Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Weekly Progress

Wow, another week is over, which means it's time for THE WEEKLY PROGRESS! (As you can tell I'm in an amazing mood!)
Okay, I kind of sucked this week and didn't read much. In fact, I had to renew some books from the library since I didn't read them. Which means I only finished about 2 of the 5 books I was supposed to read and the rest of that TBR group will be read (hopefully) in two weeks at most.

What did I read?

Love You Hate You Miss You
Shattered Mirror (Den of Shadows)
Pure Sin
Crusade

And I listened to the audiobook of:

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4)

Next 5 Books I'm (supposed to be) Reading

Mostly Good Girls
Other (An Other Novel)
Stork
Beautiful Dead: Jonas Bk.1 (v. 1)
Everlasting

Currently Reading
The Keepers' Tattoo

Library Record: Checked out (Total)
This is a new feature I will be doing. Just so I can get a feel for how many books I read vs. how many I check out.
Checked out: 6

My Thoughts

Gosh I'm glad this week is over! It was so much work, studying for exams and I'm so glad I'm done. Some good parts were watching Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries (since their break ended). I'm also starting new classes on Tuesday which is exciting! Next week I'll be adapting to Gym (which I'm not excited for), Science, Drama and Business. I hope you guys had a great week and weekend!

xoxo,

-P.E.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Review: Love You Hate You Miss You

Love You Hate You Miss You
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Pages: 304
Source: Library
Synopsis: It's been seventy-five days, and Amy still doesn't know how she can possibly exist without her best friend, Julia—especially since it's her fault that Julia's dead. When her shrink tells her it would be a good idea to start a diary, Amy starts writing letters to Julia instead. But as she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past wasn't as perfect as she thought it was—and the present deserves a chance, too.

Love You Hate You Miss You had me prepared for an emotional roller coaster. My only fear was that I wouldn't connect with the main character, Amy. I did though. Amy is a girl who doesn't want to be herself. She drinks sometimes to forget herself. She had a best friend, Julia, who she loved and who was strong, fierce, rebellious; basically, what Amy wanted to be. After an incident, Julia died. Amy was there when it happened and can't forgive herself for her part of the blame.

I cried a lot while reading this. I was rooting for Amy all the way. She felt so complicated: ungrateful, happy, angry, a mix of different emotions that were hard to distinguish. She was a real character, which made me love her. This book isn't a "Happily ever after" fairy tale. I think it's a mature story of loss and coping with it.

The other characters are also real. They're not all as developed as Amy but most of them are close. In all the characters there are good and bad parts (except Beth, where I didn't notice anything good). Some of my scenes was in the end with Caro who made a choice I fully agree with and the scenes with Amy and her parents. I think it's the most realistic parents/child scenes I've probably ever read.

Overall, this was an amazing novel. It was a bit hazardous for me to read because I was (and am) studying for exams while I was reading so I absorbed a bit of the excess negative emotions and got easily frustrated. It hooks you in, and with Amy's revelations about her life come some about your own. Love You Hate You Miss You was a book I'm glad to have read. I wish I read it sooner though! Four stars,

****

-P.E.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Book Blogger Hop & My fave TV show

Book Blogger Hop

This is the my first week participating in the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Crazy For Books! It's a great way to meet new bloggers, make new friends and "hop" blogs. This week's question is

"What book are you most looking forward to seeing publeshed in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?"
Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely)

I'm looking forward to Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr. I absolutely love love love the Wicked Lovely series (especially Keenan) and I can't wait to see what happens. I know I'll cry when I read the book, but I've read amazing reviews about it. I'm a bit scared though, I'll miss Aislinn, Niall, Donia, Keenan, Irial, etc.

Anyway, that was just my answer. How about you? Leave a comment so I can visit your blog too!

And off to another topic...

My favourite TV show without a doubt is the Vampire Diaries! I LOVE that show. And I'm totally Team Damon. This latest episode made me bawl... If you saw it, comment and let me know what you thought of it!

Last thing: I'm done my exams! *does a happy dance* 

Hope you guys had a great week and Friday, 

-P.E.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine. It features upcoming book releases that we can't wait to get our hands on. Mine is Trial by Fire.


Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Pages: 432
Synopsis: Sorry, I couldn't find any
Release Date: June 14 2011

I love love loved Raised by Wolves (probably my fave were book) so I'm super excited for this. What are you waiting for?

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Teaser Tuesday: Love You Hate You Miss You

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. It features posting two "Teaser" sentences on your blog. But be careful not to spoil! I'm currently reading...
Love You Hate You Miss You
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Pages: 304

p. 78

"You spent the summer away from your parents?"

"Obviously." 111 days and this was where I was. I deserved it, I know, but still.

What are you reading and what are your teasers? Comment with your teasers and leave a link so I can visit you too!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Review: Liar

Liar
Author: Justine Larbalestier
Pages: 384
Source: Library
SynopsisMicah will freely admit that she’s a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she’ll ever tell you. Over the years she’s duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents, and she’s always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as naturally as breathing? Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them—and herself—that she’s finally come clean, Liar is a bone-chilling thriller that will have readers see-sawing between truths and lies right up to the end. Honestly.


Wow, I really enjoyed this book. Micah alternates between lies even though she tells you earlier on it's the truth. I loved that- it was like a mystery.  And her lies were so natural that even though she said frequently she was a liar, I believed her again and again. That made the way the story was written appealing to me for most of the book. I did finally get annoyed in the last 20 pages though but that might be because I read it late at night. 


Micah's greatest secret was something that I was expecting since I got spoiled somewhere. I'm really upset because when it got revealed, I wasn't very shocked. Which is why I'm not spoiling it for you. 


The characters all interest me at least. There were certain actions done that I didn't understand at all, but that didn't make me like the characters any less. They're all so different, from popular Tayshawn to the jerk Brandon. Wow, I must like this book if I can remember everyone's name! 


Some thing that might turn people off from the book is how it's written. I said I liked it, but other people might not like the format after a while. Micah might also be hard to connect to for some, but again, I connected to her. The author, Justine Larbalestier, wrote Liar very skillfully and I can't imagine  her writing it any different way. 


Overall, this was a pleasure to read and discover all the twists and turns. It's a book that will get you thinking and shocked with all the plot twists. It also makes you take a second look at people. That's why I'm giving it four stars, 


****


Hope you liked my review, 


-P.E.



Sunday, January 23, 2011

Sunday Confessions

I was browsing some of the blogs I follow and I came across this meme that I hope to be participating in every week. It's Sunday Confessions hosted byTo Read or Not To Read. The question this week is
Do you need silence to read?

No, I don't need silence. The public transit is the best way for me to make time to read so I've gotten used to loud noises. I can block anything out, which isn't always a good thing because my mom frequently hollers at me to do things while I'm reading but I never hear her.

How about you? Do you need silence?

The Weekly Progress

Bonjour everyone! So every week as a way to keep organized, I'll be doing my weekly progress thing which is similar to stuff like "Wrap-ups" from other blogs. Though I made this idea up myself, I later saw other blogs already do similar posts. Great minds think alike, eh?

Books Read
Enchanted IvyPegasusHow to Ditch Your FairyLiar

I'm actually surprised I got to read so many seeing as how busy I was!
Currently Reading
Love You Hate You Miss You

5 Next Books I'm ReadingBlood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4) I'm listening to the audiobook— my first ever— before I read Last Sacrifice.
Pure Sin (Privilege)Remember Me: Remember Me; The Return; The Last StoryEchoesGifted: Finders Keepers
And since "Blood Promise" might not count as a book I'll be reading...The Glass Demon: A Novel
My Thoughts
Wow, what hectic week! And sadly, it's going to get even worse as I do my first exams ever! Fingers crossed, I won't get anything under an 85. I'm super nervous but it's hard to study when I think of books! Anyway, I really hope I do well and that I survive next week. After next week I'll relax as I start my second (and easier) school semester. I hope everyone had an awesome week and that next week will be even better.

xoxo,

-P.E.