Friday Finds (10/29/2010)

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 The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.
The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.
But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.
Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

(This book was bought from a store called Fully Booked.)

What did you find???

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

Upate...1st in a Series Challenge

Update...I went into the year just wanting to make it to the fascinated level. But today while I was going through all the books I read, I discovered I read more 1st in a series book. So here is the continuation of what I read and it looks like I'm just a little past the level of addicted.

1. How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
2.The Giver by Lois Lowry
3. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
4. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
6. Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
7. Inside Out by Mara V. Snyder
8. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
9. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
10. Evermore by Alyson Noel
11. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
12. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
13. Tithe by Holly Black
14. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

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

****And HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY 31st birthday to my awesome brother-in-law****

Review: Wintergirls

Title: Wintergirls
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-14-241557-3/Speak (part of Penguin)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

Lia and Cassie were best friends growing up. They even made a pact, a sort of competition, to be the skinniest girls around school. Well for five feet five inches Lia this becomes dangerous. It also becomes deadly for her friend Cassie.

Cassie is found dead in a motel room and Lia lives with Cassie's ghost now because no one but Lia knows that Cassie called her 33 times on the day of her death. Lia who has already been forced into two hospital treatments is retreating back to her old habits. She hits it even harder now that Cassie is dead.

Lia is dealing with her family problems and at the same time trying to trick her mom, dad, step-mom, and half sister that she's doing just fine with her anorexia. Except we see that she's not. Cassie's ghost is cheering her on to join her on the other side and to become super skinny. Lia is far from being healthy. In fact she is become further away from 100 pounds.

Lia forces a tough decision of whether she should be alive with the rest of the world or frozen as a wintergirl. Or even worse...Will Lia follow Cassie to the "other side"???

Laurie Halse Anderson does it again with this book. She portrays an emotional story through the eyes of a sick teenage girl. This is a disease that she writes with such honesty and realism. There are times when it is hard to read, but that is what makes Anderson's book so wonderful. This story seems real and I believe that because of the tone of the story many teenagers will wake up and seek help from their eating disorders.

I definitely recommend this book to young adults in high school and college. I would love for the high school students to read this because of the subject dealing with eating disorders. These days I feel that there are too many teenagers suffering with eating problems that books like Wintergirls will help bring the topic to a speakable recognition. I also believe parents, teachers, and counselors should take interest in this book and discuss it with their students when they see one reading it. This book can lead to many informative discussions and can possibly help those suffering from anorexia and bulimia.

My Rating

(This book was bought from a store called National Books).

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

Friday Finds (10/22/2010)

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 A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

Talia fell under a spell....Jack broke the curse.

I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic....

I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.

I awakened in the same place but in another time---to a stranger's soft kiss.

I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.

Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!

Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels....The good news: My parents will freak!

Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all---even time?

(This book was bought from a store called Fully Booked.)

What did you find???

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

Friday Finds (10/15/2010)

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 Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and is determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

(This book was bought from a store called National Book Store.)

What did you find???

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

Around the blogosphere...Contests!!!

• Alaine-Queen of Happy Endings: October Competition. Contest ends October 31st and is open internationally.
• All About {n}: Reckless giveaway. Contest ends October 16th and is open internationally.
  

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon...wrap up

Here's the End of Event Meme Time.

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

It was hour 17 on. My mom received a surprise phone call from my Auntie and Uncle. They flew in and wanted to visit. So that kind of put a damper on my final hours of the read-a-thon.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

I don't really know. I suppose it depends on your favorite genre. But it really helped me that I did a re-read of one of my faves. I also wished I had some of my childhood favorite books to read (especially after doing the mini challenge about childhood books).

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

No suggestions. I thought it ran great and I definitely felt the lurve from the cheerleaders this year : )

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

The cheerleaders seemed way organized.

5. How many books did you read?

I only read 1 1/2 : (

6. What were the names of the books you read?

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks and Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

I enjoyed both. AWTR is one of my all time favorite books. And PS is now a new fave : )

8. Which did you enjoy least?

This question is definitely not relevant for me.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

n/a

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

Oh, I'll definitely participate again. This was my 3rd one and I'll do plenty more...yay!!! I would love to be a cheerleader again...maybe I'll be a cheerleader/reader for the April read-a-thons and just a reader for the October ones...hmmmm...we'll see : )

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon...hour 17

I had a yummy lunch...black bean & vegetable enchilada...thank you Amy's Kitchen frozen foods : ) And of course I couldn't put my book down while I ate...

Hour 17 updates...
Currently reading...Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Books read...
1. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Pages read since last update...48 pages

Running total of pages read since you started...410 pages

Amount of time spent reading since last update...60 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started...352 minutes

Mini-challenges completed
*Hour 1: introduction
*Hour 2: Back-in-the-Day Children’s Book Challenge
*Hour 10: Pets Pics (I wanted to do this one, even though I can't win the prize)
*Hour 12: Mid-event challenge
*Hour 13: Title Word Scramble

Other participants you’ve visited...
*Life as List
*Sweet Reads
*Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe
*Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm
*The Brain Lair
*YA Enthusiast

I'm going to run a few errands with my mom and the maid, but I'll have a book with me...

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon...Hour 16

Hour 16 updates...
Currently reading...Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Books read...
1. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Pages read since last update...26 pages

Running total of pages read since you started...362 pages

Amount of time spent reading since last update...22 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started...292 minutes

Mini-challenges completed
*Hour 1: introduction
*Hour 2: Back-in-the-Day Children’s Book Challenge
*Hour 10: Pets Pics (I wanted to do this one, even though I can't win the prize)
*Hour 12: Mid-event challenge
*Hour 13: Title Word Scramble

Other participants you’ve visited...
*Life as List
*Sweet Reads
*Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe
*Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm
*The Brain Lair
*YA Enthusiast

Time to go eat some lunch...by tummy is grumbling...

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon...Hour 15

Yay...this read-a-thon seems more relaxed to me this time...Thanks for cheering me on everyone.

Hour 15 updates...
Currently reading...Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Books read...
1. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Pages read since last update...41 pages

Running total of pages read since you started...336 pages

Amount of time spent reading since last update...35 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started...270 minutes

Mini-challenges completed
*Hour 1: introduction
*Hour 2: Back-in-the-Day Children’s Book Challenge
*Hour 10: Pets Pics (I wanted to do this one, even though I can't win the prize)
*Hour 12: Mid-event challenge
*Hour 13: Title Word Scramble

Other participants you’ve visited...
*Life as List
*Sweet Reads
*Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe
*Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon Hour 13

Oh how I lurve Gilmore Girls. Rory and Lorelai...two of my all time fave tv characters. Darn it...I still need the DVD collection *sigh*

Mini-Challenge: Title Scramble
1.yfferil enal
firefly lane

2.aste fo eend
East of Eden

3. retwa orf pntshleea
Water for Elephants

4.ot lkli a ckomgnrbdii
To Kill a Mockingbird

5. het gtaer ysbtag
The Great Gatsby

6. yrhra tetrpo dna eth lyhdtea wollsah
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

7. ht e rat fo nrgcai ni eht nair
The Art of Racing in the Rain

8.eth mite reslveart efwi
The Time Travelers Wife

9. eht rlig ithw eht gnodar ooattt
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

10.ydira fo a mypiw idk
Diary of a Wimpy Kid

11.a kwrlnei ni emit
A Wrinkle in Time

12. het rpoal sxprese
The Polar Express

13.vole dewlak ni
Love Walked in

14.reehw eth dwli hingts rea
There the Wild Things Are

15.eht ginnhsi
The Shining

16.dnohogigt oonm
Goodnight Moon

17. vwtienrie hwti a pvmarie
Interview with a Vampire

18. eht cretse file fo eesb
The Secret Life of Bees

19. eht raesch
The Search

20. het pelh
The Help

Hour 13 updates...
Currently reading...Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Books read...
1. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Pages read since last update...32 pages

Running total of pages read since you started...295 pages

Amount of time spent reading since last update...50 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started...235 minutes

Mini-challenges completed
*Hour 1: introduction
*Hour 2: Back-in-the-Day Children’s Book Challenge
*Hour 10: Pets Pics (I wanted to do this one, even though I can't win the prize)
*Hour 12: Mid-event challenge

Other participants you’ve visited...
*Life as List
*Sweet Reads
*Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe
*Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm

Now I'm going to take a mini break and visit with family...

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon...Hour 12

Hour 12...the mid-way point...woot woot!!! And how I LURVE The All-American Rejects!!!

Now time for the little Q&A...

1. What are you reading right now?
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

2. How many books have you read so far?
Just one : (

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Well, I've been looking forward to the book I'm reading now. It's been on my TBR pile for too long.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
Nope. Although I kind of forgot the read-a-thon was today. So it's a good thing I had no plans this weekend other than to watch the Phillies game...and thankfully they're not playing today : )

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

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
How many people are cheering me on. Last time, I was a cheerleader and not many people stopped by my blog. But this time...I feel the lurve!!!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
I have no complaints...things seem to go smoothly...keep it up Dewey crew!!!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
I'll definitely make sure I mark it on my white board so I don't forget.

9. Are you getting tired yet?
I'm not tired anymore...I woke up an hour ago...I'm feeling grrreat!!!

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?
I have no huge tips...just do your own thing and take your time. Don't feel rushed to finish a certain amount of books. You're doing fine as long as your reading and enjoying yourself!

Currently reading...Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Books read...
1. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Pages read since last update...53 pages

Running total of pages read since you started...263 pages

Amount of time spent reading since last update...42 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started...185 minutes

Mini-challenges completed
*Hour 1: introduction
*Hour 2: Back-in-the-Day Children’s Book Challenge
*Hour 10: Pets Pics (I wanted to do this one, even though I can't win the prize)
*Hour 12: Mid-event challenge

Other participants you’ve visited...
*Life as List
*Sweet Reads
*Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon...Hour 11

Well it's hour 11 and I finally woke up to the read a thon!!! Yes, it's time for breakfast so I'll bring my book downstairs with me to eat and read...
I missed hour ten, but still wanted to do the mini-challenge...I heart my doggy that my auntie is taking care of because I moved. Her name is Cysco (my brother named her)
The first book that came to mind about animals was the Clifford series. I lurved this book as a little kid and actually buy this book for my nephews sometimes. I remember sitting at the book store staring at the books until my mom or dad bought me a new Clifford book.

Here's my sentence...Clifford cleverly cleans closets carefully.

Anyways...here's my summary for the read-a-thon...

Going to read...Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Books read...
1. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Pages read since last update...43 pages

Running total of pages read since you started...210 pages

Amount of time spent reading since last update...24 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started...143 minutes

Mini-challenges completed
*Hour 1: introduction
*Hour 2: Back-in-the-Day Children’s Book Challenge
*Hour 10: Pets Pics (I wanted to do this one, even though I can't win the prize)

Other participants you’ve visited...
*Life as List
*Sweet Reads
*Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon...Hour 5

Well it's hour 5 and I finished my first book of the read a thon!!! Yes, it was a re-read of one of my fave books A Walk to Remember. And I'm super surprised that I didn't cry (first time ever and I have read this book multiple, multiple times since I was a sophomore in high school...nine years ago...wow!)

I also want to answer this hour's question about changing positions during the read-a-thon. So far, I sit somewhere different every hour. The first hour I stayed in my chair that is stationed at my computer. The second hour, I laid on my bed. Third hour, I sat in my comfy reading chair. And the fourth and fifth hour, I moved back to my bed. Here are some pictures of my reading areas...

Anyways...here's my summary for the read-a-thon...

Going to read...Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Books read...
1. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Pages read since last update...43 pages

Running total of pages read since you started...210 pages

Amount of time spent reading since last update...24 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started...143 minutes

Mini-challenges completed
*Hour 1: introduction
*Hour 2: Back-in-the-Day Children’s Book Challenge

Other participants you’ve visited...
*Life as List
*Sweet Reads
*Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe

BTW...I'll be MIA for a bit...time to get some shut eye since it's way past midnight. But I shall be back : )

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon...hours 3 & 4

Hours 3 & 4

Currently reading...

Pages read so far from A Walk to Remember...168

Total number of pages today...168

Total time spent reading...119 minutes

Mini-challenges completed...
*Hour 2: Back-in-the-Day Children’s Book Challenge

Other read-a-thoners visited...
*Life as List
*Sweet Reads

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon...hour 2

Hour 2...

Mini-Challenge...Back in the Day Children's Book

The first series that pops into mind are the books from Anne of Green Gables. Oh I lurved this series. I actually found a picture of me opening these books as a Christmas present when I was in second grade. My big sister bought me the series and I cherished them for so long. Unfortunately, they got lost during a move in high school, but I did buy a new set. I can never not have them in my own personal library.

Then, there's the fave author Maurice Sendak. Of course I heart Where the Wild Things Are. A book that I read all the time to my nephews. But the book I hearted more when I was in kindergarten was Chicken Soup with Rice.

There are many other great books, but these were my absolute faves!!!

Currently reading...

Pages read so far from A Walk to Remember...53

Total number of pages today...53

Total time spent reading...50 minutes

Mini-challenges completed...Hour 2 (see above)

Other read-a-thoners visited...
*Life as List
*Sweet Reads

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

Dewey's Read-a-Thon...Hour 1

It's that time of year again. And I'm super excited to participate in this one. It will be my third Dewey Read-a-Thon!!!

It is hour one and here is my summary so far...

Book I'm reading (or more like re-reading)...

A Walk to Remember

Hour 1 meme...

Where are you reading from today? The new home in the Philippines...in my bedroom. (The last two read-a-thons, I read at the old place)

3 facts about me …1. I'm a student. 2. I'm double majoring in education and english. 3. I'm a native Californian and just living in the Philippines for a bit.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? No particular number. I'm just going to get through as many books as I can.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? No goal this time. I just want to enjoy it. Usually when I have a specific number of books to read, I feel pressed for time and more stressed. So I'm going to take it hour by hour this time : )

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

Enjoy your books and don't worry so much about how many books NEED to be read. This is an individual thing. So have fun with it!!!

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

Around the blogosphere...Contests!!!

• 
  Sparkling Reviews is giving away a kindle. She must reach 500 followers...so go & enter!!! It's open internationally!!!
• Windowpane Memories is having an Angela Morrison giveaway. It ends October 15th, open internationally!

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

Friday Finds (10/08/2010)

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 Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

LOST AND ALONE...DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.

Alice thought she knew
what solitude was:
Her mother---gone.
Her father---remarried with a newborn
daughter.

Now...
Trapped
in the icy embrace
of a deadly snowstorm,
Alice faces the true meaning of loneliness.

But hope
may not be as far away
as she thinks...

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

What did you find???

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

***And don't forget the Dewey Read-a-Thon is tomorrow...see you there***

Thursday Cover Throwdown (10/07/2010)

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.

Here we go...

vs.

Woot woot...Mockingjay came out a couple of months ago and I know I just started reading this week. So I decided to go ahead and look if there were other covers than the one I bought. And there was one other one. I bought the one on the left and I definitely prefer this one. I really like the color and it just seems more appealing to me. And it also goes with the other books from the series that I own. But that's my opinion...

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

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

Friday Finds (10/01/2010)

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 Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Dear Dr. Fujiyama,

By now, you have probably heard that I'm dead. This means I won't be attending this year's regional science fair, which is a great disappointment to me as I'm sure it also is for you. At the time I died, I felt I was starting to make real progress with those earthworms.

I really enjoyed your class and continue to follow along from the place where I'm now living I now find myself. Dissecting the pig looked pretty interesting, and I thought I might try it. Unfortunately, there aren't any dead pigs here for me to dissect.

I was disappointed not to see you at the funeral as you were my favorite teacher, even including middle and elementary school. Not to give you a hard time or anything, Dr. F : )

Yours,
Elizabeth Marie Hall, 5th Period Biology

How can fifteen-year-old Liz let go of the only life she has ever known and embrace a new one? Is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward?

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

What did you find???

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