Sunday, January 4, 2009

Ariel by Sylvia Plath


I have been wanting to read Sylvia Plath for a while, but I could never find any of her books. SO, while I was at the used bookstore, I looked. And, there looking all pretty was The Bell Jar and Ariel.

Ariel was a collection of poems Sylvia Plath write a few months before she died. As I was reading the poems she wrote, I had a glimpse of what was going through her mind months before she committed suicide. I don't really know what to say about this book, but what I can say is that Sylvia Plath was a wonderful writer and poet, and she has affected many peoples lives. I suggest anything written by Sylvia Plath.

The V.C. Andrews Movement


I just joined The V.C. Andrews Movement reading challenge, to find more about it go here.
I joined this challenge because I have had seven V.C. Andrews books sitting on my bookshelf since summer, but I don't have the either of the complete series' that I have (If that makes sense). I meant... I have all of the Logan series and all of the Casteel series. I think everybody should join this challenge, because from what I have heard, V.C. Andrews is a pretty awesome author.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Bookshelf Meme

So, I got tagged by Valentina's Room to do a meme. Thanks Valentina for tagging me! So here it is.

1. Tag 3-5 people, so the fun keeps going!
2. Leave a comment at the original post at A Striped Armchair, so that Eva can collect everyone’s answers.
3. If you leave a comment and link back to Eva as the meme’s creator, she will enter you in a book giveaway contest! She has a whole shelf devoted to giveaway books that you’ll be able to choose from, or a bookmooch point if you prefer.
4. Remember that this is all about enjoying books as physical objects, so feel free to describe the exact book you’re talking about, down to that warping from being dropped in the bath water…


1. the book that’s been on your shelves the longest:
I have a picture book that belonged to my dad when he was young, and when my family and I moved into my house the book got put on a shelf in my closet so its been there ever since. I believe it was nine years ago.

2. A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time, etc.):
I don't really know which one to pick. I will tell you about two books then. The first one is a picture book called Goodnight Moon. Almost everybody in my family ones a copy of this book. My parents believe that everybody should have read it when they were kids. This brings back memories because I have read it so many tomes to so many different people that I am pretty sure I have memorized it. When I was in 3rd grade , the illustrator of the book came to my school and I remember bringing him my copy and my day-care providers copy. But, no matter where I look now, I can't find his signature in either of my two copies, but I have seen it in my day-care providers copy.
The next book doesn't remind me of anything now, but I know it will when I am older. I know this because the book is Paper Towns by John Green. I think that when I look back on this book I will remember John and Hank Green and all of the wonderful things they did, and the joy their video's brought me. I will remember what it feels like to know that you're not the only one in the world who likes what you like, because in the past year since I discovered John Green's books, I have also descovered myself in ways. I descovered that I don't want to be apart of the "popular" crowd, and that its okay to want to be intellectual and like books. The thing that will most remind me of this stuff, is what John put in the Acknowledgments at the end of the book. He wrote "To the nerdfighters, who have taught me so much about the meaning of awesome." To me that is wonderful and magnificent.

3. a book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used bookstore, prize, etc.):
A week after my birthday last year, I went to a gigantic garage sale that the town next to mine was having. When I was there, I got two poetry books for a total of two dollars. I didn't notice this until afterwards but both poetry books were published in the late eighteen hundreds. Not only was that cool, but one of the poets my dad likes. And, I bought the books from one of my dads old teachers.

4. the most recent addition to your shelves:
I actually got this book today. It is Ariel by Sylvia Plath, it is a collection of poems she wrote in the months before she died. It is sitting next to me as I type this, waiting to be finished,

5. a book that’s been with you to the most places:
This is a very very hard question to answer. Umm... I have brought so many books with me, its hard to tell because of the fact that I take at least one book with me wherever I go. But, I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak I read at any moment I could (if that counts).

6. a bonus book that you want to talk about but doesn’t fit into the other questions:

Once again, this is very hard to choose. I think I will pick a book that I had to read for class; The Odyssey by Homer. I chose this book because I wasn't fond of it, and I had to do an oral report on it. I like this book because for the oral report I didn't talk about what happened in the book, or who the characters were. I talked about the writing style Homer used, and the message The Odyssey gives people. And, that oral report was the best I have ever given. I only got positive feedback, which hadn't happened to anyone else. But, most of all I felt good afterward because I hate oral reports and I didn't even know I had to do one until the day before, I thought all I had to do was a book report. I showed myself that I can stand up in front of people and talk and actually have them listen to what I am saying, as long as what I say, I mean.


I am gong to tag:

Sarah
Kaylee
Em

Friday, January 2, 2009

Frenemies by Alexa Young


A few weeks ago I bought Frenemies, I had heard about it a lot and I thought "Why not voice my opinion on this book?" Well, here it is. Before I give you my opinion, here is the summary from the back of the book:



Avalon Greene Rules the fashion scene at her sunny SoCal middle school with a diamond-clad fist, giving props to classmates for their fashion-do's and calling them out for their most unfortunate clothes-pas. She's determined to host the social event of the season—a soiree in honor of her forever-friendship with Halley! Unfortunately, Halley's new look is one thing Avalon just can't celebrate.


Halley Brandon Just back from art camp, Halley can't wait to share her funky new style with her best friend, Avalon. But when Avalon cries fashion foul, Halley realizes her best friend's true colors may clash with her own. Has their ultra-fabulous friendship finally gone out of style?


From sharing custody of their puppy, Pucci, to drawing up a list of who gets which friends, Avalon and Halley discover what happens when you battle the person who knows everything about you—and isn't afraid to use your secrets to get what she wants.



I admit to having high hopes for this book because I had heard about it so much, but I also went into this book knowing what parts of it were about. I am not a big fan of books that include popularity and materialism, but, though this book has those things, I liked it. I'm not saying that it was the bes book I have ever read, but is was OK. I enjoyed Halley's life more than I did Avalon's, because Avalon seemed kind of rude and more obsessed with money that Halley did. I would recommend this book, but I wouldn't read it with high hopes. Who knows? It could be better than you thought it was gong to be.


Silence is silver, but Books are golden...

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge


I recently joined the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. If you wuld like to see the rules and/or join you can go here.

If you love historical fiction, or history, or even if you are looking to expand your reading horizons I would join this challenge.

Here is my list:

1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. A Midsummers Nights Dream by William Shakespeare.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Books vs. Movies Challenge


I recently joined the Books vs. Movies challenge. Here are the rules:

"In 2009 read a minimum of 6 books that have been made into movies and then watch the movie.

* Write a review on the Book vs the Movie and be honest about whether or not you think the film-maker was successful in translating the book to film. Please keep in mind that it is impossible to convey everything. You must both read the book and watch the movie within 2009. All genres are acceptable and it doesn't matter when the movie was made.
*
Feel free to display one of the following challenge buttons on your blog (movies
shown are Pride & Prejudice, Marley & Me and Twilight)
*
Please add to the comments of this post and/or the Goodreads group when you've done a review. Periodically throughout the year random prizes will be given out."


If you would like to sign up for this challenge go here.

Some New Years Resolutions...

So, last year I completed my first ever New Years Resolution. It was top read 50 books in one year (at the time I wasn't really into books). I actually ended up reading 106 books last year. So this year I am setting some more New Years Resolutions. Here they are:


1. I want to complete all of the challenges I joined for 2009

2. One of the challenges I joined was to read 100+ books, and on goodreads I joined a challenge to read 300 books, so another New Years resolution of mine is to read 300 books!

3. I would like to post more.

4. I would like to get more organized for school.


Happy New Year everyone, you are all unbelievably awesome and deserve a wonderful 2009!

Happy New Year!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to wish you a very happy New Year, it is 1:48am here, and I am about to go to sleep. I just wanted to let you know that all of you are really awesome and you deserve to have the best year yet! There will probably be a blog post tomorrow morning when I wake up, which is going to be about New Years Resolutions and other stuff. So, Happy New Years and I'll see you soon!