tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57859791458211593352024-03-13T07:10:58.333-05:00Awesome BookwormBriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-71155194974331396532012-04-01T00:01:00.000-05:002012-04-01T00:19:25.849-05:00Between Shades of Gray: Interview with the editor!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys</span></b></i><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><i></i></b><i><b></b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously - and at great risk - documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">So, today, I have something I'm very excited to share with you all! Between Shades of Gray is a book I loved, and I was offered the chance to interview the editor of this book. I'm very honored to introduce Tamra Tuller! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: black;">The Interview:</b></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692397"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692396" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">1) Why were you initially interested in <i>Between <span class="yshortcuts cs4-visible" id="lw_1332906886_0" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer;">Shades of Gray</span></i>?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><i id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692543"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692542" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692541">Between Shades of Gray</span></span></i> was originally acquired for Philomel by my boss, Michael Green, who is the president and publisher. He immediately felt the power of the story. From page one, it is utterly gripping. It’s also a beautiful story with underlying messages of hope and strength. It’s the kind of book you don’t want to put down. And on top of being an incredibly compelling story, it is also an incredibly important one that is seldom told.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692517"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692516" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">2) Did you previously know about the Soviet Union? I've heard a lot of people say that this book had introduced them to the topic.</b></span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692511" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692510" style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">No, I didn’t know anything about the Soviet occupation of the Baltic countries. I was shocked when I read the manuscript and immediately thought that I must be incredibly ignorant. So I started asking people. And it turned out that I was not alone. Not a single person I spoke to knew this had ever happened. And I found that to be so sad, and I realized even more than ever this was a story that must be told.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">3) Who is your favorite character in the novel? Care to explain?</b></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692657" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692656" style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">Hmmm. I love them all! All of them. From the grumpy bald man who seems so thoughtless but turns out to be kind, to little Jonas, so sweet and innocent, to of course, Lina, our heroine. But I have to say my favorite is Andrius. He’s so strong and so brave. And I’m a sucker for a little romance, especially under those horrific conditions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">4) If you were to recommend this book to someone, what would you say?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: black;">5) What is, in your opinion, the best thing about this book?</b></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692669" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692668" style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">There are so many things to choose from, but I think one of the things the book made me think about is strength. I was reading this wondering how anybody could endure such horrors, and it made me question my own strength. What would I do under these circumstances? I just don’t know. Every day so many of us let the most minor things beat us down and discourage us. I think we have a lot to learn from these characters and how they supported each other and built each other up to become collectively stronger.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692675" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692674">Another thing I love about this book is how it shows the complexity of human beings. We’re not all good or all bad. It’s important to remember that everybody has a story, and sometimes people do terrible things under very difficult circumstances for their own reasons, which quite often are not out of malice, but out of self-preservation. A character like Kretzsky is the perfect example of this. We feel throughout so much of the book that he is just pure evil, </span></span><span class="yiv1769587387apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: small;">but then we learn he’s had to suffer his own atrocities</span></span><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692679" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692678"><span style="font-size: small;">, and he is probably making the only decisions he can under unthinkable conditions. There’s just no black or white where people are concerned. Hence the title, </span><i id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692682"><span id="yui_3_2_0_9_1332906832692681">Between Shades of Gray</span></i>.</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Giveaway:</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ2SQ_MhyjP6XYWFtSnNvxjQYT446P1GHmeUvsiSGaHozkv1Yrhw33i8qMBNAe-PE0y2ef_dVGjbtwmvXWs1dqgMHdNPC_c6BMPBiHAdf3a5VsDa1e1DLqiHePs276erBtvpGgCnvUr4/s1600/giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ2SQ_MhyjP6XYWFtSnNvxjQYT446P1GHmeUvsiSGaHozkv1Yrhw33i8qMBNAe-PE0y2ef_dVGjbtwmvXWs1dqgMHdNPC_c6BMPBiHAdf3a5VsDa1e1DLqiHePs276erBtvpGgCnvUr4/s320/giveaway.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">So, if you've stuck around for the end of this post, I've got a little surprise for you. Those of you who want one will have the chance to win a soundtrack card. One winner will receive a signed one and one will receive an unsigned one. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">To enter, leave a comment on this post, with your email. If you've read BSoG, tell me what you thought was the best part about it. And if you haven't, tell me about the best part of a book you've recently read. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">Please remember to read to giveaway policy if you are unsure of the rules.13 years or older, and if you're under 18, please have parent's permission to enter. US only.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: black;">The info:</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">Ruta's websites are:</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/rutasepetys" rel="nofollow" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">http://www.facebook.com/rutasepetys</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com/" rel="nofollow" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com</a>/</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">Also, the Official Fanpage for Ruta is going up April 3rd! Check it out <a href="http://rutafans.wordpress.com/">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">The full schedule for the tour is below, links are found at Hannah's blog, which is <a href="http://thebookvortex.com/">here.</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">March 29: Hannah- Intro</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">March 30: Jamie/The Hot Author Report</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">March 31: Mundie Moms</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">April 1: Brielle/Awesome Bookworm</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">April 2: Sara/Through the Looking Glass and Back Again</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">April 3: Marla/Starting the Next Chapter</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">April 4: Hannah/The Book Vortex</span></div>
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<br />Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-75075940617137298962012-03-14T19:56:00.000-05:002012-03-14T19:56:14.627-05:00In which Brielle attempts to explain her absence, but fails miserably.So, hi? Remember me? Wow, the blog post thing looks so weird now. Anyways, I am Brielle, I knew you many moons ago, perhaps, unless you're new. So, yeah, here's a list, because I can probably talk better through a list right now.<br />
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<b>1. I am a failure</b><br />
<b> A. I haven't posted in several weeks.</b><br />
<b> B. I haven't finished much of anything in several weeks.</b><br />
<b> C. I haven't even been on Twitter much lately.</b><br />
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<b>2. Why I am a failure</b><br />
<b> A. See above.</b><br />
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<b>3. My excuses for why I've become a failure.</b><br />
<b> A. October through January starts like, lots of parties and stuff. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, my birthday, etc. So I'd be busy already. Last year I wasn't really into blogging when all this happened. </b><br />
<b> B. I also went through a super sudden move to a new house. Hello, new house. Meet the blog.</b><br />
<b> C. I got into not blogging. Kind of stuck that way, didn't it?</b><br />
<br />
<b>4. Some things I've kind of gotta break to you guys.</b><br />
<b> A. My first post back in forever is a post about why I've been gone.</b><br />
<b> B. I think I'm going to take an actual break from blogging for a bit. Yes, I did just take one, but not entirely by choice. Just was super busy. But now I'm settled and I kind of just keep seeing books and knowing they're going to be awesome, but hesitant to read them because I know it's something like a job.</b><br />
<b> C. My first post back in forever is a post about why I'm going to be gone again.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>5. Why I'm taking a break for a bit.</b><br />
<b> A. Reading has been a little meh lately. Not that I don't like books still, I'm just kind of flopping around like, me no like reading things to analyze them.</b><br />
<b> B. I've been writing a lot more. When I started this blog, I was upset that I couldn't get any attempted manuscripts to work out, and then I got mine to work, and then another, and now I'm kind of preoccupied with that.</b><br />
<br />
<b>6. Things I'd like to say</b><br />
<b> A. I still love you guys.</b><br />
<b> B. I still love BOOKS.</b><br />
<b> C. I'm not leaving forever, just until I get my mojo back.</b><br />
<b> D. Why did I just use the word mojo?</b><br />
<b> E. I still like capes.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>To further prove my confusion to blogging right now, I've illustrated what I feel like. </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GYNwqE8Q6fDknEhi2daM6sd-MhG0HjCIK52IgFq4sGu9ChyNrAqSlzYvnVh8KHUDeBUb3nL4otlyhAzIlT5fTrEG2QFIgyNoNWwdtBnVDaM8MgBup-m31-P55QEtgXNWzPC0SEuHH6o/s1600/illustration.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GYNwqE8Q6fDknEhi2daM6sd-MhG0HjCIK52IgFq4sGu9ChyNrAqSlzYvnVh8KHUDeBUb3nL4otlyhAzIlT5fTrEG2QFIgyNoNWwdtBnVDaM8MgBup-m31-P55QEtgXNWzPC0SEuHH6o/s400/illustration.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-22162491576569742582012-01-27T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-27T06:00:11.350-06:00Review - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326003698l/2767052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326003698l/2767052.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><i>The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023521/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326845066&sr=1-1">Amazon Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games">Goodreads Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Page Count:</b> 374</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Overall Rating:</b> 5 Stars</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
Can I do just a little mini-rant/explanation right here?<br />
<br />
Sometimes, books are madly popular and their fans are kind of...well, some of them get angry when you don't like said books. Not that I didn't have hopes for The Hunger Games. But I find myself being legitimately afraid to read and dislike a book that people are crazy over. Especially when you can see reviews on Twitter that aren't even hateful that are getting tossed around because it was negative. It's kind of crazy. I wouldn't have posted a review of this if I didn't like it, because of how popular it is, but still. It's sill for me to be afraid to dislike a book, and this isn't the first time I've done this. I did it with Divergent and others.<br />
<br />
So yeah, it did take me forever to read this and I'm forever behind on it. That's why.<br />
<br />
Anyways, at the start of January, I realized that, hey, it's 2012 now and that means The Hunger Games movie comes out in like, well two months, really. I don't really like watching movies without reading the book first, especially if I've owned the book. Especially if I've owned the book for a freaking year.<br />
<br />
I read it in like, three or four days with time at school and all. I picked a weird week where I kept finding songs and stuff that inspired me to write, so I was a bit busier with that than reading, but I did read it in a decent time span.<br />
<br />
So, for the negatives first, only because there are fewer of those.<br />
<br />
The beginning is kind of slow for me. I don't know if anyone else had that problem, but the first few chapters are kind of hard to get through and then it really picks up around Chapter Four or so. Also, and I know someone is going to read this and probably want to lecture me about how hard the games are and all, but hear me out first. I felt like some things that Katniss complained about weren't even the bad parts of the game. Okay, sure, maybe she wasn't in love with a boy, but she didn't hate him, right? So why is she complaining about having to be nice to a person, especially when it rewards her later. I'm not even siding with Haymitch here. I just think it's silly to complain as much as she did over something like that when she didn't complain about other stuff, stuff that was life-or-death important.<br />
<br />
Positives:<br />
<br />
Most of everything else. Katniss is a freaking BAMF and Peeta is sweet. Panem is interesting and The Hunger Games help to create one of the most driven plots I've ever read. The characters are strong and well-developed.<br />
<br />
All of the tributes had their own style of fighting and their own strategies and I enjoyed that. The plans and raids and killings and such are always different and they don't really repeat like some books can. The compassion that some can show, even in this situation, is unforgettable.<br />
<br />
A random thing I loved: The food in this book was beyond interesting for some reason. Especially the breads from the Districts. Can't wait to see some more of those, hopefully.<br />
<br />
Also, I'm glad that this was a book that was still good despite all of the spoilers I knew about. Sometimes that can ruin a book, and I try to avoid things that will spoil the book for others, but it's hard when the trilogy is as big as this one is.<br />
<br />
I don't know what else to say. It was an entirely new concept and a wonderful book, but I don't really have anything to say that's not been already said. My friends had tried to convince me to read the books last year, and I said that I would soon, just had to get through some other stuff, and then I realized how much everyone in the blogging community loved them and I just couldn't. I was afraid to dislike them and I am still a little afraid for the next two, though greatly less than I was previously.<br />
<br />
Read it. Do it now. I double-dog dare you.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOK2_H_sXcHdtvbHik6L3z1ffA9E7RvfaqRamFDUbK9k6u6n0s0Bl_HYpgxy7qxbCUGpCgswpH_DBkfRmC8lL2_GzV2cVbv9x2c_gqObfk6VrvhIoGy-qsSDwhc1QvUy4RHi48Acce0M/s1600/5stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOK2_H_sXcHdtvbHik6L3z1ffA9E7RvfaqRamFDUbK9k6u6n0s0Bl_HYpgxy7qxbCUGpCgswpH_DBkfRmC8lL2_GzV2cVbv9x2c_gqObfk6VrvhIoGy-qsSDwhc1QvUy4RHi48Acce0M/s1600/5stars.jpg" /></a></div>
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Songs I listened to while reading:</div>
<br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AiwGdAukk4Y" width="300"></iframe></center><center><br /></center><center>Amazing Quote:</center><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<center><span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“I notice her blouse has pulled out of her skirt in the back again and force myself to stay calm. "Tuck your tail in, little duck," I say, smoothing the blouse back in place. </span></span></center><center><span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /></span></center><center><span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Prim giggles and give me a small "Quack." </span></span></center><center><span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /></span></center><center><span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Quack yourself," I say with a light laugh. The kind only Prim can draw out of me.”</span></span></center></blockquote>
<center><br /></center>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-17640315725058211362012-01-23T00:00:00.000-06:002012-01-23T00:00:03.073-06:00Review - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Bl9ADBdlL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Bl9ADBdlL.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
<b><i>The Fault in Our Stars by John Green</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fault-Our-Stars-John-Green/dp/0525478817/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326841807&sr=1-1">Amazon Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars">Goodreads Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Page Count:</b> 313</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Overall Rating:</b> 5 Stars</span></span><br />
<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.</span><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"> </span><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. </span><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
How does one even begin to talk about this book? I'm just going to warn you now, there will be such an amount of cheesy in this review that you'll probably want to die after reading it, but hopefully, it's just enough to make you want to read this book, because it is amazing. Beyond amazing. There are no words for it.<br />
<br />
I didn't want to review this one for a bit, on the account that five stars is just not cutting how great this book is, but I'll review it anyway, because I have to talk about this or something before I die. Five stars. Ha. Ha ha. Not enough. If I could do it, I'd give it all the stars in the freaking sky, and no, it's not just because the title has the word 'stars' in it.<br />
<br />
You know, I tried for a while to realize why I liked this so much, but I do indeed love it. I just don't know why, other than the fact that it's a good story. What does it really mean to me? And that's just it, I think, it means something to me, even though I couldn't place it.<br />
<br />
The only thing I can really name it as is this need that I think everyone has to be something great, because we all want to be remembered when we die. This book stresses, while not entirely forcing it at you, that maybe the point of life isn't to be remember, but maybe just to live and be who you want to be. You don't have to save the world or change someone for your life to be successful to you, and that it's really only you who matters when it comes to the stamp of approval on your life.<br />
<br />
Yes, it does teach a lesson, but it's not forced upon you. I love that John Green can do that. He'll never force his book's ideas on the reader. They're yours to decode and match and decide if you want to really apply them to yourself. That's a fantastic thing, you know?<br />
<br />
I know that I talk so much about tearing up with books because, well, mainly I have a thing for sad books. Happy endings are nice, but you know what I mean. Sad books are somehow the greatest, sometimes, and even if they're not, they make the joyful books all the more palatable. But I cried for like, sixty pages straight of this book and I thank goodness that I was in the comfort of my house and not at school like one of my friends was, because I would've lost it completely in the middle of class. She had the power to control her tears, and I wouldn't have.<br />
<br />
You know something else that's just amazing about this book, you guys? It's sad without weighing down the meaning of it. Some books do that to you. You feel like it could've ended better, like the author just wanted a book that'd make people cry. Is that just me? I don't know.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, TFiOS doesn't do that. It's a book about cancer, but it's not, you know? It's a book about a girl named Hazel who just happens to have cancer. It's not a cancer book, it's a Hazel book, and I adore that it's like that. I was a little afraid that her illness would take over. Everyone is more than just one thing, and no one is just their illness unless they let themselves become that.<br />
<br />
I'm ranting now, but you just don't know if you haven't read it, and you need to read it. Every. Single. One. Of. You. Besides being insanely quotable, real and raw, and being heartbreakenly beautiful, it's filled with amazing characters such as Issac and Hazel and Augustus and Hazel's parents. It's wonderful, you guys. My favorite book by John Green's, even though I haven't read all of them. I just don't see how it could get any better.<br />
<br />
I'm sorry for talking so long. I still have points to make and things to talk about, but I desperately need to shut up and stop talking. Just read it. Please. You will not regret it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOK2_H_sXcHdtvbHik6L3z1ffA9E7RvfaqRamFDUbK9k6u6n0s0Bl_HYpgxy7qxbCUGpCgswpH_DBkfRmC8lL2_GzV2cVbv9x2c_gqObfk6VrvhIoGy-qsSDwhc1QvUy4RHi48Acce0M/s1600/5stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOK2_H_sXcHdtvbHik6L3z1ffA9E7RvfaqRamFDUbK9k6u6n0s0Bl_HYpgxy7qxbCUGpCgswpH_DBkfRmC8lL2_GzV2cVbv9x2c_gqObfk6VrvhIoGy-qsSDwhc1QvUy4RHi48Acce0M/s1600/5stars.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Songs I listened to while reading:</div>
<br />
<br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w7JthgTMHDU" width="300"></iframe></center><center><br /></center><center>Amazing Quote:</center><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
<center><span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you go into the ER, one of the first things they ask you to do is rate your pain on a scale of one to ten, and from there they decide which drugs to use and how quickly to use them. I'd been asked this question hundreds of times over the years, and I remember once early on when I couldn't get my breath and it felt like my chest was on fire, flames licking the inside of my ribs fighting for a way to burn out of my body, my parents took me to the ER. nurse asked me about the pain, and I couldn't even speak, so I held up nine fingers. </span></span></center><center><span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /></span></center><center><span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Later, after they'd given me something, the nurse came in and she was kind of stroking my head while she took my blood pressure and said, "You know how I know you're a fighter? You called a ten a nine." </span></span></center><center><span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /></span></center><center><span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But that wasn't quite right. I called it a nine because I was saving my ten.</span></span></center></blockquote>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-18279025297944222802012-01-20T00:00:00.000-06:002012-01-20T00:00:05.331-06:00Review - The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312055996l/9279177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312055996l/9279177.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b><i>The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lovers-Dictionary-Novel-David-Levithan/dp/0374193681">Amazon Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9279177-the-lover-s-dictionary">Goodreads Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Page Count:</b> 211</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Overall Rating: </b>4<b> </b>Stars</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: black;"><em style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">basis, </em><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">n. </span><br /><br /><em style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you’re in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself. </em><em style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></em><em style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></em><em style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">If the moment doesn’t pass, that’s it—you’re done. And if the moment</em><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">does </span><em style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes it’s even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover’s face. </em></span></blockquote>
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You guys. This one was surprisingly good.<br />
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<div>
Lately, I've been trying to kind of branch out just a little bit. Not really leave everything behind, but, you know, try some things that are different. So I read this book, because it was a dictionary, and that's kind of the most different thing I could really read.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I wasn't really expecting to like it like I did. I'd read verse books before and not really liked them, because I couldn't get a feel for anything. It was too loose. So I didn't think I'd be able to get a feel for this one, either, because dictionary entries aren't really long, and it's a completely different format than I'm used to.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The thing about this one is that it's kind of ... odd. It can tell a story just like any other story. In your heart, you know what happened, even though there are still little gaps in between everything. Even though I think some of the things aren't in the right order, and it's told through this form, it's just as much of a story as any other book, really.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To be completely honest, no, I didn't really really connect with it on the same level as a normal book. But I connected with it a lot more than a prose book. When I've read some verse books in the past, I really kind of felt a bit cheated after finishing it. With this one, there was an air of something like sadness that I didn't spend so much time with the people, even though they weren't named or anything.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Another thing. The characters aren't ever named or really described in appearance, yet I can still picture them in my heads. Oddly enough, I picture them as celebrities which doesn't happen, and, no, I will not tell you which ones.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
It's a good story with a lot of relatable quotes, even though I obviously haven't had half of the stuff that's in this book done to me. Books have a funny way of making you relate to things because they make you feel them, and this book does a really good job at it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
And even if it is a dictionary, it doesn't lack emotion. Have a look at the definition for livid below. (It's highlighted in red because it drops a few F-bombs and is a bit of a spoiler. Read at your own discretion.)</div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: red; color: red;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“livid, </span><em style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">adj.</em><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Fuck You for cheating on me. Fuck you for reducing it to the word cheating. As if this were a card game, and you sneaked a look at my hand. Who came up with the term </span><em style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">cheating,</em><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> anyway? A cheater, I imagine. Someone who thought </span><em style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">liar</em><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> was too harsh. Someone who thought </span><em style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">devastator</em><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> was too emotional. The same person who thought, oops, he’d gotten </span><em style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">caught with his hand in the cookie jar.</em><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> Fuck you. This isn’t about slipping yourself an extra twenty dollars of Monopoly money. These are our lives. You went and broke our lives. You are so much worse than a cheater. You killed something. And you killed it when its back was turned.”</span></span>
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<span style="background-color: red; color: red; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That is certainly not lacking in any emotion. So it's not like you can't connect with the characters emotionally, really.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is an adult book, and does contain cursing, as you know above, and so on. If you aren't comfortable with that, then be wary, maybe. I do recommend it to you all, whether you have issues with connecting to verse books or not. I liked it, and maybe you will too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Songs I listened to while reading:</span></span></div>
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<br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/68cL5a5egwU" width="400"></iframe></center><center><br /></center><center>Amazing Quote:</center><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<center><i>"Breathing, </i>n</center><center><i>You had asthma as a child, had to carry around an inhaler. But when you grew older, it went away. You could run for miles and it was fine. Sometimes I worry that this is happening to me in reverse. The older I get, the more I lose my ability to breathe."</i></center></blockquote>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-38371320274163471452012-01-18T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-18T06:00:07.071-06:00Review - Need by Carrie Jones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312054663l/4070493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312054663l/4070493.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
Need by Carrie Jones<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Need-Carrie-Jones/dp/1599903385/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1326843242&sr=1-1">Amazon Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4070493-need">Goodreads Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Page Count:</b> 306</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Overall Rating:</b> 2.5 Stars</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.</span></span></span></blockquote>
So, here's the thing you guys: I'm not really sure why I'd wanted to read this one in the first place. Maybe it was the cover. Okay, I do like Fae and Pixies and the like, but I'm not a huge fan of werewolves (To anyone who has read my writing: I don't even know. Don't question it.) in books. I just feel like there's such a stereotype to werewolves in YA and I just end up not liking the characters.<br />
<br />
But, of course, it's not just werewolves, it's pixies. It's weretigers and were-eagles and even a werebear. It feels almost like there's too much going on in one book with all of the people turning into various animals.<br />
<br />
Beyond that, the story feels a little...done already? I mean, I've never even <i>heard</i> of were-eagles before, but something about it feels so very, very, very familiar and I don't like it. I had mentioned it to a few friends and they agreed that it felt done already.<br />
<br />
I had kind of high hopes for this one, but I found most of the foreshadowing way too blatant and the fact that the readers were supposed to be surprised more than once when people ended up being supernatural creatures just like Zara was, but it was just so freaking obvious who was a werewolf or were-eagle or pixie, you know? I have no clue.<br />
<br />
Zara was a mix of good and bad, a mix of selfless and stupidly "brave". She was kind of an iffy character for me, and I couldn't really decide if I liked her or not. As for other things that weren't bad, I did like the phobias that start the chapter, although sometimes they managed to ruin the surprise of some "shocking" things that were to happen.<br />
<br />
It does seem like everyone has genuinely like this book but me, so maybe it's just me, but I don't know. It wasn't at all what I wanted it to be, really, and I had hoped for something that felt completely new with the pixies, since I don't read a lot of it, and I was let down.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, I'm not the only one who's read this book, and a whole lot of others have loved it. If you want another opinion, please check out <a href="http://truthfullyfictional.blogspot.com/2011/04/review-need.html">this review</a> by my friend Riley. Check it out from your library before buying is my suggestion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIgQmHm-MugBRQ556XDFez6mYVfzYowz7n0nGjH43fR0rW79GNwsp5pHWJG2wvPKV1rCQIqn-FBYmIckq7Y_LseLiUc5_R8PYrS7FOtcrH6whyphenhyphensK50-xbiFg-w7MuP5NNn5tz9gmjcmQ/s1600/2andahalfstars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIgQmHm-MugBRQ556XDFez6mYVfzYowz7n0nGjH43fR0rW79GNwsp5pHWJG2wvPKV1rCQIqn-FBYmIckq7Y_LseLiUc5_R8PYrS7FOtcrH6whyphenhyphensK50-xbiFg-w7MuP5NNn5tz9gmjcmQ/s1600/2andahalfstars.jpg" /></a></div>
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Songs I listened to while reading:</div>
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="182" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9ShCNw1SJFA" width="300"></iframe></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-57873898680519196532012-01-10T00:00:00.000-06:002012-01-10T00:00:10.195-06:00Review - Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301789183l/7812107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301789183l/7812107.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<b><i>Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Slice-Cherry-Dia-Reeves/dp/1416986200">Amazon Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7812107-slice-of-cherry">Goodreads Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Page Count:</b> 505</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Overall Rating:</b> 3.5 Stars</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities.</span></i></blockquote>
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I've been pretty excited about this one for a bit now, because it seemed thoroughly demented. Which makes me sound crazy, but I like demented books. They're more interesting than some of the flowery "I am perfect" characters. I don't know. I kind of have something for twisted characters. They're interesting.<br />
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While, yes, this book is certainly twisted. Unfortunately, this is kind of one that focuses a whole lot on boys and how they're ruining everything for Fancy because Kit likes one. The summary mentions nothing about Ilan or Gabe, who both take up quite a lot of room in the book.<br />
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It kind of goes like this:<br />
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Kit and Fancy are really close. Like, seriously freaking close. Then Kit decides she really wants a boyfriend, and this ticks Fancy, who's kind of trying to stay a child, off. Every time Kit flirts with a boy, she either attempts to maim him or actually succeeds in doing so. Several chapters are taken up by how much Fancy hates Gabriel for dating her sister, because Fancy wants Kit to still be a little kid with her and be all innocent (yet she still wants to kill people, as well.).<br />
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This is that whole sisterly dependency that still bothers me. I just can't stand it. I don't have a sister, maybe that's why. Even so, it's a little annoying to have a character whose growth kind of relies on how much they can stop being clingy. Clingy characters are not fun.<br />
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I had really hoped this would be kind of horror movie-like. Murder spree doesn't entirely sum that up. I think there were five death scenes. I sound so demented, gosh. The death scenes were interesting though, because of Fancy and how she kills people.<br />
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I did like the ending, excluding the last few pages, even though it wasn't ever mentioned that it was what would drive the plot. Well, it drove some of it.<br />
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The writing style kind of teeters on the edge of annoying sometimes, mainly because of the superfluous use of "sophisticated" writing. Perhaps it's just me being annoyed with third person. I think third person could have its benefits, and this book had the elements to use it in a way that it wouldn't annoy me. I think if someone was going to have two characters and wanted to kind of show the insides of their heads (not like that, though. Even with this book, not like that.) without multiple POVs, then yeah, maybe that could help. That's kind of just preference, though. I'm sure that there are some of you out there who like third person more than first.<br />
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Even with all the things that bugged me, it wasn't a horrible book and maybe you'd like it. Check it out from your library before you buy it, maybe? I do warn you, though, there's some mature content in here. Cursing, gore, violence, so on. Not to mention there's also some, er, things Fancy walks in on, as well, so be prepared if you decide to read it.<br />
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Songs I listened to while reading:</div>
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mZyOTJHZ5CE" width="420"></iframe></center><br />
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(A little shout out to what Kit can do, if you've read the book.)</div>
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Amazing quote:</div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>“When Fancy still didn't answer, he took her hand, and with his red paintbrush, he wrote 'please' into her palm.” </i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-12715971842655313052011-12-31T13:33:00.001-06:002011-12-31T13:34:40.291-06:00Best of 2011: BooksNote: This was kind of supposed to go up yesterday. It didn't. Oops.<br />
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<i style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">This is part of a short series, Best of 2011. This is the last part. As 2011 comes to a close, it's the time to talk about the rest of the year. Being in the bookish community, this means I'll be talking about bookish things. Here goes!</i>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">This time, we're finishing up. Here's the books that came out this year that were my favorites.</span></span><br />
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10, for its interesting world and idea.</div>
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9, for its photographs and unique story.</div>
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8, for its super awesome ghosts and mystery-esque thing.</div>
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7, for its kickbutt MC and mythology.</div>
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6, for its characters, world, and prose.</div>
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5, for its unique vibe and refreshing genre.</div>
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4, for its magic realism elements and characters.</div>
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3, for its amazing idea and strong MC.</div>
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2, for its beautiful story and prose.</div>
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1, for its strong storyline, fascinating world, and brave MC.</div>
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Those are my top ten of the year. What are yours?</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-74764681524989136562011-12-29T10:38:00.000-06:002011-12-29T10:38:19.837-06:00Best of 2011: Debuts<i line-height:="" 20px;?="" #c8c8c8;=""><span style="font-family: inherit">This is part of a short series, Best of 2011. The last part will go up the following two days. As 2011 comes to a close, it's the time to talk about the rest of the year. Being in the bookish community, this means I'll be talking about bookish things. Here goes!</span></i><br><i line-height:="" 20px;?="" #c8c8c8;=""><span style="font-family: inherit"><br></span></i><br><span line-height:="" 20px;?="" #c8c8c8;=""><span style="font-family: inherit">Time to give a little love to the new authors that made their way on the scene this year!</span></span><br><span line-height:="" 20px;?="" #c8c8c8;=""><span style="font-family: inherit"><br></span></span><br> <div style="text-align: center"><span line-height:="" 20px;?="" #c8c8c8;=""><span style="font-family: inherit">10, for its main characters and paranormal elements.</span></span></div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324782984l/7488244.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1324782984l/7488244.jpg" width="211" height="320"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center"><span line-height:="" 20px;?="" #c8c8c8;=""><span style="font-family: inherit">9, for its location, mythology, and supporting characters.</span></span></div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279894512l/8109130.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279894512l/8109130.jpg" width="212" height="320"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center">8, for its new take on an old tale.</div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304722440l/11280254.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304722440l/11280254.jpg" width="218" height="320"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center">7, for its awesome MC, great mythology, and action.</div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311865840l/9680718.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311865840l/9680718.jpg" width="213" height="320"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center">6, for its cool vibe and refreshing genre.</div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301828495l/8235178.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301828495l/8235178.jpg" width="208" height="320"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center">5, for its gritty but need-to-be-read story line.</div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412V6r2kwZL.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412V6r2kwZL.jpg" width="221" height="320"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center" align="center"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center" align="center"></div> <p align="center">4, for its interesting photographs and the story it tells with them.</p> <div style="clear: both" class="separator" align="center"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320564598l/9460487.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320564598l/9460487.jpg" width="206" height="320"></a></div> <p align="center">3, for its beautiful prose, strong characters, and wonderful story.</p> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f-a-Fmm4L.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f-a-Fmm4L.jpg" width="213" height="320"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center">2, for its rhythmic prose, fierce MC, and awesome mystery.</div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1299080471l/6931344.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1299080471l/6931344.jpg" width="212" height="320"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center">1, for it's unique world, dauntless (eh, eh?) heroine, and fast-paced story.</div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Mry4w810L.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Mry4w810L.jpg" width="213" height="320"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center">Those are my top ten debuts of the year. What are yours?</div> <div style="text-align: center"><br></div> <div style="text-align: center"> </div> <div style="text-align: center"> </div> <div style="text-align: center"><br> </div> <div style="text-align: center"><br></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px !important; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-top-width: 0px !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-left-width: 0px !important" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png"></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-59864314459585561712011-12-28T09:54:00.000-06:002011-12-28T09:54:53.746-06:00Best of 2011: Covers<i>This is part of a short series, Best of 2011. The other two parts will go up the following two days. As 2011 comes to a close, it's the time to talk about the rest of the year. Being in the bookish community, this means I'll be talking about bookish things. Here goes!</i><br />
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Today's part is one of vanity, but we did have some fabulous covers on books this year.<br />
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10, for its simplicity and ability to give a true feel for the book.</div>
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9, for having just the right amount of creepiness for you to remember.</div>
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8, for an amazing color choice and also being relevant to the story.</div>
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7, for being delightfully creepy and illustrating the story well.</div>
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6, for having an amazing color palate and image.</div>
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5, for its amazing background and vibe.</div>
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4, for its artistic qualities and overall truth to the novel.</div>
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3, for its color, simple font choice, and perhaps a double meaning.</div>
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2, for its meaning and simplicity.</div>
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1, for its stunning way of showing the story in the best way possible.</div>
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Those are my top ten covers of the year! Leave a comment and let me know what yours are!</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-10417556131293289492011-12-24T00:00:00.000-06:002011-12-27T15:17:08.008-06:00Review - Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b>Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys</b></i><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Between-Shades-Gray-Ruta-Sepetys/dp/0399254129">Amazon Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7824322-between-shades-of-gray">Goodreads Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Page Count:</b> 344</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Overall Rating:</b> 5 Stars</span></span><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously - and at great risk - documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives.</span></span></blockquote>
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Let me just start this review out by thanking Shannon for sending me a copy of it. I am grateful to get a chance to read this book, so thank you.<br />
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Now, onto the review.<br />
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Between Shades of Gray was a novel that, for a bit, I honestly had no clue what it was about. The cover, while I do like it, now that it makes sense, made it seem like a contemporary novel, which I'm not too into. After reading seeing it on Goodreads and figuring out what it was actually about, I'd wanted to read it.<br />
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Lina, the main character, is a sixteen year old girl who dreams of being an artist. Beyond that, she's brave. She shows this unfathomable courage, I think, even when she's afraid. Lina, her brother, Jonas, and her mother, Elena are sent to work camps. She's constantly surrounded by death and sickness and sorrow, but Lina never breaks. She hurts, as any normal person would, but she refused to let her captors break her. I admire her for that, because it takes more strength than I think a lot of us have.<br />
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Something that I have always been a fan of is history. It's likely my second favorite subject, under English, because, unlike everything else, it tells a story. I'm that kid who can spend an hour online, reading articles about something historical that she just meant to google briefly. Perhaps that's why I was a fan of this one. I don't know.<br />
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It is such a raw book. I don't use the term raw lightly here. It's a sad book, but it's something that should be read, I think. Deaths are frequent in this book, as is abuse and hatred. It's a gritty book in the best sense of the word, to the fullest extent. It is brutally honest and unabashedly so.<br />
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It has a favorable writing style for me. I somehow enjoyed it, but I can't really tell you exactly how it was different. Lina's point of view was nice. She was unafraid to be brash, unafraid to say things like they need to be said. It's not too flowery, nor too plain, and that fits the story. It's a perfect balance that doesn't leave you drowning in a sea of prose or clawing a blank room, if you get what I mean.<br />
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In the last 40 pages, I was crying. I was really crying. Not anything big. No blubbering, but it was the simple kind of tears that blur your vision, you know? I almost got annoyed with myself because I couldn't read from tearing up every 30 seconds.<br />
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I'm utterly at a loss for words now, really. I don't think it's a book that's supposed to be talked about, but read. It's one of those books that you really have to read it for yourself. But I do think more people should read this one. I know they have it at my county library, but I'll be requesting it at my school library when the opportunity presents itself. It seems like a book teens should read. We're not nearly informed enough, I think.<br />
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I hope you'll give this book a chance, even if it is out of your genre. It's a novel that will make you cry, but only in the best sorts of ways. It'll leave you breathless. Try it out. I don't think you'll be disappointed.<br />
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Amazing quote:</div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch.</i></span></span></blockquote>
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Songs I listened to while reading:</div>
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(I picked this one because it started to remind me of Munch.)</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-3061385883259865002011-12-22T06:00:00.001-06:002011-12-22T06:00:15.441-06:00Alex for the Win!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ4WvMUg94BYY-Q33C35gJEcwi8BjEy5SFUZFdowjASWS7pJJ2uyTWjVz5goL-hGuGLUwPs0JCrTEAa6T9WnV7_7o-3aOmw2wWON6EEQZKOYvO3xLjyvDnWOWFDKaE4QsWjGcg4c5D8sO/s400/Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ4WvMUg94BYY-Q33C35gJEcwi8BjEy5SFUZFdowjASWS7pJJ2uyTWjVz5goL-hGuGLUwPs0JCrTEAa6T9WnV7_7o-3aOmw2wWON6EEQZKOYvO3xLjyvDnWOWFDKaE4QsWjGcg4c5D8sO/s400/Banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I don't know how many of you have read Half-blood, but I'm about to semi-fangirl over it. If you don't like that sort of thing, then you don't have to read this, but I still encourage you to vote (maybe for Alex? #icanalwaystry) in the tournament.</div>
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So, why should Alex get your vote? Other than the fact that she could probably kill you (Just saying!)? Well, because she's pretty awesome.</div>
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First off, she's hilarious. Being the witty girl Alex is, she always has the best comebacks, and they often come around during the times when most other people would keep their mouth shut, but not Alex. She's brave - and a little rash - enough to speak her mind, and I like her for that. She's sarcastic and fierce, and willing to say what she feels, though maybe she doesn't always think it through first.</div>
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Secondly, she's tough. She can of course stab her enemies, - with everything from a dagger to a garden spade, as long as it's made out of titanium - but she's tough all around. She doesn't usually let insults get her down. She won't let people boss her around. She stands her ground and is definitely willing to yell at anyone who tries to make her do something she doesn't think is right. She will do things herself if she feels the need to, and she will not take no for an answer.</div>
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Thirdly, she is tough but not unreachable. How many times have you read a book with a kickass heroine, but they're just tough, and that's it? Not Alex. She's tough, but she cares. As I said above, a lot of the reason she rebels is because she wants to do what's right. Alex is fiesty, but, trust me, I think she's got a heart of gold (And I <i>hate </i>using that phrase.). She'll risk her life for others and she'll do it because she wants to.</div>
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If you need further convincing, you can check out Momo's defense for her <a href="http://ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com/">here</a>. Andandand, in celebration of Alex's win, Momo is giving away a copy of Daimon, Half-blood, and Pure on her <a href="http://booksoverboys.blogspot.com/">blog</a>! And also, (yes, there's more!) if Alex wins this round, Jennifer will post chapter sixteen from Half-blood from Aiden's POV. Which. Well. C'mon. </div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-6258673199340050862011-12-22T00:05:00.000-06:002011-12-22T00:05:50.615-06:00Cover Reveal: Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPf6FdQap0c/TvKNuwT2yMI/AAAAAAAAAaY/uS2YTh9ZWlI/s1600/CO-500px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPf6FdQap0c/TvKNuwT2yMI/AAAAAAAAAaY/uS2YTh9ZWlI/s400/CO-500px.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<i>Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt</i><br />
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<i>What if you were mankind’s last chance at
survival?
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<br />
Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a
compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a
devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been
irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth
life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the
Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life.
The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily
beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.<br /> <o:p> </o:p><o:p><br /></o:p>Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for
Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she
begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones.
There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals
only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and
overwhelming in its danger.<br /> <o:p> </o:p><o:p><br /></o:p>But there is more to the goings-on
at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she
uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones,
but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would
oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?</i></blockquote>
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I personally think this book sounds awesome. The idea of the infertility and then creating new life seems fascinating. I have no clue why, but some of my favorite books are the ones where something bad happens to the population and the government has to fix it.<br />
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The cover is also super gorgeous. What do you guys think of it?<br />
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This book is the first in a series of YA dystopian books. Chosen Ones is scheduled for release in April, as of right now.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-81412428618365978442011-12-19T17:56:00.000-06:002011-12-19T17:56:10.868-06:00One Year in blogging.I've been trying to write this post for like, three days now, so don't give me crap if it sucks. It is also super, super, SUPER cheesy! You've been warned.<br />
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A year. Wow.<br />
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I don't know what it is, but something feels like this is a big accomplishment and something feels like it's just a little one, at the same time. It's a weird experience.<br />
<br />
To be completely and totally honest, I've had several blogs before. A ranty one, one about becoming a vegetarian (which, sadly, I failed.), another about nerdy fashion. You name it, I've tried to blog about it. With each and every one of these blogs, I figured that the people would somehow just find you. I was, of course, wrong. It takes work. It takes a backbone.<br />
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So somehow with my little book blog, I decided to make a twitter to follow some people, and hell, maybe I'd get some people to read my blog. I'd previously tried and hated twitter for the same reason I'd hated blogging before: I thought it would just happen.<br />
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I think from the outside, blogging seems so easy. You read something, you write your thoughts about it. But it's a bit more stressful than one would think. You feel like you have to have a super pretty blog. You have to find your own review style and stick to it. You'll start to get stressed because you aren't reading fast enough, and therefore aren't posting enough. There's drama, be it over the relationships people form with other bloggers (or the lack of those.) or how many ARCs someone gets.<br />
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But while it can be hard, it's the most fun I've had in a long, long time. I've read books I never would've read before. I feel comfortable wanting to be a writer, knowing that there are at least a hundred other people on my timeline who want the same thing. I've actually let people other than Riley and my other friends read my work. (Not that I don't trust their opinions. It's just nice to have someone who has nothing to lose by saying they don't like your work.)<br />
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It's so much fun, you guys. I've talked to authors whose books I adore, and they'll talk back. I go to liveshows and read their blogs. It's nice to know that they're not as high up as the name on the book can make them out to be.<br />
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I've talked to book lovers galore. When you only have two or three people to talk to, it's nice to talk to others about books. I mean, I write down my thoughts for over 200 of you, and believe me when I say that I'm thankful for everyone of you.<br />
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So next year, around this time, I'll write another post about how much I love you and I'll still mean it, whether some of you leave or some new people start to follow along. Here's to hoping that I'm still around. Blogging's been a heck of a ride.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-10911032065166112172011-12-12T00:00:00.000-06:002011-12-12T00:00:03.882-06:00Deity Cover Reveal!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">Okay, so two cover reveals in a row for the same author. Judge me if you will, but I'm a sucker for seeing the shinies. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">Deity, which doesn't have a summary yet, is the third installment<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> in The Covenant series, following Pure. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">So here it is!</span><br />
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And with the others:<br /></div>
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Pretty right?</div>
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Also, if you're a Half-blood/Alex fan, you should remember to vote for her in the Heroine tournament!<br /><a href="http://ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com/">VOTE HERE</a>!</div>
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What do you guys think of the new cover? Awesome, right?</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-5503915305513859822011-12-05T00:00:00.000-06:002011-12-05T00:00:01.469-06:00Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout cover reveal!Has anyone else noticed that Jen always gets awesome book covers? This time is no different!<br />
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First off, let me just tell you this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Pz_Ji-P-HpY5QPPb9KkR-n4lADT-DcLqoJPfjnvo_v40hfbsjyuYy6ME2F1KgiRlHRsPWIusE45pogFKRT41O5MXpiQ_WUUBrAZ6y7-aXhDwEnsAk26uOkxj2Oxl4rpFQXGuuYw35aM/s1600/Obsidian-500px-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Pz_Ji-P-HpY5QPPb9KkR-n4lADT-DcLqoJPfjnvo_v40hfbsjyuYy6ME2F1KgiRlHRsPWIusE45pogFKRT41O5MXpiQ_WUUBrAZ6y7-aXhDwEnsAk26uOkxj2Oxl4rpFQXGuuYw35aM/s320/Obsidian-500px-1.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
Obsidian, the first book in the Lux Series comes out on December 6th! That is in three days, guys. Jennifer writes awesome books and you want this. I promise you do. I have not read it, but I want the heck out of it and I will be grabbing a copy when it comes out.<br />
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Buy it at:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Obsidian-Lux-Novel-Book-One/dp/1937044238/ref%3dsr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316387396&sr=1-1">Amazon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/obsidian-jennifer-l-armentrout/1105621066?ean=9781937044237&itm=6&usri=jennifer%2bl%2barmentrout&workid=1033604979">Barnes and Noble</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Obsidian-Jennifer-Armentrout/9781937044237">The Book Depository</a><br />
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Do it. I double-dog dare you.<br />
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Okay! I'll shut up and show you the pretty now.<br />
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Insert you scrolling down now.</div>
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Insert cover here:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3sgaj7xacQubZs0W1voerRHplNSXlSEgzEboSiMCJVUHbpEUwcZVPPJweIv5vDmKiDTHV8e7kcHMXlDlGWSLbspSjbgCPZkIE09hmixG8kH7acV_NrAOUNC6ZhJn8T59lx43Hw9jMpA/s1600/Onyx+cover+1000+CORRECTED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3sgaj7xacQubZs0W1voerRHplNSXlSEgzEboSiMCJVUHbpEUwcZVPPJweIv5vDmKiDTHV8e7kcHMXlDlGWSLbspSjbgCPZkIE09hmixG8kH7acV_NrAOUNC6ZhJn8T59lx43Hw9jMpA/s640/Onyx+cover+1000+CORRECTED.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #0070c0;"><i><span style="color: black;">No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…</span></i></span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #0070c0;"><i><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></i></span></b></div>
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Isn't it awesome? I think I may love this one more than the first! What do you think? Leave a comment and tell me your thoughts.</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-49553302593227194762011-12-04T20:22:00.001-06:002011-12-04T20:51:57.217-06:00Breaking Dawn Part OneYes, I am going to talk about a movie. But it's a movie based on a book, so it's relevant. Also, <b>this post will contain spoilers for both the book, Breaking Dawn, and the movie based on it.</b><br />
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Hits:<br />
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The movie stays pretty true to the book, unlike some of the others. There's not a lot of it that they've changed.<br />
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The soundtrack was awesome, just like the rest of them. You can hate the movies all you like, but I love the music.<br />
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The acting was slightly better in this one. Don't really know what it was, but it was there.<br />
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The scenes where Bella's life is flashing through her eyes was pretty good, too. Like I imagined it.<br />
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Bella definitely looked sick. They worked some freaking magic with making her look thin and bony.<br />
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Misses:<br />
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It did kind of feel a little tiresome. I know the book was tiresome for me too, though, because it took me eight days to finish, when I got the first three in around 2-4 days. But still. A little less <i>ZOMG, NO BELLA </i>and a little more <i>the wolf pack is gonna kill you</i>, please?<br />
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Birth scene. 'nuff said.<br />
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Speaking of, I wish the wolf pack tension was a little more prominent. There was one scene that was excellent, in my opinion, where the pack is tricked while the Cullens are able to leave. That was a nice one. The rest of it was sort of...meh.<br />
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Can we please discuss the very end? Okay, I know it's been like, three years since I read breaking dawn, but please tell me I'm not the only one who doesn't remember the whole, "Oh look, my baby!" scene? I know Bella lives, but I thought the idea of Edward tearing Nessie out of Bella's stomach and then being like, "LOOK BELLA." was stupid. It was like this:<br />
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Edward: "Lookie! Here's the baby!"<br />
Bella: "Wheee." *Is internally bleeding*<br />
Edward: "She's pretty. I like her."<br />
Bella: *dead*<br />
Edward: "OH NOES. BELLA NO, DON'T DIE."<br />
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This is the equivalent of a girl getting shot and her boyfriend, instead of calling an ambulance, is trying to show her a shiny rock. *headdesk* Epic fail on that one, guys. Here's a bit of advice. If you are a guy, and your girlfriend is about to die, maybe you should hold out on showing her the shiny rock/baby. She'll appreciate it later. You know. When she's not dead.<br />
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Ahem.<br />
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Honeymoon. 'nuff said.<br />
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The scene where they're showing that Jacob imprinted on Nessie? That was kind of annoying. I don't really mind it as much, because they couldn't have really had Jacob be like, "I imprinted!" Or like, have him burst into song or something. But the flashes of Nessie as a teen and stuff were kind of annoying, especially since the little girl was either wearing some sort of very fake looking wig, or the effect they used were just not so good on that. So yeah. Kind of annoying, but okay for movies, I guess.<br />
<br />
<br />
Final statement:<br />
<br />
Breaking Dawn had a pretty good setup, but I'm not fond of the book itself, so. It's probably the best one of the bunch. I'm not particularly looking forward to the next, considering I know all about the anti-climatic ending, but I will probably see it anyway.<br />
<br />
What'd you guys think of the movie? Leave a comment.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-89631872557940750332011-12-03T18:15:00.001-06:002011-12-03T18:23:48.884-06:00I'm baaaack.No, really.<br />
<br />
Okay, I'm sorry. I give you permission to kill me for being gone for so long. In my defense, there was NaNo and the holidays and I am writing so much. Not to mention, I have to plan a giveaway for you guys, and it has to be awesome.<br />
<br />
Because you are awesome.<br />
<br />
But I am trying to get back on track here. Back with the blogging. Still not really doing IMM for a while, because I have too many books on my shelf that aren't being read because I want the shiny new books. I really, really need to go back and read these books.<br />
<br />
Also, I am planning on doing a new bookshelf tour vlog, and my favorite books of the year vlog. These will both probably happen in late December or early January. Yeah.<br />
<br />
Just updating you.<br />
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<br />Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-82839024566401403772011-11-27T09:31:00.001-06:002011-11-27T09:46:30.556-06:00Adventures in NaNoland.Let me start out by saying, holy crap, I've missed you guys.<br />
<br />
And now for my excuse:<br />
<br />
<b>Ever heard of NaNoWriMo?</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Yeah, it's crazy. I mean, you can pretty easily get ahead during the beginning and be all fine and dandy when you only have to write under 1K words a day, but that only ever lasts so long. It's a challenge. It's supposed to be, but still. It really is harder than you think it will be, and it's easier too.<br />
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It's harder because you'll get worried. You'll be gone all day and you'll think, "It's so late. I'm going to get home and I'm not going to be able to write enough words before the time changes over to the next day and I'm going to fail today and I will fail this entire thing." You'll stay up late and you'll deprive yourself of sleep, but who ever needed sleep anyway, eh? Even worse, midnight will come around and the time will change and you'll find yourself faced with tomorrow/today's goal, as well as the one you were trying to hurriedly get. So you'll write 3K words in one night, because you're crazy and you're a novelist and, wow, those are kind of the same thing, aren't they?<br />
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It's easier because 50K is a big number. You think, "there's no way I can do fifty-thousand words in thirty days. That's crazy. It's insane. Impossible." You'll say, "There's no way that I can just write 1,667 words a day and still get to 50k. That's not enough." You'll look at your graph and you'll panic just a little, because it doesn't look like it could ever get there in under 31 days. But it's not and you can and it will. No matter how many times you tell yourself that it's impossible.<br />
<br />
NaNoWriMo kind of takes over your life. You'll look at other things and you'll feel like they're not worth your time, because holy crap, you're supposed to be writing a novel right now. RIGHT NOW. What are you waiting for, you idiot?! Go write!<br />
<br />
And also you will probably go crazy. Your desk will match your mind, meaning, it will probably become cluttered with pens and post-it notes, scrawled out ideas. You'll eat so many things that are so bad for you. You'll learn to down a Red Bull in two minutes. You'll hate Thanksgiving because you have to spend a day (or, in my case, two or three.) cooking and cleaning and, well, doing everything but writing.<br />
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But here's to you, NaNoWriMo participants! It's almost over. I wish you the best of luck in the rest of your novel-writing frenzy. Even if you're behind. Even if you're way, way behind. Heck, add five more ways and I'm still believing in you. You can do it.<br />
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Prove me right.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-89207162439751153662011-11-14T06:00:00.000-06:002011-11-14T06:00:13.163-06:00Daily Dose (24)<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-752499252047731262011-11-07T06:00:00.000-06:002011-11-13T17:37:05.365-06:00Daily Dose (23)<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-67817673970661477002011-11-04T19:52:00.000-05:002011-11-04T19:52:52.809-05:00Review - Unearthly by Cynthia Hand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b>Unearthly by Cynthia Hand</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unearthly-Cynthia-Hand/dp/0061996165">Amazon Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7488244-unearthly" style="background-color: black; color: #007ced; text-decoration: none;">Goodreads Link</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Page Count:</b> 435 Pages</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #c8c8c8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; line-height: 19px;"><b>Overall Rating:</b> 3 Stars</span></span><br />
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<blockquote>
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .<br />
<br />
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a<em>purpose</em>, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.<br />
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Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.<br />
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As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny? </blockquote>
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**This review will have spoilers. I've made my opinions on those highlighted in white, so you'll have to highlight them to read it. There's one spoiler highlighted in red. This one pertains to the ending. DO NOT highlight it if you don't wan the ending spoiled for you.**<br />
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Unearthly was a weird book for me. Not really in its concept, but more so in how I liked it. Everything was in the middle for me. It's not the worst book I've read, and it's not the best, either. It's flat out in the middle.<br />
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For starters, I didn't really feel the urge to pick this one back up. I actually sat at the end of class one day, knowing I should've probably picked it up and read some, mainly because my friend was absent that day and I couldn't talk to her, but I didn't. At the same time, though, once I picked it up, I hardly ever put it down. Not because it was a particularly gripping book, but more because it was really easy to read.<br />
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It was a pretty easy book to read, actually, and I think that's probably why it didn't get as much of a reaction from me. I'd expected it to be a lot heavier, have the stakes be so much higher than they were, but it was kind of more along the lines of Clara really wanting to be normal and her struggles with her feelings for Christian and Tucker.<br />
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Some things that bothered me: Some of the writing seems like it's trying to hard to fit into teen lingo. It's not poorly written, just has a lot of things that kind of seemed slightly immature for high schoolers. The word Dorkina was used in one of the first chapters and I cringed at that. Seems like something a third grader would say.<br />
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Some of the characters seem to be kind of shallow. Not vain, but kind of...underdeveloped. Tucker seemed to be pretty nicely fleshed out. Clara obviously was, but I was living inside of her head, so it's kind of expected for me to say that. Some of the other characters felt two-dimensional though.<br />
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There are kind of a lot of things that don't make sense, as well. (Spoilers starting in 3, 2, 1.)<br />
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For example, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: white;">how the tourist taking that picture completely forgot about Clara's hair glowing, but Tucker could not, would not forget about it at all. I understand that the situations are pretty freaking different, but you'd think that glowing hair would be memorable no matter what.</span><br />
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Second off, the one that completely, completely irked me. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; color: red;">If Angela could tell that Clara was an Angel-blood, why couldn't Christian? I mean, it's not as if Clara was particularly sneaky about it all the time, and Jeffery was definitely worse about it. If Angela could figure it out after three things, why couldn't Christian? I just don't get that one. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; color: red;"><br /></span><br />
But I did like things too, as much as I semi-ranted up there:<br />
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I liked how Tucker and Clara did not have an instalove thing going on. They pretty much seemed to hate each other for a while and the chapters where their relationship is developed are among some of my favorite in this book.<br />
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I liked Angela and how I did not trust her at times, though some would probably hate that. She just seemed a little shifty. I liked Christian, somewhat. He sometimes made me angry, but so did Tucker and pretty much every other character in this book at least once. But he wasn't a complete jerk and I appreciated that.<br />
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I liked Jeffery, as weird as that probably is. He added some depth to the story and certainly seems to have a larger role in the next book. A lot of things do, for that matter. The sequel seems to hold a lot of answers to questions I had for this book.<br />
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I liked Clara, even though she was slightly moody and occasionally whiny. She seemed to have a reason for whatever moping she did, and I wouldn't say that it was anything like some books, where the heroine spends three quarters of the book sobbing over stupid crap. She had pretty legit reasons for being upset.<br />
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I really enjoyed the feel of Jackson Hole. It definitely has some sort of strange vibe, but not bad ones, either. I live in small town right now and I love Jackson Hole much, much more than I like where I live now. I'm just saying.<br />
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I enjoyed the mythology, however conflicting it may have been between the two people that were telling Clara how her world worked. It was pretty fresh and is a lot of what kept me reading.<br />
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<b>Amazing Quote:</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">So often we only do what we think is expected of us, when we are capable of so much more.</span></blockquote>
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<b>Songs I listened to while reading:</b></div>
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eetIgGXH6DA" width="300"></iframe></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-72259540470104358232011-11-01T18:49:00.001-05:002011-11-01T18:51:06.853-05:00Returning to the blog again.Oh, no, I didn't really ever leave you. I love the blogosphere just a little too much to leave any time soon, but I'd like to just say that I'm returning, for real.<br />
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I've just been busy. The holiday season (yes, Halloween totally counts for me. One of my favorite holidays!) is always busy for my family. There's been Halloween parties, trick-or-treating (You're never too old?), volunteer work, preparing for the big Holidays, etc. Between those things and all of my various hobbies, blogging got shoved to the back burner somehow. I've not even really been active on Twitter lately. So, yeah, I've been busy.<br />
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But I'm baaack.<br />
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...I feel like there should be some creepy theme song music playing right now. Maybe that's just because it was Halloween yesterday? Oh well. I'll leave you with this song. It's currently what I'm listening to.<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J6ZWlDks0nQ" width="400"></iframe></center>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-82693290272462484912011-10-23T16:23:00.000-05:002011-10-23T16:23:14.661-05:00IMM (21)<br />
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In my Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">The Story Siren</a>.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As you guys know, I'm currently not buying books. So, I didn't buy any of these.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Received</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPmmy0cESKzzVb5eDDWpDKPpBtgKjJBIPXkLBsJQHU-db3MKLuQVsSeu0Lp-v9KIRjRF_rsiff2MHAX5UjghsG5wyIxBQHYH79yQ0w-UNmC0pZRfZapyCnHidL55FwnXO4ScFu_ChOjA/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPmmy0cESKzzVb5eDDWpDKPpBtgKjJBIPXkLBsJQHU-db3MKLuQVsSeu0Lp-v9KIRjRF_rsiff2MHAX5UjghsG5wyIxBQHYH79yQ0w-UNmC0pZRfZapyCnHidL55FwnXO4ScFu_ChOjA/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7824322-between-shades-of-gray">Goodreads</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Between-Shades-Gray-Ruta-Sepetys/dp/0399254129/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319404617&sr=1-1">Amazon</a>)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">The Predicteds b</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">y </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span itemprop="name">Christine Seifert</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"> (<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10718705-the-predicteds">Goodreads</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Predicteds-Christine-Seifert/dp/1402260490/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319404575&sr=1-1">Amazon</a>)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin (<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9858517-all-these-things-i-ve-done">Goodreads</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-These-Things-Done-Birthright/dp/0374302103/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319404531&sr=1-1">Amazon</a>)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdN8_1Dq_s0H7CXq7ivf7w_KSmKh4mvKDtJSJNRqqBF1yGQ2fqJ1ezZtlfdNCojNrmPda7IvL4skCiJfRKIKGn8DwwebR5UmSREV0fGtTwQNVOMdau3klqU0JnshFPTZh5MgzuRd5soE/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdN8_1Dq_s0H7CXq7ivf7w_KSmKh4mvKDtJSJNRqqBF1yGQ2fqJ1ezZtlfdNCojNrmPda7IvL4skCiJfRKIKGn8DwwebR5UmSREV0fGtTwQNVOMdau3klqU0JnshFPTZh5MgzuRd5soE/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Various signed swag. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3JyzRUIItgOcj4xqOlRovak1F-xr4WvUiQLKceipPYWF8eouIvSNcLifxmfYzH0JYsfVEHQaQ-ZhJU86DI29hJfLiZW2m4q5cxz0WdogbYX045q3id-3feDVlcTRHWOBlFGmDAxfJqc/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3JyzRUIItgOcj4xqOlRovak1F-xr4WvUiQLKceipPYWF8eouIvSNcLifxmfYzH0JYsfVEHQaQ-ZhJU86DI29hJfLiZW2m4q5cxz0WdogbYX045q3id-3feDVlcTRHWOBlFGmDAxfJqc/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Signed Fever by Lauren DeStefano jacket (ZOMG, GUYS.)</div>
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Thanks to <a href="http://stalkingthebookshelves.blogspot.com/">Shannon</a>, <a href="http://brooke-reports.blogspot.com/">Brooke</a>, <a href="http://kreagslistofawsomebooks.blogspot.com/">Kreag</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/LaurenDeStefano">Lauren</a>. </div>
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What'd you get in your mailbox?</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785979145821159335.post-53423756421310995322011-10-20T06:00:00.002-05:002011-10-20T06:00:08.513-05:00Review - Without Tess by Marcella Pixley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312078281l/10369987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312078281l/10369987.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b><i>Without Tess by Marcella Pixley</i></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Without-Tess-Marcella-Pixley/dp/0374361746">Amazon Link</a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10369987-without-tess">Goodreads Link</a><br />
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<b>Page Number:</b> 224 Pages<br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.5 Stars<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Tess and Lizzie are sisters, sisters as close as can be, who share a secret world filled with selkies, flying horses, and a girl who can transform into a wolf in the middle of the night. But when Lizzie is ready to grow up, Tess clings to their fantasies. As Tess sinks deeper and deeper into her delusions, she decides that she can’t live in the real world any longer and leaves Lizzie and her family forever. Now, years later, Lizzie is in high school and struggling to understand what happened to her sister. With the help of a school psychologist and Tess’s battered journal, Lizzie searches for a way to finally let Tess go.</span></blockquote>
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I wanted to read this book for two reasons:<br />
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One, being that I wanted to read a book that was focused on an emotional situation. Every book has emotions, obviously, but I haven't read one that was based on something like this.<br />
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And two, being that I'm not the biggest fan of fantasy mixed into reality. This is obviously different, but the way it's described is very visual. I figured that if I couldn't like it in something like this, it probably just wasn't for me.<br />
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But I did really enjoy this book. It's an interesting idea and I'm fairly sure that there's not anything else out there even remotely like it. The mythical elements of this book are <i>pretend</i>, which, in the end, is probably why it didn't feel confusing to me. I knew that, for the most part, it was a game.<br />
I absolutely devoured the strangeness of all of it. How serious Tess took her delusions. How far Lizzie was willing to go to please her sister. How their parents never seemed to notice it before it was too late. It was all so odd and so different.<br />
I do really enjoy the writing style of this. It's honest with its descriptions. It knows when to be simple and when to use prose to its advantage. There are points when the descriptiveness of it nearly makes me wonder if Tess really <i>does </i>have some sort of magic powers.<br />
The potency of the last few chapters had my eyes misty and a lump rising in my throat. They were beautifully heartbreaking. It felt like Tess's spell had broken and her magic was seeping away, never to be seen again. And, even though Tess was very intense and a little frightening, I missed her. She added a lot to the book.<br />
Something that I both loved and hated was the extreme honesty of the situation. It was a little refreshing, but, at the same time, certain parts felt overly dramatic and a little crazy. Some of the roughness didn't feel natural and it distracted me.<br />
But there is one thing that I did love, that others might not: Tess is certainly crazy. There was no sugarcoating it. She's completely delusional. There was no forced ending where the mother holds Tess above her head and screams, "She's cured! She's <i>sane</i>!" It's a sad story, with a sad ending and a light at the end of the tunnel. It went where the story was bound to go, and I respect that.<br />
This book has shown me that it's not impossible for me to enjoy some fantasy mixed into reality, even if it's only a child's imagination. I'm glad for that. I don't want to have to cross off a group of books that seem to be gaining in numbers if I don't really, really feel I can't enjoy them.<br />
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I hope you'll give this book a chance. It's weird. It's quirky. But I love it. And, chances are, if you like this blog and it's writer, you might not be so afraid of something strange. ;)<br />
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Songs I listened to while reading:</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/121/8AD29842237AF2DF28A65A2EE0946E85.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Briellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440654841036179794noreply@blogger.com0