January Wrap Up

So Jan is over! This month has flown by, I started up school just a few weeks ago and got back into the habit of consistently blogging & reading. Unfortunately I didn't read everything I wanted to this month but I had a great month overall. Here's what happened.

Books Purchased:

  

Books Read:

      

Additional Books Started:

    

Reviews Posted:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Uglies By Scott Westerfeld

Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Legend by Marie Lu

Challenge Updates:

Novel In Verse: 0 books read = 6 until goal

Outdo Yourself: 37 books until goal reached

E-book: 0 books read = 10 books until goal

Let Me Count The Ways: 1,737 pages read = 8,263 pages until goal

Book Blogger Recommendation: 1 book read = 4 more until goal

Dystopia: 1 book read, no goal

Library: 4 books read = 14 until goal

A-Z: letters D,G,S & T fulfilled

Blog News:

This month I decided to change the look of the blog. This new layout is darker than I would like but I'm learning to love it. I'm going to work on creating a new blog badge & signature soon to go with the new look. I also decided to buy my own domain name! I'm excited because I got a great deal, only $1 for the first year and $8 each year afterwards. I'm moving on up in the blog world.

I joined a new book site called Riffle. It's pretty interesting so far, we'll see how I feel about it in the future. I also decided to start using Google+ a few days ago so hopefully more people will see my blog now. I also gained 2 new followers through GFC, 65 through FeedBurner, 27 on Twitter, had over 1,000 pageviews & was added to 2 circles on Google+

Hopefully February is even better!

Discussion: Does Captcha Getcha?

Question of the week: Does captcha getcha? 

I have been trying to be more friendly in the blog world and comment on more posts on other blogs but sometimes I get turned off from it.For some reason I really hate it when I write a good comment and click to post it and then the captcha thing comes up. I really don't like looking at & trying to decipher small fuzzy numbers & letters just to post a comment. I really really hate it when I post from my phone. I know it serves the purpose of keeping spam comments off your posts and all that but it's really just annoying.

I took the captcha verification off my blog for the simple fact that I didn't want to bother my readers with it when they wanted to leave a comment. I haven't ever had a spam comment & if I ever got one i'd just delete it. Interacting with people is supposed to be fun & easy, not work.

How do you guys feel? Does captcha prevent you from commenting on blogs? Do you not mind it? Do you have it on your blog? Why or why not?

Wordy Wednesday #13

This is a meme I'm doing where I literally open the dictionary to random pages and post words. I figure every reader has had a few times where we come across a word in a book that we have no idea what it means. So every week I'll be posting  new words, until I complete the whole dictionary. If you do your own Wordy Wednesday post, please link back to mine since I created this.



Pequot - n- : a member of an American Indian people of eastern Connecticut

Geode - n -: a nodule of stone having a cavity lined with mineral matter

Periphery - n -:  the boundary of a rounded figure

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu

Series: Legend #1
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Pages:  305 pages - Hardback
Age: YA
Website Amazon Goodreads

                   Synopsis:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen year old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths- until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias' death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Book Haul

So I know it's been a while since I've posted a book haul so I figured I'd show you some of the books I've gotten recently. I have so many books & so little time to read them!

School Library Books:

   

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins: I've read the first two in the series and have been looking forward to reading this last one

Fever by Lauren DeStefano: I loved the first book and have been wanting to read Fever for a while now. Glad I was able to find it.

Public Library Books:

      

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto: I have been seeing Heaven everywhere but I could never find Halo. I FINALLY saw it at my local library and had to grab it.

Destined by P.C. & Kristin Cast: So I know this came out months & months ago but I took a break from this series. It was beginning to get too long for me so I stopped reading them. Now I feel I can finally finish the series.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore: I read Graceling and loved it! I wanted to read Bitterblue but never had the time to do it. Hopefully I get to it this time around.

Purchased Books:

   

Splintered BY A.G. Howard: So this book has been on my radar for a couple months now. I saw it on someone's blog & the cover sucked me in right away. Once I read the summary I knew I had to have it!

The Archived by Victoria Schwab: I hadn't heard about this book until recently but the summary sounded so good. There was so much hype about this book that I felt I just needed to read. Now I gotta find some time to do so.

NetGalley Books:

             

I went a little overboard with my NetGalley requests. This is only a quarter of my most recent downloads.

Hysteria by Megan Miranda: I am looking forward to this book! I'm even participating in a blog tour for it. The cover made me want to request this one.

Montaro Caine by Sidney Poitier: I really respect Sidney Poitier as an actor and honestly I'd request anything he writes just because it's him. I may even by a hardback version just to have it around.

The Holders by Julianna Scott: Honestly, I don't like this cover very much. But I requested it because the  summary was fairly interesting. I figured I'd give it a chance.

The Loop by Shandy Lawson: The cover is awesome but to me the summary is so-so. I'm not sure if I'll like it or not but I plan to read it & find out.

Sketchy by Olivia Samms: This is one of the most interesting summaries I've read recently. I was so happy when I was approved for it. Hopefully I get to it soon.

Carved In Darkness by Maegan Beaumont: I love mysteries and this summary sucked me in. The cover is creepy cool as well. 

Leap Frog Follow Hop #1

The Question:
What is your favorite place to go to get good deals on books? Library sales, online shopping, used book stores, etc. Share some tips!

I like to look for deals at Books A Million first. They have good books in their clearance section sometimes and since I have a membership card I get a discount off those. I also like to use amazon.com. You can get used books for just 1 or 2 dollars sometimes & since I have a student prime account I get free shipping which makes the deals amazing. Majority of the time now I use the library. I always check there first before I decide to buy anything. It helps me save money.

Case of the Mondays #4

Got a case of the Monday Blues? Need a quick pick me up? Well check this post every Monday for a few images that'll quickly brighten up your mood for the day.

Liebster Blog Award

I was given this award by Kim from Divergent Gryffindor and from Kezia from Pansycake Reader.

I'm appreciative because I've this is my very first blog award. I'm glad to know people like reading what I write.

The Rules of the award:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog and link back to the blogger who presented this award to you.
2. Answer the 11 questions from the nominator, list 11 random facts about yourself and create 11 questions for your nominees
3. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 11 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog letting them know they have been chosen. (no tag backs)
4. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.

Wordy Wednesday #12

This is a meme I'm doing where I literally open the dictionary to random pages and post words. I figure every reader has had a few times where we come across a word in a book that we have no idea what it means. So every week I'll be posting  new words, until I complete the whole dictionary. If you do your own Wordy Wednesday post, please link back to mine since I created this.




Prognathous - adj -: having the lower jaw projecting beyond the upper part of the face

Specie - n -: money in coin

Deadpan - n -:  a completely expressionless face

Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Spell Bound
Author: Rachel Hawkins

Series: Hex Hall #3
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Pages: 327 pages
Age: YA
Amazon Goodreads

                   Synopsis:

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies- the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that's what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn't as confident.

Sophie's bound for one hell of a ride -- can she get her powers back before it's too late?

Case of the Mondays #3

Got a case of the Monday Blues? Need a quick pick me up? Well check this post every Monday for a few images that'll quickly brighten up your mood for the day.

Review: Tiger's Quest By Colleen Houck

Title: Tiger's Quest
Author: Colleen Houck

Series: The Tiger Saga #2
Publisher: Sterling Publishing
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Pages:  479 pages - Hardback
Age: YA
Website Amazon Goodreads

                   Synopsis:

Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest-- this time with Ren's dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger's Curse.

Wordy Wednesday #11

This is a meme I'm doing where I literally open the dictionary to random pages and post words. I figure every reader has had a few times where we come across a word in a book that we have no idea what it means. So every week I'll be posting  new words, until I complete the whole dictionary. If you do your own Wordy Wednesday post, please link back to mine since I created this.



Symposium - n - : a conference at which a particular topic is discussed by various speakers

Arbitrator - n -: one chosen to settle differences between two parties in a controversy

Genuflect - vb -:  to bend the knee esp. in worship

Case of the Mondays #2

Got a case of the Monday Blues? Need a quick pick me up? Well check this post every Monday for a few images that'll quickly brighten up your mood for the day.

Know Me Better #1

This is a weekly feature hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Each week 5 questions will go up that anybody can answer to let their readers learn more about them.

Where is your favorite spot to read?
At home: In front of the fireplace

At college: On my bedroom balcony or curled up in bed

Are you a fast or slow reader?
I took the Staples reading test. I learned that I read 272 words per minute which said I was faster than 9% faster than the national average. To me, this is slow. My boyfriend can read 400 words per minute so I've gotta work on my speed.

Fanfiction - Love it or Hate it? Have your ever read/written it?
I actually have never read any fanfiction before so I don't have an opinion on it either way.

Summer or Winter?
I love summer for the great weather, no school & fun times but I love winter for the clothing. I love cute sweaters & boots & coats.

Truth or Dare?

Truth, I don't have a problem telling the truth

Review: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Title: Uglies
Author: Scott Westerfled

Series: Uglies #1
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Pages:  406 pages
Age: YA
Website Amazon Goodreads

                   Synopsis:

Tally Youngblood is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait for the operation that turns everyone from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to party. But new friend Shay would rather hoverboard to "the smoke" and be free. Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The "Special Circumstances" authority Dr. Cable offers Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

My Thoughts:
I really liked Uglies. I think it had a great message to it. Looking just like everyone else is not all it's cracked up to be. Appreciate who you are & the looks you do have.
I liked seeing Tally's personal journey from being this girl ready & willing to follow in the societal footsteps of everyone else to being a teen who sees there's another way to live. Her best friend Shay leaves her and she becomes okay with that... until she's told she can no longer have the life she wants unless she makes the hard decision to track & give up her best friend. You see her journey to find Shay and her inner struggle with the right & wrong of becoming a Pretty. Seeing her change and choose how she wants to live her life is amazing, but of course things don't go the way she planned.
 Shay's character was fun also. Everyone wants a best friend who's fun and willing to take a few risks. But when Tally met Shay, she had no idea that she would change her whole life. Shay is the one who always wants to rebel against society & Tally doesn't want to push the boundaries. They are both easy characters to connect to emotionally & the story really pulls you in. I'm excited to continue Tally's story and see what happens next.

Recommend:
I highly recommend Uglies to everyone. It's a great dystopian that really makes you think about our world and the importance we place on looks.

Other Reviews:

The Cheap Reader
The Busy Bibliophile
Brave New Shelf

Daring You To Read.. Voices of Angels by Hannah M. Davis

Daring You To Read is a weekly feature over at Tynga's Reviews where you dare your readers to read some of you favorite older releases (at least 6 months old). It's a way to discover that special book that  slipped off your radar!

This is my first time doing this feature, but I just had to share my favorite book with you all! It's Voices of Angels by Hannah M. Davis. This book came out last January and when I read it I fell in love with it. It's a great book full of teen romance and self discovery. 

The characters in the book were well formed and easy to get attached to. They had great personalities that brought you in. The detail in the writing was great as well, as you read the image you get of what's going on is very clear. A true movie in your head!

This book is one that I will be rereading at least once a year, and I NEVER reread books. It was that good to me. Check it out for yourself!

Summary:

When Lizzie Fisher sees a black mark above her teachers head, she has no idea how much it will change her life. Seven days later the teacher is dead and Lizzie must come to terms with a frightening new ability: she sees when people are about to die. Sent to Andalucia to live with a grandmother she has never met, Lizzie falls in love with gifted musician, Rafa. All seems well until one day the black mark appears above her grandmother’s head. Horrified, Lizzie finds herself in a race against time to find out what the gift really means. Will Rafa help her? And can she save her grandmother’s life before it’s too late?

Amazon Goodreads Website

Will you be reading this book? Have you already read it? Leave a comment!

Blogging Goals for 2013

Since everybody posted up their top 10 blogging goal for this year for the Top 10 Tuesday meme I figured I'd share my goals as well even though I don't participate in the meme.

To read at least one book a month on my kindle. Getting the kindle was the reason I started blogging in the first place. I need to get my money's worth out of this gadget. I have hundreds of books on it thanks to freebies on amazon.com so it's about time I started reading them.

To stop procrastinating. I love to read and when I finish a book I just dive right into the next and the next and the next. Before I know it, I have a pile of books read and a bunch of reviews to write. I need to do better at writing the review right after I finish the book while everything's fresh in my mind.

To make more friends. I have a twitter & goodreads account but I don't interact with authors & bloggers as much as I should. This year I plan to comment on posts at least a few times a week.

To grow my blog. This year my little blog turns 2! Time has gone by so quickly. I hope that over this year I can gain followers and readership. I'd like to develop a relationship with the people that follow my blog.

To read more. I'm in college so of course that takes up a lot of my time, but this year I'd like to get more organized and make the time to read more books. Right now I'm just aiming for a book a week but hopefully I can squeeze in more.

So these are the things I want to accomplish this year. I feel it's time for me to take this a little more seriously. In the past, I blogged when I felt like it but I plan to make it a part of my weekly routine and really get into it this year. Hopefully things go well for us all, happy 2013!

Wordy Wednesday #10

This is a meme I'm doing where I literally open the dictionary to random pages and post words. I figure every reader has had a few times where we come across a word in a book that we have no idea what it means. So every week I'll be posting  new words, until I complete the whole dictionary. If you do your own Wordy Wednesday post, please link back to mine since I created this.



Harpsichord - n - : a keyboard instrument producing tones by the plucking of its strings with quills or with leather or plastic points

Mawkish - adj -: sickly sentimental

Victualler - n -:  one that supplies provisions (as to an army or a ship)

Books To Movies Discussion

So, what so you guys think about all these movies coming out that are from books? Personally I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand I think it's great that all these authors are gaining extra exposure. It's wonderful  for them & it's cool to see a movie trailer on tv and say "I read that book!".But on the other hand, it's kind of annoying. I'd like to go through a few months where the movies coming out are ONLY movies. It's as if these production companies can't find an original idea for a movie so they just pick up a book. What are your thoughts on the issue?

Here are all the books that I know of that have been turned into movies from 2012-2014 or books that have been planned to be movies.

                                     

Man, that's a LOT of movies! 38 to be exact, that's like one movie a month for 3.2 years! And i'm sure there are some that I missed or don't know about. If you know any more let me know.