tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38884975243536230842024-03-14T08:08:38.818-04:00Exercise Your Mind a.k.a Read BooksRed Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-64671609465508469202011-02-02T11:25:00.001-05:002011-02-02T11:25:02.634-05:00VLOG!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Check out my YouTube channel- TheLadyMarauders.<br />
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Also check out my new blog- Sum Puella</div>Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-18796054326680306162010-10-27T15:20:00.001-04:002010-10-27T15:20:51.686-04:00Correction, this is the last postWhat's interesting is that I haven't written for this blog in months and yet I supposedly am getting hundreds of visitors each month. Strange. Also the most viewed post was not actually about books, it was about A-Rod's steroid use....But still this is the real last post on this blog. It's going to stay up because people are still going to it and I want them to check out my new blog under my new account. The URL is rachelnotrach.blogspot.com. Check it out.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-19515477580425518652010-10-24T20:15:00.000-04:002010-10-24T20:15:49.186-04:00New AccountLast post, got a new account. New blog soon. New account name is rachelnotrach. Keep a look out!Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-411391686871829552010-02-08T22:05:00.000-05:002010-02-08T22:05:21.286-05:00Not My Typical PostHi to those still reading this blog which I never update- I am going to break away from book recommendations and reviews for a little while and just post whatever I feel about. Today it will be Tom Flash and the Lightning Band. It's gonna be quick. Tom Flash and the Lightning Band is in two words absolutely amazing. There is so much talent in that group it is crazy. I know some people who read this aren't from the U.S, but Google them and listen to some of their music. They are great. I had the pleasure to see them play live two nights in a row and it was one of the best weekends I've had this year. Please find them and listen to them. That's all for now.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-46919929509726806862009-12-19T09:18:00.000-05:002009-12-19T09:18:44.108-05:00My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSF7mZtF2_0Vydn-zCnyEG8YvpN2P84T5gyN1IlXNctbD5k2fT0S0ZB6IfgpAoT6qxe-et7TKBG2Bt1bic36mYarwEpbjMN3RRq8vCWYEcnrMeSvWRAoyd6nP1rxy04E6i-ya6kZXz5Ra/s1600-h/my%20most%20excellent%20year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSF7mZtF2_0Vydn-zCnyEG8YvpN2P84T5gyN1IlXNctbD5k2fT0S0ZB6IfgpAoT6qxe-et7TKBG2Bt1bic36mYarwEpbjMN3RRq8vCWYEcnrMeSvWRAoyd6nP1rxy04E6i-ya6kZXz5Ra/s320/my%20most%20excellent%20year.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />
</div>Wow. This book was good. I was looking on audible.com for a book to listen to, and saw this title and without reading a description knew I had to read it. Then I read the description and knew this book was perfect.<br />
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Boston natives T.C (short for Tony <span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;">Conigliaro)</span></span></span> Keller and Augie Hwong are now juniors in high school and one of their assignments was to write about their most excellent year. For them, and one other friend, it is their freshmen year where all of their lives change forever. First Alejandra, the daughter of a Mexican ambassador, moves from Washington D.C to Boston after her father takes a job at Harvard. Second, T.C falls in love with Alejandra, though she hates him (at least she pretends she hates him). Third, Augie discovers he is gay, which T.C knew for years. And fourth, a deaf child brings them all together in ways they never imagined when they try to grant his wish.<br />
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Baseball, love and musical theater make this a good book from the start. But it was cleverly written, switching perspectives and means of communication. A lot of it is written in diary form, some is narrated, other parts are emails or instant messaging and some are homework assignments. Augie and T.C have been best friends since T.C's mother died, they are so close that they call each other brothers. The characters were extremely well created in this novel, I especially liked the connection Augie and T.C had as brothers. I listened to this book on my iPod and I could not have thought of a better way to read it. This book was seriously meant to be read aloud. The actors reading for each of the characters didn't just read the book, they acted it out. For example, T.C has a very heavy Boston accent and the actor read it with one. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes musical theater, Mary Poppins or the Red Sox.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-11892609106542243612009-12-13T19:03:00.000-05:002009-12-13T19:03:16.946-05:00Along for the Ride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkF0lTWR8AAmGBN8naoghPqVWrXxTQa6exdACvGoFQPyNj1mQUHSSibixS-muQVNLtvaBbzenWmj0_9RaapbtsRDW9Q1LLDM1x3sYbaBTiMv0fcMRaeXlfc6J2uJsSYFqGTBFwth3jeM-/s1600-h/along%20for%20the%20ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkF0lTWR8AAmGBN8naoghPqVWrXxTQa6exdACvGoFQPyNj1mQUHSSibixS-muQVNLtvaBbzenWmj0_9RaapbtsRDW9Q1LLDM1x3sYbaBTiMv0fcMRaeXlfc6J2uJsSYFqGTBFwth3jeM-/s320/along%20for%20the%20ride.jpg" width="211" /></a><br />
</div><u>Along for the Ride</u> by Sarah Dessen<br />
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Auden, an 18 year old insomniac, decides to spend her last summer before college with her father, his new 26 year old wife and her newborn sister Thisbee in the small beach town they live in. At first she just wants an escape from her mother and a change of pace, but soon she finds herself making friends, something she has never really done before. She also meets Eli, a loner and fellow insomniac. Together they embark on a "quest" to help Auden experience the childhood she never had. <br />
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This is now one of my favorite Sarah Dessen books. It was extremely well written, but I expected that because of the author, and the characters had depth, but that was expected. What I didn't expect was how real the story was. Sarah Dessen's books are all things that could happen and do happen, but this one I feel more people can relate to than <i>Just Listen</i> for instance. Many of Sarah Dessen's books deal with difficult topics such as teen pregnancy, the death of a loved one or rape. While there was death in <i>Along for the Ride</i> it was not the main topic. This is a must read book. So read it. Really, go out get a copy and sit down and read it. Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-19083831759339099132009-12-13T17:48:00.002-05:002009-12-13T17:48:52.367-05:00A-Z Book ChallengeSo today I realized I failed my A-Z Book Challenge miserably. The biggest problem was not being able to find the books, so I am going to try again starting now. So look for reviews of these books and the list being posted soon.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-66154972695845263122009-12-08T14:43:00.000-05:002009-12-08T14:43:22.493-05:00Book Recommendations and CommentsHi everyone. I'm looking for book recommendations, so if you have any please leave a comment. And also please don't leave comments that are advertisements, I hate to say it but I will delete them. Please have comments relate to the blog or the post. Thanks!Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-40508576315103539022009-11-17T15:18:00.000-05:002009-11-17T15:18:11.923-05:00Splendor and Gossip GirlWow, it's been a long time since I've posted. I have a bunch of reviews coming up for all of you dedicated readers. So because I took so long to jump on the Gossip Girl bandwagon I'm not going to do a full review and because Splendor is the last book of a series I won't do a summary.<br />
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Gossip Girl: A-<br />
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I enjoyed the story and it is interesting to see into the lives of the wealthy. It is nice to see that those these kids party they are also dedicated to their studies and makes their characters a lot less annoying than those in similar novels. It was also a good look into how gossip can spread like a wildfire and really effect someone's life.<br />
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Splendor: A-/A<br />
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I really wanted to give this an A or an A+, but the ending disappointed me. I won't spoil it, but not all is well in the lives of our four girls. Two are happy, two are not to start the novel. The couples we love may not survive and new ones may come up. Secrets are revealed and threaten the lives of our beloved society girls. All and all it was a good end to the series and while the ending was not the one I wanted it was still good.<br />
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So if you're wondering why I put these two reviews together it is because I often describe the Luxe novels as the Gossip Girl of the late 1800's to early 1900's. While the girls in Gossip Girl are a bit wilder, the characters in each live very similar lives. The characters are at the top of New York society and are what everyone looks at with jealousy. Yet their lives aren't really all that enviable. There are rules to the ways they can conduct themselves and many find themselves wanting to rebel. If you've read both of these series you know what I am talking about.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-70647566405702869712009-09-20T11:39:00.000-04:002009-09-20T11:39:10.086-04:00New BlogHey everyone! Check out my new blog Teen Travel which can be found at http://teenagetravel.blogspot.com/. The blog is travel reviews written by teens for teens or families traveling with teens. It is often hard to know whether a location is teen friendly which is why Teen Travel was created. Check it out!Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-91231265126376888842009-09-20T10:36:00.000-04:002009-09-20T10:36:06.907-04:00New Puzzle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUOcAVIOx3vbvWFdmJxtM_QFxMKwzgvHHAxtGecj4EQD4F0gmNrm70QBha40_4ZGGOhlSOJonq2jJcwzJeaeYBoSnvCH4Ojos-m8NwbKwQjq-XWktflDel-rNErXzXtdSh2xXc0E33URX/s1600-h/triangle+puzzle.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUOcAVIOx3vbvWFdmJxtM_QFxMKwzgvHHAxtGecj4EQD4F0gmNrm70QBha40_4ZGGOhlSOJonq2jJcwzJeaeYBoSnvCH4Ojos-m8NwbKwQjq-XWktflDel-rNErXzXtdSh2xXc0E33URX/s320/triangle+puzzle.bmp" /></a><br />
</div>So this is one of my favorite concentration puzzles. There is another one similar to it that is harder with rectangles. So here is the triangle puzzle. Excuse any not perfect lines because I made this on paint. You can leave your answer as a comment.<br />
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<b>How many triangles are there? </b>Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-34954843876100760842009-09-20T10:13:00.000-04:002009-09-20T10:13:38.642-04:00Siddhartha by Herman Hesse<u>Siddhartha</u> is the story of a man trying to find enlightenment. You follow him over his many stages in life. Today for the first time I am going to use a plot description from an outside source because I cannot for the life of me figure out how to summarize this book in language people will understand.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizwq_FgsWLDrkRfDA7rAkRioOGke9hwBTdpdcZOG7QF21RTIDFSFN076IydX4r9YY7iWbCUiPvIbj6a11Y-757uNxJbu9OeEV87YUFnGBSzDobEPS4A3ZpBWCAwgqvuO6tX7kigE3gTwU/s1600-h/siddhartha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizwq_FgsWLDrkRfDA7rAkRioOGke9hwBTdpdcZOG7QF21RTIDFSFN076IydX4r9YY7iWbCUiPvIbj6a11Y-757uNxJbu9OeEV87YUFnGBSzDobEPS4A3ZpBWCAwgqvuO6tX7kigE3gTwU/s320/siddhartha.jpg" /></a><i>Born into wealth and privilege, Siddhartha renounces his place among India’s nobility to wander the countryside in search ofmeaning. He learns suffering and self-denial among a group of ascetics before meeting the Buddha and coming to realize that true peace cannot be taught: It must be experienced. Changing his path yet again, Siddhartha reenters human society and earns a great fortune. Yet over time this life leaves Siddhartha restless and empty. He achieves enlightenment only when he stops searching and surrenders to the oneness of all. ~</i>http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Siddhartha/Hermann-Hesse/e/9781593083793/?itm=1.<i></i><br />
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I disliked this book. It was well written, but it moved so slowly for a book where one chapter (about 15 pages) is three years or more. The characters annoyed me, though they had depth. Technically there is very little wrong in this book, but it was one of the worst books I've ever read. I was forced to read the book for English class, so I couldn't put it down and walk away either. The way the characters talked, though not hard to follow, sounded so fake I almost laughed. Granted it is translated from its original German, but still it must also sound fake in German. I also am one of those who doubts that one can achieve Nirvana, so the entire plot of the book is lost on me. Avoid this book unless you like spiritual quests.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-91728605776923267422009-09-19T19:43:00.000-04:002009-09-19T19:43:21.864-04:00Perfect FifthsAt last the new Jessica Darling book! I have absolutely adored this series, except the fourth book which I read the beginning and the end of and then stopped. This latest and last book is written in a completely different style than its predecessors which are written in diary form. This novel is written in third person, but the narrator knows what both Marcus and Jessica are thinking. Yes the focus of this novel is Jessica and Marcus. The story starts three years after the fourth book (for those who haven't gotten this far in the series stop here as spoilers from previous books will be included) where Jessica rejected Marcus's proposal. Jessica is on her way to Bridget and Perry's wedding on St. John and runs over Marcus. No that was not a typo, Jessica actually runs over Marcus in an attempt to make her flight. The rest of the novel fills in the blanks from the missing three years as Jessica and Marcus catch up with each other. The novel takes place in about 24 hours, but there is an attention to detail that has not been present in the previous books.<br />
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I absolutely loved this book. I wasn't sure because it was different than the previous Jessica books, but it really worked. It was well written and the banter between Jessica and Marcus is defiantly what was missing in the fourth book. Fans of Jessica and Marcus get the ending they wanted and they'll be happy to see both Marcus and Jessica have their lives together. The book is well written, interesting and has everything that fans of the series want. Go read it.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-43180723946413668212009-09-18T18:49:00.001-04:002009-09-18T18:50:51.666-04:00NaNoWriMo AgainSo, though it is only September I have signed up for NaNoWriMo again. This year however I have surprised myself and signed up for the regular one instead of the youth program. That means I will be writing 50,000 words in November. What have I gotten myself into? Just kidding, it'll be fun.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-8255292218688813742009-09-05T16:31:00.000-04:002009-09-05T16:31:00.459-04:00Persuasion by Jane AustenSo for school we were given an assignment to read <u>Persuasion</u> or <u>Master and Commander</u> and watch the movie of the book we did not pick. Given that Jane Austen is one of my favorite 19th century British writers I chose <u>Persuasion</u>. I also thought that since I didn't have much time to read on my own this summer I would review my summer reading books. So here is <u>Persuasion</u> by Jane Austen.<br />
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At age 19 Anne Elliot was persuaded she was to young to marry Frederick Wentworth, a member of the British Navy of no fortune and no title. Eight years later they are thrown back into each other lives when his sister and her husband, the Admiral and Mrs. Croft, become the tenants of Kellynch Hall after the Elliot family is forced to move to Bath to save money to pay their debts. Frederick Wentworth is now a Captain and has made his fortune but still has not forgiven Anne for rejecting him eight years prior.<br />
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I quite enjoyed this book and finished it rather quickly compared to when I read <u>Pride and Prejudice</u> which took me awhile to get into. The story drew me in even though I knew what happened having watched the movie during Jane Austen Week on PBS a couple of years before and watching it on Netflix while reading the book. Also the style of writing did not throw me off as it has in the past. The character weren't perfect, they seemed human. Of course for this book to be considered a classic it has to be well written, so I will stop with technical pieces. At points the plot moved slowly, so be forewarned. If you are not used to the style of writing that Austen uses you may have trouble, but it does not take long to get used to it. I highly suggest this book if you are looking for a substantive read which one can actually enjoy. It is not my favorite Austen book, that slot still goes to <u>Pride and Prejudice</u>, but it is a very good book. Enjoy!Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-48558456019153573962009-08-24T00:32:00.000-04:002009-08-24T00:32:28.264-04:00I'm Back...For Real This TimeHi. Sorry for not posting in so so long, but I got a job as a counselor in training at a camp and with my school reading I did not have much time to read for pleasure. I do have a few reviews for you though, including the books I read for school. Upcoming reviews include the books <u>The Freedom Writers Diary</u> by Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers, <u>Persuasion</u> by Jane Austen, <u>Corelli's Mandolin</u> by Louis De Bernieres and <u>Siddhartha</u> by Herman Hesse. It's late so I have to go, but those reviews should be up soon!!!Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-78925623360267513572009-06-27T22:56:00.000-04:002009-06-27T22:56:35.797-04:00Summer Movies<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_XjEc7IL6Vpcg6k6mtj85p3XT3xIYw11sjc25rhMR11wQ2yIg1BlevZelynGS-7Ye5_iDdx9qk1vNAwTTMS7nuSmz-gESoCOQHP-QZ6kR7IubUV-nH_y60AhUTMnE_8HkEg3fUJJcBoT/s1600-h/star+trek.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_XjEc7IL6Vpcg6k6mtj85p3XT3xIYw11sjc25rhMR11wQ2yIg1BlevZelynGS-7Ye5_iDdx9qk1vNAwTTMS7nuSmz-gESoCOQHP-QZ6kR7IubUV-nH_y60AhUTMnE_8HkEg3fUJJcBoT/s200/star+trek.bmp" tj="true" /></a>Summer movies kicked off well before the official start of summer with the blockbuster Star Trek. For all those who have not seen it because they claim to not be "trekies", go see it if it is still in your local theatre. As it is a prequel you don't need to know anything about it, but there are jokes thrown in for those who know the old movies and tv series. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicHinGoTnGcE0bYt4BJ6WeFyi5P72TTStcIr6o31N9xAnWE_jYQi18s_1UuF4tL-KKA3mixhfLhwNiDhANb9Iy7SlfRhxltyyYCQm0I-xgUm6OFJQYpCR2g4iXiqQLpWtD4FnY_qRUrRW/s1600-h/harry+potter+movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicHinGoTnGcE0bYt4BJ6WeFyi5P72TTStcIr6o31N9xAnWE_jYQi18s_1UuF4tL-KKA3mixhfLhwNiDhANb9Iy7SlfRhxltyyYCQm0I-xgUm6OFJQYpCR2g4iXiqQLpWtD4FnY_qRUrRW/s400/harry+potter+movie.jpg" tj="true" /></a>This summer looks to be a great movie season with the sixth Harry Potter movie coming out July 15 (took long enough, it was supposed to come out when Twilight did). Though the trailers for it have been scarce, you can find them all over the internet. If you haven't read the books in a while or ever, I would suggest reading them. Personally I just reread the sixth (for the 18th time since I got the book) in preperation for the movie. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvWKK6vj8piSEgKfdQ6Ct3oiCfGjT7DGwh-pw98dIoHEixgFzjt4xAE3SR1xjxSraDag5kr3h4t6hLoZw8YCJ4oGqTHIfkou-z65BzW3boQaTcIw_iSJVcA0xUHknoxql0ka3df61Q4dN/s1600-h/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvWKK6vj8piSEgKfdQ6Ct3oiCfGjT7DGwh-pw98dIoHEixgFzjt4xAE3SR1xjxSraDag5kr3h4t6hLoZw8YCJ4oGqTHIfkou-z65BzW3boQaTcIw_iSJVcA0xUHknoxql0ka3df61Q4dN/s200/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-poster.jpg" tj="true" /></a>Also the sequel to the hit movie Transformers. Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen, though hard to believe, has even more action than the first movie. Though many critics gave it bad reviews, they are being to critical. The movie was made to enjoy, and it does. Even in the most intense battle scenes there is still humor thrown in. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_xbVOx5ZkpKsZyp_nKJYKY51hOdhR9ST7t4bQZuNWfZLJoHtoVdA_rN_fyNuvstYa0Ci5aVxbr4pxC_G8e_D27l41D6azYc_m_YD94HpWf3wA2HhGGCn95Jxp9BqDUCkZ0nNJGgKcOGK/s1600-h/proposal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_xbVOx5ZkpKsZyp_nKJYKY51hOdhR9ST7t4bQZuNWfZLJoHtoVdA_rN_fyNuvstYa0Ci5aVxbr4pxC_G8e_D27l41D6azYc_m_YD94HpWf3wA2HhGGCn95Jxp9BqDUCkZ0nNJGgKcOGK/s200/proposal.jpg" tj="true" /></a>And finally, The Proposal. I was kind of skeptical of this movie, it looked funny but I wasn't sure if it was going to stand out. It was very similar to many romantic comedies, but that didn't matter because it was light hearted and made me laugh. With darker and/or more depressing movies like My Sister's Keeper (depressing) and Harry Potter (darker and depressing) coming out, it is good to have a movie that is fun and light and makes us laugh.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If I started rambling, I apologize. I now leave you to go enjoy the summer and all of its movies. I will have a new review soon. however first I need to find a new book...</div>Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-8301961991983797452009-06-21T11:45:00.000-04:002009-06-21T11:45:10.279-04:00The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYeZD0lWBpoWIRx1z70hebajLWsKzhyphenhyphenpogpCZ-wrGXF4NucEiebS4FUkmS6RZpHHtysXtr9viK6Po4neyVJLQdzDtT0VCi0TLfb4rBoXCRX71P6dRDLhrGyJaXeQ9eTC4kzx85BB-m0EE/s1600-h/the+boys+next+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYeZD0lWBpoWIRx1z70hebajLWsKzhyphenhyphenpogpCZ-wrGXF4NucEiebS4FUkmS6RZpHHtysXtr9viK6Po4neyVJLQdzDtT0VCi0TLfb4rBoXCRX71P6dRDLhrGyJaXeQ9eTC4kzx85BB-m0EE/s320/the+boys+next+door.jpg" tj="true" /></a>Lori has always been one of the guys when it came to her next door neighbors the Vader brothers. They spend their summers together on the lake wakeboarding and working at the marina. The youngest of the Vader brothers, Adam, is one of Lori's best friends. But Lori secretly has a huge crush on the middle brother Sean, a crush that only Adam knows about. When Sean steals Adam's girlfriend, Lori and Adam pretend to be going out to make Sean and Rachel (the girl Sean stole from Adam) jealous. But plots run deep, and there may be more to this one then what meets the eye.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I had a good time reading this book. As it belongs to the Romantic Comedies collection, it had a perfect amount of humor and romance. The characters are believable, which for these novels sometimes doesn't happen. Sure the story was slightly predictable, but it was highly enjoyable and some parts took me by surprise. I recommend this book as a beach or pool read or just a light read when you want to smile.</div>Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-3997623306218583852009-06-08T22:26:00.002-04:002009-06-08T22:26:42.196-04:001 Exam LeftOne more exam left! After tomorrow I will be devoting my full attention to the blog and making sure there are regular reviews. I know I have said this before but I mean it this time.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-6390958943901951972009-05-20T20:04:00.002-04:002009-05-20T20:07:50.078-04:00I'm BackWoah, I haven't posted since April! But that has not stopped the blog from hitting 766 hits between November 1 and May 1. Thank you to all who visit and your patience will be rewarded as soon as my history research paper is turned in... the thesis of the paper- Japanese pop culture has invaded America.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-91163320298739990672009-04-05T16:26:00.001-04:002009-04-05T16:28:23.505-04:00600!Since I put up the new view counter in November there have been over 6oo views of Exercise Your Mind, though I cannot say how many are mine... Thank you everyone for reading and I promise some new reviews and really cool topics in the coming months!Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-44941573499066631662009-04-05T16:25:00.002-04:002009-04-05T16:25:47.126-04:00Teen InkHi everyone! I recently posted a short story to Teen Ink's website and I would love some feedback, so leave comments and rate it. <br />
<br />
Thank you and here is the link: http://www.teenink.com/raw/Fiction/article/95912/Sailing/Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-27535501194923086652009-03-22T19:49:00.002-04:002009-03-22T20:06:03.609-04:00Interview With Robin BenwaySo, I was wrong when I said Susan Colasanti would be the next author on the blog, Robin Benway in fact is the next author to be interviewed for the blog. Robin Benway is the author of the popular teen novel <u>Audrey! Wait</u>. She was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions about her career and the book. (I loved her book, in fact it passed around my group of friends at school because I loved it so much!)<br /><br />Me: What inspired Audrey! Wait?<br /><br />Robin: "Audrey" was like a perfect storm of inspiration. I had recently quit my job with the vague idea of writing some sort of book, but I didn't know what it would be about. In lieu of having an actual job, I was listening to a lot of music, and I heard so many songs that referenced someone's ex-girlfriend. They all seemed a bit one-sided and I was curious what the ex-girlfriend would say about the lyrics. Also, I went to visit my grandmother and her neighbor's kids had a band in their garage and they kept playing these pop songs with such enthusiasm that it was hard not to enjoy it. That inspired the idea of Evan & his band, and everything just started to fall into place.<br /><br />Me: Were any of the characters based off of people you know?<br /><br />Robin: I think all of the characters are influenced by people I know, even if it's in subtle ways. Audrey & I share a love of music; Victoria is very much like my best friend, Adriana; Jonah has the same laid-back attitude as my brother; etc. I was a little nervous that people would recognize themselves and be pissed off that I used their personalities in a book, but it turns out that no one ever recognizes themselves in a book! I gave Adriana the first third of the manuscript to read and I was terrified that she would be upset at Victoria's character since they're so similar, but all she said was, "I love it! Am I gonna make an appearance anywhere?" She had no clue that she was all over the book! That still cracks me up and I still tease her about it.<br /><br />Me: What is your favorite part of being a published author?<br /><br />Robin: My favorite part is getting letters from people who've read "Audrey". I really can't tell you what a thrill it is. Readers, if you're ever wondering if you should send an email to an author to tell them that you enjoyed their book, do it! You have to understand that I spend most of my day sitting in front a laptop, so any time I get an email or comment, it makes my day and, in a way, inspires me. I want to write books that are worthy of the people that read them.<br />I also love that I've been able to support myself by writing. When I was sixteen, when I was going through a difficult time in high school & just wanted to graduate and get the heck out of there, I wrote in my journal that all I wanted to do was move to a big city, get an apartment, and become a writer, and it seems I've done just that. What a relief!<br /><br />Me: What did you think about the success of the book?<br /><br />Robin: Hmm. Well, the book seems to have been pretty successful, so I'm absolutely thrilled by that. I don't google myself, I don't read reviews, and I never go on Amazon to look at sales rankings because that just stresses me out SO MUCH. So I feel like I'm in a bit of a tunnel as far as knowing about the success of "Audrey". I tend to judge those things by emails and comments from readers, as well as how happy I am with the book I've produced, and "Audrey" has well surpassed my expectations in both those areas. I love the book and when I find out that readers enjoy it too, that's what makes me happy. Everything else is just a wonderful bonus.<br /><br />Me: I know many people compare this to choosing a favorite child, but do you have a favorite character?<br /><br />Robin: Wow. All of my characters have wonderful qualities, but when I went back and read "Audrey" all the way through, I was surprised at how much I loved Jonah. He's just so calm, so mellow, and the perfect antidote to Victoria's bossiness and Audrey's craziness. He's also sweet and so tolerant throughout the whole book. I'm pretty sure he & Victoria get married one day. Pretty sure.<br /><br />Me: What do you suggest to people, especially teens, who want to be authors?<br /><br />Robin: If you want to be a writer, you have to write. This is something I have to tell myself every single day, especially when I have no idea what to put down on the page. I've been writing professionally for a few years now, and I've finally figured out that if you just keep going forward, eventually the pieces start to fall into place. Don't be afraid to try out an idea. Sometimes the "backspace" button is your best friend. And more than anything else, be extremely kind to yourself. If you can't seem to finish an idea or a story, don't worry about it. You'll either figure it out or come up with something better. I speak from personal experience on this!<br />Also, don't worry about rejection or not being "good enough" or never getting published. Just be tenacious, take care of your characters, and write everything down. I mean, everything! Some great ideas have slipped away because I didn't jot them down, and I SO regret that now! Learn from my mistakes!<br /><br />Me: How did you get started as a writer?<br />Me: Did you always know you wanted to write?<br />Me: Have you done anything else but write?<br /><br />Robin: I was always writing things down, especially as a little kid. I never liked school, even though I got good grades, so it was always nice to come home and escape into these fantasy worlds I had created. I was always the kid who had to have the window seat in the car, so I could look out and daydream throughout the trip. I think I always thought I would just write on the side and then have a "normal" job, but as I got older, I realized that writing on the side wasn't enough anymore. I needed to start doing it full-time, and that's when I decided to take a year and try my hand at writing a book. That book was "Audrey", so I'm so glad I made that decision!<br />As far as doing something else besides being a writer? Well, I've been a babysitter, a smoothie-maker, a sales rep, a book publicist, a bookstore employee, and a PR director for Book Soup, which is a fabulous independent bookstore in West Hollywood. I always thought that if I worked around books and authors, it would be enough, but it wasn't. It just made me want to write more!<br /><br />Me:Do you love music as much as Audrey does in the book?<br /><br />Robin: Audrey got ALL her love of music from me! Right now, I'm listening to my "morning" playlist, which is actually called "Morning 3" because I already have "Morning 1" and "Morning 2" playlists. It's a bit obsessive, I know. It includes Cat Stevens, Neko Case, the Weepies, Laura Marling, and now Bon Iver because I woke up today and needed to hear "Re: Stacks". Music is probably my number one inspiration when I have to write. Or pay bills. Or cook dinner. Or go to bed. Like I said, it's obsessive.<br /><br />Me: Are you working on any new books?<br /><br />Robin: I am in fact working on a new book right now, and I'm so excited because I JUST figured out this weekend how it's going to end! I've been working on it for six months without having a clue about its conclusion and now that I know it, I can't wait to work on it. This is when my job gets really fun.<br /><br />Me: As part of my blog I’ll give readers a topic to think about. Do you have a topic that you would like readers to think about? (It can be anything- current events to pop culture, anything that you would like others to think about.)<br /><br />Robin: The thing that keeps coming back to mind is the idea of gossip websites, the paparazzi, & privacy issues. I know it relates to "Audrey" in a way, but I'm curious to see what other people think about this. Is it out of hand, or is this something that famous people have to deal with because of the professional they've chosen? How much is too much? I used to read a lot of gossip websites, but after a while, I realized they were depressing me. It just started to seem invasive and the commenters could be so cruel. I don't know, I'm just interested in seeing other people's opinions on the subject.<br /><br />Thank you so much to Robin Benway and I can't wait for her new book! If you haven't read <u>Audrey! Wait</u> you should go find a copy of the book and read it as it is very good.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-20832641205686171322009-03-01T16:36:00.004-05:002009-03-01T17:10:54.026-05:00Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_W35wd5R3U4VByxKmvfIKZMZlHpLmZpRGOqUspnW2yssvh36Q_DC8MHRpmt4DORFNUq_Ka01TEMatgN3pP5rXV9gyHOMZd5Squl8vTm9RLhyT6Agv2sTin7-opulh7q3QYgSNWhW0FoZq/s1600-h/lock+and+key.jpg"></a> Ruth planned to wait out the last few months before she turned eighteen on her own until people discovered her mother was gone. But when it is discovered that her mother abandoned her, Ruth is sent to live with her sister who is ten years her senior and her sister's husband. Ruth hasn't seen her sister in ten years when she left for college. She is given a chance to start over, with new clothes, a new school and a new home. No one understands what she is going through, except for her neighbor, who happens to be the most popular guy at her new school, who may be hiding a pretty big secret himself.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Personally, I loved this book. It had the right balance of the serious topics of abuse and child abandonment and humor. The characters were easy to like, had depth and most importantly were believable. The plot, as mentioned dealt with some pretty serious issues, but still was very enjoyable and not overwhelming. With many teen novels being about trivial things that have no substance, it was nice to find one that had substance while still written for teens. Now don't get me wrong, I love these books about trivial things with no substance, especially during the school year when many of the books you read are depressing (<u>Night</u> by Elie Wiesel anyone?), but what I liked about this book was that it had substance but it wasn't overwhelming and depressing, as those topics are kind of depressing. This book gets five stars.</div>Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888497524353623084.post-73418638852574080642009-02-22T13:30:00.000-05:002009-02-22T13:30:15.060-05:00UpdatesHey everyone! I know there hasn't been a new review in awhile and I am very sorry. I have a bunch of books to review and they keep piling up, so there should be a few new ones this week as I don't have school. There also should be a new author interview soon, once I figure out the questions and email them. The author is Susane Colasanti author of <u>When It Happens</u>.Red Sox Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619200452962096475noreply@blogger.com0