Re-Reading: Thoughts?

I collect my favorite books for one reason. Well, two reasons really. The first is because I have an obsession with being able to hold them and stroke them whenever I desire. The second is because I want to re-read them. Lots. Whenever I want.

But my relationship with re-reading is quite complicated. It's not like watching a movie again, because that only takes two hours or so. (Or forty-five minutes if you're a Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog fan like me--which PREMIERES ON TV FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON OCT. 9 ON THE CW DON'T MISS IT.) Re-reading a book can take much longer, and whenever I think of re-reading something I remember a new story waiting for me to discover it that I could be reading instead.

Of course, I do love re-reading. When I was about nine or ten I read Judy Moody countless times, even when I wasn't much of a reader. Last year I re-read a book for the first time since then, and that book was, predictably, Looking For Alaska. I loved being able to focus on every tiny detail more than I did the first time around and being able to pick apart Alaska's character even more.

Then, this Wednesday I finished re-reading Jellicoe Road and found that I loved it even more than the first time I read it. The initial confusion I had the first time I read it was gone and I focused more on Taylor's character and JONAH GRIGGS because I had forgotten how delicious he is. I had forgotten how much I loved the book, really.

It is experiences like those that make me think I should set more time aside to re-read some of my favorite books. In fact, if I had it in my possession I might re-read Grave Mercy right now.

How do you feel about re-reading? Is it boring, exciting, or great but hard to find the time to do?

Waiting on Wednesday

So I am a very cheap person. This is a fact. Now that you understand that, understand that it is very rare that I rush out and buy a novel for full price, even if I've featured it on Waiting on Wednesday. BUT NOT WITH THESE PRETTIES. These are totally rush-out-and-buy-ASAP books. SCREW MY WALLET.

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers 

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons. 

But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for? 

This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats. 

Coming April 2, 2013 

Just One Day by Gayle Forman 

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay
When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines. 

Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon! 

Coming January 8, 2013

 

On Balance

Guys! I haven't blogged in what feels like forever! There are reasons for this. Well, reason not reasons, but you get the idea.

Basically, I've been writing non-stop because I need to finish my current first draft before I go away on a teen writing retreat (EEEEEP) to start a new draft. There's more about that here, but that's pretty much what you need to know.

I've found that when I write, I tend to have to kind of throw myself into it. I tried to be sane about it and write just a little bit a day throughout the summer, but that resulted in me writing on and off every two weeks. Now my draft is all disjointed and weird. So, yep, I throw myself into it. I should probably try and write it in two weeks or so now that I know this...

Anyway, this had led me to ask you guys a question I've been wondering for a while now: how in the world are you supposed to juggle writing, reading, and blogging? I've seen it done but I cannot understand how. Do they only write a thousand words or so a day? Do they schedule every minute of their day? (And how exactly does one stick with a schedule? I suppose that's a different post.) Seriously? HOW? Sound off in the comments please because I don't want to have to stop blogging and reading whenever I write something. 'Cause hopefully I'll be writing a lot.

Confessions of an Angry Girl Review

Author: Louise Rozett
Release date: August 28, 2012
Pages: 304
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
How I got it: For review from Netgalley 

Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some CONFESSIONS to make... # 

1: I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate, don't you? 

#2: I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who "might" be dating a cheerleader. She is now enraged and out for blood. Mine. 

#3: High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry-get it?) 

Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable. 

(Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.) (Sorry. That was rude.)

With an honest voice and outlook on what it's like to grow up, I found Confessions of an Angry Girl to be an interesting contemporary with a lot going for it.

It is impossible not to connect with Rosie. Sometimes I just wanted to shake her and scream, "STOP. THERE IS A BETTER WAY," but even then I wanted to be her friend. Actually, she sometimes reminded me of a younger Ruby Oliver, not in Ruby's quirky way but in the overall voice and trouble fitting in. I love Ruby, so that was awesome.

Sadly I didn't see any appeal in the small cast of side characters. Jamie seemed kind of like a young Matthew McConaughey to me that they both seemed kind of greasy and underwhelming; Robert seemed like he meant well but was a little too whiny and clingy; Tracy seemed like she could've been a decent person but the bad things she did overshadowed that and left me indifferent towards her.

But once I got into the story--which did take me a little while--it totally made up for that. About halfway through I found myself fully immersed in the plot and nervous about what evil Regina would do to poor Rosie next. I really ended up enjoying Confessions of an Angry Girl and kind of want to shove it in the hands of every girl starting high school this year.

Plot: Not highly original, and it was slow to start, but once I got into it I liked it.

Characters: Loved Rosie, but I was kind of indifferent towards everyone else.

Writing: Pretty good. Loved all the music references.

Ending: Didn't love it, but the fact that there will be a sequel (yay!) made up for that.

Mature content: There was swearing, and mentions of sex (but no actual sex scenes, and lots of talk of how to practice safe sex).

Overall:

Um, I do not wish to talk to you just now.

Like I said, it took me a little while to get into this one, but once I did it had my full attention. I can't wait to read Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend, because I think this series will only get better.