfqoWPTEg8qt6y_d7GmeaxCC8Zgql0Oaef/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyY0ENiCAkEbTcIsFfrQ3vR-j9aIPsChfO_H6To-PqwWB5iRdv9erqtBExGuIzZgHUp1NIOliing7NNTAlYel9PLzK35bm4KjjogwerRm2Q0vyQMPTIg85sn4vI3Gq6U1u3ixHN6pw6c4/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-31502180310596242182013-09-13T18:00:00.001-07:002013-09-13T18:00:14.593-07:00Update! – Bloglovin’<p><a href="<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/7188451/?claim=srztn65dggj"">http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/7188451/?claim=srztn65dggj"</a>>Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a></p> <p>So now you can follow my blog through Bloglovin’! I still have the Google Friend Connect widget set up, but in case that completely shuts down in the near future, I got this as a back up for you all! </p> <p>Thank you for following me, and I will be updating soon!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JdS77rCUmUc/UjO1GyLyIfI/AAAAAAAACBM/DqBMfEv4jZY/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-19RbDr7mx7E/UjO1HSwb1jI/AAAAAAAACBU/5oHy05z8z_w/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-79141696067295520292013-07-06T15:28:00.001-07:002013-07-06T15:28:25.746-07:00Review: The 5th Wave<p><img style="margin: 2px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://thebooksmugglers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/9780399162411.jpeg" width="279" height="392"></p> <p><br><strong>Title:</strong> The 5th Wave<br><strong>Author:</strong> Rick Yancey<br><strong>Series:</strong> The Fifth Wave #1<br><strong>Published:</strong> 2013 by Penguin<br><strong>Version:</strong> Hardcover<br><strong>Obtained:</strong> Library</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #ffff66" class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818"></font></font></span><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.</font></font></span><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"></span></font><span style="line-height: 16pt; color: "><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><br style="word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"></font><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><span style="float: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.</font></font></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 16pt"></span></p></blockquote> <p><strong>First Sentences:<br></strong>“<em>Aliens are stupid. I’m not talking about real aliens</em>.”<br><br> <hr> <br>Oh. My. Gosh. I totally understand the hype now!! <br>I requested this because I’d heard such good things, but when I read the synopsis it sounded like just another futuristic story with a mysterious boy and a quest. But oh my goodness is it original! <p>First off, I have not read many, if any, alien stories. I’ve seen the movies (that were so appropriately mentioned in the book) that portray alien attacks as “Rock on humans! These aliens are stupid to attack our might and power!” This is a more “realistic” (because how realistic can it really be?) story of how it would all go down. It has heart and humanity and emotion, because most of it is narrated by people who remember what they JUST lost a few months ago, that normal life that is now gone. They remember all the friends who are probably dead and they can’t trust anyone new. They’re in this alone and for the long haul fighting against something that seems unbeatable.</p> <p>Cassie’s story starts with her living in a forest alone and unable to trust anyone. She recounts how all of this came to be by explaining the alien attack, sharing stories of her family and friends, and expressing her thoughts on the whole situation. Anyways, after you learn the whole story, the present action starts. She meets a guy named Evan Walker who might be a bit untrustworthy and she sticks to her plan of finding her younger brother. Interspersing Cassie’s narrative are other narratives by other characters which can be a bit confusing at first but overall really add to the story.</p> <p>Cassie is amazing and realistic and brave and scared and strong. She doesn’t let this whole crazy world that now exists bring her down. She knows what she’s lost but she also knows what she has left to gain if she keeps pressing on. Sure, there are quite a few times where she feels really depressed. It does seem like nothing good will ever happen again. Seems like there is nothing to do to fight against these superior creatures. But that doesn’t mean giving up, it means making each moment count and thinking about those humans who are still left. </p> <p>I’m not going to discuss the other characters because they are meant to be surprises and plot twists. But every one of the characters is complex with many facets to their personality and motivations. It’s a truly fascinating book that sometimes feels like a character study in the face of chaos. SO GOOD!!</p> <p>I guess I’m just used to these futuristic books that say, “This is the way life is (blank) years in the future.” But Yancey wrote this like it will happen tomorrow. There are no dates except one in the very beginning that doesn’t do much except tell you that the setting of the book is around now. And that’s not something I’m used to seeing in apocalyptical books. It’s contemporary! But with aliens! It’s basically awesome! Also, it’s pretty long, which I always love.</p> <p>So, if Rick Yancey could come out with the sequel as quickly as possible (but with enough time to make it perfect) that’d be great. :)</p> <p>BOTTOM LINE: GO READ THIS. NOW. </p> <p> <hr> </p> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warning:</strong> Some profanity, including about four “f” words, kissing.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:</strong> <br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPez0wZoIgIukQCtOjtDhrqqh-Bppgzg7HHDGooXxXTaRk9BwvrzR1JQc1vMuTvsHw5z_Xu5wLCc8YzpNZDQhh2nXw1h-qxNu9pPENXJsXZeNST6spNKKpZ_wlefpTxzlo79XcQakbJNC/s1600-h/5%252520Pigs%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="5 Pigs" alt="5 Pigs" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUpzDLnytr25Z7_jxP_JPGqXbpNGYjGe7ysS34w3pNw6fMf2-I5w7HpRrgMMQmbDAbgqUw0_euBi1I5hONyDzc5SQpRfN_cZMBLCfZsmcGcc_fC9r-tPlFjG8LZoi55_rqCd2BFjZ16L1/?imgmax=800" width="398" height="104"></a><br></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Nn1Sbr-YYQk/UdiaBqfv5TI/AAAAAAAAB_8/Td_2fvEAes8/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--GyAntlCpgs/UdiaB4_pjVI/AAAAAAAACAE/1rUwPvMeBFY/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-59351113653825508792013-07-05T14:10:00.001-07:002013-07-05T18:11:04.318-07:00Review: The Knife of Never Letting Go<p><img style="margin: 2px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/The_Knife_of_Never_Letting_Go_by_Patrick_Ness.jpg" width="293" height="466"></p> <p><br><strong>Title:</strong> The Knife of Never Letting Go<br><strong>Author:</strong> Patrick Ness<br><strong>Series:</strong> Chaos Walking #1<br><strong>Published:</strong> 2008 by Candlewick Press<br><strong>Version:</strong> Paperback<br><strong>Obtained:</strong> Purchased</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #365f91; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themeshade: 191" class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818"></font></font></span><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#cccccc">Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.</font></font></span><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"></span></font><span style="line-height: 16pt; color: "><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><br style="word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"></font><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><span style="float: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#cccccc">But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?</font></font></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 16pt"></span></p></blockquote> <p> </p> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong><br>First Sentence:</strong><br>“<em>The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don’t got nothing much to say. About anything</em>.”</p> <p> <hr> I think I need to read this again right away to understand everything that was thrown at me. I just…loved so much about this book. It’s excellent, and I need to work on getting the sequels really soon! <p>So here we are in a New World. It takes some reading to learn all there is to know about this place, and I think that’s partially what makes this such a great read. It’s not like some dystopians where the first few chapters are dedicated to explaining all there is to know. Ness takes his time in explaining his world and that makes it feel very thought out and intricate (which it is). Anyways, New World isn’t like anything you’ve read of before. It’s a pretty crazy place that got pretty messed up real fast. Todd is just a twelve-year-old about to be a man at thirteen and he’s almost as naïve as the reader. </p> <p>But it doesn’t take long for reality to catch up to Todd as he gets shoved out into the world he knows nothing about. He slowly learns secrets about his world that change everything he has been raised to believe. Something very bad is happening in New World and it centers around him, the last boy in Prentisstown. Todd is the perfect narrator for this story and mainly the reason <em>The Knife of Never Letting Go</em> is so incredibly fantastic. He makes it what it is and it is stunning. He is reluctant to change his perceptions even when he knows he must. He has a hard time trusting other people. He has human, normal flaws that create the best narrators. I cannot wait to see where his journey will take him and how he will change.</p> <p>This whole concept of Noise kind of freaks me out. I couldn’t stand to hear everyone’s thoughts or have people hear mine. It’s just such an original concept and it works in scaring the reader. I’m very interested in learning more about this Noise in the other two books.</p> <p>I always love books more when they’re not afraid to change up the fonts. It’s just something stupid that I like, but I think it makes the reading experience more fun! I enjoy a change up. The parts that were other people’s Noise was always in a different font depending on the person. And the full pages of it were also great.</p> <p>Anyways, so I will definitely continue reading this series because Todd is an incredibly relatable narrator and the other evil characters are so evil I just…I hate them. Also, it ended with a cliffhanger!! Time to go out and buy the two sequels!</p> <p> <hr> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warning:</strong> Occasional curse words including one use of the “f” word. </p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:<br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5H2OSHaru-xysdwMlMhNP6cHaN-y0Lmvy27qgXWflvAPKpPpiYDNa87J3G3d1x434hTT3WKMnTL0met-x-07qiG-bSWq8JSa-u1MjK5o9JNzdEP75yKNn6Y9pRN_a1PlWObP7dAwr7jW/s1600-h/5%252520Pigs%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="5 Pigs" alt="5 Pigs" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ui6eZh8DSGzUf3Zl4dNyYYCgnD_SuB_P2Smok5v1yKvcPCQ-LYEDwsBqSAkWi5U3LwTaD_i1Y_W98nZMaSstPjkZ1iuyd9ZaqcwhYRoehyZO_qhRXmcf1o02TVAgA8_86anUI2vuc_Bx/?imgmax=800" width="382" height="100"></a><br></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5EkKhvoYnl8/Udc2NG9TYkI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/MSmbQI0xdt0/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qyyZY3TNN3o/Udc2NulEUBI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/N6ZPy-CAgi0/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-58854709563331388092013-05-22T17:37:00.001-07:002013-10-06T10:38:55.804-07:00Review: The Raven Boys<p><img style="margin: 2px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://maggiestiefvater.com/wp-content/uploads/RavenBoys-most-recent.jpg" width="311" height="453"></p> <p><br><strong>Title:</strong> The Raven Boys<br><strong>Author:</strong> Maggie Stiefvater<br><strong>Series:</strong> The Raven Cycle #1<br><strong>Published:</strong> 2012 by Scholastic<br><strong>Version:</strong> Hardcover<br><strong>Obtained:</strong> Library</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #d99594; mso-background-themecolor: accent2; mso-background-themetint: 153" class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818" face="Calibri"></font></span><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818" face="Calibri">It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.</font></span><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"></span></font><span style="line-height: 16pt; color: "><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><br style="word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><font color="#181818"><font face="Calibri"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><span style="float: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them—until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.</span></span><br style="word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><span style="float: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">His name is Gansey, and he’s a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.</span></span><br style="word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"></font></font></font><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818" face="Calibri">But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher, who notices many things but says very little.</font></span></span><br style="word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 11pt">For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn’t believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.</font></font></span></span></span></p></blockquote> <p><strong>First Sentence:</strong><br>“<em>Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she’d been told that she would kill her true love.</em>”</p> <p> <hr> As she did with her masterful book, <em><a href="http://amysbookblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/review-scorpio-races.html" target="_blank">The Scorpio Races</a></em>, Maggie Stiefvater takes her incredible imagination and weaves a completely unique story with heavy emphasis on characterization. I have never read something like <em>The Raven Boys</em>, and I do not think I ever will. <p>This story mostly follows Blue Sargent as she tries to figure out what is going on after something strange happens. On St. Mark’s Eve, she sees a spirit of a boy who is going to die in the coming year. After a series of chance meetings, she ends up joining this boy, Gansey, and his friends in a search for the ley line in the surrounding area. A ley line is a line of supernatural occurrences. Across these lines, the supernatural grows stronger.</p> <p>Each of the characters were strong and complex. Gansey was probably the most developed in this book. His rich boy façade was covering a boy who desperately wanted to find this ley line and have an adventure for deep rooted personal reasons. I cannot wait to get to know more and more about him. I want his friends to realize the depth of his character, because it seemed like there was always miscommunication about his motives. Adam’s character was also explored to great extent. I have no idea where his character will go in the next few books, but I like him, even though he reads too much into situations. Ronan was interesting as well, but had little development in this first book. I do think that throughout the series we will see much about him and about his motives and personality.</p> <p>The narrative was in third-person but it cycled through which character it was focused on each chapter. Sometimes I did not feel like Blue was the main character at all (like the synopsis suggests). Blue was not as developed as I wish she could have been. It almost feels like she does not even really need to change or grow because she has no faults. However, I cannot wait to see her perception of the boys change as they grow closer. I enjoyed that she was off-beat and quirky. Her family members were also great. I never thought about what a whole family of psychics would be like! </p> <p>Stiefvater is a complete genius at crafting characters and plotlines that are fresh and different. I do feel like her books drag quite a bit though. It takes awhile to fully get immersed and I wish I could have been sucked in faster. But when I think back on the story, I can’t really figure out why it dragged.</p> <p>I am excited to keep reading this series and see all the mysteries finally get solved!</p> <p> <hr> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warnings:</strong> Includes strong language.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:<br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-N8B3K5fmTBI/UZ1kyAihiAI/AAAAAAAAB90/iFTUb4VqLbs/s1600-h/4%252520Pigs%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="4 Pigs" alt="4 Pigs" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHcGIfaTwjB8Qhq2qHUBYNwcF1CGVJeuIQwsKTd_idpGr6iqyW8m_rqs8z4t1dbybBadaZx3wUii74PNp-3wHCrHr6wLV85AgC5Z1lGw7Bl8emK06O7YceiI1c9Xcaru7a4xKajb0555Z/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="119"></a><br></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_eVA3neliP8/UZ1ky93HiKI/AAAAAAAAB-E/PO7Q_Pvu4P0/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ecjswuupUK8/UZ1kzXJgm2I/AAAAAAAAB-M/BynaUNB09jo/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-18382427436604644512013-05-21T14:03:00.001-07:002013-05-21T14:03:09.851-07:00Teaser Tuesday (4)<p align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB5VEMqcDSuHqWWESYdzvTwASU7VxDGrfakCz2q4NN4NZ0GgDuG5ergxGuUSMy69eOGnWUhgftcGWQgTrrvOIY2HC1SdqxWht-zfWVKSXphNFLVyNWmkjizSkBOqnDaAA2jXDIIag8bja/s1600/Teaser+Tuesday.png" width="195" height="158"><br><em>Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of </em><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/"><em>Should Be Reading</em></a><em>. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:<br>- Grab your current read<br>- Open to a random page<br>- Share one or two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page<br>- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)<br>- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</em></p> <p> <hr> </p> <p><img style="display: inline; float: right" align="right" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342485529l/13206760.jpg" width="148" height="212"><font size="2">My Teaser:<br></font></p> <p><font size="2">“<em>White sparks flashed across Scarlet’s vision, and it took all her willpower not to pull the trigger and erase his smugness. ‘Why are you following us?’ She said when the throbbing rage had become a manageable simmer</em>.”</font></p> <blockquote> <p><font size="2">- pg. 214, <em>Scarlet</em> by Marissa Meyer<br></font></p></blockquote> <hr> <p>I actually just finished this and it was GREAT! The review will be up in a few days!<br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ymBQmkKiQPA/UZvhCifazGI/AAAAAAAAB9c/MUuXfgcFONw/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-R_Wl_IFe1WE/UZvhDGInchI/AAAAAAAAB9k/VLV0UZV3580/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-88233091213296977502013-05-16T20:05:00.001-07:002013-05-16T20:05:26.006-07:00In My Mailbox (6)<p><br>Since it is officially summer, I went a little crazy at the library and picked up all of these fine titles.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2MLePlFSEJc/UZWeWFoniSI/AAAAAAAAB8U/cSUVhgD8DDc/s1600-h/photo5.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo" border="0" alt="photo" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6vEbwoJxCvA/UZWeW72UcZI/AAAAAAAAB8c/ehdg9mv4DMA/photo_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" height="297"></a></p> <p><strong>First Pile:</strong><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2pt2N5--2ec/UZWeYXmnzUI/AAAAAAAAB8k/y0BADIm0CA4/s1600-h/image.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0hUsfRNfsjA/UZWeZEunyyI/AAAAAAAAB8o/_8KSzvo_hQQ/image_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244"></a><br><em>Perfect Escape </em>by Jennifer Brown<br><em>Pivot Point</em> by Kasie West<br><em>Level 2</em> by Lenore Appelhans<br><em>Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares</em> by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan<br><em>Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour</em> by Morgan Matson<br><em>Froi of the Exiles </em>by Melina Marchetta<br><em>Finnikin of the Rock</em> by Melina Marchetta<br><em>Sloppy Firsts</em> by Megan McCafferty<br><em>Second Helpings</em> by Megan McCafferty<br><em>Saving Francesca</em> by Melina Marchetta<br></p> <p><strong>Second Pile:</strong><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFBqzAcJwIjdSXQ-2pfTZ63Xi17cRFIQ4_MsO7K6DJdmI7tYEwrtWncgEi02Al9du5JABs4Jmyt9UA9tbCMSQmvXRUeKfAl7tyopO7Zr5pcSe5srZb03V9xJGhhgqEAjPA0-f_xZlWuEV/s1600-h/booookss.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="booookss" border="0" alt="booookss" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1PbpOdNMtJc/UZWeaWITBSI/AAAAAAAAB84/GiFsR-E9GpI/booookss_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244"></a><br><em>Scarlet </em>by Marissa Meyer<br><em>Poison</em> by Bridget Zinn<br><em>The Madman’s Daughter</em> by Megan Shepherd<br><em>The Darkest Minds</em> by Alexandra Bracken<br><em>Mind Games</em> by Kiersten White<br><em>The Madness Underneath </em>by Maureen Johnson<br><em>Breaking Point</em> by Kristen Simmons<br><em>Sever</em> by Lauren DeStefano</p> <p>All of these make me so excited to get down to reading! I hope to make it through most of these (and more!) by the time summer is at a close. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tRaloLYj8dQ/UZWebC-1PmI/AAAAAAAAB9E/cTLIO32STmY/s1600-h/Blog-Sig.3.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Rg9a5g-T0iQ/UZWecvKe2OI/AAAAAAAAB9I/_NOLn7Aplfs/Blog-Sig._thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-72869176557701584272013-05-15T12:46:00.001-07:002013-05-15T12:46:44.443-07:00Waiting on Wednesday (4)<p align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVecd6iSUZciFcozY_eQfoYKwY0Yqy-trNB2wFktRxZLM5r-6KGiUwfY34b3JTs5L5DDGsSBP9Lgjod_AAxTMce7_w2irQ4ehO2ZspQRXh-W3VASh1i8Pfm5SalkdT9jaUKluXZj0_4w/s1600/New+WoW.JPG" width="188" height="177"><br>“<i>Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by </i><a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/"><i>Breaking the Spine</i></a><i>, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.</i></p> <p><strong> <hr> <img style="margin: 2px 0px 0px 6px; display: inline; float: right" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPsT7IF74oJ7Tsz3M57sj3jjCEdz8R87N6FD7QUEPkMkKXwfuyXZsDVIfCoNch15dSjeE5XPiO0MXTEXi8k7xzW6THMdZY9ptjTIafLzJV4ceDMnYgtfwp8IVYQc2nIhLuXjzKKsBEg3B/s1600/Star+Cursed.jpg" width="341" height="503"> <p align="center"><br><br>Title:</strong> Star Cursed<br><strong>Author:</strong> Jessica Spotswood<br><strong>Series:</strong> The Cahill Witch Chronicles #2<br><strong>Publishing Date:</strong> June 18th, 2013</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #92cddc; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 153" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818"></font></font></span><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.</font></font></span><span style="line-height: 16pt; color: "><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><br></font><font face="Calibri"><font color="#181818"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%">Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.</span><br></font><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">In the highly anticipated sequel to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi">Born Wicked</span></em>, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.</font></span></font></font></span></p></blockquote> <p>I loved <em>Born Wicked </em>(even though I haven’t reviewed it yet. Oops) and I can’t wait to see what will happen next for the Cahill sisters. I love the feel of these books and the magic that is involved.</p> <p>Side note, I’m sad they switched up the covers, because the hardcover version of <em>Born Wicked</em> was beautiful. BUT, I do think this is a stunning cover as well. Hopefully it matches the tone of the book!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibupFo1WtNida1fPeGi4P7agwkcNPuLP6rkST6L0p7EXXhNQahfmtQsnCipFW029PbrDYF9l1qsPCpBpl7tiqWgkWz1miQqa_y1lpclwEwJ2rRDZ3EOkOxwAKSc7vNQL480ewCKBBdk7Qq/s1600-h/Blog-Sig.3.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-05edP0qV7BI/UZPmIvX3NDI/AAAAAAAAB8E/NH270VKxWnM/Blog-Sig._thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-57063996140165381572013-05-14T13:39:00.001-07:002013-05-14T13:39:03.704-07:00Review: This is What Happy Looks Like<p><img style="margin: 2px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/_b2c/media/cache/18/42/18426a48030ae07961fe90b18e69a4b4.jpg" width="332" height="499"></p> <p><br><strong>Title:</strong> This is What Happy Looks Like<br><strong>Author:</strong> Jennifer E. Smith<br><strong>Series:</strong> --<br><strong>Published:</strong> 2013 by Little, Brown and Co.<br><strong>Version:</strong> Hardcover<br><strong>Obtained:</strong> Library</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #d9d9d9; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Perfect strangers Graham Larkin and Ellie O’Neill meet – albeit virtually – when Graham accidentally sends Ellie an e-mail about his pet pig, Wilbur. The two seventeen-year-olds strike up an e-mail relationship, even though they live on opposite sides of the country and don’t even know each other’s first name.</font></font></p> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #d9d9d9; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 11pt">In a witty and unforgettable correspondence, Graham and Ellie share details about their lives, hopes, and fears. But they don’t tell each other everything: Graham doesn’t know the secret hidden in Ellie’s family tree, and Ellie is unaware of Graham’s life in the spotlight.</font></font></p> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #d9d9d9; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 11pt">When Graham seizes an opportunity to spend time in Ellie’s tiny hometown of Henley, Main, he takes their relationship from online to in person. But can two people from such different worlds be together despite the odds stacked against them?</font></font></p> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #d9d9d9; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 11pt">Spanning one fateful summer, Jennifer E. Smith’s new novel proves that life – like love – is full of unexpected connections and happy mistakes.</font></font></p></blockquote> <p><strong>First Sentence:</strong><br>“<em>It was not all that different from the circus, and it came to town in much the same way</em>.”</p> <p> <hr> <br>Jennifer E. Smith is very talented at crafting adorable love stories. <em>This is What Happy Looks Like</em> is endearing in the way of feel-good movies. While it might be cheesy, it still makes you love it. <p>Graham accidently sends an email to the wrong address and it ends up in Ellie’s inbox. For about four months they have email conversations about everything except the important details of their lives. Graham is completely drawn to this girl, so he arranges to have his next movie shot in her small city in Maine. From here their relationship goes through a lot of ups and downs.</p> <p>While this whole “famous boy falls in love with small town girl” plot has been done many times before, the email aspect is what drew me to this version. Almost the first 20 pages are their emails back and forth and it is too cute. Both are so witty and intelligent, and perfect for each other. Scattered throughout the book are more emails which are made sweeter since they are both in the same place. </p> <p>Smith really enjoys writing love stories that are highly improbably. <em>The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight</em> was equally unrealistic, but that’s part of the charm. It’s very fun to read books about romance that starts so perfectly and ends up perfectly. Smith still mixes in real life issues like family and friend problems, but she mainly shows how two people who are good for each other can overcome these issues together. </p> <p>I will definitely read Jennifer E. Smith’s future books because she is a fantastic writer and story-crafter. </p> <p> <hr> </p> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warning: </strong>Nothing I can think of.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:<br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MaFlkj08uAg/UZKg4KIdCNI/AAAAAAAAB7U/n6iEpw2zij0/s1600-h/4%252520Pigs%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="4 Pigs" alt="4 Pigs" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ENs4GFUJR84/UZKg4bGaNyI/AAAAAAAAB7c/g-oejGMT4wI/4%252520Pigs_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="113"></a><br></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T-dV3ebssss/UZKg4-qj61I/AAAAAAAAB7k/Vt-WN-x0EGM/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_Ki94tB6t2E/UZKg5fWCr1I/AAAAAAAAB7s/oe3UKQ4It-0/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-16088781849684265612013-05-13T21:33:00.001-07:002013-05-13T21:33:42.016-07:00Teaser Tuesday (3)<p align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB5VEMqcDSuHqWWESYdzvTwASU7VxDGrfakCz2q4NN4NZ0GgDuG5ergxGuUSMy69eOGnWUhgftcGWQgTrrvOIY2HC1SdqxWht-zfWVKSXphNFLVyNWmkjizSkBOqnDaAA2jXDIIag8bja/s1600/Teaser+Tuesday.png" width="195" height="158"><br><em>Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of </em><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/"><em>Should Be Reading</em></a><em>. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:<br>- Grab your current read<br>- Open to a random page<br>- Share one or two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page<br>- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)<br>- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</em></p> <p> <hr> </p> <p><img style="display: inline; float: right" align="right" src="http://cf.foreveryoungadult.com/_uploads/images/28620/ee__span.jpg" width="159" height="230"></p> <p><br>My Teaser:<br></p> <p>“<em>This woman was severely dressed, with a face that might have been pretty if all the lines resulted from smiling rather than frowning. As it was, she looked like a stoat with gastric problems</em>.”</p> <blockquote> <p>- pg. 56, <em>Etiquette & Espionage</em> by Gail Carriger</p></blockquote> <hr> <p><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aOj_w0K8IGg/UZG-owaqmOI/AAAAAAAAB68/Jdc3DHuqP-A/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uPen0wsAYiM/UZG-pPBsmbI/AAAAAAAAB7A/6pzbNiQsJNE/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-54688346164860796542013-05-12T14:00:00.001-07:002016-05-20T22:06:23.758-07:00Review: Out of the Easy<p><img style="margin: 5px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" alt="" align="left" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339784547l/11178225.jpg" width="288" height="424"></p> <p><br><strong>Title:</strong> Out of the Easy<br><strong>Author:</strong> Ruta Sepetys<br><strong>Series:</strong> --<br><strong>Published:</strong> 2013 by Philomel Books<br><strong>Version: </strong>Hardcover<br><strong>Obtained:</strong> Library</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #d6e3bc; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 102" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 11pt">It's 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.<br>Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.</font></font></span></p></blockquote> <p><strong>First Sentence:</strong> <br>“<em>My mother’s a prostitute</em>.”</p> <p> <hr> <br>I absolutely adored Sepetys’s <em>Between Shades of Gray</em> (not to be confused with the other fifty shades novel) and my review of it is <a href="http://amysbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-between-shades-of-gray.html" target="_blank">here</a>. So it was no surprise that I also love her newest book. <br><em>Out of the Easy</em> is beautiful, heartbreaking, and inspiring. <p>This story is about the complex problems that arise in your life as you get older. Friends, self, family, and future plans are all connected whether or not you want them to be. Josie Moraine desperately wants to escape New Orleans. Known to everyone as the daughter of a prostitute and as someone who helps out at a brothel, Josie can’t become who she wants to be in this town that has created an identity for her. When Josie gets a chance at going to college in Boston, she jumps to action and makes it her big goal. However, life gets complicated as a murder investigation starts to involve her more and more.</p> <p>I…I felt like I was Josie. I felt imprisoned by New Orleans and confused about friendships and overwhelmed with everything that had to be done. I was brought completely into the story and it felt so real. I desperately wanted the best for Josie because she tried so very hard to do the right thing and help everyone, and yet somehow she always got the short end of the stick.</p> <p>Ruta Sepetys is a brilliant writer and superb story-crafter. As my mother pointed out as she read this book, “You know it’s a good book when you read a sentence and stop to admire it.”</p> <p>I cannot wait for the next masterpiece by Ruta Sepetys!</p> <p> <hr> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warnings:</strong> Since this story deals with prostitutes, there are many aspects that could be alarming for young readers. But anything that could be railed against is just reality. Just as with her last book, it’s sad and scary, but it’s not that way for fun.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:</strong><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qzSj79ndCNo/UZADAG6Sp_I/AAAAAAAAB6U/Js5FLvwmHIo/s1600-h/5%252520Pigs%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="5 Pigs" alt="5 Pigs" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Y6dKjpJ7UCo/UZADAgzCvYI/AAAAAAAAB6c/n9Iy2UAHvgw/5%252520Pigs_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="106"></a><br></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qanGcEK3fjs/UZADA1sMQsI/AAAAAAAAB6k/GHibk0jMYpo/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinC9-bWcPUrbepPYHMcHq3pjGw_BVdFDIs1jeXedUtbnNnPbDP6i3EYtqAFz8TCa0o3OudI3ulGkXWJQUW3g_kv3ryBd0_wXFywDNZG2iCf2Dm6igGPmGI1FlakMVZEfoGhnlsqvwPYm6Z/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-86206326060221196372013-04-20T21:52:00.001-07:002013-04-24T11:36:52.360-07:00Review: The Fault in Our Stars<p><img style="margin: 2px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://jediprincess.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/fault-in-our-stars.jpg" width="335" height="485"></p> <p><br><strong>Title:</strong> The Fault in Our Stars<br><strong>Author:</strong> John Green<br><strong>Series:</strong> --<br><strong>Published:</strong> 2012 by Dutton Books<br><strong>Version:</strong> Hardcover<br><strong>Obtained:</strong> Gift :)</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 22pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #92cddc; mso-background-themecolor: accent5; mso-background-themetint: 153" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 21pt"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.</font></font></span></p></blockquote> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong></strong> </p><strong> <p><br> </p> <p><br>First Sentence:</strong><br>“<em>Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death</em>.”</p> <p> <hr> <p>This book is incredible. </p> <p>It’s really hard to describe how incredible it is, so you’ll just have to trust me and read it.</p> <p>This is the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster who has terminal cancer but is currently on a special treatment which is extending her life. She is in love with a book called <em>An Imperial Affliction</em>, which she reads over and over again. Her only social environment is a Cancer Kid Support Club, where she has one sort-of-friend, Isaac. One meeting, Isaac brings his friend Augustus Waters, who had cancer a year ago.</p> <p>John Green’s writing is beautiful. So many sentences/paragraphs were written so well, I just stopped for a moment to admire them. It is written so intelligently! Hazel and Augustus speak in a way I wish I was smart enough to. They have highly intelligent conversation and engage in witty banter. I loved it.</p> <p>I still feel so much emotion for this story, and I read it about two months ago. I can’t go too much into plot, or it will ruin the story (I knew next to nothing going in). But the story is inspiring and beautiful. It’s definitely not the typical “cancer book.” It didn’t just play with my emotions to make me say it’s a good book. It was genuinely well-written and emotional. I feel like my entire view on grief and pain is altered. And that’s a good feeling to know that a book changed my thinking.</p> <p>I haven’t read anything else by John Green, but I definitely will now. I look forward to more intellectually stimulating and beautifully emotional stories.</p> <p> <hr> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warning:</strong> Teenage sex, kissing, some language.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:</strong> <br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYXLbrBd-7RqsRBUgg7kMu6785p5-KZFOjAMJ5nApLWeVPnuWn9ULI-aDWcmGLZWf64R_BzWq1SbnAUyIW7m34maW9gIUCFoSf3loEZBNF57w7ZM7sjHLyINzOfRJPMSXNwSsoFXWDns1/s1600-h/5%252520Pigs%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="5 Pigs" alt="5 Pigs" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--o8kvoloEBE/UXNwbvjsfDI/AAAAAAAAB30/PvlDZSDHChs/5%252520Pigs_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="108"></a><br></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nJ5fy8gWEsg/UXNwcHKcoiI/AAAAAAAAB38/c0T-6z9_E7I/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-N_gX1KM9Ggc/UXNwcQdH5rI/AAAAAAAAB4E/VpBiWCUNopU/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-47173597579941443342013-04-17T11:23:00.001-07:002013-04-24T11:35:43.627-07:00Waiting on Wednesday (3)–School Spirits<img style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 6px; display: inline; float: right" align="right" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354294039l/15826934.jpg" width="288" height="428"> <p align="center"><strong><br>Title:</strong> School Spirits<br><strong>Author:</strong> Rachel Hawkins<br><strong>Series:</strong> School Spirits #1<br><strong>Publish Date:</strong> May 14, 2013<br></p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 22pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #a6a6a6; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 21pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="background-color: #ffffff" color="#181818"></font></font></span><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 21pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#181818" size="2">Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.</font></font></span></span><span style="line-height: 21pt"><br style="word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#181818"><font size="2"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><span style="float: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.</span></span><br style="word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><span style="float: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br style="word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"></font></font></font></span></p></blockquote> <p style="line-height: 22pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font size="2">So this looks so good! I loved the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins, and so I was thrilled to find out she was having a spin-off book (maybe a series?). It focuses on Izzy, who is a minor character in the Hex Hall trilogy, but whom I found compelling even in her limited scenes. Thankfully, I do not have long to wait, as it comes out in about a month! </font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 22pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9k2rCHMzbriUMwvZ6ETcdKUU4hhSkyT9vWLaP83KF0_hyphenhyphen1HFq-pZYVtU6bLAl5rQN_I36kkZp3KRKLvzeWKTVB3Sq2__rqs1oRX73jpO3yuFh_CtSO2KberEgOTqvuFkwx8Dn87SmSgd/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2dWwm50G7Gk/UW7okFODuxI/AAAAAAAAB3c/82rpAUB05mE/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="210" height="80"></a></span></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-32626982262752369482013-04-15T11:14:00.001-07:002013-04-15T11:14:06.521-07:00It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?<p align="center"><img style="margin: 7px 0px 0px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklLa-Uh5A887XXwkhVXl3BBZBxdZIeQoUJ8YNs5HjLK0E1ydUetiw8o1vSDMtqZ4D8Ln-cOGDZaSAjJM6ufX3JSpayOfIDzv2kjxndANTIc6qTHjOvy04e9pNTp-sepB17HIt9Vl3nufu/s320/monday_button.jpg"></p> <blockquote> <p align="center"><i>It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week? This is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being reading, and the books to be finish this week. It is hosted by Sheila from <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/">One Person’s Journey Through a World of Books</a>.</i></p></blockquote> <p> <hr> <strong>Books Finished Last Week:</strong><br>I finished The Diviners by Libba Bray a few days ago.<br>Last night I finished Requiem by Lauren Oliver (Review is forthcoming).</p> <p><strong>Currently Reading:</strong><br>The Raven Boys – Maggie Stiefvater<br>Matched – Allie Condie<br>Mansfield Park – Jane Austen<br>Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell</p> <p><strong>Books I Hope To Start Reading This Week:<br></strong>I hope to actually get into The Raven Boys and read more of Mansfield Park.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mIOXoxhRZOo/UWxDbE8DIKI/AAAAAAAAB28/htxIdmnpIZQ/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yMgIdQRfrvM/UWxDbelhB4I/AAAAAAAAB3E/RpOojsk4WgE/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-90395252629086455672013-04-15T10:36:00.001-07:002013-04-15T10:36:59.938-07:00Review: The Diviners<p><img style="margin: 2px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://www.alicemarvels.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/c_thediviners.jpeg" width="288" height="406"></p> <p><br><strong>Title:</strong> The Diviners<br><strong>Author:</strong> Libba Bray<br><strong>Series:</strong> The Diviners #1<br><strong>Published:</strong> 2012 by Little, Brown Books<br><strong>Version:</strong> Hardcover<br><strong>Obtained:</strong> Library</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #ffff66" class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818"></font></font></span><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfield girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her Uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.</font></font></span><span style="line-height: 16pt"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><br></font><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><span style="float: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer. </font></font></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #ffff66" class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened. . .</font></font></span></p></span><span style="line-height: 16pt"></blockquote></span> <p><strong>First Sentence:</strong><br>“<em>In a town house at a fashionable address on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, every lamp blazes</em>.”</p> <p> <hr> Oh. My. Gosh.</p> <p>Guys, this book is incredible. Now, the last Libba Bray book I read was Beauty Queens, which I didn’t like at all (<a href="http://amysbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-beauty-queens.html" target="_blank">My review</a>). So I was really hoping that with this one, she could revert the genius that created The Gemma Doyle Trilogy. And she did. </p> <p>In this gigantic, amazing book (over 500 pages), we read the stories of multiple characters. Evie has been “banished” to New York City to live with her uncle, and she couldn’t be happier. She’s reunited with her best friend, Mabel. They meet a girl named Theta who is a glamorous chorus girl. Mabel has a crush on Jericho, Uncle Will’s assistant, who is trying to hide his biggest secret. There is also a young man named Sam, who is trying to find something very important. Memphis is another young man who wants to write poetry, but has to support his brother. All these young people are trying to navigate the glitter and glam of the twenties lifestyle. The narrative mostly focuses on Evie and her discovery of the full power of her supernatural talent. </p> <p>Evie and her uncle Will try to help the police figure out who is murdering people and leaving them in strange positions with occult symbols on the bodies. As she helps him with the research, she realizes that her gift could be the best tool for finding the elusive killer.</p> <p>This book was like a horror movie. But obviously better. Every time someone got killed, you saw it happen and it was the creepiest thing ever. Seriously. And the ending…holy crap. It was a complete rush. I love it! The entire concept behind it, with all the occult mutterings and strange symbols added a whole other level of creepiness to the mystery.</p> <p>All the background information that was put into this book is mind-blowing. Libba Bray created so many amazing details, I almost forgot that a good bit of them were fictional. I haven’t read many books which take place in the Twenties, but let me just say that Libba COMMITED to the time period. The slang and the culture in general were perfect. The slang was so twenties that sometimes I wasn’t really sure what they were saying (But I loved it). And all of these “Diviners” are shaping up to be really interesting in the next books.</p> <p>Speaking of future books, I can’t wait to see what happens in this series. All of the characters have so much to tell each other and so much to figure out. I need to learn more about the young man introduced at the end. As for all the romantic relationships…..I definitely hope some different things happen in the second one. </p> <p>Libba Bray has come back with a wonderful beginning to a promising series! The Diviners will be incredible, and I cannot wait until the others come out.</p> <hr> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warning:<br></strong>Some language and kissing. General creepiness. Typical Libba Bray attempts to step on toes. :)</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:</strong> <br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rQIIsse3zdQ/UWw6t_WgwxI/AAAAAAAAB2c/31lQr80qnEM/s1600-h/5%252520Pigs%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="5 Pigs" alt="5 Pigs" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-h0_HFfIxl0I/UWw6uPkHFII/AAAAAAAAB2k/DUy1bE-kUkw/5%252520Pigs_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="331" height="104"></a><br></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyb3SX12ohQkQQ8QAo-W3VkEKkFvuGnCHgY82hkkxmFCqAZXkdq7gZqjORoxUWKXc2bwKcvsDVyk7zsG7lAnqb66HAB0GCgVaKTIgfz1xSc_r3Ke1N9TvuzDdeB-mJf6dAPyKDoGgAFZgU/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9r1NCHfIGao/UWw6u5RGwlI/AAAAAAAAB20/pR4t2iMwFxc/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-40660818035195135212013-04-02T09:27:00.001-07:002013-04-02T09:27:33.000-07:00Teaser Tuesday (2)<p><img style="margin: 6px auto 0px; display: block; float: none" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB5VEMqcDSuHqWWESYdzvTwASU7VxDGrfakCz2q4NN4NZ0GgDuG5ergxGuUSMy69eOGnWUhgftcGWQgTrrvOIY2HC1SdqxWht-zfWVKSXphNFLVyNWmkjizSkBOqnDaAA2jXDIIag8bja/s1600/Teaser+Tuesday.png" width="195" height="158"></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="2">Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of </font></em><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/"><em><font size="2">Should Be Reading</font></em></a><em><font size="2">. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:<br>- Grab your current read<br>- Open to a random page<br>- Share one of two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page<br>- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)<br>- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</font></em></p> <p> <hr> </p> <p><img style="display: inline; float: right" alt="Currently Reading" align="right" src="http://www.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/large/5/9780062014535.jpg" width="135" height="201"><br>My Teaser:</p> <p>“<em>He takes a single step backward and just that, that little movement, makes the bear tense up in a crouch, baring its teeth, which glisten bone white in the moonlight.</em>”</p> <blockquote> <p>- pg. 26, <em>Requiem</em> by Lauren Oliver</p> <p> </p></blockquote> <hr> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SzZz7ZneXYg/UVsG74OlB_I/AAAAAAAAB18/qD22MDbIJhE/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a4H4dd_Maqc/UVsG8WXEE0I/AAAAAAAAB2E/gkND1n-X2vE/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-27860132710115244002013-03-29T17:03:00.001-07:002013-03-29T22:22:21.067-07:00Retro Friday (1)<p align="center"><br><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1E7Gs2F47vgOKWrbPC1MT9ImVAE6iASz8kjgF2o6Wvka3Nt7C854ZNvk66msbhEQ43JqYmf7cAO1s-gtB75pXhN2pG15TlkL0X5RY3RvQVOeQ2jrdHtdaxPq4NNW-WHNMjqn-eaxPLrGn/s1600/Retro-Friday-Button.jpg"><br><em>Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.angie-ville.com/">Angieville</a>, and it focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc.</em></p> <p> <hr> <p align="right"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 3px 6px; display: inline; float: right" align="right" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1304372776l/493051.jpg" width="183" height="278"><br><strong>Title:</strong> To Catch a Pirate <br><strong>Author:</strong> Jade Parker<br><strong>Published:</strong> 2007 by Point<br><strong>Obtained: </strong>Purchased</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #f5b033" class="MsoNormal" align="right"><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818"></font></font></span><span style="background-image: none; line-height: 16pt; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">When Annalisa Townsend’s ship is set upon by pirates in search of her father’s treasure, one of the crew, James Sterling, discovers her in the hold. When he moves to take her necklace, she begs him not to, as it is all she has left of her mother. He accepts a kiss in exchange for the necklace. “A fair trade, m’lady,” he tells her afterward, before disappearing.</font></font></span><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"></span></font><span style="line-height: 16pt"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><br style="word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"></font><span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%"><span style="float: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">A year later, with a forged letter of marque, Annalisa is intent on hunting down the wretched James Sterling and reclaiming her father’s treasure from him. But now she’s in danger of him stealing something far more vulnerable this time: her heart.</font></font></span></span></span></p></blockquote> <p>Once upon a time while surfing around Amazon, I found this book. The synopsis caught my eye and when I read the first few pages, I was hooked. Unfortunately, my library did not own it, so I had to request they purchase it (which they did. I’m so proud of them). Then later, I ended up buying it myself. </p> <p>Anyways, this book is a little treasure (pun intended). With only 230 pages, the storyline does lack some depth, but what is there is good enough.</p> <p>Annalisa Townsend was sailing on a merchant ship with her father, when they got robbed by pirates. One young pirate, named James Sterling, finds Annalisa hiding in the hold. He doesn’t steal from her or report her location. Instead he kisses her. Appalled, Annalisa later decides to track down this man to get back her father’s treasure (and to have the upper hand with him). Suffice it to say, the journey is more complicated than anticipated, and Annalisa and James start to fall in love throughout the whole adventure</p> <p>I love the simplicity and adorableness of this story. James and Annalisa are desperate to hate each other and do not relish working together, but eventually they begin to see how to communicate properly to each other and how they are useful to each other. James is overly cocky and Annalisa is overly determined and it takes quite a while for them to see each other clearly.</p> <p>Since purchasing this book, I have read it multiple times. Because it’s so short, it is easy to pick up and read in a few hours. If you like pirate-themed adventures and cute love stories, then you will love <u>To Catch a Pirate</u>.</p> <p><strong>Content Warning: </strong>Kissing, possibly some mild language.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u_mqISc3M5w/UVYrsrzJAZI/AAAAAAAAB1k/Bk2wY8nczfI/s1600-h/Blog-Sig.3.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wNSO4wYGnFc/UVYrs27QTbI/AAAAAAAAB1s/DbftokZY1Yk/Blog-Sig._thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-69347107598367249642013-03-28T19:08:00.001-07:002013-03-28T19:08:58.149-07:00List of Weekly Memes<p><br>All righty then. <br>I’m really doing this. I’m getting a bit more serious about keeping this blog going and posting regularly.<br>Now, keep in mind that with college this is hard, and I’ll probably mess up a lot, but I’m going to try my hardest to keep up! :)</p> <p><strong><u> <hr> Mondays:</u></strong></p> <p><i>It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? This is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being reading, and the books to be finish this week. It is hosted by Sheila from <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/">One Person’s Journey Through a World of Books</a>.</i></p> <p><strong><u>Tuesdays:</u></strong></p> <p><em>Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of </em><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/"><em>Should Be Reading</em></a><em>. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:<br>- Grab your current read<br>- Open to a random page<br>- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page<br>- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) <br>- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</em></p> <p><strong><u>Wednesdays:</u></strong> <p><em>"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by </em><a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><em>Breaking the Spine</em></a><em>, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.</em> <p><u><strong>Thursdays:</strong></u> <p><em>In My Mailbox is a weekly (or however sporadically you feel like it) meme in which bloggers list the books they’ve recently received to review. This was instigated by </em><a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/p/in-my-mailbox.html"><em>The Story Siren</em></a><em>.<br></em>I will also incorporate books I’ve recently obtained, whether through purchase or the library. <p><u><strong>Fridays:</strong></u> <p><em>Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.angie-ville.com/" target="_blank">Angieville</a>, and it focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. </em> <p> <hr> </p> <p>Now that I have just set myself an extremely demanding schedule, it’s time to sort out my priorities and get on this for this coming week. I might start out slower and only do a few a week, but eventually I will post something everyday. :)</p> <p>Obviously, I will also post reviews in addition to all of these book-related memes. </p> <p><font size="3">Happy Easter!!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3vjRisoL_XI/UVT3t0GfDHI/AAAAAAAAB1M/vOszF_CAmbs/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BQMzu--q3lA/UVT3uSOAfaI/AAAAAAAAB1U/giaFKZp4PaQ/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073594602085047409.post-61721216497463922242013-03-28T13:36:00.001-07:002013-03-28T13:36:35.200-07:00Review: Girl at Sea<p><img style="margin: 2px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1174060733l/357105.jpg" width="305" height="447"></p> <p><br><strong>Title: </strong>Girl at Sea<br><strong>Author:</strong> Maureen Johnson<br><strong>Published:</strong> 2007 by HarperCollins<br><strong>Version: </strong>E-book<br><strong>Obtained:</strong> Library Download</p> <blockquote> <p style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #ff9999"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#181818"><em><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">The Girl:</font></span></em><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> </span></span></font><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">Clio Ford, seventeen, wants to spend the summer smooching her art-store crush, not stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean. At least she'll get a killer tan.</font></span></font></font></p> <p style="line-height: 18pt; widows: 2; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; background: #ff9999; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#181818"><em><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">The Mission:</font></span></em><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> </span></span></font><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">Survive her father's crazy antics. Oh, and also find some missing underwater treasure that could unlock the secrets of civilization.</font></span></font></font></p> <p style="line-height: 18pt; widows: 2; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; background: #ff9999; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#181818"><em><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">The Crew:</font></span></em><font style="font-size: 10.5pt"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> </span></span></font><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt">Dad's wacky best friend Martin, his bizarre research partner Julia,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">her</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>voluptuous daughter Elsa . . . and then there's Aidan, Julia's incredibly attractive, incredibly arrogant assistant.</font></span></font></font></p> <p style="line-height: 18pt; widows: 2; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; background: #ff9999; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">What's going on behind Aidan's intellectual, intensely green eyes, anyway?</font></font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 18pt; widows: 2; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; background: #ff9999; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><span style="line-height: 16pt; font-family: ; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font face="Calibri"><font style="font-size: 10.5pt" color="#181818">As Clio sails into uncharted territory she unveils secrets that have the power to change history. But her most surprising discovery is that there's something deeper and more cryptic than the sea-her own heart.</font></font></span></p></blockquote> <p><strong>First Sentence:</strong><br>“<em>Lightening flashed over Big Ben, and a bruise-like darkness draped over the dome of St. Paul’s.</em>” (Prologue)</p> <p> <hr> Maureen Johnson is perfection. While this story did not have as quirky of characters as her Suite Scarlett series, the amazing creativity of Maureen Johnson is still there. <p>Clio had her summer all planned out. She had a new job and a possible future boyfriend. Instead she gets shipped off to her dad. Since her parent’s divorce, she hasn’t really liked her dad, and she is sick of his impulsivity. So to be stuck on a boat with him and four other random people for weeks does not sound like her dream summer. </p> <p>This story about a modern day treasure hunt, even though Clio doesn’t know it yet. Clio’s dad is trying to find a precious stone that was sunk in a shipwreck years ago. Clio has to figure out what her dad is trying to do, and finally whether or not she wants to help him. After being let down so often by him, she is hesitant to agree with anything he plans. Slowly, through learning to give him another chance, she realizes that sometimes people make mistakes and they need second chances. </p> <p>I really appreciated Clio’s growth as a character. In the beginning, she was so bitter, upset, and negative. She thought she knew best about everything, and she did not want anything to do with anyone on the boat. But slowly, she let herself relax and really invest in other people’s lives. By the end of the book, she’s almost a completely different person. She isn’t so obsessed with finding perfection, which will always escape her, and she sees more joy in simple life. She takes advantage of the opportunities presented to her instead of waiting for everything to be perfect.</p> <p>Literally, Maureen Johnson is amazing and sometimes I can’t handle it. Definitely read this book, because you will never regret it!</p> <p> <hr> </p> <p align="center"><strong>Content Warnings: </strong>Some language and kissing</p> <p align="center"><strong>Rating:<br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3h8vvVolLuA/UVSpzdbKPyI/AAAAAAAAB0k/lotaORdiM7k/s1600-h/4%252520Pigs%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="4 Pigs" alt="4 Pigs" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YamUijBNR5M/UVSpzhSKhvI/AAAAAAAAB0s/qZEFmBgpvnA/4%252520Pigs_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="299" height="110"></a><br></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kRSLb72nNxE/UVSp0LhG86I/AAAAAAAAB00/abRfnaSZnXc/s1600-h/Blog%252520Sig.%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Blog Sig." alt="Blog Sig." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tvWB5J_ZBTI/UVSp0h374UI/AAAAAAAAB08/RFWmYLTvHa0/Blog%252520Sig._thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="69"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338227356656211834noreply@blogger.com0