Exercise Your Mind a.k.a Read Books

VLOG!

2011-02-02T11:25:00.001-05:00

Check out my YouTube channel- TheLadyMarauders.

Also check out my new blog- Sum Puella

Correction, this is the last post

2010-10-27T15:20:00.001-04:00

What'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.

New Account

2010-10-24T20:15:00.000-04:00

Last post, got a new account. New blog soon. New account name is rachelnotrach. Keep a look out!

Not My Typical Post

2010-02-08T22:05:00.000-05:00

Hi 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.

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger

2009-12-19T09:18:00.000-05:00

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.

Boston natives T.C (short for Tony Conigliaro) 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.

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.

Along for the Ride

2009-12-13T19:03:00.000-05:00

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

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.

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 Just Listen 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 Along for the Ride 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.

A-Z Book Challenge

2009-12-13T17:48:00.002-05:00

So 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.

Book Recommendations and Comments

2009-12-08T14:43:00.000-05:00

Hi 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!

Splendor and Gossip Girl

2009-11-17T15:18:00.000-05:00

Wow, 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.

Gossip Girl: A-

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.

Splendor: A-/A

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.

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.

New Blog

2009-09-20T11:39:00.000-04:00

Hey 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!

New Puzzle

2009-09-20T10:36:00.000-04:00

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.

How many triangles are there?

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

2009-09-20T10:13:00.000-04:00

Siddhartha 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.

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. ~http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Siddhartha/Hermann-Hesse/e/9781593083793/?itm=1.

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.

Perfect Fifths

2009-09-19T19:43:00.000-04:00

At 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.

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.

NaNoWriMo Again

2009-09-18T18:49:00.001-04:00

So, 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.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

2009-09-05T16:31:00.000-04:00

So for school we were given an assignment to read Persuasion or Master and Commander 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 Persuasion. 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 Persuasion by Jane Austen.

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.

I quite enjoyed this book and finished it rather quickly compared to when I read Pride and Prejudice 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 Pride and Prejudice, but it is a very good book. Enjoy!

I'm Back...For Real This Time

2009-08-24T00:32:00.000-04:00

Hi. 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 The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers, Persuasion by Jane Austen, Corelli's Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres and Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. It's late so I have to go, but those reviews should be up soon!!!

Summer Movies

2009-06-27T22:56:00.000-04:00

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols

2009-06-21T11:45:00.000-04:00

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.

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.

1 Exam Left

2009-06-08T22:26:00.002-04:00

One 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.

I'm Back

2009-05-20T20:04:00.002-04:00

Woah, 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.

600!

2009-04-05T16:26:00.001-04:00

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!

Teen Ink

2009-04-05T16:25:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone! I recently posted a short story to Teen Ink's website and I would love some feedback, so leave comments and rate it.

Thank you and here is the link: http://www.teenink.com/raw/Fiction/article/95912/Sailing/

Interview With Robin Benway

2009-03-22T19:49:00.002-04:00

So, 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 Audrey! Wait. 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!)

Me: What inspired Audrey! Wait?

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.

Me: Were any of the characters based off of people you know?

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.

Me: What is your favorite part of being a published author?

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.
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!

Me: What did you think about the success of the book?

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.

Me: I know many people compare this to choosing a favorite child, but do you have a favorite character?

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.

Me: What do you suggest to people, especially teens, who want to be authors?

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!
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!

Me: How did you get started as a writer?
Me: Did you always know you wanted to write?
Me: Have you done anything else but write?

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!
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!

Me:Do you love music as much as Audrey does in the book?

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.

Me: Are you working on any new books?

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.

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.)

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.

Thank you so much to Robin Benway and I can't wait for her new book! If you haven't read Audrey! Wait you should go find a copy of the book and read it as it is very good.

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

2009-03-01T16:36:00.004-05:00

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.

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 (Night 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.

Updates

2009-02-22T13:30:00.000-05:00

Hey 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 When It Happens.

New Topic To Think About

2009-02-10T22:52:00.014-05:00

So, since it's been big in the news the past few days, the new topic is steroid use in professional sports. Most recently Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees has admitted to using steroids after si.com reported that he had tested positive in 2003. Also Miguel Tejada, the 2002 AL MVP in the MLB has been charged with lying under oath, he now joins the ranks of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds.
My opinion on this is that using steroids or performance enhancing drugs is wrong and stupid, but I understand why the players do it. No one is blameless in this horrible era in baseball in particular. Fans, the media and management loved it when the huge home run numbers started coming in and the immense pressure already on the players grew. I am getting entirely fed up with people saying that these sports stars who used steroids don't deserve the records they got and are ragging on them because a) they have never felt the same pressure and b) steroids and performance enhancing drugs do not make a player great, they make it so they work out longer and build muscle faster. A bad hitter isn't going to become a good hitter just because he takes steroids, it takes a talented player to make steroids work to their advantage. It doesn't make it right, but we as fans or members of the media need to remember that we put the pressure on the sports stars to perform, and this is what they felt they had to do to perform to our expectations.

Now I want to hear your opinions, so post comments on this post or in the C-box, or you can email me at exerciseyourmindreadbooks@hotmail.com

Uglies

2009-01-28T23:00:00.021-05:00

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is a sci-fi novel that is set in a Utopian society. Tally lives in a world where being pretty is valued over everything. At age 16 you get the surgery and enter the world of the Pretties. Before that you are an Ugly and even before that you are a Littlie. A few weeks before Tally turns sixteen she meets Shay, a girl who is planning on running away before her surgery. After Shay runs away, the authorities tell Tally either she helps them find Shay and turn her in or not be pretty. When Tally decides to find Shay, she has no idea what she has gotten herself into.

I started reading this book and almost gave up on it. With a creative plot, you would think that the author could come up with better names. Come on! Uglies, Pretties, Littlies, New Pretty Town, Uglyville. Seriously those are the least creative names for places and groups of people I have ever heard! But once I put that aside I enjoyed the book. The plot dragged at points, especially when Tally was alone. I thought the idea was not quite original, a supposedly Utopian society that isn't as perfect as it seems, in ways it reminded me of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The way the story was told though, was what set it apart. In Fahrenheit 451, free thinking was banned while in Uglies it was never really banned. I give this book 3 stars.

Inauguration

2009-01-19T20:52:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! Tomorrow is the inauguration of President Elect Barack Obama. I'm down in D.C for the festivities, and let me tell you this city is ready to party! So because of this, there may be no new reviews for a few days. When I get them up however, there will be a lot as I just finished a bunch of books. Have fun tomorrow!!!!!

Author Chat: Elizabeth Scott

2009-01-12T15:13:00.001-05:00

Elizabeth Scott is the author of many young adult novels, including Perfect You, Living Dead Girl and Stealing Heaven.

Me: You have written a good number of books, do you have a favorite?
 
Elizabeth: Nope! I can't pick a favorite--all of them have good memories for me!

Me: When writing one of your books, has an idea for another occurred   during the writing process?
 
Elizabeth: Always--which is how I can tell I have to keep going and finish. I  
write the idea down, and then turn back to what I'm working on. It's  
hard, but otherwise, I'd never get anything finished!

Me: You have a few new books coming out soon, what are they about?
 
Elizabeth:Something, Maybe will be out on March 24th and it's about Hannah, who  
has parents who redefine the word embarrassing. Her dad made a  
fortune showing pretty girls--and his "party" lifestyle--all over the  
Internet, and her mom, who was once one of her dad's girlfriends, is  
now the star of her own website. After getting the wrong kind of  
attention for far too long, Hannah has learned how to stay out of  
sight...and that's how she likes it.
Of course, being unknown isn't helping her get noticed by gorgeous,  
confident Josh, who Hannah knows is her soul mate. Between trying to  
figure out a way to get him to notice her, dealing with her parents,  
and wondering why she can't stop thinking about another guy, Finn,  
Hannah feels like she's going crazy. She's determined to make things  
work out the way she wants....only what she wants may not be what she  
needs.
 
Love You Hate You Miss You will be out on June 2nd, and it's about  
loss, grief, love, and learning to give yourself--and life--a chance.

Me: When did you decide to become an author?
 
Elizabeth: I didn't actually decide to be an author--I sort of fell into the  
whole thing! I started writing for fun when I was 27 (old, I know!)  
and after years of my friends trying to talk me into getting an agent/ 
seeing if I could be published, I decided to go for it (to get them  
to quit asking me, quite honestly! :-) ) and got *very* lucky.

Me:What do you suggest to teens who want to pursue writing?
 
Elizabeth:Well, I'm guessing you've already gotten the writing part down, so  
I'd suggest learning as much as you can about the publishing industry  
and the business end of it (and it is a business!) and also to just  
read as much as you can--and don't just read one kind of book, read  
all kinds!
 

 Questions about Perfect You **May Include Spoilers**

Me:What was the inspiration behind this book?
Elizabeth: I decided to write Perfect You after getting an idea for a story  
about a family who had to deal with an extremely demanding relative  
moving in. The original idea was very (*very*) different from how the  
story ended up, but that's one of the fun things about writing ---  
there are always surprises along the way!

Me: Kate’s father quit his job to sell infomercial vitamins, why did   you choose vitamins over everything else sold in infomercials?
 
Elizabeth: Because that's what I knew he'd be selling, plus the brand name made  
the perfect book title! :-)

Me: For most of the book Kate has trouble trusting Will who has been  nothing but nice to her, but easily trusts Anna who had ditched   Kate for her new popular friends. Why did she trust Anna again so   easily but not Will?
 
Elizabeth: Because when you've had a friendship end unexpectedly and you miss  
that person, really and truly miss them, how can you not hope, if  
even secretly, that they'll decide they miss you and want to be  
friends again? Loosing a friendship is, in many ways--I think--even  
harder than a breakup. Friendships tend to last for a long time and  
play a huge role in your life, and do have one just stop--it's life- 
shattering.
 
As for Will, well, he does have a reputation, and Kate--and everyone  
else--knows all about it! Plus, she's been burned pretty badly--her  
family is falling apart, she misses her best friend, she's dealing  
with her grandmother--is it any wonder she finds it hard to believe  
that something good could happen to her?




Thank you Elizabeth!

Caribbean Cruising

2009-01-08T23:37:00.000-05:00

Caribbean Cruising by Rachel Hawthorne. Lindsey's mom is getting remarried, on a cruise full of hot single guys! Lindsey has never been on a cruise before, but she does have some ideas for what she is going to do with her ten days at sea- snorkel, meet cute guys, kiss cute guys, climb a waterfall, have some margaritas and find the perfect guy for a summer fling. But, unfortunately for this planner, her plans start to fall apart, especially in the area of finding a guy. Lindsey soon discovers it's impossible to have a fling when you're actually falling in love...

This book was extremely entertaining. The plot was kind of reversed from your normal teen romance, instead of the teen looking for love and instead finding a bunch of flings (or the right guy without the flings) it was a girl looking for a fling who found love instead. While you will have seen many similar characters in other books and tv shows, the story is told in a way that makes these characters unique. With interesting plot turns, and some actual morals, this book leads to a good read. 5 out of 5 stars.

Interview With Megan McCafferty

2009-01-08T15:30:00.006-05:00

Megan McCafferty is the author of the popular teen books Sloppy Firsts, Second Helping, Charmed Thirds, Fourth Comings and the upcoming Perfect Fifths which will be available for purchase on April 14, 2009. I was able to interview Megan on her books and how the Jessica Darling books were born.

Rachel: One of the things I liked about the character Jessica was she wasn’t extremely perky, and actually seemed real. In the first two books I loved reading her views on high school and the popular students. Were you in anyway like Jessica in high school?

Megan: Thank you! Perky is booooooring. Jessica is very moody, but her imperfections are what makes her relatable. As for how much she's like me, you can actually read my (retro)blog where I've posted journal entries and creative writing from my high school years to form your own opinion. But my stock response is that I started out with the truth and then started lying my butt off. However, I was most like Jessica in Sloppy Firsts. That's the book that is closest to my real life when I was in high school. For example, I was devastated when my best friend moved away, felt misunderstood by my parents, resented my shallow friends and—yes!--was obsessed with the disreputable bad boy in my class. That said, very little in any of the books happened to me in the same way it happens to Jessica. As the series progresses she really comes into her own as a character to the point where I was cringing as I wrote some of the things I made her say and do because I would never say or do those things myself.

Rachel: How did Sloppy Firsts come to be, what was the inspiration behind it?

Megan: I wrote the type of book that I enjoy reading. Yet of all the comic coming of age novels I had read, none came close to reflecting what my life was like in high school. So instead of complaining about it, I started writing that book. I kept a journal between the ages of ten and twenty-six and had taken numerous creative writing classes over the years so I had a lot of raw material to turn to for inspiration. I took some of the most vivid writings—about my crappy job on the Boardwalk, how bored I was in school or the pain of all my unrequited crushes—and added, subtracted, rewrote and revised until it started to make sense as a novel.

Rachel: Of the four books so far, they range from being a week in Jessica’s life to a few years. Which do you find harder to write, the shorter length of time or the longer?

Megan: FYI: Perfect Fifths (which comes out on April 14th!) takes place over eighteen hours that Jessica and Marcus spend in/around an airport. The pacing is radically different than Sloppy Firsts which covered a whole year. Writing this book required working in miniature—to examine and express each fleeting gesture and half-sentence. All five books posed different challenges, but that's one of the reasons why I varied the format from book to book. I'd get bored writing the same book over and over again.

Rachel: What do you recommend to teens who want to get into writing?

Megan: Read as much as you can. And write even more than you read. Period.

Rachel: Did you ever expect the books to be as popular as they are, and when they became popular what was your reaction?
Megan: The only time I think about the popularity of my books is when I'm asked a question like this! I'm proud to have invented characters who resonate with so many different readers all around the world. I've gotten email from an insomniac track star in Bulgaria who said that reading about Jessica Darling changed her life. I mean, that's craaaaaaazy to me. But making that kind of connection and getting readers excited about books gives me the greatest sense of satisfaction. That's what motivates me to do what I do and why I can't imagine doing else.

Thank you for Megan for doing this.

Kissing Snowflakes

2009-01-07T23:29:00.000-05:00

Kissing Snowflakes by Abby Sher. Sam has been dragged along with her brother to Vermont for a "family" ski trip. Sam's father has just remarried, and this is their honeymoon, but Sam's dad decides that this is the perfect opportunity for Sam and her brother Jeremy to get to know Kathy their new and impossibly perfect and perky stepmom. Sam's plan is to stay at the Vermont inn they are staying at and not ski at all, but is persuaded to give it a try, where she meets Drew. Drew is a gorgeous ski instructor, who shows Sam how to ski and how to kiss. But is Drew the right guy, or is someone else the one Sam should be with?

So, to start off, this book has a fairly typical plot, which would have been okay, but some of the characters got on my nerves. First off, though in the book Sam points it out, Drew is extremely corny and uses horrible pick up lines. And Kathy, well she is closer to a 12 year old in personality than a grown woman. By the end, I was enjoying the book, and the end was good- exactly how you want it to end. It was well written, but some of the characters just seemed pretty fake. I liked it, but I'm not going to say you have to read this book or go get it now like I do with great books. It gets 3 out of 5 stars, it would have been 3 1/2 or 4, but Kathy was too perky.

Royally Jacked

2009-01-05T21:28:00.000-05:00

Royally Jacked by Niki Burnham. Valerie has a good life, she isn't popular but she has good friends, is a good student and even has a possible boyfriend. She even thinks her family is pretty normal. Life is pretty good.... Until her mother announces to the family that she is a lesbian and is leaving Valerie's dad for her vegan girlfriend. And if it couldn't get worse, Valerie's dad who is the Chief of Protocol for the President of the United States has gotten a new job with the royal family of a small European country with a name that is very hard to pronounce. Valerie is given the choice to stay with her mom and her new girlfriend or go with her dad. She decides to move with her dad to the place she has only heard of once before in Geography. She soon realizes that this was a mistake- until the prince befriends her, and when that happens who knows what will happen next...

When I first read the description of this book, I knew I had to read it, and I'm so glad I did. While the book is short, only 230 pages, it is funny and well written and a plot (while starts off realistically, turns into something a girl can only dream of) that is interesting and makes you want more. Valerie is a typical teenage girl, shallow in all the areas she's supposed to be, but intelligent and not as shallow as she makes herself out to be. Her A-list friends Jules, Christie and Natalie are funny and really help Valerie through what's going on, even though they don't know the whole truth behind the divorce... Obviously they are mad at Valerie for leaving, but of course they don't know the true reasoning behind it. As I have said before, I judge a good book by if I don't want it to end, and this was one of them. Luckily, there are sequels, so I will be reading those shortly. I highly reccomend this book, especially for beach reading. That is for those of you lucky to be able to go to a beach and not get frostbite this time of year.

New Year's Resolution

2009-01-04T22:28:00.001-05:00

My New Year's Resolutions

1. Finish the A~Z Reading Challenge
2. Review each book I read (except sequels)
3. Give a topic to think about more frequently

To get going here is a topic- Do you think downloading music off limewire and other free downloading sources is wrong? Post your responses in the Cbox or as a comment.

The Luxe

2009-01-04T17:19:00.000-05:00

I did a short and I mean short review of The Luxe back in June, so this is just a longer more formal version of the review.

The Luxe by Anna Godberson.

It's 1899, and Elizabeth Holland and her sister Diana rule Manhattan's social scene. Elizabeth is every man's dream- beautiful, well-mannered everything a woman should be in 1899. Diana is the exact opposite of Elizabeth, though good looking, she wants nothing to do with the expectations of being a young woman in high society. But all is not perfect, the Holland sisters learn that their high status in New York's elite is threatened. Anyone- including Elizabeth's back stabbing friend Penelope Hayes, the handsome and oh so rich bachelor Henry Schoonmaker and the Holland's housemaid Lina Broud with aspirations much higher than being a housemaid- could ruin everything.
The fate of the Holland family is in Elizabeth's hands and she must choose true love or family duty. Then, Elizabeth's carriage overturns, throwing Elizabeth into the rough current of the East River. While of Manhattan mourns, some start to wonder was this accident really an accident or was this life too much for their beloved socialite or even worse, did someone want Elizabeth gone?
Where appearances matter more than anything, five teenagers lead exceptionally scandalous lives, luxury, scandal, false friendships, love and deception run amok in Manhattan.

This book was one of the best historical fiction books I have read. Many historical fiction novels drag and get boring because everything is so innocent and proper, that it seems fake. Of course, many people lived their lives exactly how it is described in those books, it just does not always make for good reading. But The Luxe was fast-paced and scandalous. Sometimes when telling people about the book, I say it is the Gossip Girl of 1899. It is a perfect combination of romance, suspense, scandal and historical detail. The characters are great as is the dialogue. The sequel to the book Rumors is equally as good, and I cannot wait until the third book, Envy, comes out later this month. This book receives 5 out of 5 stars.

A~Z Reading Challeng 2009

2009-01-03T23:18:00.001-05:00

So first off, it is still weird to be writing 2009! Does anyone know where 2008 went, because I sure don't. So this year I am going to be doing the A~Z Reading Challenge, where you read one book who's title starts with each letter of the alphabet for example 'T' could be Twilight. The number of books is pretty easy, but finding the books will be the hard part. Maybe next year I'll move on to the 100+ challenge....

I Was A Non-Blonde Cheerleader by Kieran Scott

2008-12-28T20:22:00.003-05:00

I Was A Non-Blonde Cheerleader by Kieran Scott
Annisa Gobrowski is a New Jersey transplant in Florida, a very blonde Florida. She has a problem- she is the one of the only brunette girls in her entire school. At least two people make her feel welcome, Bethany a cynical teen, who just happens to also be a brunette, and Daniel her uberhot neighbor, who just happens to be a popular football-wrestling-track star, and secret guitar-player. After Annisa breaks the most popular girl in school's nosein a disatorous first day, it seems as if it can't get worse.Though Bethany objects, the fact that Annisa is a brunette is not going to stop her from trying out for the cheerleading squad at Sand Dune High when two girls get kicked off the team. And who would have guessed that the girl who's nose Annisa broke would be the cheer captain, but despite all of this she makes the squad. Follow Annisa as she tries to survive as a non-blonde cheerleader.
I didn't really know what to expect from this book. It looked good, but a book about a cheerleader, in Florida? It just seemed a bit to perky and like fluff to me. And I was partially right, but that didn't stop me from liking it. Annisa is very perky, but the thing is many of her fellow cheerleaders are not.The team is falling apart, and the typical stereotype of cheerleaders being popular is held, but not the cheerleaders being stupid. Annisa's character shows that it is possible to maintain who you are even when you are being pressured to change. And a plus, there is a bit of romance! I also have new respect for the sport of cheerleading, seeing how hard and dangerous cheerleading can be. The characters were great, I loved Annisa's brother Gabe who has been described as a chameleon because of how often he changes his look. It's not a book you want to read if you're looking for a serious, but if you're looking for a quick and fun read this the perfect book for that. If I were to use a star rating, it would be between 3 3/4 and 4 stars out of 5.

Twilight

2008-12-22T18:00:00.002-05:00

Okay, this isn't a normal review, I'm just gonna say that these are great books. If you had talked to me about four months ago I would have told you I would never read Twilight and sequels and when I orginally told my friend I would go see the movie with her it was to get her off my back about watching it. Then, I decided I would read the book if I liked the movie, and then I realized I didn't want to become one of those people who watch a movie to decide whether or not to read the book, so that started my search for a copy of the books. But, I didn't have the money to buy it, no library around me had a copy, and my friends were reading their's, so I started with New Moon, then read Breaking Dawn, then Twilight and finally Eclipse. And if you're wondering how I knew what was going on, I admit I read the book summaries on Wikipedia. So, just to say I still like Harry Potter better, J.K Rowling is a better writer is some ways and I loved the world she created, but I also loved Twilight. So this reccomendation is coming from someone who said she would never read the books and only decided to read them because she promised a friend she would see the movie, then they must be good. So if you are like I was, I would get over yourself and read them. They are not perfect, but they are a great and exciting love story.

This Lullaby

2008-12-21T15:16:00.002-05:00

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen.
Remy, an 18 year old recent high school graduate, was raised by her mother who has had four husbands and is about to marry the fifth. Remy always knows when to break up with a guy, right after the romantic rush and before anything long-term happens. Watching her mother have so many failed relationships, Remy no longer believes in love. Her father abandoned the family while her mom was pregnant with her, and then wrote a song for her the night she was born called "This Lullaby". Then Remy meets Dexter, who is everything she hates, clumsy, messy and a musician. But, for some reason she finds that she can't keep to her usual rules regarding boyfriends. Could Dexter finally be the one to teach her that the love songs may actually be true...

I absolutely loved this book!! The characters are great and seem real, and Dexter and his band are hilarious. I wish the book had gone farther, because I wanted to see what happened. So if and when you read this, be prepared for songs about potatoes and diet cokes that manage to hit people perfectly on the head!

Audrey, Wait!

2008-12-21T14:43:00.002-05:00

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway, is a book that came out a little while ago, but I couldn't force myself to buy it because it was a hardcover. I finally got it this fall and I finished reading it ages ago, but I lent the book out and still have yet to get it back (so, therefore have been unable to do the summary) and then I decided that I should review it anyway. Before I start though, my heart goes out to any people who still have power out from the ice storm (or who just got it back), and hope that you are staying warm (or stayed warm).

Audrey, a pretty typical music loving teen, breaks up with her self-involved boyfriend Evan, who happens to be the lead singer of a band called the Do-Gooders. Upset about the breakup, Evan writes a song called Audrey, Wait! which becomes a hit and skyrockets up the billboard charts, and now everyone wants to know the girl who inspired this hit song. And all Audrey wants is to be able to hang out with her friends and maybe get some peace and quiet with her new crush, which of course is impossible when you are getting mobbed by paparazzi. So follow Audrey as she navigates this fame, and enjoy the book.
So, I gave this book to my friends to read after I read it and loved it. And I got reports back that it was a bit slow moving in the beginning. I hadn't even really noticed, but they were somewhat right. But the beginning is just to getting to know the background, and soon the book picks up and personally, I had trouble putting it down. So I say read it, and just know that the beginning is slow, but the rest is not.

Sloppy Firsts

2008-11-29T22:34:00.002-05:00

Sloppy First by Megan Mccafferty is about a hyper-observent teen trying to survive high school without her best friend Hope. Hope has just moved to Tennessee after her brother's overdose when we meet Jessica Darling. Jessica is a track star, with a crush to end all crushes on the senior captain who doesn't even know she's alive. And Scotty, her first boyfriend of 11 days in eighth grade, still likes her, and everyone thinks she should so totally go out with him. And to make things worse, her sister Bethany is getting married, and her mother is in wedding overdrive. As she writes about life, love (or lack there of) and poseurs, you find yourself laughing along with Jessica and feeling her sorrows. This book is extremely funny and a must read for teens. Also check out the rest of the series: Second Helpings, Charming Thirds and Fourth Comings. Perfect Fifths, the final book in the series, is coming out in April.

Hey everyone, sorry it took so long to get this up! More reviews to come I promise!!!!!

Chat With An Author: Melissa Walker

2008-11-10T18:19:00.003-05:00

Here is a new addition to my blog called Chat with an Author, the first of this is with Melissa Walker, author of the Violet Series, The Violet Series are some of my favorite books, so I was very excited to be able to talk to her. Here is our chat:

How did you first get into writing?

Well, the summer before I started high school, I filled a loose-leafnotebook with the tale of a geeky girl who wanted to find a prom date,so I guess you could say I always had some book dreams. But after I started writing for magazines, I could hardly process anything over 1,000 words, so writing a book seemed daunting. I honestly think it was the ElleGirl audience who inspired me: They were such smart, funny girls, and I got to the point where I wanted to write more for them.

What inspired the Violet Series?

My time at ElleGirl especially gave me insight into the fashion world and how newer models live in NYC (which can be glamorous, scary,thrilling, and a little dark all at the same time). That knowledge kind of overlapped with my long-time dream of writing a teen novelabout a small town girl in the big city (original, right?). The fashion world thing gave it more focus and helped me nail down theplot.

Were any of the characters from the Violet Series based off real people?

Lots of Violets likes and dislikes are my own. And I might have known a guy like Kurt in college (he's in Violet in Private). But therest--truly--are combinations of people I've known and pure imagination.

The books are based around the fashion industry, and are pretty welldescribed, how did you do research for these portions of the books?

I spent so much time working at fashion magazines that I had seen a lot by the time I sat down to write, so I just worked with what I knew.

Who is your favorite character from the books?

That's like asking a mom who her favorite child is! I don't know. I guess I do have a fondness for Roger.

What's in the future for Violet?

There are just three books at this point, so the future may be inreaders' imaginations.

What was your first job as a writer?

My first "job" was on my high school yearbook as a Features Writer. But if you mean the first time I got paid for being a writer, that wasat ROSIE magazine, Rosie O'Donnell's short-lived title. I was an editorial assistant and had just moved to NYC--it seemed superglamorous, and I loved every minute!

What was your favorite assignment as a journalist?

Probably going to Brazil for Sao Paulo Fashion Week--I had a blast andlearned so much about the fashion industry's international side.

What do you suggest to girls who want to get into writing?

First, you have to read. Read, read, read. You'll learn so much aboutcharacter, plot, pacing, conflict, etc. from reading. Secondly, keep ajournal, something you're not afraid to find your voice in, somethingthat's just for you. It will help you practice your style becauseyou'll write freely--and one day you'll turn back to it for story ideas!

And lastly, part of my blog is to get the readers to think about atopic of importance, so if you would like to give the topic for thisweek that would be great!

Sure! In Violet in Private, Violet gets a designer to use "green"cosmetics as makeup for a fashion show. In real life, that scene wasinspired by Teens for Safe Cosmetics, a great organization of girlstrying to make sure that makeup is safe and environmentallyresponsible. Check them out: http://www.teensturninggreen.org/about-us/teens-for-safe-cosmetics.html.

Thanks Melissa for doing this! And everyone, you should think about checking out that link to the website that Melissa gave, it's really cool!

NaNoWriMo

2008-11-01T16:18:00.000-04:00

So as said before I am participating in National Novel Writing Month, or NaNo Wrimo, if any of you are I'd love to know!

Updates

2008-10-30T22:20:00.000-04:00

So, I'm working on a bunch of reviews right now and they will be up when I get them done. I will be introducing a new author for the blog soon, more info later. Also I have decided to take part in National Novel Writing Month, it starts Nov. 1 and ends Nov. 30 and in that time I must write a novel. I encourage all of you to look at the website and try it. The website is http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/ Check it out!

New Review, Finally!

2008-10-26T21:28:00.001-04:00

Sorry this took so long, I finished five new books, so there will be five new reviews coming out. The first one is now!

When It Happens by Susane Colasanti is an amazing story about two polar opposite high school seniors who fall in love.

Tobey has had a crush on Sarah for a while, but she is a serious student, and he is a mucisian and slacker. He devises a plan to win her over, but Sarah has started to go out with popular jock Dave. Filled with musical references that can appeal to even non-music lovers, this is a teen love story to remember.

I could not put this book down, it was one of the better books I have read. I highly reccomend this book for anyone who likes YA novels. One warning though is that it is written in first-person in alternating perspectives, so there is a warning for those who don't like that. But that was my only problem with the book, I have reread it a few times since I first finished it. So, if you are looking for a good love story, this book is for you.

New Reviews?

2008-10-07T21:12:00.001-04:00

So about the long awaited new review. Sorry I haven't been posting too much, but I ran out of new books to read. Luckily I ordered five new books last night and they should be arriving any day now, so a new review should be up soon.

"Everday Use" by Alice Walker

2008-10-02T20:38:00.002-04:00

So, for school I have to read a bunch of short stories and one that really stood out to me was "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker. The story tells of a women who has two completely different daughters. Dee, an ambitious girl who seems to be embarrassed by her family and Maggie, who is very self-conscious of her burn scars. Dee, who left home years ago, comes back to visit. The story takes place during her visit. Dee has taken part in a movement seen in the 1970s by African American's where they go back to their African heritage. One of the changes Dee made was by changing her name to Wangero. Her mother tells her that the name Dee has been in the family for a long time, the part the mother leaves out is that she can trace the name back to relatives who lived during the Civil War. Dee seems to value heritage, but overlooks key parts of her history. Read the story, it is quick and really good! I'm sorry I kind of gave away a few parts, but it's hard not to when describing a short story.

13th Annual Baltimore Book Festival

2008-09-24T19:04:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! I want to tell you about the 13th Annual Balitmore Book Festival. Here's the info...

Where: Historic Mount Vernon Place centered on the 600 block of North Charles Street, 21201. Baltimore, MD.
When: Friday, September 26 from 5-9pm
Saturday, September 27 from 11am-7pm
Sunday, September 28 from 11am-7pm
Website: www.baltimorebookfestival.com

This is a really cool event for any of you who are able to attend. This year it includes 200+ author apperances including Naomi Wolf and Avi! There are a lot of book readings, poetry readings and workshops and cooking demo's from celeberity chefs. Also there are many opporotunities to buy books! And best of all, admission is free! If any of you can go, you should, it is a great event!

Country Artists

2008-09-03T18:48:00.003-04:00

So, I have noticed that a lot of times the country artists have some of the best emotional songs. Sure, pop artists have written some touching songs, latest being the Jonas Brothers song A Little Bit Longer, but if you listen these songs are written best and performed best by the country artists. Some of my favorites are Traveling Soldier and Not Ready to Make Nice by the Dixie Chicks and my newest favorite is Just a Dream by Carrie Underwood. Not Ready to Make Nice was written after the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, Natalie Maines made a critical comment about President Bush in 2003. Because many country fans are republicans, she and the rest of the band were harshly critiscized for saying those things. The band was boycotted, their songs were banned from the radio, they even recieved death threats. This song is about this contreversy and saying that even three years later, the song was released in 2006, they are not ready to make nice. Traveling Soldier and Just a Dream are both amazing and touching songs, both would make me cry if I cried about movies, books and music. So, if you haven't heard these songs, find them and listen to them because country artists really have the best emotional songs.

Information on Not Ready to Make Nice from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Ready_to_Make_Nice

I'm Back

2008-08-26T22:55:00.002-04:00

So, I am back blogging again. I'll try to get a new review up really soon, but I just wanted to say I am back blogging again which I have said twice now... I hope everyone had a great summer and have fun when school starts again if it hasn't already for you. I also have something for you readers to think about... The Chinese gymnasts ages. My opinion is that they look younger than 14, and that even the other young Chinese athletes do not look that young. And though the Chinese are making it seem as the U.S is targeting them, I guarantee that every other country was thinking the same thing. So leave comments about your opinions, because I want to know what you think, and I love getting comments!!!

New Book to Check Out

2008-07-13T23:49:00.005-04:00

Okay, I know I said I wouldn't post for awhile, but then I went to a bookstore while visiting Cambridge and saw a new book in a series I love, and I want to share this series with you. The series is the Georgia Nicolson books. The first one is Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging.

There are eight books now, the newest being Stop in the Name of Pants. There is also a movie being released this summer called Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. Here is a link to the trailer http://youtube.com/watch?v=ogBjxasdQR0. Here is the books website http://georgianicolson.com/ where you can find a full list of the books, behind the scenes looks at the movie and music from the movie. The books are hilarious, so try them if you haven't!

An Abundance of Katherines

2008-07-08T18:00:00.002-04:00

So, this is going to be my last post for awhile because I am just too busy. So here is my review....

Colin is a child prodigy, or was a child prodigy. Now, he is just a high school graduate with a thing for girls named Katherine. And girls named Katherine have a thing for breaking up with him. Depressed after his break-up with Katherine 19, that's right I said 19, he and his Judge Judy obsessed friend go on a road trip, where Colin comes up with the Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability. This theorem would show how long a relationship will last, that is if Colin ever has his eureka! moment and perfects it.
This story was okay, it wasn't great. I won't be screaming at you to go get it. I almost stopped reading it at one point because the beginning was a bit slow, but stuck through and it had a great ending. I wish the author had gone on, because I wanted to see what happened. So if it sounds interesting, look it up online because my summary is pretty bad, and get a good summary of it. It was good, just not great.

So, that is it, I will post when I can, so check back occasionally, and have a great summer!!

Happy July 4th!!!

2008-07-03T22:34:00.002-04:00

So, though it is not quite July 4, I am saying it is. Happy fourth of July!!! I will have a review coming to you shortly, say, July 6, so come check it out. Tell your friends and have them visit the site too! I am trying to get more people viewing my blog, so if you spread the word it would be much appreciated. So the review that is coming is An Abundance of Katherines, so as I said come find it on July 6, because I will post it the night before. Thanks and happy birthday America!!!

Hola!

2008-06-10T21:23:00.002-04:00

Hello, I don't have a new review, unfortunetly, but hopefully I will find a new book worthy to be in my hands. So, keep checking back, because I will check in and probably ramble about stuff like how amazing the top twenty on So You Think You Can Dance? is. Well, it is. Can't wait for tomorrow to finally get to the performance shows. Now, I could go on, even using technical terms because I am a dancer, but I will spare all of you reading, so I'll stop. Everyone enjoy the last few weeks of school and the nation-wide heat wave.

Be Back With Reviews Soon

2008-06-06T16:47:00.001-04:00

Well, I have 3 school days left until I am out for summer and then I promise there will be a bunch of book reviews. If anyone has a request or reccomendation for my summer reading, leave a comment. And once again thank you to all of you, and I can now say I believe I did well on my exams. Only one more!! Thanks!

The Friday Night Knitting Club

2008-06-03T20:25:00.003-04:00

The Friday Night Knitting Club explores how an art can bring generations together. It tells the stories of the women of the Friday Night Knitting Club and the woman who runs it, Georgia Walker. Georgia is a single mom with a twelve year old daughter, Dakota. Georgia hadn't had any problems with Dakota until Dakota's father, James, shows up wanting to be part of his daughter's life.

Georgia runs a yarn shop called Walker and Daughter, which is where the knitting club takes place. The club is made up of a cast of colorful characters. Anita, a seventy something year old who has made Georgia and Dakota her surrogate daughter and granddaughter. Perri, a student who works part time at the shop. Darwin, a grad student in women's studies, with almost no people skills. And many other characters which you will have fallen in love with by the end.

This story is one of the most moving pieces I have read in a while, and I wish Walker and Daughter were real. I highly recommend you pick up a copy and read it as soon as possible!

New Review Tomorrow

2008-06-02T22:14:00.002-04:00

So I am back, and tomorrow is my birthday! So I would like to thank all of you who asked how my exams went, well I can tell you soon, they start tomorrow. I have been busy studying for the past few weeks. I have also had dance rehersals so I don't know when I had time to actually start and finish a book, but I did. So the review will come when I get home tomorrow from my History exam. I will tell you the book- The Friday Night Knitting Club. For those of you taking/taken finals good luck!

The Off Season

2008-05-12T20:17:00.003-04:00

The Off Season is the touching sequel to Dairy Queen. The book starts shortly after the end of the first. D.J's life is going great. She passed softmore english, she is a true member of the football team, and she sees Brian, all the time. And did I mention the farm is almost broke? And then, in a blink of an eye, D.J's world crashes around her. With one tackle and the tragic injury of Win, D.J's oldest brother, D.J once again has to take all of the family's problems on her shoulders, but can she handle it?

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This book was a great follow up to Dairy Queen. D.J's character is pretty original, and I like that. She, like her family, is stubborn and does not give up easily. I want to see more of D.J, and all of you should read these books!!

Another Spelling Mistake

2008-05-07T21:57:00.003-04:00

God, spelling exercise is really not my thing. I have officially spelled it wrong twice now. Usually, I am a good speller, but I just could not spell exercise. Well, now it is spelled correctly, thank you to google, while I was looking up my blog, it showed the spelling mistake.

Still No New Review

2008-05-07T21:43:00.002-04:00

I am sorry, but it will be awhile before there is a new review. Final exams are upon us, well for those who have finals, and plus I only just got a new book to read. But that doesn't mean stop checking because I will still post. I'd say there should be a new review next week. It would be earlier, but I am gone all weekend. Does anyone have a brain teaser they would like posted? Leave a comment.

I've been tagged...

2008-05-05T23:14:00.002-04:00

Well, I have been tagged by Books and Love, so here I go...

Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you've posted your three sentences.

Okay, found a book...

Catherine stared at me, wide eyed. "You're getting a medal too? You're teen ambassador to the UN and you are getting a medal?"

Okay, who will I tag.

1. Random Thoughts By a Random Teen
2. ReadingRocks
3. Reading Keeps You Sane
4. One Page is Not Enough
5. And Another Book Read

Riddle Answer

2008-04-30T14:40:00.003-04:00

Yes, I know the riddle was kind of lame, but I didn't have anything else. The answer was a screwdriver. No new brainteaser, cause I don't have one.

Some Quick Reviews

2008-04-30T14:26:00.002-04:00

So, I am back from Disney and school is back in full swing. I came to school today and found out I had a softball game. I have so much work to catch up on, but I thought I would catch up on some reviews.

Violet on the Runway and Violet By Design:

Both amazing books. It is a great read for those interested in the modeling industry and even those who aren't. They are quick reads though, but extremely entertaining.

Dairy Queen:

Well, I'm not to big on football, I'm more of a baseball girl, but this book is amazing. Cows, romance and football surprisingly are an amazing mix. Try this book whether you like football or not.

Greetings!

2008-04-26T17:09:00.002-04:00

Well, I know it has been a while, and right now there is no review, though I have finished a bunch of books. Right now I am on vacation at Disney where my dance studio is dancing on Monday. I went to Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios) and Typhoon Lagoon yesterday. The best part is, I get to do Disney with my friends!

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

2008-04-17T16:34:00.003-04:00

Kate's life is completely ruined. Her dad quit his job to sell infomercial vitamins and her best friend is acting like she is invisible. Then Will enters her life. She has known him for a little while, and she likes him. But Will is notorious for hooking up with girls, and when he starts to show interest in her, Kate protects herself by not taking what he says seriously. Even though they make out daily during her breaks from selling vitamins, she still doesn't believe he genuinely likes her. But Will was the only one who cared that her best friend ditched her and he was the only one who didn't make fun of her dad's job.

This book is absolutely perfect! Kate is a stubborn, bossy 16 year old whose life was ruined by her father. Will is popular, gorgeous, and completely out of Kate's league- at least she thought so. Elizabeth Scott portrays teenage emotions perfectly. Kate's development in the story was there, but not extreme like in many books. When the book ends Kate's life is still a mess, but it is a much smaller mess. Go to your local bookstore or library and get this book now! And for you who like to read on Google Books, it is not up there!

All-American Girl by Meg Cabot

2008-04-16T16:21:00.003-04:00

All-American Girl by Meg Cabot

Sam Madison's life couldn't get any worse. She has a C- in German, she got caught drawing celebrity portraits and is now being forced to take art class. She just saved the President from assassination and is now the is the U.S teen ambassador to the U.N. The boy she loves is her sister's boyfriend and the boy who likes her is the presidents son. Really, life couldn't get any worse.

This book is very good, but not my favorite. I loved the characters, especially David (the president's son) and Lucy (Sam's older and popular sister). Sam occasionally got on my nerves, especially with some of her top ten lists. Sam was a completely different illustration of an all-American girl. It is a really good book, though slightly annoying at parts. I do recommend it, because as I said it was really good.

Banning Books

2008-04-15T16:09:00.003-04:00

So, it has been a week since I posted the topic of banning books. I only had ten people vote in the poll, one being myself, but the overwhelming majority was against banning books. One thought that it was ok, and and two thought that they should only be banned in school. I hope that it really provided you with something to think about. My opinion is that that banning books will start to lead to Ray Bradbury's prediction in Fahrenheit 451. It leads to the dumbing down of society and takes away our ability to choose. Just my opinion though. And the new riddle for the is what driver doesn't have a license? Answer in a week. Feel free to post your answer in the comments.

Current Read... New to me, but an older book

2008-04-12T12:32:00.003-04:00

So, I am currently reading All-American Girl by Meg Cabot. I know many have read it, but I will review it anyway, problem is I left it at school!

The Assist... Review is Here

2008-04-11T22:25:00.005-04:00

So, I know I said to wait till Monday for the review, but I finished the book. Enjoy!

The Assist, by Neil Swidey, follows Charlestown High School basketball coach Jack O'Brien and his players through a three years of their lives. The book focuses on O'Brien, Jason White, or Hood, and Ridely Johnson, though it does follow a few other people. O'Brien is unlike any other coach around. He dedicates himself to the game and to his players. His goal, other than winning, is to help his kids of the streets of Boston, go to college and make a better life for themselves. Unfortunately, his intensity is often misinterpreted, and is disliked among the public. Jason, nicknamed Hood for his appearance, is one of the stars of the Charlestown team. A senior when the book starts, he is co-captain with Ridley. Ridley, known as the nicest kid in school, is extremely talented, but not aggressive enough on the court. The book portrays around three years of their lives, following all the twists and turns of life in the projects.

From scholarships to jail time, this book has it all, happy and sad, it shows how some people are determined to get off the streets, and others just sit around waiting for it to happen. I absolutely loved this book. It shows the terrible conditions these kids live in and how it is almost impossible to rise above it. The story was so powerful, and though I usually do not like non-fiction, it has become one of the best books I have read in a while. For those who don't like non-fiction, it is like no other non-fiction book you will ever read. While it is an extremely true story, the writing style that the author chose made it flow like a fictional story. Not to say it sounded fake, but it kept my attention and interest which many non-fiction books can’t do. I was so impressed by this book and I can only sing its praises.

The Assist... Review coming soon

2008-04-11T19:04:00.004-04:00

Okay, almost done with the book. For those waiting for a review, check back on Monday cause I have rehersal tomorrow and a baseball game to watch on today, Saturday and Sunday, it is a good series, and some will be watching it on t.v. Yes it is Sox vs. Yankees! Can't wait! Wait, the first game just started, got to go......

Book Contest

2008-04-10T18:53:00.002-04:00

The Page Flipper is having a giveaway for the book Audrey, Wait. 5 will be given away. I haven't read the book yet, but it is supposed to be amazing! Check it out at http://thepageflipper.blogspot.com/2008/04/contest-audrey-wait.html.

Current Read

2008-04-09T18:40:00.003-04:00

Currently I am trying a non-fiction book called The Assist. More on it when I finish it, but right now it is written so well I forget that I am reading a non-fiction book! I love it and you should try it. I'll try to get a review up soon!

Ghost of Spirit Bear

2008-04-08T16:15:00.000-04:00

I read the book Touching Spirit Bear in English class last year and did not like it. First off I didn't understand it, it dealt with anger and nature, and second there were some parts that were gross, Cole (the main character) ate a mouse and even more disgusting stuff. I'm not going to do a full review because I know many haven't read the first book and I don't want to ruin it. I liked the book, it really helped me understand the first book, I actually liked it better than the first. It is rare that a sequel is better than the first, but this is one of those instances. The Ghost of Spirit Bear comes out June 17 this year! Really, try both books!

Cool Contest

2008-04-07T21:59:00.000-04:00

There is a writing contest going on for girls ages 12-18 Orb 28. Here's the link- http://orb28.blogspot.com/2007/12/call-for-orb28-submissions.html. Last post tonight, I promise!

Touching Spirit Bear

2008-04-07T21:38:00.000-04:00

Have any of you read a book for school that you really didn't get, but then you see the movie or read the sequel or something and then get it? I got an advanced readers edition of the book The Ghost of Spirit Bear, the sequel to the book Touching Spirit Bear, and 12 pages in suddenly understood the first book. A little to late, b/c I didn't do so well on the test on Touching Spirit Bear. Well, now I can say it is a good book b/c I understand it.

Spell Check

2008-04-07T21:32:00.000-04:00

For those who noticed, yes excercise was spelled wrong in the blog, but the domain is correct because the correct spelling was taken, oh the joys of URLs! I'll try to spell correctly from now on!

Love Red Sox Girl!

To Make You Think

2008-04-07T20:07:00.000-04:00

This week instead of a brain teaser, I'm going to give you something to think about. There is a poll at the bottom, so this question relates to that. I would like you to think about the topic and then respond in comments and/or the poll. Banning books, is it ever okay? I hope this gets your brains working, because it is an interesting topic.

A Story I'm Writing

2008-04-07T15:26:00.000-04:00

I think I mentioned Book Divas before, but I have posted two stories that I am working on called Story of a Girl and Soldier, so if anyone wants to take a look at them, I'm redsoxgirl!

First Book Review: Lawn Boy

2008-04-07T15:03:00.000-04:00

So, I figured I should get the first review up quickly, so I got a book at the end of lunch, started it in study hall and finished it by the end of study hall. So right now I'm guessing you know it is a short book, which it is, under 100 pages. So it's review time.

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen

When a boy turns 12 years old, he recieves a lawn mower for his birthday, a gift from his eccentric grandmother. When a neighbor sees him riding it and mowing his lawn, he gets hired to mow the neighbors lawn. As word starts to get around, he starts to pick up clients, one of them happens to be a stock broker who invests some of the boy's money into stocks. When he has too many clients to handle, he starts to expand and now has a full fledged buisness.

This book, though a short read, is filled with humor and a few good lessons on the stock market. In its 80 something pages it is filled with plot twists, that you don't see coming, and some you do. The characters are great, Arnold, the stock broker stuck in the 70's, the boy's eccentric grandmother, and his parents- very smart, but their jobs don't pay well. The book has a happy ending (of course) and there isn't much more I can say. I reccomend it if you want a quick read, but if you want something long and with a lot of meaning don't pick up the book.

If you like books...

2008-04-06T21:15:00.000-04:00

If you like books, which I hope you do otherwise this blog has no point to you, check out bookdivas.com it is a great place to discuss books and other topics. And yes I know some who are reading this found out about my blog through it, but for those who didn't, check it out.

Welcome!

2008-04-06T20:40:00.000-04:00

So, the title says it all. This blog is all about books and exercising your mind. I'll post book reviews as soon as I finish a new book, and once a week I'll post a brain teaser to keep your mind sharp. Mostly this blog is about books, which other than baseball, is my favorite way to spend time. No brain teaser today b/c I am tired and don't feel like finding one!