Reality Bites. . . Fiction Does It Better!

The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte

2010-03-13T20:46:00.003+08:00

Description

Lucas Corso is a book detective, a mercenary hired to hunt down rare editions for wealthy and unscrupulous clients. When a well-known bibliophile is found hanged, leaving behind part of the original manuscript of Alexandre Dumas's The Three Musketeers, Corso is brought in to authenticate the fragment. He is soon drawn into a swirling plot involving devil worship, occult practices, and swashbuckling derring-do among a cast of characters bearing a suspicious resemblance to those of Dumas's masterpiece. Aided by a mysterious beauty named after a Conan Doyle heroine, Corso travels from Madrid to Toledo to Paris in pursuit of a sinister and seemingly omniscient killer.

****

Pre-reading: Having greatly enjoyed The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, I was interested to see how another author can relate Dumas' works to another novel.

Post-reading: While I did learn a lot about Dumas, I wasn't too keen on the book's plot.

Before I read this book, I didn't know anything at all about Alexandre Dumas. Sure, I loved his books, but that ended there. I was definitely surprised when I read that he had worked with a lot of collaborators and published so much more books than I had originally thought. This book gives an insight on how Dumas lived and how the people viewed him. If you've read a single Dumas book, liked it, and would like to know more about Dumas, you may want to pick this book up.

However, the plot wasn't that satisfying for me. It felt like the author wanted so many things, which resulted to an incoherent storyline. Strewn about the pages were several unnecessary details (for me, at least). For a mystery book, it was lacking in the 'thrill' department. However, I still went through the pages quickly enough as I wanted to know how the story ended.

It's a good book for learning more about Dumas and revisiting his other books. But if you're up for a good mystery read, um, hmm. But that's just me. :)

Plot: 2.5/5

Writing: 4/5

Book Love: 2/5

I'm back! (I hope. :p)

2010-03-08T20:09:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone! It's been ages since I've written a review, I know. But with my busy schedule lately, it's just hard to come up with one. [I'll be graduating from college this semester so I really need focus on my studies]. Don't worry, though. I'll definitely keep on blogging. In fact, you can expect a new book review one of these days.

Speaking of reviews, I just want to let you all know that I'll start posting reviews of non-YA books as well. I started this blog as a general fiction book blog, but lately, I've been enjoying reading young adult books so much that I haven't been able to blog about anything else. :p (But I still love YA! :D)

Hope you all understand, and I hope you'll still keep on visiting! :)

Giveaways (from the book blogging community)!

2010-02-22T15:14:00.002+08:00

Steph Su of Steph Su Reads is giving away lots of great, great titles! :) As of today, there will be 5 winners! Contest ends on February 28. :)

Reggie of The Undercover Book Lover is having a birthday bash in the form of - you know it - a contest! She's giving away 12 books (What?!)! Enter now! This will end on March 10.

I Heart Monster has a giveaway for The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (I really want to read this!). Contest ends on February 28.

Win an ARC of Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan from Steph Bowe's Hey! Teenager of the Year! Contest also ends on February 28.

****

Ok, I really need to post a new review soon!

International Book Tours!

2010-02-18T23:41:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone! Have you heard of the International Book Tours? You haven't???? It's this awesome project that Reggie and her sister (The Bookologist)created. Basically, it aims to give a chance to international book bloggers to review ARCs and books which can be hard to find locally. AWESOME, right?! I'm definitely signing up! (Though that may have to wait till I finish some academic requirements)

If you want to know more about it, click here. :)

Over the Top! Award

2010-02-09T22:47:00.004+08:00

Hi guys! I'm so sorry I haven't been able to post new reviews... I've been so busy with schoolwork lately. :( But here I have the Over the Top! award (yay!) which was passed on to me by Tarie of Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind (w/c is a wonderful blog, by the way, you should definitely check it out!).

The rules for the award:

1. Thank and post URL to the blog that gave the award.

2. Pass the award along to six brilliantly over the top blogs - blogs you love!

3. Copy and paste this quiz . . . Change the answers (one-word answers only).

1. Where is your cell phone? nearby

2. Your hair? wavy

3. Your mother? home

4. Your father? home

5. Your favorite food? donuts

6. Your dream last night? er... :p

7. Your favorite drink? coffee!

8. Your dream/goal? happiness :)

9. What room are you in? dorm

10. Your hobby? reading

11. Your fear? cats

12. Where do you want to be in six years? uh...

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something that you aren’t? sporty

15. Muffins? gimme!

16. Wish list item? books!

17. Where did you grow up? Manila

18. Last thing you did? wrote

19. What are you wearing? clothes (Ya did say one word answers, right?)

20. Your TV? off

21. Your pets? none

22. Friends? yay!

23. Your life? busy

24. Your mood? okay

25. Missing someone? yep

26. Vehicle? none

27. Something you’re not wearing? jewelry

28. Your favorite store? FullyBooked (haha. needed to squeeze it into a single word!)

29. Your favorite color? purple

30. When was the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? yesterday

32. Your best friend? lots

33. One place that you go to over and over? school

34. One person who emails you regularly? professor

35. Favorite place to eat? home

Now, I'd like to pass this on to:

Today's Adventure

The Undercover Book Lover (Not Really)

Review Archives

2010-01-26T16:06:00.005+08:00

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

Between Me and the River by Carrie Host

Bite Me! by Melissa Francis

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, #4) by Richelle Mead

Blue Moon (The Immortals, #2) by Alyson Noel

The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols

Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins

The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Gallagher Girls, #2) by Ally Carter

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Evermore (The Immortals, #1) by Alyson Noel

Evernight (Evernight, #1) by Claudia Gray

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2) by Richelle Mead

A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1) by Libba Bray

The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls, #1) by Ally Carter

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Marked (House of Night, #1) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Oh.My.Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Rebel Angels (Gemma Doyle, #2) by Libba Bray

Reign or Shine (Demon Princess, #1) by Michelle Rowen

Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3) by Richelle Mead

The Summoning (Darkest Powers, #1) by Kelley Armstrong

Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Uglies (Uglies, #1) by Scott Westerfeld

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1) by Richelle Mead

The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods, #4) by Melissa de la Cruz

Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1) by Melissa Marr

1st to Die (Women's Murder Club, #2) by James Patterson

2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club, #2) by James Patterson and Andrew Gross

In My Mailbox (13)

2010-01-24T14:59:00.000+08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted at The Story Siren. :)

This week, I didn't buy anything (Yay! I'm learning to control myself. :p)

But I did get this from the mail (won from a contest):

Fallen by Lauren Kate

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

****

I've read mixed reviews about this one, so I'm not sure if I should read it right away. If you've read it, please do tell me what you thought of it (comment). :)

The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols

2010-01-23T16:50:00.000+08:00

Description

Cute, available, and one cabin over....

Lori lives for summertime on the lake. She spends all season wakeboarding, swimming, and hanging with her friends — including the two hotties in the house next door. With the Vader brothers, Lori's always been one of the guys.

But while Lori and the "baby" brother, Adam, are inseparable friends, she can't deny a secret crush on Sean, the older Vader boy. This year Sean's been paying Lori a lot of attention, and not in a brotherly way.

But just as Lori decides to prove to Sean she's girlfriend material, she realizes that her role as girl friend to Adam may be even more important. And by trying so hard for the perfect summer romance, she could be going way overboard...

****

Pre-reading: I had a great time reading Jennifer Echols' The Ex-Games so I knew I was in for another fun ride with this book.

Post-reading: For such a short and (relatively) cheap book, it provided big-time entertainment. It reinforced my determination to read every Jennifer Echols book that I could get my hands on!

(minor spoilers ahead)

If you've just finished reading a book with a major cliffhanger ending and you'd like to put your anxiety over the sequel away for the moment, I'd advise you to try romantic comedies. Better yet, read The Boys Next Door.

The Boys Next Door tells the classic tale of a guy secretly crushing on his best friend, who unfortunately, is into the somebody else. In this case, with the guy's brother. Yes, the overall plot may be predictable, but this type of love story (for me) never fails. Echols' writing adds a fresh and fun twist to the story that's sure to keep the readers, especially love story fans, giggling over the cute and romantic scenes.

Lori, Adam, and Sean are not some larger than life characters. They're ordinary people with normal feelings and reactions, which the readers can definitely relate to. The story was narrated solely from Lori's POV, which is somewhat frustrating as I really wanted to take a glimpse of the story from Adam's perspective. Nevertheless, the delivery of the plot was still superb.

I noticed that only a few of my friends from Goodreads have read this book, so I'm giving a shout-out to everyone who enjoys romantic comedies to try The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols! I'm sure you won't regret it. :)

If you haven't heard about it yet, a sequel is coming up!

... to be released around August. Can't wait! :)

Plot: 4.5/5

Writing: 5/5

Book Love: 5/5

New Contests Found! :)

2010-01-18T14:52:00.000+08:00

The Undercover Book Lover (Not Really) is giving away Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers, All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab, and Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver! Plus, lots of SWAG!!!! It ends on January 30 and is open internationally. :)

The Bookologist is giving away some AWESOME 2010 books! You can win 3 books among the pile:

Firespell by Chloe Neill (PB)
The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (ARC)
The Mark by Jen Nadol (ARC)
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young (ARC)
The Good Girl's Guide To Getting Kidnapped by Yxta Maya Murray (ARC)
Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap (ARC)
The Line by Terri Hall (ARC)
A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker (ARC)
Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials (ARC)

It ends on January 31.

The Bookette is having a 150 followers contest - you can win an ARC of Ondine: The Summer of Shambles by Ebony McKenna. It sounds like a great book! :) Contest ends on January 23.

Only Sexy Books allowed is having its first contest - for a copy of Something Like Fate by Susanne Colasanti. The contest ends on January 27.

Princess Bookie is having a New Year contest where you can choose from 4 upcoming books! Contest ends on January 26. :)

That's it! Thanks so much to these wonderful bloggers for hosting these amazing giveaways! :)

Giveaway from the Misfit Salon

2010-01-14T23:01:00.000+08:00

What you can win:

It ends on January 22. You can enter here.

In My Mailbox (12)

2010-01-03T22:00:00.000+08:00

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. :)

I haven't done an IMM post in a long time. I've acquired a lot of books since then so I'm only going to feature those that I got this week. :)

All bought. :)

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far... and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge - and over...

Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas (Georgia Nicolson #3) by Louise Rennison

Georgia Nicolson is now the girlfriend of the Sex God (aka Robbie), and things are wonderful. Except her loony parents are dragging her off to Och Aye land (aka Scotland), and the Sex God's band's chance at a record contract has left her something of a "pop widow."

Then up rears temptation in the form of old flame Dave the Laugh. Is Georgia about to become a shameless vixen?

Pretties (Uglies #2) by Scott Westerfeld

Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong.

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Murder, mayhem and magic...

Locked in a coffin-like darkness, there is nothing to distract me from my memories of killing Reyad. He deserved to die—but according to the law, so do I. Here in Ixia, the punishment for murder is death. And now I wait for the hangman's noose.

But the same law that condemns me may also save me. Ixia's food taster—chosen to ensure that the Commander's food is not poisoned—has died. And by law, the next prisoner who is scheduled to be executed—me—must be offered the position.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

2009-12-28T23:37:00.000+08:00

Description:

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:

Debate Club.Her father’s “bunny rabbit.”

A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:

A knockout figure.

A sharp tongue.

A chip on her shoulder.

And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Laundau-Banks.

No longer the kind of girl to take “no” for an answer.

Especially when “no” means she’s excluded from her boyfriend’s all-male secret society.

Not when her ex boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places.

Not when she knows she’s smarter than any of them.

When she knows Matthew’s lying to her.

And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.

Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16:

Possibly a criminal mastermind.

This is the story of how she got that way.

****

Expectation/s: Ally Carter, one of my favorite YA authors, said that this is her favorite book of the decade so you can just imagine how excited I was to read this.

Then...: The plot was definitely original. I liked it but I wasn't as crazy about it as I'd expected to be.

This is the first E. Lockhart book I've read and I was very impressed with her writing style. Frankie's snappy and witty lines were reminiscent of Ally Carter's books, nevertheless, it retains a unique tone (which may be due to the fact that it's not as girly as the Gallagher Girls series). I had a hard time guessing what was gonna happen next in the book - which is a good thing - though I had an inkling on how it was gonna end based from Frankie's personality alone. Though the book did keep me hooked and itching to know more, I found the part of Frankie's pranks a bit dragging. I felt like it could have been better - with more action, rather than Frankie narrating what they did and how they did it.

The story mainly revolves around Frankie; all the other characters felt like they were just there to help with Frankie's development. Frankie is probably the main character with the strongest feminist views I've encountered. In her every thought, her girls-can-do-what-boys-can attitude is always present that you just gotta admire her for it. Well, ideally, that is very applaudable, but realistically, she's just so intense about it that it's bordering on paranoia.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks combines laughter, mysterious secret societies, and weird (but fun) girl scheming. If you like your books fun and quirky, you might want to read this. :)

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 5/5

Book Love: 3/5

New Rating System

2009-12-26T20:45:00.000+08:00

Usually, my ratings are based on how much I enjoyed a particular book. However, I realized that this may be a bit unfair (and misleading?) for some since we all have different tastes in books, right? So from this point on, my ratings will be divided into three parts:

Plot
Writing
Book Love/Personal Enjoyment - this criterion describes how I normally rate the books I read (this will also be the rating I'll use on Goodreads)

and I'll be changing the ratings scale from a possible highest grade of 10/10 to 5/5 too. Hope this'll help my readers more. :)

Two Contests at The Neverending Shelf!

2009-12-19T10:57:00.000+08:00

The Neverending Shelf is having a Thank You contest where 5 winners will get 17 books! Woohoo!

Here are some of the books that you can win:

Tall, Dark and Fangsome by Michelle Rowan
(The book came with the spine being a little warped at the bottom)

How to Catch and Keep a Vampire by Diana Laurence

Let Slip the Dogs of Love by Eugene Kachmarsky

Ruined by Paula Morris

Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Mercury Falls by Robert Kroese

Flesh and Fire by Laura Anne Gilman

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (ARC)

Black is for Beginnings by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough (ARC)

Candle Man: The Society of Unrelentin g Vigilance by Glenn Dakin (ARC)

Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley (ARC)

Spellbinder by Helen Stringer (ARC)

Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me by Lisa Fineberg Cook

The Man who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett (ARC)

Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson (ARC)

*****

The Neverending Shelf is also hosting The 12 Blogs of Christmas Contest there will be 9 winners!

The Goodies:

Taken by Storm

The Real Real

Lone Wolf (ARC)

Raiders' Ransom (ARC)

A $10 iTunes Gift Card and a bunch of swag!

8 other winners a swag bag filled with:

2 Shadow Hills bookmarks (one signed!)
2 Shadow Hills magnets /pins
1 The Iron King bookmark
2 Jennifer Estep bookmarks
And some other surprise goodies.

Both contests ends on Dec 31. :)

Giveaway at Princess Bookie!

2009-12-19T10:43:00.000+08:00

Ohmygosh, AWESOME, AWESOME giveaway from the Princess Bookie!!!!

Here's what you can win:

It ends on Dec 31!!!!

P.S. If you're not a follower of her blog, please say I referred you. :)

In My Mailbox (11)

2009-12-13T18:32:00.000+08:00

Finally, a new IMM post! :)

*In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren*

I didn't get any YA books this week, instead, I bought:

Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J. R. Ward

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

Everyone seems to have read this series so I got curious and decided to start on it. I've read it and I'm looking forward to the 2nd book. :)

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

Truly Plaice, an overly large and ungainly girl, is the polar opposite of her sister, Serena Jane, the epitome of feminine perfection. With their parents dead, Truly and Serena Jane are separated: Serena Jane to live a life of privilege as the future May Queen and Truly to live on the outskirts of town, the subject of constant abuse and humiliation. There, while Serena Jane’s beauty proves to be her biggest curse, Truly finds her calling—the ability to heal illness with herbs and naturopathic techniques—and, in reckoning with her demons, the possibility of love in unexpected places.

I've only seen positive reviews for this book... plus, the plot sounds interesting so I hope this'll be good. :)

What did you gals get this week? :)

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2009-12-12T17:57:00.000+08:00

Description from Goodreads:

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction

****

I was expecting. . .
Well, A LOT. Vampires, romance, fun... the list goes on. I was so excited to read this book. [Our local bookstores didn't have it here so I even had to a special book order and wait for it for almost two months!] So yeah, I really had high expectations. :)

. . .then
It's unconventional. Some might say it's even a bit weird. But, ZOMG. I. Love. It.

Royalty + Vampires? Can you say awesome? And Lucius Vladescu? Can I just say awesome again?! Seriously, I am so in love with this book, I'm not sure I can make an objective review. :p

Just a few pages into it and I knew that this book was not at all what I expected. Readers looking for fun will definitely get it here, though it might not be your usual laugh-out-loud fun. For me, the fun part was a bit subtle - more like being taken aback at something Lucius said, slowly starting to find the humor, and then bam! I'd just find myself grinning and giggling like a fool. [I did say I love it, right?] Vampire politics also played a major role in this book, which was a unique and enjoyable treat.

The growth of the romance between Jessica and Lucius is - I can't find any other word for it - delicious. This was no love at first sight, which is totally believable. Instead, you get this slow building yet INTENSE feelings from both of them. Anyway, how can you be anything but intense with someone like Lucius Vladescu, who is the epitome of all things dark, handsome, gentlemanly, adorably-sarcastic, heroic... and a whole lot more. Btw, kudos to Beth Fantaskey for managing to keep Lucius' archaic language all throughout the book!

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is a book I would really love everyone who is a lover of all things mysterious and romantic to read. It may not wow you with unexpected twists and turns, but it's a book that will you leave with a charming feeling that will have you wanting to re-read (parts of) it long after you're through with the book.

Plot: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Book Love: 5/5

Giveaway at Extreme Reader Book Reviews!

2009-12-10T16:05:00.000+08:00

Extreme Reader Book Reviews is having a Big Holiday Giveaway! There will be two winners of two prize packs.

1st prize: first 4 books of Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
2nd prize: first 3 Blood Coven books by Mari Mancusi

And there will be a third prize once she hits 150 followers! To join, visit her blog. :) And oh, it ends on Dec 19.

Some of my (a bit) recent favorite reads!

2009-12-08T15:39:00.000+08:00

I'm kind of in a reviewing funk right now (I don't know why) so let me just share some of the recent YA books that I've read and loved. And if you haven't read them, I suggest you pick them up then maybe you'd get to fall in love with them too! ^-^

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover (Gallagher Girls #3) by Ally Carter
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare
City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare
City of Glass (Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (Georgia Nicolson #1) by Louise Rennison
On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God (Georgia Nicolson #2) by Louise Rennison
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Hopefully, you'll be seeing my reviews of some of these books soon! :)

I have a new header!!!! Yay!!!!

2009-11-26T16:23:00.000+08:00

I finally made this blog a header (using Photoshop)! What do you guys think of it? I'm not really an expert on this kind of thing so... what I did was pretty simple. :)

Hope you like it!

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

2009-11-24T23:47:00.001+08:00

Description from Goodreads:

Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

****

I was expecting. . .

A unique concept guaranteed to catch my interest and keep me glued to the pages

. . .then

I enjoyed the plot. I found the book packed with adventure. Yet, I still found myself spacing out while riffling through some of the pages.

All Shay wanted was to turn sixteen already so she can become pretty and be with her childhood friend, Peris. But somewhere along the way, she met Shay. And things just got a little more complicated. Now, Tally has to lead the authorities to Shay (who ran away) if she ever wants to turn pretty.

I salute Scott Westerfeld for the amazing imagery he provided. The way the story was written, it really felt like he did live there. In some books, after reading the setting of the book, we try to imagine how it would look like for real. Then again, there are those books where you get sucked in a whole new world after reading more or less a couple of lines. And Uglies is one of the latter. I guess the fact that I found myself almost nodding off at some of the parts of the book was due to my limited knowledge (and reading experience) on anything sci-fi. Yes, the hoverboards were amazing. But after reading about how Tally had to maneuver this way and that, it was like, argh. Information overload. But I blame myself for not having a vivid imagination. :p

As for the characters, I'm still not sure what to make of them. Tally comes off as brave, independent, and an overall good friend. Though there were times that I wanted to strangle her so she could just confess already! (ok, minor spoiler there). Shay was the typical-but-not (sometimes misunderstood) friend who you wouldn't want to piss off lest she becomes... er, not your friend. I'll refrain talking about the other characters since I want this review to remain spoiler free. :)

Uglies is the first book in what (I think) will be an amazing series. I love the concept, the writing was excellent, and the characters were all their own unique selves (which is always a good thing!) trying to live in this awe-inspiring world. Though, I did have some problems with some of the sci-fi aspects of the story, I'm hoping I would have gotten over those by the time I read Pretties, the sequel to Uglies.

Plot: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Book Love: 3.5/5

I hate spam.

2009-11-22T20:30:00.000+08:00

In the past few weeks, I had a couple or more spam comments on some of my entries. SPAM, as in those comments which just contains links and doesn't have anything to do with the actual post?

So usually I just delete those. I don't really want to have to moderate the comments but if this keeps up, I may have to. Er, I really hope not. How 'bout you guys n gals? How do you deal with this spam business? :)

In My Mailbox (10)

2009-11-16T23:14:00.000+08:00

*IMM is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren*

I only got three books the past week (all won from a giveaway). :)

Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra

Raised by her single mom (who's always dating the wrong kind of man) in a struggling California neighborhood, Angel Rodriguez is a headstrong, independent young woman who channels her hopes and dreams for the future into her painting. But when her entry for a community mural doesn't rate, she's heartbroken. Even with winning artist Nathan Ramos -- a senior track star and Angel's secret crush -- taking a sudden interest in Angel and her art, she's angry and hurt. She's determined to find her own place in the art world, her own way.

That's when Miguel Badalin -- from the notorious graffiti crew Reyes Del Norte -- opens her eyes to an underground world of graf tags and turf wars. She's blown away by this bad boy's fantastic work and finds herself drawn to his dangerous charm. Soon she's running with Miguel's crew, pushing her skills to the limit and beginning to emerge as the artist she always dreamed she could be. But Nathan and Miguel are bitter enemies with a shared past, and choosing between them and their wildly different approaches to life and art means that Angel must decide what matters most before the artist inside of her can truly break free.

Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra

Do you believe in fate?

Kara Martinez has been trying to be "normal" ever since the accident that took her father's life when she was eleven years old. She's buried the caliente side of her Mexican heritage with her father and tried to be the girl her rigid mother wants her to be--compliant and dressed in pink, and certainly not acting out like her older brother Jason. Not even Danielle, her best friend at Valdez High, has seen the real Kara; only those who read her anonymous blog know the deepest secrets of the sign seer.

Because Kara has a gift--one that often feels like a curse. She sees signs, visions that are clues to a person's fate, if she can put together the pieces of the puzzle in time. So far, she's been able to solve the clues and avert disaster for those she's been warned about--until she sees the flash of a gun on a fellow classmate, and the stakes are raised higher than ever before. Kara does her best to follow the signs, but it's her heart that wanders into new territory when she falls for a mysterious guy from the wrong side of town, taking her closer to answers she may not be able to handle. Will her forbidden romance help her solve the deadly puzzle before it's too late...or lead her even further into danger?

Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill

Girl meets boy at a car wash.

"Dog," she says.

"Dude," he says.

And probably this would have been a sweet teen romance. . . .

If Beals hadn't been sitting next to her in the car.

If Beals hadn't been a supernatural repo man looking to repossess her car.

And to possess her.

David Macinnis Gill delivers the whole enchilada. With a side of soul.

Author Interview: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

2009-11-15T10:38:00.001+08:00

Lauren Baratz-Logsted is the author of Crazy Beautiful, a modern retelling of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, which I reviewed recently. It has a unique approach on the retelling, and of course, it's terribly romantic!

Now, we get to know Lauren a little bit more! ^-^

1. Your book, Crazy Beautiful, is a sort of retelling of the Beauty and the Beast. What made you decide to write a fairy tale retelling?

Thank you for having me! I'd recently seen Beauty & the Beast on Broadway and I got to thinking about why of all the Disneyfied fairy tales, that's the one that's translated best to stage and screen. I decided it's because it's the only one where the male is more than just pretty window dressing for the far more interesting female. I decided I wanted to do my own contemporary version, addressing themes that are important to me: like how much of the way we treat people is based on physical appearance.

2. Do you foresee yourself writing more fairy tale retellings in the future?

Absolutely. I love talking fairy tales and classic stories and trying to find a way to make them fresh and different.

3. Your books all belong to the realistic genre. Would you ever consider writing something with a touch of fantasy/paranormal?

Actually, The Sisters 8 series for young readers aged 6-10, which I created with my novelist husband Greg Logsted (www.greglogsted.com) and our nine-year-old daughter Jackie, does have fantasy elements in it, but I'd certainly be open to writing books like that for the teen audience as well. I thrive on trying different things all the time.

4. Ok, let's get to know more about you... aside from writing, what are your other hobbies/interests?

You mean there's something to life other than writing and reading??? Let's see... I love to shoot pool when I get the chance and I'm something of a TV-head. I know a lot of people who like to proudly proclaim, "I never watch TV," as though that will earn them some sort of seat on the Nobel committee or possibly automatic acceptance in Mensa. But I love TV. Some of my favorite shows are "One Tree Hill," "Smallville," "House" and "Glee," and, of course, "General Hospital."

5. Can you tell us some of your favorite books?

Some of my favorite YA authors are Lisa McMann, Alyson Noel, A.S. King, Laurie Halse Anderson, Sarah Dessen and Ellen Hopkins. I also love the classics, particularly those written by Austen and the Brontes. For 2009, my favorite YA book: Freeze Frame, by Heidi Ayarbe; favorite adult novel: Little Bee, by Chris Cleave. All-time favorite book by a dead author: The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. All-time favorite book by a living author: Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Me: Yay! Another Austen fan! I'm a fan of the Bronte sisters too. :) LOVED The Great Gatsby.

6. I am totally crushing on a lot of fictional crushes. Can you tell us some of your favorites? (inspired by the post The Hot Ones Are Always Fictional)

Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby and Phineas from A Separate Peace, both of which are problematic because both, you know - well, I don't want to spoil the endings for anyone who hasn't read the books yet. Oh, and for about 20 years I've been in love with Richard Jury from Martha Grimes' mystery series. Richard Jury is smart and funny but there's also a sadness to him - I'd like to take that pain away.

7. Are you currently working on anything? Do you have something to say to the readers out there? :)

My next YA novel, The Education of Bet, is due out in July 2010. It's about a 16-year-old girl in Victorian England who impersonates a boy in order to get a proper education. As for what I'd like to say to readers out there: Thank you for reading my books! I can't promise to give you the same reading experience over and over again - since I don't confine myself to a particular genre or type of book or even style of storytelling - but I can promise to always do my best to write stories that don't waste your time, that say something about the world we live in and that are hopefully entertaining.

Oooh... The Education of Bet sounds good. I'm always up for anything set in the Victorian era! :)

Thank you Lauren for stopping by here at Reality Bites... Fiction Does It Better! I had a great a time reading your answers!

****

Don't forget to check out my review of Crazy Beautiful! And if you want to know more about Lauren and her books, go check out her site! ^-^

Audrey, Wait! - Robin Benway

2009-11-13T22:52:00.000+08:00

Description from Goodreads

California high school student Audrey Cuttler dumps self-involved Evan, the lead singer of a little band called The Do-Gooders. Evan writes, “Audrey, Wait!,” a break-up song that's so good it rockets up the billboard charts. And Audrey is suddenly famous!

Now rabid fans are invading her school. People is running articles about her arm-warmers. The lead singer of the Lolitas wants her as his muse. (And the Internet is documenting her every move!) Audrey can't hang out with her best friend or get with her new crush without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi.

Take a wild ride with Audrey as she makes headlines, has outrageous amounts of fun, confronts her ex on MTV, and gets the chance to show the world who she really is.

****

I was expecting...

Strangely enough, I wasn't expecting much despite the large number of positive reviews I've read about it.

....then

Audrey, Wait! was a surprise - a huge, monstrous, explosive surprise! Every YA fan should read it!

I wasn't expecting much from this book because I hate break-ups. They just doesn't sit well with my true-love-believing and hopeless-romantic personality. And Audrey, Wait! started with a break-up. If it weren't for glowing reviews from other book bloggers, I would have probably kept it at the bottom of my TBR pile. Now, I'm so grateful for all those reviews as Audrey, Wait! is now one of my favorite books of all time!

Audrey is one of those characters whom you just can't help but like. She's frank and honest (without being mean). She's a good friend. She's lively (as in not boring). All these without suffering from the usual setback of other female MCs - meaning she's not a geek/nerd/social outcast. Yes, she's popular AND she's not a bi(a)tch. :) The other characters - Victoria (Audrey's quirky and crazy best friend), Jonah (Victoria's boyfriend), and James (the adorable co-worker) also helped in making the book an insanely fun and giggle-filled read.

Contrary to what I've said so far, Audrey Wait! is not all giggles and laughter. The book also depicted Audrey's growth from this fun-time-seeking party girl to someone who still knows how to have a good time but who slowly realizes the possible consequences of her actions. I even found myself shedding a tear or two over Audrey's frustrations and the unfairness of it all.

Honestly, I can't remember a thing that I didn't like about this book. Robin Benway's got pure talent and I can't wait to read more of her works!

Plot: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Book Love: 5/5

Another Great Contest (not mine)

2009-11-13T01:14:00.000+08:00

A BookLover's Diary is having a fab giveaway! There will be 4 winners and it it will be ending on November 30. You can enter here!

In My Mailbox (9)

2009-11-08T20:39:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! I wasn't able to do an IMM post last week so I'll be featuring the book that I bought w/in the past couple of weeks. :)

*In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren*

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

Austin music fest

Yay, summer in Austin!

Good food, good times. Fun for everyone!

Okay, living with my sorority-brainwashed cousin, who willingly goes by "Party Penny," is not exactly what I had in mind.

All your favorite bands

But the cute musicians I've met totally make up for it . . . like Sebastian. Swoon.

All ages welcome

So why can't I stop thinking about Penny's friend All-American Russ and his Texas twang??

Saturday & Sunday, from noon to midnight

Don't wait up!

Fire by Kristin Cashore (prequel to Graceling)

Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.

Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Beastly by Alex Flinn

I am a beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson Book 1) by Louise Rennison

She has a precocious 3-year-old sister who tends to leave wet nappies at the foot of her bed, an insane cat who is prone to leg-shredding "Call of the Wild" episodes, and embarrassing parents who make her want to escape to Stonehenge and dance with the Druids. No wonder 14-year-old Georgia Nicolson laments, "Honestly, what is the point?" A Bridget Jones for the younger set, Georgia records the momentous events of her life--and they are all momentous--in her diary, which serves as a truly hilarious account of what it means to be a modern girl on the cusp of womanhood. No matter that her particular story takes place in England, the account of her experiences rings true across the ocean (and besides, "Georgia's Glossary" swiftly eradicates any language barriers).

That's it! FUN! FUN! FUN! What did you guys get? :)

Crazy Beautiful - Lauren Baratz-Logsted

2009-11-07T21:18:00.000+08:00

This review was supposed to be a part of Once Upon A Week but I was so busy with enrollment that wasn't able to post it! :(

Description

Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her.

But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.

Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

****

I was expecting...

romance, passion, lots of *sighing* (by myself) throughout the book

... then

I got my romantic part, *sighs*, not as much passion as I was expecting, but I still liked it!

Crazy Beautiful has a very unique approach in its retelling of Beauty and the Beast. For one, Lucius is just your average boy. He's not good-looking. He's not rich. He's just ordinary, but with hooks for his hands. For me, that was what made this book all the more romantic - the fact that this pretty and popular girl, Aurora, fell in love with this ordinary (and somewhat sullen) boy at first sight. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. :)

The book used the two main characters' alternating POVs, which is a style that I have always liked! At times, the narration from the character's perspective would just include a couple of sentences, and I think that worked in giving off a mysterious yet light vibe.

I think Crazy Beautiful is the kind of book which you'd either really like or find as just a so-so book (it depends on the reader, I guess). Luckily for me, I really liked it! :)

Plot: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Book Love: 4/5

Huge Contest! (not mine)

2009-11-07T00:03:00.000+08:00

at Teens Read and Write!

They're giving away LOTS of great books (I really do mean LOTS)! Actually, they're giving away such a huge number of books that I can't even list them all! So you'd have to check them out (and you can join too) here!

The giveaway ends on November 15, btw, so hurry up and join! :)

Once Upon A Week: Interview w/ Bri Meets Books

2009-11-05T19:43:00.001+08:00

Hiya everyone! I have here today a fellow blogger and Once Upon A Week participant...

Bri from Bri Meets Books

So, on with the interview...

1. How long have you been blogging and what got you started in the first place?

I've been blogging various places for years. Probably just a need to say something and somewhere to say it! I've been book blogging since 2007. What got me started in book blogging was I went to university, and left my long-standing job as a children's merchandise specialist at a bookstore. I missed the store, and more specifically the customers and recommending kids books to them. I started blogging to keep my passion for children's books alive.

2. So you're a big YA lover, what's your ultimate favorite YA book?

That's a hard one. I have so many. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin for its beauty and simplicity. Lessons from a Dead Girl for its ability to both shock you to the core and give you periods away from the heaviness. I don't know, honestly.

- I haven't read those books yet, but thanks for recommending it! I'm always up for a good YA book!

3. Aside from YA books, what other genres do you enjoy reading?

General fiction. Children's lit and all that it contains: picture books, first readers, etc. A little bit of science fiction and fantasy. Urban fantasy is the more preferred. Social science, I love books about girl culture, and the media.

4. Ok, I always try to ask this question:

I posted something on my personal blog, entitled The Hot Ones Are Always Fictional. Can you add more to my list?

Puck from Glee
Angel from Buffy and Angel
Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid (admit girls. you wanted to marry him when you were younger)

- Well, I wanted to marry all the princes from fairy tales way back then... LOL.

5. Since it's Once Upon A Week... which fairy tale do you love the most and would enjoy reading over and over again?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I don't know why.

6. If you had the chance to rewrite The Twelve Dancing Princesses, what would you change or add? Or would you like it to stay the same?

I've been working on a retelling of it forever. I'd say that once a year for several years, I pick it up and add to it. It's a lovely story, but I want it to have more depth. It feels like the princesses are props.

7. What do you like most about fairy tales?

The sense of wonder and magic. The neat little endings. The strong female characters. The way a lot of them were designed as cautionary tales for children, particularly the Grimm Brothers' collected stories, and how can still be used as reflections of our society. Who hasn't heard a foolhardy politician referred to as "the Emperor with no clothes?" etc?

- I agree. Most would think of fairy tales as just plain stories for the kids, but really, most of the time, they contain way more depth than some of the contemporary fiction out there.

Thanks Bri! Want to know more about Bri? Head on over to her lovely blog and read some (or a lot) of her book reviews and author interviews! :)

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine - Michelle Rowen

2009-10-29T01:00:00.001+08:00

Description from the author's site:

For Nikki Donovan, being a teenager can be hell. Literally.

As if trying to fit in at a new school and navigating the social scene isn’t enough stress for her, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands — the world that separates and protects ours from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious (and surprisingly cute) messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and that he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew — what’s a teenage demon princess to do?

****

My expectations: FUN FUN FUN!

...what happened? I'm so glad it is!

It's always a good thing when a book presents a concept/idea that hasn't been done before. And that's the case with Demon Princess: Reign or Shine. I'm not absolutely sure that this is the first YA book that tackles demons... and half-demons, but in a land filled with vampire-love stories, this book is definitely one to stand out.

Here are some more reasons why this book stands out:

1. Nikki, a former social outcast, is the high school queen's best friend, who is NOT a mean girl. (I love that!)

2. Instead of the guy always protecting the girl (very very common), here, Nikki is actually stronger than Michael. (Yay for Girl Power!)

3. The guy (Michael) is cute, but in a subtle kind of way. As in, not too many girls going gaga over him. :)

And the book was narrated with just the right amount of lightness and fun I want with my YA. Definitely fun!

The only low point for me was that I guessed how the ending would go too easily. Then again, maybe I've just been reading too much mystery that I end up spoiling the ending for myself (am I speaking logically here? Haha.).

But overall, it's fun! It's new! And if you want that, I suggest you go pick this up! :)

Btw, Reign or Shine is the 1st book in a series. The next book, Reign Check, will be out on June 2010 (according to Goodreads).

Plot: 3.5/5

Writing: 4/5

Book Love: 4/5

A Contest (Not Mine!)

2009-10-29T00:45:00.000+08:00

Robolobolyn's Books is giving away a signed copy of The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong, which is the sequel to The Summoning, which is a great great great book! You can see my review of it here.

Ok, back to the giveaway. It ends on November 17. Head on over to her site to join!

In My Mailbox (8)

2009-10-25T12:45:00.000+08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. It showcases books you received in the mail, bought, or borrowed this week.

I only bought one book this week...

City of Glass (Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare

I was so excited to read this that I put on hold whatever I was reading at the moment! LOVED it!

And I just found out that there's a 4th book in the series - City of Fallen Angels. Can't wait for it!

The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods #4) - Melissa de la Cruz

2009-10-24T21:19:00.000+08:00

I decided not to include a synopsis so as not to provide spoilers for those who haven't read the first 3 books in the series. Go ahead, read them already! :)

The Van Alen Legacy, for me, is the best in the series so far. Melissa de la Cruz's style seems to have improved in her latest book. The book featured Schuyler's, Bliss's, and Mimi's POVs, and I was glad that each chapter indicated which character's thoughts were being narrated. That saved me from the confusion I got from the three other novels, wherein I, sometimes, had to read a couple of paragraphs before I realized whose perspective it was. The plot was very unexpected, not at all what I was expecting coming off from the third book. Though I'm not complaining, after all, who wants a predictable story? Okay, I'm getting a bit spoiler-y here...

Though I did say that Melissa de la Cruz's writing style has improved, I'm still not a fan of it. I particularly don't really like she used ellipses all over the place (or book). Ellipses are good for effect. But when a whole paragraph is filled with it, hmm... it's not so great. Still, I still love the plot and the characters (ehem, Jack Force, ehem) so I'm going to keep watching out for this series.

As for the cover, it's gorgeous as usual (all the Blue Bloods books' covers are gorgeous!) but it's my favorite among the bunch! :)

Plot: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Book Love: 4/5

Bite Me! - Melissa Francis

2009-10-21T20:59:00.000+08:00

Description

AJ Ashe isn't your typical seventeen-year-old vampire—as if there is such a thing! She's stuck in the middle of a huge fight between her two BFFs. Her ex-boyfriend—whom she's still totally in love with, by the way—is now her stepbrother. A former classmate—who, um, she may or may not have turned into a vampire—is stalking her. And now, apparently, the fate of humankind lies in her little undead hands. What ever happened to the good old days, when all a vampire girl had to worry about was the occasional zit and hiding her taste for blood?

****

I gotta admit, I bought this book because of the little sentence in the back cover... 'Her ex-boyfriend—whom she's still totally in love with, by the way—is now her stepbrother.' Intriguing, right?

But as I moved along with the story, I found myself getting more and more irritated with the characters. I had a hard time trying to like Ryan, the male protagonist. Sure, he and AJ had some cute moments, but for the rest of the book, I just found him irritating, immature, inconsistent... the list goes on. On the other hand, AJ was likable enough. She related the story in a light and fun tone. However, she did had her mean girl moments too - which is, of course, really annoying. Actually, this one had a sort of Gossip Girl kinda vibe so if you're a fan of the books, maybe you'll like it.

Ok, for the positive points:

1. I found myself itching to know what'll happen in the end. That means it's not boring.

2. I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority here so maybe, it's just that this isn't really my type of book.

3. It did had its fun moments.

4. It has a unique take on vampires.

Oh, and it's the first book in the series. The next one's entitled Love Sucks! (which I may or may not read, I'm still not sure.)

Plot: 3/5

Writing: 3/5

Book Love: 2.5/5

(Fallen) Angels and (Possessed) Demons contest! (not my contest. :D)

2009-10-20T20:38:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! Reggie of The Undercover Book Lover and her sister of The Bookologist is having an awesome (Fallen) Angels and (Possessed) Demons contest! It's international and it ends on November 1. :)

The Prize:
Books:
The Exorsistah - Claudia Mair Burney
Hush, Hush ARC - Becca Fitzpatrick

Swag:
-Lipstick Apology bookmark (SIGNED)
-Chasing Brooklyn bookmark (SIGNED)
-I Heart You, You Haunt Me bookmark (SIGNED)
-Give Up The Ghost bookmark (SIGNED)
-Shrinking Violet Sticker (SIGNED)
-She's so Money card/bookmark (SIGNED)
-All About Vee postcard (SIGNED)
-Shrinking Violet bookmark
-Shrinking Violet notepad
-The Hollow 'Rated H' Sticker
-The Hollow 'Haunted by..." Sticker
-James (from Twilight) card

Head on over here for more details on how you can join! :)

In My Mailbox (7)

2009-10-18T22:27:00.001+08:00

So, I've been a very bad blogger these past couple of weeks... hopefully, I'll be able to post more reviews this week. Now, on to the IMM.

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. :)

It seems like our post office suddenly vastly improved and I received a lot of great books (from contests) this week!

*All descriptions are from Goodreads*

I just bought one book and that's:

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (check out my review)

And now my contest wins:

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

(not from the giveaway I hosted. Just making it clear. Haha.)

Follows the incredible life of Cleopatra's surviving children with Marc Antony -- twins, named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, and a younger son named Ptolemy. All three were taken to Rome and paraded through the streets, then sent off to be raised by Octavia (the wife whom Marc Antony left for Cleopatra). Raised in one of the most fascinating courts of all time, Cleopatra's children would have met Ovid, Seneca, Vitruvius (who inspired the Vitruvian man), Agrippa (who built the Pantheon), Herod, his sister Salome, the poets Virgil, Horace, Maecenas and so many others!

Immortal by Gillian Shields

(from Melissa Marr's contest)

She sent me some bracelets too! Awesome!

Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, housed in a Gothic mansion on the bleak northern moors, is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn away from her home by the sea to become the newest scholarship student, she is more isolated than she could have dreamed. Strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave Evie drowning in loneliness.

Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a rebellious, mocking, dangerously attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian grow with each secret meeting, she starts to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl—a girl who is so eerily like Evie, she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present that she cannot control. And as the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate.

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

(from The Epic Rat)

Take a wild ride with Audrey as she makes headlines, has outrageous amounts of fun, confronts her ex on MTV, and gets the chance to show the world who she really is.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

(from IB Teen Blog)

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

(by IB Teen Blog)

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. When a mysterious boy enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of nowhere, Deirdre finds herself infatuated. Trouble is, the enigmatic and conflicted Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin – and Deirdre is meant to be his next mark. Deirdre has to decide if Luke's feelings towards her are real, or only a way to lure her deeper into the world of Faerie.

Luke isn't her only problem. A sinister faerie named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Long-time enemies with a common goal, Luke and Aodhan carry the same assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is her best friend James whose devotion has been teetering precariously on the line between friendship and love for months – a feeling that Dee doesn't quite reciprocate. It's Luke she can't stop thinking about: Luke, who was supposed to kill her immediately but hasn't. Luke, who cannot refuse the Queen's orders without paying an unimaginable price. Deirdre ultimately must confront the Faerie Queen before she loses everyone she loves.

Demon Princess by Michelle Rowen

(from Megan Crewe's contest)

As if trying to fit in at a new school isn't stressful enough, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands—the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious—and surprisingly cute—messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her gowing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew—what's a teenage demon princess to do?

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

(Megan Crewe's contest)

I really love the cover!

In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.

Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her.

But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.

Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe

(again from Megan Crewe's contest)

*plus I received some lovely Give Up The Ghost SWAG! Love 'em!

Cass McKenna much prefers the company of ghosts over "breathers." Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad--and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it's time to give the living another chance...

I also won two books from a local bookstore which are:

The Fearful by Keith Gray

Frankenstein's Bride by Hilary Bailey

YAY! I love love love love the books I got this week. :)

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

2009-10-18T11:41:00.000+08:00

Description from Goodreads:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

****

I've read conflicting reviews of Hush, Hush - a lot of people fell in love with it, while some um, not so much. And I find myself caught in the middle. You see, I love bad boys. Or bad boys in disguise, really. Case(s) in point: Chuck Bass of Gossip Girl (TV show). Griffin Blake (Oh.My.Gods.). Jace (Mortal Instruments). And a whole lot more from all the romance novels I've read. But Patch? Hmm, yeah, he's hot and all. But there's something off with him. He's a bad boy who exhibits sporadic moments of goodness, which sometimes doesn't make sense. (Am I making any sense? :p) But don't get me wrong, at times, he can be really adorable. :)

As for Nora, she's smart, pretty (in her own kind of way), and totally vulnerable to Patch. Surprisingly, that latter part endeared her to me even more. I can totally relate. Haha. Nora's a very believable character and I'm sure at one point or another, every female reader can imagine putting herself in her shoes and acting the same way she does.

The plot's progression was a bit slow. It seemed like the action only began when I was about 3/4 into the book. But I think what Becca has in store for the readers can make up for that. :)

Overall: I love the concept. I semi-love the characters. The plot was good, but could've been better. :)

Plot: 3.5/5

Writing: 4/5

Book Love: 3.5/5

100 followers + In My Mailbox (6)

2009-10-11T13:42:00.000+08:00

First things first - this blog has reached 100 followers! WOW. I can't thank you guys enough! That just feels absolutely awesome. :) Thank you thank you thank you guys! :D

****

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week. Forgive me, but I'm just way too lazy to look for book descriptions this time. Anyway, they're all part of a series so if you haven't started with it, you'll be spared the spoilers. :)

Bought:

The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods #4) by Melissa de la Cruz

I've been waiting for this for like, the longest time! (Just finished reading it, btw. Haha.)

City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare

Like everyone else predicted, City of Bones was sooo good, I know I just have to get the sequel! Can't wait to read it!

From a contest win:

Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover (Gallagher Girls #3) by Ally Carter

I'm so glad I won this (that's a huge money-saver for me!) since I really liked Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy!

****

That's all I got but I'm very very happy with them - three books from three of my favorite series! :)

Between Me and the River - Carrie Host

2009-10-06T02:47:00.000+08:00

Between Me and The River tells the story of Carrie Host who, at 40, was diagnosed with carcinoid tumor, a rare form of cancer which can only be treated by surgeries. This book takes takes us through Carrie's struggle with cancer and how she, aided by her family's support, ultimately found the strength to fight it.

****

Having never read a memoir before, I didn't know what to expect as I started reading this book. I was prepared to go through it with a very melancholic mood. But as I went on with the first few pages, where Carrie recounts her memories with her family as a young kid, I was pleasantly surprised. Suddenly, my whole outlook for this novel changed. This was not what I expected at all.

Carrie has an ability to inject lightheartedness into what is an otherwise extremely serious subject. Though the content of the book was really depressing, I managed to go through it without sobbing my heart out for the most part of the book. This is not a bad thing. Somehow, I was able to feel what the author was really expressing that way.

One of the parts that I liked most about the book was this short paragraph about Carrie's realizations about cancer that showed up in some of the chapters in the book. Here's one of which:

Cancer is like that. Sometimes we truly don't see how we will muster up the courage to keep going. When we can only see death staring us in the face, fear just knocks us flat out. This is where the people we love the most can help us to lean on their courage and stand up again.

- page 225

Carrie is very fortunate to have a very supportive husband, Amory, and kids, who at the face of this crisis, have matured beyond their years to help their mother through this painful ordeal.

Between Me and the River is a beautiful and inspiring story. I'd recommend it not just to those with loved ones who have faced cancer in their lives, but to everyone who would like to realize some of the truths that we constantly face in our lives.

Writing: 4/5
Book Love: 4/5

I would like to thank Lisa of OnlinePublicist for giving me a wonderful opportunity to review this book.

In My Mailbox (5)

2009-10-04T02:24:00.000+08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It showcases books you've received, bought or borrowed w/in the week! :)

I think I went a little crazy and bought a bunch of books (well, for me, since I rarely buy this many books in a week) this week! Really need to practice some self-control here. Haha.

(All descriptions are from Goodreads)

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts.They were also one another's only friend.So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her.Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed.Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend. When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.Sweethearts is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts.

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight; she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po. She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace--or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away. . .a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Bite Me! by Melissa Francis

AJ Ashe isn't a typical seventeen-year-old vampire (as if there is such a thing as 'typical!') Her ex-boyfriend is now her stepbrother. Her two BFFs are in a huge fight and AJ's caught in the middle. She's totally framed for cheating on a Lit test. And now, apparently, the fate of humankind lies in her little undead hands. Like that's fair. What ever happened to the good old days when all a vampire girl had to worry about was the occasional zit and hiding her fetish for necks?

The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols

Hayden and Nick used to be a hot item, but their brief affair ended with a highly publicized break-up. Now the two are “just friends,” excluding the occasional flirtation.

When Hayden wins the girls’ division of a local snowboarding competition, Nick is unimpressed, claiming that Hayden wouldn’t have a chance against a guy. Hayden calls Nick’s bluff and challenges him to a head-to-head boarding contest. Their mutual friends quickly take sides, the girls on Hayden’s and the boys on Nick’s, making for an all-out battle of the sexes. This friendly competition is bound to get heated--and if they’re not careful, they might end up igniting some old flames.

Giveaway win:

Cutting Loose by Nadine Dajani

Meet three women who are as different as could be—at least that’s what they think—and the men who’ve turned their lives upside down as their paths collide in sizzling, sexy Miami. . . .

Ranya is a modern-day princess—brought up behind the gilded walls of Saudi Arabian high society and winner of the dream husband sweepstakes . . . until said husband turns out to be more interested in Paolo, the interior-decorator-cum-underwear-model, than in his virginal new wife.

Smart, independent, but painfully shy, Zahra has managed to escape her impoverished Palestinian roots to carve out a life of comfort. But she can’t reveal her secrets to the man she adores or shake off the fear that she doesn’t deserve any of it. She also can’t shake the fear that if she holds on to anything—or anyone—too dearly, they will be taken away in the blink of a kohl-lined eye.

Rio has risen above the slums of her native Honduras—not to mention the jeers of her none too supportive family—to become editor in chief of Suéltate magazine, the hottest Latina-targeted glossy in town, and this in spite of Georges Mallouk, her hunky-yet-clueless boss, and in spite of Rio’s totally wrong but oh-so-sinfully-right affair with the boss’s delicious but despicable younger brother, Joe.

In this city of fast cars, sleek clubs, and unapologetic superficiality, Ranya, Zahra, and Rio wrestle with the ties that bind them to their difficult pasts, and it just might be time for them to cut loose. . . .

****

I finished reading Bite Me!, The Ex Games, and Graceling this weekend. Watch out for my reviews! What about you guys? What did you get this week? :)

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

2009-10-01T23:40:00.001+08:00

*Spoilers for those who haven't read The Hunger Games*

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

****

I know you've probably read a lot of other reviews of Catching Fire all saying the same thing - that they LOVE it and that it's even better than The Hunger Games. Well, the same goes for me. I am simply amazed with Suzanne Collins and how she can just keep on getting the plot more exciting and having readers on edge even more!

I love that every chapter of the book seems to always end (I'm pretty it's always) with something unexpected and major. Reading the book is an adventure - a heart-pounding, teeth-biting adventure at that, that even when I was aching to know what'll happen next, I was sad to see the book coming to an end. And end it did, as always (of course), with this cliffhanger that guarantees you'll be out getting a copy of the 3rd book as soon as it's released!

I'm telling you, it's the CLIFFHANGER OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS! (At least, for me. :D)

As for the Katniss-Peeta-Gale love triange, I'm happy to say I'm still on Team PEETA! Though of course, I must admit Gale's okay too. :p But still, Peeta is Peeta. *sigh* :)

Plot: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Book Love: 5/5

Oh.My.Gods. - Tera Lynn Childs

2009-09-28T21:10:00.000+08:00

Description taken from the author's site.

If Phoebe Castro can keep her grades up and have another stellar cross-country season, her dream of attending USC with her best friends is only a track scholarship away. She’s made all her plans, so it’s a complete shock when her mom announces she’s marrying a mysterious stranger and moving them half-way around the world—to Greece.

Phoebe’s stuck on a secret island in the Aegean attending the super-exclusive Academy, where her new stepfather is the headmaster and the kids are anything but your average students—they are descendants of the Greek gods, super powers included. That’s right, Greek gods are no myth! If Phoebe thought high school was hard, she knows this is going to be mortal misery.

Securing that scholarship seems like Phoebe’s only ticket out of Greece, but training and maintaining her grades will be grueling, even without a sabotaging stepsister from Hades and a gorgeous guy—what a god!—who just might be her Achilles heel. One thing is for sure—summoning the will to win and find her place among the gods could be Phoebe’s toughest course yet.

****

After reading Catching Fire (I've yet to post my review on that one), I decided to go for a very light and fun read. And Oh.My.Gods. was perfect for it! Cover-wise, plot-wise, character-wise - you name it! So there I go... in love with another YA series!

Oh.My.Gods is (if I'm not mistaken) Tera Lynn Childs' first book, but it doesn't really show in how she wrote this book. Seriously, with you'd think she'd written a dozen YA books before! The characters were all so natural and believable (and I don't mean that in the they-have-godly-powers kind of way). I loved Phoebe's hilarious side comments (both those spoken to others and those she keeps to herself)! Plus, I like the fact that she's athletic and all - something you'd rarely see in YA female protagonists. :)

And let's not forget Griffin. Griffin Blake (think younger version of Orlando Bloom or anyone who looks Greek, and hot!) - who I'm now adding to my top hot fictional characters list!

So, want your YA fun, not-too-girly, and with a bit of romance in it? You. have. to. read. this! :)

Plot: 4.5/5

Writing: 5/5

Book Love: 5/5

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy - Gallagher Girls Book 2 - Ally Carter

2009-09-23T19:49:00.001+08:00

Spoilers for those who haven't read I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (the 1st book of the Gallagher Girls series. (My review is spoiler-free, though. :p)

Cammie Morgan may have a genius IQ and attend the best school in the country, but as she starts the spring semester of her sophomore year there are a lot of things she doesn't know. Like will her ex-boyfriend even remember she exists? And how much trouble did she really get in last semester? And, most of all, exactly why is her

mother acting so strangely?

All Cammie wants is a nice, normal semester, but she's about to learn her greatest lesson yet—that when you go to a school for spies, nothing is ever as it seems.

****

I really enjoyed this second installment of the Gallagher Girls series. It was way way better than the first book, which is saying something cause I had a lot of fun reading that one.

I definitely liked Ally Carter's writing better here than in the first one. The plot was more definite and the girls' (mis)adventures were more exciting. I love the twists! The added spy mystery was very effective - so effective I finised the book in one sitting! (That, or I'm really just way into reading. :p) And I'm loving the characters' quips and quirkiness - Cammie's boy-ignorance , Liz's uber-geekiness, Bex's flirty spy self (it's an unusual mix but it works!), and Macey's amusing sarcasm - more and more!

If you've read I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You, then you have to read Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy. I found myself giggling althroughout reading it (seriously, giggling!) so if you're up for some (or lots of) fits of giggling, go pick this up. :)

*As for Cammie's love life, I'm still not sure how that will turn out. If you've read the 3rd book, please oh please, refrain from leaving any spoilers in the comments! :)*

Note: You can't get any more YA than this. So if you're not a fan of young adult books (the for-girls-only kind of YA), I'm not sure you'd like this as much as I did. Haha.

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 5/5

Book Love: 4.5/5

I changed my layout! (Again) :)

2009-09-21T12:51:00.001+08:00

I heard that other bloggers don't really dig the white text on black background layout so... I inverted the colors! Well, sort of. Now, it looks super clean (for me, anyway) and neat.

I'll be on the lookout though for possible new layouts. And maybe, even a new header!

*Let's hope I develop my Photoshop skills.* :)

Cleopara's Daughter Winner!

2009-09-21T01:09:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! So here it is, the winner of the hardcover copy of Cleopatra's Daughter plus an ancient Roman coin is...

Okay before that, I just want to say that I drew the name using The Hat (it's a free program and if you're having giveaways too, I highly recommend it! :D)

And thank you to everyone who joined! :)

Anyway, the winner is...

pachuvachuva

Congrats! I'll be sending you an e-mail as soon as I post this.

EDITED: Oh, you didn't leave your e-mail so you can just send your shipping address to me at austenfanblogs[at]gmail[dot]com. :)

To the other contestants, you can still snag a copy of Cleopatra's Daughter from A LOT of giveaways going around the www. Just do a blog search on Google and enter as many as you like! :) Thanks again for joining!

In My Mailbox (4)

2009-09-21T00:12:00.000+08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. :)

This week, I bought two books and they are...

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I've just finished reading it! (ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS EVER!)

The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson (previously published as A Countess Below Stairs)

By the award-winning and bestselling author of JOURNEY TO THE RIVER SEA, a novel that sings with characteristic Ibbotson warmth and wit Anna, a young countess, has lived in the glittering city of St Petersburg all her life in an ice-blue palace overlooking the River Neva. But when revolution tears Russia apart, her now-penniless family is forced to flee to England. Armed with an out-of-date book on housekeeping, Anna determines to become a housemaid and she finds work at the Earl of Westerholmes crumbling but magnificent mansion. The staff and the family are sure there is something not quite right about their new maid but she soon wins them over with her warmth and dedication. Then the young Earl returns home from the war and Anna falls hopelessly in love. But they can never be together: Rupert is engaged to the snobbish and awful Murieland anyway, Anna is only a servant. Or so everybody thinks .

I've never read anything by Eva Ibbotson but something about it having a historical touch tugged at me and made me buy it. Hope it turns out good! :)

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

2009-09-19T19:38:00.000+08:00

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

****

I was super psyched to finally read The Hunger Games since it's been very highly recommended by other book bloggers. And yes, it didn't disappoint! In fact, it exceeded my expectations!

The novel is set in the future, specifically, in Panem, which as the description says, is the remains of what used to be the United States. Sounds very gloomy, right? That was my initial reaction too. For a moment there, I started to doubt if I would like the book as much as the other book bloggers did. But as the story progressed, I found myself turning the pages more and more quickly, especially when The Hunger Games began.

I really liked Katniss as a character. In fact, I'd say she's now one of my favorite female protagonists! At such an early age, she had to learn how to be tough for her family's survival. I loved that despite the fact that she had to be so mature early, she's still so totally ignorant about other stuff - by that, I meant boys. :)

Since I don't want to spoil the story for those of you who haven't read it yet, I'd keep this short.

All I can say is it has: fantastic writing, awesome characterization, very solid imagery of the setting, and enough suspense to keep you reading till the end!

Oh, and by the way, I'm on TEAM PEETA! :)

****

NotNessie of Today's Adventure reviewed The Hunger Games and loved it too!

****

Want more proof of how awesome The Hunger Games is? Check out what Stephen King and Stephenie Meyer had to say about it! (I know! It's so weird to put those two names together since, well, it's no secret that Stephen King doesn't um, like Stephenie Meyer all that much, but what can I do? LOL. Oookay, I'm getting out of topic here. :p)

Plot: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Book Love: 5/5

First 3 Chapters of Shadowland!

2009-09-18T01:38:00.000+08:00

I only just saw this from a tweet from Alyson Noel. The first 3 chapters of Shadowland (The Immortals series book 3) are up (yay!) here! Enjoy! :)

Contest Reminder :)

2009-09-16T20:31:00.000+08:00

I really need to post a new review. And I will! Hmm, it will probably be up tomorrow. As to the book, it's something I read a week ago and w/c I REALLY loved. :) Haha, enough of me trying to be mysterious.

On to an altogether different topic, my contest for a signed hardcover copy of Cleopatra's Daughter + an ancient Roman coin will end three days from now, on Sept 19! So, if you'd like to win a copy, you can do so here. :)

And oh, has anyone watched the first episode of Gossip Girl season 3 yet? I love Chair!!!!

BBAW: Me and My Reading Habits

2009-09-16T15:01:00.001+08:00

EDITED: Okay, silly me. I didn't get to read that part in the BBAW blog that says I should try to answer in five words or less. :p

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?

Rarely. If I do eat while reading, it's probably just a sandwich since I don't want to get my hands dirty while reading a book. :)

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

Writing in books is definitely a no-no for me! Unless it's just a little something at the first (cover) page.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?

Bookmark. Though oftentimes, my bookmark seems to mysteriously disappear so I'm stuck with remembering the page number or searching for the part where I stopped.

Laying the book flat open?

NO. I'm very very OC when it comes to books.

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?

They're both OK, but I prefer fiction.

Hard copy or audiobooks?

Hard copy

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?

I usually read until the end of the chapters, unless, there's something urgent that I really have to do first.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?

Not really. I'm too lazy to do that. :p

What are you currently reading?

Not really reading anything right now. I've kept my books away (need to resist!) cause this week is a very very crazy school week!

What is the last book you bought?

Oh.My.Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?

One at a time. For me, reading several at a time would be really confusing.

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?

I prefer to read in my room. As for the time, no particular preference.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?

I like them both, though sometimes it can get really frustrating waiting for the next book in a series to come out!

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?

Um, Persuasion by Jane Austen. And The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)

Currently, they're arranged by the author's last name. :)

BBAW Interview Swap w/ Natasha of Maw Books!

2009-09-15T15:38:00.000+08:00

Okay, my first BBAW post! :)

Today, I'll be interviewing Natasha of Maw Books! She's already put up her interview (of me) and you guys can go check it out here.

1. Can you tell us (or me) something about yourself? (Haha. It sounds like a job interview.)

Well, I'm a stay-at-home mom of two very active boys age 2 1/2 and almost four. I've always enjoyed reading. In fact, here's a random tidbit. I've kept a journal off and on ever since I was eight years old. The very first line? "I'm eight years old and I've read all of the Little House on

the Praire books." Too bad I didn't say what I thought about it otherwise I could say I've been writing reviews since I was little. All through middle school and high school I remember making all kinds of book lists and wish I could find them.

2. Aside from blogging, what other activities do you enjoy doing?

Well, I love to spend time with my boys. Despite the fact that it seems like I'm online all the time, I do get out with them everyday. We played all summer long. This fall is going to be busy. My oldest is in his first dance class, just started preschool and we attend story time at the library three times a week which we've been doing for three years. I'm a huge gardener. Before I started blogging, I occupied my time by taking a Master Gardener class and received my certificate which I must admit is one of the things which I'm most proud of. I love being out in my flower garden, planning, planting, pruning and also harvesting my vegetable garden. I also enjoy photography a lot and that's what I actually have my undergraduate degree in.

3. You've been shortlisted for a LOT of the BBAW awards? How does that make you feel? Is there any particular award that you would want most to win?

Ha, well yes. To tell you the truth I'm a tad emberrased and very humbled. But I must admit that I try to put a lot of work into my blog, so it's nice to know that people are enjoying it. A lot of people say that they'd still blog if nobody read their blog because they started their blog as a reading journal for themselves. That was never the case with me when I started my blog. I started blogging to promote books and authors. If nobody read my blog, I wouldn't put as much effort into it or stop completely. As for the award that I would most like to win? Well, I was nominated for most eclectic blog but not shortlisted. To tell you the truth, that was the one category that I thought for sure was my best chance. Goes to show you that you can't count on anything!

4. What's your favorite book genre? Your least favorite? :p Why?

Hmm . . . my favorite book genre. I'm always drawn to books that are about the human condition and social issues whether it's fiction or non-fiction. So basically the ones that make you really depressed! I'm partial to literay fiction, historical fiction, comtemporary fiction, classics, memoirs and children's books including picture books, middle grade and young adult. My least favorite genres? Well, I don't read romance, thrillers, crime, urban fantasy or anything that is particularly vulgar, overly sexual, heavy language or extremely graphic. Like I mentioned in the last answer, I'm fairly eclectic and book blogging has expanded my reading selections in ways that I never imagined.

5. Ok, this always gets asked. What is/are your favorite book/s? What do you like most about them?

Well, I've never been one to rank books. A book that might appeal to me as a thirty year old wouldn't have been the same when I was eighteen. How about a few of my favorites just since I started blogging. I would count The Only True Genius in the Family by Jennie Nash, Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center and Shooting the Moon by Francis O'Roark Dowell because each one spoke to me personally. I have fallen in love with everything Jacqueline Woodson has written because she's a simply beautiful writer. I

6. I posted something on my personal blog, entitled The Hot Ones Are Always Fictional. Can you add more to my list? :)

I've been sitting on this question for half an hour. I went through my entire review list and I've just realized that I don't read any books with hot characters in them! I must be missing out! I suppose the exception is The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I'm going to add Gale to your list.

7. When's the best time for you to read? In the morning, noon, evening?

I seriously have no idea how I fit my reading in between watching my kids and blogging. I try to sneak it whenever I can. I'll sit outside while my kids play in the sandbox, or try to get wherever we are going about 15 minutes early so I can sit in the car while the kids are strapped in their carseats and can't do anything about sitting there. I used to read mostly at night but that's been replaced by computer time, so I guess I don't really have a set schedule.

8. What's your favorite reading 'position'. Lying in a comfy chair? Lying down on your bed? Standing (?!) LOL.

Well, we do have a pretty comfy couch. If I read in bed for too long I fall asleep but I read there too. We did invest in a pretty awesome hammock, which is tons of fun.

9. You have a very widely-read and well-established blog. Is there any advice you can give to new bloggers out there? (ME! :D)

Be patient. I'm completly shocked with how quickly new bloggers are assimilated into the community so I feel that bloggers who are frustrated with their stats when they've been blogging for only a month need to realize that everybody before them has been in the same boat. In all honesty when I started my blog in October of '07, I was only getting three hits a day by January. That's how far outside the community I was. In fact when I started my blog, I'd never have even read a blog before, much less a book one. My sister set me up and got me started as I really was clueless. New bloggers just need to reach out and not be scared of what's out there. Be open and friendly and you'll be instantly welcomed with open arms into an awesome community.

10. So, for the last question, if you'll ever write a book, what would it be like? A romance with your requisite dark and brooding hero? A thriller with a crazy murderer? Or something of the paranormal genre?

Well, like I mentioned earlier I actually don't read any of those genres, so I doubt I'd write a book along those lines. LOL Hmm . . . if I were to write a book . . . that's a hard question. I'll just throw this out there although I have never thought about it before (a lot of people ask me if I'd like to be a writer because I'm such a huge reader and the answer is always no) - I'd say probably a middle grade fiction book. Maybe something about a girl moving across the country and discovering that not everybody is the same religion as her family simply because that's what happened to me when I was eleven. It was a culture shock to say the least.

****

Thank you Natasha for being such a gracious interviewee! I had fun reading your answers. :)

Now, head on over to Maw Books and visit Natasha's fabulous blog! :)

In My Mailbox (3)

2009-09-13T18:22:00.000+08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren

For this week, I only bought one book. And that's just fine since I still have a lot of TBR books. :)

A modern girl's comedic odyssey in a school filled with the descendants of Greek gods.

When Phoebe's mom returns from Greece with a new husband and moves them to an island in the Aegean, Phoebe's plans for her senior year and track season are ancient history. Now she must attend the uber exclusive academy, where admission depends on pedigree, namely, ancestry from Zeus, Hera, and other Greek gods. That's right, they're real, not myth, and their teen descendants are like the classical heroes -supersmart and superbeautiful with a few superpowers. And now they're on her track team! Armed only with her Nikes and the will to win, Phoebe races to find her place among the gods.

- I've been hearing good things about this one, I hope I enjoy it too. :)

****

Btw, I'm having my first giveaway for a copy of Cleopatra's Daughter here. Hope you can join in!

Q&A with Michelle Moran

2009-09-13T13:25:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone!

Today, Michelle Moran, author of bestselling novels such as Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen is here to answer some questions on writing and mostly on (what she loves to write about) - Egyptian history! Curious enough? Read on! :)

Q: What prompted you to write a novel about Cleopatra’s daughter?

A: I do a great deal of traveling both for research and for fun, and most of my destinations are archaeological sites. On a trip to Alexandria in Egypt, I was afforded the amazing opportunity of participating in a dive to see the submerged remains of Cleopatra’s ancient city. More than ten thousand artifacts remain completely preserved underwater: sphinxes, amphorae, even the stones of the ancient palace. Although I'm not a fan of diving, it was an incredible experience, and it changed the way I looked at Cleopatra. I immediately wanted to know more about her life, and it was mere coincidence that my next trip took me to Italy, where her ten year-old children were brought to live after her suicide. While in Rome, I was able to retrace her daughter's steps, and upon seeing where her daughter had lived on the Palatine, I knew I had my next novel.

Q: What was it like to walk where Selene walked? In particular, what was it like to visit Octavian’s villa?

A: Unbelievable. For two thousand years, Octavian’s villa has sprawled across the top of the Palatine Hill, slowly deteriorating. At one time, its vibrantly painted dining room had hosted magnificent feasts, one of which would have been the celebration of the emperor’s triumph over Marc Antony and Cleopatra in Egypt. As the heir to Caesar, Octavian was determined to rule the western world without interference. He changed his name to Augustus, and with the help of his general Agrippa and his architect Vitruvius, he turned a city of clay into a city of marble.

I had known all of this on that day in March when the villa was opened for the first time in more than a century. What I hadn’t known, however, was just how unbelievable that trip back into the world of ancient Rome would be. After three million dollars in restoration, Italian archaeologists have been able to recreate not just the intimate library and studies Augustus used, but the mosaic floors he once walked on and the vividly painted ceilings he once walked beneath with Ovid, Seneca, Cicero, Horace, and even Julius Caesar himself. As we were quickly escorted through the frescoed rooms, we stopped in the triclinium – the dining room which had once seen so many famous faces smiling, laughing, even crying for mercy. With a little imagination, it was easy to see the tables and couches that had once adorned the chamber, and there was the undeniable feeling of standing in the presence of the ancients. It was the kind of feeling you only get in Grecian temples or Egyptian tombs.

Q: In all three of your novels, your narrators have been teenage girls. Is there are reason for this?

A: Actually, yes. I like to begin my novels during the time of greatest transition in a person’s life. And in the ancient world, the greatest transition in a woman’s life was often the time when she was married. Because women married at much younger ages two thousand years ago (twelve years old was not uncommon), my narrators have all been very young girls. In fact, Random House will be making a concerted effort to market Cleopatra's Daughter to young adults as well as adults. However, as my novels progress through time (my next book, for example, will be about Madame Tussaud), my narrators will be older.

Q: Is the Red Eagle based on an historical person?

A: Yes. The Red Eagle is actually based on several men who led slave rebellions (unsuccessfully, I might add) against Rome. Spartacus led the most famous revolt, but there were other men too, such as Salvius, who waged war with his army of slaves in ancient Sicily.

Q: You write in your acknowledgements page that the character of the Red Eagle is an homage to the works of several authors. What made you decide to do this?

A: Creative as well as personal reasons. First, I wanted to create a character that fans of swashbuckling adventures might love, and it wasn’t at all difficult to find historical personalities on which to base such a hero. Men like Spartacus and Salvius were heroes in the truest sense of the word. But I didn’t want there to be too much action, and certainly not so much that it would detract from the real story – that of Selene and her twin brother Alexander growing up in a foreign court. I could certainly have chosen not to include anything as obviously fictitious as the Red Eagle. But I wanted to illustrate just how threatening slave rebellions were at that time, and how ever-present the danger of becoming a slave would have been, even to captured royalty. And the creation of the Red Eagle wasn’t a huge stretch. Many rebels who came before – and after – the Red Eagle employed similar tactics: rousing the plebs, arming the slaves, and encouraging those in servitude to passive resistance.

On a more personal note, however, I wanted to include the Red Eagle because I knew it would be a character my father would have loved. He devoured anything having to do with ancient Rome, and I deeply regret not having written this while he was still alive.

Q: Was a third of Rome’s population really enslaved?

A: Sadly, yes. And you didn’t have to be born a slave to become one. You could be kidnapped and sold into slavery, your city could be overrun and you could be turned into a slave, or you might be sold into servitude by your own parents. Slavery meant an absolute loss of every human right we now take for granted, and as a slave, your body was no longer your own. Many slaves were physically and sexually abused, regardless of age or gender.

Q: Where did these slaves come from?

A: Many were Gallics and Greeks. The Gallics were from Gaul, a region which now encompasses France, Belgium, parts of Switzerland, and Germany.

Q: When did slavery end?

A: It hasn't. In the Western World, it was slowly - very slowly - phased out with the coming of Christianity (which was one of the reasons Christianity flourished… it appealed to the disenfranchised and enslaved, making everyone equal if not on earth than in the next life). But slavery certainly hasn't ended for everyone. There are women and children who are ensalved today, even in America and Europe. Of course, this isn't legal. Many of these victims of modern-day human trafficking have been brought over from places like Albania or Algeria and have no resources to escape. That's why organizations such as STOP International exist. You can visit them here.

Q: Is it still possible to visit the places Selene visited when she was in Rome?

A: Yes. In 2008, I went on a photographic safari in search of the places Selene would have gone during the brief years she was in Rome. Many of the photos are included here!

Q: What are you working on next? Will it also be marketed to both adults and YA?

A: Actually, my next book will be firmly adult fiction. MASKS OF THE REVOLUTION is about Madame Tussaud, who joined the gilded but troubled court of Marie Antoinette, and survived the French Revolution only by creating death masks of the beheaded aristocracy. I’m very excited about this novel, since Marie (the first name of Madame Tussaud) met absolutely everyone, from Jefferson to the Empress Josephine.

****

WOW. Thanks for that amazing interview, Michelle. I honestly learned a lot from it, not the least of which is the slavery that's still present in some parts of the world. I absolutely salute Michelle in supporting organizations such as STOP International!

Thanks again Michelle for the Q&A!

****

Btw, I'll be having a giveaway for Michelle's newest book (out in Sep 15), Cleopatra's Daugter! Stay tuned for that! :)

My First Giveaway! - Cleopatra's Daughter

2009-09-13T11:48:00.000+08:00

Michelle Moran has very very generously allowed me to host a contest for her newest book, Cleopatra's Daughter, which is due to be released this September 15!

Want to know more about Michelle Moran? See my interview here. :)

Now, for the giveaway... One winner will get a signed hardcover copy of Cleopatra's Daughter and an ancient Roman coin (with certificate of authenticity)!

Description:

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, but only two—the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander—survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra’s Daughter. Recounted in Selene’s youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters:

Octavia: the emperor Octavian’s kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra

Livia: Octavian’s bitter and jealous wife

Marcellus: Octavian’s handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir-apparent

Tiberius: Livia’s sardonic son and Marcellus’s great rival for power

Juba: Octavian’s ever-watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals

Selene’s narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place —the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the time. She dines with the empire’s most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon, and navigates the colorful, crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman-style justice is meted out with merciless authority.

Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra’s Daughter is a fascinating portrait of Imperial Rome and of the people and events of this glorious and tumultuous period in human history. Emerging from the shadows of history, Selene, a young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, will capture your heart.

To enter: Just leave a comment below w/ your e-mail address. :)

For extra entries:

+1 Recommend a book you'd think I'd enjoy. :)

+3 for being or becoming a follower

+2 for following me on twitter (@austenfanblogs)

+1 for tweeting about this or linking to your blog or anywhere! (please include the link in your comment)

Contest ends on September 19. Open to everyone - any country! The book will be coming from Michelle herself. :)

Note: I will draw the winner using a randomizer.

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy 4) - Richelle Mead

2009-09-10T18:31:00.000+08:00

MAJOR spoilers for those who haven't read the 1st 3 books in the series. So if you haven't, stop NOW! :p

Description:

DIMITRI'S HEART HAS GONE DARK

Now Rose must journey to the ends of the earth to find--and kill--her one true love...

Or has the time come to join him?

BOUND BY LOVE, BUT SWORN TO KILL...

The rest of the world had considered Dimitri dead. And to a certain extent, he was. But I hadn't been able to forget a conversation he and I had once had. We'd both agreed that we'd rather be dead—truly dead—than walk the world as Strigoi. It was time to honor our words.

Guardian Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

****

This is it! One of the most anticipated YA books this year!

I've yet to read other reviews for Blood Promise, but as for myself, I find it um... let's just say, not quite what I expected it to be. But don't get me wrong. I was satisfied with it. More than satisfied, actually. Richelle Mead was able to sustain the suspense factor and add more twists and turns for this book, which is always a good thing. :) I guess I just found the first half of the book to be not as exciting as I would have wanted. There were some scenes that I thought weren't really essential for the overall plot of the book. (Really trying hard to make this spoiler-free. Haha.) But then again, that's just me and I have no idea what the author will be planning to do with the other books.

I must say, I've never liked Rose before as much as I did in this book. She made such a huge leap in maturity here as compared to the other books. My respect for her really reached an all-time high. The same goes for Adrian. :) And though I absolutely love Dimitri for Rose, I can't help but feel excited for the 'possible' pairing up of these two too!

Actually, my biggest complaint of all was that... there's not enough Christian Ozera exposure! C'mon, we (or I) need some of that gorgeous-bad boy sarcasm! LOL. Anyway, I hope the 5th book, Spirit Bound, gives me that. :)

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 5/5

Book Love: 3.5/5

Here's the next book's description from Amazon: (SPOILERS: if you haven't read Blood Promise)

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he’s out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true— Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. Only this time, he won’t rest until Rose joins him…forever.

My ABCs

2009-09-09T09:23:00.001+08:00

I was tagged by La Coccinelle of The Ladybug Reads and it seemed fun so, well, here are my ABCs. :)

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you

2. Share your ABCs

3. Tag three people at the end by linking to their blogs

4. Let the three tagged people know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

5. Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people, so there is a big network of bloggers doing this tag

Here goes. . .

Available or single? Single. And available. Haha.

Best Friend? I have friends, close friends. But I've never singled one out as my best friend.

Cake or Pie? Definitely cake!

Drink of choice? Coffee! But I go for water most of the time.

Essential item for every day use? Um, clothes???? Haha.

Favorite color? It changes depending on my mood. But I'd always find purple and orange cute. :)

Google? YES, I love Google!

Hometown? Cavite (here in the Philippines!)

Indulgences? BOOKS

January or February? February - love is in the air... Haha. And I'm too lazy to go back to school in January (from Christmas break)

Kids and their names? None, too young to have kids.

Life is incomplete without…? those you love. :)

Marriage date? Haven't planned that one out yet. :D

Number of siblings? None. I know, but it's kinda fun, at times.

Oranges or apples? Apples.

Phobias and fears? I'm scared of lots of things - cats and any other animal which can do me harm. :p

Quote for the day? Hmm, here's the only one I could think of write now. It's something from The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray:

We take such pains to be polite. We never say what we mean.

Reason to smile? I'm about to have breakfast. (Right after I publish this.) :)

Season? Oh, I do wish we have winter here. But as it is, I'd prefer summer over the rain.

Tag 3 people:

I'm not sure if they already did this but here goes:

NotNessie of Today's Adventure

Melissa of Melissa's Bookshelf

Jackie of The Girl's Ever Expanding Library

... and anyone else who would like to play!

Unknown fact about me? I'm currently in college taking up Chemical Engineering. And believe me, books are such helpful stress relievers! :D

Vegetable you hate? Hmm, can't think of one. I like vegetables (though I don't LOVE them).

Worst habit? I'm kinda messy with my stuff. Haha.

X-rays you’ve had? Chest

Your fave food? Doughnuts! French fries! Potato salad!

Zodiac sign? Scorpio

In My Mailbox (2)

2009-09-06T17:34:00.000+08:00

EDIT: I forgot this. In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. :)

What I bought:

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

This promises to be a very amazing book! :)

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy Book 4) by Richelle Mead

DIMITRI'S HEART HAS GONE DARK

Now Rose must journey to the ends of the earth to find--and kill--her one true love...

Or has the time come to join him?

BOUND BY LOVE, BUT SWORN TO KILL...

Guardian Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

- (I had to put everything else aside for this) I just finished reading it, and I want more!!!! Will post my review probably w/in the week.

Received from a contest:

There’s an allure to vampire tales that have seduced readers for generations. From Bram Stoker to Stephenie Meyer and beyond, vampire stories are here to stay. For those fresh-blooded fans of paranormal romance or for those whose hunt and hunger never dies, these stories have what readers want! This collection of original tales comes from some of the hottest, most popular, and best-selling YA writers, including:

Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Tithe)

Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty)

Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Blood)

Cassandra Clare (City of Bones)

Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires)

Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie (Wicked)

Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof, Queen of Cool)

Kelley Armstrong (Women of Otherworld)

Maria V. Snyder

Sarah Rees Brennan

Lili St. Crow

Karen Mahoney

Dina James

They will make everyone a sucker for eternal kisses.

- Libba Bray! Melissa de la Cruz! Sounds fun! :)

Book Giveaways Found Again!

2009-09-02T21:29:00.000+08:00

Traveling to Teens is giving a way copy of This Is What I Want to Tell You (not sure when it ends) and Another Faust (ends on September 10). Both contests are international. :)

My Hobbies is giving away an ARC of Hush, Hush (Yes, I really want this one!). Contest ends on September 15.

OMG! Books! has a contest for a copy of Candor and a $15 Amazon gift card. It ends on September 16. Please do tell her that austenfan referred you. Thanks! :)

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

2009-09-02T20:09:00.000+08:00

Description from Goodreads:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—& the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty

& arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—& even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism & thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read.

****

Hmm, I could have done without that last sentence in the description. Hmm. Well, anyway.

This is my first try at reading anything that is based from anything by Jane Austen so I can't really compare with the other Austenian world themed books out there. And from reading it, let's just say I wasn't turned off from reading more Jane Austen inspired books. In fact, it made me curious to see what the other authors have done with the other Austen novels to spice things up a bit. :)

Surprisingly, the book stayed true to most of the important parts of Pride and Prejudice. Those who have read P&P before (and still haven't got the chance to read it again - ME! ME!) might get confused as, naturally, some parts from the original book were modified. But though that may be the case, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies followed the framework of the original book, which I think was a wise decision on the author's part as I don't think fans of Jane Austen can stand it if even the main storyline was changed! :p

Honestly, I think those who aren't that big fans of Jane Austen may be able to appreciate her more through this book. Seth Grahame-Smith not only retained Austen's witty remarks, he made them so outrageous you can't help but laugh at the absurdity of them all! Plus, this was made to adapt with more younger people, especially to those who don't really care much for the Old English way of how Jane Austen wrote.

The illustrations were also a nice touch, I sort of wished there were more of them strewn about the whole book. :) As for the zombie thing? Though some parts did gross me out, they still added to the fun and excitement of the book. But despite the book's title, I didn't really feel that zombies played that big a part in the book. What really drew me in was the author's hilarious way of retelling the novel as well as the in-your-face frankness exhibited by the some (if not all) of the characters. :)

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Book Love: 4/5

****

By the way, to those who've also read and reviewed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, you're eliigble to join into Velvet of vvb32 reads' zombie bag o'goodies giveaway. Check out her blog for more details!

Ok, Here's another one.

2009-08-31T22:27:00.000+08:00

Please don't get mad at me for posting about too many book contests. :) But here's a cool one:

Page Turners has a giveaway for Fire by Kristin Cashore! It ends on September 2. Go ahead and join! :)

Melissa's Bookshelf 300 followers contest!

2009-08-31T19:51:00.001+08:00

Melissa's Bookshelf is having a 300 followers contest w/c ends TONIGHT!

Prizes are:

Grand Prize - $25 e-gift certificate for Amazon.com or BN.com

and another will get

a book valued at $10 or less from the Book Depository.

Head on over to her site to join!

In My Mailbox

2009-08-30T18:04:00.000+08:00

I've seen a lot of blogs doing this but this will my first time to participate. :)

In My Mailbox, hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren, showcases books you've received, bought or borrowed w/in the past week.

I'm super psyched by the books I bought this week (w/c is primarily why I decided to join on IMM)! :D

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

mother acting so strangely?

All Cammie wants is a nice, normal semester, but she's about to learn her greatest lesson yet—that when you go to a school for spies, nothing is ever as it seems.

It's the sequel to I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You, w/c I'd just reviewed! :)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I've heard A LOT of good things about this and it feels like I'm the only one who hasn't read it yet so yeah, I'm really excited to read this!

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The

magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again. Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is desperate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

This is the Demon's Lexicon. Turn the page.

Sounds interesting as well. :)

The Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott

Everybody loves KJ. Especially the geeks. See, KJ Miller is super nice, smart, pretty, the stage manager of her high school’s spring musical . . . and a total geek magnet. She’s like the geek pied piper of Washington High, drawing every socially clueless guy in a five-mile radius. If only Cameron, the hottest guy in school, would follow her around and worship her the way her entourage of dorks do. Enter Tama Gold, queen of the popular crowd, and solution to all of KJ’s problems. KJ is too nice, and the nice girl never gets the guy. Tama’s ready to help KJ get cruel, ditch the dorks, and win Cameron’s heart. But is KJ?

The cover just looked so cute I had to buy it! :)

I'd Tell You I Love, But Then I'd Have to Kill You - Ally Carter

2009-08-25T21:35:00.000+08:00

Taken from the author's site:

The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school—that is, if every school teaches advanced martial arts in PE, chemistry always consists of the latest in chemical warfare, and everyone breaks CIA codes for extra credit in computer class. So in truth, while the Gallagher Academy might say it's a school for geniuses what they really mean is spies. But what happens when a Gallagher Girl falls for a boy who doesn't have a code name?

Cammie Morgan may be fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti), but the Gallagher Academy hasn't prepared her for what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without him ever being the wiser, but can she have a regular relationship with a regular boy who can never know the truth about her? Cammie may be an elite spy in training, but in her sophomore year, she's doing something riskier than ever—she's falling in love.

When I first saw this at the bookstore, I knew I had to buy it. I mean, with a title like that, who wouldn't want to read it? :)

I must say that the book has a very unique concept, indeed. Teenage girls training to become spies? Never heard of that one before. And I think that's one of the best things this series has going for it. As for the first book, as expected, I did had fun reading it. The characters were all likable (wait, there is such a word, right?), especially Cammie - I loved reading the book from her perspective! Throw in a hot, new teacher, an also new bitchy roommate, and an uber cute teenage boy, and yay!, you have yourself another great YA read. :)

My only complaint: It seemed to lack um, a bit more excitement. I'm not sure if I've just been reading too many mystery/paranormal books, but I missed that awesome what's-gonna-happen-next rush in this book.

Plot: 3/5
Writing: 5/5
Book Love: 3.5/5

Blue Moon - Alyson Noel

2009-08-22T22:58:00.000+08:00

Description from the author's site:

Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever's powers are increasing, Damen's are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.

Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen's past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...

****

First off, let me just say that I LOVED Evermore, the 1st book in the series. It's a very fun, feel good, romantic read. :) Blue Moon, though, it's such a huge turnabout. And I don't mean that in a bad way. Okay, let me use an analogy for this. Haha. Evermore:Blue Moon is like simmering:boiling. I guess that's because it's much more intense. In Evermore, you (well, I) used to wonder, 'When are they going to be together? Aaaaak! I can't wait for it'. But in Blue Moon, you know that they are together but it's just those unforeseen circumstances blocking their way, which in this case proves to be a tougher foe. And by foe, I mean that literally and figuratively. Yes, there's a new character! :)

So if you've read Evermore and liked it, you need to go read this. As in, right now! And if you've read Evermore and didn't really like it, I have a feeling, this book can get you to change your mind. :) As for me, I read it in one sitting so I guess it's pretty obvious that I liked it. :) Seriously, I think I weirded out my roommates cause I was periodically going, "Oh, sh*t!", "No, no, no, nooooo!", and all that. :p

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 3.5/5

Book Love: 4/5

Some more contests found!

2009-08-21T19:08:00.000+08:00

The Book Pixie is having two giveaways!

One for:

w/c ends on September 18. International. :) Click here to join!

And another one:
It ends on September 1 and is also international. Head on over here to join!

Found an awesome Blood Promise contest

2009-08-20T22:25:00.001+08:00

One of the books I'm super excited to read is Blood Promise, the 4th installment of the Vampire Academy series. You want it too? Well, you can win one over at Lauren's Review Bookshelf. Check out her blog (she's been blogging everyday in August!) Contest ends on August 22, at 11pm (EDT), so hurry and join already! :)

Btw, the contest is international. :)

And please do tell her I sent you there if you're joining. :)

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

2009-08-20T20:57:00.000+08:00

Clare and Henry met when Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six. They were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry, thirty-one. No, that’s not a typo. You read it right. Henry suffers from the Chrono-Displacement Disorder, a condition wherein his genetic timeclock resets periodically and he suddenly finds himself pulled into either the past or the future. The Time Traveler’s Wife relates the story of the couple whose love was constantly tested by the very same thing that brought them together.

The novel was narrated using the two main characters’ POVs, a style that I’d say was not only refreshing but perfectly apt and effective in conveying Clare and Henry’s inner conflicts. It was fun to witness the characters’ complementary thoughts and reactions on particular instances of their married life, something that’s a bit rare among contemporary novels.

One thing you might find objectionable with the book is the explanation on the time traveling bit. Though I appreciate how the author tried to explain the phenomenon through molecular genetics… I just didn’t get it! The idea seemed too far-fetched for me. But then again, that’s fiction. :) But though the framework of the book must seem almost of a paranormal quality, the rest of the story is surprisingly very natural. Niffenegger succeeded in creating a pair of believable characters; a perfect fit whether engaged in easy banter or joined in moments bursting with unashamed sensuality. I, for one, wanted to wrap them up just so they’d be together forever in their happy place. :) I know, I’m such a girl!

Overall, The Time Traveler’s Wife is recommended for anyone who ‘s up for a little love story with a bit of a sci-fi twist. And oh, do make sure you have some Kleenex nearby! :)

Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Book Love: 4/5

****

The Time Traveler’s Wife is Audrey Niffenegger’s debut novel. Her next book, Her Fearful Symmetry, is set to be released this coming October 1st.

****

And oh, I've recently watched its film adaptation, you can find my review of it here.

I received awards! :)

2009-08-19T22:26:00.000+08:00

The first one is the Hearthfelt award from Bookatopia. :)

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when your relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know the feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea, or a hot toddy? That is what the Hearthfelt Award is all about, feeling warm inside.

Rules

Put the logo on your blog/post. Nominate up to to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside. Be sure to link your nominees within your post. Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

I love visiting these blogs so I'd like to pass this on to:

1. vvb32 reads

2. Today's Adventure

3. Melissa's Bookshelf

I received the next two awards from Books are my Best Friends

The Lemonade Award

The Lemonade Award is a feel good award that shows great attitude or gratitude.

Now, I'm sharing this award to:

1. Simply Books

2. Bookatopia

3. Dissecting Perfection

Let's be friends award

Blogs that receive the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and befriends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.

I'd love to pass this on to everyone on my blogroll, all my followers, and anyone who visits my blog! Let's all be friends! :)

How many have you read from the BBC list?

2009-08-16T15:53:00.000+08:00

I grabbed this from A BookLover's Diary.

The BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books here. How do your reading habits stack up?

Wah, I've only read 13 (if I counted right!) :( Oh well, at least it's more than 6! LOL.

Instructions: Copy this into your NOTES. Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read. Tag other book nerds. Tag me as well so I can see your responses!

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (x)

2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (x)

3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (x)

4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (x)

5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee ()

6 The Bible () - haven't read the whole Bible

7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (x)

8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell ()

9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman ()

10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens ()

11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott ()

12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy ()

13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller ()

14 Complete Works of Shakespeare ()

15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier()

16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien ()

17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk ()

18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger ()

19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (x)

20 Middlemarch - George Eliot ()

21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell ()

22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (x)

23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens ()

24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy ()

25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams ()

26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh ()

27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky ()

28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (x)

29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll ()

30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame ()

31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy ()

32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens ()

33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis ()

34 Emma-Jane Austen (x)

35 Persuasion - Jane Austen (x)

36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis ()

37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hossein ()

38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres ()

39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden ()

40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne ()

41 Animal Farm - George Orwell ()

42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown ()

43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ()

44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving ()

45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins ()

46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery ()

47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy ()

48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood ()

49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding ()

50 Atonement - Ian McEwan ()

51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel ()

52 Dune - Frank Herbert ()

53 Cold Comfort Farm ()

54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (x)

55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth ()

56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon ()

57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens ()

58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley ()

59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Mark Haddon ()

60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ()

61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck ()

62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov ()

63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt ()

64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold ()

65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (x)

66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac ()

67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy ()

68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding ()

69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie ()

70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville ()

71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens ()

72 Dracula - Bram Stoker ()

73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett ()

74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson ()

75 Ulysses - James Joyce ()

76 The Inferno – Dante ()

77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome ()

78 Germinal - Emile Zola ()

79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray ()

80 Possession - AS Byatt ()

81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens ()

82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell ()

83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker ()

84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro ()

85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert ()

86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry ()

87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White ()

88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom ()

89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ()

90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton ()

91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad ()

92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery ()

93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks ()

94 Watership Down - Richard Adams ()

95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole ()

96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute ()

97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas (x)

98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare ()

99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl ()

100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo ()

I found a great contest!

2009-08-16T14:46:00.000+08:00

Book Junkie is holding an awesome contest - she's giving away Books 1 to 7 of the Sookie Stackhouse series. It's international and it ends on August 21. Click here to join!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week Meme

2009-08-16T10:14:00.000+08:00

Since I'm sort of a newbie book blogger, I decided to join in on the fun that is the Book Blogger Appreciation Week to meet and make make friends with fellow book bloggers. :)

So I went ahead and grabbed this meme for (new) BBAW participants:

1. What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?

I love sharing with other book lovers the books that made me really squeak with delight. And I especially love hearing their thoughts on the reviews that I make! :)

2. What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?

Hmm, I have to say all the bloggers who took the time to visit my blog, read my reviews, and even drop a comment on some of them. I can't remember all of them but off the top of my head are Melissa of Melissa's Bookshelf, Sheila of Bookjourney and Velvet of vvb32 reads. :)

3) What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

Okay, here's one: What did you enjoy most during last year's BBAW? :)

Some Blog Things

2009-08-09T22:56:00.000+08:00

I changed my blog's layout! Whatcha think of it? :) I decided to go for something simple and just mess around with the colors. I think it looks great (so much for modesty, huh? :p)

I've been making some changes with my other blog as well - I bought it its own domain! Yay! LOL.

Anyway, if you want you can go visit it (Please do!) here:

Quintessential Babble

Also, I posted an entry over there, which it seems nobody noticed, so if you guys would be so kind as to give it some love, please hop on over there! :) Here's the link:

The Hot Ones Are Always Fictional
(this was inspired by a Facebook group that I joined)

I'm off then! Will be posting reviews in the coming days! :)

Rating System?

2009-08-04T10:17:00.000+08:00

So I'm thinking I should probably create a rating system for my book reviews. I initially decided against this since I could be a bit fickle-minded about books and can never really figure out at once how much I love or not-love a certain book. But for the purpose of sounding more well, formal and organized (?), I think I'd like to give it a try. Hmm, wonder how I'll do it? using the stars rating? or numerical (1-10)? Anyway, do watch out for that! :D

Evermore - Alyson Noel

2009-08-03T21:00:00.000+08:00

Taken from the Alyson Noel's site:

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's entire life story by touch. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen.

Damen Auguste is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head—wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can see straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. She has no idea just who he really is—or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

****

Evermore is probably one of the best books I've read this year! I LOVED it. I can totally see why a lot of people are comparing it to Twilight. For me though, there weren't really a lot in common between the two, but I guess they're alike in the sense that they both were able to rouse those tender, mushy, girly, gosh-that's-so-sweet feelings within me. I read the book with a very lighthearted feeling, wanting the book to never end. Sadly, the book is a bit short so I finished it within a day! Would-be readers: Don't despair though, the sequel's already out! (I've read it and yes, it's awesome!)

P.S. The author could not have picked a better name for the guy protagonist: DAMEN AUGUSTE. Yep, it's perfect. :)

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 3.5/5

Book Love: 5/5

Becoming Jane - Movie

2009-07-29T04:17:00.000+08:00

Now, I'm one step closer to completing the Everything Austen challenge. Yay for me! :)

Basically, the movie focused on Jane Austen's life before she wrote her novels (or maybe in the process of writing them). More importantly, the movie centered on Jane Austen's supposed relationship with Tom Lefroy. Keep in mind though that this is a bit fictional. While Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy did know each other and maybe even had a bit of a well, 'something special', I think the movie, maybe, exaggerated it a bit.

As a Jane Austen lover, I really enjoyed the film. I could totally picture Anne Hathaway as Jane and James McAvoy was just superb! I mean, what is up with that guy?! It's like you can give him any role and he. can. deliver. (Now, I'm fangirling. LOL.)

A bit of a spoiler here, so you may stop now. :)

It just seems so sad that Jane Austen, who continues to delight us with such romantic stories and wonderful heros like Mr. Darcy and Captain Wentworth, didn't get to be with her one true love. A bit sad, don't you think?

Reality Bites. . . Fiction Does It Better!

The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte

I'm back! (I hope. :p)

Giveaways (from the book blogging community)!

International Book Tours!

Over the Top! Award

Review Archives

In My Mailbox (13)

The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols

New Contests Found! :)

Giveaway from the Misfit Salon

In My Mailbox (12)

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

New Rating System

Two Contests at The Neverending Shelf!

Giveaway at Princess Bookie!

In My Mailbox (11)

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Giveaway at Extreme Reader Book Reviews!

Some of my (a bit) recent favorite reads!

I have a new header!!!! Yay!!!!

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

I hate spam.

In My Mailbox (10)

Author Interview: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Audrey, Wait! - Robin Benway

Another Great Contest (not mine)

In My Mailbox (9)

Crazy Beautiful - Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Huge Contest! (not mine)

Once Upon A Week: Interview w/ Bri Meets Books

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine - Michelle Rowen

A Contest (Not Mine!)

In My Mailbox (8)

The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods #4) - Melissa de la Cruz

Bite Me! - Melissa Francis

(Fallen) Angels and (Possessed) Demons contest! (not my contest. :D)

In My Mailbox (7)

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

100 followers + In My Mailbox (6)

Between Me and the River - Carrie Host

In My Mailbox (5)

Blogroll Update + Networking Sites

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Oh.My.Gods. - Tera Lynn Childs

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy - Gallagher Girls Book 2 - Ally Carter

I changed my layout! (Again) :)

Cleopara's Daughter Winner!

In My Mailbox (4)

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

First 3 Chapters of Shadowland!

Contest Reminder :)

BBAW: Me and My Reading Habits

BBAW Interview Swap w/ Natasha of Maw Books!

In My Mailbox (3)

Q&A with Michelle Moran

My First Giveaway! - Cleopatra's Daughter

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy 4) - Richelle Mead

My ABCs

In My Mailbox (2)

Book Giveaways Found Again!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Ok, Here's another one.

Melissa's Bookshelf 300 followers contest!

In My Mailbox

I'd Tell You I Love, But Then I'd Have to Kill You - Ally Carter

Blue Moon - Alyson Noel

Some more contests found!

Found an awesome Blood Promise contest

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

I received awards! :)

How many have you read from the BBC list?

I found a great contest!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week Meme

Some Blog Things

Rating System?

Evermore - Alyson Noel

Becoming Jane - Movie