See you in 2010!!

I will be away from blogger for the rest of this year as I am taking a trip with my family and boyfriend back. I will get back on hopefully on Jan. 4. I hope that everyone has had a good holiday this past week, and I wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Coming Soon

Coming soon will be more book reviews. I am debating on whether I will post adult fiction book reviews on this blog or not. Recently I have been reading adult fiction books, because I am exploring the different choices of literature out there.
Last week I finished reading the Girl With Glass Feet by Ali Shaw.
Right now I'm currently reading What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman
and in January I will be reading Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger.
What do you guys think I should do? Suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Ex-mas Review

Synopsis

Two Exes. One holiday adventure.

Merry Ex-Mas?

Seventeen-year-old Lila Beckwith's parents just left for vacation, and Lila's all set to throw the holiday party of the season. But when her Christmas-obsessed little brother, Cooper, discovers that global warming is melting the North Pole, he and his best friend, Tyler, take off on a runaway mission to save Santa.

Lila has to get Cooper safely home before her parents get back on Christmas Eve. But the only person who can help her is Tyler's older brother, Beau — a.k.a. Lila's musician, anti-everything ex-boyfriend.

It'll take more than a Christmas miracle for Lila and Beau to overcome their differences and find their fugitive brothers. But could a journey destined for disaster help these polar opposites fall in love...all over again?

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Format: Paperback
Pages: 224

REVIEW:

Ex-mas by Kate Brian, is a greatly told story of two exes who are forced to go on a road trip together to catch their run away brothers. Some of the content was easily predictable for me. But I love the theme that Kate puts into the novel. The relationships that Lila has with the other characters in the novel are relatable to. With the twists and turns of this great adventure love story, I recommend that everyone should pick this book up at your local bookstore. This book gets 4.5 stars for me.


If you want to read a similar book I suggest you take a look at:
Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

The Maze Runner Review

Synopsis

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.





Publisher: Random House Children's Books


Format: Hardcover


Pages: 384

Rating: 4.5/5

Review:


The Maze Runner by James Dashner is the next best dystopian novel since Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. While reading this book I was reminded of The Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Just because of the setting of the novel and how the only people that live in the maze are boys. The boys vary in age just like Lord of the Flies. For two years the boys of the maze have searched for ways to escape. Every month a newbie would arrive and once a week at a certain time the boys would recieve all the supplies they needed or requested from the box. Everything changes when a girl arrives in the box and tells the boys that the end is near. A lot of the boys suspect that Thomas the main character has something do with every thing that goes on in the maze, because a day afer he arrives a girl shows up. This is a rare event in the maze because there has never been a girl in the maze and they have never gotten two newbies in a month. Thomas knows that he is destined to be a runner. Runners go out every day to explore the maze. Even though he has seen and heard bad things about the grievers he still wants to become a runner. Grievers are part animal, part machine and they are feared by all the boys. Boys who get stung by the grievers go through a changing and afterwards they all claim that Thomas was in their visions. Will the boys ever find a way out of the maze before it is too late?

Reaction:

The Maze Runner had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was hooked on this book. Even though I didn't care much for the Lord of the Flies this book is 100 times better. The book had me coming up with questions that I wanted answers to. Which eventually most of them got answered, but some didn't as to leave a hook for the next book in the series which I no doubt will be getting when it comes out. The ending left me a little confused though. I was captivated with this book because of the suspense. The ending had a lot of suspense. At times I found the actions of some of the characters to be senseless and wondered why Mr. Dashner put it in the novel. Overall this book was great and everyone should read it.

Shadowland by Alyson Noel Review

Shadowland is the third book in the Immortals Series.

Synopsis
Enter the realm of the Immortals—the #1 New York Times bestselling series that’s been acclaimed as breathtaking, mesmerizing, flawless and extraordinary.
Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.
Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 339

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Ever, the main character, and her boyfriend Damen are forced to to try and find a way to break the curse that is set on them. With any transfer of their body cells on the other will result in unwanted and dangerous consequences. Jude a surfer boy who takes charge of running his guardian's shop soon enters Ever's world. Ever and Jude have an instant attraction towards each other. Will Ever and Damen's love survive? Well I don't want to give too much away so if you are interested go out and buy the book.

This is an easy book to get into. When each chapter ended I was propelled to keep on reading. There was also the addition of more characters to the book. Which made it all the more interesting to read. As you read you will never guess what will happen next. Alyson throws in twists that you cannot see coming. I have read the first and second book to this series and loved both of them. However this book was sort of a disappointment to me. Alyson kept on repeating stuff for example the descriptions of the characters. By her doing this I felt like she was talking down on the audience as if we are dumb. The other problem I had was that the plot did not come till about the last 100 pages. This book leaves you wandering what will happen next.

I've been reading all weekend

I've been reading all weekend and now I am finished with Shadowland by Alyson Noel! I will have a review up by tomorrow. Have any of you read it yet?

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all are enjoying your day, and please be safe.

The Dark Devine Giveaway

The Romantic Times blog is posting six chapters total (one per week) for the countdown of TDD's release. Every week they will pick a winner to recieve a signed copy of TDD and TDD nail polish. Here is their link http://www.romantictimes.com/news_blog.php .

Also Bree Despain the author of TDD is having her own giveaway celebration. Here is the link to her blog giveaway page http://breebiesingerdespain.blogspot.com/2009/11/squeee-romantic-times-preview-of-dark.html .

Putnam Palooza

The bookologist is giving away three amazing books published by Putnam Juvenile Publications.
Contest ends Dec 17. So hurry up and enter. Here is the url

http://the-bookologist.blogspot.com/2009/11/contest-putnam-palooza.html


Thanks for this wonderful opprotunity. :)

Steph Su's Lauren Kate giveaway

Steph Su is holding a giveaway of Lauren Kate's books Fallen and The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove. Contest ends Dec 10. Here is the link!


http://stephsureads.blogspot.com/2009/11/lauren-kate-giveaway.html

Books recieved this week!

This week has been a week of books for me.
Ok, I know that Sunday is always the end of a week. But on Sunday 11/22 I couldn't stand the thought that I have not been to the bookstore in so long, and that I have not bought a book either in like two months. So on Sunday I went to Barnes and Noble before my aunt's surprise birthday party and bought Alyson Noel's third book to her series THE IMMORTALS, which is Shadowland. I absolutely am hooked on this series. I love the chemistry and struggle of Damen and Ever's love for each other. Right now I am on page 81 and loving it so far.

The second book I got is Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith. Which was in my mailbox Monday 11/23. I might read and review this book somewhere down the road. The plot of this book seems interesting but I just don't like the cover.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner is the third and maybe last book that I will recieve this week. I'm really excited to read it, and the cover is just amazing. Recieved today Wed 11/25.

Good Reads ARC and Swag GIVEAWAY

Steph Su is giving away six great arcs. Plus more!
Take a chance on this great contest now.
Here is the link just copy and paste in the url thing if it does not work.

http://stephsureads.blogspot.com/2009/11/good-reads-arc-and-swag-giveaway.html


Giveaway ends Dec 3.

Contest to Win a Prize Pack From Laurie Faria Stolarz!

So The Book Butterfly reviewer is so generous to offer people the chance to win this prize giveaway! The link is right below.
http://butterflybookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/contest-win-prize-pack-from-laurie.html

Check it out! :)

If I Stay Book Review

Synopsis

A critically acclaimed novel that will change the way you look at life, love, and family.

In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heartwrenchingly beautiful, Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time.

Written by Gayle Forman. She is an award-winning author and journalist whose writtings have appeared in popular magazines.

format: Hardcover
pages: 208
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated

On my Barnes and Noble profile I have reviewed this book and this is what I said about this wonderful book. This was a good book it makes you think what you would want people to do if you were put in a hospital. I like how the author could write in the present and have the main character think about the past. And the past links to the present in this book (sorry if this kind of confuses whoever is reading this but when you read it you'll understand). The ending was so good. I hope there is a sequel to this book. I would love to know how life is for these people afterwards.

Today= disaster day

Ugh, today was a disaster! I had to give a presentation to my class about The Book Thief. I was prepared and ready to go; I had everything planned out. As soon as I started talking all my thoughts got scattered and my notes failed to support me. Not to mention there was so much pressure to do just as good as the rest of my classmates who did their presentations flawlessly. Then there was me struggling to gather my thoughts with everyone staring and waiting for me to speak. Tomorrow I get a chance to redeem myself wish me luck! I figured out today that I am way better at giving my opinion than explaining what goes on in a book to a group of people. Also I don't mess up any presentation if it is 40+ people. How crazy is that? I can give a presentation to a number of people but I can't for a small group? Have you ever had an expreience like this?

Introduction

So,this is my first post. I just wanted to start off by introducing myself. I'm 18 years old, even though I don't look like it. I have loved books ever since I was a toddler and didn't even know how to read. Books have been a big part of my life and they have helped me get through difficult times. I'm currently taking a creative writing class at school, because I want to become an author. I love reviewing books and finding books that have yet to be released. If I could I would make a Barnes and Noble bookstore with all the books included my home. :) Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you like it and look forward to seeing future posts.