“I spent my life folded between the pages of books.In the absence of human relationships I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.”

― Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Booking Through Thursday: 2012 books

It's Thursday! Yay! and I'm tossing together a sloppy post :P

Question:

A deceptively easy question for this week (easy to ask but possibly hard to answer): What are/were your favorite book(s) of the year? (Bonus points if you know how many books you read.)

Let's start off with the easy. So far I've read 36 books this year. :/ I'm not too proud of that. There should have been more.... BUT...the year is not over!!! (NOTE: my goal was 50)

Ok. The Hard.

I can categorize this simply.

1. Best Writing

2. Best Fandom

3. Best Inspiration

4. Most Addictive

5. Best Overall



1. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare / Divergent by Veronica Roth

3. Divergent by Veronica Roth

4. Born at Midnight y C. C. Hunter

5. HA! As if I could choose one! And you thought I would!


How was everyone else's book stats this 2012? What are you 2013 goals?




Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Book Haul

hey guys! Sorry to have skipped out on you but I had several family get togethers and couldn't find the time to get a post together. This was the haul I managed to receive:

1. Variant by Robinson Wells

2. Shiver, Linger, and Forever by Maggie Stiefvator (trilogy)

3. Reached by Ally Condie

4. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Plus ton of gift cards to my local bookstore where I can pick a few more books out.

What did you guys get? Leave a comment with your book-y haul!

-Kait

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Taken at Dusk by C.C. Hunter

Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls, #3)Taken at Dusk by C.C. Hunter
Summary from: goodreads.com


Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers. Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.



Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean. But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.



Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together. Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She looked at Holiday "What would anyone gain by pretending to be my grandparents?"
"Access to you." Holiday answered

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Review: Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

Well here it is. Here is my Mark of Athena review.

Finally.

Grca_badge_winnerThe Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus, #3)Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
Summary from: goodreads.com


Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare....

.............................................................................................................

You might notice the fact that this is a Goodreads Choice winner for 2012. And for good reason my friends, good reason.

Let's just cut to the chase:

This book manages to steal a stunning 5 stars from me!


Yay!


Yes this book totally lives up to the standards (if not jump way way way way way beyond!) the expectations of Rick Riordan. And it is quite frankly (heh.. Frankly. Get it? No? Well I guess you might not...) a —okay this is bugging me because I have the PERFECT word to say about this but it is on the TIP OF MY TONGUE!!.... Nope. I got nothing..— *skips word* for both the Demigods to be reunited with their friends.

Rick Riordan delivers a perfectly balanced collection of humor and action. You get to live through the narration from Leo Valdez, Annabeth Chase, and Percy Jackson.



What I didn't like: I don't recall anything being bad. It was all amazing. Maybe the fact that there was just too much going on for Percy and Annabeth to just ENJOY THEIR TIME TOGETHER. And again the ever annoying Gea attempts to end our beloved characters lives, but hey! That's supposed to happen. So good news. There is nothing bad here. (just much emotional trauma on our weak reader hearts) BUT THE END MY DEAR FRIENDS. THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Annabeth is one strong chick!)








 
Words can't express. Why not moving pictures? Because these were my movements/facial expressions.
 

What I did like: Well that would be everything! I love the way Rick Riordan brought old references from the original Percy Jackson series into it because everyone knows Percy Jackson is where its at. We can't ever leave it behind! I would say every bit I liked here...but that would be spoiler-y. Too spoiler-y.... So I will say one more thing: All that I could every have imagined was fulfilled in this book. Everyone was together again...and the quest went on! (but what quest doesn't have complications my fellow Demigods? Answer me that.)

Overall this book was just another dose of adventure with my favorite characters. There were multiple fangirl moments in here. 100% Percy Jackson fan amazing. I can't wait for House of Hades.


Nanowrimo

Hi, it is Mariana ( I am very sorry that I am not using conjunctions but.... in Nanowrimo I stopped use of conjunctions to raise my word count (is that cheating?( Is it grammatically correct to use a parentheses inside of parentheses?))) So anyways I am back!!! I know Nanowrimo has been over for 14 days but I have been very busy lately! I will try to be more watchful on the blog!!
Mari (I am too lazy to find my siggy right now!)

Booking Through Thursday: Moving On

Oops! Just notice this didn't post! (Blogger has been doing this to me lately....)

It's THURSDAY!

Booking Through Thursday!

Question:


So … you’ve just finished reading a book. For the sake of the discussion, we’ll say it was everything a book should be—engaging, entertaining, interesting, thought-provoking. The kind you want to gush over. The question is—do you immediately move on to your next book? Or do you take time to contemplate this writerly masterpiece and all its associated thoughts/emotions/ideas for a while first?

If it is a series and I can get my hands on the next book: all contemplating goes out the door. Get me the next book I say! Why wait?

If it is the latest release or the last book in the series or a stand alone I will wait a few days (sometimes in tears or cliff hanger agony) before I enter the next world. Sometimes I really don't want to leave this one behind so I will be torn for a couple days...waiting for the feeling to subside.

-Kait

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Born at Midnght

Today's teaser is from Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Handle it? I just saw a boy turn himself into a unicorn. can it get any worse?
 pg 52

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a good one!

~Kait

Monday, December 10, 2012

Reviews: My thoughts on some...

Good day lovely readers,

I am writing a spur of the moment post on "reviews" right now...because of the late I've come across some not too nice ones that I feel I personally need to address how it effects me...and most likely others as well as the author.

In attempt not to call out on the reviewer/book I will change a few details here.

At some point someone told ___insert author here___ they could write. That person should apologize to me, in person, and to all other poor souls who were suckered into buying this mess of a book.

Now I find that extremely inappropriate to have written for several reasons. Yes you can ABSOLUTELY state your negative opinion on the book and how you did not care for it. But being this harsh does many things to many people.

1. It doesn't say very nice things about you...if you're going to write a review you want to be as delicate with the harsh as possible...because it's an opinion and people have different ones. so maybe there was someone who truly loved this book you just bashed. Not cool.

2. The author has feelings too. And there is a chance that they did not read this review you published... but if they did...would you be able to say those things to their face? You can't hide behind the Internet.

3. This is very insulting to me as an author to-be...and I hurt for the author of this book. To say that someones writing doesn't live up to your standards...ok...that's alright, but to go and say that the very person who encouraged this authors dreams should apologize to you for making you suffer through their writing? I'm not ok with that. As an aspiring author that truly pains me... most likely this person does not know the trials of writing a book...and the controversy over the topic too.

Overall I'd just like to say: be careful what you say in your reviews. Because a lot of the time...you alter peoples decision to read or not to read a book...and you want to be as unbiased as possible so people can make their own decisions.


Sunday, December 9, 2012

The Hunger Games Discussion Saturday: Was it necessary?



For those of you who don't know, The Hunger Games Discussion Saturdays is a weekly meme (hosted by us....it was our first meme EVER) and we basically just discuss The Hunger Games...we will continue to do so until we EXHAUST the topic...that may take a very long time. We have at LEAST until 2015 (Mockingjay part 2 movie release)


The question this week is SUPER SPOILER-Y if you have not read Mockingjay...STAY CLEAR. This is a spoiler zone...all of it is... top to bottom. Sorry, but I feel this is a REALLY necessary topic of discussion at the moment.

Here is the question:

*Highlight between the brackets to view the SPOILER-Y question*

{ Was Finnick and Prim's death really necessary? }

................................................................................................................................
Kait

**Highlight between the brackets to view the SPOILER-Y discussion**

{ Yes. It shows you how serious this book is...it's not a joke. and when everyone around you starts dying its not so funny anymore. Katniss described how everyone must have felt and how all their family members were dead because of the games. Suzanne didn't just want to "tell" you, she wanted to show you. She made it so you could experience it too, leaving it for the last book so you knew Katniss SOO well and then killed them. So you felt it too...you weren't just watching others who you didn't know through the story being hurt, it effected you too, it effects everyone in The Hunger Games. It's a very serious thing and was very necessary. It's war guys. It takes everything. (Katiss was pretty dang lucky to at least finish it off with Peeta...at least he barely survived...she would have had nothing.) }

Since we are a user friendly blog and want all of our readers to be able to read the comments please add " **SPOILER ALERT** " to your post if it applies. Thanks for your consideration!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Booking Through Thursday: Keeping Track

It's Booking Through Thursday! Yay!


Do you keep a list of the books you’ve read? How? In a journal? Through one of the online services? If so, WHY? To keep good records for future reference? To make sure you don’t accidentally reread? If not, why not? Too eager to move on to the next book? Too lazy? Never thought to bother?

I do keep a list! in fact I use this AMAZING program I am sure many of you guys are familiar with called Goodreads !

Why? Well I find that Goodreads is a helpful program for so many reasons:

1. I can keep a log of how many pages I read a day and write little comments about what I think of the book at that point (which helps for reviews and just looking back)

2. I can keep a list of books I've read ~ I love this because I want to make sure I don't forget and it's nice to know how many books I've read since 2010 (when I joined Goodreads)

3. I can keep a list of books I want to read. ~ as the Goodreads 'motto' goes: "meet your next favorite book" well I can attest that I have  found some wonderful books on Goodreads and read their synopsis and viewed their star rating and reviews and decided if I would like to read it or not. It's quite helpful in choosing new to-read books and keeping track of them

4. *see details of number 3*

5. I can chat with people about different books

6. I can participate in giveaways, groups, and polls.

7. I can visit author pages and find the other books that the author has written if I really like their work.

8. I can take trivia quizzes, look up quotes, and give/receive recommendations.

overall it's a fabulous program and it is worth my time and helps me organize my reading world in a very ordered way.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Rant

A pet peeve of mine is when I read a dystopian book and I fall in love with the world and the dystopian society that are in....but by the end of the first book they "run away" to the "wild" or something like that where the entire book is changed and the character had hardened somehow.... New characters who think that the protagonist is a......well not very intelligent.......that is too involved with the city ways or something like that. Most likely the male protagonist/love interest got separated from the female and she is mopey and "determined" to save him...and everyone else in this new environment aka "book 2" doesn't understand the dire need to find so and so. Blah blah blah. It just kind of ruins the series.....that's why the first dystopian books are always the best. (except for THG...they are all equally epic) and I am also excluding Uglies from this as well.

Sorry for the rant.

Waiting on Wednesday

(I just noticed that for some reason this did not post last week. So enjoy!) Here are a couple of books I am super excited to read!! Look at the gorgeous covers!


     

Waiting on Wednesday: Holiday Twists

As far as I know...there isn't any books I'm just waiting on at the moment (for release) that I haven't already covered.

I know for Christmas I asked my friends and family for books books books! Only books! (if you celebrate Christmas) and there are quite a few that I am extremely excited to read.

 I have yet to read the first one. (it's next! it's next!) but I want to complete the series and have them all at my reading disposal. (I don't even know if this is the second book..but oh well.)

 I just LOVED the first book and I am excited to be BLOWN away by this one. Bring it on baby!

and while browsing through Google pictures of Unwholly I dare stumble upon:

 Unstrung!  Oh my goodness! I'm not sure how legit this is.  I will look it up on my favorite book source: Goodreads! (*cough cough* infomercial *cough* ;) )

Ok so my quick Goodreads search told me this is book 1.5 (ooh! I love novellas!) And it is available as an eBook!.....since......July.
aww dang.

ANYWAY.

I am excited for so many more that I just can't list them all! But I promise that I will post about all of the ones I end up purchasing and what not.

~

Just for a heads up, You've got a IMM coming your way soon. I received my Violet Midnight book in the mail and I'm just waiting on one more package, then I will post in a large accumulative thing instead of strands of odds and ends.

Have a good one, yeah?


Thursday, November 29, 2012

Booking Through Thursday: Being a Reader (capitol R)

It's Booking through Thursday!

here is this weeks question/back story:

I was talking to a co-worker the other day about a book I’d read recently, and realized how very, very few people I can do that with. In my daily life, it seems like almost no-one reads anything more than a newspaper or a fashion magazine. I only have one person I can truly chat about books with … and yet, being a Capital-R-Reader, I simply can’t imagine going through life without a book constantly at hand, or shelves of them proudly displayed downstairs. I’m proud of being a person who not only reads, but who reads a lot–not just in volume but in variety. I like having an inquiring mind. I like exploring new ideas. I love following an intricately plotted story (the more layers the better). I love BEING a reader and simply can’t imagine what it’s like to go through life without being one.
Am I the only one who feels this way? That wonders at how other people can simply NOT do something that should be so essential? Who feels almost sad that so many people seem content to go through their lives without stretching their mental wings at all?
Can you imagine NOT being a Reader? How does it shape your life? Your perception of it?
How does being a Reader affect your relationship with all those folks who are looking at it from the other side and simply can’t understand how you can sit and READ all the time?
Yep, it’s a long-winded, philosophical springboard to a ephemeral conversation … go, see what you can make of it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think about this almost every second of my day. How can one not read? How can people look at your face and the book in your hand and say "Who reads anymore?" I just can't comprehend how one person could not find joy in escaping to different worlds!

I think it may have something to do with their exposure to books.

One thing being they don't find their genre. The one that makes them wait in lines at four in the morning just to get the next book. If not that extreme they haven't found the book that captivates them in such a way that the open the book and close it a moment later (having finished it of course)

Another could be the way books are introduced at school. I know that most kids do not find interest in assigned readings. Most of the time they are un-entertaining and give a person a books worst impression, therefore scarring them for life.

Book love can be obtained in good introduction but there is also another factor:

It is a natural love.

I know that I was not introduced into it saying "Oh books are such wonderful thing! Read and become a reader!" I was simply handed a book and I could not put it down until books became part of who I am. My love of books wasn't something that was taught to me, it was simply there. Natural and it could not be stopped. So even when someone asks, their noses high in the air, "Eww. Who reads books?" It will not stop me from being who I am and that is: Being a Reader. (capitol R. ;) )

While that veered off topic slightly, I will wrap up the other questions here:

Can you imagine NOT being a Reader? No! Not at all! It's part of who I am, being a Reader, it's what I love to do and what I spend my time on. If I didn't have reading, what would I do with my time??! What do 'normal' people do? Seriously. I am at a loss.

How does it shape your life? It is indescribable. It helps me a great deal in writing skills as well as fuel my imagination.... There are really just no words for it. One must experience it for themselves.

Your perception of it? Same as above. Everything is magical and special in the worlds you can travel too in books. (no matter how terrible those worlds may be...)

How does being a Reader affect your relationship with all those folks who are looking at it from the other side and simply can’t understand how you can sit and READ all the time? Well it gives me the image of a nerd, which I've embraced whole heartily and, I hope, makes them re-think how reading can be... I haven't died from some 'reading desease' now have I? Reading won't kill you! It will do the very opposite.

~Kait.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Review?

Sorry to report I don't actually have any reviews for you. It is taking me much longer than I expected to finish Mark of Athena (because of Nano) but once I finish I promise I will put a review up, and start reading books WAY faster again :)

Have a great day/night!!!

~Kait

Monday, November 26, 2012

Random Question Monday: Cover

 
 
Hey! We are bringing RQM back for one Monday only (this winter) because I got a special request from a friend.

Here is her question:

Sheridan said,

Do you ever really wish you could change the cover of one book you've read? Because its boring or maybe you just hate it? Which book?
PLEASE CHOOSE MY QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!


~~~~


Well....I don't really know about that. Like I have said many times before: I judge books by their covers. So I tend not to gravitate toward a book that is displeasing to look at. There is one though that was changed that I did not like.

     

I didn't like these covers and i am so relieved they changed them to:

     

~~~

There are also a few that I loved but then they changed them... for example Uglies by Scott Westerfeld:

 (original version)

 (version in another country?)

 (new version)

it looks very cool and all....but....not a fan.

Thanks for the question Sheridan!

Happy reading,

Sunday, November 25, 2012

NaNoWriMo, Cool Blogs, TV shows, and Possibly IMM posts

Hello fellow readers and fangirls/boys,

NaNoWrimo is almost over! Can you believe it? I only have to write 3,000 more words and I'm all done! That means I'll be posting WAY more and I have bucket loads of reviews...(well, not really...but I have several.)

~

I found this amazing blog:

http://the-plight-of-a-teenage-fangirl.blogspot.com.au/

The blogger is just a really funny girl who is a completely into books and things of bookish variety. Go follow her and read her posts. They are brilliant!

~

TV shows. I know that lots of bloggers post their favorite TV shows and ones they are excited for at the BEGINNING of seasons....but...we all know that I didn't do that, so I want to tell you what shows I am enjoying currently.

#1. Once Upon A Time

  I am quite in love with this show. I watched all 22? (some number in the 20's) episodes of the first season in a week than I caught up on season 2 until I could watch it on TV. They air every Sunday night a 8:00 PM EST.

I love the spin the put on the fairytales and the characters are simply AMAZING. I highly recommend it. You can see all of season 1 on Netflix and I'm sure season 2 will be put on soon.

#2 Revolution
 I love this show as well. The season wraps up its final episode tomorrow (Monday) at 10:00 PM EST. This show is crazy good and the story of what would happen if the power went out. It's brilliantly done and overall VERY intense and exciting.

~

As for possible IMM (In My Mailbox) I just entered a ton of Goodreads giveaways and hope to be winning some...

I won two giveaways this past month and I am just waiting for those to arrive (I will announce them in an official IMM when I do get them.) I might only be getting one though because I did not hear back from the second person.

Hope you guys had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. (or if you don't celebrate thanksgiving, a happy weekend.)

Happy reading!

-Kait

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Writers Block? Admit it?


The first step to help is admitting you have a problem….

Ok well that’s not true for writers block (the small kind anyway…the plot writers block? Ok yeah, admit that. But the little events…)

I find that when I have writers block, and I admit that to myself than it becomes more of a “OH MY GOSH I HAVE THE UN-CURABLE WRITERS BLOCK!!!!” Crazy frenzy of panic, rather than sorting through the problem and re-doing it I can only focus on how bad my writers block is. In fact, the vary words “writers block” set me off on this crazy mental game of hide and seek. I’m so afraid of it. I think its best for me to stay far far away from even admitting (or realizing) that I have writers block because that doesn’t bring me to help…it takes me farther away from it and into a deeper level of block. Anyone else feel the same?

Monday, November 12, 2012

Questions~ Grammar Free Hour!

These questions were provided by Should Be Reading
 
If you had to choose only 3 books to read forever, which ones would you choose?
 
At the moment (it ALWAYS CHANGES!!!)
I would choose Divergent, Holly's Heart, and The Host

• Is there a character that you absolutely love but that you cannot get a good mental picture of?
 
Well basically I can never nail down a mental picture of anyone...my brain doesn't let me. Like there hair always changes in my mid when I try to think about it...or something like that. Or their weight. Or their facial shape..(Well there are exceptions. I do have ones that i know exactly what they look like....) some of the undefined ones would be: Tobias Eaton (of course their are fancasts and my brain has an outline of him and knows who he is but when I try to really picture him, all his features switch back and forth in my mind) there are more too....like Edward Cullen. Yep. And Shay from Nightshade. (Esp shay)

• Make a plea for your favorite book. Make others wanna read it!
 
Divergent~ hmm. Read this book. It will change your life. (insert something about how fabulous it is and finish off with how I'm way to lazy to do this.) Maybe if you have heard enough about this book this little thing will be the straw that broke the cammels back and you give in and read the book already! ;)

• If you could create a soundtrack for a book you’ve read recently, which songs would you use and why?
 
Idk. Most songs I associate are usually by listening to them when I read....the sound of the song (the actual notes) connect my brain to the book. Sometimes a specific scene. And that's how I connect songs to books (lyrics too:....but that's not always easy.) I let the authors make the playlists. Bc I don't have a use for them, the authors use them when writing. And I like to listen to the ones they come up with if I really love the book because the songs take me to that place.

• Do you read outside your preferred genre? Has your preferred genre changed?
 
No..,,not really. I stay within my: fantasy, paranormal, dystopian, sci-fi, mythology world. And I steer clear of contemporary altogether. The only outsides I've read are the Gallagher girls....but those rnt really contemporary nor any of my genres.....they are just...them. (I've read each book 23 times so...yeah. I love them. Nuff said)

• Do you have a favorite book/movie combination?
 
THG...so far I've only watched Percy Jackson as a book to movie and I hate the translation so. Yeah THG was best for me.

• Name a book that you thought you wouldn’t like much, but you ended up loving.
 
This is what I'm HOPING will happen with violet midnight...but we will see. List:
 
1. Percy Jackson- put it off for years.
2. Holly's heart- the book that made me a reader
3. ILYKY- umm. Yeah. My cousin gave me this book to borrow an I didn't want to take it....finally did...well. IVE READ THE BOOK 23 times! enough said!!!!
Wow. Lot more than I thought.

• If you were Book Czar of the world, is there one book you would like to require every kid to read?
 
The Host? No. The Hunger Games? No. Uglies? No. IDK! All my favorite books.

I seriously have a decision making problem.
 
 
~~~~
 
and for my GREATEST act of the day: I will not spell check/proof this post. So enjoy my gramatical errors as entertainment. (look. i even spelt grammatical wrong! Hurray for grammar free hour!~~note that after this i will go back to being the person who snaps at people that it's "'Her and I.' Her and I people! i!" and other such things....but for now: I'm throwing grammar to the wind!)
 
-Kait

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Outlining: The Writers Keep Secrets

Hello lovely followers and those stopping by,

Today I have put together for you a small "rant" as you might call it.... its called:

Outlining: The Writers Keep Secrets

I find that when I go searching on any authors writing advice, they always mention “there are two types of writers. Those who fly by the seat of their pants, and those who outline.” They always say something in follow up along the lines of this “now either way is fine, whatever works for you. There are many different ways to outline and everyone does it differently, it’s a very controversial topic for writers, so I won’t tell you how I do it here.”—

Well no. No. Just no. I get that they give you the two writer types and that’s all great but say I have found out that I am in fact writer type two. I need to outline. This is what I’m saying: Would someone PLEASE TELL ME HOW I GO ABOUT DOING THAT. That was something I said for years, if all writers skirted the subject while writing advice, how on earth was I ever going to actually learn what an outline was, let alone how to write one? Once I had collected enough information to confirm that in outline was in fact a planning of the novel I truly couldn’t find a single author who would tell me straight up (or even tell me…) how to do one. They always said “oh well there are many different ways—“Well that’s all fine and dandy but would you please just explain it to me, because I really would like to know at least ONE WAY how to do it, rather than keep it some author secret that only they know…I feel that everyone got this huge handout on everything writer except me. Everyone knows how to outline, they know the vocab, they know how the editing process works exactly…where can I buy this handbook?

I did find out a way of outlining that I liked, after googling for three hours someone eventually explained various methods and I am satisfied, but for the longest time…no one would go into detail except for the vague: “there are so many different ways”


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

woah! Can you believe it's almost our one year anniversary? woah.

It's Teaser Tuesday!


Teaser Tuesday's is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to :

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3 . Share 2 "teaser" sentences also citing the title of the book and the author and in that way people can have great recommendations if they like the "teaser".

4. Please avoid spoilers!

Todays teaser comes from Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (because this is the book that Rach  is currently reading)

"Katie nosed at the carpet and then gave it a good chew. When it proved recalcitrant enough that she couldn't pull it up, she growled.

"Who's a fierce little girl?" I asked her. "Who's going to kick butt and take names and help her big sister get into all kinds of trouble someday?"

Devon snorted. "Sometimes, I think the term bad influence was invented specifically with you in mind."              


~~~~

"Lake, could you please stop sweet-talking the weapons? It's kind of freaking me out."              

~~~~

"Not going to walk me to the door?" I asked, pretending to be shocked at his lack of gallantry.
"Of course I am. many would think that a bonny lass such as yerself wouldst be able to stay out of trouble for a distance of fifteen feet, but I know better."
"Did you just use the words yerself and wouldst in the same sentence? You can't be a pirate and a courtier at the same time, Dev. It just isn't done."


~~~~     

Jen is the queen of funny sarcastic wittiness.

Before you leave, please enjoy this speculation of the keyboard:

I love how my brain knows the keyboard so well…its like my instrument. My fingers already have what I want typed out before even I know what it is I want…. And I can think in sentences like I'm talking and I will have it out on the page in record time…a pen takes much longer and is not up to speed with you brain. Who ever created the keyboard….well I love that person. Now I cant stop staring at my keyboard in awe…

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Nanowrimo

Hey guys Mari here, Sorry that we haven't been blogging in a while because as you might know it's NANOWRIMO! Nanowhatsy? National Novel Writing Month! My word goal is 30,000. Same with Kait. I know some people are like, why do weeee care? BUT, you might care because that is the reason there have been no posts lately. Thank you for your consideration!
Description: C:\Users\Susan\AppData\Local\Temp\SnipImage-{883EAAE2-B546-4BEB-A747-F84D2A29BEEA}.PNG

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Hello!

BlogA blog is a 'snippet' of information. In the Internet world, many webmasters (and regular folks too) do a lot of blogging, meaning they keep a little diary of information. Normally a blog will list a date, and what someone did, saw, or noticed on that date. Also known as a "weB LOG"

I seriously did not know that "blog" comes from "weB LOG" that is so cool!

Sorry. I just found this and decided to share it with all of you! It seems (awkwardly) that it has been a week since our last post. WELL.....as some of you may know November is NaNoWriMo! So I have been last minute prepping, in fact, I am supposed to be writing now but I took a small break just for you guys. You know how life gets really crazy. And on top of that I lost power for the week because of Sandy! (for those of you who don't know, Sandy was a huge tropical storm that hit) so I finally got power back (don't worry my house is ok, thankfully we are not that close to the shore)

So because it is Saturday I will do Hunger Games Discussion Saturday today:

The question this week:

How did The Hunger Games change your life?

Hmmm. I know The Hunger Games changed my life because it was my first fandom. I loved the books SOOO much, I wrote so many essays on why it was a good lesson to teach the world and I just really loved the story. The love...the sacrifice. I know I am truly excited for Catching Fire.

Leave a comment with your response!

-Kait

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Double Up! Teaser Tuesday/ Booking Through Thursday

Hello!

It's been a crazy crazy week for both Mari and I because we both are doing last minute prepping for NaNoWriMo. (about a week until Nov!)

So I had a teaser planned but it just wouldn't post. (computer problems!)

So here it is,

Teaser Tuesday

Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan teaser:


"Coach," Annabeth said, "why don't you make sure all the fires are out?"

"But I already did that."

"Do it again."

Page 52, Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

I love this book. Rick Riordan is a fabulous comedic writer. I love his books. Always get a good laugh! (Not to mention fabulous plots and characters!!) I recommend ANY Rick Riordan book. I've read them all and love every single one of them.

Booking Through Thursday

This weeks question is:

Are there any good books that you read IN SPITE of the cover and ended up wondering what on earth the artist and publisher were thinking to pair up a cover that so badly represented a perfectly good book?

And...if you didn't like the cover, what made you pick up the book? The author? Assigned reading from school? A recommendation from a friend?

Hmmm hmmm hmmm. It's so difficult! Probably because I judge books by their covers ALL the time...I really stay away from awful covers...I might not even read the synopsis if I don't like it or if it doesn't look slightly interesting/colorful/different. So I have not really read any "bad cover" books. *mentally combs through bookshelf* nope...nothing.

How about you guys? Know any books like this?

Have a great end of the week! (see you back here Saturday for some Hunger Games Discussion!)


Saturday, October 20, 2012

The Hunger Games Disucussion Saturday: Essay- Watch the movie? Y/N?

NEWS: I don't really have a good answer as to why we are doing this, maybe because we are lazy...but we are getting rid of dear old Tidbit Thursday and just hopping on the bandwagon for Booking Through Thursday.

Ok so now that that is out of the way, do you know what day it is?? It's Saturday! Do you know what that means? THE HUNGER GAMES DISCUSSION! WOOOOOO!

Well I had written an essay a while ago on why young adults should be able to read/see The Hunger Games. At the time I wrote it there had been some large controversy over allowing teens/young adults to read and or see The Hunger Games. Now, that is not such a huge deal...and this post is probably really late, but some of you might be interested to read it anyway?

It is quite flawed...now that I read it again. But the quotes are where it's at...reasons why Suzanne wrote such a strong piece that is so important. If anything just read the quotes. (please note that it is in the form of a persuasive essay...it has flaws in the grammar and things like that. It doesn't always flow. And it is my PERSONAL opinion and may not match your own, and that's ok. Because it's an opinion.)

"What Suzanne [Collins] has done brilliantly is create a series that is a critique of violence using violence to get that across," says David Levithan, one of her editors at Scholastic Press, "and that's a fine line."

I believe that ‘young adults’ should be able see and read The Hunger Games. The characters are good; they are the Hero and Heroine. The main characters are not the source of violence. And Suzanne Collins, the author, wrote the script.

 

First, the characters are good (in the passionate meaning of the word) ; they are the Hero and Heroine. It’s not all about the violence. Gary Ross defines it so clearly here in an interview about The Hunger Games movie, “The story never lets up. I think that’s how I felt when I read the book. I couldn’t turn the page fast enough. I was fascinated, stunned, shocked, and emotionally engaged. I cared about this girl immediately and I was so in her shoes and it was so real to me that there were very few stories that grabbed me by the throat and yanked me through the narrative. I put the book and down and I was just shocked. I think we’ve done that in the film. I think it’s just the urgent, compelling, relentless narrative of somebody who is thrust into these circumstances that are so overwhelming. It navigates them, changes, grows, defines them, and ultimately triumphs them. It’s a wonderful complete story in which the character grows in a rich, amazing way. You don’t find this very often.” As Peeta says in both the book and the movie, “I don't want them to change me in there. If I'm going to die I want to still be me. Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to show the Capitol they don't own me.”  Josh Hutcherson, the actor of Peeta sums up Peeta’s thoughts into a simple line, “No matter what kind of situation you’re in, you can’t change who you are as a person.”  "It's a call for holding on to humanity despite the most trying circumstances….” says Emily Listfield. This is basically all that Katniss and Peeta are in the book and the storyline that you really should take away from the book. As some people like to think, it is not all about children killing each other for public entertainment. It has deeper roots than that, going into a bad position and coming out of it, people overlook that. As Liam Hemsworth, the actor of Gale, states it “It’s about people overcoming evil.”  Jennifer Lawrence, the actor of Katniss, claims “Katniss has a strength and loyalty to her family, and her people.” Lawrence also explains the chain reaction Katniss starts, “She was one of the first people to stand up to the capitol, and people see that strength. It’s a messed up world, it’s about time somebody did it but she’s a young girl and she didn’t play their games she didn’t make anyone her enemy, really…She started a revolution and that’s scary.” Katniss stays true to herself….she’s a real heroine who rises up and without really meaning to becomes a symbol of rebellion. And it’s a teenager who can finally take this government down. Gale ponders this, “What if one year everyone just stopped watching? Then they wouldn’t have the games.” What if they did? Gale thinks about these things because he wants the capitol to go down. The series tackles issues such as loyalty, war, and poverty, as well as questioning reality.

Second, Katniss and Peeta are not the source of violence in the Games. They don’t want to participate. Katniss is only there because of her sister. Some people are worried about the statement of violence: children killing each other throughout the whole book. It is kind of doused out for Katniss as she removes herself somewhat from the rest of the tributes who are out to kill her and focus’s her time on Peeta who is seriously injured because she is now armed with the knowledge they both can live. During this they think back and reflect of happy memories of home and falling deeply in love with each other, creating a diversion from this disturbing chaos taking place outside their snug cave. Gale, Katniss’ best friend from District 12 has some thoughts on the Games. He says in the movie, “You root for your favorites, cry when they get killed, it’s sick!” Gale is right. The Capitol citizens all delight in watching the games each year and it’s disgusting, Gale is referring to this display of excitement that makes him so sick. Most adults remember from their school years having to read stories similar to The Hunger Games such as The Running Man, Gladiator, Lord of the Fly’s, and the Lottery. In all basically 24 teens enter an arena and fight to the death, only one leaves. The movie never leaves Katniss’ shoes which is key to keeping the violence toned down. If they ever went to a point of view of another character, either in the movie or in the book, that might have changed. We are all so repulsed by being in the games we would dread it ourselves, and we can look at the Capitol and their excitement for it and be disgusted by that too. So why do people worry about us wanting to proceed in that direction, about kids wanting to be engrossed in it? Kids’ attention is to the characters that they have come to love because they recognize the human in them that everyone else in their world has seemed to have lost. Kids of course only know this if they are mature and to see the movie they should be of a mature age and it’s that parents decision on whether they want their child to see it. So it shouldn’t be ‘kids’ viewing this idea but ‘young adults’ because it is a real thing and it is gross. I see elementary students going in to see the movie and elementary schools hosting the movie as their discounted ticket movie of the week and that’s where it becomes inappropriate. The kids have to be mature and that’s the bottom line. Elementary is way too young, it’s rated PG-13 for a reason.

Lastly, The Hunger Games movie is exact and true to what Suzanne Collins depicted in her trilogy because she wrote the script.  "What Suzanne [Collins] has done brilliantly is create a series that is a critique of violence using violence to get that across, and that's a fine line." says David Levithan. On Suzanne’s biography it mentions the previous TV script work she has done in the past, “Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days, and a freelancer on Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!  Interviews with Gary Ross, the director of The Hunger Games, loved working with Suzanne. He was surprised at how well they worked together and just collaborated the “difference in the cinematic versus the literary treatment of the material.”

In conclusion, I believe young adults should be able to see and read The Hunger Games because the characters are good people, the main characters are not the source of violence, and Suzanne Collins wrote the script so the movie sticks very closely to the book. So go and buy the book or tickets to go see the movie today!
 
 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Hello readers!

Here is the promised Pandemonium review! :D

Pandemonium (Delirium, #2)Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Summary from: goodreads.com

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.


Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.





.......................................................................................................................

Pandemonium was SO good! I loved it and it was not a disappointing sequel!

I gave it:



*see rating chart at the bottom of this website*

Things that worked for me:

1. The writing is fantastic as always.

2. Lena is an even stronger character than before

3. I liked the new characters. You know how sometimes with dystopian books when the protagonist leave the society and lives in some sort of resistance and the resistance is filled with new people so naturally book two has different characters than book one. Most of the time I find myself not liking these new characters. But in Pandemonium I really liked them.

4. "then" and "now" chapters. The book was split between Lena's life currently and Lena's life when she first got to the Wilds. I liked this because rather than spend all the time in the book in the wilds (which would have gotten really boring) it spaced out. But you also got the back story at the same time. Really well done. Somewhat similar to Everneath by Brodi Ashton.

Things that didn't work for me:

1. Julian. I don't like him. Something about him was just so.....UGH! I love Alex better. Julian is a tad.....naive. And stupid. I was able to still enjoy the book even though his presence dampened my happiness....but thinking about the ending I have strong hopes for a turn around (fear not!)

2. The ending!!! Such a cliffhanger! But I guess that is expected!!!!

I thought Pandemonium was a great read and the Delirium trilogy a MUST. It is so fantastic and the idea is a gripping as ever! Definitely recommend!

Monday, October 15, 2012

Blogger Interview! Pika Pages

Today We had a guest post/interview with Sydney from Pika Pages! She is a wonderful blogger who loves reading and things like that....2 B Read did an interview with her. Read it below then go check out her blog!


1. When and why did you start blogging?
 
I started blogging in July of this year. I started because I had been reading a lot of book blogs already and thought it would be fun to start my own.
 
2. What do you like to do when your not blogging?
 
When I'm not blogging I love to go out and about with my friends. I love going to fairs and festivals. When I'm at home I like to try out new baking recipes and scrapbooking. And of course I read a ton, but that was a given.
 
3. Book crush
 
Ah, the book crush. The dream guy. Well that can be a very hard decision because authors usually try to make the main guy in their books swoon-worthy. That's one of the things that keeps us coming back. If I had to pick a favorite though I would say....gosh, um.... either Jace from The Mortal Instruments or Alex from Delirium.

4. Describe your blog and make people want to go check it out.

Well, my blog is still a baby but I would say it is pretty interesting. I try to do a variety of types of posts to keep from getting bored. Oh, and I don't write two page reviews. I like to get to the point and say the main things I did or dint like. For me personally, I have a very short attention span, so I cant really read super long reviews.

5. Your favorite author (why? ie. writing style, plot, character, etc)

For now my favorite author is a tie. First, there is Lauren Oliver. I just love her style of writing! And I have read all of her young adult books and loved them. (i.e. Delirium, Before I Fall, etc.). Also, I love Tahereh Mafi. Though she has only written one book so far, I love it.

6. Your favorite place in the world.

My favorite place in the world would have to be my house. I know that is kind of cheating, but I love it. Even when I am on vacations, I can't wait to get back home. I love reading on my front porch, or in my room by my window when it is raining.

7. A place from a book you love or would want to live in. Or both.

Well, considering a good part of the books I read are dystopian, there aren't a lot of choices. I would say though, that Alicante from The Mortal Instruments sounds like such a beautiful place. I would love to visit. ( When it isn't getting attacked by demons)

8. Best celebrity to play a character in your favorite book

Um... I think Nina Dobrev would make a good Cassia from Matched.

9. Favorite book to movie translation Why?

I haven't seen a lot of movie to book translations, because I don't really watch a ton of movies, but I really liked the Hunger Games movie, and of course the books too.

10. Now for the dreaded question: What is your favorite book. And if you can somehow bear to decide: Why?

GAHHH NOOO! I can't possibly choose, I love so many books. Shatter Me, Delirium, City of Bones, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, The Body Finder, Prince of Wolves,gahhhhhhh. If I had to go with one I would have to say.... either.....Delirium or Pandemonium..... Better yet, BOTH. Is that allowed? Eh, I don't care. I'm just a rebel like that! But seriously I love those books, there are so well written! But that is just my opinion now. My favorite book changes alllllllllllll the time.
 

Go check out her blog! Promise you won't be disappointed! (also: expect a Pandemonium Review....tomorrow afternoon!)



Saturday, October 13, 2012

The Hunger Games Discussion Saturday: Catching Fire


Hey guys! It's The Hunger Games Discussion Saturday today! And In honor of all the fan hype right now for the set pics (lets enjoy them before they put security over everything like TMI) Here is a spam of set pictures. Enjoy!
 
For those of you who don't know, The Hunger Games Discussion Saturdays is a weekly meme (hosted by us....it was our first meme EVER) and we basically just discuss The Hunger Games...we will continue to do so until we EXHAUST the topic...that may take a very long time. We have at LEAST until 2015 (Mockingjay part 2 movie release)




justjared.com

justjared.com


I personally like the arena outfits and I think Mags looks perfect! (Look at those capitol trucks!!)


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...