In My Mailbox ( 3 )

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren! 

So I didn't get too much this week and, again, it was all from the library, but it definitely deserves to be showcased!

It's the Ruby Oliver series by E. Lockhart!  I heard that these books are hilarious and they seem like quick reads, so I ordered them.  I think I'm going to read The Boyfriend List as soon as I'm done with Nevermore, which I'm reading right now.

Also, here's a video of my cat from this morning when I was trying to put clean sheets on my bed.  Cats are just an awesome part of life.

Okay, so that's all!  I may post my review for Hold Still by Nina LaCour sometime today.  I've had it written for a while, but haven't typed it up!

Random Tunes Tuesday! ( 3 )

Hello everyone and welcome to the third edition of Random Tunes Tuesday.  I have the most perfect song for today!

Here We Go by Roger Woods ( 2011 version )

Here we go/

Here we go/

Here we go/

Steelers, here we go/

Pittsburgh's going to the super bowl!

The main reason I didn't have my IMM up on Sunday night was because I was going nuts over the football game.  I even lost a little bit of my voice from screaming, even though I understand very little about football.  I just know that the Steelers are a common bond for almost everyone in Pittsburgh.  We're all nuts about getting into the Super Bowl, so I thought this would be the perfect song.  Okay, so it's not going to inspire any fiction writing, but it was just too perfect to pass up.  What kind of Pittsburgher would I be if I didn't post this?

From my aunt's facebook:

Good evening, Jets passengers. This is your Flight Captain Mike Tomlin speaking. Due to an FAA Advisory & rough conditions, your flight to Dallas has been cancelled. As you de-plane, please see an agent for your return ticket to NYC Courtesy of the Steelers. We thank you for flying AFC Championship Airlines and hope you enjoyed your trip to Dahntown Pittsburgh. Yinz come back now, yinz hear?

Looooove it!

Youtube | I couldn't find it to download.

Have a good day, everyone! 

In My Mailbox ( 2 )

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren!

Okay, so I'm not so good at doing this on the actual day that I want to do it, but here it is, anyway!

I didn't buy anything this week, but I got a bunch of goodies at the library!

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh.  One my friends from Goodreads, who also got me to read The Summer of Skinny Dipping kept ranting about this book, so I ordered it right away.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen.  I don't know what made me order this book.  I saw it on The Story Siren's IMM and decided to request it.  I'm pretty excited about reading it!

Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson.  When I'm really bored, I surf through other blogs to pick random books to read, and I saw this.  I love psych things, so I thought this would be good.  I'm currently reading it and it's awesome so far!

For Keeps by Natasha Friend.  I started reading this book in June, but I didn't finish it.  I honestly have no idea why I didn't finish it!  I still remember little parts of it and it's driving me nuts that I didn't finish it!  So I figured I'd try it again.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.  I actually owned this book.  I sold it because I couldn't get into it the day I started reading it.  But now I see so much positive feedback on it that I just have no other choice but to give it another chance!

Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman.  This author is awesome.  I read Purge last week and loved it.  She has another book coming out soon and it's part of the Contemps Challenge, which I am participating in.  I'm excited to read it!

Choker by Elizabeth Woods.  Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!  I actually finished this book yesterday and I loved it.  So good.  Must read.

How to Kill a Rock Star by Tiffanie Debartolo.  This was another book I saw on a blog.  They actually featured little excerpts and I liked them, so I got it out.

Last but not least, I got an awesome surprise when I opened Dirty Little Secrets to read on Wednesday. 

Yes!  There's an autograph from the author to all the Pittsburgh library readers.  It's just too awesome not to share!

Okay, so that's it!  I shall be back next week with more exciting books.  What have you guys gotten recently that you're excited about?  Have a good day!

Review: Tutored by Alison Whittenberg

Warning: This book contains some offensive language.

From Goodreads: Wendy Anderson and Hakiam Powell are at opposite ends of the spectrum—the social spectrum, the financial spectrum, the opportunity spectrum, you name it. Wendy lives in an all-white suburb of Philadelphia, where she’s always felt like the only chip in the cookie. Her dad, who fought his way out of the ghetto, doesn’t want her mingling with “those people.” In fact, all Wendy’s life, her father has told her how terrible “those people” are. He even objects to Wendy’s plan to attend a historically black college. But Wendy feels that her race is more than just the color of her skin, and she takes a job tutoring at an inner-city community center to get a more diverse perspective on life.

Hakiam has never lived in one place for more than a couple of years. When he aged out of foster care in Ohio, he hopped a bus to Philly to start over, but now he’s broke, stuck taking care of his cousin’s premature baby for no pay, and finding it harder than ever to stay out of trouble. When he meets Wendy at the tutoring center, he thinks she’s an uppity snob—she can’t possibly understand his life. But as he gets to know her better, he sees a softer side. And eventually—much to the chagrin of Wendy’s father and Hakiam’s cousin—they begin a rocky, but ultimately enlightening, romance.

This edgy story about a star-crossed couple features strong African American characters and sparkles with smart, quirky dialogue and fresh observations on social pressures and black-on-black prejudice.

This was one of the books that I judged by the cover.  The pages of the book folding into a heart is just so simple, not to mention beautiful.

I loved how the author knew her characters so incredibly well.  It's not always easy to write a story where you can change your characters' perspectives but still keep them so true to themselves.  I admired the plot and the possibility of happiness, no matter what kind of situation you find yourself in.  All of the characters were incredible and easy to love, either for their harshness or for their openness to others who aren't like them.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something good in their lives and won't stop, no matter what people say.  It will probably bring a smile to your face.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and its characters.  Sometimes judging a book by its cover is the right thing to do.

Favorite line: "He walked up to her and looked in.  He pulled out the onesie with the strawberries and the ruffles and put it up to his chest.  "It doesn't fit," he said." 

Four out of four stars!

Waiting on Wednesday ( 3 )

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine! 

This week's book that I cannot wait for is...

Hooked by Catherine Greenman

From Goodreads: Thea Galehouse has always known how to take care of herself. With a flighty club-owner mom and a standoffish, recovering-alcoholic dad, Thea has made her own way in her hometown of New York, attending the prestigious and competitive Stuyvesant High School. But one chat with Will, a handsome and witty senior, and she's a goner—completely hooked on him and unable to concentrate on anything else.
Always worried that she loves Will more than he loves her, Thea is pleasantly surprised when their romance weathers his move to college and Will goes out of his way to involve her in his life. But then, Thea misses a period. And that starts Thea and Will on a wild ride that neither of them could have possibly prepared for. When they decide to keep the baby, their concerned parents chip in what they can to keep Will in school and give both teenagers a comfortable place to raise their child. But when a freak accident leaves Thea shaken and threatens to upend their little family altogether, Thea is forced to turn to the last place she would have chosen for comfort: her stiff, uncompromising father.
This smart, touching first novel brims with realistic, beautifully drawn characters, and reminds us that love is never as easy or predictable as we might like it to be.

Okay, don't ask my why, but I love books about pregnancy.  I love learning about the inner workings of a baby coming to be.  This book sounds especially interesting because they choose to keep the baby.  It's more about what happens after that decision than the actual decision, which is different and interesting. 

This book doesn't come out until August, but you can be sure that I will be picking it up.  Once again, I also love the cover.  And, no, I do not watch the pregnancy reality shows.  I just like reading about pregnancy.  Might make me weird, but oh well.

What books are you looking forward to?

PS. I completely didn't get to do Random Tunes Tuesday yesterday, so I apologize.  I was at the doctor's most of the day for a never ending sinus infection and the doctor seems to think I'm allergic to animals.  I have four cats and two dogs, so this would be a very bad thing.  But, anyway, I just wanted to let you all know why I didn't get around to the music yesterday!  Ta!

Stylish Blogger Award!

I am so honored to announce that Andrea at Reading Lark has awarded my blog with the Stylish Blogger Award!

 Thank you so much!

Here are the rules if you get awarded:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award. 

Seven things about me:

1. I read over 100 books in 2010.

2. My favorite author is Sarah Dessen.

3. My favorite genre of music is country.

4. I was just recently accepted to college.  My major is in Creative Writing.

5. I want to be an author. 

6. I am already twenty-one years old.

7. I'm absolutely obsessed with the television show, How I Met Your Mother.

Fifteen super stylish blogs you should check out!

1. Pop Culture Junkie ~ It's a simple blog but that's what makes it so great!

2. The Book Mogul

3. Presenting Lenore ~ It's an absolutely perfect layout for the type of blog she has!

4. Love YA Lit 

5. YA Bliss ~ One of my favorite blogs!

6. Good Golly Miss Holly ~ The blog that inspired me to make my own!

7. YA Reads 

8. The Story Siren ~ What a wonderful blog!

9. Actin Up With Books

10. Pure Imagination ~ Oh my goodness, this layout is beautiful!
11. The Bookologist
12. I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read ~ Um...my life.
13. Coffee Table Press ~ Love it.
14. Oodles of Books ~ So pretty!
15. Michelle's Bookshelf ~ I know you already have one, but I love the layout so much!

 

Waiting on Wednesday ( 2 )

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine!  This week's book?

But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

From Goodreads: Tonight was so much worse than anything before it.
Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap.
At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved-and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything-and everyone-in its path.
This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.

 Ever since I read anything on this book at all, I've wanted to read it.  It's sounds sad, but a kind of sad that will, hopefully, turn into something better by the end.  And have you seen that cover?  It's so beautiful.  It drives me nuts, how much I want this book, every time I look at it.

PS. I got a style blogger award!  More on that tomorrow!

Random Tunes Tuesday! ( 2 )

Hey everyone, I really enjoyed doing this last week, so here comes the next addition of Random Tunes Tuesday!

This week, the song is by two people and I was actually going to use it last week, but changed my mind. 

Don't You Wanna Stay by Jason Aldean featuring Kelly Clarkson

don't you wanna stay here a little while/

don't wanna hold each other tight/

don't you wanna fall asleep with me tonight/

don't you wanna stay here a little while/

we can make forever feel this way/

don't you wanna stay

Okay, this song is so addictive.  I can listen to it over and over and not get tired of it.  Plue, Kelly and Jason's voices sound so perfect together!  It's emotional and longing and perfect.  Okay, not completely perfect.  I don't love the official music video because it's a live performance of the song and, to me, that's boring.  But the song is absolutely awesome!  So check it out.  Also the artist I featured last week, Steel Magnolia's ( Just By Being You ) came out today.  Two thumbs way up for their first album.  It's very good.

YouTube | Buy

In My Mailbox ( 1 )

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. 

This is my first IMM and I just have to say that it really brings a song to mind...

"Here's the mail, it never fails, it makes me wanna wag my tail.  When it comes, I wanna wail, MAIL!"

Am I twenty-one years old?  Why, yes I am!  Is that song from the kindergarten show, Blues Clues?  You bet!  Do I care at all?  Of course not!

Okay, first In My Mailbox.  I really wanted to do this on Friday, but I never got around to it, so it's a little dated.  These are all the books I got from somewhere a week before Friday.  So here goes nothing.

Bought:

If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern.  I've read a couple of this girl's books, and have most of the rest of them.  This only cost me two dollars.  I love Half Price Books!

Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes.  The only book I've read by her, so far, is Watermelon, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I believe that this goes along with that one, too.  I spent two dollars on this as well.

Maine Squeeze by Catherine Clark.  I have never read any of her books before, but this sounded like a good, happy read, so I figured I'd give it a try.  The book also contains Banana Splitsville.

The Blonde Theory by Kristen Harmell.  Oh, I love Kristen's books.  She's very good at making me smile.  This one seems no different.  Again, only two dollars.

Library:

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman.  I'm so excited about this book!  Everything about it reminds me of the movie 500 Days Of Summer, which I absolutely love.  I can't wait to let you guys know what I think of it!

Nothing Like You by Lauren Starsnick.  It's funny because I ordered this book into the library and it's the exact same copy I had the last time I had it out.  I don't know why I didn't read it, but now I really want to.

Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Omololu.  I think that I read in someone's blog that this one was good, so I hopped over to my Library page and ordered it.

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz.  I just finished Deadly Little Secret this afternoon and I absolutely loved it and all the suspense.  Plus the characters had real heart, and were real funny!  I'll be starting this tonight.

So, there you have it.  All the books that I've gotten in the last week ( plus an accidental two days, which didn't bring anything, anyway. )  I hope you guys all got some good books this week, too!  Happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday ( 1 )

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. 

My Waiting on Wednesday? What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

From Goodreads: What Happened to Goodbye is about a high school senior who, after her parents’ divorce, has taken up the practice of assuming a new identity in each of the four towns she’s lived in.

This Lullaby being my favorite book on Earth, I thought it would be right for this to be my first WoW.  It doesn't come out until May 10, 2011, but I am unbelievably excited about it.  I read that Sarah is also very excited about this novel, so I can't wait to see what it has in store.  In any case, I know that it will be amazing.  And look at that cover.  Ugh.  I love it and want it now!

Review: The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

From Goodreads: Sometimes I still wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of looking up at the moon and feeling as invisible and free as a fish. But I'm jumping ahead, and to tell the story right I have to go back to the very beginning. To a place called Indigo Beach. To a boy with pale skin that glowed against the dark waves. To the start of something neither of us could have predicted, and which would mark us forever, making everything that came after and before seem like it belonged to another life.

My name is Mia Gordon: I was sixteen years old, and I remember everything.

I originally had no interest in reading this book.  It wasn't until a friend on Goodreads read it and praised it.  Because she said that it starts out slow, I knew not to give up on this one.  And I'm glad that I didn't.
There were a couple of things in this book that nagged me to no end ( ex: "but though..."), but I ended up really enjoying it.  The characters really grew on me after about the first hundred pages.  ( Except for Simon; I loved him from the moment we met. )  Corinne was a deeper character than I first pegged her to be.  By the end of the book, she was definitely one of my favorite characters of the book.
I would recommend this to any girl who loved a nerdy guy who is still so sure of himself and lovable.  Also for anyone who enjoys living in the moment.
Overall, though it took me a while to get in, The Summer of Skinny Dipping was a satisfying read.

Favorite line: " "Take me for instance," Simon continued.  "I see the light, and I just think it's beautiful.  And that's all there is for me.  Just the beauty of it.  You can't explain it scientifically, it just is - a beautiful, strange light." "

Three out of four stars.

Random Tunes Tuesday!

Okay, so last night ( while I was trying very hard to fall asleep ), I came up with a little idea for this blog.  Since I believe that music plays a big part in writing and the creation of the books we love, I figured it would be okay to showcase one of my favorite songs each week.  

The first song on my list ( the still non-existent list ), is called Just By Being You ( Halo and Wings ) by Steel Magnolia.

  and I'll take off my halo/
if you take off your wings/

you don't have to be invincible/
'cause I sure ain't no saint/

you'll always be my angel, no matter what you do/

'cause you take me to heaven/ just by being you

Why do I love this song so much?  It's incredibly powerful and romantic.  It is definitely one of my favorite songs from 2010. I love the duo that sings it, Steel Magnolia.  They're debut album finally comes out next Tuesday, so I'm very excited.  The music video is gorgeous, so you should definitely check it out and please let me know what you think!

Buy | YouTube

Hi everyone and welcome to my reading blog.  Being a reading blog, it is not about me, but about all of the books we love, books we can't wait to read, and everything in between.  As of right now, while I'm learning more about the blogosphere, this blog will mostly be reviews and other things such as the classics: Waiting on Wednesday and In My Mailbox. You should expect my first review in about two days, since I'm still reading it. So sit back, grab a comfy seat, and get ready to learn all about your next favorite book!