Saturday, October 30, 2010

In My Mailbox (31)


In My Mailbox is held weekly by Kristi at The Story Siren. Click here for details on how to participate.

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From the library:

Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods book 4) by Melissa de la Cruz
Storm Glass (Glass book 1) by Maria V. Snyder

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Ahh, my reading pace has been so slow like a snail lately. And there's been so much homework and stuff from school...Crazy!

I wish you all a Happy Halloween! Make sure to get lots of candy or give lots of them -- I'm definitely going trick or treating this year (again). Hey, I'm never too old for this! Even if it's going to several houses, it's totally fine with me! Haha. Anyway, be safe and have fun! :)

Friday, October 29, 2010

Friday's Finest (37)


Friday's Finest is a new meme hosted by Steff & Justine from A Bookful of Thoughts.

Rules:

~Post a quote that really stuck to you after reading it in a book.
~Make sure it isn't a spoiler!
~If you'd like, expand on what you think it means and why you chose it.

You have to know what you stand for, not just what you stand against.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

That is a true believer.

Another brilliant novel (that I have yet to review). It says so much in such a simple way. I might have to own it so I can read it once more.

Have a great Friday to everyone! It's a beautiful autumn weekend!


Thursday, October 28, 2010

Justine's Thoughts: Taken By Storm by Angela Morrison

Taken by Storm
By Angela Morrison

Source: Library
Pages:
291
Book Description:

Leesie Hunt’s Unbreakable Rules:

No Kissing (at least not of the French variety) . . . No Sex (hah! Not even close to happening anyway) . . . No Dating Outside the Mormon Faith (what would be the point?) . . . ABSOLUTELY No Falling in Love with the Wrong Boy (would ruin everything)

Leesie thinks she has her whole life planned out: get into the school of her dreams, write her poems, meet the perfect guy, and settle down. Then she meets Michael - a boy whose parents were killed in a diving accident during a terrible storm.

Michael is drowning in tragedy. And all Leesie wants is to save him. With each day, her heart hurts more. Could it be, perfect Leesie is falling from grace? Or is she just falling in love?

But if Leesie gives in to temptation, who is going to save her?

A quote:

The world spins, the stars shift
and I can’t see anything except his smoky
gray eyes gazing into mine.

You scare me, whispers
From my mouth across his.

Good, he breathes into me.
I need you to save me.

Any thoughts:

Taken by Storm is told in both Leesie and Michael’s points of views. Through Michael’s dive log, Leesie’s poems, and the online conversations between Leesie and Michael and Leesie and her friend, Kim, on ChatSpot, we are able to gain a full understanding of everything that is happening. Mostly through Michael’s dive log is where we see the story being narrated. With a grieving tone and a typical boyish attitude, the whole thing sounds so real.

It was a different read, however, because we get to see how religion gets in the way of a relationship, which I have never come across before. But I like Leesie. She is determined and helpful. She is smart and clever. She is willing to save Michael, help him overcome the stages of grief while remain true to the Mormon faith at the same time. Michael, on the other hand, has the desire to go diving and from the quote above, needs saving from his terrible nightmares.

I thought I didn’t like Michael as the novel progressed. He is the type of boy who thinks he can return love once he’s slept with a girl. But Leesie can only love without ever going past the limits. And that is truly heartbreaking. As a reader, I could feel the tension between them, feel the ache in their hearts as they feel it, feel their desires for one another. It just pulls my heartstrings.

Angela Morrison’s writing delivers an honest and poetic voice with so much emotion. I can’t say that I loved the ending, not even satisfied with it (although I do understand why it is the ending) but overall Taken by Storm was not at all disappointing.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (45)


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.


Recovery Road
by Blake Nelson

Release Date:
March 1, 2011

Description:

Two bad-ass teenagers fall in love in rehab. You will laugh. You will cry.

Madeline is sent away to Spring Meadows to help with a drinking and rage problem she has. It's a pretty intense place, but there is the weekly movie night in town--where Madeline meets Stewart, who's at another rehab place nearby. They fall for each other during a really crazy time in their lives. Madeline gets out and tries to get back on her feet, waiting for Stewart to join her. When he does, though, it's not the ideal recovery world Madeline dreamed of. Both of them still have serious problems. And Stewart's are only getting worse....


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Wow, this sounds amazing. Romance with serious issues really appeal to me. I'm craving this! And the cover is a pretty bonus!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (26)


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.


My teaser:

Gym should be illegal. It's humiliating.


~ "Speak"
by Laurie Halse Anderson

Humour! I'm glad of it. I was starting to get depressed because I was -- and still -- yearning for Melinda to talk. So far, everything is great. I am loving this book.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Daily Dose (41)



This new meme is hosted by Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly.
(Click the photo to see its source!)


Friday, October 22, 2010

Friday's Finest (36)


Friday's Finest is a new meme hosted by Steff & Justine from A Bookful of Thoughts.

Rules:

~Post a quote that really stuck to you after reading it in a book.
~Make sure it isn't a spoiler!
~If you'd like, expand on what you think it means and why you chose it.


So many things become beautiful when you really look.


Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

I officially love this book. I've spotted so many quotes in it and they instantly became my favourite. The one above is my ultimate favourite. It's been stuck in my head for weeks and everywhere I look, I see beauty. Before I Fall has really opened my eyes wider. It has made me more grateful.



Thursday, October 21, 2010

Justine's Thoughts: Fake Boyfriend by Kate Brian


Fake Boyfriend
By Kate Brian

Source: Library
Pages:
262
Book Description:

Lane and Vivi have had it with Isabelle’s boyfriend, Shawn. He is the only person who can turn their smart, confident best friend into a complete mess. When Shawn cheats on Izzy and dumps her just months before the prom, Lane and Vivi decide to take action.

With a few quick keystrokes, they create a MySpace page for “Brandon”, the perfect guy to get Izzy out of her revolving-door relationship. Too bad he’s totally fake. Vivi’s younger brother is way too into being the “man” behind the profile, so they turn to cute, prep-school Jonathan to be the face of Brandon. But when Vivi falls for Jonathan, and Shawn tries to get back with Izzy, the whole plan starts to go south faster than you can say “fake boyfriend”.

A quote:

But when you want something, you usually go for it without thinking about other people’s feelings.

Any thoughts:

The fun, quirky colours on the cover suggest it all. Fake Boyfriend is an entertaining, comical read that I happened to devour in one sitting. It will make you cry out loud, giggle uncontrollably, yell out in frustration and cause your heart to ache.

If there was one thing I hated the most, it would be the character Vivi. She has an attitude that makes me want to pull my hair out. She rolls her eyes every second, bosses her friend Lane around, snaps at her brother Marshall every time she gets and becomes too engrossed in her plans. Beneath her actions, however, her reasons are for the best. It’s just that she cares too much about Isabelle. Vivi is the type of person who would do something so unbelievably beyond to protect her. Now that is an intense friendship.

The plot line is a very interesting one. It also connects to the question of whether or not the people you chat with online are real or not. Who knows? Maybe half of the people you have met online aren’t even who they say they are. It’s a dangerous world, the internet.

The end was brilliant. I haven’t laughed like that in a really long while. The silly situation just drove me nuts, especially the way I imagined it. Kate Brian definitely knows how to tie it all together. With a strong friendship, adorable puppy loves, and one of those important life lessons, Fake Boyfriend is a satisfying novel you wouldn’t want to miss.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (44)


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.


See What I See
by Gloria Whelan

Release Date:
January 1, 2011

Description:

Kate Tapert sees her life in paintings. Yet one place she never sees her life is in the work of the famous and reclusive artist Dalton Quinn—her father, whom she hasn’t seen or heard from in nearly ten years. Now Kate has an art dream of her own, and a scholarship to art school to help make it a reality. The last piece to the puzzle is staying with her father, which means it’s time for Kate to work her way into Dalton’s life, into his mind, and into his heart, whether he likes it or not.

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I have not read anything by Gloria Whelan, but I now know that she has written award-winning books with incredible themes. I may decide to read her other works first before reading this one, although I am quite interested in See What I See.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Daily Dose (40)



This new meme is hosted by Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly.
(Click the photo to see its source!)


Saturday, October 16, 2010

In My Mailbox (30)


In My Mailbox is held weekly by Kristi at The Story Siren. Click here for details on how to participate.

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From the library:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

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The time has finally come for me to read Speak. I've waited a long time for it!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Friday's Finest (35)


Friday's Finest is a new meme hosted by Steff & Justine from A Bookful of Thoughts.

Rules:

~Post a quote that really stuck to you after reading it in a book.
~Make sure it isn't a spoiler!
~If you'd like, expand on what you think it means and why you chose it.


Nothing ever really goes away--it just changes into something else. Something beautiful.


Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

That something beautiful... I'm guessing it's memories? That's how I look at it. Memories are a beautiful thing. You can rewind and fast forward however you want and it all happens in your head. They don't ever leave you.

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I can't help it -- I keep returning to this book. It's full of lovely quotes and I feel the need to share! :)


Thursday, October 14, 2010

Justine's Thoughts: Wake by Lisa McMann

Wake (Wake #1)
By Lisa McMann

Source: Library
Pages:
209
Book Description:

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people’s dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie’s seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can’t tell anybody about what she does -- they’d never believe her, or worse, they’d think she’s a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn’t want and can’t control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else’s twisted psyche. She is a participant. . . .

A quote:

Dreams aren’t memories.

Any thoughts:

Wake certainly captured my interest with its plot about dreams, especially with a character like Janie who has the ability to be in other people’s dreams. Although it does sound pretty cool to know what other people dream of, to Janie, it’s the worst possible thing.

The concept is easy to understand. Lisa McMann writes in third person narration with simplicity and a touch of poetic voice. The sentences are fairly short, almost lyrical. A technique like this carries an eerie atmosphere and makes the plot flow easily. It was fascinatingly quick to read.

And there’s the romance part, which I really loved. But Janie’s love interest has secrets of his own. I cannot reveal more, unfortunately.

Lisa McMann can tell a thrilling, haunting story that is sure to keep you in mystery and out of your seat to go and get the next instalment, Fade. Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (43)


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.


Other Words for Love
by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Release Date:
January 11, 2011

Description:

Ari Mitchell feels invisible at her Brooklyn high school. Her hair is too flat, her style too preppy, and her personality too quiet. And outside school, Ari feels outshined by her beautiful, confident best friend, Summer. Their friendship is as complex and confusing as Ari’s relationship with her troubled older sister, Evelyn, a former teenage mom whose handsome firefighter husband fills Ari’s head with guilty fantasies.

When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York—and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari’s family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future. Meanwhile, Summer warns her that what she feels for Blake is just an infatuation. Not real love. But Ari’s world is awash with new colors, filled with a freshness and an excitement she hasn’t felt in years.

When misfortune befalls Blake’s family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?


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Ooh, contemporary. This sounds appealing, especially with fabulous cover. Lovely colours!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Daily Dose (39)



This new meme is hosted by Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly.
(Click the photo to see its source!)


Saturday, October 9, 2010

In My Mailbox (29)


In My Mailbox is held weekly by Kristi at The Story Siren. Click here for details on how to participate.

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From the library:

Gone (Dream Catcher book 3) by Lisa McMann

Won:

Shadowland (The Immortals book 3) by Alyson Noel

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Since I live in Canada and it's Thanksgiving weekend, I would just like to say to other Canadians:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Friday's Finest (34)


Friday's Finest is a new meme hosted by Steff & Justine from A Bookful of Thoughts.

Rules:

~Post a quote that really stuck to you after reading it in a book.
~Make sure it isn't a spoiler!
~If you'd like, expand on what you think it means and why you chose it.


A good friend keeps your secrets for you. A best friend helps you keep your own secrets.


Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Fantastic quote about friendship. And right now, I just can't stop reading this book.

A beautiful weekend ahead! Bright and sunny but cold and windy! That's autumn right there. How lovely it is!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Justine's Thoughts: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)
By Richelle Mead

Source: Library
Pages:
332
Book Description:

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess; a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth’s magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampire -- the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa’s best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years at illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir’s Avademy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking Academy hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir’s -- inside the Academy’s iron gates, their world is even more fraught with danger. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals, and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever . . . .

A quote:

Then...it was like...I don’t even know how to describe it. Color and light and music and life and joy and love...so many wonderful things, all the lovely things that make up the world and make it worth living in.

Any thoughts:

If there was one word that I kept thinking about throughout Vampire Academy, it would be passion. Why? Because everything is passionate -- Lissa and Rose’s friendship, their love interests (totally to die for), the call to act for revenge, the rumour-spreaders at school...I could go on and on. It’s just full of passion and strong emotions that it made it so difficult to stop reading.

So the girl on the cover (who I swear I thought was Angelina Jolie at first. Yes, people have agreed.) is most likely the person who narrates the story -- Rose. She is fierce and witty and clever. But most of all, she has a sense of duty to protect Lissa, which she feels obligated to do (it’s a very long story that involves many names I cannot pronounce). Rose always has the best comebacks, the funniest retorts to anything that comes her way. It’s her way of defense, a way of showing that she is fearless and unbreakable. Deep inside, she’s a normal teenager that has insecurities of her own.

The plot never failed to bore me. In the beginning is where the introductions pop in, but with a narrator like Rose, it was different. Of course it took time for me to grasp the different sorts of vampires and the rules and what they can and cannot do. Eventually, I became familiar with the details. Then as the novel progressed, I found myself being absorbed into the world of vampires Richelle Mead has created. With a shocking yet satisfying ending, she just proved that anything can happen at anytime.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (42)


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.


Kindred
by Tammar Stein

Release Date:
February 8, 2011

Description:

The first time I meet an angel, it is Raphael and I am eighteen.


Miriam is an unassuming college freshman stuck on campus after her spring break plans fall through. She's not a religious girl--when pressed she admits reluctantly to believing in a higher power. Truth be told, she's about as comfortable speaking about her faith as she is about her love life, which is to say, not at all. And then the archangel Raphael pays Miriam a visit, and she finds herself on a desperate mission to save two of her contemporaries. To top it all off, her twin brother, Mo, has also had a visitation, but from the opposite end of the good-evil spectrum, which leaves Miriam to wonder--has she been blessed and her brother cursed or vice versa? And what is the real purpose behind her mission?


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Wow! A book about angels! I haven't read much of those, actually, so this one should be quite an experience.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (25)


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

My teaser:
Popularity's a weird thing. You can't really define it, and it's not cool to talk about it, but you know it when you see it. Like a lazy eye, or porn.


~pg. 17 "Before I Fall"
by Lauren Oliver

Finally. I have waited such a long time to read this book! I kept putting it off because of library books, and to me, library books always come first.

But so far, so good. I'm trying to take my time with this one because I'd like to relish every single bit. I've heard plenty amazing things about it!