Friday Finds (04/23/10)

Friday Finds at the Store is a weekly feature here at My Tea Time is Book Time. It is totally easy and I encourage you let me know what you find. Basically just post the books you found at the bookstore or library. Now others can see the great finds you had and maybe they will pick it up on their next bookstore/library run. HAPPY readings!!!

From the back cover of Messenger by Lois Lowry

For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man known for his special sight. Once, Village was a place that welcomed newcomers and offered hope and homes to people fleeing poverty and cruelty. But something sinister has seeped into Village, and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. All along, Matty has been invaluable as a messenger between Village and other communities. He hopes someday to earn the name of Messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous Forest to spread the message of Village's closing and convince Kira, Seer's daughter, to return with him. Matty's only weapon against his increasingly dangerous surroundings is a secret power he unexpectedly discovers within himself. He wants to heal the people who have nourished his body and spirit and is willing to offer the greatest gift and pay the ultimate price.

From the back cover of Burned by Ellen Hopkins

Raised in a religious---yet abusive---family, Pattyn Von Stratten starts asking questions---about God, a woman's role, sex, love. She experiences the first stirrings of passion, but when her father catches her in a compromising position, events spiral out of control. Pattyn is sent to live with an aunt in the wilds of Nevada to find salvation and redemption. What she finds instead is love and acceptance---until she realizes that her old demons will not let her go.

What did you find???

(These books were bought from a store called FullyBooked).

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Thursday Cover Throwdown (04/22/10)

I'm sure that I've seen something like this on other blogs (so if you can direct me to the one that is hosting it, I would be really happy). But anyways Thursdays will be the day that I compare book covers for one book and we decide which ones we like best.

Yes, I'm a day late. Electricity was out most of the day so I couldn't get online. Here we go...

Because it is April and Maureen Johnson's month on my blog, lets look at her books....

vs. vs.

This is actually hardcover vs. paperback vs. French cover. I prefer the one in the middle (the paperback) and it's also the one that I own. I like its simplicity and the New York skyline on the key. A quick glance of the hardcover, I think Scarlet Johansson. And the French cover has too much going on for my taste.

What about you...which one do you like???

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Review: Forget-Her-Nots

Title: Forget-Her-Nots
Author: Amy Brecount White
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-06-167298-9/Greenwillow (part of Harper Collins)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

Fourteen year old Laurel is understandably grieving her mother's death from cancer and leaves home to attend a boarding school called Avondale. It just so happens that Avondale is the school that many of the females on her maternal side attended. And the family history with the school seems to involve the magical powers they have with flowers.

Here at Avondale, Laurel starts off as the loner student, but things quickly change after she does a report on Victorian flower lore for her English class. The bouquets she made (better known as tussie-mussies) seem to have a magical affect on the people she gives it to. First she gives one to her fave English teacher to find love and when others notice the specialness of Laurel's flowers everyone wants them.

Laurel uses The Language of Flowers book to look up meanings of flowers and to arrange them in tussie mussies. Then when she says her special mantra for the flowers and their recipients, the magic seems to happen. Poor Laurel uses her special abilities to help the girls in her school get dates, to avoid boys, and even for their schoolwork. But is she truly understanding the gift that she has and what happens when the flowers get in the hands of the wrong people? Who will help guide Laurel?

I've been wanting to read this book since I saw it around the blogosphere on other peoples Waiting on Wednesday memes. The cover is just beautiful and has this beautiful feel to it. And I have to say...it really is a beautiful and sweet story.

This novel just isn't about flowers. We also get the fun (and sometimes not so much fun) high school life. The high school dramas of dating, school work, and sports tryouts are in here. It's interesting to read how Laurel will use her powers to work into the high school lifestyle and how she can use it to the advantage for teenagers. But I do need to say that Laurel had a few "diva" like moments that did get annoying. However, when I really thought about it, every girl has these moments in high school and it made it a little bit more realistic and relatable.
This is such a sweet book and the idea of flowers and their meanings really stayed with me days after reading this novel. Laurel also references a few of my favorite childhood books (Anne of Green Gables is just one) and I love it when book characters reference such great books.

I totally want to go out and buy some flowers and make my own floral arrangements ASAP. I recommend this book to everyone...it is a great read and I'll even buy my own copy soon.

Favorite lines...

All of us have gifts we are meant to share, but you have to discover what yours are. Nurture your gifts, because only then will you bloom fully. Share your gifts, and love will flower like a meadow around you. page 33

What is a ghost but the presence of a strong memory? page 254
No one we truly love ever leaves us completely. page 254

Anybody can be a bitch. That takes no skill at all It's all about self-control. Do you have any idea how many times a day I hold my tongue? It's not easy. page 336

My Rating

(This book is part of the International Book Tours).

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Review: Because of Winn-Dixie

Title: Because of Winn-Dixie
Author: Kate DiCamillo
ISBN/Publisher: 0-7445-7829-9/Walker Books
Age Group/Genre: 8 years old +/Children's

Ten year old India Opal Buloni, goes by the name of Opal. She brings home a dog she found and kind of saved from the Winn-Dixie store and quickly names him Winn-Dixie. Opal brings Winn-Dixie home to her Daddy and the two of them convince him that Winn-Dixie should stay with them.

Opal feels lonely because her mom left her when she was little. Opal can't really remember her mom, but asks her dad to remind her. And because Opal just moved to a new town in Florida, she has no friends. However, with Winn-Dixie, Opal meets people, those older than her, her age, and younger than her. She befriends old Gloria Dump, who is just about blind and known as a witch to the kids in the neighborhood. Then there's the librarian, who shares with Opal the stories of the town. But most of all, Winn Dixie and Opal, meet the other kids and the sense of community is found. Will this be enough for Opal? Will her new friends and daddy be enough for Opal to realize that she isn't alone in the world, even without a mom?

First off, the opening line to this book has to be one of my favorite starters, "My name is India Opal Buloni, and last summer my daddy, the preacher, sent me to the store for a box of macaroni-and-cheese, some white rice, and two tomatoes, and I came back with a dog." This really sets the stage and is something that I seem to not forget. Which has to be great writing.

Secondly, this is meant to be a kids book and I'm just about in my mid-20's (eek). But I lurved the book so much. This is the second DiCamillo book for me and she has yet to disappoint. Opal is a child that I wish I hung out with when I was a child and a kid that seems like fun. She has a great voice for this book. Also, the adults in this book are fun to read about too. All the characters are memorable.
I heart the fact that we see her grow as a child that has been through some tough times. And the moral of the story is beautiful. I can't wait to read Kate's other books and I think I want the movie version of this book.

I hope you read it (even if you are an adult) and I also hope you give this to a kid you lurve.
Favorite lines (besides the opener)...

Other people's tragedies should not be the subject of idle conversation. page 125

There ain't no way you can hold on to something that wants to go, you understand? You can ony love what you got while you got it. page 159

My Rating

(This books was bought from a store called FullyBooked).

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Winner...Inside Out Contest

The contest for the signed copy of Maria V. Snyder's Inside Out has ended. I used random.org to pick the winner. And the winner is...

Candice

I sent an e-mail out to Candice and she has until Friday to contact me. If she doesn't, I shall pick another winner.

Thanks everyone for entering and most importantly, THANK YOU to Maria for providing us with this contest opportunity : )

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Friday Finds (04/16/10)

Friday Finds at the Store is a meme hosted by Jennay at My Tea Time is Book Time. It is totally easy and everyone can join. Basically just post the books you found at the bookstore or library. Now others can see the great finds you had and maybe they will pick it up on their next bookstore/library run. HAPPY readings!!!

From the inside flap of Twilight: The Graphic Novel Volume 1 by Stephenie Meyer art and adaptation by Young Kim

I'd never given much thought to how I would die---though I'd had reason enough in the last few months...

Surely it was a good way to die...in the place of someone else, someone I loved.

When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret...

Beautifully rendered, this first installment of Twilight: The Graphic Novel is a must-have for any collector's library.

From the inside flap of By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she's determined to get her death right. She stars visiting a Web site for "completers"--- www.through-the-light.com

On the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, revealing a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she's not on the Web, Daelyn's at her private girls' school, where she's known as the freak who doesn't talk.

Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she's waiting for her parents to pick her up. Even though she's made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won't give up. It's too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life...isn't it?

National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.

From the back cover of Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken....

Seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow always thought faeries were just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery. He's a changeling---a mortal taken as an infant and raised among Faerie---and within short order he's turned Kelley's heart inside out and her life upside down.

For Kelley's beloved Central Park isn't just a park---it's a gateway between her ordinary city and the Faerie's dangerous, bewitching Otherworld. Now Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her, but to the heritage that waits her...a destiny both wondrous and strange.

What did you find???

(Twilight was bought at a store called National Book Store and the other two books were bought from a store called FullyBooked).

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Review: If You Come Softly

Title: If You Come Softly
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
ISBN/Publisher: 0-14-240601-5/Speak (part of Penguin)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

Ellie and Jeremiah are both fifteen, are having a difficult time with their families, and are both at a new prep school in New York. Ellie is white, the youngest in her family, and lives with her parents. She has a strained relationship with her mother since her mom has left the family twice, but still returned back to them. Jeremiah is black, an only child of a famous movie director and author. Except, his parents are now divorced and Dad lives across the street with his new girlfriend.

By chance, Ellie and Jeremiah meet at the high school by bumping into each other in the hallway and it is love at first sight. They truly care for each other, but the world around them is having a hard time accepting their relationship. Ellie finds it even more astonishing that her favorite sister isn't fully supportive of the whole relationship.

How will their relationship survive in a society that is not welcoming to interracial relationships?

From the first few pages, you automatically get the feel for heartache to come. And even with this feeling, the story still makes your heart ache and the ending really took me by surprise. However, Ellie and Jeremiah really do care for each other and their first love is so sweet to read about. At the same time, this powerful novel really gets the readers thinking about how race still plays a card in society.

The novel is a short one and very easy to read. I actually finished it in a couple of hours. I couldn't put the book down because the main characters have this great relationship and they feel so real. It's not just Ellie's and Jeremiah's relationship together that made me want to read. But their relationships with their parents. The strain between Ellie and her mom really drove me through the book. It is interesting to read about the strained relationships that parents and children have. Its a truth that lies out there in the world and it was nice to read how these relationships affect others.

This book is a definite recommendation to you all, especially high school students. I can't wait to read more of Ms. Woodson's books.

Favorite lines...

If you come as softly/as the wind within the trees /You may hear what I hear/See what sorrow sees.

Change is a good thing [...] Think of it like seasons. You don't want to stay one way all your life and ahve moss grow under your toes. page 65

My Rating

(This book was bought from a store called FullyBooked).

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Thursday Cover Throwdown

I'm sure that I've seen something like this on other blogs (so if you can direct me to the one that is hosting it, I would be really happy). But anyways Thursdays will be the day that I compare book covers for one book and we decide which ones we like best. So here we go...

Because it is April and Maureen Johnson's month on my blog, lets look at her books....

vs.

This is actually hardcover vs. paperback. And I like the hardcover version better. I prefer the font on the left cover and I like the white background better.

What about you...which one do you like???

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Review: Coraline

Title: Coraline
Author: Neil Gaiman
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-06-113937-6/Harper Perennial (part of Harper Collins)
Age Group/Genre: Kids + (I would say 10 and older)

Coraline and her family moved to a new building with neighbors that just don't get her name. The guy upstairs who plays with mice and the ladies downstairs who still are living in their acting days call her Caroline. Oh, and her parents are always busy...working and never having time for little Coraline. So Coraline has to find ways to entertain herself in this weird building and its raining outside.

Coraline's dad suggests that she go explore the place and count all the doors and windows in their new home. The thing is, she finds this one mysterious door that is locked and her mom says its nothing but a brick wall behind it. But curiosity gets the better of Coraline and she unlocks it to find an odd, different world. Here she finds her "other" parents that want to entertain her and feed her everything that she loves.

At first, it seems perfect, but when she wants to return back to her real home and parents, the "other" mother doesn't want her to. Will Coraline escape this "other" world?

I'm not quite sure if I had more expectations for this book or if it's too much of a children's book. But I felt as if this one was an okay book (maybe I shouldn't have bought it). However, I'm sure I can pass it on to my nephews when they're a little bit older because it seems like the kind of a book boys would like to read (even if the main character is a girl). I think it's because this book has that scary edge to it. And even good lessons about appreciating your parents.

But for me, I think the book could have had better character development (that could just be the fact that I love character based books). The weird neighbors were interesting, but I liked the children in the "other" world. Their story was the most interesting for me and I wished it was more developed. On the bright side, the descriptions were wonderful and the theater scenes were fun to imagine.

This is a book that elementary teachers can definitely recommend to their young students. But as an adult, I found parts of it kind of creepy and too weird for me.

Get this book for your favorite kid or I would recommend you to just borrow it.

Favorite lines...

"Because," she said, "when you're scared but you still do it anyway, that's brave." page 59

"You really don't understand, do you?" she said. "I don't want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted?" page 120

My Rating

(This book was bought from a store called FullyBooked).

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Review: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

Title: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Author: Maureen Johnson
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-06-054143-9/Harper Tempest (part of Harper Collins)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

Ginny is the shy kid and doesn't think she does anything interesting unless she's with her Aunt Peg. And when she finds out that Aunt Peg died, Ginny thinks that the interesting part of her life is totally gone.

Ginny receives a letter from a crazy Aunt (after her death) telling her to go to her old apartment in New York above the Chinese restaurant. There Ginny finds twelve more letters. And the first one tells her to pack up and head out to London, England. In Europe, she opens up the other letters in different locations and Peg finds herself experiencing life she never ever thought she would. She is doing things she never imagined, meeting new people. And it is all because of these letters.

But why is Aunt Peg sending her out on a worldly adventure after her own death? What does Ginny learn on this amazing trip???

This book is soooooo much fun and great to read. The letters are cute and intriguing. You can really tell that Aunt Peg and Ginny's relationship is amazing. There are so many books out there about parents and their kids. So this relationship was refreshing and also meaningful to me. I'm incredibly close to a few of my Aunties and I'm really, really close to my thirteen year old niece. So this book was comforting and also gave me a few ideas for the future.

Maureen Johnson found a way to incorporate many tourist type areas in this novel. It made me feel like I was traveling through Europe myself. Heck, after reading this book, I started to make a list of places that I want to go. This travel, adventure type book made me feel adventurous and I hope one day I can travel like Ginny, but minus a few parts.

I hope you guys pick this one up!!!

My Rating

(This book was bought from a store called FullyBooked).

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***
***P.S. There are just a few more days for the Inside Out contest. Sign up and if you become a fan on facebook, I'll give you 3 extra entries***

Questions and Answers with author...Holly Schindler

Holly Schindler is the author of a new upcoming book due out in May 2010. I'm super, super, super stoked about it and was so incredibly happy when she decided to do a little Q&A with me. So enjoy!!!

1. You have your debut YA book coming out in May; describe the book in two sentences.

As the classic overachiever, I’ll do even better than that—I’ll describe it in one:

In A BLUE SO DARK, Aura Ambrose struggles to scare for her schizophrenic mother (a talented artist and art teacher), while fearing that her own creative abilities are an indicator that she, too, will become mentally unstable.

2. Your main character’s name in A BLUE SO DARK is Aura. That name just sounds so strong and beautiful…so please tell us a little bit about her.

I love the fact that you’re identifying with Aura as a person…before you’ve even had a chance to read the book for yourself! You’re absolutely right…strong and beautiful are the perfect adjectives. Talented, too. She’s got a real sarcastic sense of humor. And smart—maybe TOO smart. The kind of smart that’s constantly making connections, the kind of smart that easily finds similarities between herself and her mother. And as her mother starts to sink into the darkness of her illness, those similarities TERRIFY Aura.

3. Schizophrenia is a part of your novel. Did you have to do tons of research on this topic?

I did have to do some research, since I don’t have any personal experience with the illness. But I didn’t want my book to sound clinical…so I read as much as I could, then put everything aside as I drafted my book. That way, I was focusing on plot and character instead of my research…

4. Many books are now being adapted into movies and television shows. So out of curiosity…if you could pick the actors for A BLUE SO DARK, who would they be?

What a fun question! Aura and her mother both have dark complexions, with long black hair. But when I try to brainstorm actresses who JUST have black hair, I come up with a fairly short list. (Of course, Angelina’s the first thing that springs to mind, right?) But if I forget coloring, and just try to pick out actresses who I think have the right vibe (I mean, come on, they could wear black WIGS, right?)…

For Grace, Aura’s mother, I actually think of Charlize Theron. She’s got this combination of strength and vulnerability—which is perfect for Grace. And for Aura? To play off Charlize, I think of Dakota Fanning—again, put a black wig on her. I think Dakota and Charlize would be pretty fantastic together. Now…for Nell, Aura’s grandmother? You’ll think I’ve flipped, but I think of Cher. She came of age in the same era that Nell did, and she’s got the same kind of attitude…only this time, you’d have to cover up her black hair with a WHITE wig!

5. Some authors listen to music while they write…do you? And if you do, what’s on the playlist?

Man…I wish I could. But I play music a little (and I do write songs)…I just love music so much, I wind up getting pretty distracted by it, paying too much attention to it.

6. If you had to leave our world, but could live in any book (yours or someone else’s), which one would it be? And why?

If I’ve got to leave my own world, I’d want to go someplace fantastic or magical…not sure I’d really want to live in Middle-earth, but I think I’d kind of like to spend some time in Zevin’s ELSEWHERE.

That, or I’d go to some historical world—maybe into a Victorian novel like JANE EYRE. Might test my strength by being a pioneer in LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE…

7. I find that many readers develop crushes while they read books. Do you have a crush on any book characters???

Two words: Mr. Darcy. What woman has ever read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and NOT gotten a crush on him?

8. Who are your favorite characters to read about from your own books and / or other authors?

I love characters who let us into their heads. Characters who give us a full backstage pass into their personalities. This isn’t a book, but I’ve always loved the movie HAROLD AND MAUDE. Those two characters are so…kooky. And they just put their kookiness right out there. You really start to get a sense of who those people are the minute they walk onto the screen…

9. If you could co-write with any other author…dead or alive…who would it be?

As a Missouri author, I gotta pick Mark Twain. I’d love to bring him into the modern world, let him soak it all in. His humor was so spot-on. So many of the things he said in jest were also so TRUE. I’d love to hear what he’d have to say about our cell-phone-riddled, techno-obsessed lives…

10. You mention on your website that you gave guitar and piano lessons…If you could only have a guitar or piano for the rest of your life, which one would you want?

Oooh…that’s tough. Especially since I also recently bought a fiddle and banjo, both of which I’m dying to really figure out (not a lot of practice time to go around right now…)

I dearly love antique instruments. My piano’s going on sixty years old, my guitar’s about thirty, and my fiddle’s more than a hundred! I just think the music sounds so much different coming out of an aged instrument…richer…

11. Are you working on any projects right now so we have something to look forward to?

Youbetcha! In addition to A BLUE SO DARK, I sold two other books last year!

PLAYING HURT (due out from Flux in March 2011) follows the flowering of an intense summer romance between two former athletes who have both endured their own game-related career-ending tragedies. Their unlikely love story has the potential to heal their heartache and force them to realize just how timidly they’ve been living. But by playing hurt—entering into a romance with already-broken hearts—are they just setting themselves up for the kind of injury from which they could never recover?

FIFTH AVENUE FIDOS (This will be my first adult novel, and is set to be the first novel released by the new Blooming Tree Press imprint Love In Bloom!)

Laugh-out-loud humor and quirky, lovable characters fill the pages of a modern-day fairy tale in which dogs, not dragons rule the land. This romantic comedy portrays the journey a “mutt” from Queens takes as she reinvents herself as a dog show handler and finds herself hobnobbing with the pedigreed bluebloods on the Upper East Side.

…I am also at work on another YA novel right now that is SOOO different than anything else I’ve written. But that’s ALL I’ll say about it…

12. Any last thoughts to share with us?

I just wanted to thank all the bloggers and book nuts for their enthusiasm…I’ve had an absolute blast talking to you all this past year while my book’s been in development!

13. Last question…You go to a Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or any coffee / tea service place)…what do you order?

I’m not a big Starbucks-er. Don’t get me wrong—I love coffee. LOOOOOVE. But I’m more of a hole-in-the-wall diner kind of girl. I’d order just a cup of plain ol’ coffee. Add a little cream (no sugar) when it gets to the table. And a piece of pie. Probably lemon.

I love her answers and the actors chosen...Amazing picks!!! All of Holly's books sound wonderful and I'm hoping you all pick them up when they do come out!!! In the meantime, go check out her website : )

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Saturday's 6 Degree's of Blogging Separation

Yes, I know it's not Saturday, but the Dewey Read-a-Thon made Saturday really busy!!!

This is a new thing that I want to try out. I saw this on Simply Stacie's blog. Basically you click on one of the blog buttons on your blog and continue until you get to your sixth place and have your 6 degrees of blogging. However, my small feature will include a little interview with that particular blogger.
Here we go...

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

And the sixth blog I visited was Suzana's. I love visiting it because she has such a beautiful blog...it is so pretty!!! Make sure to check Suzana's blog out, but in the mean time, learn a little bit about her here with the Q&A she did with me...

1. Why don't you tell us about yourself???

Well, my name's Suzana, I'm 24 and I live in Central European country with only two million inhabitants. Obviously, I'm a huge bookworm and I'm lucky enough to work with books so my life really does revolve around books, both professionally and personally. I'm a vegetarian, an atheist and a feminist. I have a lovely boyfriend of five years. I wish I was rich. I hate the colours brown, green and blue. Erm, I'm quite boring really. :)

2. Tell us about your blog. When did you start it and why? Anything interesting for readers to expect or special features?

I started blogging in late May 2009 - one day while browsing the net, I stumbled upon a few book blogs and I just got the idea to have my own place where I could ramble on and on about books I've read or I want to read or the books that I bought etc. I had absolutely no idea that there's a whole book blogging community out there or that you could get books for review! So now I've been book blogging for nearly a year and I absolutely love it!
I don't think I have any special features, really ... Well, I post my reviews, I participate in two memes (In My Mailbox & Waiting On Wednesday), I post interviews, trailers, covers etc. It's just my private little thing where I discuss all sorts of books I'm interested in. :)

3. What books do you read? Do you favor any YA sub genres?

I mostly review chick, YA and historical books, but I'm not entirely opposed to something more literary, heh. I enjoy either contemporary or historical YA novels, as long as they're realistic - I do not read paranormal stuff so that means noooo vampires, zombies, faeries, werevolves etc for me, hehe!

4. If you were stuck on an island and can only have 3 of your favorite books, what would they be and why?

Oh gosh, this is a difficult one! I suppose The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, all seven Harry Potter books bound in one volume (ha!) aaaaand maybe Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver? These are all plot-driven enough so that I wouldn't be bored. There are other books that really really stood out for me (e.g. We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver or Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson), but they're just such sad/powerful books that I don't think I could bear reading them again on a deserted island, but wow did they live a massive impression on me!

5. If you had to leave our world, but can live in any book, which one would it be? And why?

Hmmm, interesting question ... I'd love to experience life in the late 19th/early 20th century - maybe the way it was desribed in The Luxe series, which I loved. And I guess getting a taste of the Harry Potter world would be fun too!

6. I find that many readers develop crushes while they read books. Do you have a crush on any book characters???

Two words: Luke Brandon! Becky's husband from the Shopaholic series! British, charming, successful, loving, gorgeous etc! Love him and ahh, can't wait to read about him in Mini Shopaholic!

7. Lots of YA books are being adapted into movies. Do you watch them and if you do, what’s your favorite adaptation? And which ones are you looking forward to watch?

Eek, I'm afraid I watch hardly any films, I really prefer books. I suppose the only sort of YA adaptations that I watched were the Harry Potter films, which I thought were alright, but they've got absolutely nothing on the books! As for non-YA adaptations, I really enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife and Atonement - both books were brilliant and luckily the films didn't disappoint either! Oh and unlike most people, I also rather enjoyed the film adaptation of Confessions of a Shopaholic - again, it can't compare to the book, but I still loved it! Don't really know about any YA adaptations though (have not and will not read/watch Twilight :p).

8. I love music. So I was wondering if you can have one Playlist with only 6 songs, what are they?

Ha, how awesome, I love music too, it's a huge part of my life! Jeez, aren't you harsh - only six songs? :( It totally depends on my mood, but I guess some of my favourite songs would beee: Konstantine by Something Corporate, Absence of God by Rilo Kiley, That Day by Nathalie Imbruglia, Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger, A Wolf at the Door by Radiohead, and lastly & mostly definitely something by Bright Eyes, who I absolutely adore, but I could never pick just one song as there are far, far too many masterpieces that I can't recommend enough!
Really, only six songs? :p I could talk about music all night! :D

9. Any last thoughts to share with us???

Thanks so much for these fab questions, I had fun answering them! And keep up the good work on your blog!

10. Oh, and before I forget, you go to a Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or any coffee/tea serving place)…what do you order???

I don't drink coffee at all and I hardly ever drink tea so I guess I'd just with mineral water or hot chocolate? Can I have a muffin or something sweet too? ;)

Thank you so much to Suzana for doing this Q&A...I lurve learning about a fellow blogger. It really does make our blogging community more personal. And she chose great books to bring with her to an island. Anyways, everyone go and follow her and read all she has to write. And be on the lookout, I may stumble upon your blog in the future for this 6 Degrees of Blogging Separation.

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 24 and summary!!!

Read-a-Thon Summary...
Number of Books completed...5 Coraline, If You Come Softly, How I Live Now , Because of Winn Dixie, Number the Stars
Total pages...856
Total hours...9.5 hours
Mini-challenges...5
Blogs visited...
She Is Too Fond of Books
Its Just Me
Caribousmom
Musings_and_Writings
Vishy's Blog
Life is a Patchwork Quilt
Classic Vasilly
Methodical Madness
The Little Reader
Terra on the Bookshelf
Shelf Love
Maw Books Blog
A Trillian Books
In Spring It Is the Dawn
Mug of Moxie
Reading Upside Down
Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!
The Kea
Life in the Thumb
Fiction Kingdom
Shut Up! I'm Reading
Flipping Pages for all Ages
Just Books
Sherrisue76's Bookcrossing Blog
Write for a Reader
Book Clutter
The Hungry Readers
Shaunie's Happy Place
Reading and Ruminations
Chick Loves Lit
Giraffe Days
Wimbittworld's Blog
Dust and Spores
Sassymonkey Reads
The Leprechaun Reads
You've Gotta Read This
The Friendly Book Nook
Ruby Loves Adventure
Richards Writing and Readings
Rhinoa's Ramblings
Reeder Reads
Mood Swings & Other Furniture
Lost in Books
Just One More Page
Reading with Tequila
Reading Teen
Books I Done Read
Nikola's Book Blog
Prizes won...1

Hour 24: Mini Challenge
1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
Hour 10. I thought the power nap I took would be enough, but apparently it wasn't. I was really fighting to stay awake at that time.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
I was really sucked into Because of Winn Dixie and Number the Stars. The short books were really helpful this year.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
I like the way it is and how it is run. It's worked for me the last two read-a-thons.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
I like the Cheerleader's HQ. It was easy for me to navigate since I cheered on other bloggers.
5. How many books did you read?
I read 5 books!
6. What were the names of the books you read?
Coraline, If You Come Softly, How I Live Now, Because of Winn Dixie, and Number the Stars.
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
Number the Stars and Because of Winn-Dixie.
8. Which did you enjoy least?
How I Live Now.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
Don't try to visit every one in a short period of time. Break down the list & visit throughout the day.
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
I'm most definitely participating again. I heart the Dewey Read-a-Thon. And I'll come back as a reader and a cheerleader, but hey, maybe I'll decide to host a mini-challenge next time.

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: Hours 21 +

Read-a-Thon Stats...
Number of Books completed...: Coraline, If You Come Softly, How I Live Now , Because of Winn Dixie
Total pages...719
Total hours...9
Mini-challenges...4
Blogs visited...look at previous posts
Prizes won...1

Cheerleading...
Ruby Loves Adventure
Richards Writing and Readings
Rhinoa's Ramblings
Reeder Reads
Mood Swings & Other Furniture
Lost in Books
Just One More Page
Reading with Tequila
Reading Teen
Books I Done Read
Nikola's Book Blog


Snacking on...
an apple and dipping it in some organic peanut butter


Currently reading...Number the Stars

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon: Hours 17 +

Read-a-Thon Stats...
Number of Books completed...3: Coraline, If You Come Softly, and How I Live Now
Total pages...537
Total hours...7
Mini-challenges...4
Blogs visited...look at previous posts
Prizes won...1

Cheerleading...
Giraffe Days
Wimbittworld's Blog
Dust and Spores
Sassymonkey Reads
The Leprechaun Reads
You've Gotta Read This
The Friendly Book Nook

Now reading...Because of Winn-Dixie

Mini-Challenges...
Hour 20...I just added a comment to their comment box (I got a little lazy to post it)

Break time (I feel like I'm taking a lot of these...hehehehe)
Music...
Taylor by Jack Johnson
Your Heart is an Empty Room by Death Cab for Cutie
Twenty Years by Augustana
I'll Do Anything by Jason Mraz

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: Hours 13-16

Reading...How I Live Now

Cheerleading...
Book Clutter
The Hungry Readers
Shaunie's Happy Place
Reading and Ruminations
Chick Loves Lit

Food time...
Red bean toast and hot chocolate to drink

And Bed Time...
Apparently I was really tired. You know I'm tired when I kind of woke up when the cell phone rang, but unplugged the Ipod from the computer instead of checking the phone....It was a good rest.

Dewey's 24 Read-a-Thon: Hours 11-12

Okay, I just woke up from my nap a few minutes ago. I'm really glad that I checked the mini-challenges since the first one may help me wake up a bit more.

Mini-Challenge...
***Get Up and Move...
I did some workouts on the exercise ball that I've also been reading on throughout the challenge (look at the picture from my earlier Dewey posts). I did 50 crunches and 25 push-ups. Yay me!!!

***Soundtrack Song Mini-Challenge...

• Book title: If You Come Softly
  
• Soundtrack song: Fallin For You by Colbie Caillat
  
• Why you chose that song: The beginning of the novel is about these two characters that literally crash into each other while walking through the school hallway. And that one meeting, they feel something for each other, but they don't even know each other's names. They have this instant connection and have the rest of the novel to figure out that they're falling for each other
  
• 
  

***Where in the world are you reading?...
The map is tons of fun to look at. I did my little marker in the Philippines, but it seems as if no one is reading out of San Diego, CA yet. So we'll say I'm repping both : )

Hour 12 Questions...

1. What are you reading right now?
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

2. How many books have you read so far?
Only two

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
No, it helps that my family are all out of the country. So the house is all to myself and the maid went home for the day.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
No interruptions.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
When I did the post for "where are you reading from" I was the only one at the time in the Philippines reading. And no one in San Diego (my home town) put a pin up.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
I don't see any problems with the read-a-thon. I've enjoyed it in October and again right now.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
I liked that I planned to read only short books. So I'll use this plan again for next year.

9. Are you getting tired yet?
I already took a two hour nap. So I'm good : )

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?
As a cheerleader, I'm hitting up five blogs during my breaks. It seems to work for me so I'm not too overwhelmed with visiting others and I can still work on my own blog.

Cheerleading...
Shut Up! I'm Reading
Flipping Pages for all Ages
Just Books
Sherrisue76's Bookcrossing Blog
Write for a Reader

Now time to start reading...

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon: Hours 7-8

***Read-a-Thon stats***
Books completed so far...
Coraline by Neil Gaiman 162 pages (read during hours 1 & 3)
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson 181 pages (read during hours 5 & 7)
Total pages...343
Total hours spent reading...4
Mini Challenges...1
Other bloggers visited...look below and at other posts
Prizes won...0

Now for my 8th hour break...
Cheerleading...
Reading Upside Down
Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!
The Kea
Life in the Thumb
Fiction Kingdom

Well, it is 12:38 pm PST, but 3:38 am where I'm at right now. So I'm going to take a little power nap and then come back.

Good luck everyone!!!

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon: Hours 5-6

Starting time...9:00 am PST
Reading

Break Time...10:00 am

***Cheerleading...

• Methodical Madness
• The Little Reader
• Terra on the Bookshelf
• Shelf Love
• Maw Books Blog
• A Trillian Books
• In Spring It Is the Dawn
• Mug of Moxie

Snack time...
*Caramel Popped Corn Cakes and some more Earl Grey Iced Tea...yummmm

Ipod Playlist...

• Set the Fire to the Third Bar by Snow Patrol
• Geek in the Pink by Jason Mraz
• More than Anyone by Gavin DeGraw
• Shut Your Eyes by Snow Patrol

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon: Hours 3-4

Starting time: 7:00 am PST
***page 89
Finished the book: 7:43 am

Break time:
***Mini-Challenge: The Kick off of Champions
I'm doing this read-a-thon in my mom's room since she's out of the country. Last time I did it in my room and felt so cramped because my room is extremely small. Anyways, I have my little Dewey read-a-thon TBR pile, my laptop, ipod, and drink (see the picture). I'll drink iced Early Grey tea, Japanese Dragon Phoenix pearl tea (or as my friend Nicole a.k.a Ni-cool and I call it Harry Potter tea), hot chocolate, vitamin water, and of course water throughout the day. And no snacks out in my reading area. I'll just grab as I go since the kitchen is just a few steps away.

I'll be reading in bed surrounded by my favorite pillows. Or you can find me sitting on the exercise ball (I know, weird, but it's comfortable). Or sometimes I'll read in that ugly black chair. You should know that this chair is pretty old. It used to be our dining room chair in the house I grew up in. And I remember sneaking out of my room when I was little and hiding under the dining room table and the chairs with a flashlight, reading books. The chair even has the sticker earrings I put on it when I was in 2nd grade...yikes!

That's the end of mini-challenge one!!!

***Cheerleading...
Vishy's Blog
Life is a Patchwork Quilt
Classic Vasilly

***Homework time...
Wow, I can't believe I was able to fit in some homework. I learned a lot and was even able to reflect on my high school education. I'm loving my philosophy of education class.

Okay, now back to reading : )

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 1 to 2

It's Dewey's Read-a-Thon time and I'm about to begin. Wish me luck and keep checking for more updates!!!

Starting time: 5:00 am PST
***starting from the very beginning of the book

Break time: 6:00 am PST
***I did posts
***a little bit of read-a-thon cheerleading

• She Is Too Fond of Books
• Its Just Me
• Caribousmom
• Musings_and_Writings

***drank some Earl Grey tea (iced)

***listened to music...playlist included

• Sweet and Low by Augustana
• You and I Both by Jason Mraz
• Breakdown by Jack Johnson
• Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol
• Crooked Teeth by Death Cab for Cutie
• Follow Through by Gavin DeGraw
• Piazza, New York Catcher by Belle and Sebastian
• Details in the Fabric by Jason Mraz and James Morrison
• Hands Open by Snow Patrol
• Battle by Colbie Caillat.

Hour 1 Dewey post...
***3 Facts about me:

• 1. This is my 2nd read-a-thon
• 2. I'm from San Diego, but I'm blogging from the Philippines right now
• 3. During my breaks I'm listening to music, doing homework, or resting my eyes

***I have 6-7books in my TBR for this read-a-thon. They're mostly all the short books that have been sitting in my TBR for sooooo long

***I'm hoping I can get through the books I put aside for today, but mostly I just want to have fun with my reading and cheer on my fellow book friends.

***Advice??? Just have fun with it. Don't worry so much about how many pages or books other readers are reading. Just go at your own pace and have fun with this experience : )

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Review: How to Ruin My Teenage Life

Title: How to Ruin My Teenage Life
Author: Simone Elkeles
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-7387-1019-8/Flux
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

***WARNING...This may contain spoilers because it is part of a series (and it is kind of hard to discuss this book without referring to the previous novel in the series)***

Amy Nelson-Barak is back, but now she's living with her dad and dog in Chicago. Her Aba is a workaholic and Mutt gets into his own mischief at the dog park. Amy's mom re-married, is expecting a baby, and moved to the suburbs. Avi, her non-boyfriend, from Israel is in the Israeli Army and hardly has time to communicate with Chicago-based Amy. Her best friend is having boy problems and a new kid moved into her building and gets on her nerves.

This sounds like regular teenage drama, right? Oh, but lets add in the fact that Amy doesn't want her dad to be lonely for the rest of his life. So she signs him up for an online Jewish dating service...with his credit card and doesn't tell him. Then she goes off kissing the new kid, Nathan, just so she can sort of figure him out. And then Nathan retaliates by kissing her in front of the whole school. But wait, what about Avi...her non-boyfriend? Does Amy forget him and move on???

Yay!!! Our girl Amy is back and at it again. This series is so much fun to read. Simone Elkeles really knows how to make her readers laugh.

There were many awwww moments...Amy learns a lot about friendships and families. Funny moments...she goes out on dates to scope out girls for her dad. And then the "wait, Amy's really going do this?" moments...she almost gets into a fight and then there's the "mission" (you'll have to read it to figure out what the mission is). We can't forget the awkward moments. Amy's dad...a.k.a Aba gives teenage Amy the "sex talk." And boy did it bring back some memories from my teen years. How many of you remember your sex talk? Mine came from my big brother while we were driving to pick up some dinner for his family. Eeeek, I remember wanting to jump out of the car while it was still in drive. And I got the same exact feeling when Aba gave Amy the talk and to top it off he also gives Amy's boy a talk.

Then, Amy is taking her conversion classes. So she is learning a lot about her Jewish culture and as a reader we learn a little bit too. We also get inside Amy's mind and her thoughts on some of the scripts. They are quite funny. Also, Amy puts herself in these weird situations that just makes the book even more fun to read.

I really hope you guys pick up this series because it is great. This series is the reason why I'm a huge fan of Simone Elkeles. I cannot wait for more of her books!!!

Favorite lines...

Chicken soup can help heal you when you're sick. Is there a recipe for healing relationships? page 39 I apologize. Of course it's only to the people who deserve an apology. I guess you can call me apologetically selective. (I think I just made that up, but I like it.) page 110

"Why would I hate you? I may not understand you. I may get mad at you. But I could never hate you." page 139
Surprises are like having your period in the middle of class. Initially you're shocked and confused, then you're embarrassed and have to deal with everyone staring at you. I'm self-conscious as it is; I don't need surprises in my life to make me feel more aware of people gawking at me. page 152-153

I love you. It's not that kind of conditional love...it's the kind that'll be around forever. page 238

My Rating

(This book was bought from a store called FullyBooked).

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Friday Finds (04/09/10)

Friday Finds at the Store is a meme hosted by Jennay at My Tea Time is Book Time. It is totally easy and everyone can join. Basically just post the books you found at the bookstore or library. Now others can see the great finds you had and maybe they will pick it up on their next bookstore/library run. HAPPY readings!!!

From the back cover of Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in fragile bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the thinnest. But then Cassie suffers the ultimate loss---her life---and Lia is left behind, haunted by her friend's memory and feeling guilty for not being able to help save her.

In her most powerfully moving novel since Speak, award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia's struggle, her painful path to recovery, and her desperate attempts to hold on to the most important thing of all---hope.

From the back cover of Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

In this lyrical, absorbing, award-winning novel, nothing is as it seems, and every clue leads to more questions.

At age eleven, Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother. At fourteen, she ran away from boarding school, only to be tracked down and brought back by a mysterious stranger. Now seventeen, Taylor's the reluctant leader of her school's underground community, whose annual territory war with the Townies and visiting Cadets has just begun. This year, though, the Cadets are led by Jonah Griggs, and Taylor can't avoid his intense gaze for long. To make matters worse, Hannah, the one adult Taylor trusts, has disappeared. But if Taylor can piece together the clues Hannah left behind, the truth she uncovers might not just settle her past, but also change her future.

What did you find???

(These books were bought from a store called FullyBooked).

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Maureen Johnson's month, grab her fave: iced tea...or anything with ginger...or mint (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***