In My Mailbox (18)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren that I participate in regularly.  All you have to do is post whatever books you've received in the past week, bought or for review, and any cool swag you want to mention.

This week I purchased:

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

 

Heaven's Spite by Lilith Saintcrow

 

 

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

 

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

 

 

Skinned by Robin Wasserman

 Won:

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin (from Kristi @ The Story Siren)

Gack!

The reason I haven't posted many reviews recently isn't that I haven't been reading. It's because I've been jumping around way too much! So instead of a review for today, I'll just give random thoughts on the plethora of books I'm currently reading.

Matched by Ally Condie: Kind of slow, but intriguing. I am just not feeling Xander, but Ky is cool. I feel like the story so far could have been compressed very much, but it seems like something big is about to happen. Unfortunately, not yet.
















Heaven's Spite by Lilith Saintcrow: This series is just so totally awesome. Have I mentioned how much I absolutely adore Perry? I know that I'm not supposed to like him, but really, he just rocks. I want more Perry! It looks like he's going to be in this book more than the others, which is great :D

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick: I am having trouble getting into this, which sucks after how much I loved Hush, Hush. The characters just keep pissing me off. Also, I have been spoiled several times, which as is something else that pisses me off. Freakin' Twitter, man!













School books: Blargh! aye hatez u so much rite now dat i cant bring myself to follo dose gramer and spling rulz dat evry1 seemz to liek so much. leev meh alonez. kthxbai.

Off Topic

A few of the blogs I follow have been discussing things other than books recently (TV, movies, music, etc.) and I was wondering what you guys' opinion on stuff like this is? Do you hate it? Love it? Indifferent?

It seems like it might be fun to talk about something other than books every once in a while, but if my awesome followers don't want me to, then I won't. Just a little question.

Also, if I do end up discussing alternate media, what is your personal preference? I definitely don't want you guys to say yes and mean that you'd love to hear about my tastes in music and then have me go blabbing about this cool new movie that I saw.

So what do you guys think?

Oh, the Woes of Blogging

1. The waiting: I usually read books that either just came out or haven't been released yet so that my blog can stay somewhat up-to-date. I prefer series to standalones. Because of these two annoying little facts, I sometimes have to wait 1-2 years between books. Argh!

2. Time: Blogging, for me at least, takes up a lot of time. I have to read books, review books, read and hopefully comment on other blogs, and keep up with relevant industry news, etc. Also, I am a full time college student, I am writing a book, I have pets to take care of, chores to do, friends to hand out with. Oh, yeah, and I watch a LOT of TV. Eight shows on a regular basis. I vote to add ten hours to every day!

3. Addictive: No matter how valid my many complaints are, I can't stop doing it. I don't WANT to stop doing it! It's just too much fun and total awesomeness to stop. I get to meet so many cool people and read amazing books that aren't even out yet, and hopefully gain some exposure for authors that I love so that they can keep publishing my favorite books. Maybe blogging isn't so awful, after all XD

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John.

 

THE CHALLENGE: Piper has one month to get a paying gig for Dumb—the hottest new rock band in school.

THE DEAL: If she does it, she'll become manager of the band and get her share of the profits, which she desperately needs since her parents raided her college fund.

THE CATCH: Managing one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl who is ready to beat her up. And doing it all when she's deaf. With growing self-confidence, an unexpected romance, and a new understanding of her family's decision to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, Piper just may discover her own inner rock star.

REVIEW: Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?

Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and always surprising.

Book: Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Release Date: October 12, 2010
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult
Series: Standalone
Obtained: ARC
Rating: (5 Zombies)

Please Ignore Vera Dietz is one of those books that makes you think. If you're looking for something light and fluffy where everyone rides away into the sunset on fluffy white unicorns, blissfully oblivious to everything around them, then you should probably just stop now. Read some chick lit. Vera Dietz will make you question how things are, and what you could be doing to make them different. Some people may not like this. I did.

I don't read a lot of contemporary YA, so I'm not sure if this is the norm or not, but Vera Dietz narrated by Vera, her father, Charlie, the Pagoda, and other random things that had something to say about what was happening. I was really cool to be able to hear from people besides the protagonist, so that I could get other versions of Vera's story that weren't so biased.

The issue of censorship and not speaking up for other people and yourself comes up a lot in Vera Dietz, and the entire book revolves around Vera learning that sometimes staying quiet, no matter how much it may seem like the thing to do, can get people hurt or worse. Sometimes you have to talk, and Vera has to come to terms with this after the death of her best friend.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a story about an issue that matters here and now with a touch of "did that really just happen?" thrown in every once in a while for effect, and a must read for any teen or young adult who doesn't understand why they have to just shut up and mind their own business instead of intervening to save a life.

REVIEW: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?


Book: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Release Date: October 19, 2010
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult
Series: Nightshade, #1
Obtained: ARC from publisher
Rating: (5 Zombies)

For as much as I loved this book, I really can't think of much to say. I was pretty much hooked from the second chapter on, but I didn't like Shay very much. What can I say, I'm def Team Ren. Ren was just so wonderful and amazing and awesome. I could go on and on and on about the many virtues of Renier Laroche, but I won't because that's why you have to read the book.

The pack dynamics were probably my favorite part of the story. All of the prophecy crap was kind of over the top, but the pack was just plain cool. They were like a real wolf pack, not like the wannabes that some werewolves get. Oh, but they aren't werewolves, they're Guardians.

At first all of the Guardian/Keeper/Searcher backstory was really confusing, but about a fourth of the way into Nightshade it all just clicked and I was like, oh, duh, and everything was awesome after that. Except for the ending. I didn't like the ending.

For those of you who've already read Nightshade, what was your take on the way it ended? Predictions/hopes for Book 2?

In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren that I participate in regularly.  All you have to do is post whatever books you've received in the past week, bought or for review, and any cool swag you want to mention.

This week I purchased:

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Taken by Midnight by Lara Adrian

And I received this from NetGalley for review:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Saturday Is Here!

I finally don't have any homework, but since I've been so overloaded for the past few weeks, I don't really have anything book related to say :( I haven't finished a book in who knows how long, and I don't want to blog right now, I want to read! So instead of giving you guys a real post today, I'm just going to read until I fall asleep and hopefully there will be a few reviews coming up :) Ta ta!

Supernatural Fun

Because I am lazy and can't stop watching this, I figured I'd just share it with you. Have fun!

Waiting On Wednesday (17)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Across the Universe by Beth Revis.


A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone—one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship—tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

And, just because this is my blog and I can post whatever I want, here is a random picture of Misha Collins, the sexiest guy on earth, as Castiel in CW's Supernatural.

Ain't he just adorable? He's wondering why he's on my blog, hence the confused and slightly startled expression. Well, he'll just have to keep wondering...

Top Three Paranormal YAs That Don't Get Enough Attention

I've been thinking a lot lately about some books that I've absolutely loved, but whenever I say anything about them, everyone's just sitting there going huh?, so I figured they deserved some air time on the blog. Books like The Hunger Games and Shiver are great and all, but they don't need any extra publicity. Everyone already knows about them, and most people in the blogging community have already read them and formed their own opinions. These three books, however, I haven't been hearing much about, but I think that I should. If that made any sense whatsoever.

So, here, in no particular order, are my top three under-appreciated paranormal YAs:

1. 13 to Life by Shannon Delany: I don't remember how I heard about this one, but I picked it up the day it was released and devoured it in less than twenty-four hours. It was so good, I just couldn't put it down! While some of the main character Jess's friends and her choices concerning them were slightly stupid and annoying, it was an overall awesome story, and I can't wait for the second book. Beware of cliffhanger ending, though.

2. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh: This was one of the most epically confusing and disorienting and trippy books I've ever read, but it was still totally awesome, possibly because of the weirdness. Also, I maybe fell in *lurve* with one of the baddies who maybe didn't make it to the end of the book and maybe did. Like I said, it was confusing. But awesome. Read it. Ahem. Cliffhangers ahead. You've been warned.

3. Eight Grade Bites by Heather Brewer: This series recently ended, but there's going to be a spinoff about one of the side characters, Joss, who was my absolute favorite. Well, he was tying for a while, but then the dude he was tied with kind of got offed, so then he was my only favorite. But anyways, this is one of the funnies, cutest vampire stories ever, but still dark enough to not be some sparkly Twilight vampire crap. Since I was just talking about the entire series instead of one book in particular, I must admit that I don't remember if any of the earlier books have cliffhangers, but the fourth (second to last book) does.

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren that I participate in regularly.  All you have to do is post whatever books you've received in the past week, bought or for review, and any cool swag you want to mention.

What To Read?

The books I need to read have been piling up lately and I have no clue where to start. I've narrowed it down to three choices, but I can't seem to decide what to read next. So, dear readers, I have come to you for help. Here are the choices:

1. Girl, Stolen by April Henry

2. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

3. Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram

What should I read?

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber.

 

 I've read some of the author's other books, and they're really good, so I'm looking forward to reading this one.

Why I Haven't Been Posting Book Reviews

Two reasons: school and Supernatural.

School has been keeping me really busy since I have a full load this semester, and my math class gives a lot of homework. Seriously, what maniac decided that three chapters twice a week was a good idea? Argh. Anyways, it totally is not. Bad idea. Also, on Mondays and Wednesdays I'm at school until nine pm. Not a lot of time for reading on those days.

Since I can't blame this all on school, I admit that I've recently discovered the awesomeness of Supernatural. This has to be the greatest show ever. I want to marry Dean. Like, now. That is, I would if I was legal, but since I'm not, I'll just wish. Also, he happens to be a fictional character. But I will settle for Jensen Ackles.

Maybe I will finish a book soon. Hopefully. I'm kind of reading some seriously boring ones right now, which is really slowing me down :[

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren that I participate in regularly.  All you have to do is post whatever books you've received in the past week, bought or for review, and any cool swag you want to mention.

 

(Some of the books are signed to me, and some to my brother, since we took turns getting up to get them signed.)

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway

Sea by Heidi R. Kling

The Thirteenth Chime by Emma Michaels

Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci

 

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Among the Ghosts by Amber Benson, illustrated by Sina Grace

Invisible Girl by Mary Hanlon Stone

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

 

The Last Princess and the Cup of Immortality by D. R. Whitney

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Pretty Little Devils by Nancy Holder

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari (My brother won this one by claiming to be afraid of bloggers.)

Nightwalkers by Keith Kekic (From Tori @ The Book Faery. Thanks!)

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Swag:

 

So, what did you get in your mailbox this week?