Being tired because I stayed up late reading last night.
That feeling I get when I finish one of my favorite series.
The lack of room for all of my books.
Feeling like I have nothing in common with a person when I find out they don't read.
Trying to remember the plot of that book I read two years ago when the sequel comes out.
Laughing to myself like a weirdo while reading...in public.
Nearly crying--as I never full-on cry--to myself like a crazy person...in public.
It's probably the main reason I had to get glasses, according to Mr. Eye Doctor.
People in real life usually don't measure up to the people in books.
Everyone makes assumptions about me when they hear I'm a reader. (Like, "Omg she's a homeschooled reader she's a freak kids pretend like you can't hear her." ((Not that anything like that's happened to me. But I can SEE the fear in their eyes.)
...Those were all I could come up with. Obviously, I feel the positives outweigh the negatives. A lot.
And now, here's a picture of a German Shepard enjoying said positives:
I'm about to head off to my local library where I volunteer every week for two hours. The librarians are really nice and I genuinely love it, especially shelving books. Sometimes I love it less, like when I'm asked to open all of the audiobooks to see if any CDs are missing, but either way I get to spend two hours in the library, so yay.
Anyways. It's Tune In Tuesday at GReads, which is something I love to participate in because music is my second love next to books. My picks for this week would be:
The Modern Leper by Frightened Rabbit
Bigger Than Us by White Lies
Wake Up by Arcade Fire
Hell by Tegan and Sara
Also, there's Teaser Tuesday. I just finished Shine last night, so I guess you guys are getting a teaser from my current e-book read, 13 Little Blue Envelopes:
"They left the smoke of the bar and stepped back into the fog. Keith walked her along a different route, once she would never have been able to find on her own, to the glowing red circle with the bar cutting through it that read underground.
"So you'll be back tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said. "Tomorrow."
Not the most exciting teaser, but it's hard to find a good one on an e-reader.
(Oh and also, the winner for the Fated audiobook has been picked and I'm about to email her now.)
Tuesday is a very exciting day for book lovers, as it has many many new releases. Here's the two I'm most excited for:
AHHHH! I'll definitely be hitting up the Books-A-Million on Thursday for these two. (I say Thursday because my family and I will need something to do to kill time before we go to The Avengers premiere, which is something I'm really excited about because JOSS WHEDON! And IRON MAN. I love Iron Man so much. Even if the second movie was, well, you know.) When You Were Mine also came out today, which Simon and Schuster sent me yesterday as a lovely surprise. It looks fantastic so I can't wait to start it.
Oh and while I'm doing Tuesday things, I suppose I'll go ahead and share a teaser with you.
"We, um--we should be watching the turtles." She's breathless and doesn't sound at all convinced. I cast a glance over the edge of the tarp. The first two turtles have left the nest and a third--no, a third and fourth are pushing their way up through the sand.
"We should." The apple scent of her hair tangles around my brain as my lips brush her neck. She shivers in a way that has nothing to do with the temperature, and it pleases me in a way I can't even explain. That time, I kiss her.--From page 99 of Something Like Normal, by Trish Doller
So far I'm really enjoying this, and as I'm halfway through it I hope to finish it tonight. I've been a reading machine lately. Mostly because I'm still sitting a lot and reading and sitting happen to go very well together. I'm also reading Pandemonium, but I won't be sharing a teaser for it since it's a sequel and will contain spoilers for the first book no matter what.
There's also Tune In Tuesday, which seems to basically be a meme that gives me an excuse to share music on my book blog, so YAY. It's hosted by Ginger at GReads, and this month is the random playlists edition. HOLLA.
Turn Off This Song by The Lonely Forest
I've been LOVING this band, The Lonely Forest, lately. This is the song that hooked me, and even though I never go outside when I listen to it that doesn't mean I don't love it.
Heart's A Mess by Gotye
This song, like Somebody That I Used To Know, has an infectious beat and lyrics you'll want to belt at the top of your lungs.
Oh, and in case you're interested: I saw my surgeon today, and he said that I'm looking good and can return to normal life as much as I feel comfortable doing, so woooo! Can you see why I'm (obviously) in a good mood?
So you may have noticed that I kinda disappeared for the past two weeks.
Well, I have not really had the time to blog, or even read for that matter, so it's not like I have a whole bunch of new reviews to give you. Sorry 'bout that.
But, here is what I have been doing:
Eating Thanksgiving food!
Tumblring and tweeting and texting (yay T words!).
Working on my music blog.
Sleeping in wayyy too late.
Thinking up ideas for this here blog for 2012!
And, wait, there's something else, I think...
Oh right.
WRITING LIKE IT'S 1999. And it paid off.
That's right! I took on the challenge and wrote a 50,000 word manuscript this month. Nanowrimo says it's a month about literary abandon, which is very much true. This book is nowhere NEAR where I want it to be and know it can be, but that's where editing in January comes it.
It was also a month of social and hygienic abandon, but literary abandon sounds much cleaner, so let's stick with that.
ANYWAYS I just finished Nanowrimo about an hour ago, and now I'm very, very much looking forward to continuing to blog and read obsessively, now that I don't have about two thousand words a day to write.
Thanks for sticking with me, and I hope it'll be worth it.
2: I have started a music blog with an awesome friend of mine. It's very new and there's not a lot up yet, but if you were to check it out, we'd both appreciate it.
4: It is really cold and my mom is refusing to turn the heat on.
5: I'm currently reading The Iron Knight. After that I'll be reading Prized, and then The Scorpio Races. I am going to have the biggest. good book hangover. ever.
When I went to school in the first grade, my teacher made us write in our journal every day. Recently, I pulled it out and it was so hilarious. One day, I'm guessing she asked us to write about our favorite book, and when I saw my review (?) for the children's book Jessica, I had to share.
2: The winner of Dark Parties is Alyssa (lyssad87) and Meredith Miller. I'll be emailing you very shortly, ladies.
3: I have a lot of books. Like, a lot of books. 0.0
4: I'm going to be reviewing a TV show soon. (Because who can resist 90's cartoons? Nobody, that's who.)
5: September is going to be ridiculously busy for me. For the first five days of it, I'll be out of state--without my computer. Then when I come back, my family and I are starting school. Then two weeks after that, I'll be off to the beach. Hopefully posting won't slow down next month, but if it does...well, that'd be why. (And it'd also explain if it takes a while for me to answer emails.)
6: I made a Tumblr. I post a lot of book-ish stuff, so if you want to check it out...
7: You know that song from The Perks of Being A Wallflower that Charlie's always talking about, Asleep by The Smiths? Well if you have not heard it yet, you must change that.
8: Check out this epic trailer for Mrs. Stiefvater's new book, The Scorpio Races:
Isn't it awesome? Isn't Maggie Stiefvater awesome?
There's a very high possibility that posting will slow way down this month. Why? I'm doing NaNo. (Friend me here.) I always start books but either run in to plot bumps or get really busy and never finish them, so I'm SUPER MOTIVATED to finish this one. I've got an outline for the first time and everything. So take NaNo, some friends staying with us for two weeks, British Literature classes, and the usual holiday business, and reading and blogging time becomes very scarce. Sadly.
1. So, I'm not really here. I'm at the BEACH. For a WEEK. I'm not sure if I'm having fun or not, since I scheduled this a day before we left...but I'm pretty sure I am, since I brought 4 books and awesome friends and family.
2. It's Banned Books Week! Woot! I've actually brought Speak with me, so hopefully I'll get the chance to read it.
3. Sooooo....I want Nightshade. I've already read it and all, but, I want to read it again. Or at least have it in my possession so I can read my favorite twists and make-out scenes. And look at THIS:
Any. Time. I. Want.
4. So Twitter people, what do you guys think of new Twitter? I'm still figuring it out, but it doesn't freeze up or have trouble loading pages, so I already love it 100x more.
5. I'm really hoping that Toy Story 3 isn't like I dreamed it was last night.
6. This post is getting kinda painful to read, so I'll end it here.
BBAW, Book Blog Appreciation Week, is a week to, well, appreciate bloggers. This year it will be taking place on September 13-17. It should be pretty awesome! I'm registering right now, actually, and have to pick five posts for the judges to see. After a lot of thought, I chose these:
I would do a post, telling you all how grateful I am and how it's been amazing, but I'd rather vlog about it...but I can't. Not now at least. You see, I just came back from a five hour drama rehearsal, and our play, The Wizard Of Oz, is premiering this Friday. So, I'm tired, have black gunk on my eyes (I hate makeup.), and am not what I'd call vlog-ready at all. I'll have a blogoversary vlog up as soon as possible! I probably won't even be able to blog much more until Sunday.
Sorry about this, but being the understudy to the Wicked Witch is a lot of work. Like eight-hours-a-day drama rehearsals work.
So, recently I was thinking book condition and if it matters.
I actually collect old books like the one on the right specifically because they're old and in bad condition. I never have any intention of reading these books, but they just look so cool and so loved.
However, I know that my copy of Twilight is in really poor condition from being passed around to so many people, and it kills me. And whenever one of my friends borrows one of my books (I'm basically their library) that I've read and loved, they know that they need to be extra careful with it. This also goes for my ARCs.
So, I guess I care. Especially if it's one of my favorites. But if I'm in Goodwill and I see a book that sounds good, but the cover is torn up and there are creases in the spine, then I still won't hesitate to buy it.
What about you? Does a creased spine make you gag? Or is it dogeared pages that turn you off from buying a book? Or could you really not care less as long as it's readable? And, when you win a book in a blog contest, does the book have to be in pristine condition?
That I will almost definitely not be posting nearly as often this week. I've got quite a few books from tours as well as my own review books that have to get read. I know I'll be posting a review for tomorrow though.
Last October, I was dying to do the Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon, but of course it just happened to be on the weekend that I was babysitting my siblings for my parents. Go figure. But, this year, I can participate! There's a small possibility that we'll be going camping this weekend, but my family had assured me that I'll still be able to get plenty of reading done (even if filling a backpack full of books to drag into my tent isn't high on my list of things to do before I die). If we don't go camping, then my whole family will be participating too.
As for updating, I think I'll just be doing one giant update before I go to bed. (Yes, I'll most likely be going to sleep.)
What will I be reading for the readathon? Here's my pile:
Yes, I know that there will be no way that I'll finish all of those books, I just want to have a good amount of variety.
Oh, and if you're looking for tips and trick like I am, then go check out this great post.
I love blogging. I love blogging about books. I love the whole book blog community. But lately I've noticed it's flaw, the one and only as far as I can tell. And that is the unspoken of competition of people comparing their amount of Advanced Reading Copies, or followers to another blog. And, now, I'm not pointing any fingers when I say this-
Wait, that's not true. I am pointing a finger to someone: me.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I am terrible about this. I will compare my amount of books with others' and feel almost inadequate when I find that a publisher has sent them more books then they have me. Same with followers. This is something that I've recently realized shouldn't be done; blogging is a fun hobby. We each try our hardest to make our blog the best it can be, and we don't need to be worrying about the success of other blogs, just our own.
Besides, some people have been blogging for a lot longer than I have (my first blogoversary will be in June) and they totally deserve the amount of followers and/or books they receive. We all do. I've recently realized this and am going to be working very hard to remember this any time I begin to feel competitive with other bloggers.
Your blogs are all amazing, no matter how many followers or ARCs you do or don't have. :)
So, while I was sleeping or something, Scholastic released the cover for the THIRD Hunger Games Book! Along with a TITLE! It's been posted all over the blogosphere, but I still had to share it:
At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the cover, but the more I look at it the more I LOVE it! And the title is awesome too, I like it so much better than what it was rumored to be, which was The Victors.
The only problem with the cover being released is that now I want it even more badly than I did before. Maybe if I whine at random strangers enough I'll get a copy....Worth a try.
So, usually I can't watch book trailers due to my slow internet connection, but my Dad's laptop is faster, so I've been able to watch a few. Here are two that I LOVE!
The Body Finder
The Body Finder is probably one of my most anticipated novels of 2010, and the trailer is amazing.
Girl In The Arena
I really enjoyed Girl In The Arena, and thought that the trailer was hilarious.
And, this is definitely not a book trailer, but I thought I'd include it because everyone should see a Will It Blend? video at some point in their life.
So, this week my WoW pick is.... Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.
Being released May 4, 2010 from Simon Pulse
Sounds pretty cool, but this is one of the few 2010 covers that I'm not too crazy about. The book sounds really good, though, and that always makes up for a bad cover. (But this cover definitely isn't bad, just not great.)
And, in other news, last night I stayed up too late making a button, and here's how it turned out:
