tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8910949577552550062024-02-19T20:41:49.279-05:00Bombarded with BooksBook Reviews, Contests, Author Interviews, and More!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.comBlogger927125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-53233232879252026672017-12-22T22:42:00.001-05:002017-12-22T22:42:58.321-05:00Trying Out Vlogging!<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NwKFLiQm_hw" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-61806710945890637222017-09-12T21:51:00.002-04:002017-09-12T21:51:25.551-04:00Time For A Comeback?I haven't made a "real" post on this blog for over 4 years. I started reviewing books the summer before high school and stopped during my freshmen year of college. I've since graduated and now I'm in my second year of teaching 10th grade English.<br />
<br />
I kind of want to start reviewing again and be involved in the community. I miss it!<br />
<br />
Are any of you still out there?Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-12702631106965976962014-01-04T16:14:00.000-05:002014-01-04T16:14:03.851-05:00Books Read in 2013<b>December</b><br />
46. Life of Pi- Yann Martel<br />
47. When We Wake- Karen Healey<br />
48. Tess of the D'Urbervilles- Thomas Hardy<br />
49. The Master and Margarita- Mikhail Bulgakov<br />
50. Austerlitz- W.G. Sebold <br />
<br />
<b>November</b><br />
44. Adam Bede- George Eliot<br />
45. Henry V- William Shakespeare<br />
<br />
<b>October</b><br />
37. The Book Thief- Marcus Zusak<br />
38. A Midsummer Night's Dream- William Shakespeare<br />
39. Henry IV Part 1- William Shakespeare<br />
40. Jane Eyre- Charlotte Bronte<br />
41. Norwegian Wood- Haruki Nurakami<br />
42. Henry IV Part 2- William Shakespeare<br />
43. Hard Times- Charles Dickens <br />
<br />
<b>September</b><br />
33. Richard II- William Shakespeare<br />
34. The God of Small Things- Arundhati Roy <br />
35. Emma- Jane Austen<br />
36. The Trial- Franz Kafka<br />
<br />
<b>August</b><br />
31. The Death Cure- James Dashner<br />
32. Ashes- Ilsa J. Bick <br />
<br />
<b>July </b><br />
28. The Rising- Kelley Armstrong<br />
29. Bitter Is The New Black- Jen Lancaster<br />
30. The Rules of Survival- Nancy Werlin <br />
<br />
<b>June</b><br />
26. Bloody Valentine- Melissa de la Cruz<br />
27. The Moon and More- Sarah Dessen <br />
<br />
<b>May</b><br />
21. Left Behind- Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim Lahaye<br />
22. Stung- Bethany Wiggins<br />
23. Trinkets- Kirsten Smith<br />
24. Light- Michael Grant<br />
25. Howards End- E.M. Forster<br />
<br />
<b>March, April</b><br />
17. <span class="caption">Me, Him, Them, and It- Caela Carter</span><br />
<span class="caption">18. Death of a Salesman- Arthur Miller</span><br />
<span class="caption">19. On Beauty- Zadie Smith</span><br />
<span class="caption">20. Cloud Atlas- David Mitchell</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><b>February</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">11. </span><span style="color: black;"><span class="caption">Altered- Jennifer Rush</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span class="caption">12. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="caption"><span class="caption">Beautiful Creatures- Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl</span>
</span></span><br />
<span class="widget-item-control">
<span class="item-control blog-admin">
<a class="quickedit" href="http://www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID=891094957755255006&widgetType=Image&widgetId=Image1&action=editWidget&sectionId=sidebar-right-1" target="configImage1" title="Edit">
</a></span></span><span style="color: black;">13. Atonement- Ian McEwan</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><b> </b>14. Free Man of Color- Charles Smith</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">15. A Doll's House- </span>Henrik Ibsen<br />
16. <span class="caption">The S-Word- Chelsea Pitcher</span> <br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><b>January</b></span><br />
1. <span class="caption">Real Live Boyfriends- E. Lockhart</span><br />
<span class="caption">2. </span><span class="caption"><span class="caption">Misguided Angel- Melissa de la Cruz</span></span><br />
<span class="caption"><span class="caption">3. </span></span><span class="caption"><span class="caption"><span class="caption">The Future of Us- Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler</span> </span></span><br />
<span class="caption"><span class="caption">4.</span></span><span class="caption"><span class="caption"><span class="caption"> The Ask and the Answer- Patrick Ness</span> </span></span><br />
<span class="caption"><span class="caption">5.</span></span><span class="caption"><span class="caption"><span class="caption"> Return to Me- Justina Chen</span></span></span><br />
<span class="caption"><span class="caption"><span class="caption">6.</span></span></span><span class="caption"><span class="caption"><span class="caption"><span class="caption"> Perfect Escape- Jennifer Brown</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="caption"><span class="caption"><span class="caption"><span class="caption">7. </span></span></span></span><span class="caption">Lost Girls- Ann Kelley</span><br />
<span class="caption">8. </span><span class="caption"><span class="caption">The Boy Recession- Flynn Meaney</span></span><br />
<span class="caption"><span class="caption">9. Northanger Abbey- Jane Austen</span></span><br />
<span class="caption"><span class="caption">10. </span></span><span class="caption"><span class="caption"><span class="caption">Adaptation- Malinda Lo</span></span></span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-80584841651065270352013-02-26T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-26T09:00:07.406-05:00Top Ten Authors That I'd Put On My Auto-Buy List<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprvNUYQfM1yMgxEKRFc9qxTuh55mv3g4PXjCSiu12xjF06dpli8BK5_XSwjwLKevVkvC51jmPzcg6OXd3ddGqUckK1J1FTWJ4333rhZ25BaETVTH804uOOJTcWtRBkRrSCeflfgiJAqsN/s1600/toptentuesday3.jpg"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprvNUYQfM1yMgxEKRFc9qxTuh55mv3g4PXjCSiu12xjF06dpli8BK5_XSwjwLKevVkvC51jmPzcg6OXd3ddGqUckK1J1FTWJ4333rhZ25BaETVTH804uOOJTcWtRBkRrSCeflfgiJAqsN/s320/toptentuesday3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>.<br />
<br />
This week's top ten is...<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Ten Authors That I'd Put On My Auto-Buy List (basically an auto-buy
list is no questions asked..you love this author so much that no matter
what they wrote next you'd buy regardless of genre or subject matter)<br />
<br />
1. Sarah Dessen<br />
2. John Green<br />
3. Kelley Armstrong<br />
4. Jodi Picoult<br />
5. Michael Grant<br />
6. Suzanne Collins<br />
7. Kody Keplinger<br />
8. Maureen Johnson<br />
9. E. Lockhart<br />
10. Megan McCaffertyAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-40046491295739048962013-02-25T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-25T09:00:03.470-05:00Hourglass by Claudia Gray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUj2jMr6FswiRavqD3DfN8oCMYwrf_FoFXkQwciuqaYkcw121WaGtO9kNp_yqXRHgZZGX2yvgh1gLsAX0yWCtzxfNQjEnPA2qP6KAu9S1Ljp95nsohKMaVavDjGAnWoZofODBKjdpE5s/s1600/Hourglass.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/AVvXsEimUj2jMr6FswiRavqD3DfN8oCMYwrf_FoFXkQwciuqaYkcw121WaGtO9kNp_yqXRHgZZGX2yvgh1gLsAX0yWCtzxfNQjEnPA2qP6KAu9S1Ljp95nsohKMaVavDjGAnWoZofODBKjdpE5s/s320/Hourglass.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> Hourglass (Evernight Series #3)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Claudia Gray<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> HarperCollins Publishers<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Acquired: </span>Bought<br />
<b>Age Group:</b> Young Adult<br />
<b>Grade:</b> 77% or C+<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy It: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061284483/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061284483&linkCode=as2&tag=thtecabl-20">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thtecabl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061284483" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><i><br /><br />Bianca will risk everything to be with Lucas.</i><br />
<div class="simple-html" id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1982">
<blockquote>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1981">
<i>After escaping from Evernight,
the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge
with Black Cross, an elite group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide
her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at its hands. But when
Black Cross captures her friend—the vampire Balthazar—all her secrets
threaten to come out.</i></div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1981">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
<i>Soon, Bianca and Lucas are on the
run, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful vampires of
Evernight. Yet no matter how far they run, Bianca can't escape her
destiny. Bianca and Lucas have always believed their love could survive
anything—but can it survive what's to come?</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts::</b></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
It was so so so long ago that I read Stargazer, the second book in the series. Even though Stargazer ended pretty intensely, and I was really excited for the next book, there were too many things that bothered me that I wasn't in a rush to read the next one. I waited so long to read this book that I had little idea what was going on. I had to read the wikipedia page for Stargazer to get things straight.</div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
The first part of the book was pretty slow. I just kept waiting for something to happen and for them to make their move. I could understand why they were trying to save up money and stuff before they left, but Bianca was in so much danger while she was there. You would think that they would try to escape right away instead of sticking around.</div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
Bianca seemed so slow to realize everything. Her situation was so tenuous that I thought she would pay more attention to what was going on. Her friends bothered me even more. The betrayal part was pretty intense and I couldn't blame Bianca for not seeing that coming. Though she was looking a bit brainwashed..</div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
When it got to near the end I was surprised about what happened, but also a bit annoyed. I guess there are a few things from the books that hinted that this would happen, but it felt more like it was decided while writing this book that this is what would happen. So all developments for this occur super fast when it should have been built up so that it would make more sense. </div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1361769022876_1988">
Overall I think that this book didn't do much for me. It all just looked pushed together and made to work.</div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-64188852703764414482013-02-25T08:30:00.000-05:002013-02-25T08:30:02.824-05:00Winner: Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway HopAnd the winner of the Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop (a copy of Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan) is.....<br />
<br />
Ashley Van Buren<br />
<br />
Congrats Ashley Van Buren!! I have already e-mailed you. If you don't reply within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.
<br />
<br />
Thanks to everyone who entered!
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-18956197178979955772013-02-24T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-24T09:00:00.486-05:00In My MailboxIn My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week
either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my
mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by <a href="http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #00a39e;">Alea</span></a> and turned into a meme by <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/"><span style="color: #00a39e;">Kristi</span></a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpTeF1jDYMIIX5G6EdaMPKGDlSUn0P9mvBBwnZCHhvCoKfLrs6KmvjkVKQGk7I1Vcb_2fve4edx5l-qOd3qFC0yBKFt_G-ZoDwYEpzJlgcVbKoBDda3Zv6tqJzC1cMWt4pztWOYAPMvo/s1600/This+Is+What+Happy+Looks+Like.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpTeF1jDYMIIX5G6EdaMPKGDlSUn0P9mvBBwnZCHhvCoKfLrs6KmvjkVKQGk7I1Vcb_2fve4edx5l-qOd3qFC0yBKFt_G-ZoDwYEpzJlgcVbKoBDda3Zv6tqJzC1cMWt4pztWOYAPMvo/s200/This+Is+What+Happy+Looks+Like.png" width="131" /></a><b>This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith</b><br />
<br />
When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl
Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds
strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing
everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. <br /><br />
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect
location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship
from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really
start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does
Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJob_R3gmKbTVgZbqROdgunRRKIFBgAVjBR2aznja4i2H8nd7sF2LP7RlXMaj0-whmu5iYpuKX8N6cwISiKn07-w85h4TVCoJuRBD5mqta7bJgeYf4aC36M6_VgG5a7725lSK6unDnpB0/s1600/Game.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJob_R3gmKbTVgZbqROdgunRRKIFBgAVjBR2aznja4i2H8nd7sF2LP7RlXMaj0-whmu5iYpuKX8N6cwISiKn07-w85h4TVCoJuRBD5mqta7bJgeYf4aC36M6_VgG5a7725lSK6unDnpB0/s200/Game.png" width="131" /></a><b>Game by Barry Lyga</b><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>I Hunt Killers</i> introduced the world to Jazz, the son of history's most infamous serial killer, Billy Dent.<br />
<br />In
an effort to prove murder didn't run in the family, Jazz teamed with
the police in the small town of Lobo's Nod to solve a deadly case. And
now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz's
door asking for help, he can't say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big
Apple--and its police force--running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend,
Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer's
murderous game.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-70736909284940715432013-02-23T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-23T09:00:00.418-05:00Contest SaturdayHere are some contests that are currently going on right now in the blogosphere
that are book related. Click the links to enter them. I will try to hold my own
contest each month.<br />
<br />
Enter my part of the Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop <a href="http://www.bombardedwithbooks.blogspot.com/2013/02/random-acts-of-kindness-giveaway-hop.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends TOMORROW<br />
<br />
Win a copy of Fall For Me <a href="http://www.loveyabooks.com/2013/02/fall-for-me-book-tour-book-review-and.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/28 <br />
<br />
Win copies of the books in The Maiden Lane Series <a href="http://readingwithstyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/giveaway-maiden-lane-series-by.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/28 <br />
<br />
Win a copy of Broken Wings<b> <a href="http://www.readergirlsblog.com/2013/02/broken-wings-blog-tour-review-giveaway.html">HERE</a>. </b>Ends 3/1<br />
<br />
Win a copy of Hopeless <a href="http://www.betweenthepagesreviews.com/2013/02/giveaway-hopeless-by-colleen-hoover.html#more"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 3/1 <br />
<br />
Win a copy of A Natural History of Dragons<b> <a href="http://ceceliabedelia.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-natural-history-of-dragons-author.html">HERE</a>. </b>Ends 3/3Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-85701690424810172802013-02-22T15:08:00.000-05:002013-02-22T15:08:16.561-05:00Breaking Dawn Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Title:</span> Breaking Dawn Part 2</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Director:</span> Bill Condon</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Writer:</span> Melissa Rosenberg and Stephenie Meyer<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Starring:</span> Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Grade: </span>85% or B </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="197" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ti0H-bvMi3I" width="350"></iframe> </div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts::</b></span> <br />
I know the Twilight craze is all over, and it was over even before this movie came out. And even though I'm not really a fan of either the books or movies anymore, I couldn't help but to go and see this movie. I will admit, I was excited for the conclusion to finally be here.<br />
<br />
Even though some people complained about this book because it was a lot of build up and not a lot was actually happening, it was more interesting in the movie. It was cool to meet all of the friends of the family. I wish they would have spent more time showing what everyone's abilities are and how hard it is for Bella to develop her power. Besides meeting characters, not much HAPPENS, except a few good Reneesme things and then the battle part at the end.<br />
<br />
The most interesting part of the movie for sure was the tricky ending. I don't want to give anything away, but if you read the book you probably won't be tricked. And even though I wasn't tricked, I still cried and felt a lot of emotions. Even more emotions were felt at the end of the movie while the credits started to roll. I started feeling really nostalgic. I've been thinking about Twilight since before I started High School, and now I'm in my second semester of college. So much has changed and it brings me back to an earlier time.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-81081650743030812602013-02-21T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-21T09:00:04.720-05:00Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbQ-gqYWHee4n_iYL7xBvoq4qGWfC4aK8i9NQAbvJaHPh3Ni7iAhz8UZuFvYRoNPNuVJzrspyn8rgAxtBvKd0ifYcPq9kUSzybhMgt6y2pcnk1Cf4W5rZhCIL3Ue-W6J6BmfIUBhik0A/s1600/Dark+Inside.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/AVvXsEjPbQ-gqYWHee4n_iYL7xBvoq4qGWfC4aK8i9NQAbvJaHPh3Ni7iAhz8UZuFvYRoNPNuVJzrspyn8rgAxtBvKd0ifYcPq9kUSzybhMgt6y2pcnk1Cf4W5rZhCIL3Ue-W6J6BmfIUBhik0A/s320/Dark+Inside.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Dark Inside<br />
<b>Author:</b> Jeyn Roberts<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Acquired: </span>Bought<br />
<b>Age Group:</b> Young Adult<br />
<b>Grade:</b> 82% or B-<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy It: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442423528/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1442423528&linkCode=as2&tag=thtecabl-20">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thtecabl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1442423528" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><i> </i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Since mankind
began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the
Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are
destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil
has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers,
crazies.</i></blockquote>
<div class="simple-html" id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2036">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2035">
<i>Mason's mother is dying after a
terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed,
his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is
killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the
worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage,
but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the
only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into
murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her
friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident
that is made much worse by the arrival of the police—who gun down the
guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.</i></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2035">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2050">
<i>Where do you go for justice when
even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same
road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and
meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of
darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2050">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts::</b></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2050">
This was another one of those books that looked soooo amazing when I first heard about it. Right when I read the synopsis for the first time I put it on my Amazon wishlist. Buuut...then it sat on my wishlist for months and months. The majority of the money that I spend on books goes to sequels that I've been waiting forever for, and it was a while before I bought it. Then I started it not really sure what it would be about because it has been so long.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2050">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2050">
I started the book with an open mind and a little bit of confusion. I did end up reading the jacket flap because I wanted to know what I was getting into. This definitely eased the confusion. This book had four point of views plus what I like to call the "darkness" POV. I think that this worked really well with this type of book. So many things happen in apocalypse like books but it is hard to say that it all happens to one person. The author was able to spread out different experiences to each character.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2050">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2050">
The story got pretty intense. In most apocalypse stories you have some sense of control. If it's a natural disaster, you know that it's over now and you just have to move on. If it's zombies or something like that, you just stay away from them or kill them. With this, even if you're not bitten or "exposed" to it, you can still become one of the crazy killer things. That is probably the scariest part, the fact that there is nothing you can do about it.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2050">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361391187663_2050">
Several times while I was reading this book I almost gave up. I kept getting annoyed by the characters or it would hit a lull. But the last third of the book really kept me on my toes. I couldn't put the book down. The ending was just so amazing that I will definitely read the next book </div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-28432970482687081032013-02-20T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-20T09:00:09.272-05:00 To the Cinema #18This post is similar to a Books to Come post, but will only
feature MOVIES that I am excited about releasing. I will include
trailers for your viewing pleasure. I'll probably only do this monthly
so it doesn't push out reviews that I need to post.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Call</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="197" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9aEQdnk_rlY" width="350"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Upside Down</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="197" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XtixqUXid9A" width="350"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Trance</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="197" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rvTW1JecmZo" width="350"></iframe></div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-51872681560157378852013-02-19T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-19T09:00:01.988-05:00Top Ten Favorite Characters In the Dystopian Genre<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprvNUYQfM1yMgxEKRFc9qxTuh55mv3g4PXjCSiu12xjF06dpli8BK5_XSwjwLKevVkvC51jmPzcg6OXd3ddGqUckK1J1FTWJ4333rhZ25BaETVTH804uOOJTcWtRBkRrSCeflfgiJAqsN/s1600/toptentuesday3.jpg"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprvNUYQfM1yMgxEKRFc9qxTuh55mv3g4PXjCSiu12xjF06dpli8BK5_XSwjwLKevVkvC51jmPzcg6OXd3ddGqUckK1J1FTWJ4333rhZ25BaETVTH804uOOJTcWtRBkRrSCeflfgiJAqsN/s320/toptentuesday3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>.<br />
<br />
This week's top ten is...<br />
<br />
Top Ten Favorite Characters In X Genre. Dystopian is my favorite genre, so I went with that one! In no particular order..<br />
<br />
1. Sam from the Gone Series<br />
2. Tris from the Divergent Trilogy<br />
3. Day from Legend<br />
4. Finnick from The Hunger Games Trilogy<br />
5. Winston from 1984<br />
6. Saba from Blood Red Road<br />
7. Thomas from The Maze Runner<br />
8. Anya from All These Things I've Done<br />
9. Waverly from Glow<br />
10. Neva from Dark PartiesAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-55960744610322146622013-02-18T10:04:00.005-05:002013-02-18T10:04:51.623-05:00Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZoqTdxmvgetPMp1jlHzSW-kC4hOce3QbjJ9fGveq0RkC_bmmFATiToStdUwpnErTL3D-_Bw-Tg_OBDyp2d-pGcQTWj4fV3GpFL_KUu0sNXU04b5oqrWroSRaBvv9cYCcQGAWiE9fwCk/s1600/random+acts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZoqTdxmvgetPMp1jlHzSW-kC4hOce3QbjJ9fGveq0RkC_bmmFATiToStdUwpnErTL3D-_Bw-Tg_OBDyp2d-pGcQTWj4fV3GpFL_KUu0sNXU04b5oqrWroSRaBvv9cYCcQGAWiE9fwCk/s320/random+acts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
See the rest of the Giveaways <a href="http://www.iamareader.com/2012/12/random-acts-of-kindness-giveaway-hop.html">HERE</a><a href="http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/11/january-clear-you-shelf-giveaway-hop.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></a>.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I signed up on <a href="http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/">I Am A Reader, Not A Writer</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><b>My Giveaway::</b></u> I am giving away a copy of Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan! Here's the summary:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3G0tndxOg0u5fPSoWNLLlF8yRXhdzh9hQshe4BCiaLN-2fB8_9gr_qcMXCy9u3wnIyH1wH9NyLQvj-C-mHwzfJjgvAqtCwllzk9TNWtrRX38uSXjpwwklqhJSpOHQjH8u-Dl2oEKi0A/s1600/Down+a+Dark+Hall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3G0tndxOg0u5fPSoWNLLlF8yRXhdzh9hQshe4BCiaLN-2fB8_9gr_qcMXCy9u3wnIyH1wH9NyLQvj-C-mHwzfJjgvAqtCwllzk9TNWtrRX38uSXjpwwklqhJSpOHQjH8u-Dl2oEKi0A/s200/Down+a+Dark+Hall.JPG" width="130" /></a>Kit Gordy sees Blackwood Hall towering over black iron gates, and she can't help thinking, <i>This place is evil</i>.
The imposing mansion sends a shiver of fear through her. But Kit
settles into a routine, trying to ignore the rumors that the highly
exclusive boarding school is haunted. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361199364530_1477">
Then her classmates begin to show
extraordinary and unknown talents. The strange dreams, the voices, the
lost letters to family and friends, all become overshadowed by the magic
around them.<br />
When Kit and her friends realize that Blackwood isn't what it claims to be, it might be too late.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361199364530_1477">
<br /></div>
Suspicious
and uneasy about the atmosphere at her new boarding school,
fourteen-year-old Kit slowly realizes why she and the other three
students at the school were selected. </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To Enter:: Fill out <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZWXs5WjVJYWKl2BxLyjQp3HliaaFBX3-CdYZ7z50nBw/viewform"><b>THIS FORM</b></a></span> by 1/24 </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">**Winner will be announce<span style="font-size: small;">d on 1/25 and will have 48 hours to resp<span style="font-size: small;">ond before a new winner is chosen.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-48714468945927475372013-02-17T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-17T11:52:48.370-05:00In My MailboxIn My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week
either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my
mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by <a href="http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #00a39e;">Alea</span></a> and turned into a meme by <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/"><span style="color: #00a39e;">Kristi</span></a>.<br />
<br />
Another week of nothing! Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-60292689640809601882013-02-16T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-16T09:00:03.480-05:00Contest SaturdayHere are some contests that are currently going on right now in the blogosphere
that are book related. Click the links to enter them. I will try to hold my own
contest each month.<br />
<br />
Win a copy of The Lost Girl <a href="http://amaterasureads.blogspot.com/2013/02/sangu-mandannas-top-10-adaptations-lost.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends TODAY<br />
<br />
Win a copy of The Listless <a href="http://blkosiner.blogspot.com/2013/01/giveaway-listless-by-steven-mohr-and.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/17 <br /><br />
Win a copy of Beautiful Creatures <a href="http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com/2013/02/beautiful-creatures-giveaway.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/18 <br />
<br />
Win a copy of Nobody and Every Other Day <a href="http://booksbytheircover.blogspot.com/2013/02/giveaway-nobody-and-every-other-day-by.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/20 <br />
<br />
Win a copy of Fall For Me <a href="http://www.loveyabooks.com/2013/02/fall-for-me-book-tour-book-review-and.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/28
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-80299399129897880342013-02-15T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-25T15:18:25.732-05:00House Rules by Jodi Picoult<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg_uMY-bzxJ4xUT5fWwb0rCfAkm09ihNOnaDySE5yDD3kj2XUofq6f1oklFqNivd33IiVgEPEZvRYQciX4T2wOOk7Clvfw0xu5f4DSoXsB8fW7YDq6zyEoeXSmgV7OH0p9Gmj_7MMdSc/s1600/House+Rules.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/AVvXsEhyg_uMY-bzxJ4xUT5fWwb0rCfAkm09ihNOnaDySE5yDD3kj2XUofq6f1oklFqNivd33IiVgEPEZvRYQciX4T2wOOk7Clvfw0xu5f4DSoXsB8fW7YDq6zyEoeXSmgV7OH0p9Gmj_7MMdSc/s320/House+Rules.JPG" width="209" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>House Rules<br />
<b>Author:</b> Jodi Picoult<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Atria Books<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Acquired: </span>Bought<br />
<b>Age Group:</b> Adult<br />
<b>Grade:</b> 87% or B+<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy It: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743296443/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0743296443&linkCode=as2&tag=thtecabl-20">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thtecabl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0743296443" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at
reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many
kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject — in his case,
forensic analysis. He's always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the
police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they
need to do...and he's usually right. But then his town is rocked by a
terrible murder and, for a change, the police come to Jacob with
questions. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger's — not looking
someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, flat affect — can
look a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel. Suddenly, Jacob and
his family, who only want to fit in, feel the spotlight shining directly
on them. For his mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the
intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For
his brother, Theo, it's another indication of why nothing is normal
because of Jacob. And over this small family the soul-searing question
looms: Did Jacob commit murder?</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts::</b></span><br />
After reading my first Jodi Picoult book, I find them very hard to resist.They always make me question myself and other morally and legally. I have to look at things from so many angles and see that the world isn't as black and white as we all want it to be. This book was no different.<br />
<br />
Since we get chapters from Jacob's perspective, we actually know what is going on in his mind, his thoughts, and his motives. As readers we get frustrated with characters who don't reveal enough information to their friends and family, especially information that could change and help the situation entirely. I wanted to feel this way about Jacob because I wanted to believe that he wasn't guilty. If he just would have given the full story in the right way, he wouldn't be a suspect. But of course he couldn't do that and it wasn't his fault. It was the Aspberger's.<br />
<br />
As for the plot, I was amazed. It is crazy how a lawyer can't ask if their client is guilty or not. This was even worse for Jacob, because if he was just asked to tell the whole story of what happened, there wouldn't have been such a huge disaster. I could really see the struggle of all of the characters. There was just so much evidence pinning Jacob as guilty, even though a lot of it was because of his Aspberger's. It shows just how little we concern ourselves with how we perceive each other and how we want everyone to fit the status quo, even those with disabilities.<br />
<br />
Overall I enjoyed this book a lot. I found myself staring off to space thinking about it and how the whole situation worked out. The ending didn't really surprise me though which was a letdown. I guessed the ending right away and I spend the entire rest of the book hoping I was wrong so I could get a twist like the end of most Picoult books. Too bad it didn't happen.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-63094194781183421862013-02-14T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-14T09:00:08.689-05:00The Calling by Kelley Armstrong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DnCINt147GvozpgpM6T-eEzwY1UXs9VEsFAGcH1CA3LBIahkFg2t5-nY9RWxPz-X9MpAb2rnkSi1J8JAKwp0c4iHGcv6oEYdMPYUn8Y5QgVHIHszhS60d8qNEuBeVhPlgz4iuYR7FEQ/s1600/The+Calling.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/AVvXsEh2DnCINt147GvozpgpM6T-eEzwY1UXs9VEsFAGcH1CA3LBIahkFg2t5-nY9RWxPz-X9MpAb2rnkSi1J8JAKwp0c4iHGcv6oEYdMPYUn8Y5QgVHIHszhS60d8qNEuBeVhPlgz4iuYR7FEQ/s320/The+Calling.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>The Calling (Darkness Rising Trilogy #2)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Kelley Armstrong<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> <span id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360335299335_2121"></span><span id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1000"></span>HarperCollins Publishers<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Acquired: </span>Bought<br />
<b>Age Group:</b> Young Adult<br />
<b>Grade:</b> 93% or A-<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy It: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061797057/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061797057&linkCode=as2&tag=thtecabl-20">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thtecabl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061797057" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><i> </i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>A powerful secret. A desperate race for survival.</i></blockquote>
<div class="simple-html" id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1079">
<blockquote>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1082">
<i>Maya and her friends are on the
run. Having escaped a deliberately set forest fire and a fake rescue
team with dark intentions, they were just beginning to feel safe again.
Then their helicopter crashes near the Vancouver Island wilderness, and
Maya and her friends realize they're about as far from safe as they can
get.</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
<blockquote>
<i>But Maya has a secret. She can
run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly anyone else. It's
part of who she really is—and it has something to do with her mysterious
paw-print birthmark. Yet as Maya and her friends face unforeseen
dangers, it becomes clear she's not the only one in their close-knit
group who has something to hide. And if they're going to survive,
they'll need all their extraordinary abilities to help them get back
home.</i></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts::</b></span> </div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
I get more and more impressed with Armstrong the more I read from her. I enjoy her books so much. She knows exactly what to do to keep her readers interested, but also doesn't just give everything away too quickly. I can't believe I was able to wait as long as I did to read this book. I read so many books that it is easy to forget how much I want to read certain ones. </div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
For like half of this book I was so annoyed with Maya. It was frustrating how she wasn't putting the obvious pieces together faster. That she wasn't the only one with some sort of power. It was almost worse that she waited so long to tell the others about her powers. And of course, every time she tried to tell someone, something happening stopped her from doing it. Though, this did add a level of suspense to what would happen when it would be all out in the open.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
The more and more referenced that we get to The Darkest Powers trilogy, the happier I get. I will have a super fan girl moment if the two groups ever interact with each other. At least we get some confirmation that the first group isn't captured or something. I can not wait until we get even a glimpse of Chloe, Derek, and Simon.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
It is going to be really interesting once the full extent of everyone's powers are revealed. I also want to know more of the back stories or whatever of how they all got into the program. I feel like we knew the events leading up to the first group being a part of the program, but we don't know much of the sciencey and history details of this group yet.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360726868119_1078">
Overall I think that this was a pretty good continuation but I wish we learned more. I believe there is only going to be one more book, and I just know that I won't get as many details as I crave in it because there won't be enough time or a good reason for it. </div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-3277749185834562202013-02-13T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-13T09:00:10.576-05:00Ted<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Title:</span> Ted</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Director:</span> Seth MacFarlane</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Writer:</span> Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, and Wellesley Wild<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Starring:</span> Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, and Seth MacFarlane<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Grade: </span>84% or B <br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts::</b></span></div>
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For my 19th birthday I didn't really have any big plans. My best friends were out of town so I was just going to have a quiet night with my family. But then one of my guy friends wanted to see a movie for my birthday, so we got a couple of friends together. It took a while to decide what movie to see, since at least one of us has seen one of the top choices. But the popular vote was to see Ted, since those who saw it wanted to see it again.</div>
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This movie was so funny! I know that they were all pretty cheap jokes and not clever or anything really, but I didn't care this time. I liked that this was pretty much a straight up comedy. There was some romance, but that wasn't the focus. Since it was just a comedy, it was important that we did a lot of laughing, no matter how they got us to laugh. By the end of the movie my stomach was hurting from how much laughing that I did.</div>
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Most straight up comedies don't bother with any sort of real plot. It's just jokes on jokes during random scenes just to get as many laughs as possible, But Ted actually has a storyline going on and a sequence of events that lead up to each other. There was actual plot and development! The characters also had more depth than usual comedies. They worked so well together too! Their characters played off of each other's jokes and made it that much more funny.</div>
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Overall I think that if you're in the mood for some laughs, especially if you're with friends, watch this movie.<b> </b>It's one of those movies that references from it will follow you around for a while, so you might as well understand what they're talking about. </div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-547096025551277002013-02-12T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-12T09:00:02.824-05:00Top Ten Favorite Romances<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprvNUYQfM1yMgxEKRFc9qxTuh55mv3g4PXjCSiu12xjF06dpli8BK5_XSwjwLKevVkvC51jmPzcg6OXd3ddGqUckK1J1FTWJ4333rhZ25BaETVTH804uOOJTcWtRBkRrSCeflfgiJAqsN/s1600/toptentuesday3.jpg"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprvNUYQfM1yMgxEKRFc9qxTuh55mv3g4PXjCSiu12xjF06dpli8BK5_XSwjwLKevVkvC51jmPzcg6OXd3ddGqUckK1J1FTWJ4333rhZ25BaETVTH804uOOJTcWtRBkRrSCeflfgiJAqsN/s320/toptentuesday3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>.<br />
<br />
This week's top ten is...<br />
<br />
Top Ten Favorite Romances. Sarah Dessen is dominating this list, so sorry in advance. In no particular order...<br />
<br />
1. Macy and Wes from The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.<br />
2. Annabel and Owen from Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.<br />
3. Remy and Dexter from This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen.<br />
4. Mclean and Dave from What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen.<br />
5. Tris and Four from the Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth.<br />
6. Samantha and Jase from My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. <br />
7. Hazel and Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. <br />
8. Echo and Noah from Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry<br />
9. Chloe and Derek from The Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong<br />
10. Astrid and Sam from the Gone Series by Michael GrantAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-10533030488617931092013-02-11T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-11T09:00:10.665-05:00One Second After by William R. Forstchen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmZVHDNkGY4whi6lgfyEAjlDcIiKEKnjB-uvioxeu94MwSc_8YXKGPvhufY8xYArdJZ53RaWmHZ-lQpLGGUK6JTORLtKMQoJONhHhQo4RfyYVCRQiwW_npexM_XiWYPo7t1EJ1oymVIg/s1600/One+Second+After.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/AVvXsEgMmZVHDNkGY4whi6lgfyEAjlDcIiKEKnjB-uvioxeu94MwSc_8YXKGPvhufY8xYArdJZ53RaWmHZ-lQpLGGUK6JTORLtKMQoJONhHhQo4RfyYVCRQiwW_npexM_XiWYPo7t1EJ1oymVIg/s320/One+Second+After.JPG" width="209" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>One Second After<br />
<b>Author:</b> William R. Forstchen<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> <span id="yui_3_7_3_1_1360335299335_2121"></span>Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Acquired: </span>Bought<br />
<b>Age Group:</b> Adult<br />
<b>Grade:</b> 92% or A-<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy It: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765356864/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0765356864&linkCode=as2&tag=thtecabl-20">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thtecabl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0765356864" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><i> </i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>New York Times best selling
author William R. Forstchen now brings us a story which can be all too
terrifyingly real...a story in which one man struggles to save his
family and his small North Carolina town after America loses a war, in
one second, a war that will send America back to the Dark Ages...A war
based upon a weapon, an Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP). A weapon that may
already be in the hands of our enemies. Months before publication, One Second After
has already been cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans
should read, a book already being discussed in the corridors of the
Pentagon as a truly realistic look at a weapon and its awesome power to
destroy the entire United States, literally within one second. It is a
weapon that the Wall Street Journal warns could shatter America. In the tradition of On the Beach, Fail Safe and Testament, this book, set in a typical American town, is a dire warning of what might be our future...and our end.</i></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts::</b></span><br />
It isn't a surprise to know that my favorite genre of books beyond dystopian are books based in some kind of post apocalyptic world. Some of my favorite books from the most random authors are books that have that theme. There is just something so interesting, frightening, and surreal about how society would react to such a collapse. Just going into this book I was so excited to read it and find out how this specific situation would turn out.<br />
<br />
The book takes place in a pretty small community, which is pretty common in books like this. I'm getting a bit tired of that, but this book added a bit of a spin on it by having this town next to another small town and not too far from much larger cities. So even though they started out secluded it didn't last long and they had to deal with all of the problems that come with more people trying to get into their town than they could possibly help or support.<br />
<br />
The best thing about this book was how realistic and plausible it all seemed. An EMP is pretty darn serious and there were so many results that I didn't even think about before. Books like this never really address one of the biggest issues besides food, which is disease. Without electricity and medicine people get sick and die so easily. It was scary how little of the population made it through the year.<br />
<br />
A lot of moral dilemmas were brought up as well. Is it okay to sacrifice a large amount of people to get supplies that only help a few? If you only have enough food to feed 100 people through the winter and if you feed more everyone will die, what do you do? It was so hard to read this book because the problems that come up are so hard to answer.<br />
<br />
Overall this was a great eye opening read that shows that such a simple weapon can destroy most of what we take advantage of everyday. My only complaint is that the book would skip ahead of large chunks of time and then give only a summary of the events that occurred during that time. Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-55858645195595866142013-02-10T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-10T12:26:43.893-05:00In My MailboxIn My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week
either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my
mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by <a href="http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #00a39e;">Alea</span></a> and turned into a meme by <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/"><span style="color: #00a39e;">Kristi</span></a>.<br />
<br />
Nothing this week! Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-2102437002846101502013-02-09T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-09T09:00:09.223-05:00Contest SaturdayHere are some contests that are currently going on right now in the blogosphere
that are book related. Click the links to enter them. I will try to hold my own
contest each month.<br />
<br />
Win a copy of The Indigo Spell <a href="http://www.lushbudgetproduction.com/2013/01/who-is-marcus-finch-hint-5-and-giveaway.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/12<br />
<br />
Win a copy of Jane <a href="http://foreveryoungadult.blogspot.com/2013/02/giveaway-romance-is-in-air-win-jane-by.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/14 <br />
<br />
Win a copy of The Lost Girl <a href="http://amaterasureads.blogspot.com/2013/02/sangu-mandannas-top-10-adaptations-lost.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/16 <br />
<br />
Win a copy of The Listless <a href="http://blkosiner.blogspot.com/2013/01/giveaway-listless-by-steven-mohr-and.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/17 <br />
<br />
Win a copy of Nobody and Every Other Day <a href="http://booksbytheircover.blogspot.com/2013/02/giveaway-nobody-and-every-other-day-by.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/20 <br />
<br />
Win a copy of Fall For Me <a href="http://www.loveyabooks.com/2013/02/fall-for-me-book-tour-book-review-and.html"><b>HERE</b></a>. Ends 2/28Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-135256774246354422013-02-08T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-08T09:00:09.509-05:00Insurgent by Veronica Roth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPIdpRQ0oPznAvvS6rgVpR6agiTu4TcOghItx0fqlQYDRn-zPx-sIgs1ddXfRTd0pxxHSIPuR1wtWanpfwkj524Ih6_88mj-VfPqwN8WQBSdCfayHMDtoixE3E1LnLW5LO1WhUaAMWTQ/s1600/Insurgent.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/AVvXsEgaPIdpRQ0oPznAvvS6rgVpR6agiTu4TcOghItx0fqlQYDRn-zPx-sIgs1ddXfRTd0pxxHSIPuR1wtWanpfwkj524Ih6_88mj-VfPqwN8WQBSdCfayHMDtoixE3E1LnLW5LO1WhUaAMWTQ/s320/Insurgent.JPG" width="211" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Insurgent (Divergent Series #2)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Veronica Roth<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> HarperCollins Publishers<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Acquired: </span>Bought<br />
<b>Age Group:</b> Young Adult<br />
<b>Grade:</b> 95% or A<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy It: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00655U3WE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00655U3WE&linkCode=as2&tag=thtecabl-20">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thtecabl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00655U3WE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><i> </i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>One choice can transform you—or
it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest
surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying
to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting
questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and
love.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1359768265940_2160">
<i>Tris's initiation day should have
been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction;
instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as
conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times
of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will
become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her
own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new
discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her
Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1359768265940_2160">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts::</b></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1359768265940_2160">
I loved Divergent so much that it took my a long time to finally read its sequel, Insurgent. Book in trilogies, sagas, and series seem to want to stretch the books out for as long as possible, and since this book would be in the middle, I was worried that it would be dull. However, that was definitely not the case.<br />
<br />
Almost every faction in the book started to really get on my nerves, even the factionless. None of them were seeing the big picture and just wanted to preserve themselves, even though as readers we could see that they were doomed. I was happy though that we get to know all of the factions better in this book. We're able to see more differences and similarities between them. This added dimension to the choices that the factions made as a group, and even individually.<br />
<br />
Tris is kind of caught up in herself in this book. She tries to see passed the bullshit of some characters and wants to get to the bottom of things, and she does this eventually. But first we had to deal with her too trusting or too wary attitude. She would get suspicious, but about the wrong people or for the wrong reasons. It made the book a bit frustrating to read but it also added tension. And to Tris's credit, even I wasn't sure who to trust. I was very surprised by some of the actions of characters that I thought I could trust<br />
<br />
The plot thickened so much in this sequel. We finally get to learn the motives of Erudite and get the even bigger plot of why they are all there in factions in the first place and what is outside of the fence. The next book can NOT come soon enough! Seriously, there was so much racing through my mind. The last book better be really thick with details. I don't care if I like any of the characters in the last book, the plot is shaping up way too well for me to care!</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-48110698620694730932013-02-07T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-07T09:00:07.404-05:00Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIkC4147DS2J_YEnccGk9QWJkSOi1kNLyFTz7Y5T5ABL0dVKj9Y5Vl9Lzy-iDFOirJAPyUv4aJtc1Pv3tbkT3-NxGq8TwSigIOoc9yCHSNsUx4CcMntpb_qqSFnnnSa9LhK3WnyJ2aLY/s1600/Beautiful+Lies.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/AVvXsEjzIkC4147DS2J_YEnccGk9QWJkSOi1kNLyFTz7Y5T5ABL0dVKj9Y5Vl9Lzy-iDFOirJAPyUv4aJtc1Pv3tbkT3-NxGq8TwSigIOoc9yCHSNsUx4CcMntpb_qqSFnnnSa9LhK3WnyJ2aLY/s320/Beautiful+Lies.JPG" width="211" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Beautiful Lies<br />
<b>Author:</b> Jessica Warman<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> <span id="yui_3_3_0_1_1337729005871_3487"></span><span id="yui_3_3_0_1_1339822596974_4369"></span><span id="yui_3_5_1_1_1342728311314_3540"></span>Walker & Company<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Acquired: </span>Received free for an honest review<br />
<b>Age Group:</b> Young Adult<br />
<b>Grade:</b> 81% or B-<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy It: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802723381/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0802723381&linkCode=as2&tag=thtecabl-20">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thtecabl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0802723381" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><i> </i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins—so
identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they’ve lived with since
their parents passed away, can’t tell them apart. But the sisters are
connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one
experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress.
So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows
something is wrong—especially when she starts experiencing serious
physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the
search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on
their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her
she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she
even trust herself?</i></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts::</b></span><br />
I've always had a decent interest in twins and I always liked to think that they could sense each other. Those were the immediate reasons why I wanted to read this book. The second reason was that I can't turn down a high stakes mystery. I knew the tension and suspense would be building so much in this book and I wanted in on it.<br />
<br />
This book did something for me that is rarely done with books anymore: It surprised me. Sure, I was able to predict some tidbits, but I was unable to predict the outcome of the book. There were a couple of big twists that I could have never seen coming that totally made me do a double take. These twists switched around everything that you know so far and make you think about everything that happened so far in a completely different way. At times the plot got a little boring, but you still felt that urgency which made you not want to put down the book.<br />
<br />
I liked that we get to know two characters very well just through the eyes of one. The bad thing is, is that this book is pretty much just about these two characters. The are a couple of characters off to the side, but not until the end do any of them matter very much. A couple of times while I was reading this book I had to really think and consider if the narrator was sane. She was unreliable at times and I wasn't sure if I could believe what she was saying. It had the feel of a psychological thriller many times throughout the book. My mind was being bent trying to understand and figure out what was going on.<br />
<br />
Overall I think that this was a great suspenseful read that played into my interest with twins. I'm glad it kept me on the edge of my seat but I wish that there was some more character development going on. Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-891094957755255006.post-26983145976092663262013-02-06T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-06T09:00:00.100-05:00The Angel Experiment by James Patterson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD0M1Dle3BCL-yDRzq9XlyePwEvah1GHwoLt8-0D5WqCfuOBHG1XDCCdDZUVtI6SodPdvCwYm4oX8ZRDty3cZIWXMAnakyaDQE0v-XkiOwbP9z2CP9_AOMymW6JTSSwN5SFu5oi69kII/s1600/The+Angel+Experiment.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/AVvXsEgWD0M1Dle3BCL-yDRzq9XlyePwEvah1GHwoLt8-0D5WqCfuOBHG1XDCCdDZUVtI6SodPdvCwYm4oX8ZRDty3cZIWXMAnakyaDQE0v-XkiOwbP9z2CP9_AOMymW6JTSSwN5SFu5oi69kII/s320/The+Angel+Experiment.JPG" width="216" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride Series #1)<br />
<b>Author:</b> James Patterson<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> <span id="yui_3_3_0_1_1337729005871_3487"></span><span id="yui_3_3_0_1_1339822596974_4369"></span><span id="yui_3_5_1_1_1342728311314_3540"></span><span id="yui_3_7_3_1_1356024006306_1502"></span>Little, Brown Books for Young Readers<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Acquired: </span>Received free for an honest review<br />
<b>Age Group:</b> Young Adult<br />
<b>Grade:</b> 84% or B<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy It: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316067954/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thtecabl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0316067954">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thtecabl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316067954" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><i> </i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, Angel, and Maximum: six kids who are 98% human and 2% bird.
They grew up in cages, living like rats, but now they're free. When the
bloodthirsty Erasers -- half men, half wolves genetically engineered by
sick and sinister scientists -- kidnap little Angel, the Flock embarks
on a rescue mission full of nonstop action, adventure, and soul-seeking
-- not to mention a little bit of saving the world on the side.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1358744777646_1680">
<i>After the mutant Erasers abduct the youngest
member of their group, the "birdkids," who are the result of genetic
experimentation, take off in pursuit and find themselves struggling to
understand their own origins and purpose. </i></div>
</blockquote>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1358744777646_1680">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts::</b></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1358744777646_1680">
This is one of those series that I've known about for so long but never imagined starting. There were just so many books and I was so behind. It's always a pretty big commitment to start a new series with a good amount before you would be caught up. But once I saw that the last book was coming out, I decided that it was time. I've read another book by James Patterson and enjoyed it, so I thought I would like these as well.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1358744777646_1680">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1358744777646_1680">
I wasn't really wrong either. As this is the first book, there is a lot of groundwork being laid out and getting to know the characters. But we also get our fair share of action. I was happy to see that things were really happening in this first book. I definitely got sucked into the story. There are so many unanswered questions that even though I didn't love this book, I still want to know what happens and get my questions answered,</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1358744777646_1680">
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<div id="yui_3_7_3_1_1358744777646_1680">
The characters were all very uniquely different. It is rare that we get to know so many characters at once, but I think Patterson handled it well. Perspectives changed when necessary so we would know what was happening in each plot line. It kept the flow going very well and even made it more suspenseful because it always seemed to switch when I was desperate to know what happened next. This switch of perspectives allowed me to look into the mind of a few of the characters which made them much easier to get to know.</div>
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I honestly loved all of the characters. They all had completely different personalities that it was so easy to know who was who right from the start. I couldn't help but fall in love with the little one immediately, they were so precious. I seriously have no complaints about our main characters. The plot was of course thick with deceit scandal. I'm really excited to see what happens to all of them next.</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653893499883861880noreply@blogger.com0