tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42486748271119536882024-03-05T23:37:20.867-08:00And Anything BookishKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-54747583305386511492012-12-24T21:23:00.005-08:002012-12-24T21:31:06.953-08:00The Archived by Victoria Schwab<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWwFBN_4GKSJ6XqlxuJG-DzJrzGbrIdvQ7Jz5mlGSlAAFbg07KqlTt_8258g32_onZlIkvvWVj1_JZosBiYy0yMM_T4_C6kdSK81He5-7Ktl8lO4tEAYj0_0Dmt3_3bYi8eDvWdDH0K2S/s1600/thearvice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWwFBN_4GKSJ6XqlxuJG-DzJrzGbrIdvQ7Jz5mlGSlAAFbg07KqlTt_8258g32_onZlIkvvWVj1_JZosBiYy0yMM_T4_C6kdSK81He5-7Ktl8lO4tEAYj0_0Dmt3_3bYi8eDvWdDH0K2S/s320/thearvice.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><i>The Archived by Victoria Schwab</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>Rating:</b> 4/5</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>Source:</b> ALA </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>Release date:</b> January 22, 2013</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>Synopsis (from Goodreads):</b> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Review</b>: Each book has a different story to tell, and a different way of telling it. In <i>The Archived, </i>I was blown away by how Schwab structured her sentences, her characters, her world. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">It's been a while since I've read a fantasy novel. I forget how much time is required to become familiar with a book's world. Because of this, the beginning was confusing, and it took a while to become acquainted with all of its terminology. I wasn't completely absorbed because the time spent connecting the dots actually resulted in disconnecting me from the book's world.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">However, it does become easy to emotionally invest myself in Mac's world, where the dead are sorted into a library-like system, where their collective subconscious is kept for records, showing that history is us when we die just as much as when we are alive. The theme of love and loss was done in a totally creative way, and every character was fleshed out. Some funny, some brave, some both. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The writing is rapid and direct; there isn't any fluff or unnecessary scene; and for a majority of the book, the descriptions are vivid, suspenseful, and in no way, boring. </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">What I particularly liked about this book were the flashbacks. Whenever Mac addressed her father, she turned the pronoun "you" into something so crippling and dramatic. With other novels, the overabundance of flashbacks slow the pace down, but the flashbacks here are integrated and utilized so well that they actually propel the storyline. I get a better sense of who Mac is and why she does what she does. I love knowing acharacter's motivation. I love clipped sentences and repetition in sentences and I love this book. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Holy crap, man. Victoria Schwab's imagination. I love it. </span></div>
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Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com195tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-52936120269298350002012-02-02T16:26:00.001-08:002012-02-02T17:03:43.579-08:00Some thoughts...<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>This blog as a timeline</b></div><div><ul><li><b>Evolution as a reader:</b> Scrolling through my old posts, I can actually see how I've evolved as a reader. As a reader, I am no longer the same as I was in July 2009. I like different genres, different authors. I have different expectations.<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyrb5hqr9z1qbax6so1_500.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></li></ul></div>Before, it was very difficult for me to write reviews because I was basically writing the same review over and over and over. I haven't updated in the longest time, mostly because I feel my position as a reader has changed. In my old reviews, I was <i>so</i> easily pleased. I had very little criticism about every book I read. And now, I'm finding myself being more critical, more demanding. Looking back, I cannot imagine Kim Now loving some of the books Kim Old loved in the past. Like, maybe. But love? No. Authors that I would have never thought about loving are some of the ones I love now. <div><br /></div><div>I used to hate open endings--pitchforks, anyone?--and now, I appreciate them. I've learned to admire their depth and understand their ambiguity. Ambiguity is a huge part of our lives, and sometimes reading about ambiguity helps us come to terms with the uncertainty in our lives. </div><div> <!--EndFragment--> <div><br /></div><div>Honestly, I actually cringe reading some of my old reviews. But in some ways, I am still the same. I still take my fangirling to extremes. (Recently made a Facebook account for Augustus Waters. Guess who is in a relationship with him on Facebook? Heh. THIS GIRL. YEAH. WHAT IS LIFE.) </div><div><br /></div><div>I am so thankful for this blog and other blogs because the truth is, we are still evolving as readers and as writers. Our blogs are timelines of that process.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Semi-hiatus is over. I am ready to start blogging again!~</div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-55662342376435265872011-06-14T00:00:00.000-07:002011-06-14T00:00:10.414-07:00Leah Cypess - Top Five Guilty Book Secrets<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCCmIVzHswTniB90joroIt2-c5BM6ViCaWDzHHdbIpqAwyzR_il_RpAsVwiarKAfpBJrI0nJjoqzPCShedFW_Pe1hSI7XsJQMd35h01Bs8VeDgMORCoGSdG9dSARz5cwYBP1JqXB0AjKY/s1600/Leah+Cypess+author+photo+1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCCmIVzHswTniB90joroIt2-c5BM6ViCaWDzHHdbIpqAwyzR_il_RpAsVwiarKAfpBJrI0nJjoqzPCShedFW_Pe1hSI7XsJQMd35h01Bs8VeDgMORCoGSdG9dSARz5cwYBP1JqXB0AjKY/s320/Leah+Cypess+author+photo+1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617596145108076466" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCCmIVzHswTniB90joroIt2-c5BM6ViCaWDzHHdbIpqAwyzR_il_RpAsVwiarKAfpBJrI0nJjoqzPCShedFW_Pe1hSI7XsJQMd35h01Bs8VeDgMORCoGSdG9dSARz5cwYBP1JqXB0AjKY/s1600/Leah+Cypess+author+photo+1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">You know we all have them. Here are mine:</span></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>ONE:</b> I don’t love everything written by Jane Austen. I loved Pride & Prejudice, and that was it. I liked Sense & Sensibility and Persuasion. I thought Mansfield Park would have been great if the main character had been anyone but Fanny. And I hated Emma (which I have heard described as “the most critically acclaimed of Austen’s novels”) with an absolute passion.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>TWO</b>: I have no strong feelings about Twilight. Either way. At all.I read the first one without knowing how famous it was. And having read every book LJ Smith ever wrote, plus Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde plus, you know, watched Buffy, my reaction could be summed up as: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"Oh, okay." I intended to pick up the rest of the books but never got around to it. I don't even remember much about what happens, except that she did some complicated cooking near the beginning.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>THREE:</b> I'm not into graphic novels. I tried. With rare exceptions, they just don't work for me. I feel really stodgy and not cutting-edge and stuff, but there it is.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>FOUR: </b>When people tell me they like Wuthering Heights, I feel like I should back away slowly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The best review I ever read of this book was by someone on Amazon (which, unfortunately, I can’t find to link to): "This isn't a book about true love. It's a book about how child abuse perpetuates itself through the generations."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>FIVE:</b><span><b> </b></span>I liked the Lord of the Rings movies better than the books. I know, I should just hand in my fantasy-loving credentials right now. But I think Tolkien's genius was in being the first writer to do what he did. Not in being the <u>best </u>writer to do it. (ducks for cover)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">What are your guilty book secrets?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">-----</p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUryZ_LJ6yFtvkww3sEuKbSeypLAgrEY7u-8mocS6vZ2yZsHXDaBl0uHb8XP1JzivEgYi22k-_hXR8y0kj0wjTHe1WaR7DONOklfxM2DwNJKwPR_D_mNaojUU7P1CTOLIVRAO7-y3saHkr/s320/Nightspell+hc+c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617596281772676914" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-19403095852102378132011-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:002011-06-01T00:00:06.954-07:00No words.<center><iframe width="425" height="249" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rEo1I80n5BM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have some very exciting news!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://theherethenowthebooks.com/">Lauren</a> and I have collaborated once again. This time, it was to create a fansite for The Divergent Trilogy! It is called <i>The Factionless </i>(not to be confused with the livejournal community<a href="http://factionless.livejournal.com/"> </a><i><a href="http://factionless.livejournal.com/">Factionless</a>-</i>-which is an amazing resource btw!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><a href="http://thefactionless.com/">The Factionless</a></i><br /></span><center><a href="http://thefactionless.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/mii4wn.png" border="0" alt="The Factionless" /></a></center><br /></div><div>We've been hard at work on it for exactly one month, and are still in the process of adding more content to the site. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some notable features include:</div><div><br /></div><div>- <a href="http://thefactionless.com/forum">The Pit</a>, an online forum for all Divergent fans to, you know, discuss and gush about the series. </div><div>-<a href="http://divergingdesigns.spreadshirt.com/">Diverging Designs</a>, your source for fan-related merchandise! (More designs will be added this coming week. Merchandise will be made from different designers--rather than just one--in order to give more variety to the shop. If you'd like to see how they turn out before you buy them, keep checking back as I will be ordering them.)</div><div><br /></div><div>There are tons of more amazing features the site offers and we'd love for you to stop by and check it out! </div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-3577077648598271922011-05-18T02:04:00.000-07:002011-05-18T02:04:00.383-07:00Guest Post: Sarah MacManus | Teenage Garage Sale<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">Hi Kim,</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">Thanks for the opportunity to unload some old stuff and clear out the attic. Do I have to sell it?! Some of it may have antique value by now.</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">Okay – first up…</span><br /></p><ol type="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">A copy of the Beatles’ <i>Sergeant Pepper </i>album – on vinyl with the cutouts intact. First album I ever bought with my own money.</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">A copy of The Runaways first record – on vinyl. The first album I ever stole. I wanted to be Joan Jett when I grew up.</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">A copy of <i>Times Square </i>– the movie. Has Tim Curry in it. On VHS.</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">A large box of really badly written poetry.</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">The ancient stereo my big brother left for me when he joined the service. It has an 8-track player in it and the 1-800 number for the Dr. Demento show written on the turn table cover in grease pencil so I could easily call in and request Weird Al’s “My Bologna.” Again.</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">A stack of scripts from plays I was in or did tech for, including <i>Sexual Perversity in Chicago</i> by David Mamet, <i>Camino Real </i>by Tennessee Williams, <i>Uncle Vanya </i>by Anton Chekhov and <i>The Birds </i>by Aristophanes</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">A box of handbills from local rock shows and nightclubs. I used to walk around and take them off the telephone polls and tack them up in my room.</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">A selection of vintage undergarments and lingerie – I used to troll through charity shops and buy up old, hand sewn slips, nightgowns and petticoats.</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">A copy of <i>The Hotel New Hampshire</i> by John Irving that I “forgot” to take back to the library.</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">An old IBM Selectric typewriter that my parents got me so I could be a ‘real writer.’</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">A pile of rejection slips from prominent literary journals and magazines that I acquired shortly thereafter, learning that it was going to take something a bit more than an electric typewriter.</span></li></ol><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">Well, that’s about all that’s left. </span><br /></p><p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;">I don’t really have to sell them, right? I was just getting ready to write some poetry, listen to some tunes and maybe start re-reading <i>Hotel New Hampshire </i>again.</span></p><div><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div></span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com184tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-16910527566274040202011-04-22T20:25:00.000-07:002011-04-22T20:25:53.773-07:00A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42F54lKtUzsZtOnb5vop_gNRByPmFgtGhr75LyNxlvsyW9fMRKq0Oqor2Y0UMSNSbE84E0U9y69fhDcx60NmlLyKg1BWfktJZOPrsek0yhu0XTymnoyT0xBghOoZ34_oRkGilbwDPxvJv/s1600/7656231.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42F54lKtUzsZtOnb5vop_gNRByPmFgtGhr75LyNxlvsyW9fMRKq0Oqor2Y0UMSNSbE84E0U9y69fhDcx60NmlLyKg1BWfktJZOPrsek0yhu0XTymnoyT0xBghOoZ34_oRkGilbwDPxvJv/s320/7656231.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598574793539450146" /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young</span></i><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Source:</span></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><a href="http://princessbookiearctours.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ATW Tours</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></i><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Rating</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">: 5/5</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Synopsis: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />There have been others before who’ve felt the Need, but they’re gone—erased from the memories of everyone whose lives they had touched. It's as though they never existed. This is the fate that awaits Charlotte. But the last thing Charlotte wants to do is disappear, to be Forgotten. She wants to stay with her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend’s arms forever. She wishes she could just ignore the Need, but she can’t. And as everyone important in her life begins to slowly forget her, she has to decide if she’ll fight the Need in order to remain herself—no matter how dark the consequences</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Review: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My mind is still trying to make sense of the ending. I keep rereading the last few pages, and all I can think is: Wow, did that really just happen? Has there been a more beautiful ending? This book takes me to places no book has ever taken me before. I rarely ever cry when I'm reading (Those If I Stay books? Yeah, I didn't get why people cried over them), but this book? It was as if everything bottled up inside of me came out. I got really emotional. I <i>just</i> closed the book up and I'm sniffling and all I can do now is tell you the reasons why you should read it. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's beautiful. Seriously. The way the author connects every single word in the book together is astounding. It's told from Charlotte's point of view, but your connection to every character reaches well beyond the pages. Every ounce of pain, laughter, and confusion they feel will become your own.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Of course there's romance and friendship here, but the core of it all is something entirely </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">phenomenal. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">At least, I think it is. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Something mind-boggling. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It really puts me in a drastic state of awe when a book is this life-changing. It certainly gave me a different outlook on a lot of things. Choices, mainly. The second I closed this book, something came over me and I went out and told my mother I loved her. (Of course, she thought I was crazy, what with the tears and all...) </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'm still trying to think everything through coherently so I'm a little fuzzy on a lot of details. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; ">Charlotte might be a Forgetten, but I will always remember her. I will always remember this story. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; ">The one thing I know for sure though is this book? You NEED it. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~A Reviewer's Journey GIF Style~~</span></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Beginning:</span></i></b></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">*CUTENESS OVERLOAD*</span></span></span></i></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lji0jtOddr1qfx2pvo1_500.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lji0jtOddr1qfx2pvo1_500.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lju8t8GRl41qgw1jb.gif" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lju8t8GRl41qgw1jb.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lju8t8GRl41qgw1jb.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">AHHH, CHARLOTTE AND HARLIN ARE SO CUTEEEE. </span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Middle:</span></i></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_ljo6j8MZoR1qewo3d.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_ljo6j8MZoR1qewo3d.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The End:</span></i></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_ljcrwzwBlB1qe1tho.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_ljcrwzwBlB1qe1tho.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span></div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not going to cry. I am not going to cry. I am not...</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_ljcrxpr4u61qe1tho.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_ljcrxpr4u61qe1tho.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 18px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:12px;"><table id="myReview" cellspacing="1" border="0" width="100%" style="text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><th valign="top" style=" line-height: 18px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(56, 33, 16); text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; vertical-align: top; font-family:arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">In short, there are <i><b>not enough</b></i> words to describe how </span>incredible<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> reading this book is. </span></span></th><td colspan="1" style=" line-height: 18px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:12px;"><span class="readable reviewText" style=" line-height: 1.4; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:14px;"><span id="freeTextContainerreview162883601"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-26447043794941815882011-04-11T18:22:00.000-07:002011-04-11T18:21:39.383-07:00What Happens to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZczshyqspWlMcQcI1Pf5l0GSbrp5aAYZmD2AHYT_7hO9-cagcLUbw0BPHslg3-XyiLO7shlr4pMxEBoZn4ksilCaghNDwQTiGappDuQYggDdvqFe6AbEZzoPZE998fJziJKEMsG7X72V/s1600/8492856.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZczshyqspWlMcQcI1Pf5l0GSbrp5aAYZmD2AHYT_7hO9-cagcLUbw0BPHslg3-XyiLO7shlr4pMxEBoZn4ksilCaghNDwQTiGappDuQYggDdvqFe6AbEZzoPZE998fJziJKEMsG7X72V/s320/8492856.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594482461267133218" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen</i></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>Rating</b>: 4/5</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Synopsis:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Another town. Another school. Another Mclean. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been fleeing their unhappy past. And Mclean's become a pro at reinventing herself with each move. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends—in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean's ever met. Dave just may be falling in love with her, but can he see the person she really is? Does Mclean herself know?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Review: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Oh, Sarah Dessen, how homey your books are. Because that's what every Sarah Dessen book feels like when you open it up right? Cozy and comfortable? It is not any different here. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Like every other Dessen book, they resemble one another in their own quirky ways. We always have that female protagonist with the parental issues, not to mention the phenomenal characterization. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And oh, boy. I never expected one of the characters from her previous book to appear again--especially like THIS. Wow, just wow.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I enjoyed this book, but I felt like it had more potential to be something better. I don't think Mclean's relationship with Dave developed well enough in the end. I would have liked to see her interact with everyone altogether instead of just focusing on her own problems. However, no one should ever pass up this book. One of the reasons why I liked this book was because of the characters. I don't think any book in the world has such amazing and life-like characters. If Harry Houdini is the master of magic , then Sarah Dessen is truly a master at people. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~A Reviewer's Journey GIF Style~~</span></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Beginning: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">AHH, I CANNOT BELIEVE I GOT THIS.</span></span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_le3nu9QUKW1qct8mq.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lots of background information, but it's okay. It's SARAH DESSEN! She knows how to make these things work!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Middle: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Heh.Heh.Heh. Dave and Mclean...<3</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_ligym701V81qfn1nro1_400.gif" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_ligym701V81qfn1nro1_400.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></a></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">WHAT THE HECK. O_O How did HE end up like this? :O</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_ljgdij3mCu1qdfqrj-2.gif" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_ljgdij3mCu1qdfqrj-2.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Oh my gosh. WHAT IS SHE DOING? Poor, poor McClean :(</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_liucit8AEH1qbq4v6o1_400.gif" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_liucit8AEH1qbq4v6o1_400.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></a></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The End: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It feels so open!! I want moaarr XD</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lg3s7q4TYd1qzoj5b.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lg3s7q4TYd1qzoj5b.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">[FTC: Received at RT Teen Day]</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; font-size:14px;"><br /></span></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-71000142963008763082011-04-10T15:15:00.000-07:002011-04-10T15:25:49.406-07:00In My Mailbox - RT Teen Day/ Birthday Edition<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_9lAMW4bIEv4ThkQqFUs5nP9pPEdJInzFbDJqhRzVULkXNMBoyl90ihXRUaHVodsOz_5yAIMWNP2o7y1dHKmjMshISk9c2UxnQeFBlHwUIOqEk-aSLG0tIdCfj7qowwCSRU1ZT3T_GiS/s1600/Photo+on+2011-04-10+at+14.19.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_9lAMW4bIEv4ThkQqFUs5nP9pPEdJInzFbDJqhRzVULkXNMBoyl90ihXRUaHVodsOz_5yAIMWNP2o7y1dHKmjMshISk9c2UxnQeFBlHwUIOqEk-aSLG0tIdCfj7qowwCSRU1ZT3T_GiS/s200/Photo+on+2011-04-10+at+14.19.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594070304668611650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">As usual, IMM is hosted by <a href="http://thestorysiren.com/">The Story Siren.</a>..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was actually my sixteen birthday this week! <a href="http://piratepenguinreads.blogspot.com/">Sandy</a> surprised me with a wonderful gift in the mail (picture below)--I love her! Senfaye also gave me an awesome bag full of cool things like marshmallows, The Ivy, nail polish, etc! I wish I could post the picture but I sorta ate all the marshmallows already xD</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXMZnUmQlP1w7D_EYf1nGWgRcW6TkJlYlJ-afoeOryzKOWq6NQe2-XZAxNoFYw5gp0KqQ4SdfqdGZX_-HYf5YT8W8tSfTeoS3CwM8lQqk2p4t5GVTcGtsnA_0u3bE1vaS8tTrZs0CO5vZ/s320/Photo+on+2011-04-10+at+15.18.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594083465487116450" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday, I went to this awesome convention called RT Teen Day! I met so many wonderful people, and had an amazing experience. My arms are extremely soreeee from carrying around so many bags, but wait until you see what other people and I got! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some really, really cool swag! I am definitely going to be wearing that T-shirt from Simone Elkeles tomorrow! There is a whole mess of bookmarks, CD samplers, postcards, and more hidden under the t-shirt!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoN8EMOfz-c1_-UrWzDBKFMG5BhryIpo1iyL7ZQrcogldEuV7tZQFjvZegFIdBWKRQA6ZNVGUGzve4GbWYxmLW0iGcDDeOlJzEC4beTkRZR9hq-RpOJnBw2gVX9C-uQRkC03xJHqTG72O/s320/Photo+on+2011-04-10+at+14.34+%25232.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594072454754551362" /><div style="text-align: left;">I also brought about 8 books from home to be signed, but I will leave them out of this post for fear that it will get really long. Most of these books are from the Teen Party swag bag with the exception of a small few (which were bought during book fair)! Yay! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rBiH60JKm9qx_NYhXaMt-EpGrSNMB0ej12kUYVjQ_kBDTa0mKD8CwifK3Pa03uxwo2t4RI6If6UZY3Zljy-ReWvVYA5cJJlSpvfN6x7Fxrp23HlevumdcvToRGEgxT4lXPMqa5956o7W/s320/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594075509597982146" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet Venom (ARC)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bloody Valentine</div><div style="text-align: center;">Radiant Shadows</div><div style="text-align: center;">White Cat</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perfect Chemistry</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ghost Hunters: The Awakening</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Clearing</div><div style="text-align: center;">Goddess Boot Camp</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dreamland Social Club (ARC) </div><div style="text-align: center;">Haven</div><div style="text-align: center;">Demon's Lexicon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh. My. Gods</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Summoning</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enclave</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Ivy </div><div style="text-align: center;">What Happened to Goodbye (ARC)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wolfsbane (ARC)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Born At Midnight</div><div style="text-align: center;">Darkest Mercy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks for trading Haunting Violet/Dreamland Social Club with me, <a href="http://365daysofreading.com/">Lauren</a>! Even though I was like, "This one comes out next month so no thank you," and then five minutes later, I just randomly came up to you and magically decided to trade. I think I just favor contemporary more over paranormal. And I'm really indecisive. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, I am so stoked to have gone to the convention! However, I did something really stupid. I talked to a whole bunch of people there, but I never asked for their names! And then when I came home, I realized that from all that excitement, I didn't get to meet a lot of those I talked to on Twitter. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Going to this event made me realize that authors do not get the credit they deserve from the world. I cannot wait to start reading!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...Someone there told me I was in book heaven. I completely agree. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-2467326038474989102011-04-05T23:35:00.000-07:002011-04-07T16:35:14.474-07:00The Survivors by Amanda Havard<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9HDMlc4jfEZuuB85E3fOSNCDpfSt_M6maSY6kSngFBAvMS0jAuwhHRWrZUwOv59njyxwua2TeWo5Rqme56iFcNCSHy1q3R8cODcQIxPQS0TWoMdgGKqPBaBJG2xVF-RCpfaPs3quh8YX/s1600/10470359.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9HDMlc4jfEZuuB85E3fOSNCDpfSt_M6maSY6kSngFBAvMS0jAuwhHRWrZUwOv59njyxwua2TeWo5Rqme56iFcNCSHy1q3R8cODcQIxPQS0TWoMdgGKqPBaBJG2xVF-RCpfaPs3quh8YX/s200/10470359.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592355665805370050" /></a><i>The Survivors by Amanda Havard</i><div><b>Rating</b>: 4/5</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Synopsis</b>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; font-size:14px;">In 1692, when witch trials gripped the community of Salem, Massachusetts, twenty-six children were accused as witches, exiled, and left for dead. Fourteen of them survived.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; font-size:14px;"><p style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:14px;">The Survivors is the first installment of the tantalizing tales of the fourteen ill-fated Survivors and their descendants, who have been content in hiding for over three centuries. Isolated on a Montana mountainside, only Sadie, the rogue daughter, dares to abandon the family's sacred hiding place. But no matter how far Sadie runs, something always pulls her back.</p><p style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:14px;">On a muggy summer night in Tennessee, she witnesses a shocking scene that will change her life forever. It is the first in a sequence of events that will drag her from the human world she's sought to belong to for over a century and send her back to her Puritanical family and into an uncertain future filled with cunning witches, mysterious nosferatu shape-shifters, dangerous eretica and vieczy vampires, millennia-old mythology, and the search for her own mortality. After all...</p><p style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:14px;">HOW DO YOU KILL A SURVIVOR?</p><p style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:14px;">The Survivors will steal your heart and invade your mind. Fall into the pages of Sadie's life, a world so frighteningly similar to your own, you'll find yourself wanting to go to the Montana mountains to find the Survivors for yourself.</p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">And it is only the beginning.</p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><b>Review: </b>Never has a book taken me by surprise SO much. I really hadn't expected The Survivors to be anything out of the ordinary, but, whoa, it was amazing! The whole book in general is so ridiculously awesome that I still cannot fathom the fact that it's over. I really regret underestimating the degree of its appeal.</p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">With very developed characters and an intricate plot line, The Survivors keeps readers hooked on from page 1. You're probably going to hear this sentence a lot in other reviews of this book, but it's very true--the protagonist is so relatable. Which brings me to the conclusion that this book is not just a book, it's almost having a conversation with Sadie herself and having her tell you every little detail going on in her life. And even if she is different from us, we're going to be able to draw the similarities out. Every emotion that Sadie will feel--confliction, anticipation, love, fear? (LOVE, repeated again just for emphasis, cuz ya now, Sadie steals many hearts in this book) You're going to feel it too. (And yes, you will yell at her. I did. Very often...No, I am not weird! O_O'')</p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">The language Havard uses is very smart and natural that you actually feel smarter when you read the words from the page. And then there was that one scene where I should have KNOWN what was going to happen, but fjsldfjsljj! AHH. I AM STILL IN SHOCK. OHMYGOSH.</p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">I'm not really sure how I feel about the romance aspect of this book. I would have liked to see her relationship(s) develop a bit slower. I do not know if it is the fangirl inside of me, but I just couldn't see why she fell in love with Other Guy. I do not even want to comment on Other Guy. </p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">...But uh, COLE PWNS EVERETT. Every day of the week. Every second of the day. Every inch to the sky!! O_O So if you read this book and you take a liking to Other Guy, I'm afraid we cannot be friends anymore...(not even if you bake me cookies! And yes, I WILL be judging you XD)</p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">On a more serious note, to me, <i>The Survivors</i> really isn't even paranormal. It's unlike any paranormal book I've read--very smart, very fresh, and very addictive, and very still in my mind. But a word to the wise, you won't be able to put this one down once you start (unless you are craaazyyy and not even a good crazy like me...). Read it now if you haven't! I do not know how long I can SURVIVE without the second book in my hand. Watch out, Amanda. *creepy laughter* xD!</p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">And now, let the fangirling begin!</p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:15px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">~~A Reviewer's Journey GIF Style~~</span></span></i></b></span></p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size:medium;"><i>The Beginning:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> *<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">got it out* Okay, let's read...*five seconds later* OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!! *Cole appears* ME: </span></span></i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:14px;"><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lfpknlG77s1qah6gw.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lfpknlG77s1qah6gw.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size:medium;"><i>The Middle: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">OHMYGOSH! WHAT IS HAPPENING? *is eaten up by Amanda Havard's world of epic proportions*</span></span></i></span></span></p><p style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size:medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Mom: Come out for dinner! Me: WHO NEEDS TO EAT? I HAVE THIS INVISIBLE CORN OF DISBELIEF TO CHEW ON!! O_O </span></span></i><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lj3i8fiJMv1qbrrmuo1_400.gif" target="_blank"></a><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size:medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lj3i8fiJMv1qbrrmuo1_400.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></i></span></span></p><p style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size:medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING SADIE? WHERE'S SWEET, SWEET COLE? Other Guy, you need to find a hole and jump in it and dieeeeee. </span></span><br /></i></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size:medium;"><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lhd18vcdIc1qhvkbxo1_250.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lhd18vcdIc1qhvkbxo1_250.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></i></span></div></i></span></span><p></p><p face="georgia, serif" size="14px" style=" line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family:georgia, serif;font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">O_O OH. MY. GOD. FJSKFJKSLDJF WHAT WHAT WHAT. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE. * FLIPS PAGES BACK AND FORTH* It all makes sense now o_____o</span></span></span></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lj5bv1muYk1qzb088.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lj5bv1muYk1qzb088.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>The End: No, it's over. *SOBSOBSOBSOBSOB* HOW COULD YOU, AMANDA HAVARD? I HOW COULD YOU JUST END THE SNEAK PEEK OF BOOK 2 LIKE THIS? sobsobsob.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lhd18fbx9N1qhvkbxo1_100.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lhd18fbx9N1qhvkbxo1_100.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">You all need to read it now! </div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div><div style="text-align: left;">1) I recently conducted a Twitter interview with Sadie herself along with <a href="http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/">The Book Pixie</a>! To view it, just click <a href="http://tweetgrid.com/grid?l=1&q1=%23SurvivorsChat&q2=your_username_here&htag=SurvivorsChat&st=y">this</a> [edit: updated link <a href="http://twubs.com/survivorschat">here</a> for FULL interview]! (BOWL FOREVER!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2) Have you heard the GORGEOUS song that goes along with this book? It was just released and honestly, it has been on repeat the whole day yesterday. I'll embed it down below...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><center><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="440" height="290" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YzVJHdmeDm0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center><center><br /></center><center>Less than three, folks. LESS THAN THREE!~</center>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-57310413298616132832011-02-27T21:57:00.000-08:002011-02-27T22:08:23.642-08:00Kim Harrington Interview<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">WOOOO! Guess what comes out this week? Clarity by Kim Harrington! It has crazy awesome characters, perfect pacing, and above all, it was written by an amazing author. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I had the honor to interview the author a month ago and here is the interview below:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1.)</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In your mind, why do you think people do not believe in psychics?</span></span></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_g5fl09T4PcmnBMj90fO394IeadScbIvduWyAJggwTZATIWWVupr7wnPAlVjCinJIeXt0y8lQweU05CBU7zg4bzfnp5u_nU3R6YkU6fVFGekR-7mwk_CVkdGTMi9645JgU1qF0RsNnnfE/s200/kimharringtonbooks.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578617835512093586" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;">I think it’s because certain people need proof before they believe in something fantastical. And…I’m one of those people! I’m not going to say true psychics don’t exist, though. Just that I haven’t met a real one yet. I have visited about six (a couple times in college for fun and then a few for book research) and none of them impressed me. But my mother visited one in Dublin when she was a teenager that she swears was the real deal. So who knows?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2.)</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What is the one power you would want if you were a psychic?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;">I wouldn’t want any of the Fern family’s powers. But if I could have any ability, I’d love to be able to manipulate time. Mostly because I’m impatient.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;">3.) Do you bare any similarities to any of your characters?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;">I can be sarcastic like Clare. I worry like Starla. Also, Clare’s aversion to seafood? Totally me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4.)</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What was the hardest part in writing this novel?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;">The hardest part was making sure all the pieces of the mystery fit into place and finding the right balance between predictable and completely unforeseeable. I don’t want the villain to be someone from left field that the reader never could have figured out. But I don’t want the solution to be too obvious, either. Somewhere in between. And that’s tough to do.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5.)</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Best line ever from a book/show/movie? :D</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;">Oh my…there are so many! I’m going to have to go with one from the movie Say Anything. And it’s not, “I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen,” though I do love that line. The one I like more is Lloyd’s response when Diane says, “Nobody thinks it will work, do they?” He says, “You just described every great success story.”</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">6.)</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you could pick one song that represented Clarity, what would it be?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;">Maybe “Army of Me” by Bjork, which seems totally random, but the song has this swagger and confidence to it. I can imagine Clare walking down the street with her earbuds in, nodding her head to it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">7.)</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What is the weirdest dream you've ever had?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;">This is tough because I have weird dreams all the time. The scariest weird dream I had was that I was stuck on a cruise ship when one of those stomach viruses started going around. But then we realized it wasn’t just the stomach flu…it was the zombie virus. So everyone on the cruise ship started turning into zombies and I was running and hiding for what seemed like hours. Horrifying! I also had a funny, weird one where a sinkhole opened up on a Boston street and was swallowing buildings and I was running away from it with Neil Patrick Harris.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;">8.) How was your day? XD</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(80, 0, 80); font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fantastic! While writing this interview (in January), I got the news that Publishers Weekly gave </span><i><span style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Clarity</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> a starred review!</span></span></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-68184973286174023352011-02-15T05:39:00.000-08:002011-02-15T05:39:00.660-08:00Sweet Venom Cover Reveal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWngom-m5Yepli8HI6Jgi_XxXx7YxqAZw_a9aW-FRfO_l0CYr014cFdKk8IoHZNokY_Ubyro8FI3sDKomTWVbJ7himlKGssG7D93dtnCoDZzAwTIpfCd-aiAxHQrGaZMOl3X3APvgYpnO/s1600/sv_hc_reveal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWngom-m5Yepli8HI6Jgi_XxXx7YxqAZw_a9aW-FRfO_l0CYr014cFdKk8IoHZNokY_Ubyro8FI3sDKomTWVbJ7himlKGssG7D93dtnCoDZzAwTIpfCd-aiAxHQrGaZMOl3X3APvgYpnO/s200/sv_hc_reveal.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573725072136958546" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Release Date: October 4, 2011</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7670741-sweet-venom">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://teralynnchilds.com/books/sv.htm">Book Info</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote>Blurb: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">Three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in a world where monsters lurk in plain sight.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;">Exciting isn't it?! :D Just 8 more months. I love Tera Lynn Childs' books, and I cannot wait for this one. Medusa? Greek mythology? Yes, please!</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "></span></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-2793044089726153902011-01-13T20:50:00.000-08:002011-01-13T21:00:49.861-08:00Clarity Contest Winner!First of all, sorry; I know I said I'd post the winner yesterday, but I was drowning in homework. It's like teachers choose to give a load of work to do right before finals, LIKE WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE STUDYING TO DO /endrant.<div><br /></div><div>To pick the winner, I had my lovely friend, Virtual Hat, pick the winner. Yes, I found virtual hat drawings online. But they confused me so I had my friend, who chooses to go by Virtual Hat, pick. The lucky number was 25. After shuffling the entries 25 times and then picking number 25 (which was really 8) WE HAVE A WINNER! :D<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://booksbytheircover.blogspot.com/">YAN!!</a></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I should be sending out Clarity as soon as I get your addy :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Now...back to homework and studying for finals...</i></span></div></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-1696561773914385952010-12-24T13:39:00.001-08:002010-12-24T14:02:27.430-08:00In which I am crazy. Again.<div style="text-align: left;">So last night I was at Best Buy in line to return something. And Best Buy has these reaaalllyyy tiring lines, especially during the holidays. I was zoning out and then I look to my right. WHAT DO I SEE? A FAMILIAR BLONDE GIRL.</div><div><br /></div><div>"But whoooo...." I thought.. And then a familiar <i>boy</i> walks up to her. THEN IT HIT ME. SHE LOOKS LIKE GRACE...WHO DOES HE LOOK LIKE? He looks like Sam O_O. GRACE AND SAM FROM SHIVER. My mind had been blown. The guy had that crooked nose complete with that sadness look too! What do I do? I stare for another five minutes before doing somethingmore crazy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know what was stranger...me seeing a lookalike Sam & Grace at Best Buy...or me taking a picture of them from behind (did not want them to think I was loony XD)... I will leave that up to your judgement...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BUT HOLY SPRINKLES. SAM AND GRACE!!! :O<img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/307q34o.jpg" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have witnessed a Christmas miracle. Unless, of course, it's just me. And that looks exactly nothing like them. And I'm crazy. Yup. That's probably a more reasonable evaluation.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE! :D</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-65876509883710820902010-12-21T23:15:00.001-08:002010-12-22T00:36:53.761-08:00Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilX3uCcNW-WGaWQvEi28cm7cD0U2f8HCNUMmI5RAykJU4q-RTPJasdzQ2rwHLsxhXgbG-4SIk5YBGPpodzul0AME_Am9oQpZKXzcFny_z7eEK25TjOzXgy60vJi_P7KWCyojCaW3E6-aA9/s320/7285498.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilX3uCcNW-WGaWQvEi28cm7cD0U2f8HCNUMmI5RAykJU4q-RTPJasdzQ2rwHLsxhXgbG-4SIk5YBGPpodzul0AME_Am9oQpZKXzcFny_z7eEK25TjOzXgy60vJi_P7KWCyojCaW3E6-aA9/s320/7285498.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><i>Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton</i><div><b>Rating</b>: 5/5</div><div><b>Source</b>: Netgalley</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Synopsis</b>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; font-size:14px;">When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; font-size:14px;"><br />A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.<br /><br />While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:14px;"><b>Review</b>: OHMYGOD. HOW AMAZING WAS THIS BOOK? I am still reeling from its awesomeness. A little bit dazed still. </span><br /></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:14px;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:14px;">Angelfire was the perfect read for me to cuddle up with in midst of all the rain in California. Like an open fire, it was warm and bright, setting off many sparks for my eyes to see. Not only were the characters molded into such beautiful beings by the author, but the story itself had a life of its own. It breathed and it lived, like all books should. The only qualm I have about this book--ONLY one--is that the beginning was a bit slow. It was a nice introduction into Ellie's life but it dragged. The upside to the beginning, though, was KATE. I LOVED KATE. I wish all best friends were that awesome.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:14px;">I loved, loved, loved Ellie!!! I developed such a strong connection with her that I wasn't able to do with many other YA characters. When she felt frustrated, I was pulling out my hair with her. I felt like I was going through every event in the story along with her. I even had mini spasms throughout her sword-pwning battles. Every time she was in the middle of a fight with a reaper, I had to constantly remind myself that she was going to make it through! I mean, there was another two hundred pages after this scene. SHE WAS GOING TO LIVE, RIGHT? RIGHT? Well, with this book, you never really know. Bravo to the author for keeping you on your toes and guessing throughout. It's not a work of fluff and romance. Angelfire is the perfect balance of romance and action. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:14px;">Angelfire is a book that will make you giddy and grin like an idiot. You will squeal like a crazy fangirl over Ellie and Will's endearing romance. You will get weird looks from your mother and possibly forget to eat because you just can't put this book down. And when it ends? You'll be wanting to trade your soul to the reapers for more. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:14px;">(Let me digress... Since it is the holidays, I have a tradition with my sisters: We have a Sailor Moon YouTube/VHS marathon because...well... just because!! O_O DO NOT JUDGE. I am currently watching Season 3 episodes and well, I AM STILL HIGH ON SAILOR MOON. [again, do not judge xD] AND I LOVE GIFS so voila! Plus I am getting tired of my "What I thought of..." parts in my reviews SO I AM CHANGING IT UP!)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">~~A Reviewer's Journey GIF Style~~</span></span></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The beginning was okay~ </span></div><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=th4e21c752.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/th4e21c752.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=th4e21c752.gif" target="_blank"></a>The middle:<br /><br /> THIS STORY IS AMAZING. KICK THEIR BUTT, ELLIE. KICK THEIR BUTT.<a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=thtumblr_l7v95vjDDl1qdvhf9o1_500.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/thtumblr_l7v95vjDDl1qdvhf9o1_500.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>OH MY GOD. ELLIE AND WILL ARE SO CUTE. AH!H!H!H!H </div><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lb4ljyZ3xh1qdtiodo1_500.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lb4ljyZ3xh1qdtiodo1_500.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><div><br /></div><div>GO ELLIE!!!! KILL ALL THEM PATHETIC REAPERS. REALIZE YOUR LOVE FOR WILL. YOU LOVE HIM. YOU LOVE HIM! YOU MUST LOVE HIM. </div><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=th69e2d5e3.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/th69e2d5e3.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><div><br /></div><div>The End:</div><div><br /></div><div>NO, ANGELFIRE. YOU CANNOT END. You must last FOREVAAHH! SOB. </div><br /><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=thec3f0b45.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/thec3f0b45.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=thec3f0b45.gif" target="_blank"></a>No! IT HAS ENDED! NOOOooo000oo.*stares at book for another half hour*<br /><div><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lcb7lyjSe11qzcpu0.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lcb7lyjSe11qzcpu0.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>TAKE MY SOUL. TAKE MY SOUL. PLEASEEEEE. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK!! PLEAASSEE.</div><div><br /><a href="http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/?action=view&current=tumblr_lbywz41iiu1qzjigpo1_500.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/andanythingbookish/tumblr_lbywz41iiu1qzjigpo1_500.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And for all you Sailor Moon fans out there: Angelfire is like heaven for people like us. Ellie and Will? They are about as epic as Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask. Now that is saying something. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yup. Read it. Read it now. Or Sailor Moon will punish you. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/sailor%20moon%20gif/bekkiglittz/GIFs/Cartoon/22892e24.gif?o=53" target="_blank"><img src="http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m274/bekkiglittz/GIFs/Cartoon/22892e24.gif" border="0" /></a></div></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-34146117014779288912010-12-20T11:00:00.000-08:002010-12-20T11:04:24.631-08:00Before That Night - Lauren Barnholdt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlbmtBl9GxgQSV2C9egL555rsO-fSmsB-2wvJ-uOZE3kBste_d5z8ttHUrAKB2q_MmNwXAb3PIZcvSu1LFsjagpTO-zMrNG8ZqD5N557QqV6632pwNN_n0ilhJyNNt08dvqPBmlzGmCZ3/s1600/beforethatnightcover1-227x300.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlbmtBl9GxgQSV2C9egL555rsO-fSmsB-2wvJ-uOZE3kBste_d5z8ttHUrAKB2q_MmNwXAb3PIZcvSu1LFsjagpTO-zMrNG8ZqD5N557QqV6632pwNN_n0ilhJyNNt08dvqPBmlzGmCZ3/s320/beforethatnightcover1-227x300.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552841938937915746" /></a><br />AH!! FREAKOUT SESSION. Why, you ask?<div><br /></div><div>Lauren Barnholdt has just posted up a prequel to One Night That Changes Everything (LESS THAN THREE. LESS THAN THREE.)</div><div><br /></div><div>It is available to read online. Just click <a href="http://laurenbarnholdt.com/beforethatnight/">here</a>! NOW!! O_O</div><div><br /></div><div>This is the best Christmas gift! :D</div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-57085662601759009452010-12-14T22:45:00.000-08:002010-12-14T22:46:56.198-08:00Waiting on Wednesday<div style="text-align: center;">(Why yes, this blog is not dead anymore. At least I hope not...be warned this post reflect upon a very hyper and giddy Kim)<div><br /></div><div>This post sort of coincides with THE book I am waiting for in 2011. Now, I call it THE book because this is the book I am most excited for in the new year. It sounds so edgy and alluring that I deem it to be THE book. The cover is beautiful; the synopsis is amazing--basically, every piece of it is a burst of beautiful. </div><div><br /></div><div>....DUNDUNDUN...</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1284485168l/8306857.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is THE book...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And if that wondertastic (yesh, I am making up words. <i>That'</i>s how excited I am!) fireball of amazing does not astound you and make you want to read it now, now, NOW, watch this video:</div><br /><center><object width="460" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gSNoLKbHNeg?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gSNoLKbHNeg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="460" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Harhar, do you want to read it NOW? Why, yes, yes you do.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center>Why is this beautiful novel not in my hands? Why is it haunting me everywhere I go? The other day when I was in my horrid Chem class learning empirical formulas, I was thinking, "Divergent! Divergent!" Who does that? What do empirical formulas have to do with the word anyway? Nothing--nothing I tell you! -Sigh- I need this book NOW, NOW, NOW. But patience is key. Only less than 150 days before I get my hands on this book. I might actually write a letter to Santa about this...(one can dream...) XD</div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-25978918464657103982010-12-13T22:15:00.000-08:002010-12-13T22:33:45.103-08:00The Haunted by Jessica Verday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1286116390l/7159016.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 193px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1286116390l/7159016.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><i>The Haunted by Jessica Verday</i><div><b>Rating:</b> 3.4/5</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Synopsis:</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; ">An impossible truth. An impossible love.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><strong><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; "></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with—the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead—Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, ready to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into her schoolwork, her perfume-making, and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be her ticket to getting over Caspian once and for all.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">But Abbey can never get over Caspian, and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side, for Caspian is a Shade, and Abbey is his destiny. They are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow, and to the famous legend that binds their fates—a legend whose dark truths they are only beginning to guess....</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; ">Review: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> I wasn't sure if I should give the series another try, but I did, and I've got to say: it was better this time. While far better than its predecessor, The Haunted is still lacking that quality that makes me fall in love with its characters. The characters are definitely not three dimensional, but for some reason I can't build any connections with them. I hate that. Hopefully the next book will change that.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I think the reason this book was much better was because The Hollow was just dripped and painted with just so much sadness. The Haunted differs from that. We definitely do not get the same melancholy Abbey for hundreds of pages. Her character changed, and new characters were introduced. And Caspian...he was just so lovable in this book! Honestly, the best character out of this entire novel.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">While The Haunted is not the perfect read, it leaves you hanging with unanswered questions. Those of which will make you want to read the third book. :)</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; "><i>What I thought of...</i></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; ">The Beginning:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Very slow, but I am loving the changes to Abbey!</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; ">The Middle<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">: This is getting so much better. I am actually turning the pages faster :D</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; ">The End<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">: ARGH. CLIFFHANGER JFLSDKFJKSLDFJ.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">FTC: Checked out from library</span></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 1.4; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></p></strong></span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-1986722080194743232010-11-12T23:13:00.000-08:002010-11-12T23:34:45.736-08:00The Duff by Kody Keplinger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcds8dwo9QCgfEb7KAUcCUWVd-jdGF1x-Df63LtGk5hK1AOEmXQS1MuSTt-04pufVD2gcKVBZLc7X6c0wQmpBu6ox7yzWHf87uQyypl0Ow2UJhgUgR8xmt46_S2KYSs4s_-un1moWzA4c/s1600/duff.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcds8dwo9QCgfEb7KAUcCUWVd-jdGF1x-Df63LtGk5hK1AOEmXQS1MuSTt-04pufVD2gcKVBZLc7X6c0wQmpBu6ox7yzWHf87uQyypl0Ow2UJhgUgR8xmt46_S2KYSs4s_-un1moWzA4c/s320/duff.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538929156593845490" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcds8dwo9QCgfEb7KAUcCUWVd-jdGF1x-Df63LtGk5hK1AOEmXQS1MuSTt-04pufVD2gcKVBZLc7X6c0wQmpBu6ox7yzWHf87uQyypl0Ow2UJhgUgR8xmt46_S2KYSs4s_-un1moWzA4c/s1600/duff.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><i>The Duff by Kody Keplinger</i></span></a><div><b>Rating</b>: 4/5</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Synopsis</b>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; ">Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><br />But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.<br /><br />Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><b>Review</b>: Going into this book, I had high expectations--I'd heard so many positive things about it that I was confident it was going to be worth reading. I'm so glad to say that it was. It was strange how the plot unraveled. I hadn't expected it to happen that way. I hadn't expected smile like a giddy schoolgirl whenever Bianca and Wesley were together. I loved the wittiness of the author's writing and the way every word flowed effortlessly naturally. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; ">While the romantic aspect of this novel was very endearing, what I liked the most was how the author tackled so many life issues in one book--and again, it was done just SO naturally. I mean, who HASN'T felt like the DUFF? Reading this book just made me feel like I was worth something, and maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much. Because I was able to see the empowering message it radiates. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; ">I loved, loved, LOVED the characters. They had so much depth and their own unique traits that they never left my mind. Usually in books, there's a character who's seemingly perfect. Well, in The DUFF, no one is. Every single character had their flaws. Flaws that made the book stand out from others. In other books, I didn't feel like I knew most of the characters well, but in The DUFF, I understood them. Like I said, it was just strange and remarkable how this one book changed how I viewed all the books I read in the past. The only downside to this book is probably the ending. Everything happened a little too quickly. Otherwise, The DUFF was absolutely amazing. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><b><i>What I thought of...</i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><b>The Beginning:</b> The perfect build-up! :D</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><b>The Middle:</b> LOVEEEEE.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><b>The End: </b>I was not satisfied :( Gah, why was it so short? xD</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); line-height: 19px; "><b>Favorite line: </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><blockquote style="font-size: 14px; ">Wesley Rush doesn't chase girls. But I'm chasing you.</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">FTC: Thank you to <a href="http://weloveyatours.blogspot.com">We Love YA Tours</a> </span></span></span></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-4158593177072797362010-09-24T06:39:00.000-07:002010-09-24T06:39:00.394-07:00Fins are Forever COVER REVEAL!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7rxeD_eSsNyUZ_Z-LkBNCG9FVZZj8zkfcEVqZXC5DITOcfL-SFom_CMfxPm-g-5lVLeX8dRpr0Z-EVRmrdRqc1q74CcR-x_40Kvvy7gd7wM523ox4UCYCGTFcvgjQxMOais42vDYMViW/s1600/FinsAreForever.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7rxeD_eSsNyUZ_Z-LkBNCG9FVZZj8zkfcEVqZXC5DITOcfL-SFom_CMfxPm-g-5lVLeX8dRpr0Z-EVRmrdRqc1q74CcR-x_40Kvvy7gd7wM523ox4UCYCGTFcvgjQxMOais42vDYMViW/s320/FinsAreForever.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520335728485273602" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As part of the Splash Team, I had the opportunity to reveal the cover along with the other Splash Teamers. Isn't this cover just gorgeous? I really can't wait any longer for it to come out. I mean, JUNE 28 of NEXT YEAR? -tear- I know one thing for sure, though...the bright colors are outrageously out of this world! Count on them to brighten up your day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thankfully, I can countdown with this widget...</div><br /><br /><center><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.widgetserver.com/syndication/subscriber/InsertWidget.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('0ce5180a-1923-47e8-9cd1-9ddfe9096674');</script><noscript>Get the <a href="http://www.widgetbox.com/i/0ce5180a-1923-47e8-9cd1-9ddfe9096674">Countdown Creator Pro</a> widget and many other <a href="http://www.widgetbox.com/">great free widgets</a> at <a href="http://www.widgetbox.com/">Widgetbox</a>! Not seeing a widget? (<a href="http://docs.widgetbox.com/using-widgets/installing-widgets/why-cant-i-see-my-widget/">More info</a>)</noscript></center>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-86540630456818192992010-09-23T07:13:00.000-07:002010-09-23T07:13:00.365-07:00Nightshade Trailer<center> <object width="450" height="279"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yk9wlqg1308?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yk9wlqg1308?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="450" height="279"></embed></object></center><br /><br />Nightshade is one awesome book. Too bad I can't show its awesomeness with my trailer. The audio tracks don't blend well together :( Buuuuuut, I WILL fix this. I just need to watch a bunch of tutorials of garageband so I can blend the tracks together. Then, I will reupload, lol. I've tried EVERYTHING on my program to no avail...I guess it isn't that bad though... I know it's not my best trailer.<br /><br />BUT, Nightshade is one AMAZING book. You can read my review below this post! Nightshade is the book I'm most looking forward to in October, even if I've already read it. CALLA FTW <3Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-76587083148206079682010-09-22T16:39:00.000-07:002010-09-22T19:22:40.758-07:00Nightshade by Andrea Cremer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1269185530l/7402393.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1269185530l/7402393.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><i>Nightshade by Andrea Cremer</i><br /><b>Rating:</b> 4.6/5<br /><br /><b>Synopsis: </b>Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice<br /><br /><b>Review:</b> I loveeeeeeed this book. I'd heard fabulous things about it before, but I was hesitant to start it. I mean, another werewolf book? No, thank you. Fortunately, I opened it up and sped through it like it was my only way to survive. I remember going back to reread parts because I didn't want to finish the book. It was just that good. I LOVED Calla. She represented such strength that most girls would die to have. Cremer's hand at a werewolf book is like no other. Starting it, I realized, "Whoa," because it was just SO different from what I usually read in books. It had layers underneath layers, proving that it was a real gem. Do you know how everyone says each book has its own world? Well, I never wanted to leave NIGHTSHADE's. <div><br /></div><div>The only aspect I'm concerned about is the romance. Sure, both boys are lovely, but I felt like I failed to grasp their importance to the story and Calla. To me, the romance never really happened. I hope this improves in the second book. </div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, NIGHTSHADE is perfect even with its imperfections.<br /><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div><b>What I thought of...</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Beginning: </b>The first sentence hooked me in right away.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Middle: </b>SO. MUCH. GOODNESS.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The End: </b>Such a cliffhanger...it pains me to have to wait for the next book D;</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">I am part of a tour stop for Nightshade! Check back tomorrow for a fanmade trailer :) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">FTC: Won an ARC</span></div></div></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-58024595930421582272010-09-14T16:00:00.000-07:002010-09-14T16:02:07.744-07:00Back to Books Contest WinnersNightshade Contest has been extended (Date to be announced!<br /><br /><em>HUSH, HUSH WINNER:</em> @KaitorTot fromKaitlyn in Bookland<br /><br />Rules of Attraction/Perfect Chemistry: Haven't heard from previously announced winner so...a new one has been chosen! Kathy, from I Am a Reader, Not a Writer, please send me your addy!<br /><br /><em>BEFORE I FALL:</em> Ashley from Ashley's Bookshelf!<br /><br />Thank you to EVERYONE who participated in this event, you were awesome. I hope readers enjoyed this!<br /><br /><br /><3Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-82767763191497157622010-09-11T10:54:00.000-07:002010-09-11T11:20:39.249-07:00High School Book Clubs: What would YOU want in them?<a href="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8fkzvK0NI1qciiw3o1_400.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px" alt="" src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8fkzvK0NI1qciiw3o1_400.jpg" border="0" /></a> Okay, let me rant a little: ever since school started, it has been such a pain. It's barely the second week of school and I've already had about 9 tests. I'm so sick of it. Only 171 days of school to go. I'm already counting down...<br /><br />But anyway, the most exciting thing that happened since then was that my friend came up to me, and asked me if I wanted to start a book club with her! We actually had this idea last year, but the school year was already ending x) Plus, I don't think freshmen could have started clubs...<br /><br />So, we're actually copresidents of the book club! (Once we're approved that is...) It is called Friends of the ABC (props to those who know what book this name refers to. Hint: the title is French...) ABC, for us, will actually stand for Awesome Book Club. My friend (she came up with the name! :D) is actually huge on classics and historical fiction while I'm big on anything YA...so yup, our club will have a lot of variety~<br /><br />Maybe it's not a big deal to you, but our high school doesn't even have a LIBRARY. It's called the "Media Center," but all it has are textbooks and school books. The only books in there that we don't use are ANCIENT. I'm talking yellow-paged, dog-eared, and smelly books. :(<br /><br />\rant over.../<br /><br />What I'm asking is: What would YOU want in your high school book club, if you were part of it? Please, please leave suggestions in the comments! We've already thought of going to book related events like signings and book festivals, reading to children, and doing book fundraisers, but then...we ran out. SO PLEASE SUGGEST ANYTHING. NOTHING WOULD BE STUPID TO US. I KNOW NOT MANY PEOPLE WILL COMMENT SO LET'S "BRIBEEEE!"<strong><em>ANYONE WHO COMMENTS WILL BE ENTERED IN A RANDOM DRAWING TO WIN A HUNGER GAMES T-SHIRT! (YOU WILL CHOOSE WHICH ONE) JUST COMMENT WITH A SUGGESTION. IF YOU FIND OUT WHERE FRIENDS OF THE ABC COMES FROM, THEN YOU GET ANOTHER ENTRY</em></strong>. Okay, I'll stop yelling in caps now....contest will end Sept 31. US only.<br /><br />Hope everyone has a great weekend! I'm working on reviews so my blog won't be dead anymore...doing homework on Fridays have become a habit so I'm freeeeee. :)Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-36253040258151761452010-09-08T17:46:00.000-07:002010-09-08T18:01:51.975-07:00Back to Books: Judith Graves<div>[It has been a week since the latest B2B post. Lauren and I are SO sorry. People haven't been sending in their posts on time, and school got in the way. Now, life is all about school, school, school, and other stuff. I have no time for anything. So here is today's post! Wednesdays are supposed to be giveaway posts, but please bare with us XD]<br /><br /><strong><em><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8fvrkYOLm1qdqx3uo1_500.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 221px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8fvrkYOLm1qdqx3uo1_500.jpg" /></a>Coil Notebooks: A Writer’s Obsession</em></strong><br /><br />Back to school can be a dark time in my house. Not because my husband is a high school social studies teacher and I’m an elementary school library technician – and back to school means an end to summer. Nope. I’m talking about my coil notebook obsession and how it drains our bank balance every fall.</div><div><br />As a young adult paranormal fiction author, I’ve made it my duty to scoop up any gothic notebooks I find. But I write edgy YA as well, therefore I stand in line for the tattoo-ish, doodle designs as well. And I have a few picture books I’ve been working on, so I have to nab the cutise ones too.<br /><br />What do I use all these notebooks for, you ask? Well, some are for future plot ideas, character trait journals, random dialogue, nifty word diaries, flash fiction pieces, lyrics, poetry….and some are too stunning to write in at all. Those are for pure wow-ain’t-that-pretty moments of inspiration.<br /><br />I found a few of my favourite notebook companies online, you can check them out here:<br /><br />Ecojot (http://www.ecojot.com/) - recycled paper, cute designs and Canadian! Can’t ask for more.<br /><br />Carolina Pad (http://www.carolinapad.com/) – cool notebooks, bags, you name it.<br /><br />Etsy (www.etsy.com) also has an amazing selection of handmade, unusual designs. I could spend hours skimming through the online shops to find steals like these (some are more elaborate and expensive than others):<br /><br />http://www.etsy.com/listing/54582093/apocalypse-xxiv-awesome-leather-journal<br /><br />http://www.etsy.com/listing/34524093/wildflowers-notebook-recycled-paper<br /><br /><br />You can even go to a site like Vista Print (www.vistaprint.com) or Café Press (www.cafepress.ca) and have notebooks custom made – a great idea for a school fundraiser, art class projects, or team/club bonding thingie. ;)<br /><br />I feel I’m neglecting another important facet of back to school shopping. Along with each gem of a notebook, there must be an equally fantastic pen…but that’s another post. Happy Back to School Season!<br /><br /><em>Who am I? I’m Judith Graves, YA paranormal author of Under My Skin (Leap Books, 2010) and Second Skin (Leap Books, 2011) and a member of the amazing Class of 2k10. Check out my site: www.judithgraves.com and the 2k10 site to meet 23 coolio debut authors: www.classof2k10.com<br /></em><br /></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4248674827111953688.post-17968226792088661652010-09-01T06:51:00.000-07:002010-09-01T06:51:00.588-07:00Back to Books: Giveaway from Me | Day 008<div><br /><br /><div>Before I say anything, can you believe it is ALREADY September? </div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>By the time this post is up, it'll be the first day of school for me. All those relaxing summer days? THEY'RE GONE...the bright side is, today is Wednesday, which means school starts at 9. More sleep? Heck yes. *happy dances*<br /><div> </div><br /><div>And there's always those pesky rumors about your new teachers. Sometimes, they turn out true, and other times, they don't. First days aren't usually "first days," just teacher introductions. Gah, I wish I had one more week...Please cross your fingers for me to have a very good first day! In case you are wondering, I'm going into my sophomore year of high school...</div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>When school starts, I always say to myself, "Hey, at least you'll have more books to read!" And it's true! For today, I'm going to give away a SIGNED ARC of NIGHTSHADE--something for all of you guys going back to school to look forward too. It is a wonderful, wonderful book. Expect the review to come this month...and a trailer... ;D </div><br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 182px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:5uxXDFJqZMiGQM:http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af145/izibellz/Nightshade-AndreaCremer.jpg&t=1" /><br /><br /><div>To enter, just comment on this post with a short paragraph on the funniest thing that happened during this summer. If we get enough entries, I will pick from the funniest. If not, randomizer FTW. If our contest is THAT lonely, we'll just open this up to extra entries...let's see how it goes ;) I'll leave this contest up until the end of the B2B special. <strong><em>Ends 09/13 midnight, California time</em></strong></div><br /><div> </div></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18299576831820462417noreply@blogger.com9