My blog is 2 years old! Yay! I am trying to improve as a blogger each year, so this will be the best one yet! I can't believe it has already been two years. Even though blogging is a lot of work, I LOVE doing it. I hear about so many great books through other bloggers and it is fantastic connecting to people who share my love of books! Thanks to all my followers for supporting me!
January 26, 2011
January 25, 2011
Teaser Tuesdays: Jan. 25, 2011
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- 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!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
"The Mockingbirds"
by Daisy Whitney
"Knocked Out?" I asked quietly, imagining Boxer Alex slumped won down in the corner of the ring, clinging to the ropes, head hanging low.
"Alex, I think the reason you don't remember having sex with Carter is you were passed out," T.S. says. (Page 41)
January 24, 2011
No Name-Calling Week 2011
No Sticks, No Stones. NO DISSING
No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of education activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.
Learn more about the initiative by checking out the website here.
No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of education activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.
Learn more about the initiative by checking out the website here.
Manga Mondays: Mushishi
Mushishi Vol. 1
Yuki Urushibara
5
Publisher: Del Rey
Pub. Date: January 30, 2007
Pages: 240
Synopsis: THEY HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME.
If these terrifying creatures aren't enough to pique your interest then maybe the character Ginko will. Ginko is one of the only remaining mushishi, people who know the techniques and tricks to assisting with mushi. He travels around helping people and learning more stories about the mushi. He is pretty quiet, but is very compassionate with the people he helps. It is interesting to see his interactions with the mushi because he seems to respect and possibly admire the creatures. Ginko comes up with some interesting techniques to helping people with their mushi problems.
I really like how the mushi are such mythical beings. All the myths and fables behind them made the world that Yuki Urushibara created feel real. Even though "Mushishi" is overall a very serious manga, it still had heartwarming and hilarious moments. The complexity that the mushi and Ginko bring to the book combined with the haunting artwork creates a wonderful graphic novel. I will definitely be reading more in the series. Both males and females will be able to enjoy "Mushishi".
I first saw Manga Mondays on Alison's blog Alison Can Read.
Buy from BN.com Buy from Amazon
Yuki Urushibara
5
Publisher: Del Rey
Pub. Date: January 30, 2007
Pages: 240
Synopsis: THEY HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME.
Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. Shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze, these deadly creatures, mushi, came into terrifying being. And they still exist and wreak havoc in the world today. Ginko, a young man with a sardonic smile, has the knowledge and skill to save those plagued by mushi . . . perhaps.
I loved this manga. I haven't read a whole lot of manga and most of what I have read has been shojo, so this was very refreshing. The plot about mushi that live in human hosts affecting them in different, many times horrifying, ways is very unique. Even though this isn't going to be as action packed as other manga, the tension builds in a way that keeps our interest peeked. The horrors of the mushi are enhanced by the artwork, I don't know if words would have the same effect in describing the ways that the mushi take control of their hosts. Each encounter with a mushi is different and not all have happy endings. Some mushi are thought of as a blessing while others destroy their human hosts.If these terrifying creatures aren't enough to pique your interest then maybe the character Ginko will. Ginko is one of the only remaining mushishi, people who know the techniques and tricks to assisting with mushi. He travels around helping people and learning more stories about the mushi. He is pretty quiet, but is very compassionate with the people he helps. It is interesting to see his interactions with the mushi because he seems to respect and possibly admire the creatures. Ginko comes up with some interesting techniques to helping people with their mushi problems.
I really like how the mushi are such mythical beings. All the myths and fables behind them made the world that Yuki Urushibara created feel real. Even though "Mushishi" is overall a very serious manga, it still had heartwarming and hilarious moments. The complexity that the mushi and Ginko bring to the book combined with the haunting artwork creates a wonderful graphic novel. I will definitely be reading more in the series. Both males and females will be able to enjoy "Mushishi".
I first saw Manga Mondays on Alison's blog Alison Can Read.
Buy from BN.com Buy from Amazon
On My Chair Jan. 23, 2011
Here are the books I am currently reading, books I have bought, borrowed or have been sent to me, and books I am planning on starting this week (this post was inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox). I am very excited about these because they have been sitting on my bookcase forever and I'm finally diving into them!I hope this video blog is a bit better than the first. I think I at least got the image quality better and hopefully the sound wont be so bad! Let me know if there are still problems and I will do my best to fix it!
January 23, 2011
Review of "Matched" by Ally Condie
"Matched"
Ally Condie
6
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pub. Date: November 30th, 2011
Pages: 366
Synopsis: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
Sometimes in books I feel there is an obvious choice when there are two love interests, but I thought both Xander and Ky were wonderful characters. They are really nice guys and were willing to sacrefice for their relationship with Cassia. It was obvious that both of them truly cared for her and were willing to break rules for her. According to the rules of the society, Cassia is not allowed to be with Ky for reasons that neither character can control, but Xander is officially Cassia's match- the man she is supposed to marry, have kids, and spend the rest of her life with. The choice may seem easy, matched couples are always happy, but Cassia can't help but question her feelings.
I love how Condie gave reasonable explanations for all the questionable acts of The Society. There is a limit on technology because of the disasterous consequences that older generations experienced. Knowledge is limitted because it is less stressful for people to only have to know about the specifics of their field. It makes more sense to have a focused knowledge about a specific field of study than to have to try to know about every subject. The pills that everyone had to carry on them at all times were a great touch, I was DYING to know the function of the red pill.
This book definitely reminded me of "The Giver" and there are a lot of reviews saying that "Matched" is a blatant knock off of it; I can't agree or disagree with this because it has been at least 10 years since I have read "The Giver" and my memory is pretty terrible. What I can say is that even though I remember some of the similarities, I still really enjoyed this book. It felt fast paced and I liked the romance aspect. I didn't really expect it to be super original because the ways that Utopian societies are run generally use the same methods and guidelines to ensure the control through the compliance of the people. Spartan society is a great example of this; the government decided where people lived, what thier jobs could be, and what they ate (thank you boyfriend for being wise and for taking some time away from Call of Duty: Black Ops to discuss Utopian societies with me). I understand why this would bother readers and I can see why there are such mixed reviews of this book. I think it comes down to personal preference. I loved this book so it is hard for me to imagine someone disliking it, but the people who dislike it probably think I am crazy for loving it so much. I think a lot of time the appreciation for a book comes down to what the person needed from the book while reading it. "Matched" gave me exactly what I needed and wanted making it a winner for me.
This was a fantastic beginning to the series. "Crossed", the second bok, is due to come out at the begining of November. It will definitely be hard to wait for the second book in the trilogy, but I'm sure it will be worth it! I think Condie added a lot of great details to her book that can be flushed out more in the next two books. Disney has the movie writes to the series, so it will be intersting to see what comes out of that.
P.S. I loved the use of green throughout the book. I just thought it was a nice touch.
Buy from BN.com Buy From Amazon
Ally Condie
6
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pub. Date: November 30th, 2011
Pages: 366
Synopsis: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.
Another amazing book released in 2010! I absolutely LOVED "Matched", it was one of my favorite books released last year. I got almost halfway through the book and stayed up to read the remaining 200 pages because it was so awesome. I love books about dystopian societies and the struggles that characters face as they learn the secrets that their governments try to hide. I like how in "Matched" it is the matching procedures that lead to Cassia's questioning of the rules of the society she lives in. It kind of reminds me of prom, getting all glammed up and eating a nice dinner, hyped up as the biggest event in your teenage life, but for Cassia it leads to huge changes in the way she views her world. There were other events that lead to further questioning, but it definitely became the trigger.Sometimes in books I feel there is an obvious choice when there are two love interests, but I thought both Xander and Ky were wonderful characters. They are really nice guys and were willing to sacrefice for their relationship with Cassia. It was obvious that both of them truly cared for her and were willing to break rules for her. According to the rules of the society, Cassia is not allowed to be with Ky for reasons that neither character can control, but Xander is officially Cassia's match- the man she is supposed to marry, have kids, and spend the rest of her life with. The choice may seem easy, matched couples are always happy, but Cassia can't help but question her feelings.
I love how Condie gave reasonable explanations for all the questionable acts of The Society. There is a limit on technology because of the disasterous consequences that older generations experienced. Knowledge is limitted because it is less stressful for people to only have to know about the specifics of their field. It makes more sense to have a focused knowledge about a specific field of study than to have to try to know about every subject. The pills that everyone had to carry on them at all times were a great touch, I was DYING to know the function of the red pill.
This book definitely reminded me of "The Giver" and there are a lot of reviews saying that "Matched" is a blatant knock off of it; I can't agree or disagree with this because it has been at least 10 years since I have read "The Giver" and my memory is pretty terrible. What I can say is that even though I remember some of the similarities, I still really enjoyed this book. It felt fast paced and I liked the romance aspect. I didn't really expect it to be super original because the ways that Utopian societies are run generally use the same methods and guidelines to ensure the control through the compliance of the people. Spartan society is a great example of this; the government decided where people lived, what thier jobs could be, and what they ate (thank you boyfriend for being wise and for taking some time away from Call of Duty: Black Ops to discuss Utopian societies with me). I understand why this would bother readers and I can see why there are such mixed reviews of this book. I think it comes down to personal preference. I loved this book so it is hard for me to imagine someone disliking it, but the people who dislike it probably think I am crazy for loving it so much. I think a lot of time the appreciation for a book comes down to what the person needed from the book while reading it. "Matched" gave me exactly what I needed and wanted making it a winner for me.
This was a fantastic beginning to the series. "Crossed", the second bok, is due to come out at the begining of November. It will definitely be hard to wait for the second book in the trilogy, but I'm sure it will be worth it! I think Condie added a lot of great details to her book that can be flushed out more in the next two books. Disney has the movie writes to the series, so it will be intersting to see what comes out of that.
P.S. I loved the use of green throughout the book. I just thought it was a nice touch.
Buy from BN.com Buy From Amazon
January 19, 2011
Review of "Will Grayson, Will Grayson"
"Will Grayson, Will Grayson"
John Green & David Levithan
5
Pub. Date: April 6, 2010
Pages: 304
Synopsis: One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical. Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans.
I have read a couple other books by John Green, so I knew "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" would be a winner. I have to say, the book was better than I imagined, and it ended up being one of my favorite books I read in 2011. I loved the idea of two complete strangers randomly coming across each other on a failed night out. Both Will Graysons need each other, even if they don't know it. I loved how different each Will Grayson was; they each had unique voices due to having two authors with unique writing styles. If the Will Graysons weren't enough, flamboyant Tiny will capture your heart. Even though the book is about both Will Graysons, Tiny steals the show. At times he may seem like a pretty frustrating friend, everything he does is meant with the best intentions for Will Grayson.
"Will Grayson, Will Grayson" is hilarious, heart-warming, and heart breaking all at the same time. I love how this book can balance the ridiculous of Tiny's life story told through a musical with the difficult story of growing up gay and an honest look at the ups and downs of true friendship. This book may not be for all readers, due to its intimate look at gay relationships, this may make some readers uncomfortable. It also does contain mature language and there is a scene in a porn store, but this does not mean the book is crude or filth; it is honest without being ashamed to show its true colors.
My favorite part of the entire book is the end. It is kind of ridiculous, kind of cheesy, but also wonderfully, fantastically heartwarming. If some people were to read only parts of this book and sneer at it due to some content, they would miss the amazing story behind it all. After reading "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" I will have to read more by both David Levithan and John Green. The only other book I have read by Levithan is "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist", which was awesome as well!
Buy from BN.com Buy from Amazon
John Green & David Levithan
5
Pub. Date: April 6, 2010
Pages: 304
Synopsis: One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical. Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans.
I have read a couple other books by John Green, so I knew "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" would be a winner. I have to say, the book was better than I imagined, and it ended up being one of my favorite books I read in 2011. I loved the idea of two complete strangers randomly coming across each other on a failed night out. Both Will Graysons need each other, even if they don't know it. I loved how different each Will Grayson was; they each had unique voices due to having two authors with unique writing styles. If the Will Graysons weren't enough, flamboyant Tiny will capture your heart. Even though the book is about both Will Graysons, Tiny steals the show. At times he may seem like a pretty frustrating friend, everything he does is meant with the best intentions for Will Grayson.
"Will Grayson, Will Grayson" is hilarious, heart-warming, and heart breaking all at the same time. I love how this book can balance the ridiculous of Tiny's life story told through a musical with the difficult story of growing up gay and an honest look at the ups and downs of true friendship. This book may not be for all readers, due to its intimate look at gay relationships, this may make some readers uncomfortable. It also does contain mature language and there is a scene in a porn store, but this does not mean the book is crude or filth; it is honest without being ashamed to show its true colors.
My favorite part of the entire book is the end. It is kind of ridiculous, kind of cheesy, but also wonderfully, fantastically heartwarming. If some people were to read only parts of this book and sneer at it due to some content, they would miss the amazing story behind it all. After reading "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" I will have to read more by both David Levithan and John Green. The only other book I have read by Levithan is "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist", which was awesome as well!
Buy from BN.com Buy from Amazon
January 18, 2011
Teaser Tuesdays
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- 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!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
"Matched"
by Ally Condie
"Such specialization keeps people from becoming overwhelmed. We don't need to understand everything." (Page 31)
January 17, 2011
Excerpt from Sarah Dessen's New Book "What Happened to Goodbye"
I am sure you have heard this by now, but Sarah Dessen posted the first chapter of her new book "What Happened to Goodbye" online a couple days ago. The book comes out in May and I CAN'T WAIT! I think I have to skip reading the first chapter because I will probably die from anticipation for this book. I love Sarah Dessen, once I start reading a book I can't stop. Her writing is my drug of choice.Sorry I went on a bit of a rant! If you are interested in checking out the first chapter, which I am sure more of you are like "shut up and post the link already?!", just click here.
I think I am going to have to read some Sarah Dessen soon... I think I am going through withdrawal!
I think I am going to have to read some Sarah Dessen soon... I think I am going through withdrawal!
Stylish Blogger Award
Thank you so much Cheree Smith of Justified Lunacy for thinking of me for the Stylish Blogger Award! You should definitely check out her blog because she has some great reviews, but also a really interesting post about the "5 Things Writers Don't Want to Hear From Readers".
Here are the rules if you are awarded:
Here are the rules if you are awarded:
- Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
- Share 7 things about yourself.
- Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
- Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.
7 Things about myself:
- My favorite color is pink.
- I am dying to go to Greece and I may even implode if it doesn't happen within the next 3 years!
- I started a book in college as part of my creative writing degree but haven't even looked at it in almost 3 years... I should probably get on that.
- I love working out because it is a great way to get rid of my pent up frustrations.
- I love junk food and would probably be obese if I didn't weigh myself every week.
- My favorite holiday is Halloween.
- I get overly anxious about stupid things but I push my comfort level purposefully so my anxiety doesn't control my life.
15 Great bloggers to pass this onto:
Now I shall contact all these great bloggers and let them know they wont the award. I found some new and great blogs because of this contest!
January 16, 2011
On My Chair Jan. 16 2011
Here are the books I am currently reading, books I have bought, borrowed or have been sent to me, and books I am planning on starting this week (this post was inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox). I am very excited about these books that I received for Christmas!
This is my first video blog! I actually made it a week ago, but I had so much trouble editting and converting the file that this is the first time I figured it out enough to post it. I actually did finish "Across the Universe" and it was awesome. You can check out my review here. I am sorry if the picture and audio quality are terrible, but it just took so long to figure out that I kind of give up. Hopefully I will have better luck with the next video.
This is my first video blog! I actually made it a week ago, but I had so much trouble editting and converting the file that this is the first time I figured it out enough to post it. I actually did finish "Across the Universe" and it was awesome. You can check out my review here. I am sorry if the picture and audio quality are terrible, but it just took so long to figure out that I kind of give up. Hopefully I will have better luck with the next video.
January 15, 2011
Review of "Across the Universe"
"Across the Universe"
Beth Revis
5
Pub. Date: January 11, 2011
Pages: 416
Summary: A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.
I LOVED "Across the Universe"! I heard so much hype about this book, making me a bit nervous to be completely honest, but it totally lives up to all the amazing reviews. Beth Revis does a fantastic job showing the dangers of living in a society controlled by only one man, especially in a situation where people’s emotions are being stifled. I liked how the secrets of Godspeed were slowly unraveled throughout the book; there was always one more secret that needed to be exposed.
I'm not usually a fan of split narratives in a book; they tend to slow down the story for me. I like when one characters tells the story from beginning to end, but I wasn't bothered by it in this case. I liked knowing what Elder was thinking because I don't think I would have liked him as a character. I don't know if I could have trusted his actions. Amy perspective was necessary because I don't think I would have understood her actions. As someone who is not a runner, I wouldn't have understood why she had to run all the time. I also wouldn't have understood her acceptance at the end of the book without incite into her thoughts.
I love books that reveal the problems of a Utopian society where everyone is the same and they live without choices or freewill. If you are a fan of sci-fi or books that discuss freewill, then this is a must read. There is a bit of romance in the book, but for me it didn't overpower the real purpose of the book. It was just enough to make the characters real, while not detracting from the overall mystery of the book. I can see this being one of the top books released in 2011; I hope that this just one of many fantastic books released this year!
Buy from BN.com Buy From Amazon.com
Beth Revis
5
Pub. Date: January 11, 2011
Pages: 416
Summary: A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.
I LOVED "Across the Universe"! I heard so much hype about this book, making me a bit nervous to be completely honest, but it totally lives up to all the amazing reviews. Beth Revis does a fantastic job showing the dangers of living in a society controlled by only one man, especially in a situation where people’s emotions are being stifled. I liked how the secrets of Godspeed were slowly unraveled throughout the book; there was always one more secret that needed to be exposed.
I'm not usually a fan of split narratives in a book; they tend to slow down the story for me. I like when one characters tells the story from beginning to end, but I wasn't bothered by it in this case. I liked knowing what Elder was thinking because I don't think I would have liked him as a character. I don't know if I could have trusted his actions. Amy perspective was necessary because I don't think I would have understood her actions. As someone who is not a runner, I wouldn't have understood why she had to run all the time. I also wouldn't have understood her acceptance at the end of the book without incite into her thoughts.
I love books that reveal the problems of a Utopian society where everyone is the same and they live without choices or freewill. If you are a fan of sci-fi or books that discuss freewill, then this is a must read. There is a bit of romance in the book, but for me it didn't overpower the real purpose of the book. It was just enough to make the characters real, while not detracting from the overall mystery of the book. I can see this being one of the top books released in 2011; I hope that this just one of many fantastic books released this year!
Buy from BN.com Buy From Amazon.com
January 10, 2011
Review "The Red Umbrella"
"The Red Umbrella"
by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
4
Pub. Date: May 11, 2010
Pages: 288
Synopsis: The Red Umbrella is the moving tale of a 14-year-old girl's journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan—an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro's revolution.
In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Lucía Álvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. Her friends feel like strangers. And her family is being watched.
As the revolution's impact becomes more oppressive, Lucía's parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States—on their own.
Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, Lucía struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life? Will she ever see her home or her parents again? And if she does, will she still be the same girl?
If it had not been for the 2010 Debut Author Challenge, I wouldn't have picked up this book and I would have missed out on a great book! I hadn't heard about Operation Pedro Pan and I honestly didn't know much about Fidel Castro's revolution, so I really enjoyed learning about this period in history. I love how Lucia is just your average teenage girl making her very relatable. You can see yourself in her situation thinking about boys, gossiping with your friends and then all of a sudden seeing horrors you thought happened in other parts of the world. The safe streets you walk down every day now have troops with guns. Your friends are moving out of their parents house to support the revolution and you aren't allowed out of your house because your parents fear for you safety.
This book had many parts that were heartbreaking, but it was also uplifting and even funny at times. I really enjoyed reading about the time Lucia and her brother spent in Nebraska. Even though they were away from their parents, they were able to make the best of a bad situation. It was also interesting to see how Lucia's family morphed throughout the book. She started with a very typical family; a mother, father, and brother who loved each other very much, but all this changed when her parents realized they must send their children away for their safety.
This book is all about hope in tough situations and finding family where you least expect it. I really enjoyed how Gonzalez was able to tell a sad story without it being overwhelmingly depressing. I feel like she really balanced the good with the bad. Many children had to be seperated from their families during this part of Cuba's history, but Gonzalez was able to highlight the amazing story of how these children were successfully brought to America with the hopes of starting a new life where their. parents could one day join them.
Buy from BN.com Buy from Amazon.com
by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
4
Pub. Date: May 11, 2010
Pages: 288
Synopsis: The Red Umbrella is the moving tale of a 14-year-old girl's journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan—an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro's revolution.
In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Lucía Álvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. Her friends feel like strangers. And her family is being watched.
As the revolution's impact becomes more oppressive, Lucía's parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States—on their own.
Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, Lucía struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life? Will she ever see her home or her parents again? And if she does, will she still be the same girl?
If it had not been for the 2010 Debut Author Challenge, I wouldn't have picked up this book and I would have missed out on a great book! I hadn't heard about Operation Pedro Pan and I honestly didn't know much about Fidel Castro's revolution, so I really enjoyed learning about this period in history. I love how Lucia is just your average teenage girl making her very relatable. You can see yourself in her situation thinking about boys, gossiping with your friends and then all of a sudden seeing horrors you thought happened in other parts of the world. The safe streets you walk down every day now have troops with guns. Your friends are moving out of their parents house to support the revolution and you aren't allowed out of your house because your parents fear for you safety.
This book had many parts that were heartbreaking, but it was also uplifting and even funny at times. I really enjoyed reading about the time Lucia and her brother spent in Nebraska. Even though they were away from their parents, they were able to make the best of a bad situation. It was also interesting to see how Lucia's family morphed throughout the book. She started with a very typical family; a mother, father, and brother who loved each other very much, but all this changed when her parents realized they must send their children away for their safety.
This book is all about hope in tough situations and finding family where you least expect it. I really enjoyed how Gonzalez was able to tell a sad story without it being overwhelmingly depressing. I feel like she really balanced the good with the bad. Many children had to be seperated from their families during this part of Cuba's history, but Gonzalez was able to highlight the amazing story of how these children were successfully brought to America with the hopes of starting a new life where their. parents could one day join them.
Buy from BN.com Buy from Amazon.com
January 5, 2011
Review of "Crescendo"
"Crescendo"
Becca Fitzpatrick
3
Pub. Date: October 19, 2010
Pages: 427
Synopsis: Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.
I do understand Nora being upset seeing Marcie and Patch spending so much time together and that it was hard to see Marcie wearing Patch's hat, but that is what happens (err I know that doesn't make much sense and isn't really a sentence, but I am trying not to give anything away). I am not saying that I think Patch's actions were the correct ones, but Nora went a bit postal over a situation she created.
I actually really enjoyed the rest of the book, even though a part of the end didn't really make a whole lot of sense. Why would you give someone you hardly got along with a car? The plot moved pretty quickly and the mystery of Nora's father's death kept me hooked on the book. I wish there had been more Patch in "Crescendo" and less Nora whining. I think the thing that annoys me the most is I probably wouldn't bother to read the next book in the series, but the ending was so good I HAVE to! Cliffhanger endings get me every time! It is funny because the more I think about the ending, the more I realize how awesome it was, but it still can't make up for Nora annoying me through the rest of the book.
I hope I didn't really offend anyone who loved the book with this review. I know a lot of people absolutely loved it. This really is just my opinion and I don't have a lot of tolerance for behavior such as Nora, so I am admitting I am bias here. The book did move very fast, I read it in one day. It ended up being only a like for me. The good thing is that I have until the fall of next year to get over my disappointment in "Crescendo" and I might even be pleasantly surprised by "Tempest", the third book.
Buy from BN.com Buy from Amazon
Becca Fitzpatrick
3Pub. Date: October 19, 2010
Pages: 427
Synopsis: Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.
The further Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim bloodline has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?
I was disappointed in "Crescendo", to say the least. I loved "Hush, Hush" and really though Becca Fitzpatrick was setting up for a fantastic sequel, but "Crescendo" didn't live up to these expectations. My biggest problem was Nora. Everything she did and said pretty much annoyed the crap out of me. It kind of bothers me how in the synopsis it says that "Patch is starting to pull away from Nora" because it seems to me that her crazy, erratic actions are what really caused the problems. I want to say more about this because there is an argument at the beginning of the book that got way out of control, I am still shocked with how it ended, but I don't want to give anything away.I do understand Nora being upset seeing Marcie and Patch spending so much time together and that it was hard to see Marcie wearing Patch's hat, but that is what happens (err I know that doesn't make much sense and isn't really a sentence, but I am trying not to give anything away). I am not saying that I think Patch's actions were the correct ones, but Nora went a bit postal over a situation she created.
I actually really enjoyed the rest of the book, even though a part of the end didn't really make a whole lot of sense. Why would you give someone you hardly got along with a car? The plot moved pretty quickly and the mystery of Nora's father's death kept me hooked on the book. I wish there had been more Patch in "Crescendo" and less Nora whining. I think the thing that annoys me the most is I probably wouldn't bother to read the next book in the series, but the ending was so good I HAVE to! Cliffhanger endings get me every time! It is funny because the more I think about the ending, the more I realize how awesome it was, but it still can't make up for Nora annoying me through the rest of the book.
I hope I didn't really offend anyone who loved the book with this review. I know a lot of people absolutely loved it. This really is just my opinion and I don't have a lot of tolerance for behavior such as Nora, so I am admitting I am bias here. The book did move very fast, I read it in one day. It ended up being only a like for me. The good thing is that I have until the fall of next year to get over my disappointment in "Crescendo" and I might even be pleasantly surprised by "Tempest", the third book.
Buy from BN.com Buy from Amazon
100+ Reading Challenge for 2011
I am at it again! This time I am going to really challenge myself and try to read 120 books this year. I don't think that I will be able to pull this off, but I want to make it challenging. I am also disappointed with how many reviews i posted this year, so I am hoping if I read more I will post more reviews.
Amy J is hosting this year's challenge over at My Overstuffed Bookshelf. If you are interested in this challenge then just click here for rules and more info. It is pretty self explanatory and a lot of fun!
Amy J is hosting this year's challenge over at My Overstuffed Bookshelf. If you are interested in this challenge then just click here for rules and more info. It is pretty self explanatory and a lot of fun!
January 4, 2011
2010 Book Challenge Update
Books Read in 2010
01) Fallen- Lauren Kate
02) Ivy- Julia Hearn
03) Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey- Trenton Lee Stewart
04) The Secret Year- Jennifer Hubbard
05) The Lovely Bones- Alice Sebold
06) Bleeding Violet- Dia Reeves
07) Maid Sama! Volume 1- Fujiwara Hiro
08) Incarceron- Catherine Fisher
09) A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame- Brenda Woods
10) The Cheat to Lose Diet- Joel Marion
11) The Iron King- Julie Kagawa
12) NG Life Volume 1- Mizuho Kusanagi
13) NG Life Volume 2- Mizuho Kusanagi
14) NG Life Volume 3- Mizuho Kusanagi
15) My Sister's Keeper- Jodi Picoult
16) The Host Club- Bisco Hatori
17) Shutter Island- Dennis Lehane
18- Dirty Little Secrets- C.J. Omololu
19) The Tenth Circle- Jodi Picoult
20) Leviathan- Scott Westerfeld
21) Hex Hall- Rachel Hawkins
22) The Looking Glass Wars- Frank Beddor
23) The Body Finder- Kimberly Derting
24) The Mark- Jen Nadol
25) The Dead-Tossed Waves- Carrie Ryan
26) Pirates Latitude- Michael Crichton
27) The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky
28) A Hopeless Romantic-Harriet Evans
29) Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side- Beth Fantaskey
30) My Soul To Save- Rachel Vincent
31) Seeing Red- Frank Beddor
32) Shinju- Laura Joh Rowland
33) Aria (Volume 1)- Kozue Amano
34) Push- Sapphire
35) Little Miss Red- Robin Palmer
36) The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma- Trenton Lee Stewart
37) Heist Society- Ally Carter
38) Marcelo in the Real World- Francisco X. Stork
39) Secret Vampire (Night World Book 1)- L.J. Smith
40) Daughters of Darkness (Night World Book 2)- L.J. Smith
41) Spellbinder (Night World Book 3)- L.J. Smith
42) Darkly Dreaming Dexter- Jeff Lindsay
43) Good In Bed- Jennifer Weiner
44) Jekel Loves Hyde- Beth Fantaskey
45) Dead in the Family- Charlaine Harris
46) Something Like Fate- Susane Colasanti
47) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo- Stieg Larson
48) Looking For Alaska- John Green
49) Prom- Laurie Halse Anderson
50) The Red Pyramid- Rick Riordan
51) Size 12 is Not Fat- Meg Cabot
52) Anansi Boys- Neil Gaiman
53) A Measure of Disorder- Alan Tucker
54) Perchance to Dream- Lisa Mantchev
55) Broken Birds; The Story of My Momila- Jeannette Katzir
56) Pretty Little Liars- Sara Shepard
57) Alice in the Country of Hearts Volume 1- Soumei Hoshino (Illustrator), QuinRose (Author)
58) Alice in the Country of Hearts Volume 2- Soumei Hoshino (Illustrator), QuinRose (Author)
59) The Girl Who Played With Fire- Stieg Larsson
60) A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend- Emily Horner
61) Linger- Maggie Stiefvater
62) Airhead- Meg Cabot
63) Before I Die- Jenny Downham
64) Flawless- Sara Shepard
65) Shadowland: The Mediator- Meg Cabot
66) The Ghost and the Goth- Stacey Kade
67) Girls in Trucks- Katie Crouch
68) The Chosen One- Carol Lynch Williams
69) Mockingjay- Suzanne Collins
70) To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee
71) The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest- Stieg Larsson
72) Clockwork Angel- Cassandra Clare
73) A Touch of Dead- Charlaine Harris
74) Wicked Lovely- Melissa Marr
75) The Eternal Ones- Kirsten Miller
76) Being Nikki- Meg Cabot
77) Wildthorn- Jane Eagland
78) Paranormalcy- Kiersten White
79) Ink Exchange- Melissa Marr
80) The Replacement- Yovanoff, Brenna
81) Avalon High- Meg Cabot
82) Halo- Alexandra Adornetto
83) Enchanted Ivy- Sarah Beth Durst
84) The House of the Scorpion- Nancy Farmer
85) A Wrinkle In Time-Madeleine L'Engle
86) Torment- Lauren Kate
87) ArchEnemy- Frank Beddor
88) Ill Wind- Rachel Caine
89) Nightshade- Andrea Cremer
90) Chains- Laurie Halse Anderson
91) Three Rivers Rising- Jame Richards
92) Other- Karen Kincy
93) Aria Volume 2- Kozue Amano
94) Mushishi- Yuki Urushibara
95) Stormbreaker- Anthony Horowitz
96) The Red Umbrella- Christina Gonzalez
97) Tsubasa: Those With Wings- Natsuki Takaya
98) Fairy Tail Vol 1- Hiro Mashima
99) Crescendo- Becca Fitzpatrick
100) Will Grayson, Will Grayson- John Green and David Levithan
I read 100 books this year, but I am a little disappointed that I didn't finish the 4 books I am still in the middle of before the end of the year! The yellow books are paranormal books that I was reading for the Paranormal Reading Challenge. I read 49 books (unless I miscounted), only 1 off of the goal of 5o for the year!
02) Ivy- Julia Hearn
03) Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey- Trenton Lee Stewart
04) The Secret Year- Jennifer Hubbard
05) The Lovely Bones- Alice Sebold
06) Bleeding Violet- Dia Reeves
07) Maid Sama! Volume 1- Fujiwara Hiro
08) Incarceron- Catherine Fisher
09) A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame- Brenda Woods
10) The Cheat to Lose Diet- Joel Marion
11) The Iron King- Julie Kagawa
12) NG Life Volume 1- Mizuho Kusanagi
13) NG Life Volume 2- Mizuho Kusanagi
14) NG Life Volume 3- Mizuho Kusanagi
15) My Sister's Keeper- Jodi Picoult
16) The Host Club- Bisco Hatori
17) Shutter Island- Dennis Lehane
18- Dirty Little Secrets- C.J. Omololu
19) The Tenth Circle- Jodi Picoult
20) Leviathan- Scott Westerfeld
21) Hex Hall- Rachel Hawkins
22) The Looking Glass Wars- Frank Beddor
23) The Body Finder- Kimberly Derting
24) The Mark- Jen Nadol
25) The Dead-Tossed Waves- Carrie Ryan
26) Pirates Latitude- Michael Crichton
27) The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky
28) A Hopeless Romantic-Harriet Evans
29) Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side- Beth Fantaskey
30) My Soul To Save- Rachel Vincent
31) Seeing Red- Frank Beddor
32) Shinju- Laura Joh Rowland
33) Aria (Volume 1)- Kozue Amano
34) Push- Sapphire
35) Little Miss Red- Robin Palmer
36) The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma- Trenton Lee Stewart
37) Heist Society- Ally Carter
38) Marcelo in the Real World- Francisco X. Stork
39) Secret Vampire (Night World Book 1)- L.J. Smith
40) Daughters of Darkness (Night World Book 2)- L.J. Smith
41) Spellbinder (Night World Book 3)- L.J. Smith
42) Darkly Dreaming Dexter- Jeff Lindsay
43) Good In Bed- Jennifer Weiner
44) Jekel Loves Hyde- Beth Fantaskey
45) Dead in the Family- Charlaine Harris
46) Something Like Fate- Susane Colasanti
47) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo- Stieg Larson
48) Looking For Alaska- John Green
49) Prom- Laurie Halse Anderson
50) The Red Pyramid- Rick Riordan
51) Size 12 is Not Fat- Meg Cabot
52) Anansi Boys- Neil Gaiman
53) A Measure of Disorder- Alan Tucker
54) Perchance to Dream- Lisa Mantchev
55) Broken Birds; The Story of My Momila- Jeannette Katzir
56) Pretty Little Liars- Sara Shepard
57) Alice in the Country of Hearts Volume 1- Soumei Hoshino (Illustrator), QuinRose (Author)
58) Alice in the Country of Hearts Volume 2- Soumei Hoshino (Illustrator), QuinRose (Author)
59) The Girl Who Played With Fire- Stieg Larsson
60) A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend- Emily Horner
61) Linger- Maggie Stiefvater
62) Airhead- Meg Cabot
63) Before I Die- Jenny Downham
64) Flawless- Sara Shepard
65) Shadowland: The Mediator- Meg Cabot
66) The Ghost and the Goth- Stacey Kade
67) Girls in Trucks- Katie Crouch
68) The Chosen One- Carol Lynch Williams
69) Mockingjay- Suzanne Collins
70) To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee
71) The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest- Stieg Larsson
72) Clockwork Angel- Cassandra Clare
73) A Touch of Dead- Charlaine Harris
74) Wicked Lovely- Melissa Marr
75) The Eternal Ones- Kirsten Miller
76) Being Nikki- Meg Cabot
77) Wildthorn- Jane Eagland
78) Paranormalcy- Kiersten White
79) Ink Exchange- Melissa Marr
80) The Replacement- Yovanoff, Brenna
81) Avalon High- Meg Cabot
82) Halo- Alexandra Adornetto
83) Enchanted Ivy- Sarah Beth Durst
84) The House of the Scorpion- Nancy Farmer
85) A Wrinkle In Time-Madeleine L'Engle
86) Torment- Lauren Kate
87) ArchEnemy- Frank Beddor
88) Ill Wind- Rachel Caine
89) Nightshade- Andrea Cremer
90) Chains- Laurie Halse Anderson
91) Three Rivers Rising- Jame Richards
92) Other- Karen Kincy
93) Aria Volume 2- Kozue Amano
94) Mushishi- Yuki Urushibara
95) Stormbreaker- Anthony Horowitz
96) The Red Umbrella- Christina Gonzalez
97) Tsubasa: Those With Wings- Natsuki Takaya
98) Fairy Tail Vol 1- Hiro Mashima
99) Crescendo- Becca Fitzpatrick
100) Will Grayson, Will Grayson- John Green and David Levithan
I read 100 books this year, but I am a little disappointed that I didn't finish the 4 books I am still in the middle of before the end of the year! The yellow books are paranormal books that I was reading for the Paranormal Reading Challenge. I read 49 books (unless I miscounted), only 1 off of the goal of 5o for the year!
Debut Author Challenge
- Hex Hall- Rachel Hawkins
- Paranormalcy- Kiersten White
- The Iron King- Julie Kagawa
- The Body Finder- Kimberly Derting
- The Secret Year- Jennifer Hubbard
- Nightshade- Andrea Cremer
- Bleeding Violet- Dia Reeves
- The Replacement- Brenna Yovanoff
- The Mark- Jen Nadol
- Dirty Little Secrets- C.J. Omololu
- A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend- Emily Horner
- The Ghost and the Goth- Stacey Kade
- Halo- Alexandra Adornetto
- A Measure of Disorder- Alan Tucker
- Three Rivers Rising- Jame Richards
- The Red Umbrella- Christina Gonzalez
- Other- Karen Kincy
I read 5 more books then the goal of the challenge, and most of the books were awesome! I am definitely doing this challenge next year, but I think my goal shall be 20.
I am very happy with my performance overall. I think for 2011 I am going to try to read 120 books... I will be pretty surprised if I reach this goal, but the whole point is for it to be a challenge! How did your reading challenges go for 2010?
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