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Camping and Summer Reading Lists

Posted in Books, Camp NaNo by

First, I’m doing Camp NaNo again!  I’m excited, and while I haven’t written anything, I’m sure I can catch up.  It wouldn’t be the first time, and besides, it’s only 2 days, which is completely do-able.

I don’t really have an idea, just a girl who does stuff.  I know I want it to be a YA novel. but other than that, I have no clue what it’s about.  This means I’ll be making it up as I go along, which will be a lot of fun because there’s no pressure.  If there is, it’s a lot less pressure than November.  I’ll definitely be talking about my progress randomly this month.

And speaking of summer, there are a lot of books I want to read.  I’ve already read 93 books!  Isn’t that crazy?  It’s a lot of books, and yet, it feels like I haven’t read very much.  Especially on Top 10 Tuesday, when I realize there are a lot of books I haven’t read.

I have a couple books from the library I want to read.  One is Candyfreak, which I’ll be finishing soon.  The other is The Last Queen, which seems interesting.  I think I’ll like it.  I also have a couple library books on the way.  One is a cookbook, and the other is Looking For Alaska.

As for Nook books, I have a bunch of books on it that I need to read.  It’ll keep me busy for a while, so expect reviews for The Mysterious Benedict Society, Angelfall, Anew, and Illuminate, and more.  I’m definitely excited about all the books I purchased last month, and I can’t wait to keep reading!

June will be busy, but it will also be fun!  I can’t wait to read and do some “camping.”

Unraveling

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Book: Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Book Info: Published by Balzer and Bray; 464 pages; read on my Nook

Genre: YA: Mystery/Thriller/Romance

Find out more at: Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon~Author Website

Goodreads.com Summary: Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl’s fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

Unraveling is an action-packed book, and it was hard to put down.  I was very intrigued by the idea that there are other people out there, and that they are a lot like us.

I liked Janelle’s curiousity, and her desire to figure out what’s going on and save the world.  It is a little hard to believe that it’s so easy for her to hack into her father’s work computer and to look through the files he brings home.  But I’m willing to overlook this because otherwise, there wouldn’t be a story.

I didn’t like the romance in the book, and while it was a little different than I expected, it was pretty predictable.  I have to say that part of me wanted Janelle and Struz to end up together, even though I knew it was never going to happen.

I thought the structure of the novel was interesting.  Each chapter is a different point in the countdown to the end of the world, and was titled as such.  The chapter length was pretty random, with some being really short, and others being sort of long.

Norris did manage to get a lot in the book, which made the book action-packed.  But at the same time, everything that was happening was slightly overwhelming.

Overall, it gets a 4 out of 5.  It was fun and action-packed but had a few flaws.

Why I Love (And Sometimes Hate) My E-Reader

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Today, I am sharing what I like and dislike about my Nook.  Here we go!

What I Love:

  • Storage: I don’t have a lot of room for physical books, so my Nook is really handy.  I don’t have to worry about finding room for everything I read.  And with all the series I seem to be liking lately, I don’t have stacks of series everywhere.
  • Instant Gratification: In a matter of seconds, I can have all the books I need/want.  Plus, it’s great when I know what I want to get, as opposed to just browsing.
  •  Convenience: It’s a lot easier to carry around than, say, Order Of The Phoenix.  As far as reading several books at a time, I’d say it’s slightly easier to have several books going.  But there isn’t much difference on reading 3 or 4 e-books and reading 3 or 4 “real books.”
  • It’s not obvious what I’m reading.  Generally, I don’t care what people think about the things I read.  And people asking me what I’m reading doesn’t come up.  I just like the idea that what I’m reading isn’t obvious, which means people actually have to ask about what I’m reading, instead of making their decision based on the cover.
  • Prices: I buy all of my books new, so it’s nice to buy something that’s cheaper than a lot of the new, shiny hardcovers.
  • The Daily: I like that they have different things to read almost every single day.  They have different articles on books and every once in a while, they have something about apps.  I’ve found a few (free or really cheap) books that way.

What I Dislike:

  • Having two copies of some books.  One of the reasons why I got my Nook was so I could carry around my favorite books on one device.  But this means I need to buy select books again.  Not everything, mind you, but the things I know I’ll read over and over.
  • The classics: While I love B & N, I hate that a lot of the classics aren’t free.  They have their own version of the classics, with introductions and essays and timelines, and it’s clear they want you to get their version.  Maybe one of these days I’ll have to add them via Project Gutenberg.
  • Browsing: I don’t particularly care for browsing on my Nook.  If you know what you want, or if you like to look at the various lists they put together.
  • The reading experience: As much as I love my Nook, you do miss out on using random things as bookmarks, the smell of the book, and the turning of the page.

So, that’s my list.  I’m sure it’s been done to death, the pros and cons of e-readers, but I thought I’d throw in my 2 cents.  I feel like I’ve forgotten to add something, but looking it over, I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything.  Have a great weekend!

Pandemonium

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Book: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Book Info: Published by Harper Teen; 375 pages; hardcover; borrowed from the library

Genre: YA/Dystopic; Romance

Find out more about Pandemonium at: Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon

Goodreads.com Summary: 

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

I really liked Pandemonium.  I definitely liked it more than Delirium, and you can’t help but wonder what’s going to happen next.  You’re thinking that Alex has been dead for the entire novel, only to have him return at the very last minute.

I really like that each chapter is a different time.  Seriously, the best way to describe it is past-Lena and present-Lena.  It’s nice to see the difference in time, and what happened while she was in the wild, and how she infiltrated the DFA.  I liked that we learn having the surgery is all about control, which should have been obvious to me.  Oliver did a really good job of keeping things going, and the book doesn’t feel like filler for the next book.

I really didn’t like the ending, where Alex appears.  I get why we think he’s dead, because it really seemed that way.  And I suppose that Oliver needed to get a romance in there somehow.  For me, it was a lame attempt at getting in a love triangle- almost like Oliver couldn’t think of anything else.

Overall, it gets a 4 out of 5.  It was fast-paced and enjoyable, but the ending and the romance felt a little forced.

North Of Beautiful

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Book: North Of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

Book Info: Published by Little, Brown Books For Young Readers; 373 pages; hardcover; borrowed from the library

Genre: YA/Contemporary; Realistic

Find out more at Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon

Goodreads.com Summary: As he continued to stare, I wanted to point to my cheek and remind him, But you were the one who wanted this, remember? You’re the one who asked-and I repeat-Why not fix your face? 

It’s hard not to notice Terra Cooper.

She’s tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably “flawed” face. Terra secretly plans to leave her stifling small town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob’s path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

Written in lively, artful prose, award-winning author Justina Chen Headley has woven together a powerful novel about a fractured family, falling in love, travel, and the meaning of true beauty. 

North Of Beautiful is stunning.  It is a very realistic novel, and I found Terra to be very relatable.  I think, more than anything, it is about family and how they relate to each other.  There were scenes were I wanted to cry, because it was so heart-wrenching.

I thought the element of map-making was very unusual, but it worked really well.  I think I might like to learn more about it at some point.  And geo-caching was also an interesting plot point.  I thought it added to the theme of self-discovery really well.

I am so glad I read this, and it’s beautifully written.  She does a great job of making everyone real.  The whole time I was reading it, I was reminded of different people in my life and how I relate to them.  You can’t help but be drawn into Terra’s world.

My rating?  I give it a 5 out of 5.  It’s something everyone can relate to.  I think this book will stay with me for a long time to come.

Top 10 Books I Hope Are Still Being Read In 30 Years

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Every week, the really cool people at The Broke And The Bookish host Top 10 Tuesday.  People from all over post their own list based on the topic of the week.

Today’s topic is an interesting one, because it’s 10 books written in the last 10 years that I hope people are still reading 30 years from now.  I’m glad it’s narrowed down to the last 10 years, because it does limit the books I pick.  But at the same time, it automatically eliminates some of the books I would have picked.  It was fun working on this list, even when I had some trouble thinking of books I hope people are still reading.

  1. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.  I just have to include something by Anderson, and since Speak is too old, Wintergirls is it.  It’s a frighteningly accurate portrayal of eating disorders, and I think it’s something a lot of girls can relate too.
  2. Order Of The Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling.  I’m lumping the 3 together, because I hope people are still reading about Harry in 30 years.  I don’t think Harry needs any further explanation.
  3. Hate List by Jennifer Brown.  I think it’s a pretty important read, because  it shows what words and bullying can do.  It is an emotional roller-coaster, and there were times I felt like I was in Valerie’s head.
  4. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.  Another obvious choice, but another read that I hope people are reading years from now.  It’s a good example of what the government will do to keep it’s people in line, and also how people not only deal with that, but find a way to overcome it.
  5. The Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfeld.  I loved this series, and how it’s about taking care of the environment and how beauty standards can change.  And the emphasis that is placed on beauty.
  6. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.  A few months after reading it, I am still thinking about this book.  It, for me, is a much more realistic portrayal of cancer than what you’d normally see.  And the characters are so real and funny, and you want things to be okay for them.
  7. The Adoration Of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson.  I really liked this book, because it shows what parents will do to save their child.  But it also makes you think about where you draw the line in terms of medical advancements.
  8. Unwind by Neal Shusterman.  I was slightly disturbed by this book, but I like it because he didn’t take a side on abortion.  He managed to keep things neutral, but also show both sides of the issue.  And I really liked that it wasn’t just an issue, it’s about the extreme ends of an issue, and how you try to find a balance between the two.
  9. Still Alice by Lisa Genova.  It’s about time I included an adult book on the list.  I included this book because it’s a different portrayal of Alzheimer’s and that it can happen to someone “young.”  It’s a very moving book, and I’m still thinking about it several months later.
  10. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  It’s a magical, dreamlike book, and definitely one that stands out.  I couldn’t wait to see what happened and you get drawn in.  There is something simple about the story, and it’s very different from a lot of other books I’ve read.

That’s my list for today, and I can’t wait to see what everyone else comes up with!

Once Upon Another TIme

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Once Upon Another Time is the new Sara Bareilles EP.  I’m not quite sure what the point of an EP is, other than it’s generally shorter than a normal cd and has songs that seem to show up on a later (full-length) cd.

  1. Once Upon Another Time: The title track didn’t grab my attention.  It’s an okay song, but it’s a little too slow for my liking.  There is something very dreamlike about it, though.
  2. Stay: I really like this song.  You can hear the emotion in her voice.  And the song is just really cool.
  3. Lie To Me: I felt like singing along to this song.  And I just love this song!
  4. Sweet As Whole: This song made me giggle, and it took me a while to figure out the cute play on words for the song title.  If that is what the songwriter(s) intended.
  5. Bright Lights And Cityscapes: I love this song!  It’s just so pretty, and I think it’s my favorite song on the EP.

I really liked it, and while I wish it were longer, I’ll take 5 songs.  I love the emphasis on the piano, because I feel like it’s something you don’t hear very often.  And I just like listening to her.  My rating would be a 4 out of 5.

The La Mesa Children’s Book Festival

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I did a really fun thing last week: I made my way to the La Mesa Children’s Book Festival.  I had a lot of fun, and I have no idea why it’s taken me a week to blog about it.

I heard about it on Jeff and Jer, which is a local morning radio show.  Jer wrote a children’s book called My Personal Panther, and I really wanted a copy.  So I went, got a signed copy, and also looked around.

There were lots of authors, and 3 different “stage.”  One had entertainment, and I saw the Lakeside Middle School drama club perform songs from Seussical The Musical.  There was also a storytime stage, where different people read from picture books.  The last stage had some sort of illustration thing going on.  I saw some kids drawing though.

It wasn’t as big as I thought, but there was still a lot going on and a lot to see.  I thought there would be a range of books, from picture books to really short novels.  But it was mostly picture books, which is fine because I don’t usually look at picture books.  It was nice to see something I don’t normally look at.

I did end up with a few picture books.  Of course, I got My Personal Panther, which is awesome.  I just loved it!  The illustrations are beautiful, and it just jumps off the page.  And I love the story too.

I also got Kathryn The Grape’s Colorful Adventure, which is very colorful.  And while I’m not someone who normally looks for meaning or messages in books, I think there is a pretty good message in the book.

My last signed book is The Tooth Fairy Meets El Raton Perez.  I haven’t read it yet, but from what I can see, it’s a pretty cool book about how different cultures have similar ideas.

I also have a book called The Monster Princess, which I have yet to read.  I love princesses, but it looks cool, and the colors in the illustrations seem to be slightly darker than what you’d normally see in a picture book.

The last book I got is It’s Kind Of A Funny Story.  It’s a YA book about a guy who ends up in a mental hospital.  The cover is really interesting, and it’s nice to see a book about a guy who has issues.  There’s nothing wrong with a female dealing with mental health issues, of course, but it’s nice to see something different every once in a while.

Overall, it was a really fun trip, and I’m really glad I ended up with a few picture books.  I so rarely read children’s books, and I definitely want to read some more of it in the future.

The Selection

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Book: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Book Info: Published by HarperTeen; 336 pages; purchased for my Nook

Genre: Ya/Dystopic and Romance

Find out more at Goodreads~Amazon~Barnes And Noble

Goodreads.com Summary: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I just loved The Selection.  I think it’s a really interesting idea, and I could see hints of Cinderella, The Bachelor/The Bachlorette and The Hunger Games.

You can definitely see the connections to the Bachelor, because Prince Maxon has to pick his wife from 35 women who are “randomly” selected from all over Illea.    They get randomly eliminated, and plenty of opportunities to talk with Maxon as well as go on dates with him.  As for Cinderella, America reminds me of Cinderella in the sense that she goes from being poor, and having to go without things, to being a potential princess who’s status has been raised just by being one of the Selected.  Plus, there’s the obvious prince/princess thing.

As for the Hunger Games, I know that seems random.  But there’s something about the way both societies are structured.  In The Hunger Games, each district has one thing they do and are known for, and the further you get from the capitol, the worse off you are.  In The Selection, there is a caste system, and each number is assigned a specific job.  The higher your number, the worse off you are.

As for the book itself, I loved the idea of it.  It was completely predictable, so I wasn’t surprised by anything that happens.  But as predictable as it is, I loved it.  I couldn’t wait to see what happened next, and there’s definitely an assortment of characters.

I completely hated the ending, because it really felt like Cass forgot to finish it.  It just ends, with no warning.  It’s going to be a long wait until the next one comes out.

I give it a 5 out of 5.  As irritating as the ending was, and as predictable the book was, I still loved it.  Great idea, and interesting elements abound in The Selection.

Season/Series Finale Time

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Okay, season finale time has come and gone for me.  It feels like t.v. has been over for a while with all the re-runs.  Seriously, there were a lot of new episodes in the fall, and once Thanksgiving arrived, it feels like it’s been 1-2 new episodes of each thing I watch a mnoth.  Has it always been like this?

Anyway, I’m sad to see House and In Plain Sight go.  I jumped on the In Plain Sight bandwagon a little too late, so I’ll have to hunt down the previous seasons and watch everything from the beginning.  I thought it was a really good finale and I think I’m going to miss it.

Other shows that I watch that have been cancelled: Terra Nova, GCB and Pan Am.  Terra Nova was interesting, but I didn’t realize it only aired in the fall, and that the finale was back in December or something.  Which definitely explains why it wasn’t on after that.  GCB is funny, and while I liked it, it’s also not a surprise that it was cancelled.  The same goes for Pan Am.

Let’s see…I pretty much gave up on Revenge, Person Of Interest, and CSI, and I may have to get them on DVD.  But I have been watching Once Upon A Time, Gray’s Anatomy and NCIS regularly.

So, NCIS first.  They were building up to the finale, and that was a doozy of an episode.  I have no idea who’s okay, and who isn’t.  I’m assuming Jimmy had his wedding, which would have been nice to see.  I have no idea who will be okay, and who won’t be okay.  We know someone (or even multiple someones) dies, but I’m hoping it’s not Gibbs and his team.  I feel like it’s going to be a long summer, waiting, and wondering what happened.

Once Upon A Time: I definitely need to watch it again, because I’ve completely forgotten what I wanted to say about it.  But I liked it, even though they had to drag out Emma kissing Henry to bring him back.  And the mist at the end!  It’s another show where I know I have to wait to see what happens…even though I don’t want to wait, because I want to know now!  It was a good episode, though.   I can’t stop thinking about that mist and what it means.

Gray’s Anatomy: Oh.  My.  God.  At least the writers aren’t scared to do random yet horrible stuff to the characters.  Lexie’s dead?  What?!?!  And the plane crash and no one finding them!  They’d better be okay!  And I hope they get found by someone.  September really does seem so far away.  Will they all go their separate ways?  Will Kepner manage to find a job as a surgeon?  How will Mark deal with Lexie’s death?  Are they sure Lexie is dead?  Because I refuse to believe it.

HOUSE!  We need to talk about House.  Such a good way to end the series, and I’m glad they brought so many people back.  I really thought House died for a while there, but of course, he’s not going to die.  That would be too easy.  Such a good ending for House, and I’m pretty happy with it.  I do wonder what will happen to House after Wilson dies, but alas, we will never know.  I thought that the Wilson dying of cancer thing was a little lame, but at the same time, I’m surprised it was something that wasn’t done before.  I loved the retrospective they aired before the finale, and so true to the spirit of the show.

So You Think You Can Dance is back!  I’m excited, and I’m glad I started watching it last summer.  I think it’ll be a good season, if the first episode is any indication.

In other t.v. news, I got the pilot episodes of Game Of Thrones, Downton Abbey and Walking Dead.  After hearing several podcasters talk about Downton Abbey and Walking Dead, I finally figured it was time to see at the least the first episodes of each show.  As for Game Of Thrones…I didn’t care for the book, but I think it would be an interesting t.v. show.  So what better way to find out than to watch at least the first epsisode?  I’m definitely glad I can buy individual episodes of shows on iTunes.

I think that’s all the t.v. news for today.