Monday, June 6, 2011
Changes Changes
So School is almost out and I am trying to decide wether to keep my blog. If I do I will not post that often but I think I will keep it for the time being I might even change what it's about.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Final Blog Post!
So this semester I have read 36 books with a total of 11,838 pages. I've always been a big reader and think that I always will be. Because of this, this class was pretty easy because I just had to keep doing what I had always been doing. My favorite place to read is in the armchair in the living room or sprawled out on my bed. This year I read more nonfiction than I normally read but I liked them and keep looking for new ones that I would like. Anything that sounded of looked good I would pick up and read, except for one book. I never finished Fool's Girl I just couldn't do it, it was too weird. Normally I read with the music on and sometimes I sing along with it as I'm reading. I tell Mrs. K about almost every book I read, she's the librarian and she's great. I can't wait for the summer and all the books I will read, Mrs. K is even letting me take some books home and I can't wait to take them. At the beginning of the semester I was not too excited about the poetry but now that I've found some that I like I am a little more open to it. The only bad thing about this semester was that I had a hard time getting the required number of blog posts. I would forget and then freak out when it was Sunday and I didn't have any posts. If I would not have procrastinated I would have not been so stressed about it.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Book # 36
Defiance by Lili St. Crow
259 pages
Popular Fiction
Book four in the strange angels series is now my number one favorite! I love this series, it's such a fresh take on the vampire world. And I love that Dru is indeed a strong female character, not just a girl that the authors describes as such but really isn't. No spoilers here!
Dru is an incredible female lead. I think she is by far one of the most interesting characters because of her vulnerability and her brutal honesty. In one moment she is extremely strong and will risk anything and in another instance she is incredibly vulnerable and open. Her character continues to be dynamic in the stories.
The love triangle in this book only gets more confusing. I am still trying to figure what is up with the apple pie smelling Christophe and who Dru would be better off with, probably Christophe. Graves is absent for the most part in this book since he has been kidnapped so we get to see a lot more of Christophe. Sometimes it seems like he is a perfect fit for Dru and at other times it seems that he keeps too much from her.
The last book left off with Graves in the hands of Sergei, the King of the Vampires. I thought book four would pick up exactly where book three left off. Because it didn't, it took time for me to warm up to what was happening. By the time I'd reached page sixty-three, I was hooked though not much action happened in this installment--not like with the first two books. Dru, part vampire/part human, is close to blooming, which sort of means that she'll come into her full powers. She spends most of her time training and relying on Christophe to locate Graves. When information about Graves surfaces as well as the secrets that have been kept are revealed, Dru stops trusting everyone around her to go on her own to find Graves.
I highly recommend this book, it's got a realistic and heart stopping romantic triangle; fun, deep, and likable characters; good dialogue; and the action is non-stop. I finished this one in less than a day.
259 pages
Popular Fiction
Book four in the strange angels series is now my number one favorite! I love this series, it's such a fresh take on the vampire world. And I love that Dru is indeed a strong female character, not just a girl that the authors describes as such but really isn't. No spoilers here!
Dru is an incredible female lead. I think she is by far one of the most interesting characters because of her vulnerability and her brutal honesty. In one moment she is extremely strong and will risk anything and in another instance she is incredibly vulnerable and open. Her character continues to be dynamic in the stories.
The love triangle in this book only gets more confusing. I am still trying to figure what is up with the apple pie smelling Christophe and who Dru would be better off with, probably Christophe. Graves is absent for the most part in this book since he has been kidnapped so we get to see a lot more of Christophe. Sometimes it seems like he is a perfect fit for Dru and at other times it seems that he keeps too much from her.
The last book left off with Graves in the hands of Sergei, the King of the Vampires. I thought book four would pick up exactly where book three left off. Because it didn't, it took time for me to warm up to what was happening. By the time I'd reached page sixty-three, I was hooked though not much action happened in this installment--not like with the first two books. Dru, part vampire/part human, is close to blooming, which sort of means that she'll come into her full powers. She spends most of her time training and relying on Christophe to locate Graves. When information about Graves surfaces as well as the secrets that have been kept are revealed, Dru stops trusting everyone around her to go on her own to find Graves.
I highly recommend this book, it's got a realistic and heart stopping romantic triangle; fun, deep, and likable characters; good dialogue; and the action is non-stop. I finished this one in less than a day.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Book # 35
Jealousy by Lili St Crow
316 pages
Popular Fiction
Before I begin my rant, let me say that I love this series. The plot is different, plus there's romance and some heavy kick-butt action. This series needs to be read in order. The author doesn't pollute this story with a lot of details from the previous books.
At the end of the last book, Dru Anderson, a sixteen-year-old orphan, is hiding out in a special school meant to help train her. The world of the paranormal with zombies, suckers, and weres isn't something new. Before he died, her father taught her how to survive. Even so, he didn't tell her everything about her past. Bit by bit, she's learning about her heritage and about her mother's murder. She has parts of it buried deep inside, but is afraid to look too deeply. All the while, someone very powerful is trying to kill her.
In this book Dru is finally brought to the main schola where she will supposedly be safe. Unfortunately for Dru there simply isn't anywhere that is safe for her. The series continues to examine the complexities in the relationships between Dru , Christophe and Graves. I wish there was some resolution there but that will be for later books. Additionally, Lili brings more discussion Ash into the book. Dru brought Ash to the main schola and has a very maternal instinct toward him. Dru needs to be needed and Ash is the only one that truly seems to need her. Be ready for some interesting plot twists in this book because it will not end in the way you expect it to.
Jealousy is by far my favorite book so far in this series (see Book #32 and Book #31). It was so much faster than the other two books. One thing I really want to happen is for Dru and Christophe to be together, if she ends up with Graves I will scream and shout and be very mad. See I told you I was going to rant.
316 pages
Popular Fiction
Before I begin my rant, let me say that I love this series. The plot is different, plus there's romance and some heavy kick-butt action. This series needs to be read in order. The author doesn't pollute this story with a lot of details from the previous books.
At the end of the last book, Dru Anderson, a sixteen-year-old orphan, is hiding out in a special school meant to help train her. The world of the paranormal with zombies, suckers, and weres isn't something new. Before he died, her father taught her how to survive. Even so, he didn't tell her everything about her past. Bit by bit, she's learning about her heritage and about her mother's murder. She has parts of it buried deep inside, but is afraid to look too deeply. All the while, someone very powerful is trying to kill her.
In this book Dru is finally brought to the main schola where she will supposedly be safe. Unfortunately for Dru there simply isn't anywhere that is safe for her. The series continues to examine the complexities in the relationships between Dru , Christophe and Graves. I wish there was some resolution there but that will be for later books. Additionally, Lili brings more discussion Ash into the book. Dru brought Ash to the main schola and has a very maternal instinct toward him. Dru needs to be needed and Ash is the only one that truly seems to need her. Be ready for some interesting plot twists in this book because it will not end in the way you expect it to.
Jealousy is by far my favorite book so far in this series (see Book #32 and Book #31). It was so much faster than the other two books. One thing I really want to happen is for Dru and Christophe to be together, if she ends up with Graves I will scream and shout and be very mad. See I told you I was going to rant.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Book #34
Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin
400 pages
Popular Fiction
This book is a kind of sequel to Impossible (see Book # 30) except none of the characters are the same. The plot is similar: a curse set upon a girl by a faerie. In this one though the whole Faerie world needs this girl, for their survival.
Phoebe Rothschild meets Mallory Tolliver when they are in seventh grade. Mallory, a pariah among the popular set, is saved by Phoebe, who rejects the clique and embraces the new girl as her best friend and they form a sisterly bond. Four years later, when the girls are juniors in high school, Mallory reveals the existence of her half-brother, Ryland, who is 24 and irresistible. He is one of the fey, as is Mallory, and he uses fairy glamour for diabolical ends; dialogues between the Faerie Queen and Mallory and the Faerie Queen and Ryland reveal that the fey have deadly plans for the unsuspecting Phoebe. Ryland informs the Queen that Phoebe will be easy to seduce but Phoebe, even though bound by magic, still manages to resist submitting fully. Real-world conversations and settings are distinctly rendered, as are Phoebe's glimpses of Faerie, and although the intermittent dialogues with the Faerie Queen sometimes feel stilted, they provide critical backstory. The denouement flounders ever so slightly in overexplanation, but the carefully nuanced, often sensual prose delivers a highly effective narrative. Characterizations are arresting and complex: Phoebe, thoughtful and loyal, is bravely compassionate; Mallory, divided and determined, elicits reluctant sympathy; and Ryland, controlling and manipulative, is scarily realistic. Werlin's intricately constructed plot combines fairy lore, family history, and coming of age in an engrossing, often suspenseful story that moves smoothly to its inevitable end. Phoebe's intellectual and emotional transformation from ordinary to extraordinary is of her own volition, which makes her the compelling force of this bittersweet fairy tale.
Another thing about this book is that the Faeires, when they come into the story, are nothing like I would have imagine them, they are half-animal, plant creatures. Some sound really stunnig but others sound disgustingly grotesque.
400 pages
Popular Fiction
This book is a kind of sequel to Impossible (see Book # 30) except none of the characters are the same. The plot is similar: a curse set upon a girl by a faerie. In this one though the whole Faerie world needs this girl, for their survival.
Phoebe Rothschild meets Mallory Tolliver when they are in seventh grade. Mallory, a pariah among the popular set, is saved by Phoebe, who rejects the clique and embraces the new girl as her best friend and they form a sisterly bond. Four years later, when the girls are juniors in high school, Mallory reveals the existence of her half-brother, Ryland, who is 24 and irresistible. He is one of the fey, as is Mallory, and he uses fairy glamour for diabolical ends; dialogues between the Faerie Queen and Mallory and the Faerie Queen and Ryland reveal that the fey have deadly plans for the unsuspecting Phoebe. Ryland informs the Queen that Phoebe will be easy to seduce but Phoebe, even though bound by magic, still manages to resist submitting fully. Real-world conversations and settings are distinctly rendered, as are Phoebe's glimpses of Faerie, and although the intermittent dialogues with the Faerie Queen sometimes feel stilted, they provide critical backstory. The denouement flounders ever so slightly in overexplanation, but the carefully nuanced, often sensual prose delivers a highly effective narrative. Characterizations are arresting and complex: Phoebe, thoughtful and loyal, is bravely compassionate; Mallory, divided and determined, elicits reluctant sympathy; and Ryland, controlling and manipulative, is scarily realistic. Werlin's intricately constructed plot combines fairy lore, family history, and coming of age in an engrossing, often suspenseful story that moves smoothly to its inevitable end. Phoebe's intellectual and emotional transformation from ordinary to extraordinary is of her own volition, which makes her the compelling force of this bittersweet fairy tale.
Another thing about this book is that the Faeires, when they come into the story, are nothing like I would have imagine them, they are half-animal, plant creatures. Some sound really stunnig but others sound disgustingly grotesque.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Book #33
To Catch A Pirate by Jade Parker
320 pages
Popular Fiction
After the death of her mother, sixteen-year-old Annalisa Townsend leave England and sets sail for the Caribbean in 1720, where her father is to be the governor of a small island named Mourning. Shortly before they reach their destination, however, the ship is attacked by pirates. Annalisa is discovered hiding in the hold by James Sterling, a young pirate. When he tries to steal her necklace, all that is left of her mother, she begs him not to. He agrees in exchange for a kiss, and she expects never to see the disturbingly handsome young pirate again. But after arriving at their destination, Annalisa's father is accused of allowing the pirates to steal the gold that was to be used to build a port on Mourning, and sent to jail. One year later, Annalisa has acquired a ship and a crew and set out in search of James Sterling. James has run into trouble of his own, having been marooned by his former captain, Crimson Kelly, for having let Annalisa escape during the pirate attack. Annalisa is determined to find James so that he can lead her to where Crimson Kelly hid the treasure her father was responsible for, so she can reclaim it and free him from jail. What Annalisa doesn't expect is for her unsettling feelings for the young pirate to resurface, and soon she finds herself in danger of falling in love with him.
I really liked this book and it would defidently be one that I would read over and over and over again. I just love the whole pirate theme, it's great. This book is really short but is great for a long car ride or something else of that nature. Defidently would reccomend to everybody.
320 pages
Popular Fiction
After the death of her mother, sixteen-year-old Annalisa Townsend leave England and sets sail for the Caribbean in 1720, where her father is to be the governor of a small island named Mourning. Shortly before they reach their destination, however, the ship is attacked by pirates. Annalisa is discovered hiding in the hold by James Sterling, a young pirate. When he tries to steal her necklace, all that is left of her mother, she begs him not to. He agrees in exchange for a kiss, and she expects never to see the disturbingly handsome young pirate again. But after arriving at their destination, Annalisa's father is accused of allowing the pirates to steal the gold that was to be used to build a port on Mourning, and sent to jail. One year later, Annalisa has acquired a ship and a crew and set out in search of James Sterling. James has run into trouble of his own, having been marooned by his former captain, Crimson Kelly, for having let Annalisa escape during the pirate attack. Annalisa is determined to find James so that he can lead her to where Crimson Kelly hid the treasure her father was responsible for, so she can reclaim it and free him from jail. What Annalisa doesn't expect is for her unsettling feelings for the young pirate to resurface, and soon she finds herself in danger of falling in love with him.
I really liked this book and it would defidently be one that I would read over and over and over again. I just love the whole pirate theme, it's great. This book is really short but is great for a long car ride or something else of that nature. Defidently would reccomend to everybody.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Etymology Anthology Project
Theme: Fairy Tales
First few poems
1. Fairy Tale by Ron Padgett
2. [Snow White] by Lightsey Darst
3. Lessons from a Mirror by Thylais Moss
4. The Gate to the Land of Faerie by James Browne
5. Fairy-Tale Logic by A.E. Stallings
6. La Belle Dame Sans Merci by John Keats
7. Gretel in Darkness by Louise Gluck
8. Harmless, Recalled as a Fairy Tale by Monica Ferrell
9. The Witch Has Told You a Story by Ava Leavell Haymon
Poem to be made into a video: Fairy Tale by Ron Padgett
First few poems
1. Fairy Tale by Ron Padgett
2. [Snow White] by Lightsey Darst
3. Lessons from a Mirror by Thylais Moss
4. The Gate to the Land of Faerie by James Browne
5. Fairy-Tale Logic by A.E. Stallings
6. La Belle Dame Sans Merci by John Keats
7. Gretel in Darkness by Louise Gluck
8. Harmless, Recalled as a Fairy Tale by Monica Ferrell
9. The Witch Has Told You a Story by Ava Leavell Haymon
Poem to be made into a video: Fairy Tale by Ron Padgett
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