Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Date: 2012.04.24 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

Where I Got the Book: Christmas present from my sister who purchased it from Amazon

In Short: dual point of view, character delving, chilling

I was really excited to begin this book. I had read all of Stiefvater’s Shiver trilogy and had enjoyed the romance and the myth woven together. What can I say? I’m a fantasy girl. Also, shortly after its release the book was optioned to become a movie (IMDb shows it in development with a release date of 2015). The Scorpio Races, however, was nothing like that trilogy, however, still really enjoyable.

Kate “Puck” Conolly is an orphan with two brothers (one older, one younger) with a careful watch on the ever thinning contents of the pantry and the jar that holds all the money they have. Sean Kendrick who was abandoned by his mother and watched his father die is the hired “horse whisperer”/trophy racer at the Malvern stables. The Scorpio Races are what drive the two together and the haunting, terrifying, hungry, and beautiful water horses that come asore at the end of October may be the death of them.

On the small island of Thisby the Scorpio Races run on the first of November hold the island’s heritage and the greatest source of income for the merchants there. They also, however, are the cause of many deaths. The year Puck decides to join is the first year a woman has ever dared to race. She races to save her family. Sean races for freedom.

My Thoughts: This book started out slow for me, but you get to know a great deal about the characters, the island, and you feel the importance of an event because of this. Once the characters started taking shape in my mind, however, I found the book to be an absolute riveting read. For someone looking for a book as filled with action as one of the Percy Jackson books, I would say borrow first, then buy. Like in Shiver there is romance in the book, but–a little to my disappointment–Stiefvater doesn’t dwell on it for extremely long. In all honesty though, the brief moments of romance fit the characters that she had created, so I believe she did them justice.

Red Flags: Little bit of language. There isn’t profanity throughout the book, but there are a few instances of curse words as well as a few innuendos and uncooth words. I think the reason Stiefvater chose this diction though is to emphasize and bring a ring of authenticy to the island and fact that a young woman was throwing herself into what had been historically a man’s sport. Also, the book–about blood thirsty horses–is a bit violent. You are a witness to death, brutality, and practices that seem barbaric.

Grading

Plot: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Writing: 10/10

Originality: 10/10

Enjoyment: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Tidbits

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction

Original Release Date: October 18, 2011

Recipe for November Cakes: https://secure.flickr.com/photos/maggiestiefvater/6505338297/

A Lesson Brought to You by My Sister

Date: 2012.04.22 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 2

Recently I was talking to someone else about how much I don’t like Zooey Deshanel. Her hair is always flippin’ perfect, she’s an actress AND a singer, she’s beautiful, thin, dainty, every guy loves her, and she can’t pull off “dorky” because she’s too adorable. Come on, Zooey, dorky by definition means awkward. With your looks and personality the closest you can be is vivaciously zany.

Then I learned on top of all of that she has a successful blog, too!  *Turns green from head to foot*

Right in the middle of my loathe parade over every aspect of Ms. Deshanel I remembered something my sister said when she caught herself doing the same thing: “Oops my insecurity is showing!”

That statement has been the most honest, awakening string of words I have come across in my life. That is exactly what is happening when I’m tearing Zooey Deshanel or anyone else down. I’m being insecure and trying to make myself feel better. No one thinks better of me if I speak my mind and really it doesn’t make me feel better to think in such a way. It leaves me very bitter.

So the lesson here for the both of us is that whenever we’re feeling envious and hateful toward someone we need to check our behavior. Is that person really so awful or is our insecurity showing?

PS–Ms. Deshanel, I hope you have a long and happy life continuing to do all the things you love to do.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Date: 2012.04.10 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 2

The Fault in Our Stars and the Pup

Where I Got the Book: I have two copies actually–one pre-ordered from Amazon for Christmas and one from when my husband went Hanklerfishing at Kroger!

In Short: true love on borrowed time, cancer

I hesitated on beginning this book because I had been feeling a little down and so many people talked about how the book made them cry that I didn’t want to make my mood worse. Also, right around the time I received my copy a relative of mine died from the cancer infecting his brain.

Hazel is a sixteen year old girl residing in Indiana whose lungs don’t work due to the civilization cancer had established with in them. (Gah! I so don’t want to type much more than this because I feel like everything past the first chapter would contain spoilers. That’s how much I love this book! I view any and all info on it as a spoiler!) Through a forced attendance to a support group she meets Augustus Waters who is in remission–i.e. cancer is gone currently, but we won’t say you’re really cancer-free unless you stay that way for a few years. From the first support group meeting they click and the romance grows from there.

The obstacles Hazel and Augustus (sometimes Gus) face are: not being defined by their cancer, fulfilling wishes, and maintaining dignity while the body is doing its best to fall apart. That’s all I’m going to say about this because of a previous reason stated within a parenthesis.

My Thoughts: I really did love this book and how real all of the characters became to me. I literally started yelling at John Green (who of course wasn’t in the room) that such and such COULD NOT happen while caught up in the story. I even stopped reading twice and tweeted at him about two pages that made this not-easily-emotion-invoked reader to cry. (I will not reveal which pages–that is unless you read the tweets.) I will admit that I didn’t understand everything within the first read, but that’s the point of subsequent readings. You hold the story in your heart, you grow, come back to it again at another time, and then notice things you didn’t before or understand something you rushed through earlier in your quest to find out what happens next.

Red Flags: Language. The first curse word you encounter is on the third page of the story and it will not be the last one. I think this book is a pretty realistic representation of teenagers–and yes a great deal of them use profanity. There is also a depiction of some more-than-kissing displays of affection and implied sex. If you are someone who really can’t enjoy a novel because of these red flags, you may not want to try it. But if you’re able to accept them, look past them, or not be bothered by them at all I emphatically encourage you to read this book. Seriously.

Grading

Plot: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

Writing: 10/10

Originality: 10/10

Enjoyment: 10/10

Overall: 50/50

Tidbits

Genre: Love and Romance, Young Adult Fiction

Original Release Date: January 10, 2012

Two ways to increase the dosage of John Green in your life:

YouTube: Channel

Important Video to Watch

Twitter: @realjohngreen

Explanations and Reactions

Date: 2012.02.16 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 1

So I haven’t posted in….uh forever. I’m still fairly young, so a few months can still be forever. Shut up! Anyway… :-p …I haven’t posted lately because I’m contributing to another blog with much more potential than my own (and looking for more contributors if you’re interested). I probably shouldn’t, but I worry that I’ll run out of ideas to offer the other blog so I haven’t been posting anything new here.

However, my friend has requested that I review “Fiddler on the Roof” for her and another friend wanted to know how I liked it–and since I’ve been making him do play-by-plays for me of movies he hasn’t seen before–I figured I’d make a post of my reactions to FotR. Here goes:

So there you have it! My reaction to “Fiddler on the Roof”. Very well done! I’m so glad that it’s not one of those movies that EVERYONE thinks is so wonderful and I don’t get the big deal. (Examples: “Citizen Kane” and “Pulp Fiction”)

I don’t know when I’ll post here again, but you can check out other posts at the link up at the top.

The Super Cool Thing I Did Today (Harry Potter Themed)

Date: 2011.08.17 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 2

So like a super cool person I’ve been focusing on something I am quite passionate about: Harry Potter. Early entry for Pottermore during it’s Beta testing is going on right now and yours truly is able to count herself among those who have not been let in yet–I hope I can update this tomorrow stating something else. Anywho, while waiting to enter what may be the most awesome thing ever I have found a group of Potterheads (super big fans of the Harry Potter series) and we have been comforting each other while we continue to wait.  Well, today it got a little quiet in our group and I started doing parodies of two songs. I had help with one person who I will keep nameless  for her privacy, but if she ever would like that changed, then I shall gladly update this post. Without further ado, here are the Harry Potter parodied songs:

“When I’m Sixty-four” – The Beatles

When I’m Prof.  Dumbledore

When I get older tucking my beard,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Cursed necklaces, bottle of wine?

If I’d been out when you needed me
Would you lock the door,
Will you still heed me, will you still believe me,
When I’m Prof. Dumbledore?

oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oooo
You’ll be older too, (ah ah ah ah ah)
And if you say the words,
I could save evil you.

My Deluminator you can use
When your lights have gone.
Reading knitting patterns by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a fly.

Doing the garden, degnoming the weeds,
Who could ask for more?
Will you still heed me, will you still believe me,
When I’m Prof. Dumbledore?

Every school year we can study magic
In the Hogwarts Castle, if it’s not too dear
We shall toil and play
First years come to Hagrids knee.
Lily, James, and Snape

Send me a howler, drop me an owl,
Stating point of views.
Indicate precisely what you mean. By the way
My hand’s simply decaying away.

Please start remorsing, change your ways
Love power evermore
Will you still heed me, will you still believe me,
When I’m Prof. Dumbledore?

Whoo!

“Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey

Don’t Stop Thinkin’ (created with assistance)

Just a bushy-haired girl, livin’ in a lonely world
She took the Hogwarts train goin’ to wizard school
Just over-siblinged boy, later thought to have Spattergroit
He took the Hogwarts train goin’ to wizard school

A teacher in a dungeon room
A smell of spleen and daisy root
In a while it’ll brew green bright
Simmering on and on and on and on

Strangers celebrate, up and down the boulevard
Their robes all colors so bright
Muggle people, living just to find emotion
Wizards somewhere happy in the night.

Working hard to my master’s will,
He’s got an evil plan for me to fill
Hoping Harry takes my advice,
Safe one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to moan the blues
Oh, the year it never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers celebrate, up and down the boulevard
Their robes all colors so bright
Muggle people, living just to find emotion
Wizards somewhere happy in the night.

Don’t stop thinkin’
of that happy feelin’
Dementors comin’

Patronuuuuu-uuuus

Don’t stop thinkin’
Hold on
Dementors comin’

Patronuuuuu-uuuus

Don’t stop thinkin’
Hold on to the feelin’
Dementors comin’

Patronuuuuu-uuuus

I’m very proud of both those songs. Trying pulling up YouTube versions of each and reading along

**All melodies and most words are copyright and Harry Potter and Pottermore Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved

***Most of the above statement came from the Pottermore website (www.Pottermore.com)

Day of Beauty

Date: 2011.07.18 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

Any one else think it’s really funny how we have to get really nasty, smelly, or strange looking for beauty? I’ve been feeling pretty down on myself lately because I don’t know what my purpose in life is or Mean Me likes to state I have no purpose in life. So, to cheer myself up I decided to do a day of beauty.

1. I have an itchy scalp and I have flakes. The more stressed I am the worse it gets. I am not ashamed to admit this, however, because I have found something that really helps–especially if I actually do it (that’s pretty much key). After doing some research through our Googly Overlord I found that Apple Cider Vinegar was what everyone under the “apple cider vinegar” search was recommending. Yes, ACV is extremely smelly and I’ll warn you right now it WILL sting if it gets in your eyes and it is SO nasty when you realize some of it accidentally found its way into your mouth. HOWEVER, if you have an itchy scalp like me–where you’ve found that none of the dozens shampoos and conditioners work–then you should definitely try this. Most people recommend a one part AVC/one part water mixture and using a cup to apply or leave on your head in a wrap to later be washed. I recommend buying a condiment bottle (like those that you often see in red to indicate ketchup or yellow for mustard). I found a clear one at Wal*mart for cheap. I mean, it’s a clear, plastic condiment bottle–it would be crazy for them to charge more than a couple of dollars for that! I usually pick a day in which I know I won’t be going anywhere, because trust me your hair will smell. (The only shampoo/conditioner I know that relatively masks the smell well enough is Moonlight Path by Bath and Body Works, but I honestly don’t know if they sell it anymore.) Before shampooing I apply the AVC to my hair–the tip on the condiment bottle really helps in applying to specific areas and keeping AVC from running all down your face (also keep your head tilted back). Then I put my wet hair up and proceed to another part of my shower. After a few minutes I shampoo and condition like normal.  So yeah, taking care of the hair.
   

   I use it a lot!

2. Most DIY home beauty posters talked about doing a mask of some sort. A lot of posters left it up to some ambiguous thing that apparently all real women should have on hand. I am not a real woman…I guess. Others talked about the classic cucumber sunglasses and masks of other ingredients that let’s face it if those ingredients were common in my house, I probably wouldn’t feel so bad about my weight right about now.  So kissing all their foofy–probably works–masks goodbye I went straight to my bathroom counter, picked up my toothpaste, and rubbed that schtuff all over my face. A little too ALL over my face because I got it a little too close to my eyes and the mint in the toothpaste made my eyes tear up something fierce. So if you follow my suit, fair warning. Toothpaste I have used in the past to help reduce the size of blemishes (the ladylike term for zits) over night. Hopefully doing this will reduce a blemish coming on as well as sucking some oil out of my pores.
   

   This is me...and my glasses...and my Turbie Twist....

3. I am taking a baby oil,  peppermint tea foot bath. I don’t expect everyone to have a foot bath. In fact I wouldn’t even have one if it hadn’t been for my mom picking up the most generic gifts she could find right before meeting up with The Husband and me to celebrate Christmas. (Also, probably why she had us meet her and her husband near the mall–and was late.) Instead you could just sit on the side of your bath tub. The baby oil really helps soften my feet–plus sitting in a tub of bubbling water doesn’t hurt–and the peppermint tea was a moment of silliness where my mind was trying to make up for not having other foofy ingredients for my day of beauty. Peppermint tea is the only tea I like–and I like it with LOTS of sugar. I make candy cane tea, so there. Although having a helps-keep-your-water-warm element in the foot bath, it does not actually heat it. So my feet are in cold bubbly water. I can deal with this. The added peppermint tea has made this foot bath really funny. The water has turned amber and all the cats have decided that the peppermint smell plus the bubbles is too intriguing to overlook–as well as the box. Another tip: baby oil or any oil really used right after a shower on your legs will make them look silky and solve any ashy leg syndrome you might have.
   

   Oh, btw, you may end up with a layer of green on your skin. Don't worry it wipes right off.

   

   Must Get In Box!!!

My day of beauty has not only helped make me feel a little better about myself, but has also helped me in composing this post. So, yay and I hope something of this has been helpful for you. Also, since I’ve finally posted of pic of my face I guess I should officially say hello. *Official Voice* Hello. (Official voices for some reason are deep by nature and without exclamation points.)

Irrational Violence

Date: 2011.07.09 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

With a title like that you probably think that I’m going to give you a blog about how we could all live in a peaceful world if we would just [x]. Well you’re wrong! HA! How does that feel? Nah nah ne nah nah! No, what this post is about is the little things that turn me from a sensible person to a short, petulant chick who feels the need to lash out.  Ok, ok you’re right I’m short regardless. Everyone has something that ignites the little bomb in us. Below are three of mine.

1. Smells. Growing up I carried around a precious blankey that I would sniff all the time and had a favorite corner that smelled the best. If you’re imagining one of those kids that puts up a fuss whenever the blanket was washed, you’d be right. I mean come on! All the best smells were gone! Truth be told I still cuddle up with a blanket and smell it. It’s my go-to action whenever I’m reading or watching tv. (I know “tv” is supposed to be capitalized, but it’s an abbreviation! It’s not a person, important event, or anything. It’s a tv.) So needless to say I’m kind of particular about smells. One morning I was woken up by an odor The Husband had made by heating up an extremely smelly, frozen dinner for breakfast. I remember jumping out of the bed, stomping out of the bedroom, throwing open some windows, punching The Husband in the stomach, and then returning promptly to bed.
2. Endless Beeping. Usually this is in a store, because if it’s in my home I WILL control the beeping. In stores once my ears detect the high pitched frequency and consistent pattern I can feel the muscles in my neck tighten and turn my head slowly to one side as if I were playing some sort of psychopath in a crappy movie or about to transform into some sort of monster before your very eyes. Two days ago we were in Home Depot and directly behind us was a man on a lift rearranging stock on the top shelves. He would *beep beep beep* go up and shelve something, then *beep beep beep* go down to get more inventory. It was maddening. It got to a point where I could no longer hear The Husband’s voice. I was consumed by the sound and was later glad that the buggy I had been clutching had no nerve endings. I could only become myself again when we got far, far way from that section.
3. “Puffy Cloudy Sayings”. Now it may offend someone for me to say this, but I absolutely hate such saying as “Don’t ask for more… do more,” – an uncle of mine. “Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there,”  -Virginia Burden. “Life is not about learning to survive the storm, but rather learning how to dance in the rain,” -Unknown.  I really have to hold my tongue when I read/hear someone spouting off a mantra that they don’t even follow and are only saying so that they sound balanced and enlightened. What I really want to do is get right in their face and tell them is that they should just go ahead and cross-stitch it on a pillow and throw it on their couch…and I have said that once. It was a long day.

I hope that posting this to the internet will not mean that when you see/meet me you will use this knowledge against me. I will warn you that the same rule for tickling me applies to using these methods against me. I Am Not Responsible For My Reactions.

Lamp

Date: 2011.06.28 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

Seeing how it’ll turn out posting from my phone. This the lamp I revamped. It was gold and hideous. I spray painted it. Then again when I realized the poor job I did and the heat of the lamp from leaving it outside all day made some of the paint crackle. I got the lampshade from an awesome antique store down the road.

Read-a-thon Day#2

Date: 2011.06.18 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

Hello again!

I didn’t read over the night so here is my non-update or starting off point:

Mini Challenge #6:

Pick two characters and tell why they would make a good couple or team

• Total Books Read: _____1_____
• Total Pages Read: ____578______
• Books Read Since Last Update: ______0____
• Pages Read since last update: _____0_____
• Total time read: _12 hours yesterday_____
• How I’m currently feeling: Glad that we got all of our shopping down in time!!

I think Ginny Weasley from the Harry Potter series and Gale Hawthorne from the Hunger Games would make a great team. They both possess determination and strength. They both will fight to the death to protect their families.

Ginny the Valiant

Magic would have really helped out Panem

Mini Challenge #7:

What book should be taught in school at any grade level of choice?

• Total Books Read: 1
• Total Pages Read: 689
• Books Read Since Last Update: 0
• Pages Read since last update: 111
• Total time read: 2 hours today, 14 total
• What I’m currently reading: The Fire Eternal by Chris D’Lacey
• How I’m currently feeling: Contemplative and snuggly.

My answer actually surprised me. I thought of Harry Potter and Hunger Games or some other typical answer for myself because I’m in a typical answer rut, but then I remembered this book.

Awesome artwork!

Calico Captive is historical fiction based on the real journal entries of Susanna Willard Johnson about the kidnapping of her family and herself by a tribe during a raid in 1754. I believe it would work well in 5th grade because that is when I remember Social Studies focusing on American history, so it would tie in well with what the students were already learning.

Mini Challenge #8:

Describe how you would organize your library.

• Total Books Read: 2
• Total Pages Read: 793
• Books Read Since Last Update: 1
• Pages Read since last update: 104
• Total time read: 4 hours today, 16 total
• What I’m currently reading: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
• How I’m currently feeling: Eager to do my annual reading of this book

I agree wholeheartedly with Enna Isilee! I organize by author, then alphabetically if it’s a stand-alone story or chronologically if it’s part of a series–and the series name is in alphabetical order with the other books by the same author.

Mini Challenge #9:

Make your name into an anagram. CLICK HERE

• Total Books Read: 2
• Total Pages Read: 887
• Books Read Since Last Update: 0
• Pages Read since last update: 94
• Total time read: 6 hours today, 18 total
• What I’m currently reading: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
• How I’m currently feeling: Excited because Char is about to reappear in the book

Keeping myself anonymous on this blog, I used screen name that I use for comments–and I wish it weren’t what it is, but oh well!

It's almost like it did that on purpose.

Mini Challenge #10:

Name the funniest/most inspiring thing you’ve read during read-a-thon

• Total Books Read: 2
• Total Pages Read: 985
• Books Read Since Last Update: 0
• Pages Read since last update: 98
• Total time read: 8 hours today, 20 total
• What I’m currently reading: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
• How I’m currently feeling: Still excited! The balls are about to begin! And I seriously doubt I’ll read 5 books during this challenge, but I’m really closing in on the 1,000 page  goal!

I want to say various bits from Ella Enchanted because I love the playful sentences Levine uses, but since I’ve read it every year since 5th grade the jokes are more amusing than make-you-want-to-chuckle-and-immediately-share. So instead I’ll reference The Fire Eternal by Chris D’Lacey in which a clay dragon pulls out a tool from his tool box: “He raised an eye ridge at the tool that settled in his hand. It looked very similar to the screwdriver used by the time-traveling hero of the dragons’ favorite television program.” Here the author is referencing “Doctor Who” a well known British scifi drama series. The book was published in 2007, so they are probably referring to the 10th Doctor as portrayed by David Tennant.

Hover over pic for link to original

Oh and here is a clickable link for that! Silly me!

Mini Challenge #11:

If you could live in any literary world,  which would it be?

• Total Books Read: 3
• Total Pages Read: 1089–GOAL MET
• Books Read Since Last Update: 1
• Pages Read since last update: 104
• Total time read: 10 hours today, 22 total
• What I’m currently reading: Dark Fire by Chris D’Lacey
• How I’m currently feeling: Really glad that the series got better, because I got them at a Buy 4, Get 1 Free sale and after the slow, boring first book I was worried that I had thrown money away.

I immediately thought “Harry Potter” when I read the challenge, but there is no promise that I would have magic  in my blood. I would probably just end up an ignorant and unassuming muggle. So instead I would love to live in Narnia. The biggest appeal for me is 1. Talking Beasts (I love animals–sometimes more than people–and would love to hear what they have to say.) 2. Mythological creatures such as dryads, centaurs, and fauns actually exist. They aren’t a myth there. 3. I’d get to wear beautiful medieval clothing..or be born in a low station and see the beautiful clothing on the nobles. Nobles these days wear pant suits–practical, but boring.

FINISHED! Report #2

1. First of all, give us an end-of-read-a-thon status update. (see below)
2. What is your favorite book you read during the read-a-thon? Favorite new book was The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
3. Did you participate in any mini-challenges? Which ones? ALL of them
4. Which mini-challenge was your favorite? Writing a story that includes provided words
5. What has been your favorite thing about the read-a-thon? I actually liked the mini challenges a lot–especially the ones where you had to be creative
6. Are you satisfied with how much reading you got done? Did you do more than you expected? Less? I’m happy with the number of pages, but I had hoped  I would have gone through more books. (I adhered to reading only between 8:00 am MST and 8:00 pm MST)
7. What did you think of the updates? Too close together? Didn’t like the time limit? I thought the updates were really well paced and it kept me on my toes while allowing me to get enveloped by the book I was reading.
8. If you could change one thing about the read-a-thon, what would it be? Make all challenges open worldwide that way everyone has a chance to enter on all the challenges
9. Would you participate in another read-a-thon hosted by Squeaky Books? Why or why not? Absolutely! This was my first read-a-thon and I loved it!!
10. Any last comments on the read-a-thon? Can it not be annual and be more like semi-annual (like Victoria’s Secret in that they have a lot of semi-annual sales)?

Update #12:

• Total Books Read: 3.5
• Total Pages Read: 1223
• Books Read Since Last Update: .5
• Pages Read since last update: 134
• Total time read: 12 hours today, 24 total
• What I’m currently reading: Dark Fire by Chris D’Lacey
• How I’m currently feeling: So glad I participated!

Read-a-thon

Date: 2011.06.17 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

Hello!

I will be updating this post as requested for the read-a-thon (or aka book-a-thon to my mixed up brain).

Here are the books  I have ready to read for the event:

Yes, those are books about Dr. Who you see there

What book are you starting with?

• The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

I hope to read:

• 1,ooo pages seems like a good goal

Where are you going to read?

• From the comfort of my ugly-but-now-slip-covered couch

Mini Challenge #1:

Name favorite and least favorite book to movie adaptation

Reading Update:

• Total Books Read: _____0_____
• Total Pages Read: ____103______
• Books Read Since Last Update: ______0____
• Pages Read since last update: _____103_____
• Total time read: _2 hours_________
• How I’m currently feeling: Eager to continue reading!

• Favorite book-movie adaptation: I love the Harry Potter series. I could read them on constant repeat and be perfectly happy. Although, yes some things were left out that I would have loved to see, I think they did a great job with the adaptation and always watch the ABC Family Harry Potter weekend when it comes on.
• Least favorite book-movie adaptation: Ella Enchanted. No contest. I know that Eragon had over 50 differences, but that pales in comparison to Ella Enchanted. One day I’ll force myself to watch the movie again so I can count just how many differences there are.

Mini Challenge #2:

Create a Wordle (and try to not think about Pokemon)

Update:

• Total Books Read: _____0_____
• Total Pages Read: ____193______
• Books Read Since Last Update: ______0____
• Pages Read since last update: _____90_____
• Total time read: _4 hours_________
• How I’m currently feeling: Upset with results over mini challenge #2 and feeling like I’m not as quick of a reader as I thought. (And just wasted 30 minutes of the reading segment–better mood to come!)

Ok, so I failed this challenge. The site required a plugin–which I have, but it wouldn’t recognize it–and when I tried to install it it said that I already have the plug in. So I uninstalled and tried to reinstall to no avail. I’m really frustrated at this and I’m trying not to get upset over it enough to where I turn 4 years old and cry over the unfairness of it all. Lol.  I’m supposed to go here and create something really cool in case you were wondering.

UPDATE: My husband got it working!

Thank You, The Husband!!

Mini Challenge#3:

Write a Story–I’m writing a beginning of a story, because I don’t want it to wrap up neatly. Update first:

• Total Books Read: _____1_____
• Total Pages Read: ____282______
• Books Read Since Last Update: ______1____
• Pages Read since last update: _____89_____
• Total time read: _6 hours_________
• How I’m currently feeling: Wishing The Last Little Blue Envelope didn’t have to end and somewhat irrationally wanting to go to “university” in England.

Grace was scared of this day. She knew it would come, but she didn’t know it would come so soon.

At her birth a shaman was called into the birthing hut. Paying little to no attention to the women rushing about or to the sweat-streaked face of her mother he gazed down at Grace in her makeshift cradle of goat skins and branches. With the precision of a laser and showing no compassion he spoke of the fate the gods had in store for this child. With horror in her eyes Grace’s mother banished him from the hut and called to her husband. The women of the birthing hut quickly relayed the prophecy to the new father. Both parents wept openly as they placed talismans made from the bark from a lime tree around their doomed child.

Mini Challenge #4:

For this mini-challenge you need to create a puzzle that consists of about three images which describes a book. First the update:

• Total Books Read: _____1_____
• Total Pages Read: ____366______
• Books Read Since Last Update: ______0____
• Pages Read since last update: _____84_____
• Total time read: _8 hours_________
• How I’m currently feeling: Hungry!! The husband coming home will bring distracting noise, but at least then I can have dinner.

No hints here

Nope, not a single one

Still not giving you a hint

So there :-p

Mini Challenge #5:

A sentence made from book titles.

Update:

• Total Books Read: _____1_____
• Total Pages Read: ____472______
• Books Read Since Last Update: ______0____
• Pages Read since last update: _____106_____
• Total time read: _10 hours_________
• How I’m currently feeling: Still hungry!! The husband is home and the food is cooking!

Looking for Alaska, Ella enchanted the idiot.

Thanks to Levine for ending her title with a verb!

SiS Read-a-thon Report #1

1. First of all, give us an end-of-day status update. Books read, pages read, you know the drill!

• Total Books Read: _____1_____
• Total Pages Read: ____578______
• Books Read Since Last Update: ______1____
• Pages Read since last update: _____106_____
• Total time read: _12 hours_________
• How I’m currently feeling: Worried I won’t read all the books I picked out since tomorrow we have to shop for groceries and Father’s Day gifts.

1. What is the favorite thing you have read today? The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
2. Which mini-challenge was your favorite? Geez that’s hard, because I really like them all, but I guess the one where I had to come up with a story.
3. What has been your favorite thing about the read-a-thon? The challenges and the solemn respect the husband has given this event–it’s really kind of sweet.
   
4. What has been your LEAST favorite thing about the read-a-thon? The Wordle challenge, but only because I had so many system problems with it.
5. Are you on track to meet your goals? I’m over half way there for my total pages read goal, but not for books–still on my second book.
6. Will you be participating tomorrow? Do you have any new goals? Yes, as much as I can. New goal: hurry with shopping so I can get back to reading.