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
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Book #32
Betrayals by Lili St. Crow
304 pages
Popular Fiction
OMG I absolutely loved this book!! I can't wait to start the third one, Jealousy, It was way better than the first. It has so much more action and oh it's just fantastic. This series may yet surpass the HUNGER GAMES series. I am really interested in the sorta love triangle between Dru, Graves, and Christophe. Personally I want her to be with Christophe but Graves is a ton more dependable. But Christophe OMG he's got that bad boy mystery thing going on and I just can't resist. And in this one you get and idea of who the bad guy/girl(s) are, oh yeah there is possibly more than one villian in this plot. Even though none of this stuff has probably happened to anybody (hopefully) Dru is still totally relatable and the other characters are just so facsinating. Like the werewulfens' names; none of them are their birth names. There are Dibs and one that starts with a S but I can't remember but their real names are all formal like Robert and Thomas. And oddly enough Christophe knows their true names, very odd. Dru gets hurt a lot in this book too, random fact. Plus there is one thing that is confusing, she is starting to develop some things that a djamphir would have bu tit hasn't said if she has bloomed yet, so i'm confused. But overall AMAZING book, I deffidently reccomend this series to anybody and everybody!!!
304 pages
Popular Fiction
OMG I absolutely loved this book!! I can't wait to start the third one, Jealousy, It was way better than the first. It has so much more action and oh it's just fantastic. This series may yet surpass the HUNGER GAMES series. I am really interested in the sorta love triangle between Dru, Graves, and Christophe. Personally I want her to be with Christophe but Graves is a ton more dependable. But Christophe OMG he's got that bad boy mystery thing going on and I just can't resist. And in this one you get and idea of who the bad guy/girl(s) are, oh yeah there is possibly more than one villian in this plot. Even though none of this stuff has probably happened to anybody (hopefully) Dru is still totally relatable and the other characters are just so facsinating. Like the werewulfens' names; none of them are their birth names. There are Dibs and one that starts with a S but I can't remember but their real names are all formal like Robert and Thomas. And oddly enough Christophe knows their true names, very odd. Dru gets hurt a lot in this book too, random fact. Plus there is one thing that is confusing, she is starting to develop some things that a djamphir would have bu tit hasn't said if she has bloomed yet, so i'm confused. But overall AMAZING book, I deffidently reccomend this series to anybody and everybody!!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Book #31
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
293 pages
Popular Fiction
Sixteen year old Dru Anderson has no illusions about what lives in the Real World: zombies, werewulfen, nosferat, and poltergeists. Her and her hunter father have been hunting these creatures down since Dru was about 11 or 12. But when her father, her only family, shows up after days missing as a zombie hungry for Dru's death, she knows that someone is out to get her. So she searches deeper into who killed her mother and who is now after her. She soon joins up with Goth orphan Graves who is quickly bitten by a werewulf and turned into loup-garou (half-werewulfen)who pledges to stand by her side no matter what, can you say love interest?! Dru is later able to get some answers from mysterious and sexy Christophe, LOVE TRIANGLE ALERT! Who just happens to be a djamphir (half-vampire vampire hunter). Being followed by evil werewulfen and blood hungry suckers is hard enough but will Dru be able to handle her personal life as well?
I really liked this book and can't wait to read the next in the series, Betrayals, it took over my life. The characters curse a lot in this book so if that offends you then I would not recommend it, but I have found a lot of vocab words in this series so if you need a grade boost then pick this book up at the library now!! And for a limited time only we will give you the second book for free! I'm sorry I know that was corny but I couldn't restrain myself. I would rank these books up there with the Hunger games series and IMPOSSIBLE (Book #30). The action gets slow at some places but the action parts are fast and furious and totally amazing!! There are a lot of foreign words in this book that are not subtitled for you. I'm not even sure what language it is but I think it's either French, Latin, or German. If you read it and find out definitely tell me because I want to know what Christophe is saying to Dru!!
293 pages
Popular Fiction
Sixteen year old Dru Anderson has no illusions about what lives in the Real World: zombies, werewulfen, nosferat, and poltergeists. Her and her hunter father have been hunting these creatures down since Dru was about 11 or 12. But when her father, her only family, shows up after days missing as a zombie hungry for Dru's death, she knows that someone is out to get her. So she searches deeper into who killed her mother and who is now after her. She soon joins up with Goth orphan Graves who is quickly bitten by a werewulf and turned into loup-garou (half-werewulfen)who pledges to stand by her side no matter what, can you say love interest?! Dru is later able to get some answers from mysterious and sexy Christophe, LOVE TRIANGLE ALERT! Who just happens to be a djamphir (half-vampire vampire hunter). Being followed by evil werewulfen and blood hungry suckers is hard enough but will Dru be able to handle her personal life as well?
I really liked this book and can't wait to read the next in the series, Betrayals, it took over my life. The characters curse a lot in this book so if that offends you then I would not recommend it, but I have found a lot of vocab words in this series so if you need a grade boost then pick this book up at the library now!! And for a limited time only we will give you the second book for free! I'm sorry I know that was corny but I couldn't restrain myself. I would rank these books up there with the Hunger games series and IMPOSSIBLE (Book #30). The action gets slow at some places but the action parts are fast and furious and totally amazing!! There are a lot of foreign words in this book that are not subtitled for you. I'm not even sure what language it is but I think it's either French, Latin, or German. If you read it and find out definitely tell me because I want to know what Christophe is saying to Dru!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Book #30
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
384 pages
Popular Fiction
"The Elfin Knight"
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Rememberme to one who lives there
She must be a true love of mine
Tell her she'll sleep in a goose-feather bead
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Tell her I swear she'll have nothing to dread
She must be a true love of mine
Tell her tomorrow her answer make known
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
What e'er she may say I'll not leave her alone
She must be a true love of mine
Her answer it came in a week and a day
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
I'm sorry, good sir, I must answer thee nay
I'll not be a true love of thine
From the sting of my curse she can never be free
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Unless she unravels my riddlings three
She will be a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a magical shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Without ant seam or needlework
Else she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strand
Else she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to plow it with just a goat's horn
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
And sow it all over with one grain of a corn
Else she'll be a true love of mine
And her daughters forever possessions of mine
Lucy Scarborough is raped on prom night and finds herself pregnant. Committed to keeping the baby, she nonetheless sees similarities between herself and her mentally ill mother, Miranda, who had Lucy as a teen as well. Miranda then left her in the care of nurse/midwife, Soledad and Leo Markowitz who are now Lucy's caring foster parents. When life friend and boy-next-door, Zach, comes home from college to spend the summer with Lucy and her family he stumbles upon Miranda's teenage diary which outlines a curse set upon the Scarborough girls generations ago. A curse that was placed on them by the Elfin Knight who, after ancesstress Fenellas' snub, made it so that at eighteen each women will fall into madness after giving birth to a daughter. Lucy has nine months to break the curse and to do so she must complete the three seemingly impossible tasks set before her in the ballad "The Elfin Knight" (see above). None of which her forebears have ever come close to, but they didn't have help from the selfless Markowitzes, love-struck and self-sacrificing Zach, or the internet, where goat horns are found easily. Lucy just may be the luckiest accursed girl in exsistence. But only if she beats the curse and saves her life as well as her unborn daughters. Very suspenseful but you still know the outcome is going to be good.
This was hands-down my favorite book, right after the Hunger Games series. I loved how it didn't dwell on the fantasy stuff too much and was fast-paced. But I didn't like that some stuff was too vague; the pregnancy, her romance with Zach, friends but that's okay I just made it up for my benefit.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Book #29
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto 496 pages
Popular Fiction
"Dark forces are gathering. Terrorists attacks, murders, strife, poverty." Three angels are sent down from heaven to Venus Cove to complete good works and spread goodwill. Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany the youngest and most human, created a mere seventeen years ago. She is the most connected to the human race but she must refrain from letting them know who she is, no attachments. But when she lays eyes on Xavier Woods she can't help but fall for him. She tries to follow her mission but can't concentrate without him. Ivy and Gabriel do everything in there power to stop this relationship. But it might be the one thing that can save her against the demon Jake Thorn.
The first in a trilogy by a seventeen year old author, Halo had some good parts and some low parts. The plot could have been really good but was disrupted by it's legnthliness, and by Bethany the narrator. Bethany is so naive about so many things but she has no problem with school work, it makes no sense. Also, it was stated that the three would not be wearing tank tops because it would show their wings but a few pages later Ivy is walking around in a tank top and Gabriel answers the door in nothing but a towel, how is that supposed to work? And then Bethany become obsessed with literally the first good-looking boy she sees, what? The charachters aren't developed at all because Bethany is so obsessed with this boy. And there are no homely people in Venus Cove, all Bethanys friends have striking blue eyes or titian curls, and the cliques are pointed off right off the bat. This author has a lot of potential and I liked the book but didn't love it. It could have been magnificent but fell flat because as you should know, angels are the new vampires.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Book #28
The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
374 pages
Popular Fiction
Of the three books in Carrie Ryans zombie trilogy The Dark and Hollow Places is the most chilling. The things that the Recruiters do to the captive humans and the Unconsecrated. It goes into the darkness of the time, the desperation, the poverty, and the hopelessness. This was my favorite of the whole trilogy, I think because of Annah. Annah is the main character who lives in the Dark City, previously New York City, alone for the past three years since her friend Elias left to join the Recruiters. Now he is back with her long lost twin sister, Abigail/Gabry and friend Catcher in tow.Before he left, Elias and Annah had a moment and Elias made her feel beautiful despite the left side of her body being mutilated by misshapen scars. With the city being ravaged by the Unconsecrated zombies searching for the taste of human flesh the group has to give themselves into the Recruiters who will keep them safe but to what extent? Are you safe if you are being threatened and abused almost daily by cruel men who want only bad things from you? Annah thinks not, and she is determined to get her sister, her friend, and her love out of here even if it means she must sacrafice her own life. It has a horde of Unconsecrated, true love, violence, heroism and more. It gave me chills... literally.
I could not put this book down because it was so intense and frightening. I recommend that you not read any of this series at night because it gave me nightmares, it's very disturbing. But still read it and the first two too (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead Tossed Waves). The Unconsecrated have always disturbed me in these books, the blank looks, the unhuman moaning, it just gives me chills thinking about them. Ugh. But great books, the best mix of scary and well everything else.
374 pages
Popular Fiction
Of the three books in Carrie Ryans zombie trilogy The Dark and Hollow Places is the most chilling. The things that the Recruiters do to the captive humans and the Unconsecrated. It goes into the darkness of the time, the desperation, the poverty, and the hopelessness. This was my favorite of the whole trilogy, I think because of Annah. Annah is the main character who lives in the Dark City, previously New York City, alone for the past three years since her friend Elias left to join the Recruiters. Now he is back with her long lost twin sister, Abigail/Gabry and friend Catcher in tow.Before he left, Elias and Annah had a moment and Elias made her feel beautiful despite the left side of her body being mutilated by misshapen scars. With the city being ravaged by the Unconsecrated zombies searching for the taste of human flesh the group has to give themselves into the Recruiters who will keep them safe but to what extent? Are you safe if you are being threatened and abused almost daily by cruel men who want only bad things from you? Annah thinks not, and she is determined to get her sister, her friend, and her love out of here even if it means she must sacrafice her own life. It has a horde of Unconsecrated, true love, violence, heroism and more. It gave me chills... literally.
I could not put this book down because it was so intense and frightening. I recommend that you not read any of this series at night because it gave me nightmares, it's very disturbing. But still read it and the first two too (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead Tossed Waves). The Unconsecrated have always disturbed me in these books, the blank looks, the unhuman moaning, it just gives me chills thinking about them. Ugh. But great books, the best mix of scary and well everything else.
Bloggies
I really like A Jar of Orange Marmalade's blog because they have really long reading posts and they go into a lot of detail. I also like that they post pictures with most of their posts. They defiantly spend some time on these posts and don't do them all in one night. I think the books they post on are also very interesting and I might have to read some of them. I also like their design for their page.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Book #27
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
359 pages
Popular Fiction
So last semester was quite eventful for Sophie. She was inducted into a coven of dark witches that raised a demon from the dead, who just happens to be Sophie's grandmother, found out she was a demon herself, watched her new ally murdered, and then had to kill her grandmother/demon/murderer. Oh yeah and her crush also happens to be a member of the Eye who is out to destroy all Prodigium. So now Sophie is bound and determined to get all this behind her by going through the Removal, a painful and mostly deadly procedure that will wipe Sophie of her demon powers forever but leave her scared with the memories and purple tatoos. But her father, who Sophie just met in the first chapter of Demonglass, is bound and determined to convince her to keep her powers seeing as they are supposedly the only two demons in the world at the moment. That's why her father takes her to London for the summer, more specifically to Council headquarters, along with her friends Cal and Jenna. There Sophe meets two other demons which HELLO means that someone is raising demons right under the Councils nose. But who can it be? Trying to uncover this secret along with watching out for the Eye, who is using Archer to hunt her down could be very dangerous. But Sophie has it all under control right? She won't team up with Archer and try to uncover the mystery right? And she would never fall in love with him and betray everyones trust and safety...right?
359 pages
Popular Fiction
So last semester was quite eventful for Sophie. She was inducted into a coven of dark witches that raised a demon from the dead, who just happens to be Sophie's grandmother, found out she was a demon herself, watched her new ally murdered, and then had to kill her grandmother/demon/murderer. Oh yeah and her crush also happens to be a member of the Eye who is out to destroy all Prodigium. So now Sophie is bound and determined to get all this behind her by going through the Removal, a painful and mostly deadly procedure that will wipe Sophie of her demon powers forever but leave her scared with the memories and purple tatoos. But her father, who Sophie just met in the first chapter of Demonglass, is bound and determined to convince her to keep her powers seeing as they are supposedly the only two demons in the world at the moment. That's why her father takes her to London for the summer, more specifically to Council headquarters, along with her friends Cal and Jenna. There Sophe meets two other demons which HELLO means that someone is raising demons right under the Councils nose. But who can it be? Trying to uncover this secret along with watching out for the Eye, who is using Archer to hunt her down could be very dangerous. But Sophie has it all under control right? She won't team up with Archer and try to uncover the mystery right? And she would never fall in love with him and betray everyones trust and safety...right?
Art Gallery
Julie Kroll
"The Conveigance of Time"
Julie Krolls "The Conveigance of Time," abundant gothic doodles create an old-fashioned clock that gives off an explosive romanticness. The intricate doodles that cover every square inch of the drawing gives it a scattered look of a dream. The curving uneven numbers on the clock face also aludes to this and gives it a romantic depiction. The clean purpouseful lines of this drawing give it a thoughtful and inquisitive look.and the difference of the technique used gives the clock a more lively feel to it. Kroll makes this clock come to life with her uniqueness and intuitiveness.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Quidditch!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quidditch
So I have recently discovered that muggles can play Quidditch. I found this out at Ball State when I went on a college visit because they have a Quidditch team and so I got interested and searched it up online when I got home that night. I really want to make a team but only colleges have teams and they can go to the World Cup. I think that it was a really smart idea to make it a real game because it sounds so fun!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UfPij5ABdo This video gives an example of what a typical game includes and the website above explains the general rules and points.
So yeah now you know my obsession with the Harry Potter world, I'm a Potter freak. Did you know that there is a Harry Potter theme park in Orlando??? Yeah it's called the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I want to go there sooo much!! They have the whole castle, most of Diagone Alley (including Olivanders) and most of Hogsmead. I know some people who have been and they say it's super amazing but it's expensive and crowded. That's the only bummer. I can't wait for part two of the Deathly Hallows to come out I know whats going to happen because I read the books but I want to know how they are going to accomplish that plus the movies are just awesome!!!!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Book # 26
Throat by R.A. Nelson
453 pages
Popular Fiction
Seventeen-year old Emma is cursed by her epilepsy, it has restricted her friends, her chances of getting her license, and how she is treated on the soccer field. But when a vampire attacks her it is her curse that saves her life. During her attack she has a grand mal seizure causing the vampire Wirtz to flee. This interrupted feeding gave Emma the amazing powers that a vampire has but with no of the harsh side effects. So she can run fast, is very strong, has heightened senses, but doesn't have to drink blood or avoid the sun. It's not clear is she is a half-vampire or some kind of super human, but one thing that is clear is that Wirtz hates leaving a job undone and will stop at nothing to finnish her. To protect her family from the rath of Wirtz Emma flees and hides at a NASA base were she meets Sagan who will be a valuble friend and ally in her adventure to kill Wirtz. Emma finds the perfect lookout building and with Sagans help equipts it with unconventional warfare like sand blasters, chain saws, and chemicals. Will she get out of this alive or will the lives of the ones she loves be forfeited.
This book was really thrilling and intense but at times it just drags on with no known meaning. I feel as though it is setting us up for a sequel and I would welcome it as long as i didn't drag on as much. I really liked the cover art of the novel too, the meaning of the throat is revealed in the novel which gives a whole new viewpoint on the cover.
453 pages
Popular Fiction
Seventeen-year old Emma is cursed by her epilepsy, it has restricted her friends, her chances of getting her license, and how she is treated on the soccer field. But when a vampire attacks her it is her curse that saves her life. During her attack she has a grand mal seizure causing the vampire Wirtz to flee. This interrupted feeding gave Emma the amazing powers that a vampire has but with no of the harsh side effects. So she can run fast, is very strong, has heightened senses, but doesn't have to drink blood or avoid the sun. It's not clear is she is a half-vampire or some kind of super human, but one thing that is clear is that Wirtz hates leaving a job undone and will stop at nothing to finnish her. To protect her family from the rath of Wirtz Emma flees and hides at a NASA base were she meets Sagan who will be a valuble friend and ally in her adventure to kill Wirtz. Emma finds the perfect lookout building and with Sagans help equipts it with unconventional warfare like sand blasters, chain saws, and chemicals. Will she get out of this alive or will the lives of the ones she loves be forfeited.
This book was really thrilling and intense but at times it just drags on with no known meaning. I feel as though it is setting us up for a sequel and I would welcome it as long as i didn't drag on as much. I really liked the cover art of the novel too, the meaning of the throat is revealed in the novel which gives a whole new viewpoint on the cover.
Dan Martensen and Shannan Click
http://www.theselby.com/9_21_09_DanM_Shannan/index.html
Dan Martensen and Shannan Clicks quaint cabin like home and beautifully unruly garden create a sense of an adoring couple is down to earth and humble. The house itself looks rustic and simple with its natural lighting and uneven wooden boards. The pictures of the homemade garden and food give an organic feel to their lifestyle. The seemingly carefree style of living they are used to is characterized by their artistic photos and paintings. This lively couple and their adorable slobbery dog have an effervescence for life that comes through in their old fashioned farmhouse and the wildly abundant amount of garden foliage.
Dan Martensen and Shannan Clicks quaint cabin like home and beautifully unruly garden create a sense of an adoring couple is down to earth and humble. The house itself looks rustic and simple with its natural lighting and uneven wooden boards. The pictures of the homemade garden and food give an organic feel to their lifestyle. The seemingly carefree style of living they are used to is characterized by their artistic photos and paintings. This lively couple and their adorable slobbery dog have an effervescence for life that comes through in their old fashioned farmhouse and the wildly abundant amount of garden foliage.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Book # 25
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore 440 pages
Popular Fiction
"They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four.
I am next."
I just loved this part of the book so I had to quote it, it just adds so much suspense before you even start the book that it makes you want to read it more. I also really like that there is a disclaimer in the begining saying that everything is true, names have been changed to protect the rest still in hiding etc. And Pittacus Lore is one of the council type ruler dudes of Lorien so all of this combined makes the story suspenseful and really real. The one thing that I didn't like about the book was that I could see things coming long before the book explained them, just simple things but I though it just needed to be a bit more difficult to figure out. My favorite part of the book besides the realness to it was the mix of current events and history of their home planet Lorien. It was a good ratio and I enjoyed learning about this fictitious planet. I haven't seen the movie yet but people are saying it's good, great, fantastic, but there are also the people who say it was missing important things from the book, I hated it. So I am going to wait until it comes to readbox and just find out for myself because people are confusing. Another thing that is confusing is Number Fours age. I tried to do the math and came up with sixteen but it implies that he is fifteen and now I am just saying he is a teenager. If anyone could clarify any of this that would be a great help.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Book #24
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
398 pages
Not really sure the type
So this book took over my whole entire life (stealing Mrs. K's phrase)!! It's Kind of a sci-fi romance with some mystery thrown into it.
Amy is seventeen and her parents are making her make the hardest decision of her life so far. She can either journey to another planet almost 300 years away with her parents by being cryogenically frozen, or she could stay behind on Earth with her Aunt, Uncle, and boyfriend but never see her parents again. She is supposed to be frozen after her mom but before he dad, her mother thinks that her father will make Amy go before him so she has to go but her father surprises her by letting her make the choice. It's not made any easier by the fact that the process of being frozen is a most horrific experience including tubes and wires being jammed down the throat, eyes being glued shut, and a feeling of being drowned. The description of this process made me cringe inside at the idea of this actually happening to a person. So Amy decides that she would rather go with her parents and goes through the painful process. She is awoken in an excrutiatingly painful matter and then finds out that it was 50 years too early!! It seems that she is also the first in a string of murders of the people who are frozen. This new world is a mystery to Amy as it is full of people who live by different rules and customs. This monoethnic people is ruled by a tyrannical old man named Eldest and his successor teenaged Elder. To Eldest she represents difference and that cannot be tolerated in this heavily sedated community who has lost almost all knowledge of their history and Earths' past. Now Amy must uncover the secrets that the ship is hiding, find the murderer before he kills her parents, and deal with this strange new world all while falling in love with someone who could betray her.
398 pages
Not really sure the type
So this book took over my whole entire life (stealing Mrs. K's phrase)!! It's Kind of a sci-fi romance with some mystery thrown into it.
Amy is seventeen and her parents are making her make the hardest decision of her life so far. She can either journey to another planet almost 300 years away with her parents by being cryogenically frozen, or she could stay behind on Earth with her Aunt, Uncle, and boyfriend but never see her parents again. She is supposed to be frozen after her mom but before he dad, her mother thinks that her father will make Amy go before him so she has to go but her father surprises her by letting her make the choice. It's not made any easier by the fact that the process of being frozen is a most horrific experience including tubes and wires being jammed down the throat, eyes being glued shut, and a feeling of being drowned. The description of this process made me cringe inside at the idea of this actually happening to a person. So Amy decides that she would rather go with her parents and goes through the painful process. She is awoken in an excrutiatingly painful matter and then finds out that it was 50 years too early!! It seems that she is also the first in a string of murders of the people who are frozen. This new world is a mystery to Amy as it is full of people who live by different rules and customs. This monoethnic people is ruled by a tyrannical old man named Eldest and his successor teenaged Elder. To Eldest she represents difference and that cannot be tolerated in this heavily sedated community who has lost almost all knowledge of their history and Earths' past. Now Amy must uncover the secrets that the ship is hiding, find the murderer before he kills her parents, and deal with this strange new world all while falling in love with someone who could betray her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)