Teaser Tuesday

 

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

It's Tuesday again! Here's my teaser: (I usually don't do just two sentences. Whatever it takes to finish the blurb.)

""Roses," he muttered, picking one of the rose hips that grew from the twisted branches. "I've been searching for this castle for years. Sleeping Beauty's bed. The Empress would pay a fortune for it." Clara stared incredulously across the silent courtyard. "It is said that anyone who sleeps in her bed will find true love. But it seems" -- Jacob gazed at the dark windows -- "the prince never showed up."

-- Page 101 of Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Review: Catching Fire

 

Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

Author: Suzanne Collines

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date:   September 1st, 2009

Format: Hardback (Bought)

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster children for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol...

It's taken me a long time to get my hands on a copy of the second book, but I am really glad I did. I loved this book, even if some of the thrill of the first one didn't fully transfer to this one.

Catching Fire takes us through a new adventure but with the Katniss we love and the Peeta we adore. Those two are thrown into all new perils as the Capitol wei'ghs down on them. It's the year of the Quarter Quells and that only spells trouble for them. When they're subjected to their new fate, I could only groan.

However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was another brilliant masterpiece and it's definitely among my favourite. The ending was great and I knew that it meant Mockingjay was going to be another thrill ride.



There's just one thing I don't like....the love triangle. Katniss infuriates me. Just choose one! I also dislike love triangles in general. They're ridiculous.

So, if you haven't caught onto the wagon yet for this series, I'd highly advise that you do. 

I gave it FIVE out of FIVE sporks!

 

Review: One Day

 

Title: One Day (Movie)

Director: Lone Scherfig

Stars: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess

Release Date:  19 August 2011

Viewed: Netflix

After a romantic tryst on college graduation night, Emma and Dexter pursue separate dreams. This romantic drama based on a novel of the same name checks in with them each year on the same date, tracking their personal and professional progress.

This movie was based off of David Nicholl's book, One Day, and it received some pretty good reviews so I thought I'd give it a shot.


I'm just going to cut directly to the point and say that it was not at all what I expected. The first 99% of it was great! I loved the movie! Anne Hathaway played a character that I could easily relate to, mostly because she had, at one brief moment, a relationship with her friend that was very similar to my old best friend. Then it divereted and became a good love story. It had it's rough patches, and it had its good ones.


Then...then the story turned upside down and I nearly cried. I can't say what happens without giving away the obviously most impacting part of the movie, but I really want to. All I can say is that, if you're looking for a happy romance/love story or chick-flick...this is not it. Go watch Leap Year (which will be reviewed later) or Julie & Julia. This will pull at your heartstrings big time.

I gave it THREE out of FIVE Sporks!

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Before I Wake

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

  

Before I Wake

by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: June 22nd 2012

Publisher:  HarlequinTeen

From Goodreads;

Not available.

Comments;

Alright. No description. I know, I know!! But, this series is simply amazing! The last book, If I Die, was fantastic and the best of the series. I'm really interested in seeing how Vincent will top this one. So, keep an eye for this one! Also...I really like that dress. :D

What do you think?

Book Fairs

 

Hey guys! Sorry about last week there...I was sick and had a lot of stress going on. However, I'm feeling better and that stress is going away! Yay! 

During that last week, I went to my high school's library to return a book. The librarian loves to talk to me and constantly asks me for book suggestions for the library and such. (I've been dubbed a future Librarian by her.) So, one day we were talking about new books that have come out that she wants to buy and we got on the topic of our upcoming Book Fair. Ours will run this whole week and sell books of all kinds -- YA to Cooking, Trivia to Adult (no, not the bad kind...James Patterson kind!). I was super excited about this, as always, but I was informed that this would be our last book fair if we didn't come in with more money. Scholastic reported that they lose more money sending us the books and setups than they earn in profit. This year, it's all up to how much we do.

I'm hoping to buy a whole bunch of books so I can contribute and help keep the book fair here for students in the coming years. 

So, do you guys have any ideas on what our high school can do to help?

Also, do you guys have book fairs in your city? If so, share them here and what books you want to see/get!

Follow Friday (12)

 

It's Follow Friday time again! Sorry this wasn't scheduled...so much stuff going on this week. But here it is anyway!This week's feature is Bad Ass Book Reviews (@ Alison Can Read) and  Musings of a Book Lover (@ Parajunkee)! Go check' em out. :D

Now for the question...

 

Q: Many readers/bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/singers that we should listen to in 2012.

Well, I have a music taste that may not suit everyone, because I like things people of today don't listen to. Like, Sinatra or European bands. But anyway. Here's are my picks, and I LOVE them. You should totally check them out. ;D

-- The High Kings

 

Also, you should check out their songs 'Star of the County Down', 'Fields of Anthenry', 'The Little Beggarman' and  'Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore'.

-- The Young Dubliners

Their songs 'The Foggy Dew' and 'If I Should Fall from Grace with God' is good too. :]

My last one is probably one a lot have heard about, but I love them no matter what. :D

-- Within Temptation

You might want to also check out their songs 'The Cross' (My current fav), 'The Heart of Everything', and 'What Have You Done? (Bonus Track) (feat Keith Caputo)'.

So, what artists do you like!?

Review: If I Die by Rachel Vincent

 

Title: If I Die (Soul Screamers, #5)

Author: Rachel Vincent

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Release Date:  September 27th 2011

The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

Rachel Vincent has done it again.

If I Die is the fifth book in the amazing and ever popular Soul Screamers series. Never before have I heard of the killing off of the main character without ending the series...yet Rachel did it, and she did it in style.

Kaylee Cavanaugh, a bean sidhe who sings for people's souls when they die, learns that she's going to die in a week. How? She's on the reaper list.(Specifically the special list, which means she has no second chance exchanges) Which brings me to Tod, who is the local reaper. Tod is simply amazing. From book one, I thought Kaylee should have been with him instead of Nash. In book four, I was mad at Tod for being mean to Kaylee, but I was still Team Tod. Now, in book five, Tod is put into the spotlight and revealed in all his glory. I don't want to spoil it, but let's just say that Team Tod has just become much happier now!

Now, plot wise....pretty epic. I know Rachel said that it was hard for her to write the book following this, Before I Wake, because it was really hard to top If I Die. I don't blame her. This book was pretty amazing. Simply knowing the main character is going to die is a pretty big plot right there, but executing it the way she did was simply amazing. I thought I had the ending predicted from back to chapter five or so...but I was wrong. And then TOD! Oh, I nearly cried. (It's really cruel to play with the heartstrings of fans. D:) So, needless to say, the action and plot was amazing (even if just the teensiest bit predictable).

As for characters, they were just as awesome as ever. Kaylee has evolved and I like her better than I did in book four. Nash has stayed the same, which is nice that someone is consitent. He does get pretty bad at the end but it still follows the path Nash would've taken anyway. I'm glad he didn't chance, and I'm also glad he's out of the picture. Sabine is badass as always. Tod...amazing. That's all I shall say.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait 'till June for Before I Wake!

I gave it FIVE of FIVE sporks!

"Waiting On" Wednesday: City of Lost Souls

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:



  

City of Lost Souls

by Cassandra Clare

Release Date:  May 8th 2012

Publisher:  Margaret K. McElderry

From Goodreads;

In Book 5: City of Lost Souls, the Shadowhunters struggle to piece together their shattered world after a betrayal by one of their own leaves them reeling.



Comments;
Okay, so it doesn't have a really great description, but if you're a Mortal Instruments fan, you're going to LOVE this. I know I'm verey eager for this to come out. I'm a huge fan of this series and I have to say, there aren't other books out there like these. Also...look at that cover!!!! We can finally see what Jace and Clary look like! More importantly, Jace! That is super exciting to me.


Anyway...What do you think? If you're a MI fan, go crazy in the comments! I want to hear what you think! If you haven't read this series before, you should totally comment...I will answer any Q's you got. ;D

Review: The Iron Queen

 

Title:The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey, #3)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Release Date:  January 25th 2011

Format: Paperback (Given)

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

 


This book doesn't deserve five stars. It deserves five bajillion stars.

The Iron Queen is the third installment into the Iron Fey series and is by far the most riveting book of it so far. It pulled at my heart-strings the whole time and I still enjoyed it!

I started out as a Team Puck fan, and so far I still am. However, I've started to feel pretty bad for Ash. Now, being on Team Puck here, this book is not going to make us Goodfellow fans any happier. In fact, it just takes our wishes and squishes them, and twists them, and stabs them. BUT (There is always a but.), in the end, I don't think anyone can help but feel sad for Ash. AND THEN PUCK. In the end, Puck shows his true emotions as much as anyone will probably ever see again. It made me want to cry.

On a more technical note, the plot was gripping, the characters were just amazing as ever(!!!), and the scenery never failed to amaze...I think that' s just Kagawa's infallible talent for writing. I can't wait for the fourth, and last, book either. I can't believe it will be the last! This is definitely a series I want to continue forever, because I just absolutely love the characters and the world and /everything/. (I mean, how many people walk around with hand drawn pics of Puck on their binders, or walk around pointing at a raven in a tree saying that it's Puck come to take me to Faery!? I know I do) If this series becomes as famous as the Lord of the Rings series, I swear I'd be the master of the Puck-dom. THAT is how much I love this series, and I swear you will too. Even if you go Team Ash.

So, if you need something new to read, or if you have so many books to read that you're simply drowning in them...read this NOW. Read the series, and you won't regret it.

I gave it FIVE out of FIVE stars

New Stuff

 

Hey guys! Just wanted to let you all know that I installed Disqus here on the blog and you all now have a fancy new way to leave comments. You can be logged in to your Facebook, Google, or Twitter. If you reply with a tweet, I can see it on Twitter too. Pretty awesome huh? Check it out below by leaving a trial comment!

There is a downside though...All your comments from before were erased. Sadface, I know. However, since this blog is still relatively young, I thought I'd install it before I gathered to many more comments.

Let me know how you guys like it! And if you don't, well, I'll take it off. Sadface.

ALSO! This marks my 100th post, guys! Pretty exciting, no?! :D

Follow Friday (11)

 

  

It's Follow Friday time again! This hasn't been up in awhile, so I thought I'd give you another weekly post. This week's feature is Starcrossed (@ Alison Can Read) and Book Den (@ Parajunkee)! Go check' em out. :D

Now for the question...

  

Go count the number of unread books sitting on your shelf. How many?

 I have around twenty unread books drifting around my room. I don't have that many compared to other bloggers, because I only buy books when I my TBR piles gets low. I'll read until I have around five books left and then I'll buy more. However, sometimes people give me books or I'll get them in the mail so my system will be all thrown off! But they usually all get read.

 

What about you!?

2011 Favourites

 

So, we've said goodbye to 2011 and with that, we can reflect upon that year. Here I've decided to share my five of my favourite books and movies of 2011...

Book Favourites of 2011

 

 

Movie Favourites of 2011

 

What do you think? Share your favourites! I love to hear what you guys like! :D