Sunday, December 14, 2008

Booking Through Thursday/Saturday #15: Time Is Of The Essence

On Saturday

1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read?
NO NO NO. Not at all. I don't believe I've finished one book this month and it's already like 2/3 of the way done. I have school, sports, friends, and a bajillion other things that keep me super busy and not able to have time to just sit down, relax, and read. :(

2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?
If I had more time I'd probably read some comfort books or just try and get through my ever growing pile of review books. I'd also love to have time to read some delicious trashy magazines. They're a guilty pleasure of mine. Who doesn't want to read about Brangelina's 85th adopted kid? Not me! I love that kind of stuff. I also want to read a few more classics as well. A big variety, I guess.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Waiting on Wednesday #2 - Envy by Anna Godbersen

Jealous whispers.

Old rivalries.

New betrayals.

Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South.

Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune - and her fame - are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press.

In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets. . . .

I need to read this book sooo bad. I've read both of the first books in the series, The Luxe and Rumors, and am completely in love with them. Scandal, romance, suspense, juice, all taking place in New York City, drama capitol of the world. I'm really excited to see what Envy has in store because the ending of Rumors left me with my jaw-dropped. Anna Godbersen is going to have to step it up a notch after she um...did something to one of my favorite characters. And let me just say that if you haven't started this series yet, then you are seriously missing out. Please start reading them ASAP. It'll be your Christmas present to me. :P

Envy comes out January 29th, 2009.

PS: And just a little note, I've decided that it's too much pressure to stick to my reading schedule for The Lovely Bones so while I am still reading it, the posts won't be regular. Sorry! 

Monday, December 8, 2008

Sloooowing Down. Ugh

I promise my reviews haven't disappeared. I'm hoping to get caught up with my reading soon but seeing as I've been getting very little sleep the past weeks and even my teachers have noticed, my priority might be in catching some shut-eye. I'll try and get a Lovely Bones post up tomorrow to make up for the missed day on Saturday, and my Waiting on Wednesday will be posted on um...Wednesday. 
Besides some reviews (*crosses fingers*) I've also got an amazingly awesome thing I'm a part of, starting on the 15th, so look out for that too! 
Just bear with me here as I trudge through my reading pile. :)

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Booking Through Thursday/Saturday #14: 5 For Favorites

On Saturday
1. Do you have a favorite author?
No! I have a few main ones that I like; Sarah Dessen, JK Rowling, Siobhan Vivian, John Green, Scott Westerfeld, Susan Beth Pfeffer, and a ton more that I'm too lazy to name. :P
2. Have you read everything he or she has written?
Yes, in fact, I think I've read almost every book each of the authors listed above have written. Wow. I didn't even realize I was capable of that! 
3. Did you LIKE everything?
Some of Sarah Dessen's first books were a little disappointing and I didn't like Scott Westerfeld's Peeps, but I think I liked everything else. I guess I'm easy to please.
4. How about a least favorite author?
I don't think I'm really against any particular author because it seems bad to me to rule out books based on who wrote them. And I think I've liked most of the things I've read. No author stands out to me as someone I don't like or wouldn't read...
5. An author you wanted to like, but didn’t?
Melina Marchetta. I only tried one of her books, On The Jellicoe Road and couldn't get through it. I know that she has TONS of rabid fans but I don't really see the draw. :( I'm sorry!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Think About It

"...Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores. It has features. This book can go under the microscope. You'd find life under the glass, streaming past in infinite profusion. The more pores, the more truthfully recorded details of life per square inch you can get on a sheet of paper, the more 'literary' you are. That's my definition, anyway. Telling detail. Fresh detail. The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her for the flies."

-Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

[so true]

PS: Be sure to keep checking back for some super exciting news. I'm really stoked (yes, I did use the word "stoked")!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Bits 'n Pieces - Susan Juby

Susan Juby is the author of a host of YA novels, her most recent being Getting The Girl. Isn't the cover for it adorable? I'm definitely excited to read it soon. You can visit her website here. To learn more about her other books and read some fun posts on her blog. I hope you enjoy the interview!

This or that.
Rain or shine?
Shine. With the promise of rain overnight.
iPod or mp3 player?
iPod.
Movies or TV?
TV! TV! TV!
City or country?
Country. With trips to the city.
Mountains or beaches?
Mountains.
Dots or stripes?
Both. Preferably on the same garment.
Dogs or cats?
Dogs.
Cooking or eating out?
Cooking.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee, especially coffee that's strong enough to power diesel engines.
Books or magazines?
Both.

Favorites:
Book-
I can't choose just one. Clockers. Catcher in the Rye.
Book store-
The closest one.
Movie-
Rushmore. Harold and Maude.
Music artist-
Radiohead.
Website-
Go Fug Yourself.
Designer-
Azzedine Alaia
Coffee chain
Bean around the World
Guilty pleasure-
Cupcakes. Lots and lots of cupcakes.
Restaurant-
Bishops in Vancouver.
Color-
My horse, who is kind of a liver chestnut.

Have you ever:
Lived abroad?
No. But I got married in Scotland.
Gotten a tattoo?
Yup. When I was twenty.
Stayed up for the midnight release of a movie or book?
No. I have to get up early to write.
Disliked your job?
YES! I've had about eighty jobs and disliked many of them.
Cried during a movie?
Yes, even some that weren't supposed to be sad.
Sang karaoke?
Mercifully for the audience, only a few times.

Questions:
If you were on a desert island, what 5 things would you bring with you?
Kiehls lip balm
My husband
My dog
Enough food and drinks for all of us.
Books. Thousands of them.
What’s on the list of things you have to do during your life?
Finish my next book. And the one after that. I've got other things, but I can't tell anyone because I'm superstitious.
If you could have one super power what would it be?
The ability to fly. Or to heal people. That would be good. Although you'd be busy! You'd need an excellent secretary.
What’s your perfect music playlist?
Xavier Rudd: Messages
Tragically Hip: Scared
Radiohead: House of Cards
Neil Young: Old Man
The Shins: New Slang
Smashing Pumpkins: 1979
Elliott Brood: The Bridge
Jeff Buckley: Hallelujah
I'm a little down tempo these days.
What’s the one food you could eat day after day and not get sick of?
Good Chinese food.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Spain.
What moment in history do you wish you could’ve experienced?
I think that's asking for trouble. I've read what happens when people time travel. I think we all best stay where we are.
What does your dream library look like?
It looks big. It has those built-in shelves with ladders so you can reach the top. There is a complete set of P.G. Wodehouse books in there. First editions.
When you walk into a bookstore, where do you head first?
To the mysteries.
If everyone had to read one book, what would you have it be?
I don't think there's such a thing as one book that works for everyone. But if everyone read my latest, Getting the Girl, that would be good for sales.
Thank you so much, Susan!
The winner of a signed copy of Death By Latte is Mari. Congrats! Look for an email from Linda soon. :)

Made To Last...The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - chapters 4 through 6

Chapter four:
-I totally called it. Apparently Mr. Harvey has killed other girls as he is very systematical in his preparation and clean-up. And we do find out what he does with the hole, although I still think it was rather pointless for him to have spent the effort and dug it in the first place.
-Alice Sebold really doesn't flinch away from blatant description does she? Fingers, toes, blood, etc. Yuck.
"I knew gloves meant you were an adult and mittens meant you weren't."
-I still wear mittens. :P Guess I'm a child. They're just so much cozier to me. <3
-Mr. Harvey is never going to get caught, I don't think. No evidence is going to be found besides that elbow. 
-He's a complete nut-case. A sneaky one, though.
-Ooh. Maybe he will be caught after all. Since he talked to Mr. Salmon and let on that he was somehow involved, he's becoming more and more suspicious in Mr. Salmon's eyes...
-When Susie realized she would never be able to interact with her family or experience any pleasures of earthly life, like snow, again, it made me think. To be able to observe but not participate or experience would be really heartbreaking. 

Chapter five:
-The Walking Dead Syndrome is totally legit. When people see the dead person and don't see you. It's a really sad thing.
-I really hope Mr. Harvey messes up somehow and breaks his cover.
-I wish Susie had more of a voice and was more opinionated rather than just relating what she sees. I want to hear more of what she thinks! Although I do understand that the story is supposed to focus mainly on the family...
-Fluffernutter. Ha!
-Who are Sophie and Leah going to turn out to be? Mr. Harvey's wives/kills?
-I want to dress like a snowflake. That would be amazing. :)
-Ah, Samuel Heckler, the adolescent vampire who has a thing for Lindsey. 
-That monopoly analogy almost made me cry. Buckley.
-The family dynamic in this book is perfectly illustrated in a way that pulls at your heartstrings because you get to see what each member is feeling and how they're reacting. The writing doesn't get in the way of the story at all. 
-Cute! A half a heart from a cute thirteen-year-old boy. 
-I'm impressed that Susie is as happy as she is. Her family is gradually, step-by-step, living on without her and she is able to feel happiness and joy and seemingly doesn't harbor any hard feelings.

Chapter six:
-And we meet Ray again. He sounds like such a cutie. A good flirter too. He better not have to deal with any other crap regarding Susie's death.
-So Susie and Ruth talked before she died. Ruth seems like my kind of gal. "the quietest kind of rebel." She has her own world outside of the real one; her drawings and ideas. 
-Although her home life seems a little messed up; her father encouraging her to drink? Wrong.

"I grew to love Ruth on those mornings, feeling that in some way we could never explain on our opposite sides of the Inbetween, we were born to keep each other company. Odd girls who had found each other in the strangest way - in the shiver she had felt when I passed."

-Yeah, that's pretty vivid and beautiful, don't you think?
-Death can bring people together can't it? Ruth and Ray's ritual is really nice. Two outsiders brought together by the death of someone that neither of them knew very well but still felt a connection to. It's hard for both of them to cope with life, death, and everything in between.
-Ray's mother is awesome. If only more women were like her. Unconcerned about what others think of them, proud of who they are, and satisfied with what they've accomplished. 
-Except then she gets all dark and talks about killing...
-Len Fenerman has a story. As does his wife.

The Lovely Bones is really good so far! I'm enjoying it and having fun thinking and analyzing for once. It's been a while since I've read a book like this outside of school.