February 29, 2012

Cover Lover {35}

Of course we all know you should never judge a book by its cover, but do we ever really listen to that?
Cover Lover showcases eye catching, intriguing, and beautiful covers.
 





This week's Cover Lover goes to Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Publish Date: March 1, 2012
Look at all the colors! The long trend of dark covers is slowly starting die out and I'm liking it (not that I'm a hater, though). I love all the bright colors and the three different panels. The strings holding up the words and pictures are also fantastic. I really, really adore this cover.

February 28, 2012

Tune in Tuesday {16}

Tune in Tuesday is hosted by the awesome Ginger at Greads. 


Electric Twist - A Fine Frenzy

I believe the first time I discovered A Fine Frenzy was about a year ago while I was listening to Pandora, a Christina Perri station, if I remember right. I love the easy sound of her music. It's all really smooth and quite perfect for those lazy days. I'd say this is one of the more lively songs, but I enjoy them all no matter the pace. Definitely check out some of her other songs if you like this one. You Picked Me and Almost Lover are a couple other favorites :]

February 27, 2012

Crossed by Ally Condie {Review}


Publisher: Button Juvenile
Publish Date: November 1, 2011
Source: Library
Rules are different outside the Society.Chasing down an uncertain future, Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky -- taken by the Society to his sure death -- only to find that he has escaped into the majestic, but treacherous, canyons. On this wild frontier are glimmers of a different life and the enthralling promise of rebellion. But even as Cassia sacrifices everything to reunite with Ky, ingenious surprises from Xander may change the game once again.


I really wanted to love Crossed, but it just didn’t happen that way. I still enjoyed it overall, but it certainly wasn’t my favorite. So, let’s do this thing list-style.

Dislikes:
1. Cassia and Ky’s relationship. Somehow it just didn’t seem real. It was almost like more of a learning experience than real love.
2. Even though most of the story was spent as a journey, it often felt like it wasn’t really going anywhere.
3. It seemed as if Cassia had taken a step back in her growth since Matched despite all the risks she took.
4. We didn’t actually learn that much more about the Society or the world’s past.

Likes:
1. Xander. Crossed completely solidified my stance as Team Xander! I really admired him for not completely giving up on Cassia and trying to win her affection in a respectable way.
2. Though it seemed Cassia had taken a step back in growth through most of the book, she took leaps and bounds just in the last chapter or so, in my opinion.
3. The duel narratives. Sometimes this bores me, but I really enjoyed hearing the story from both Cassia and Ky.

The Nutshell: Though I didn’t enjoy Crossed as much as Matched, I’ll still be finishing the series when the next one comes out. The duel narratives add a new dimension to the series and I found it quite enjoyable. Also, Team Xander. Just sayn’.

Pages: 367
Series: Matched #2
Rating: 3 stars

February 26, 2012

In My Mailbox {34}

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It features books acquired over the past week no matter the source (bookstore, publisher, friend, library, etc.)






Library:
Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook


Contest:
From Erica @ The Book Cellar:
The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe 
Minimergency kit


Mail:
Swag pack for Touching the Surface
Postcard from Lisa at Lisa is Busy Nerding

February 24, 2012

TGIF {18}

 TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. Each week she poses a question and everyone is invited to join in and share their answers :]


This week's question: Required Reading: Which book from your school days do you remember reading & enjoying? Is there a book published now that you'd like to see in today's curriculum for kids?


To address the first part of the question: I didn't actually have a lot of required reading throughout my school years. We had to read The Outsiders in 8th grade, and I'm not going to lie, I hated it. The other half of my class got to read Tuck Everlasting and I'm still jealous!


We read Romeo and Juliet in 10th and maybe I'm a major cynic, but I hated it too. I simply don't see how meeting, doing it, getting married, and killing themselves all in the span of a few short days constitutes the best love story of all time. I give you permission to throw tomatoes at me now, but I shan't retract my opinion.


To Kill a Mockingbird and Night were our 10th grade requirements. TKaM was probably my favorite out of all my required readings, but I guess you could say I'm not really a classics gal. I've heard plenty of amazing things about Night, but I wasn't exactly a fan. I think that's simply a case of it not being my style of book though.


After that, I left for Running Start and surprisingly, I never had any novel-esque required reading in college. The only thing of note was the play Death of a Salesman. I thought it was a bit odd, but actually enjoyed reading it.


To address the second part, there's actually quite a few books published now that I think would make fantastic required reading. Thirteen Reasons Why and Want To Go Private? are two major ones that come to mind when I think about required reading. They both have great lessons that would be much better for the kids of today to learn than a lot of the old literature (not that those don't have merits too) they still require.

February 23, 2012

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman {Review}


Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publish Date: November 1, 2011
Source: Library

Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares -- with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains...What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Dark Eden was quite the ride. I was constantly on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.
But.
Yes, but. Something about the story and the writing was just off. Sometimes it was as if Will made the perfect assumption about whatever was going on. Instead of cycling through different possibilities to a scenario, he jumped to the correct conclusion automatically. It was just too perfect and always had me feeling a little off balance – like something jump out from behind the curtains at me.

That aside, I really did enjoy Dark Eden. It was definitely creepy. It was completely unique and I definitely didn’t see that end coming. Although, come to think of it, it’s very rare that I ever see an end coming…

I really enjoyed the creepy setting of the old, rusted fort in the middle of the woods. It set the perfect atmosphere for the story.

One other minor annoyance: Will and Marisa. Their relationship was odd and sprouted out of nowhere. It made me feel slightly uncomfortable.

The Nutshell: Despite my complaints, Dark Eden is a solid read overall. The setting is perfectly creepy and there’s a good chance you can identify with one of the fears. Chances are you enjoy a good scary book that gets your heart racing every once in a while if you’re even considering reading Dark Eden and it most definitely achieves that. Though the writing felt a bit awkward at times, this is certainly worth the read (taking into account that last statement) and I really look forward to the rest of the series.

Pages: 336
Series: Dark Eden #1
Rating: 3.5 stars

February 22, 2012

Cover Lover {34}

Of course we all know you should never judge a book by its cover, but do we ever really listen to that?
Cover Lover showcases eye catching, intriguing, and beautiful covers.
 






This week's Cover Lover goes to Pure by Julianna Baggott
Publish Date: February 8, 2012
This obviously isn't a case of the pretty-girl-in-a-dress thing. Instead, it has a super pretty butterfly inside of a dingy dome. Which I hear, fits the story really well (I still haven't gotten the chance to read it yet). I actually really like the text/title to image ratio. Normally I don't like a really big title, but this one is super pretty and really works with the butterfly and the dome.

February 21, 2012

More Vlogging!

I decided to do a little something different today since after filming my IMM the other day, I've kind of become a fan of vlogging. So, I give you my shelf tour. (I warn you, it's a little shaky, but I'm not sure how to fix that yet. I'm still learning.)



If there's anything you guys want to know or would like to see in a video, let me know! :]

February 20, 2012

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger {Review}


Publisher: Poppy
Publish Date: September 7, 2010
Source: Library
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 hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out 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.


!!!!!
That’s pretty much how I feel after finishing The DUFF. When I’d gotten about 50 pages in, I really wasn’t sure that I’d like it. Yes, the synopsis warned me Bianca was cynical, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the level of cynicism her character contained. Turns out, I didn’t really need to worry. This turned out to be one of those awesome books that caused my heart to swell and make me all happy inside.

So, Bianca. Her bitter outlook on life really got to me sometimes. I could really see where she was coming from a lot of the time, though. For one, she’s only 17 trying to navigate life and we all know how big of a pain in the butt that can be sometimes. On top of that, she had problems at home.
At first I found it a little unnerving to be reading from the point of view of someone who was using sex as an escape tactic. After a while, though, I came to respect the fact that Keplinger would delve into an issue most people wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole.

Then there’s Wesley. I wanted to hate him most of the time just like Bianca (he could be quite the jerk), but he was just so sweet sometimes! I’m still not entirely sure about my feelings for Wesley, but be assured that I was totally Team Bianca+Wesley.

That’s enough about characters, though. I really appreciated what Keplinger was willing to write about. She got right down to the nitty gritty (in this case, that would be sex) and didn’t let up. This means The DUFF probably isn’t for everyone, but if you can handle it, definitely give it a go. She also touches on issues like divorce and alcoholic parent/s.

The Nutshell: This really isn’t a very eloquent review, but in a way, I think that fits with The DUFF. Now, don’t take that the wrong way. This book isn’t bad, it’s simply…raw. Keplinger looks at a relationship and a person that most people would never write about. Honestly, Bianca’s not very likable, but that’s one of the reasons I ended up loving this book. If you’re up for a contemp that’s not so mushy-gushy, then this should definitely be your next read.

Pages: 280
Series: No
Rating: 4 stars

February 19, 2012

In My Mailbox {33}

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It features books acquired over the past week no matter the source (bookstore, publisher, friend, library, etc.)

I decided to take the plunge and do my first vlog! The quality isn't the best or anything (I mean, it kind of looks like I have no eyes), but this is what you get from an iPod nano :P I'm terribly sorry I look like a grump, but I was seriously nervous. I'll definitely try harder to smile from now on. (Also, this was done in one take. Boo-yah.)

(Yes, I realize you can't see all of the bubble, but it's 2am and I'm too tired to fix it. It says "she heard food noises and had to check it out.")

Library:
Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom
Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

Contest:
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

February 17, 2012

TGIF {17}

 TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. Each week she poses a question and everyone is invited to join in and share their answers :]


This week's question: Book Blogger Pride: What do you take pride in when it comes to blogging?

February 16, 2012

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood {Review}


Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publish Date: February 7, 2012
Source: ARC from contest
Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship -- or an early grave.
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word...especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to her fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood -- not even from each other.


I fully expected not to like Born Wicked. In fact, I wasn’t even going to read it until I started seeing awesome reviews for it pop up all over the place. Now, I’m not normally so judgmental about a book. I’m usually pretty easily swayed, actually, but historical fiction is not usually my thing. It’s one of the two genres I kind of avoid like the plague.
Boy am I glad, I gave this one a try.

I love that it actually takes place in an alternate history where the Brotherhood is in charge. I love world-building, so I still got a taste of that which was nice.

I rather liked Cate, although she did get on my nerves sometimes. I know she had a lot of responsibility hanging over her head, but her indecisiveness kind of drove me nuts at times. Paul was…ugh. I did not like Paul. He could be nice sometimes, but overall he was full of himself and so, so annoying.
Then, there was Finn. Oh, Finn. I don’t usually fall easily for YA guys, but I am definitely head over heels for him. He has freckles, glasses, and unruly hair. All things I love. Plus, you know, he loves books. Seriously, read this for Finn if nothing else.

I loved the flow of the story too. I never really felt like I was in the dark, but new revelations kept popping up at the perfect time. Every time I learned something new it completely sucked me back into the story.

The Nutshell: I absolutely loved Born Wicked. If you’re afraid of historical fic, please don’t write this one off. The alternate history provides enough world-building that you won’t be bored (as I usually am). I’m really not sure what more I can say besides this is definitely worth the read. And Finn. You should definitely read it for Finn.

Pages: 326
Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1
Rating: 5 stars

February 15, 2012

Cover Lover {33}

Of course we all know you should never judge a book by its cover, but do we ever really listen to that?
Cover Lover showcases eye catching, intriguing, and beautiful covers.
 





This week's Cover Lover goes to Struck by Rhonda Stapleton
Publish Date: December 6, 2011
I know I'm a day late, but it's still super adorable. First, I love umbrellas on covers. Second, who doesn't enjoy polka-dot jackets/raincoats? Last, those hearts raining down are seriously awesome!

February 14, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday {11}

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week there's a category and everyone participating lists their "Top Ten" in that category.

This week's topic is: February 14: Top Ten Books That Broke Your Heart A Little (this year we're going ANTI-Valentine's Day :P )


1. The Death Cure (Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner
Thanks a lot for killing my favorite character, Dashner. You totally broke my heart.

2. Shiver/Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Some seriously heart-wrenching stuff went down in these pages. I was bawling and snotting all over the place from the unfairness of it.


3. A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
It hurts even imagining myself in Charlotte's situation. I can't say too much for fear of giving it away, though.


4. The Gone series by Michael Grant
Someone basically always dies and I usually like them. It's quite sad (but I still love the series).


5. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
I bawled like a baby during every single one, but especially the first. I could almost see it coming, but 


6. Divergent by Veronica Roth
So much dying! Which lead to lots of crying...


7. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
That ending was seriously cruel. You better know there was crying and heartbreak.


8. Trapped by Michael Northrop 
This was one serious intense read. It was such a realistic situation, I could totally myself in such a situation, and it was not pretty.


9. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 
Yes, there was death and sadness in the other two, but this one takes the cake And I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending and who she ended up with.


10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling 
Yeah, if you've read it, you know precisely what I'm talking about. If you don't, well, you should.

February 13, 2012

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel {Review}


Publisher: Del Rey
Publish Date: October 18, 2011
Source: Library
Love can never die.Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid's arrow priece the hearts of the living and the dead -- or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?
The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria -- a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country's political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible -- until she's nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.
But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she's suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting "The Laz," a fatal virus that raises the dead -- and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble...and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there's no turning back.
Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.


Since first hearing about Dearly, Departed, I’ve been a bit wary. For one, the thing is humongous, I mean 466 pages can be a lot, especially when you’re not all gung-ho about it in the first place. Second, I’m a tad frightened of steampunk. Yes, yes, I’ve heard that this isn’t really classified as steampunk, but that’s what I’m going with for the time being.
Never fear though, I adored this book.

Seriously, how could I ever have doubted myself loving this book? I mean, I don’t believe I’ve come across a zombie book I’ve disliked before! I’m glad this one didn’t break the streak.

So, characters. They were all pretty fantastic. Of course Nora is awesome, but considering she already has a dislike for the society when the story starts, we could totally see that one coming. Now, what I couldn’t see coming was her best friend, Pamela. That girl was fantastic! I don’t want to give anything away, but suffice it to say that when the time comes to be tough, Pam definitely steps up.

The story itself was great. Though I found it a little slow at times, I loved it overall. The New Victorian setting fascinated me. I’m not a big historical fiction fan, so I never really read about Victorian times with their pretty dresses and whatnot, but Dearly, Departed delivered me the whole package: Victorian setting with awesome futuristic technology! Plus, you know, zombies, which happen to be my favorite.

The Nutshell: I’ve already gushed all over the place, so let’s try to keep it short. Dearly, Departed is a fantastic story which will likely surprise you. If you’re afraid of steampunk, dystopian, historical fiction, or zombies, I suggest giving this one a go anyway. It blends all these different genres together so well, you won’t even realize your reading something you’d normally turn your nose up at. (I’m not completely sure that sentence makes sense, but I think you still catch my drift.) In short, go read this book.

Pages: 470
Series: Gone With the Respiration #1
Rating: 4 stars

February 12, 2012

In My Mailbox {32}

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It features books acquired over the past week no matter the source (bookstore, publisher, friend, library, etc.)


This week I did something awesome. I got my very own library! With my name on it and everything!
I know this is probably nothing to most of you, but before I moved you couldn't get a library card without paying a yearly fee. I always used my grandma's card, but there's something super awesome about having one of my very own :]
All that is to say that, yeah, I went overboard at the library again this week :P




Library:
Awkward by Marni Bates (so excited, it looks super cute!)
The Boy Project by Kami Kinard
Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne
The Future of Us by jay Asher and Caroline Mackler
Girl Meets Boy edited by Kelly Milner Halls
The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder (I am prepared to cry!)
The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbet (MG!)
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (ZOMBIES! Plus, I need to read it before the movie)
Crossed by Ally Condie

February 10, 2012

TGIF {16}

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. Each week she poses a question and everyone is invited to join in and share their answers :]

This week's question: Love Stories: What are some of your favorite fictional love stories?

February 9, 2012

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young {Review}


Publisher: Blazer & Bray
Publish Date: June 21st, 2011
Source: Bought/Own (as you should too)
We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.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 someone, usually a stranger.
But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.
Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny -- no matter how dark the consequences?


That ending. So. Not. Fair.

Yes, I employed the one word sentences because it’s truly that serious.

As for the rest of the book? Amazing. Seriously, I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately and this was the splash of cold water I needed to wake me right up. This is 267 pages of awesomeness.

I love the Need. It’s a concept that doesn’t really compare to anything else I’ve read and it completely works. Too often I’ll find myself comparing a concept to something else that’s already out there or questioning whether this or that really makes sense, but that wasn’t the case with A Need So Beautiful at all. I accepted everything that Young threw my way and was begging for more.

This is one emotional read, you guys. I could never handle what Charlotte has to endure. It’s one thing to forget a memory or a moment in time, but to have your whole life slowly slip away? I’ve probably said too much though, I don’t want to be all lame and spoilery.

On the one hand, I'm sad I waited so long to read such an awesome book, but on the other, I'm glad I waited until the sequels release was so close :P If you haven't read it, don't wait any longer, though!

The Nutshell: Suffice it to say you need to read this book. Like, yesterday. If you haven’t read it yet, now is actually the perfect time with the next one on its way. A Need So Beautiful has it all: hot, sweet boyfriend, sassy friend, strong yet realistic lead girl, and just a touch of paranormal that’s such a new concept it doesn’t even feel like paranormal. Don’t turn this one away if you think you only read this or that genre. This is an emotional and spectacular read worthy of your time (especially since it’s only 267 pages).

Pages: 267
Series: A Need So Beautiful #1
Rating: 5 stars

February 8, 2012

Cover Lover {32}

Of course we all know you should never judge a book by its cover, but do we ever really listen to that?
Cover Lover showcases eye catching, intriguing, and beautiful covers.
 





This week's Cover Lover goes to Life is but a Dream by Brian James
Publish Date: March 27, 2012
So, yes, her eyes freak me out a little, but I love the blue sky, the flowy script, and the falling leaves. It's really interesting the way the leaves change from bright and vibrant to dead and brittle too.

February 7, 2012

Tune in Tuesday {15}

Tune in Tuesday is hosted by the awesome Ginger at Greads.

Isabella - Dia Frampton

Dia Frampton is my new obsession. I was totally rooting for her last year on The Voice, and have been awaiting her album ever since. I was nervous when I first listened to Red (her new album) because there's always that nervousness that you might not like a new album, but I needn't have worried. Seriously, each time a new song started I fell in love with it. I love the whole album, but I chose one of my favorites to share with you guys today.
Seriously though, check out her out. This album is mix of a bunch of stuff. I mean, both Kid Cudi and Blake Shelton are featured artists! Yeah, random, but it works. This album is awesome. Her old covers are awesome. Listen to Dia because she's...awesome! :P

February 6, 2012

Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson {Review}


Publisher: Hyperion Books CH
Publish Date: August 11, 2009
Source: Library
Using the skills you've learned so far in Introduction to Psychology, please write a brief self-assessment describing how things are going in your freshman year.Presenting Concerns:The Patient, Leigh Nolan (that would be me), has just started her first year at Stiles College. She has decided to major in psychology (even though her parents would rather she study Tarot cards, not Rorshach blots).
Patient has always been very good at helping her friends with their problems, but when it comes to solving her own...not so much.
Patient has a tendency to overanalyze things, particularly when the opposite sex is involved. Like why doesn't Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year, ever invite her to spend the night? Or why can't she commit to taking the next step in their relationship. And why does his roommate Nathan dislike her so much? More importantly, why did Nathan have a starring role in a much-more-than-friendly dream?
Aggravating factors include hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who's badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who things Patient is, in a word, naive.
Diagnosis:Psych Major Syndrome



I found this one a while back while sifting through Amazon’s bargain books and though it sounded pretty cute. Sadly, in reality it just ended up falling flat for me.

Normally I’m not all or nothing when it comes to characters. I like to give them the benefit of the doubt since human beings have flaws and make mistakes, but sometimes there are flaws that I just can’t get past and end up completely ruining the character for me. Sadly, that was Leigh for me. She couldn’t see ANYthing that was right in front of her. Not the dude that was throwing himself at her, not the boyfriend who was an ass, and not the mopey way she acted about everything. I just felt like grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking some sense into her.
Another minor Leigh annoyance, who says “I love you” as easily as that?! I don’t want to give it away or anything, but really? I’m of the firm belief that you should actually have a relationship before you decide to jump on the I Love You boat and sail away into the sunset.

There were little definitions of Psychology terms at the beginning of every chapter and though they should have been cute, they just kind of confused me. They were a little too clinical for my taste and I found myself slightly confused after reading most of them.

The Nutshell: Overall, Psych Major Syndrome was an okay read. Leigh was much too blind to everything around her for me really connect. It might have been one thing had she been 14 rather than 18 and in college, but alas, this was not the case. The overall story wasn’t too bad, but Leigh was impossible for me to get past.

Pages: 336
Series: No
Rating: 2 stars

February 5, 2012

In My Mailbox {31}

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It features books acquired over the past week no matter the source (bookstore, publisher, friend, library, etc.)

This was another library week, but it wasn't quite as crazy as those in the past. This week, I just had 3 holds come in and 1 off-the-shelfer. Three super awesome contest winnings came in this week too :] I shan't bore you with my words anymore, we all know you just want to see the goods :P


Library:
Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley
Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris
Scored by Laren McLaughlin
Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Contests:
From Emily Danforth and the YAmazing Race:
The Miseducation of Cameron Post (Signed!) by Emily Danforth

From Ivy Adams and the Around the World in 80 Kisses tour:
The International Kissing Club postcard thingy
Kisses notepad

From Gina Rosati and the YAmazing Race:
Cute little beaded bookmark (pictured below)
Auracle jelly bracelets


February 4, 2012

It's over already?

I finally got the wedding pics about a week ago and I have a free day on the blog so I decided to share some :] (In case you were wondering about the title, I still can't believe it's all over. It's crazy.)

My bouquet was made out of suckers and filled with cotton candy.
This was my flower girl and it's the only pic she not
giving one of those crazy kid smiles.
The dessert table with two chocolate fountains and
plenty of dunking things.

Husband and I in the library.

Husband and I walking in the (freezing) December air.

My bridesmaids and I. They all had different colored Converse.

My cutie of a ring bearer.
That's all for this week, but if you guys start a riot and want to see more, I'll post more next week :P

February 3, 2012

TGIF {15}

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. Each week she poses a question and everyone is invited to join in and share their answers :]

This week's question: Book Appeal: When you're browsing goodreads, the library, or another blogger's reviews, what grabs your attention to make you want to read it?

February 1, 2012

Spellbound by Jacqueline West {Review}


Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: July 11, 2011
Source: Library
With no way into the house's magical paintings, and its three guard cats reluctant to help, Olive's friend Morton is still trapped inside Elsewhere. So when Rutherford, the new oddball kid next door, mentions a grimoire -- a spellbook -- Olive feels a breathless tug of excitement. If she can find the McMartins' spellbook, maybe she can help Morton escape Elsewhere for good. Unless, that is, the book finds Olive first.
The house isn't the only one keeping secrets anymore. Mystery, magic, corruption, and betrayal abound (plus just enough laughs to take the edge off).


Spellbound is a fantastic continuation of The Books of Elsewhere series. There’s more talking cats, of course, but this time an unpleasant book and some new friends (as well as some old) make an appearance as well.

I rather liked Rutheford. He was just slightly odd which made him a bit like Olive, in that sense, but just strange enough that it added to his quirkiness and made me like him all the more.

Olive was still the tough, plucky heroine of our first book, but this time stubbornness also gets added to the mix. The trait might have been annoying in an older character, but somehow, it totally works for 11-year-old Olive.

Final Thoughts: Spellbound was a fantastic sequel to a series that is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It has the perfect mixture of magic and emotion which manages to completely suck you in and make you wish you had talking cats as friends as well. As I said with the first in the series, if you’re afraid of middle grade, start here. I think you might like what you find.

Pages: 160
Series: The Books of Elsewhere #2
Rating: 4 stars

Cover Lover {31}

Of course we all know you should never judge a book by its cover, but do we ever really listen to that?
Cover Lover showcases eye catching, intriguing, and beautiful covers.
 





This week's Cover Lover goes to Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby
Release Date:
At first glance this one might seem a little cheesy, but it's one that I've remembered since the cover was released. I love that the girl isn't trying to be all mysterious or anything. Sometimes cutesy is a good change. Plus, I'm feeling the font and the little star in the A. And how cool is the light heart thingy? Yeah, super cool.