Daily Dose (54)

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

In My Mailbox (41)

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

---

Library:

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

---

Exams aren't over! My last one is on Tuesday and my day off will be on Wednesday. After that I'm back to school to start a new semester. In the meantime, I hope you're all having a nice weekend!

Friday's Finest (48)

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.

It's okay to be scared, and it's okay to fail. But you have to try. Not trying isn't an option.

The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger

Totally relevant to what I'm feeling right now. Because oh my gosh today is my Chemistry exam and it's the hardest course of my semester. May I receive all the possible luck in the world! And I'm just hoping this exam would be easy as pie.

Justine's Thoughts: Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Here Lies Bridget
By Paige Harbison

Source: NetGalley
Pages: 208
Published on: February 1, 2011
Book Description (from Goodreads):

Heroine, Bridget Duke, rules her high school, but when she crashes her car and ends up in limbo, she must confront the people she has wronged, all of whom want her to go to hell. The outcome of these meetings will decide her final destination.

A quote:

I fell asleep, slipping into the kind of dreams that aren’t dreams at all -- just memories with all the details you never thought you’d remember and couldn’t believe you’d forgotten.

Rating:

5/5

Any thoughts:

I love books that are based on the state between life and death. It’s the typical concept in which a person gets the opportunity to look at what they’ve done in their life and eventually tries to fix things. Always, the question is: will they live or will they die? But Harbison has done an excellent job in putting in a spin of aspects that emanates a mix of feelings.

Our protagonist is Bridget, who seriously does not feel like a protagonist but more like an antagonist. She’s the big, bad wolf in school, the bully everyone is afraid of. Since it is written in first person, we get to see everything in a different perspective. Everything that comes out of her mouth is twisted and hateful although sometimes it’s not on purpose. I hated her...yet, I also learned to love her. I was always cheering for her to learn how to be nice again, because in truth, Bridget has gone through so many hardships in life that I began to sympathize with her. In the end, I cried for her but at the same time I was incredibly happy for her.

The stepping into someone’s shoes -- literally -- is a creative part which I liked a lot. That is when Bridget gets the chance to see herself through the other characters. They all have a significant role in Bridget’s life and I was impressed by how well developed they were, especially Liam, who has known Bridget since they were little. I was touched by how he sees through her and sees her as who she really is.

Here Lies Bridget is real and will play on your heartstrings, leaving you with a message of life about second chances.

Waiting on Wednesday (58)

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

The Summer of Firsts and Lasts
by Terra Elan McVoy

Release Date:
May 3, 2011

Description:

Three sisters. One life-changing summer.
Calla loves summer because summer means Duncan. They’ve been best friends for years, but Calla has never worked up the nerve to tell him how she really feels. This summer, the summer before college, is Calla's last chance.

Violet isn't much of a rule breaker in real life. But this isn't real life, this is summer, and Violet is determined to make the most of it. Besides, a little sneaking out never hurt anyone. And sneaking out with James is 100% worth the risk...even though James is completely off-limits.

Daisy has never been the sister that boys notice, but when sparks fly with Joel at the first bonfire of summer, it seems so easy and right. So why is being his girlfriend so complicated?

---

So excited for summer! Which is months away, but still a girl can dream! It seems like a light read, all about relationships in the summer. Who wouldn't possibly want an escape read, where it feels like summer while it's winter here?

Teaser Tuesday (35)

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

My teaser:

Kisses happened all the time to guys like Cam, who expected them. Never to Jimmy.

So he would always remember that moment, how weirdly tender and exciting it was on that deserted road on that rainy October evening, before he blinked and realized his world had gone to shit.

~ pg. 1, "WTF"
by Peter Lerangis

Daily Dose (53)

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

In My Mailbox (40)

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

---

Christmas present:

The Continuity Girl by Leah McLaren

---

This one is a Christmas present that I received from my cousins a week ago. It sounds pretty interesting to me and reminds me of a movie Jennifer Lopez starred in. I think it's called The Back Up Plan.

On another note, it's going to be exam week! So all weekend I'll be studying 24/7 (nah, I wish; it's much needed! I'll actually be attending two birthday parties). *insert long gloomy sigh here*

Anywho, I hope you all have a lovely weekend, though mine will be all over the place. :)

Friday's Finest (47)

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 just work through it. You just hang in there.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Phew, I need this engraved in my mind for the whole entire month. Exams are so, so soon and I need to focus on studying. But s'okay. I'll make it. I can do it. I will succeed.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS!

Link in your own Friday's Finest below! :)

Justine's Thoughts: Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess

Such a Pretty Girl
By Laura Wiess

Source: Library
Pages: 212
Book Description:

They promised Meredith nine years of safety, but only gave her three.

Her father was supposed to be locked up until Meredith turned eighteen. She thought she had time to grow up, get out, and start a new life. But Meredith is only fifteen, and today her father is coming home from prison.

Today her time has run out.

A quote:

And I don’t want to be hurt anymore. I want to be someone who makes it through.

Rating:

4/5

Any thoughts:

Such a Pretty Girl is an intense read. Laura Wiess has laid out a gripping plot and tells it with incredible, beautiful writing. Suspenseful parts kept me on edge while the hair on the back of my neck stood up and my heart skipped beats. It is so deep and dark and heartbreaking that it will pull you in with a strange compelling feeling.

Meredith has gone through rape at such a young age. What’s worse is that it was done by her father. And now he’s come back again, released early from prison. What Meredith does upon his return takes guts. She is a strong heroine. She does not want to make herself seem fragile, does not crumble in front of her father but instead she stands up. Her mother is a serious pain in the buttocks. She just gave me the worst irritating feeling ever, for she believes that they can become a happy family by forgetting anything ever happened. Andy, a paraplegic guy who lives next door to them, has a story of his own that is heartbreakingly tragic. His relationship with Meredith is special; their pasts reach a deep level, which connect them perfectly.

The book description may seem vague. The details about Meredith’s father and why Meredith isn’t safe aren’t mentioned. Throughout the novel, the story behind it is revealed slowly. The whole thing even takes place in only a few days.

The last line is absolutely shocking. It left me with a feeling of hope and happiness. Needless to say, Laura Wiess has amazed me. This was a remarkable debut and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more of her books.

Waiting on Wednesday (57)

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

Lark
by Tracey Porter

Release Date:
April 8, 2011

Description:

When sixteen-year-old Lark Austin is kidnapped from her Virginia hometown and left for dead in a snowy forest, she leaves behind two girls who are shocked by the loss of their former friend. At the same time Eve must face the hole left by Lark’s absence, she also can’t shake the guilt that Lark’s death was her fault. Meanwhile, Nyetta is haunted by Lark’s ghost, who comes through the bedroom window and begs Nyetta to set her soul free. Eve and Nyetta realize it is their responsibility to uncover why Lark is trapped in limbo, but only by coming together to find the missing pieces of themselves can they bring peace to Lark.

Told in alternating sections by each of the three heroines, Tracey Porter’s stunning narrative about love and loss demonstrates that forgiveness can never come too late.

---

It's a sort of read that revolves around life/death/tragedy. Which I am a definite fan of. What makes it unique is the three heroines and their alternating perspectives. I love that!

Teaser Tuesday (34)

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

My teaser:

When I was a kid I was always afraid I'd wander into the wrong house and the wrong life by mistake. Now that sounds pretty good.

~ pg. 32, "Going Bovine"
by Libba Bray

Now that I'm finally reading a book (it's from the library!), I can show you a teaser! It's from Going Bovine and it's pretty freaking good.

300 Followers Giveaway, Let's Fly Away!

I would really love to get away and fly away to somewhere far away, away from all the foul play. I just really love to rhyme, guys, so don't mind this :P

Ahh, but I will be on break for just a little while until exams finish. There will be posts on queue and I won't be commenting much. I promise, however, to make up for it when I return.

Speaking of which, I have a little something in celebration of my reaching 300 followers this weekend (hooray!). One winner will get the chance to choose one book below $10 (in Canadian dollars). I know it's not much but there's this deal I've made to myself and details will be revealed later on. It's going to be a big one, that's all I'm going to say!

So let's make this a quickie for you guys, and just fill in the FORM HERE. It ends on February 14th.

Daily Dose (52)

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

In My Mailbox (39)

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

---

Library:

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

WTF by Peter Lerangis

---

These books suddenly came up in the library (because I requested them long, long ago). And they're always going to be on top of the rest of the books on my TBR list! So here I go, guys...although it's a busy time, I'm diving in. And I can do it!

The Blog Hop (4)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee.

What makes up your non-human family?

I've got one dog -- a black & white Shih Tzu -- and her name is Cali since she's from California. She's a loud sweetheart!

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy for Books.

Why do you read the genre that you do? What draws you to it?

Mainly I love YA. I really, really do. There are all kinds of sub-genres that I end up enjoying like a little kid high on cotton candy. I get giggly when I read romance, I get spooked or alert when I read paranormal, and I get teary and touched when I read contemporary. It's the connection between me and the book, the characters that draws me in. And I love the feeling.

Friday's Finest (46)

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 can't go back to how things were. How you thought they were. All you really have...is now.

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Loved this book. So dark and emotional and captivating. Elizabeth Scott is a genius.

Link in your own Friday's Finest below! :)