tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231363640145207052024-03-08T07:17:23.708-03:30Imma BookwormJust a girl with a reading addiction attempting to write about itjesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-8972042998987537702013-11-11T09:00:00.000-03:302013-11-11T09:00:03.903-03:30One For The Money by Janet Evanovich<br />
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<img alt="One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, #1)" height="320" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1316730230l/6853.jpg" width="210" /></div>
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<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Pestered by her close New Jersey family, Stephanie Plum offers to catch high-school crush Joe Morelli, cop turned bail jumper, for her cousin Vinnie's company. She questions "working girls" to find the missing girlfriend of vicious prizefighter Benito Ramirez while Joe secretly watches her back. Ranger mentors her and supplies vehicles when hers explode.</span><br />
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<b>Why I Read This Book:</b> I saw the preview for the movie of this one and decided to read the book first. It was a good choice, because the movie wasn't great!<br />
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<b>Review: </b>I found this book to be engaging. A lot of stuff happens, which is exciting, and its sometimes predictable, but not always. The book was fast paced, and witty, and had a good story line. It wasn't <i>amazing</i>, but it was good. I read it while on the plane, and didn't get bored. Even though there isn't much else to do on the plane, if I have a non-engaging book I can get bored easily. This was a good read for that.<br />
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If you watch Dexter, I was picturing Joe as Joey Quinn from that show. I pictured Stephanie as Hilda from Ugly Betty. I watched the movie afterward and thought Katherine Heigl was ok, but my mental casting was better :)<br />
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-41325842299155517112013-11-08T09:00:00.000-03:302013-11-08T09:00:04.038-03:30Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor<br />
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<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">actually</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?</span><b><br /></b>
<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>I added this to my list forever ago because I liked the way it sounded, and the cover was so pretty. I added it to one of my challenge lists for April, and then one day at the library, it was on the shelf and I checked it out! I love when that happens!<br />
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<b>Review: </b>I always assumed I would like this book fine. The plot was different to something I would normally have read, but upon expanding my horizons, I knew that I would probably like this based on the summary. So when I started reading it, and didn't have a clue what was going on, I was a bit disappointed. It took me a long time to get through the first half of this one. BUT, then the light bulb clicks, and you finally understand this odd world, and the book gets FABULOUS. I didn't relate to the main character much, but I loved her. Karou is so interesting, and incredibly artsy (probably the main reason I didn't see any of myself in her, as I am not very artsy). I loved this book, and I think everyone should give it a go. I'm really excited for the second. Give it a chance though, if you don't love it at first. This is the first book in a series, and sometimes they can be a bit slow getting started. This one is sooo worth it though. You will be a bit afraid, sad, delighted, and there is a swoon worthy boy. It's fantastic.<br />
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-60443120567221984402013-11-07T12:00:00.000-03:302013-11-07T12:00:02.141-03:30Catching Up On Some ReviewsHello Everyone,<br />
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I know I said sometime in the summer not to expect me back for awhile! Unfortunately, I still am crazy busy and not getting enough reading done to be blogging lately, or even considered a book worm! Hoping that is going to change soon, as at the end of this month I won't be working 2 jobs anymore! I will be back in school, so I won't be where I used to be, but should still be picking up books a little more often!<br />
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I have quite a few reviews to catch up on again. I was posting 3 in each, but I didn't really like how that was going, so I'm going to do some separate, short ones to get caught up.<br />
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In other news, 5 things that are going on in my life that I can tell you about:<br />
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1) As I said, I will be going down to one job and back to school. People are very surprised about this, but I have quit my full time job! I will be working at the restaurant as much as possible, and will be taking 2014 to finish my MBA and am also going to complete a Masters Certificate in Supply Chain Management and Procurement. SO that will be a big change for me!<br />
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2) I joined a book club! Our first meeting was last week, and we read 'The Husband's Secret'. Our next book is The Glass Castle, which I already read, so I don't think I'll re-read it, but I like being a part of it. More on the Husbands Secret later.<br />
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3) Next week I am going on vacation!!!! Yay!! I can't wait. 8 days in Las Vegas will be a blast!!<br />
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4) I have hurt my back :( I'm actually in a great deal of pain right now and had to give up my shift at BP tonight in favor of making a massage appt to see if I can get it fixed. Not good times.<br />
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5) And lastly, I am almost caught up on watching Dexter, we are set to watch S08E05 next, so I will soon get to find out how the season finale is do disappointing. Its still a good season, so it sucks to know it ends poorly. Oh well!<br />
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Anyway, over the next few days some book reviews will get posted, so take a look for them. Maybe there will be some you haven't read!jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-146843565577325902013-07-25T12:00:00.000-02:302013-07-25T12:00:03.951-02:30Book Reviews: Clockwork Prince, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Dead to the World<br />
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<img alt="Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1369780827l/10025305.jpg" width="210" /></div>
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<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In magical Victorian London, orphan Tessa found safety with the Shadowhunters, until traitors betray her to the Magister. He wants to marry her, but so do self-destructive Will and fiercely devoted Jem. Mage Magnus Bane returns to help them. Secrets to her parentage lie with the mist-shrouded Yorkshire Institute's aged manager Alyosius Starkweather.</span><br />
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<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>Another series I have gotten into, and was on 2 of my challenge lists: 2013 Paranormal Challenge, and the 2013 Sequel Challenge.<br />
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<b>Review: </b>I like the Infernal Devices more than The Mortal Instruments series, and this book didn't disappoint. I can't wait to see how it all ends with the Clockwork Princess, but I have been putting it off a bit so it won't be over too quickly.<br />
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<img alt="Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine, #1)" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320564598l/9460487.jpg" width="206" /></div>
<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here - one of whom was his own grandfather - were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive.</span><b><br /></b>
<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>This was on my A-Z Book Challenge List.<br />
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<b>Review:</b> I really enjoyed this book a lot. It was the perfect amount of creepy mixed with intriguing and fantasy that it sucked me in. The plot was very interesting, with several twists and turns, and a bit of romance too. I brought this in to work and was reading on my lunch break, and everyone said it looked too creepy for them, because of the pictures. But really it wasn't overly, just enough to make it good.<br />
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1329501748l/140077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, #4)" border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1329501748l/140077.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="198" /></a><b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In Sookie Stackhouse—a Southern cocktail waitress with a supernatural gift—Harris has a created a heroine like few others, and a series that puts the bite back in vampire fiction. Now the hit series launches into hardcover for Sookie's biggest twist-filled adventure yet.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse sees a naked man on the side of the road, she doesn't just drive on by. Turns out the poor thing hasn't a clue who he is, but Sookie does. It's Eric the vampire—but now he's a kinder, gentler Eric. And a scared Eric, because whoever took his memory now wants his life.</span><b><br /></b>
<b>Why I Read This Book:</b> This book is again, one in a series I am reading. I joined a very specific Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge, and committed to reading 4 of this series, so this was my first for this year, but the 3rd in the series.<br />
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<b>Review:</b> This was a good middle-of-the-series book. So far the season of True Blood that matches up to this book has been my favorite, and I read the book after I watched that. It is pretty closely matched up, and I like this book a lot. It's probably my favorite of the books so far as well.<br />
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-35637168245233493192013-07-22T12:00:00.000-02:302013-07-22T12:00:01.141-02:30Book Reviews: City of Ashes, P.S. I love You, The Iron Daughter<br />
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<img alt="City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1369452325l/1582996.jpg" width="217" /></div>
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<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In this breathtaking sequel to </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">City of Bones</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.</span><b><br /></b>
<b>Why I Read This Book:</b> Another series book that I am working through. I think I may have had this on a challenge list this year as well.<br />
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<b>Review: </b>I love the shadowhunter world, and this book was no exception. Clary and Jace are getting a bit weird, but whatever. I thought this was a good sequel book. Definitely moved the plot along nicely. Can't wait to get to the next one.<br />
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<img alt="P.S. I Love You" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347404863l/366522.jpg" width="212" /></div>
<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A novel about holding on, letting go, and learning to love again.</span><br />
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Now in paperback, the endearing novel that captured readers' hearts and introduced a fresh new voice in women's fiction Cecelia Ahern.</div>
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Holly couldn't live without her husband Gerry, until the day she had to. They were the kind of young couple who could finish each other's sentences. When Gerry succumbs to a terminal illness and dies, 30-year-old Holly is set adrift, unable to pick up the pieces. But with the help of a series of letters her husband left her before he died and a little nudging from an eccentric assortment of family and friends, she learns to laugh, overcome her fears, and discover a world she never knew existed.</div>
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The kind of enchanting novel with cross-generational appeal that comes along once in a great while, <em>PS, I Love You</em> is a captivating love letter to the world!</div>
<b>Why I Read This Book:</b> This book was on my Monthly Key Word Challenge list for February.<br />
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<b>Review: </b>I liked this book, but didn't love it. It was good. It tells the sad story of a widow trying to overcome her grief. <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't fully appreciate Holly's story, as thankfully I have never had to go through that. Even though it was sad, it was written in a generally light-hearted way so that it was still enjoyable to read and not miserable.</span></span><br />
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<img alt="The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey, #2)" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1271790654l/7747064.jpg" width="206" /></div>
<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.</span><b><br /></b>
<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>This was my March book for the Paranormal Reading Challenge.<br />
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<b>Review:</b> This was a pretty good sequel to the first book that I really liked. It had enough in it to keep it interesting and surprising. I was happy with it. Some things happened that I definitely wasn't expecting, and also some good news in it as well, which I don't want to spoil for anyone so I won't say.<br />
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-43005002848607150402013-07-18T12:00:00.000-02:302013-07-18T12:00:00.934-02:30Long Over Due Book Reviews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">In an effort to do so review catching up, I thought I would do a few posts with some multiple reviews. Also, some of the books I don't have much memory of, so this way my reviews don't have to be much more than a line or two. I'm going to do 3 books per post.</span></div>
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1368453848l/30183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Marked (House of Night, #1)" border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1368453848l/30183.jpg" width="211" /></a><b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire -- that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.</span><br />
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<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>I put this book on my challenge list for the 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge because it had been on my TBR list for so long.<br />
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<b>Review:</b> I have still only read the first book of this series, but I think it may be one of my favorite vampire books so far. I like teen vamp books, but this one had all the good stuff without being really lame at times too. I read this book about 6 months ago, and honestly can't remember much except that I really enjoyed it. It was a bit confusing at first, but I look forward to getting to the rest of the series.<br />
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<img alt="A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358254974l/10572.jpg" width="210" /></div>
<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Time is out of joint. The summer of peace and plenty, ten years long, is drawing to a close, and the harsh, chill winter approaches like an angry beast. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon—who held sway over and age of enforced peace are dead...victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns, as pretenders to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms prepare to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">As a prophecy of doom cuts across the sky—a comet the color of blood and flame—six factions struggle for control of a divided land. Eddard’s son Robb has declared himself King in the North. In the south, Joffrey, the heir apparent, rules in name only, victim of the scheming courtiers who teem over King’s Landing. Robert’s two brothers each seek their own dominion, while a disfavored house turns once more to conquest. And a continent away, an exiled queen, the Mother of Dragons, risks everything to lead her precious brood across a hard hot desert to win back the crown that is rightfully hers. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A Clash of Kings</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> transports us into a magnificent, forgotten land of revelry and revenge, wizardry and wartime. It is a tale in which maidens cavort with madmen, brother plots against brother, and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, the price of glory may be measured in blood. And the spoils of victory may just go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when rulers clash, all of the land feels the tremors. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Audacious, inventive, brilliantly imagined, </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A Clash of Kings</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> is a novel of dazzling beauty and boundless enchantment—a tale of pure excitement you will never forget.</span><b><br /></b>
<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>I started this series last year because Game of Thrones was on my 2012 TBR Challenge list, and I loved it. I knew that I would have to continue this series. I am actually reading Book 3 right now.<br />
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<b>Review: </b>This book is full of complex charaters and plots, and sub plots, and sub sub plots, and there is a whole lot going on! It can be a bit confusing at times when non-main characters come out so infrequently, but it is a fantastic series. I loved this book and love this series. I recommend it all the time. The TV show as certainly helped in its popularity, however I haven't started watching (yet).<br />
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<img alt="Water for Elephants" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348373323l/43641.jpg" width="213" /></div>
<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Jacob was there because his luck had run out—orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive "ship of fools." It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act—in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Surprising, poignant, and funny, </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Water for Elephants</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> is that rare novel with a story so engrossing, one is reluctant to put it down; with characters so engaging, they continue to live long after the last page has been turned; with a world built of wonder, a world so real, one starts to breathe its air.</span><b><br /></b>
<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>This book was on my 2012 TBR Challenge Reading list, but I had put it off so much that it actually ended up on my 2013 TBR Reading Challenge list as well! Someone from work heard I wanted to read it, and brought me in their copy to borrow, and that was how it got moved up the list.<br />
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<b>Review: </b>I really loved this book. I remember when the movie came out and I wanted to see it, but knew I should read the book first. I'm so glad I waited, I read the book and watched the movie a few days after. And the book was SO SO SO much better. I actually did a post about this book comparing it to the movie awhile back (you can see that post <a href="http://immabookworm.blogspot.ca/2013/03/book-to-movie-talk-water-for-elephants.html">here</a>). I loved the story of Jacob it was incredibly engaging and this was a great book.<br />
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-6178099101777730002013-07-02T10:09:00.000-02:302013-07-02T10:09:03.568-02:30Top Ten Tuesday - July 2, 2013I wrote a post for this two weeks ago, but then dropped the ball on hopping around, or even returning my comments. Then it felt silly to do it over a week later when I was back on here. So, my apologies for that! Things are somewhat more settled in my life (for this week anyway) so maybe I can do TTT right this time!<br />
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Top Ten Books That Intimidate Me</div>
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for me, this is definitely the classics. I feel intimated that I will get lost in the language, or that the book is waaaaay too long, so they sit on my to-read list forever and ever. The last classic I tried to read is the only book in my DNF pile, and it is because I read before bed, and I always fall asleep reading. With classics, when I wake back up I always think "what the hell was going on??" and have to re read like 10 pages to get back into it, and I will never finish a book this way!! This doesn't happen with regular books, so... I read those. Anyway, if I had to pick a top ten, it would be:</div>
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1) Watership Down - Richard Adams</div>
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I'm not sure what I find so intimidating about this book. I haven't even looked inside to see the kind of language it is written in, and it's not even that long, coming in at under 500 pages. But, I never even think to pick it up when it's time to chose a new book.</div>
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2) Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackery</div>
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This one might have to do with size. When I first got my ereader I remember thinking I would finally really all the huge books I had been avoiding because size/weight wouldn't matter. That was obviously false. This remains unread.</div>
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3) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson</div>
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I have seen the movie for this already. And that was confusing as hell. I can only imagine what an acid trip this book must be, and I'm pretty sure I won't understand anything.</div>
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4) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams</div>
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I don't know why I feel intimidated by this one, but I do. Again, I fear that I won't understand it.</div>
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5) Breakfast at Tiffany's - Truman Capote</div>
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This, I have put off because I heard that the book Holly and Audrey's Holly are a little different, and I'm not sure I want to spoil the Holly I have loved for so long. Maybe someday...</div>
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6) Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace</div>
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This book is a behemoth. Ain't nobody got time for that.</div>
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7) The Hobbit / The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - J. R. R. Tolkien</div>
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Once, many years ago, I actually started the Hobbit. And I was confused as hell. Since then, I have seen all the LOTR movies, and read (and loved) other many character confusing books (like the fire & ice series). I think I am ready for a second go at these books, and I own them all, it's just, when?</div>
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8) Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand</div>
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Another book that it just. so. big! It's hard to commit to such a long book. That last 1000+ page book I read was Under The Dome, and it took me forever to read!</div>
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9) Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez</div>
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Some people love it, and other hate it, so I just put it off. Oh well, again, maybe someday!</div>
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The 9 I have taken directly from my TBR list, and number 10 is one that never made it, because I'm pretty sure I will never actually read it, but:</div>
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10) War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy</div>
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My god, this is a looong book!</div>
jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-23535940422460875912013-07-01T13:37:00.001-02:302013-07-01T13:37:40.279-02:30June Wrap Up - Half Done!!Oh wow, I cannot believe that the year is half done already! I have accomplished a lot so far this year, but not much of it has been bookish!<br />
- wrote the CMA Entrance Exam<br />
- completed another course toward my MBA, and started another last week<br />
- got back into going to the gym<br />
- started running and training for a 10 mile road race<br />
- went to Chicago<br />
- booked and planned 2 vacations (Vegas & Disney)<br />
- working towards my 30 before 30 list!<br />
busy busy!<br />
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But, I have been reading a little bit too, so just like with my quarterly wrap up I think its best to take a look at my original challenge lists and see how I'm doing!<br />
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Challenge #1: 2013 TBR Pile Reading Challenge</h3>
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1) Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver</center>
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2) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin</center>
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3) Matched - Ally Condie</center>
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<strike>4) Life of Pi - Yann Martel</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished January 23/13</span></center>
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5) Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella</center>
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<strike>6) Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished February 24/13</span></center>
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7) The Constant Princess - Phillipa Gregory</center>
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8) Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin</center>
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9) Gone - Michael Grant</center>
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<strike>10) The Maze Runner - James Dashner</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished June 18/13</span></center>
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<strike>11) Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished April 21/13</span></center>
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12) Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella</center>
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13) Forever - Judy Blume</center>
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14) Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk</center>
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15) Uglies - Scott Westerfeld</center>
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16) The Nanny Diaries - Emma McLaughlin</center>
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<strike>17) The Guernsey Literacy and Potato Peel Pie Society - Annie Barrows </strike> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0b5394;">finished May 30/13</span></center>
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<strike>18) One For the Money - Janet Evanovich </strike><span style="color: #0b5394;">finished April 22/13</span></center>
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19) On the Jellicoe Road - Melina Marchetta</center>
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20) Learning to Fly - Victoria Beckham</center>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Ok, so this one isn't going so hot 6/20 books. Which is extra disgraceful because half of these books were ones I never got to from the 2012 TBR Reading Challenge List! I have 15 books on my Summer Reading List, and 5 of those are on this list, which is pretty good. I hate to say it, but I'm guessing some of these will end up on my 2014 list...</i></span></center>
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Challenge #2: A-Z Book Challenge</center>
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<a href="http://www.babiesbooksandbeyond.com/2012/12/a-to-z-book-challenge-2013.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;"><img height="200" src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a9/GiddyUpMunky/ID-10070552_zps038943d1.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="156" /></a></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strike>A: </strike><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through;">The </span><span style="color: purple; text-decoration: line-through;">A</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strike>doration of Jenna Fox - Mary E. Pearson</strike> </span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">finished June 25, 2013</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">B: <u><span style="color: purple;">B</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">lue </span><u><span style="color: purple;">B</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">loods - Melissa de la Cruz <i>(double points!..Scattergories, anyone??)</i></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strike>C: </strike><span style="text-decoration: line-through;">C</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strike>ity of Ashes - Cassandra Clare</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished February 26/13</span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">D: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">D</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">iary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">E: <u><span style="color: purple;">E</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ragon - Christopher Paolini</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">F: <u><span style="color: purple;">F</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ight Club - Chuck Palahniuk</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">G: <u><span style="color: purple;">G</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">irls in White Dresses - Jennifer Close</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">H: <u><span style="color: purple;">H</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ourglass - Myra McEntire</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I: <span style="color: purple; text-decoration: line-through;">I</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strike> am Number Four - Pittacus Lore</strike> </span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">finished May 23/13</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">J: <u><span style="color: purple;">J</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">uliet, Naked - Nick Hornby</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">K: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">K</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">nife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">L: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">L</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">uxe - Anna Godberson</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">M: <strike><span style="color: purple;">M</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">iss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs </span></strike></span></center>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Finished April 5, 2013</span><center style="color: #666666; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">N: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">N</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">o. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">O: <u><span style="color: purple;">O</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">utlander - Diana Gabaldon</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">P: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">P</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">rincess Bride - William Goldman</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Q: <u><span style="color: purple;">Q</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">uidditch Through the Ages - J. K. Rowling</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">R:<strike> <span style="color: purple;"><u>R</u></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">ise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven #2) - Brandon Mull </span></strike></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">finished June 4, 2013</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">S: <strike><span style="color: purple;">S</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">hatter Me - Tahereh Mafi </span></strike></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Finished May 6, 2013</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">T: <span style="font-weight: normal;">A </span><u><span style="color: purple;">T</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">housand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strike>U: </strike><span style="color: purple; text-decoration: line-through;">U</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strike>nder The Never Sky - Veronica Rossi</strike> </span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">finished June 25, 2013</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">V: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">V</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">irgin Sucides - Jeffrey Eugenides</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">W: <u><span style="color: purple;">W</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">anderlove - Kristen Hubbard</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">X: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Eli</span><u><span style="color: purple;">x</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ir - Hilary Duff</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Y: <u><span style="color: purple;">Y</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">earbook - Ally Condie</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Z: <u><span style="color: purple;">Z</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ombie Queen of Newbury High - Amanda Ashby</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><i>This list is also going terribly. 26 books here and I have read 7. Ouch. From my summer list I have 3, and that still won't get me to half. I'm not sure if I am going to do this challenge next year, but hopefully I can get most read from this year. Many of these books I'm just not that excited to read, and they only ended up here because they started with the right letter.</i></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Challenge #3 - 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge</span></center>
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<img height="150" src="http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj566/meganlikesbooks/parachallbutton.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" width="200" /></div>
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January - Vampires - <strike>Marked by P.C. Cast</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">Finished February 4, 2013 (just a <i>few</i> days late)</span><br />
February - Angels/Nephilim - <strike>Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">Finished April 1, 2013</span><br />
March - Fey - <strike>The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">Finished March 27, 2013</span><br />
April - Demons - <span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike>Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished April 21/13</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">May - Aliens - <strike>I am Number Four by Pitticus Lore</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished May 23/13</span></span><br />
June - Zombies - Feed by Mira Grant<br />
July - Witches and Wizards - Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia<br />
August - Mermaids - Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman<br />
September - Dragons - Eragon Christpoher Paolini<br />
October - Ghosts - Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendra Blake<br />
November - Werewolves/Shape-shifters - <strike>Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater</strike> Changed to '<span style="color: #990000;">Stolen (Women of the Otherworld #2) by Kelley Armstrong</span>' because Shiver was my January Book for a different challenge!<br />
December - Time Travel - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><i>Finally, one that I am mostly on track with! I haven't quite finished Feed, but I have started it and I am almost done. This challenge is going well.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Challenge #4 - 2013 Sequel Challenge</span></h3>
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<a href="http://www.auntiespinellireads.com/2012/12/2013-sequel-reading-challenge-sign-ups.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;"><img height="196" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/geobobspinelli/2013seqchall2.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><strike>1) City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">finished February 26/13</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">2) <strike>Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare</strike> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Finished April 1, 2013</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">3) <strike>Shadow Kiss - Richelle Mead</strike> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Finished May 3, 2013</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">4) <strike>A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished February 17, 2013</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">5) <strike>Glory In Death - J.D. Robb</strike> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">finished April 26, 2013</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">6) The Last Little Blue Envelope - Maureen Johnson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">7) Shadow Souls - L.J. Smith</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">8) Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers - Louise Rennieson</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">9) <strike>Rise of the Evening Star - Brandon Mul</strike>l </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">finished June 4, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">10) Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i>This one is also going well, 6/10 at halfway through the year. One of these is on my summer list, which keeps me on track. This challenge list next year is going to be my longest, as I'm determined to get through some series' next year!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Challenge #5 - 2013 Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge</span></div>
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<img height="188" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o6_SdmFl9hs/UK0HvcdsQZI/AAAAAAAAMxA/hMykSdoc91o/s200/2013+Sookie+Stackhouse+Reading+Challenge.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;"><strike>Book 4: Dead to The World </strike><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">Finished April 13, 2013</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal; text-align: start;"><strike>Book 5: Dead as a Doornail</strike> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">Finished May 11, 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Book 6: Definitely Dead</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Again, this one is on track! I like vampire books in the fall, and I only planned to read 4 of these, so I will be able to finish pretty quickly in September or October!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Challenge #6 - Monthly Key Word Challenge</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">January: </span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through;">Shiver</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strike> - Maggie Steifvater </strike><span style="color: #0b5394;">finished January 28, 2013</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">February: <strike>PS I <span style="background-color: yellow;">Love</span> You - Cecelia Ahern</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished March 12, 2013 (wee bit late...)</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">March: <strike>Be Careful What You <span style="background-color: yellow;">Wish</span> For - Alexandra Potter</strike> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">finished April 24, 2013</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">April: <strike><span style="background-color: yellow;">Shadow</span> Kiss - Richelle Mead</strike><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Finished May 3, 2013</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">May:<span style="background-color: yellow;"> <strike>Shatter</strike></span><strike> Me - Tahereh Mafi </strike></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Finished May 6, 2013</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">June: <strike>Under The <span style="background-color: yellow;">Never</span> Sky - Veronica Rossi </strike></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Finished June 27, 2013</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">July: </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Shadow <span style="background-color: yellow;">Soul</span>s - L.J Smith</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">August: A Clockwork <span style="background-color: yellow;">Orange</span> - Anthony Burgess</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">September: <span style="background-color: yellow;">Blue</span> Bloods - Melissa de la Cruz</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">October: <strike>Glory In <span style="background-color: yellow;">Death</span> - J.D. Robb </strike></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">finished April 26, 2013 ... crap I didn't realize this was October's book. I will have to read </span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Immortal in Death</span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"> instead</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">November: <span style="background-color: yellow;">Forever</span> - Judy Blume</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">December: The <span style="background-color: yellow;">Princess</span> Bride - William Goldman</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><i>And the last planned one is also on track. Apparently it is just long lists I have trouble with!! This should be no problem to finish by the end of the year.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>The very last challenge is another one that isn't going so well... I copied this over on June 18, so it's not completely accurate at June 30, but I was 9 books behind then, and even though I have added two more read, now I'm 10 behind... 75 was a bit optimistic. I read 59 last year, maybe I shouldn't have tried for such a jump. Especially since I have been reading some really long books, like the Fire & Ice books.</i></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/940-2013-reading-challenge" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="2013 Reading Challenge" class="leftAlignedImage" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/challenges/1357247331p3/940.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin-right: 10px;" /></a></div>
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You have read 25 books toward your goal of 75 books.</div>
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<div class="bookMeta progressStats" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 2;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/600702" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">25 of 75 (33%)</a></div>
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At your current pace, you're 9 books (13%) behind schedule.</div>
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-26273187007599582392013-06-18T10:00:00.000-02:302013-06-18T10:00:01.078-02:30Top Ten Tuesday - June 18, 2013Been awhile since I participated on one of these, but that's okay!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rM2SRCI-iV0/Ub2utkRb6II/AAAAAAAAB3w/nzuVNrq5rNg/s320/toptentuesday2.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Top Ten Books to Read this Summer. (June - August)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ol>
<li>Feed</li>
<li>On the Jellicoe Road</li>
<li>Under the Never Sky</li>
<li>Twenties Girl</li>
<li>Wanderlove</li>
<li>Beautiful Creatures</li>
<li>Before I Fall</li>
<li>The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer</li>
<li>Fight Club</li>
<li>A Clockwork Orange</li>
<li>The Luxe</li>
<li>Last Little Blue Envelope</li>
<li>The Adoration of Jenna Fox</li>
<li>Requiem</li>
<li>A Storm of Swords</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335958027l/7094569.jpg" width="124" /><img alt="On the Jellicoe Road" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1212708945l/1162022.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="133" /><img alt="Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337289697l/10756656.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="132" /><img alt="Twenties Girl" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320544759l/6063187.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="132" /><img alt="Wanderlove" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327877152l/9807262.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="132" /><img alt="Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327873282l/6304335.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="132" /><img alt="Before I Fall" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361044695l/6482837.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="133" /><img alt="The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364084849l/8591107.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="132" /><img alt="Fight Club" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357128997l/5759.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="138" /><img alt="A Clockwork Orange" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348339306l/227463.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="129" /><img alt="The Luxe (Luxe, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323438343l/1254951.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="132" /><img alt="The Last Little Blue Envelope (Little Blue Envelope, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1288297853l/9462775.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="132" /><img alt="The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316636422l/1902241.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="132" /><img alt="Requiem (Delirium, #3)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340992438l/9593913.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="132" /><img alt="A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329339720l/6307964.jpg" width="131" /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<div>
I already made my summer reading list, and rather than eliminate a few, I just put them all up. I have been working towards all my challenge lists, and most of them come from those, except two (Requiem and Storm of Swords), but I just really want to read those ones.</div>
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-34053580400292680872013-05-29T19:28:00.001-02:302013-05-29T19:28:58.238-02:30May Wrap Up!Hello Hello! So I haven't posted anything on here in a month because I have been studying everyday for over a month! Ugh. I'm writing the entrance exam for a professional accounting designation in exactly 2 weeks, so I have been living in a whirlwind of accounting only things. I haven't even managed to watch one single NHL playoff game so far. Not one. I do however wear my Blackhawks jersey while studying almost every day. It might be starting to smell... ohhh well, you probably don't care about that at all, I just wanted to lay down my excuses!!<br />
<br />
So, I know May isn't quite over yet, but I'm not going to be able to finish any more books this week. I'm hoping June will be better, but it won't be. I write the exam on the 12th and then 9 days later I have my economics midterm, and then it will almost be the end of June! But, I won't let that deter me from making a new unrealistic list of books to read! But anyway, back to May.<br />
<br />
I set out to read the following:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike>1) I am Number Four - Pitticus Lore (for the Paranormal Reading challenge and the A-Z Book Challenge)</strike></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike>2) Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi (for the Monthly Key Word Challenge and the A-Z Book Challenge)</strike></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike>3) Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse #5) - Charlaine Harris (for the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge)</strike></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4) Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern (this isn't on any of my lists, but I want to read it!)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5) The Maze Runner - James Dashner (for the 2013 TBR Pile Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6) Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven #2) - Brandon Mull (for the A-Z Book Challenge and the 2013 Sequel Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">and</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">7) The Guernsey Literacy and Potato Peel Society - Annie Barrows (for the 2013 TBR Pile Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I finshed 1-3 and I'm half done numbers 4 & 7. Haven't touched 5 & 6, but I do have them both borrowed from the library. I just brought back a library book today, and checked out two more, which I guess makes creating June's to read list pretty easy. I hope to finish the following 7 books in June:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;">1) Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern (this isn't on any of my lists, but I want to read it!) </span><span style="color: #674ea7;">only counting this as .5 because I'm half done already</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2) The Maze Runner - James Dashner (for the 2013 TBR Pile Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3) Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven #2) - Brandon Mull (for the A-Z Book Challenge and the 2013 Sequel Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">and</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4) The Guernsey Literacy and Potato Peel Society - Annie Barrows (for the 2013 TBR Pile Challenge) </span><span style="color: #674ea7;">again, only counting this as .5 because I'm half done already</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
5) The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Mary E. Pearson (A-Z Reading Challenge)</div>
<div style="color: #666666;">
6) Feed - Mira Grant (June book for Paranormal Reading Challenge)</div>
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7) Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi (June book for the Keyword Challenge)</div>
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8) Requiem (not on any of my lists, but I saw it at the library and want to read it!)</div>
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<br /></div>
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so, technically 8 books, but really only 7 as two are half read. Let's see how I make out in June!! Happy Reading while I study :) Not sure I have ever looked forward to summer so mach as I do to get this exam out of the way!!</div>
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-90076681493339585462013-04-30T15:21:00.000-02:302013-04-30T15:21:35.488-02:30April Wrap UpHello!<br />
<br />
So, remember last month when I made this really ambitious list of books to read??<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">1) Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">2) Be Careful What You Wish For - Alexandra Potter</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">3) Shadow Kiss - Richelle Mead</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">4) Glory In Death - J.D. Robb</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">5) Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">6) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">7) One For the Money - Janet Evanovich</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="line-height: 18px;">Well, I real ALMOST all of them!! The only one I haven't yet is Shadow Kiss, but I'm about 1/3 of the way thought it!! How awesome is that?! I'm feeling a lot better about how much I was sucking at my challenges. I mean, I'm still not really where I should be, but I'm doing much better. I'm going to be crazy and choose 7 more books to read for May too. I don't think I will get these all done, because school starts again May 6th, and I am also spends crazy amounts of time studying for a big national exam I'm writing June 12th. But hey, I can be ambitious right? So, the 7 books I plan to read in May are:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="line-height: 18px;">1) </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">I am Number Four - Pitticus Lore (for the Paranormal Reading challenge and the A-Z Book Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">2) </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Shatter</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> Me - Tahereh Mafi (for the Monthly Key Word Challenge and the A-Z Book Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">3) Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse #5) - Charlaine Harris (for the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">4) Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern (this isn't on any of my lists, but I want to read it!)</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">5) The Maze Runner - James Dashner (for the 2013 TBR Pile Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #666666;">6) Ri</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">se of the Evening Star (Fablehaven #2) - Brandon Mull (for the A-Z Book Challenge and the 2013 Sequel Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18px;">and</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">7) </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">The Guernsey Literacy and Potato Peel Society - Annie Barrows </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">(for the 2013 TBR Pile Challenge)</span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">So, I guess I better request some of these at the library because I don't think I have them all! Here's to hoping I can get to all of them. I only have 17/75 read for my Goodreads challenge, and I am apparently 10% or 7 books behind!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-45324428591289243552013-04-22T08:00:00.000-02:302013-04-22T08:00:02.967-02:30Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328839272l/6068551.jpg" width="211" /></div>
<br />
<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>I had set this book as my January read for the 2013 Monthly Key Word Challenge. Plus, it had been on my TBR list for a long time!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Review: </b>I found this book was only just okay for the first 3/4 of it, but after that it really does get a lot better. I think the next one will be really good. I finished this in January and now its near the end of March, so I don't remember it all that well, but I do remember really liking it. I also loved that it was printed in blue ink!<br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XNaAj3pbOCQ/TnSFUVE8LGI/AAAAAAAAAG0/6GxbamtMgww/s1600/4+star+rating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XNaAj3pbOCQ/TnSFUVE8LGI/AAAAAAAAAG0/6GxbamtMgww/s1600/4+star+rating.jpg" /></a></div>
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-26830276325949152912013-04-15T08:00:00.000-02:302013-04-15T08:00:04.908-02:30Life of Pi by Yann Martel<br />
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<img alt="Life of Pi" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320562005l/4214.jpg" width="194" /></div>
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<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Life of Pi </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">is a masterful and utterly original novel that is at once the story of a young castaway who faces immeasurable hardships on the high seas, and a meditation on religion, faith, art and life that is as witty as it is profound. Using the threads of all of our best stories, Yann Martel has woven a glorious spiritual adventure that makes us question what it means to be alive, and to believe.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Growing up in Pondicherry, India, Piscine Molitor Patel - known as Pi - has a rich life. Bookish by nature, young Pi acquires a broad knowledge of not only the great religious texts but of all literature, and has a great curiosity about how the world works. His family runs the local zoo, and he spends many of his days among goats, hippos, swans, and bears, developing his own theories about the nature of animals and how human nature conforms to it. Pi’s family life is quite happy, even though his brother picks on him and his parents aren’t quite sure how to accept his decision to simultaneously embrace and practise three religions - Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">But despite the lush and nurturing variety of Pi’s world, there are broad political changes afoot in India, and when Pi is sixteen, his parents decide that the family needs to escape to a better life. Choosing to move to Canada, they close the zoo, pack their belongings, and board a Japanese cargo ship called the </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Tsimtsum</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">. Travelling with them are many of their animals, bound for zoos in North America. However, they have only just begun their journey when the ship sinks, taking the dreams of the Patel family down with it. Only Pi survives, cast adrift in a lifeboat with the unlikeliest oftravelling companions: a zebra, an orang-utan, a hyena, and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Thus begins Pi Patel’s epic, 227-day voyage across the Pacific, and the powerful story of faith and survival at the heart of </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Life of Pi</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">. Worn and scared, oscillating between hope and despair, Pi is witness to the playing out of the food chain, quite aware of his new position within it. When only the tiger is left of the seafaring menagerie, Pi realizes that his survival depends on his ability to assert his own will, and sets upon a grand and ordered scheme to keep from being Richard Parker’s next meal.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">As Yann Martel has said in one interview, “The theme of this novel can be summarized in three lines. Life is a story. You can choose your story. And a story with an imaginative overlay is the better story.” And for Martel, the greatest imaginative overlay is religion. “God is a shorthand for anything that is beyond the material - any greater pattern of meaning.” In </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Life of Pi</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, the question of stories, and of what stories to believe, is front and center from the beginning, when the author tells us how he was led to Pi Patel and to this novel: in an Indian coffee house, a gentleman told him, “I have a story that will make you believe in God.” And as this novel comes to its brilliant conclusion, Pi shows us that the story with the imaginative overlay is also the story that contains the most truth.</span><b><br /></b>
<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>I have been meaning to read this book for ages, it was actually on my 2012 TBR Reading Challenge list and I never got to it, so it got put on my 2013 TBR Reading Challenge list as well. I finally picked it up as I knew I was going to want to see the movie coming out.<br />
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<b>Review: </b>Whew, what can I say about this book that that lengthy summary doesn't? This was such a fantastic book! It was a bit slow getting through part one, as I was like "what is even going on?!" But when you get to Part Two you just can't put it down! I see what the hype is about with this book, and I can't wait to see the movie!<br />
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-17980526299355166842013-04-08T08:00:00.000-02:302013-04-08T08:00:02.975-02:30The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling<br />
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<img alt="The Casual Vacancy" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358266832l/13497818.jpg" width="207" /></div>
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My first book of 2013! Yay!!<br />
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<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A BIG NOVEL ABOUT A SMALL TOWN ...</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils ... Pagford is not what it first seems.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?</span><b><br /></b>
<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>I'm not sure its possible at this point for J.K. Rowling to write a book that I won't read, however this was very generously gifted to me, and I read it right away. This wasn't on any of my official reading lists, but as it was published in Sept 2012 it does fit the parameters for the 2013 TBR Reading Challenge.<br />
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<b>Review: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">This was a great book, but it's definitely different than Rowling's Harry Potter series. The book has really good character development, but it doesn't have much action. I think that this type of book isn't for everyone, and some of her fans may feel let down. I was not one of them, I enjoyed the small-town politics story, and the going-ons of everyday people after strange events. Younger Rowling fans shouldn't read this, but her NA and adult will probably like it. Its definitely on my favorites list, as the book does really make you think about things. Without spoiling things, it really is a great read.</span><br />
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-82224252195053612042013-04-01T08:00:00.000-02:302013-04-01T08:00:03.669-02:30The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen<br />
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<img alt="The Truth About Forever" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362767907l/51737.jpg" width="206" /></div>
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<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A long, hot summer...</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">But sometimes unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to wonder, Is it really better to be safe than sorry?</span><br />
<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>This is my second Dessen book, and I liked the first one, so hey, why not?<br />
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<b>Review: </b>I really liked this book. Sarah Dessen is a great contemporary teen writer. One on the best. She is so good at implanting warm fuzzies over young love. I loved the characters in this book, and even though its been awhile since I read this one, I can still recall that I liked it a good bit. Definitely recommend for all contemporary lovers.<br />
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-70136523989148633072013-03-31T08:00:00.000-02:302013-03-31T08:00:00.427-02:30March Wrap UpAlthough I was not doing my reading in the month of March, and had set my goals back in February based on the end of April, to keep up with my good blog-posting streak as of late, I wanted to let you know how March actually was.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Read</span></h2>
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<img alt="P.S. I Love You" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347404863l/366522.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1271790654l/7747064.jpg" width="128" /><img alt="Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339605943l/10025305.jpg" width="131" /></div>
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PS I Love You was my February book for the Monthly Key Word Challenge</div>
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The Iron Daughter was my March book for the 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge</div>
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and Clockwork Prince was my February book also for the 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge as well as part of the 2013 Sequel Challenge</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Quarterly Update</span></h2>
Since the end of March marks 1/4 of the year being done I thought I would re-cap the progress I have made on my lists<br />
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Challenge #1: 2013 TBR Pile Reading Challenge</h3>
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1) Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver</center>
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2) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin</center>
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3) Matched - Ally Condie</center>
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<strike>4) Life of Pi - Yann Martel</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished January 23/13</span></center>
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5) Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella</center>
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<strike>6) Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished February 24/13</span></center>
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7) The Constant Princess - Phillipa Gregory</center>
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8) Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin</center>
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9) Gone - Michael Grant</center>
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10) The Maze Runner - James Dashner</center>
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11) Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor ...on deck for March/April</center>
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12) Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella</center>
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13) Forever - Judy Blume</center>
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14) Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk</center>
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15) Uglies - Scott Westerfeld</center>
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16) The Nanny Diaries - Emma McLaughlin</center>
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17) The Guernsey Literacy and Potato Peel Society - Annie Barrows</center>
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18) One For the Money - Janet Evanovich</center>
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19) On the Jellicoe Road - Melina Marchetta</center>
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20) Learning to Fly - Victoria Beckham</center>
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Challenge #2: A-Z Book Challenge</center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">A</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">doration of Jenna Fox - Mary E. Pearson</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">B: <u><span style="color: purple;">B</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">lue </span><u><span style="color: purple;">B</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">loods - Melissa de la Cruz <i>(double points!..Scattergories, anyone??)</i></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strike>C: </strike><span style="text-decoration: line-through;">C</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strike>ity of Ashes - Cassandra Clare</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished February 26/13</span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">D: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">D</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">iary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">E: <u><span style="color: purple;">E</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ragon - Christopher Paolini</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">F: <u><span style="color: purple;">F</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ight Club - Chuck Palahniuk</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">G: <u><span style="color: purple;">G</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">irls in White Dresses - Jennifer Close</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">H: <u><span style="color: purple;">H</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ourglass - Myra McEntire</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I: <u><span style="color: purple;">I</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;"> am Number Four - Pittacus Lore</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">J: <u><span style="color: purple;">J</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">uliet, Naked - Nick Hornby</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">K: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">K</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">nife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">L: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">L</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">uxe - Anna Godberson</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">M: <u><span style="color: purple;">M</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">iss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">N: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">N</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">o. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">O: <u><span style="color: purple;">O</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">utlander - Diana Gabaldon</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">P: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">P</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">rincess Bride - William Goldman</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Q: <u><span style="color: purple;">Q</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">uidditch Through the Ages - J. K. Rowling</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">R: <u><span style="color: purple;">R</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven #2) - Brandon Mull</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">S: <u><span style="color: purple;">S</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">hatter Me - Tahereh Mafi</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">T: <span style="font-weight: normal;">A </span><u><span style="color: purple;">T</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">housand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">U: <u><span style="color: purple;">U</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">nder The Never Sky - Veronica Rossi</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">V: <span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><u><span style="color: purple;">V</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">irgin Sucides - Jeffrey Eugenides</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">W: <u><span style="color: purple;">W</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">anderlove - Kristen Hubbard</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">X: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Eli</span><u><span style="color: purple;">x</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ir - Hilary Duff</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Y: <u><span style="color: purple;">Y</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">earbook - Ally Condie</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Z: <u><span style="color: purple;">Z</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">ombie Queen of Newbury High - Amanda Ashby</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Challenge #3 - 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge</span></center>
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<br /><br /><br />January - Vampires - <strike>Marked by P.C. Cast</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">Finished February 4, 2013 (just a <i>few</i> days late)</span><br />February - Angels/Nephilim - <strike>Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">Finished</span><br />March - Fey - <strike>The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">Finished</span><br />April - Demons - Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor ...on deck for March/April<br />May - Aliens - I am Number Four by Pitticus Lore<br />June - Zombies - Feed by Mira Grant<br />July - Witches and Wizards - Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia<br />August - Mermaids - Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman<br />September - Dragons - Eragon Christpoher Paolini<br />October - Ghosts - Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendra Blake<br />November - Werewolves/Shape-shifters - <strike>Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater</strike> Changed to '<span style="color: #990000;">Stolen (Women of the Otherworld #2) by Kelley Armstrong</span>' because Shiver was my January Book for a different challenge!<br />December - Time Travel - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Challenge #4 - 2013 Sequel Challenge</span></h3>
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<a href="http://www.auntiespinellireads.com/2012/12/2013-sequel-reading-challenge-sign-ups.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;"><img height="196" src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/geobobspinelli/2013seqchall2.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strike>1) City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished February 26/13</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2) <strike>Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare</strike> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">Finished</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">3) Shadow Kiss - Richelle Mead </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;">...on deck for March/April</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">4) <strike>A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished February 17, 2013</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">5) Glory In Death - J.D. Robb </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">6) The Last Little Blue Envelope - Maureen Johnson</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">7) Shadow Souls - L.J. Smith</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">8) Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers - Louise Rennieson</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">9) Rise of the Evening Star - Brandon Mull</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">10) Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Challenge #5 - 2013 Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge</span></div>
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<img height="188" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o6_SdmFl9hs/UK0HvcdsQZI/AAAAAAAAMxA/hMykSdoc91o/s200/2013+Sookie+Stackhouse+Reading+Challenge.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" width="200" /><br /><br />Book 4 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">...on deck for March/April</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Challenge #6 - Monthly Key Word Challenge</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">January: </span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through;">Shiver</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strike> - Maggie Steifvater </strike><span style="color: #0b5394;">finished January 28, 2013</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">February: <strike>PS I <span style="background-color: yellow;">Love</span> You - Cecelia Ahern</strike> <span style="color: #0b5394;">finished March 12, 2013 (wee bit late...)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">March: Be Careful What You <span style="background-color: yellow;">Wish</span> For - Alexandra Potter </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;">...on deck for March/April</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">April: <span style="background-color: yellow;">Shadow</span> Kiss - Richelle Mead </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;">...on deck for March/April</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">May:<span style="background-color: yellow;"> Shatter</span> Me - Tahereh Mafi</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">June: Under The <span style="background-color: yellow;">Never</span> Sky - Veronica Rossi</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">July: </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Shadow <span style="background-color: yellow;">Soul</span>s - L.J Smith</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">August: A Clockwork <span style="background-color: yellow;">Orange</span> - Anthony Burgess</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">September: <span style="background-color: yellow;">Blue</span> Bloods - Melissa de la Cruz</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">October: Glory In <span style="background-color: yellow;">Death</span> - J.D. Robb</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">November: <span style="background-color: yellow;">Forever</span> - Judy Blume</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">December: The <span style="background-color: yellow;">Princess</span> Bride - William Goldman</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, I am definitely doing better with some than others. I am up to date on the 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge which is great. I did think I would have progressed better with both the A-Z Reading Challenge and the TBR Reading Challenge as well. I'm pretty happy with the 2013 Sequel Challenge so far too, but I am very behind on my Monthly Key Word. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Right now I have the following books checked out of the library:</span></span></div>
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<img alt="Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, #4)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329501748l/140077.jpg" width="124" /><img alt="Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320564598l/9460487.jpg" width="128" /><img alt="Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1310649047l/10429045.jpg" width="133" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Dead to the World with be the first of four for the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Miss Peregrine's and Shatter Me are both on the A-Z list, and Shatter Me is also my May book for the Monthly Key Word Challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Therefore, I would really like to read the following in April (again, so so optimistic of me!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">1) Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">2) Be Careful What You Wish For - Alexandra Potter</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">3) Shadow Kiss - Richelle Mead</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">4) Glory In Death - J.D. Robb</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;">5) Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">6) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;">7) One For the Money - Janet Evanovich</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;">I will then be all caught up on my monthly ones, and have a few more crossed off every other list too! Fabulous! Now, if I can just stick to it!</span></span></div>
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-28628243682808245512013-03-27T10:15:00.000-02:302013-03-27T10:15:00.679-02:30Book to Movie Talk - Water for ElephantsRecently (like in the past two months) I read the book Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and I absolutely loved it! It was such a good read! Then one day I watched the movie on Netflix. And I was like, hmmm that was goo, I think. I remember this movie coming out, and I didn't see it because I wanted to read the book first, but the hype for it really died quickly. It had some popular actors in it, and I hardly remember hearing much about it at all. So I looked up some movie reviews. On IMDB it has a 6.9/10... not great, and rotten tomatoes it got a 6.1/10.<br />
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I enjoyed the book so so much, but the movie was only ok, as it seems it was for most other people too. Since there was nothing overly glaringly awful about this movie, I found myself wondering why such a fabulous book could turn into a relatively drab movie.<br />
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So, it was directed by Francis Lawrence and the screenplay was written by Richard LaGravenese. If you are anything like me, this means nothing to you. But, Lawrence also directed I Am Legend, and is currently directing Catching Fire. Means more now, right? So, I liked I Am Legend (even though it was a lot scary for me!) So, he can't be the problem. I also thought that the filming of the movie was really good. Most of the scenes were beautifully captured. So, Lawrence, you don't get the blame. We also can try and blame writer LaGravenese, he is known for screenplays of Bridges of Madison County and PS I Love You (another of my recent reads I will have to watch the movie of soon!) This screenplay changes a lot from book to movie, with some big ones being:<br />
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1) The story starts at the story. There is quite a lot of lead up to when Jacob begins telling the story (a lot of time in the Nursing Home) in the book, which I assume is character building for the future. This is eliminated in the movie, and I think its for the best (not that it was bad in the book) but the movie didn't need it. I was very okay with this change.<br />
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2) They get rid of the away from home bit. I don't care about this, this detail didn't matter to me, but I think it was done to easily show the viewed that Jacob is Polish, as that is an important detail.<br />
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3) No Al, just August. I didn't like this fact actually. I liked Uncle Al in the book, and I felt like eliminating him from the movie made August feel more important, when really he was more of a middle man. Ithink he should have been kept.<br />
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4) The details of Jacob and Marlena running away and then how they return to the circus are not the same. In the end, this isn't a huge change for the better or worse, but it did surprise me a bit while watching. I think it makes sense in the book for the book, and makes sense in the movie for the movie, so that's fine.<br />
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There were some other changes as well, but I think this is enough to show that the screenplay was not the problem in this movie adaptation. So, lets turn to the actors.<br />
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Marlena - Reese Witherspoon (known for Walk the Line, Leagally Blonde, and recently This Means War)<br />
Jacob - Robert Pattinson (known for the Twilight movies, and Remember Me)<br />
August - Christoph Waltz (known for Inglourious Basterds and Carnage)<br />
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And these three people are why this movie is not as good as it could have been. Now, I actually have nothing bad to say about any of them individually. I hardly know who Christopher Waltz is, and he played a good August, but he played a bad Marlena&August. I just did not believe their relationship. Pattinson was a decent Jacob is the scenes where Marlena wasn't around (however I can't help that think that he talks awkwardly because he isn't very good at faking an American accent, it seems very strained and painful thought..) Anyway, he and Witherspoon couldn't make me believe they loved each other no more than I believe 16 year olds who marry old rich men really love them. It was so unbelievable. The characters were cast fine, until you take into consideration the fact that they don't have relationships well with one another. So there you have it, that is why I think this movie was not as good as it should have been.<br />
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Any thoughts from anyone who loved or hated this movie?? What about the book??jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-34732019445115527612013-03-26T08:00:00.000-02:302013-03-26T08:00:04.336-02:30Top Ten Tuesday - March 26, 2013<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'century gothic', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: justify;">This week I am finally getting back on track with blogging. I should change this blog's title to Imma Busyworm as I have had so little time! Very exciting news happened this weekend though, and that is there was a new baby added to our family! BF's sister had a little boy named Sawyer Kai (Sawyer is a great bookish name, don't you think?!) He is so adorable! This is my 3rd nephew (and I have a niece too) but the first on BF's side of the family (plus, I don't live where my brother does, so I don't get to see his children very often at all). Anyway, he is wonderful, and my bathrooms still didn't get cleaned this weekend!! haha, oh well!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'century gothic', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: justify;">But, this list only takes a moment to write up, because this week's topic is a good one (plus, I can write this whenever because the Bookish Girls are great and put the topics up very far in advance - thanks!) If you would like to participate in Top Ten Tuesday hosted over at the Broke and the Bookish, you can get all the details <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.ca/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'century gothic', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: justify;"><u>Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most</u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'century gothic', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: justify;">1) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'century gothic', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: justify;">2) Game of Thrones series by George RR Martin</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: century gothic, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">3) The Host by Stephenie Meyer</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352395325l/19063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Book Thief" border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352395325l/19063.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1363890943l/13496.jpg" width="121" /><img alt="The Host (The Host, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1318009171l/1656001.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'century gothic', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: justify;">4) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'century gothic', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: justify;">5) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: century gothic, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">6) Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card</span></span></div>
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<img alt="The Perks of Being a Wallflower" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1363910637l/22628.jpg" width="139" /><img alt="Anna and the French Kiss" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358271931l/6936382.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="129" /><img alt="Ender's Game" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1314040163l/1950052.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="134" /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: century gothic, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">7) Knocked Up by Rebecca Eckler</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: century gothic, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">8) Summer Sisters by Judy Blume</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: century gothic, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">9) </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'century gothic', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px;">How I Paid for College by Marc Acito</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: century gothic, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">10) And last, (obviously if someone hasn't read them, I talk about them excessively until they agree to read them) all the Harry Potter books</span></span></div>
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<img alt="Knocked Up: Confessions of a Hip Mother-to-be" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320541163l/486626.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="129" /><img alt="Summer Sisters" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1167356646l/22695.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="121" /><img alt="How I Paid for College (Edward Zanni, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320397206l/123448.jpg" width="129" /><img 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" 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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-50082236115231419222013-03-25T08:00:00.000-02:302013-03-25T08:00:05.585-02:30Under The Dome - Stephen King<br />
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<img alt="Under the Dome" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1268982908l/6320534.jpg" width="210" /></div>
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<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when -- or if -- it will go away.</span><br />
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Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens -- town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician's assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing -- even murder -- to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn't just short. It's running out.</div>
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<b>Why I Read This Book: </b>Honestly, this was an impulsive Chapters sale table purchase that I just eventually got around to picking up.<br />
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<b>Review: </b>It has been awhile since I read this book, so this isn't going to be very detailed (Goodreads says I finished it December 27, 2012!) Anyway, this book had a good, enjoyable story which I liked quite a bit. The story itself was probably 4 stars, but alas it only got 3 because it was way to freakin long!! The amount of unnecessary detail in this book is off putting. I don't know how many times I just stopped reading because it felt like nothing was happening. For an exciting plot, the book really dragged.<br />
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<b>Rating: </b><br />
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-77739167812867527082013-03-22T09:30:00.000-02:302013-03-22T09:30:17.641-02:30Feature and Follow Friday March 22, 2013Hello Everyone! This is my first FF in a little while, but things are ever so slightly more calm in my hectic life right now, so I'm trying to get back at the blog! I miss it :( And what better way then to check out some new featured blogs and answer a little question :) Also, I am loving this new button! Gorgeous!<br />
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<a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Alison Can Read Feature & Follow" border="0" height="200" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8366/8474595901_873f4993f4_n.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div>
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First of all, this weeks features are:</div>
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<i><a href="http://cheriereads.blogspot.ca/">Cherie Reads</a></i></h2>
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and </div>
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<a href="http://www.shilohwalker.com/website/">Shiloh Walker</a></h2>
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So stop over and check these blogs out.</div>
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Second, this week's question is about guilty pleasure book genres:</div>
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Q: What is your guilty pleasure as far as reading? Is it a genre, or is it a certain type of book?</h3>
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<span style="color: #073763;">A: I have two; one is adult chick lit (think Sophie Kinsella, Lauren Wiesberger, Candace Bushnell, etc.) and that has been one for awhile, but more recently in the past year is young adult contemporary romance (think Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Dessen, Megan McCafferty, etc.) Blogging allowed me to discover that I love this type of book. I mean, I love tons of other genres as well, but if I'm ever looking for a 'lay on the beach and bring a book I know I'll like no matter what' kinda thing, I'm almost always going to grab for one of those two genres.</span></h3>
jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-22107028166380275182013-03-12T14:32:00.000-02:302013-03-12T14:35:27.777-02:30February Wrap UpHello! World's Worst Blogger here (but I said I would be MIA for awhile, so I don't feel too bad). I have to say that unfortunately updating on here, and even reading in general has taken a back seat these days (like the back seat of a school bus it's so low on my priority list right now!) Which is horrible, but I have been travelling for work, travelling for leisure, still working 2 jobs, and I'm in school... so, really I have been truly busy! Anyway, even though its almost 2 weeks late, I did want to post a quick February wrap up. I still won't be able to find time for any book reviews until the end of April (but I promise I will write and schedule a whole bunch so I have everything I have read out there! Promise! Right after I finish my Stats exam!!)<br />
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Ok, so I had very ambitious hopes for February due to how much I was going to be travelling. And I did definitely read more than if I hadn't been on planes, but not near as much as I had hoped to get to. I'm so behind in my reading, I'm worried I will fail all my challenges! :'(<br />
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Anyway...<br />
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Read</h2>
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<img alt="A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358254974l/10572.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="Marked (House of Night, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317067002l/30183.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1293422266l/1582996.jpg" width="135" /><img alt="Water for Elephants" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348373323l/43641.jpg" width="133" /></div>
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Again, I have no reviews to link up, but Clash of Kings was on my 2013 Sequels list, Marked was my January book on the 2013 Paranormal, City of Ashes was on my A-Z list and my 2013 Sequel list, and Water for Elephants was on my 2013 TBR Pile list. So that's not bad.</div>
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SUPPOSED TO HAVE READ</h2>
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Ok, so I had made plans to also read PS I Love You, which was my Monthly Key Word Challenge book for February, and I have about 20 pages left in it. So I can finish that tonight (unless I fall asleep with it in my hands like last night...) And I was also supposed to read Clockwork Prince as that was my February Paranormal Challenge book. I will read that one next. Then I'm going to read Club Dead and Glory In Death after that. So, I definitely won't be able to get to<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Be Careful What You </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Wish</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> For - Alexandra Potter for my March Key Word book, or </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa for the Paranormal Challenge. And since March is already almost half over, </span></span>Clockwork Prince, Club Dead, and Glory In Death are all I'm going to get to read. Hopefully I can finish all of those!!<br />
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Since I like planning so much, and list making, and challenge meeting, and since my semester will be over April 16th, I do have hope for April being a successful reading month, so I will get through the following but the end of April (making this my challenge for the next 6 weeks basically):<br />
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<img alt="Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339605943l/10025305.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, #4)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329501748l/140077.jpg" width="124" /><img alt="Glory in Death (In Death, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309282048l/268601.jpg" width="126" /><img alt="Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368l/8490112.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361099049l/2802316.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1271790654l/7747064.jpg" width="128" /><img alt="Be Careful What You Wish For" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347480795l/905885.jpg" width="130" /><img alt="One For The Money (Stephanie Plum, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316730230l/6853.jpg" width="131" /></div>
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I better get reading!</div>
jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-68356140829174835282013-02-01T12:00:00.000-03:302013-02-01T12:00:01.603-03:30January Wrap UpHello Everyone!<br />
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So, I know I'm totally off my schedule, but unfortunately it is going to remain that way for the foreseeable future as well. I'm totally crazy busy these days that when I have some down time, I don't ever want to spend it sitting in from of the computer! So, I'm sorry, but you won't be hearing much of me for the next 2 months!<br />
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I did want to get this wrap up post done though, because I am still trying to be serious about all the challenges I have taken on this year, so here's what I managed to consume during the month of January, versus what I was "supposed" to read.<br />
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Read</h2>
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<img alt="The Casual Vacancy" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358266832l/13497818.jpg" width="207" /><img alt="Life of Pi" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320562005l/4214.jpg" width="194" /><img alt="Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1275619504l/7111327.jpg" width="212" /></div>
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I haven't actually posted reviews for any of them yet, so I won't be able to link up on the 2013 TBR Reading Challenge, but they are read, so I feel rather accomplished over it. Life of Pi was on my <a href="http://immabookworm.blogspot.ca/p/2013-challenges.html">official challenge list </a>for the 2013 TBR Pile Reading Challenge, and Shiver was my January book for the Monthly Key Word Challenge.</div>
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Supposed to Have Read</h2>
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Well, there is only two challenges that go by each month, so those are really the only ones that I can fail this early on. I was supposed to have read Marked for the Paranormal reading challenge, and I'm only about 1/3 of the way through it, but at least I have started it, so I'll consider that a 'pass' anyway, maybe now a 'win', but a pass. Also, I'm about half way through Clash of Kings which is on my list for the 2013 Sequel Challenge as well, so that's pretty good. It's a really long book and it took a bit of a back burned when I realized how few days were left in January and I still had to read both Shiver and Marked.</div>
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<img alt="A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358254974l/10572.jpg" width="210" /><img alt="Marked (House of Night, #1)" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317067002l/30183.jpg" width="213" /></div>
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February Plans</h2>
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For February, obviously I want to finish both Marked and Clash of Kings, and I will want to read P.S I love You and Clockwork Prince as they are my February books, but my complete goal are these:</div>
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<img alt="Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339605943l/10025305.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="Ps I Love You" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346528409l/1657385.jpg" width="123" /><img alt="City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1293422266l/1582996.jpg" width="135" /><img alt="Water for Elephants" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348373323l/43641.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, #4)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329501748l/140077.jpg" width="124" /></div>
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In February I have to fly to Toronto, fly back to St. John's, and fly to Chicago so I will have lots of plane time which = lots of reading time in February, so I think I can handle all these! That way I will have a least one, and in many cases more than one, book crossed of every challenge list! And it's really only 6 books because I'm already half done the first two! Totally manageable :)</div>
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Happy Reading everyone!</div>
jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-16567664124562203932013-01-22T08:00:00.000-03:302013-01-22T08:39:50.337-03:30Top Ten Tuesday 2013 Edition, Volume 4<br />
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<span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">Hello! Back on schedule now :) This week's topic for the Top Ten Tuesday List is:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">I had to put some thought into this list, because I don't actually care much about where a book is set, but I wanted to give this list my best, so:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">1) Hogwarts!</span></div>
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I would so love for Rowling to write another book set in Hogwarts. I'm permanently craving more Hogwarts!</div>
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2) 1800 and 1900's</div>
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I know there are tons in this time period, and I have lots on my TBR list as well, but I haven't read them yet!</div>
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3) Books set in England that are kind of about just being in England</div>
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Tons of books are in England, but not a lot really discuss it that I have read.</div>
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4) Boarding school</div>
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Think Anna and the French Kiss kind of boarding school. I thought that was a great setting and wouldn't mind reading another book like that.</div>
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5) Exotic locations</div>
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Who doesn't love a book that makes it seem like your living in paradise??</div>
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Well, that's really all I can think of! Looking forward to everyone else's lists!</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. <span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">Each week they post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you</span><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">link back</b><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.</span></span></div>
jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-68134933438639083102013-01-21T17:00:00.000-03:302013-01-21T17:00:42.914-03:30Love The One Yor With - Emily Giffin<br />
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<img alt="Love the One You're With" height="400" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311992085l/2120652.jpg" width="263" /></div>
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<b>Goodreads Summary: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">New York Times</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> bestselling author of </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Something Borrowed,</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Something Blue,</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> and </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Baby Proof</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> delivers another captivating novel about women and the choices that define them. This is the story for anyone who has ever wondered: How can I truly love the one I'm with when I can't forget the one who got away?</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Ellen and Andy's first year of marriage doesn't just seem perfect, it is perfect. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other. But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo for the first time in eight years. Leo, the one who brought out the worst in her. Leo, the one who left her heartbroken with no explanation. Leo, the one she could never quite forget. When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she's living is the one she's meant to live. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Love the One You're With</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> is a powerful story about one woman at the crossroads of true love and real life.</span><div>
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<b>Why I Read This Books: </b>Mostly just cleaning up my TBR pile and I had borrowed this one from someone, and thought I should get it returned.<br />
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<b>Review: </b>I didn't really love or hate this book. At first it really bothered me, because I just know that I wouldn't make the same choices as Ellen, and I just felt the book was getting worse and worse because I kept hating her more and more. This is the first book by Giffin I had read, so I didn't have any expectations except that I know lots of people who like her. And I must admit, I hated the story, but the saving grace of the book was Giffin as she write so well. It was nice that she didn't feel like she needed to tell me the brand of everything Ellen wore (just her sister in law for some reason...) which was a nice change from most chick lit. As the story progressed I started to understand Ellen more, and came around on her a bit. I think the only reason I didn't hate this book was because Giffin really did make a big difference. If this book had been by a different chick lit author, I don't know if I would have been able to finish it, but I actually ended up liking it.<br />
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<b>Rating:</b><br />
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jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423136364014520705.post-34420303713141175252013-01-21T16:29:00.000-03:302013-01-21T16:29:34.583-03:30Top Ten Tuesday 2013 Edition, Volume 3<span style="font-family: inherit;">OK, so I know this is 6 days late, but I wanted to get it up anyway, even if not one ends up reading it! So, the topic for January 15th was:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm always one of the last ones to respond to Debut authors, so my list is actually non-existent (not because I don't like them, but more so because I'm in a perpetual spiral of attempting to catch up on other books and I always am the last to know about new books!) There is only one book that I have my eye on that's by a debut author and that is:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Splintered by A.G Howard. This book looks gorgeous and sounds awesome, so I'm definitely hoping to get this one.</span></span></div>
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<img alt="Splintered" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340134213l/12558285.jpg" width="216" /></div>
jesspoolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13821915310008462411noreply@blogger.com2