2010 Reading Challenges, fun events and New Year's Resolutions

2010 Reading challenges

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about which reading challenges would be right for me. There are so many I want to participate in, but I had to narrow it down to just a few. Even though many of the books can overlap into other challenges, I came to a solid decision to take part in just these 4. Since I prefer to read Young Adult novels in the paranormal/fantasy genre, the challenges I chose should suit me just fine. I also love supporting new authors and I also wanted to dip a little into comic books in the coming year. So without further ado, I give you my 2010 reading challenges.

2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog



I am going to set my sights a little high and shoot for the Just My Size Challenge of 25 books. I am also going to try to devote the majority of this challenge to books that are not of the paranormal/fantasy genre. The first books listed are those that I have in my possession that I have not yet read.

1. Wake by Lisa McMann
2. Unleashed by Kristopher Keisz
3. Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz
4. Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
5. Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz
6. Tempted by P.C. Cast
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Neil Gaiman Reading Challenge

For the Neil Gaiman reading challenge, participantes are required to read 5 of Gaiman’s books whether hard copy, audio or comic book.

1. The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
2. Coraline
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5.

The Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren



Kristi is challenging everyone that participates to read at least 12 novels by debut authors. I’m going to make enough space for 12 and if I happen to read more then I will add them later. This is currently a tentative list and may be subject to change.

1. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
2. Brightly Woven by Alexendra Bracken
3. The Mark by Jen Nadol
4. Firespell by Chloe Neill
5. The Line by Teri Hall
6. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
7. Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
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The Fantasy Reading Challenge hosted by the girls at Royal Reviews



The Fantasy Reading Challenge can include YA Fantasy or Historical Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy or any other sub genre of Fantasy. There really are no limits to this challenge as Fantasy is such a wide and varied genre.

I will be participating in the fascinated level of 6 books but I have not chosen any yet.

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Fun Events!!

As I am quickly coming up on 50 followers (wow, I didn't think anyone would want to read this) I will be hosting a giveaway to followers who decide to participate. I’m not sure what I will be giving away but I’m definitely open to suggestions. Let me know what you would like to win!

I am also teaming up the Nick from Lions and Men to do some sort of joint post as we read through The Sandman comic book series by Neil Gaiman. This is my first comic book experience so I’m really excited about what it has to bring.

As Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, I volunteered to participate in Simply Stacie's Valentine's Day event. I will be doing some kind of guest post/book review on a romance novel that I will be choosing very soon.

New Year’s Resolutions

As I was thinking about the New Year and all it has to offer, I thought I should come up with some way to better myself. I came up with these aspects in my life that I have wanted to change for some time now. And what a better way than to be held accountable through a blog; so I’ve decided to share these resolutions with you all!

1. Wake up at a reasonable hour and stop wasting away the day sleeping.
2. Finish homework in advance. I usually start my assignments at 11pm when they’re due at midnight!! No more of that.
3. Workout more and eat less dairy!!!!!
4. Write my book reviews within a week of finishing the book so I don’t forget what the book was about…..lol.
5. Read a blog post in its entirety before commenting.
6. Pay my bills on time….enough said.
7. Don’t put off oil changes
8. And last but not least…..take my vitamins EVERY DAY!!!

That about sums it up. What are some of your New Years resolution?

I’m looking forward to a new year of blogging and sharing my thoughts with you guys. Thanks for all the help, encouragement and awards!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

"Waiting on" Wednesday(6)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's a time when we can share which books we are eagerly waiting to be released. To participate, hop on over to Jill's blog and leave your link so we can all share in the fun. This week I selected:


Title: The Beautiful Between

Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Pages: 192

Release date: 11 May 2010

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.

If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

This sounds like a really great book and it can be used for anyone who is participating in the Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren!

Award Time

I woke up this morning and found that I had recieved an award from Nina @ J'adore Happy Endings. Thank you so much, this award was so sweet and thoughtful.

List 10 things that make you happy.
Try and do at least one of them today.
Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.
Link back to the person that tagged you.

10 things that make me happy:

1. Reading (duh)
2. Spending time with my family.
3. Chocolate :)
4. Cleaning and organizing my apartment (I like things a certain way...lol)
5. Blogging!
6. Walking around the bookstore
7. Seeing old friends
8. Watching hilarious 80's movies
9. The snow (when it's not to hard to manage)
10. Listening to music and having random dance parties with my friends.

10 Blogs that brighten my day

1. Books at Midnight
2. Cleverly Inked
3. I Was a Teenage Book Geek
4. Parajunkee's View
5. Story on a Page
6. Teens Read and Write
7. The Crooked Shelf
8. The O.W.L.
9. Ticket to Anywhere
10. Walking on Sunshine

I have been working really hard to get together all the reading challenges that I want to participate in. I've also been working on a few other things for this blog that you will see in 2010 and they're going to be really fun. Hopefully I will have it all finished and posted by 31 of December!

If I don't say it later, thanks to all my followers who have been supporting me and giving me the encouragement to keep pressing on. I really appreciate it and I couldn't have do it without you. I'm excited and looking forward to the new year full of weekly memes, book reviews and lots of giveaway!

Review-Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Title: Vampire Academy

Author: Richelle Mead

Pages: 332

Publisher: Penguin Group

Description from the back of the book:

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth’s magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires-the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa’s best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger…and the Strigoi are always close by.

Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidding love, and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever…

My thoughts (hopefully no spoilers):

It took me a long time to pick up this book. I always saw it in the bookstore even before I read Twilight. I would get to the Young Adult section, look at the book cover, think that the girl on the cover looks like Angelina Jolie, grimace and continue down the isle. Needless to say, I’m not a huge fan of Angelina Jolie and it has stopped me from reading a book that is really good (don’t judge a book by it’s cover). I finally bit the proverbial bullet and I’m glad I did.

I really enjoyed reading this book and found it interesting and addictive. Although Richelle Mead did not go into the history of the Moroi (Mead’s version of vampires) or how they were created, she really leaves the plot open for the rest of the series. I also thought it was interesting that her vampires live almost a regular life span, as humans, and to become evil, a vampire must kill a human or another vampire to become immortal.

The relationship between Rose and Lissa is very intimate, almost as though they were an old married couple. Their bond is exquisite in which Rose can feel what she is feeling, knowing whether or not she is in danger.

The chemistry between Rose and Demitri is sizzling hot. He starts out as her mentor, wanting her to be the best that she can be and then defends her honor when rumor fly of her being a blood whore. How cute is that. All girls want their honor to be defended. Although it was great that he saved her from Natalie (turned Strogoi), I really wanted Rose to prove herself and kill her.

Overall, the story was great and I’m already thinking about getting the next one. It was very unexpected and tells a very different story of vampires. I recommend this book to those who like vampire books. It will not disappoint.

It's Monday! What are you reading? (28 December 2009)

The weekly edition of "It's Monday! What are you reading?" is brought to you by J. Kaye's Book Blog. This is a weekly posting where we can share what we finished reading last week, explore what we are currently reading and highlight what we might read later in the week. To participate, hop on over to J. Kaye's Book Blog, leave a link to your post so we can all share in the fun.

Books I finished last week:

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Where I Want to Be by Adele Griffin

Currently reading:

Beyond the Valley of Thornes by Patrick Carman (Land of Elyon Book #2)

Alexa Daley thought her troubles were over when she defeated the man who had threatened to bring down Bridewell from within. But now that the walls around her land have fallen, a new, unexpected threat has risen from outside. Suddenly, Alexa is involved in a battle much, much larger than her own life...a battle which she is destined to play a key role.

Sinister forces are gathering in strange and vile forms, all with the goal of bringing darkenss to the land. In order to help good defeat evil, Alexa and her friends must venture farther than the've gone before-confronting giants, bats, ravenous dogs, and a particularly ghoulish mastermind in order to bring back peace.

Also reading this week:

The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman

In My Mailbox (Christmas Edition)

It has been such a great week with all the snow and getting to go home for Christmas. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get out of Lynchburg because I was snowed in for a couple days, but it all worked out beautifully. I am currently blogging from Long Beach, California where it has been a steady 60 degrees since Christmas Eve.

Over the past couple weeks I've had to restrain myself every time I went to the bookstore because I knew I'd be getting a lot of books that were on my Christmas list. I was estatic when I finally opened my presents and found every single book I wanted under the tree! And now it's time for me to share what I recieved with you.

Purchased:

Where I Want to Be by Adele Griffin
Breathe My Name by R.A. Nelson
Wormwood by G.P. Taylor

Paperbackswap.com:

Beyond the Valley of Thorns (Land of Elyon #2) by Patrick Carman

Christmas:


1. The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman (my first graphic novel!)
2. Masquerade (Blue Bloods #2) by Melissa de la Cruz
3. Revelations (Blue Bloods #3) by Melissa de la Cruz
4. Unleashed by Kristopher Reisz
5. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
6. Revealers by Amanda Marrone
7. Wake by Lisa McMann
8. Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
And Coraline the movie. I watched it last night and it's even in 3D. So cool!

I celebrate the day

Relient K, one of my all time favorites, says all that I could want to say on this Christmas day.

Lyrics from their Christmas song "I Celebrate the Day":

And with this Christmas wish I missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my own persistency
we're less than half as close as I want to be.

And the first time that You opened your eyes
Did you realize that You would be my Savior
and the first breath that left Your lips
did you know that it would change the world forever.

and so this christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior year
to what this midnight made so clear
that You have come to meet me here.

To look back and think that
this baby would one day save me
in the hope that what You did
that You were born so i might live
to look back and think that
this baby would one day save me

and I, I celebrate the day
that You were born to die
so I could one day pray for You to save my life.

Merry Christmas to all my followers and fellow bloggers!!