In My Mailbox #2, US vs UK #6, Best of the Bunch #1

Hi guys! I'm really sorry that there have been no posts the past couple of days; we were visiting cousins and I just didn't have time to get on my blog ;) But now I'm feeling as if I need to fit a few more posts in 2012 since this is the last day of it. So today I'm doing an In My Mailbox AND US vs UK.  Sorry for the scrambled post! I'm starting off with In My Mailbox.

In My Maibox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week.

*Since I don't get books sent to me by authors, I will feature only books that I have purchased ore received as a gift.

The Scorpio Races
by Maggie Stiefvater

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.  Some riders live.  Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion.  He is a young man of few words, and if he as any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races.  But fate hasn't given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition--the first girl to ever do so.  She is no on way prepared for what is going to happen. 

The Love of A Good Woman
by Alice Munro

In the world of Alice Munro, the best route is not necessarily the shortest distance between two points.  In her ninth superlative collection of short fiction, The Love of a Good Woman, the setting is once again western Canada, and the subject matter is classic Munro: secrets, love, betrayal, and the stuff of ordinary lives.  But as usual for this master of the short form, the path she takes is anything but ordinary.  The stunning title story is a case in point.  A narrative in four parts, it begins with the drowning of a small town optometrist and ripples outward, touching first the boys who find the body, then a spiteful dying woman and her young practical nurse.  Whose tale is this, anyway? Not the optometrist's, surely, thought his death holds it together.  The effect is not exactly Rashomon-like either, though each of the sections views him through a different eye. Instead, The Love of a Good woman is as thorough and inclusive a portrait of small town life as can be imagined...

A Tale of Two Cities
by Charles Dickens

After 18 years as a political prisoner in the Bastille, the a the aging Doctor Manette is finally released and reunited with his daughter in England.  There the lives of two very different men, Charles Darnay, and exiled French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, a disreputable but brilliant English lawyer, become enmeshed through their love for Lucie Manette.  From the tranquil roads of London, they are drawn against their will to the vengeful, bloodstained streets of Paris at the height of the Reign of Terror, and they soon fall under the lethal shadow of La guillotine.









What did you guys get this week? Link me up!! :)


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US vs UK #6

US vs UK is a meme hosted by Book Passion for Life. In this meme, I will post a US cover and a UK cover of the same book, and you guys will vote on which one you like best. I'll keep track of the score, and it will be a running competition!

*This week I'm doing something a little different. I'm comparing a US series to a UK series, instead of just an individual book.

My Pick: I'm picking the US version, actually! Even though the UK covers are prettier, I just feel like the US covers speak more to what the book is about.  I definitely wouldn't use the color purple on the cover of Catching Fire. :p Even though I like the UK covers, the US ones fit the book better. 

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Best of the Bunch is a monthly meme hosted by Always Lost in Stories on the last day of every month. The aim of this meme is to share the best book that we have read or reviewed that month and give it the Best of the Bunch award.

This month I read:
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (5/5 stars)
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (3/5 stars)
Where She Went by Gayle Forman (5/5 stars)
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen (5/5 stars)
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (5/5 stars)

I have read so many incredible books this month! But I think if I had to choose, my favorite would be:

The Scorpio Races
by Maggie Stiefvater

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.  Some riders live.  Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion.  He is a young man of few words, and if he as any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races.  But fate hasn't given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition--the first girl to ever do so.  She is no on way prepared for what is going to happen. 






Whew! All right, that's it for today. That post took forever to complete, but it was worth it. Happy New Year everyone, and the next time I see you, it'll be 2013!! ;)

Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races
by Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: October 18, 2011
by Scholastic Press

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.  Some riders live.  Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion.  He is a young man of few words, and if he as any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races.  But fate hasn't given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition--the first girl to ever do so.  She is no on way prepared for what is going to happen. 

My Review:


Maggie Stiefvater you have done it again. You haven't failed to amaze me yet. First your Wolves of Mercy Falls books, then The Raven Boys, and now this beauty. Well let's just put it this way: you are amazing.

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. AHHHHHHhhhh!!!! I didn't write this review until now because I was still gathering all my thoughts about this amazing book!

So first off I have always loved horses even though I've never took riding lessons. Something about them was always beautiful to me, and I love horse books. So imagine my excitement when I figured out that this book was a) by Maggie Stiefvater, b) about horses, and c) about killer horses. Now that is some real excitement. And it didn't fail me! I LOVED IT.

So the characters were probably my favorite part but I seriously loved everything. I loved Puck, mostly because she was fierce and seriously kick-butt. Even though she underwent some huge obstacles, she kept her mind focused on what she really wanted to do-- win the Scorpio Races, despite having a mere island horse while the others had beastly capaill uisce . I also loved the horses. Each one had a different personality. Some were vicious and savage, and others were quiet and calculating. And Dove was probably my favorite horse of all of them. Talk about a kick-ass horse! :p

I also loved Corr even though he was a capall uisce and he'd killed Sean's father. You could tell that Sean and him had a really deep connection. Some people say that animals and people can't communicate, but these two shared a special bond that I'm almost jealous of. I'd love to have that kind of connection with an animal. And Sean, of course I loved Sean. He was so mysterious for the first part of the book. I loved that part about him! When he became less mysterious I still loved his whole "man of few words" persona.

I LOVED the idea of the Scorpio Races, even though it is taking a myth and twisting it into another myth. I guess Maggie Stiefvater enjoys doing this since her Wolves of Mercy Falls books were about werewolves, but a different kind of werewolves. I would suggest reading the Author's Note BEFORE reading the book instead of after.

So anyway, this book was amazing and definitely the best Maggie Stiefvater book I have read so far. There were mixed reviews so I wasn't too sure if I was going to like it but I did! So definitely 5 stars for this one, definitely be putting this on your book repertoire soon!

5/5 stars

Waiting on Wednesday #3

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, where we spotlight upcoming releases that we're highly anticipating. 

This week's pre-publication "can't wait to read" is: 

Mind Games
by Kiersten White
Series: Mind Games #1
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Links: Goodreads/Pre-Order

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her--except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.  Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways... or risking each other's lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other--no matter the cost.




What are you guys waiting on this week? Link me up!! :)

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas! I hope you are all having fun celebrating with your friends and family. I know that I have had a great Christmas so far-- Listening to Christmas carols, hanging out with my family, buying and receiving presents, going to church at midnight, and I hope you're having fun as well!

Anyway, just a quick little post. :) Merry Christmas guys!

Review: The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The Luxe
by Anna Godbersen
Series: The Luxe #1
Release Date: November 20, 2007
by HarperCollins


Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.
Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone--from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud--threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars (♥♥♥!!!)
Who Recommended it to Me: NA
Who I'd Recommend it to: Drama-loving girls who are always in the mood for some scandalous activity. :)

My Review:


*This review contains spoilers*

Wow. What a book. I'm seriously impressed. ♥♥ed it so much.

I actually didn't expect to like this book in the least bit.  I had heard a few bad reviews and the synopsis and cover looked really cheesy. So I started this book really skeptical.  But, despite my pre-reading suspicions, I was blown away.

The characters are so hard to figure out! Even though that might have been frustrating for some readers, I like that kind of book. I'm not saying that this book deserves a place next to the fancy classics with really, really complex characters, but I enjoyed the way that I had a hard time figuring out which characters I liked. At first, I disliked Elizabeth. I disliked her proper manner and her stiff air, and I pitied Lina-- the plain servant girl who is hopelessly in love with the man she discovers her mistress is secretly in love with, too.  As the book went on, though, I swapped my dislikes.  Soon, I liked Elizabeth a lot, and disliked Lina.  Lina's decisions were extremely poor. First, teaming up with Penelope was not a good move.  I suspected that Penelope had actually killed Elizabeth, but then at the end when I figured out that she didn't, I was really surprised.

I loved Will from the start. I started the book firmly believing that Lina should end up with Will.  When I thought of Elizabeth in her perfect ballgowns and flawlessness, I was overcome with disgust.  And then there was Lina, the quiet servant girl who secretly fantasized about marrying Will.  But then as the story shifted, I wanted Elizabeth to run away with Will, and I guess that's what happened at the end. But I have a suspicion that this isn't a happy ending. So that's why I'll definitely be looking for the next book as soon as possible!!

The story was easy to follow. I liked the way that it was told in third-person, but at the same time you could really see into the character's minds. Lina, for example, was so overcome with love that she made some seriously stupid, foolish decisions that, um, I don't think would have made Will love her.  I despised Penelope from the moment she walked in-- Penelope's obnoxiousness was apparent throughout the whole book. And I loved Diana, even though I thought her decision to meet in secret with her sister's fiance was questionable.  Hmm... What else? Well, I liked Henry, even though he was an idiot. I loved the way Diana made him feel like crap before she started loving him.  He really learned from his mistakes, I feel like.

Well, all in all, I loved this book! It was exactly the kind of book that I love. I'm really interested in this time period, and it sort of reminded me of the TV show Downton Abbey! So I would definitely recommend this book, but I think that only a certain kind of reader would enjoy it, so if you don't enjoy it, it probably just isn't your type of book. I was expecting not to like this book, but it turns out that it is JUST my type of book, and I loved it! So definitely check it out! :) ♥

4.5/5 stars 

US vs UK #5

US vs UK is a meme hosted by Book Passion for Life. In this meme, I will post a US and a UK cover from the same book, and you guys will vote on which one you like best. I'll keep track of the score, and it will be a running competition!

US left, UK right

 (Sorry for the quality of these pictures...)

Links:
Goodreads/Purchase

My Pick:
I'm partial to the UK cover, because it is very mysterious and I like the colors in it. I like both of these covers, though, but if I were faced with which one to buy at a bookstore, I think I would choose the UK cover.

What about you? 

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week.

*Note: Since I don't get books sent to me by authors or anything, I will only feature books that I have purchased or received as a gift. 

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.
Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone--from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud--threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Evie's always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours.

But Evie's about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

What did you guys get this week? Link me up!! :)

SS#7: Boys Who Read

Introducing the Saturday Scoop:
The Saturday Scoop is a weekly post hosted here on Girl of the Books.  Each week, I pick a new topic to write about and just rant and rave about that particular topic. Enjoy. :)

This Week's Topic: Boys Who Read

Boys Who Read. To me, at least, it's becoming less and less of a true statement, at least at my school. At my old school, there were guys everywhere with their noses stuck in some sort of book. But this year I've realized that my old school was quite different, more on the quirky side, while at my new school, all the boys do is text and...text. It makes me sad.  The girls, too, don't read often either. It seems like I am the only one in a grade of nearly 60 students that appreciates a good book.

So I kind of borrowed this off of Book Adoration, (I hope that's ok), but it was too beautiful and awesome to not share with you guys. ^^ If posting this isn't ok with Lottie then I will take it down.

I mean, how amazing is that?

That made me realize that boys who read are valuable.  I will always date a guy who reads, will definitely MARRY a guy who reads.  I've realized that guys who read have this really sweet, valuable sense to them that guys who don't read just don't have (in the same way). I'm not trying to be mean to guys who don't read, I'm just saying that guys who read are incredibly special.

I hope you take this message to heart and see what I am saying. :)

Happy Saturday and Merry Early Christmas!

Top Ten Tuesday #3

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For more information, click on the link. 

This Week's Topic: Top Ten Books I Read in 2012

Ooh, goodness! This is going to be a tough one. At least I won't have trouble getting to ten. It's more about having trouble narrowing it down to ten. :p

1. Shine by Lauren Myracle

2. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

3. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

4. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

6. Looking For Alaska by John Green

7. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

8. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

9. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

10. The Selection by Kiera Cass

:)

Have a nice week! 

P.S. - This is my 100th Post. :D

US vs UK #4

US vs UK is a meme hosted by Book Passion for Life. In this meme, I will post a US cover and a UK cover of the same book. Then, all of us pick which one we like better. I'll keep track of the score, and it will be a running competition!

Left: US
Right: UK

This week's pick: How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
Which one do you like better? Why? 

My Pick: I have to pick the UK version! I hate to be disloyal to my country, but I LOOOVE the UK cover so much more than I Love the US one! I just...It's just so pretty! And you will know that I am obsessed with pretty things. x) 

End Of Year Book Survey!

Hosted by The Perpetual Page Turner. 

1. Best book you read in 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

That's like getting a mother to choose her favorite child! I guess I would have to pick Shine by Lauren Myracle. It was life-changing. But I can't just say one book, so I'm breaking it down by genre.

Adult fiction: Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Marley & Me by John Grogan, or Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
Contemporary YA: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, Looking For Alaska by John Green, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green,
Dystopian YA: Divergent by Veronica Roth, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Sci-fi/supernatural/paranormal-ish: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Fantasy: Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going to Love More But Didn't?
A Song For Summer by Eva Ibbotson, or Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?
Anna Dressed in Blood! I don't usually go for that kind of book, and I wasn't expecting to love it at all, but when I picked it up, it was great!

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?
Divergent by Veronica Roth. It's one of those books you just have to love.

5. Best series you discovered in 2012?
The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare, or Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?
Becca Fitzpatrick (I still haven't finished her series yet, but she's fabulous), Sarah Dessen (every time I read a book by her I am stunned at her ability to write) and John Green (if you've read a book by him, you know why he's one of my favorite new authors).

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Hm, well, that's kind of hard since I'll read just about everything. But I'd have to say Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Normally I would never go so far to even touch a book involving a suicidal high-schooler, but it amazed me. One of my faves of 2012, in fact.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book of 2012?
I seriously couldn't put down The Selection by Kiera Cass. Other than that, probably one of Sarah Dessen's books, or The Hunger Games series.

9. Book you read in 2012 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
The Selection by Kiera Cass, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, or Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012? 

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 
Isabelle Lightwood from the Mortal Instruments. She's kick-ass, sexy, and totally full of girl-power.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012? 
Where She Went by Gayle Forman. It was beautiful.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?
Shine by Lauren Myracle and Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson. Shine changed my life. Tiger Lily made me sob.

14. Book you can't believe you wanted UNTIL 2012 to finally read?
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick definitely! I seriously was freaked out by the cover, but after much persuading from some of my online buddies, I picked it up and couldn't believe that I hadn't read it before!

15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2012?

“Oh shit did you just diss the feminine gender
I'll pummel your ass then stick you in a blender
You think I like Tori and Ani so I can't rhyme
But I got flow like Ghostbusters got slime
Objectify women and it's fuckin' on
You'll be dead and gone like ancient Babylon.” - Looking For Alaska by John Green

16. Shortest and Longest book you read in 2012?

Longest: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (563 pages)

Shortest: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (180 pages)

17. Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc etc.)

*SPOILERS* When Maxon kisses America for the first time in The Selection, and the moment in The Fault in Our Stars when Hazel first sees Augustus... *sigh*

18. Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc.)

I loved the relationship between Hazel and Augustus in The Fault in Our Stars, and Tiger Lily and Peter Pan in Tiger Lily. 

19. Favorite book you read in 2012 from an author you read previously?

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater <3

20. Best book that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else?

Tiger Lily or Hush, Hush. Tiger Lily was recommended to me by Erika and Hush, Hush was recommended to me by Fari, my Goodreads friend. 

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012?

There are so many! Since I only started blogging this year. Maybe Emily's Crammed Bookshelf? I don't know, I love all of you! 

2. Favorite review you wrote in 2012?

Definitely my review of Where She Went by Gayle Forman. You can find my review on my Goodreads group's blog, Addicted to YA, by clicking here.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

I had a lengthy discussion about the Hunger Games with my sister. 

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog?

I honestly couldn't choose, I have read so many amazing reviews this year.

5. Best event you participated in?

I didn't participate in any events. 

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?

Wow. Well, all of the comments and support I have received from fellow bloggers. Also, figuring out how to make my blog look pretty like all the other ones was good, too!

7. Most popular post this year on your blog?

Well, if you look at statistics (in terms of page views), my book review of Anna Dressed in Blood has 53 pageviews which is the most of all time. 

8. Post you wished got a little more love?

I worked EXTREMELY hard on this post: http://leopardkittybooks.blogspot.ca/2012/12/all-fan-girl-book-series-first.html, and I thought people would love it, but only one person commented! :( Hopefully that is just because they didn't see the post. 

9. Best bookish discover?

Um, Blogger of course!

10. Did you complete any reading challenges of goals that you had set yourself in the beginning of the year?

I am ALMOST finished with my 2012 reading challenge on Goodreads of 100 books. I've read 97. So, yay!

Looking Ahead...

1. One book you didn't get to in 2012 but will you your number 1 priority in 2013?

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. 

2. Book you are most anticipating for 2013?

There are soo many! But if I had to choose I'd say Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, The Elite by Kiera Cass, or Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. 

3. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2013?

First, READ more!! And second, get 100 followers!

Happy End of 2012! 

SS #6: Sisterhood ♥

Introducing the Saturday Scoop:
The Saturday Scoop is a weekly post hosted here on Leopard Kitty Girl Books. Each week, I pick a new topic to write about and just rant and rave about that particular topic. Enjoy. :)

This Week's Topic: Sisterhood ♥

So for the past few months, my older sister, who's 10 years older than I am, has been teaching English in Jordan in the Middle East. I hadn't seen her since August, until today, when she came back from her excursion. She'll go back again in a few weeks, but seeing her again made me think about how valuable sisters are.

As we related the past few months to each other, talking about teaching, the Middle East (her), middle school dances, books (me), I realized how important it was to connect with someone like that, in a sister kind of way. If you have a sister you might know what I mean. Sometimes sisters fight or get on each other's nerves, but that's just part of being a sister. (Believe me, my sister and I do NOT have a perfect relationship. We have had countless fights over the silliest things.) 

I think sisterhood, or at least sibling-hood (Not sure that's a word...), is an integral part of each person's life. If you're an only child, then surely you've known someone who you've looked up to, who you've thought of as a kind of sister or a kind of brother. I'm definitely glad that my parents chose to have so many kids, because my siblings are such a vital part of my life. I would be a completely different person without my sister, without my brothers for that matter. 

It's not only sisterhood I'm talking about. Brotherhood is equally as important. I'm not as close as my second brother as I am with my first, but I definitely felt joy and happiness for him when he got into college yesterday, early decision. I've watched my older siblings through so many things. And now that all of them have gone through high school, gotten accepted into college, and two of them are out of college and in the real world now, It's my turn to do what they have done for me, for a 'little sister' that I don't have. I'll never be in their place, unfortunately. But they have done so much for me.

Have a nice weekend! :)

It's Taylor Swift's Birthday! ♥♥♥♥♥♥

Hey Guys! So I know this is totally random and off the bat but I just wanted to tell everyone...

It's Taylor Swift's Birthday! 

Anyway as you might now Taylor Swift to me is amazing and I love her so much!! Today I listened to all the songs on Red in her honor and I have a new favorite- Starlight. Anyway Thank You Taylor for making these awesome songs, being an awesome role model and being Just Amazing to me!

Happy Birthday Happy Birthday Happy Birthday Happy Birthday!

Lookin sassy

Lookin pensive

Pretty Tay :)

pretty :D

In Taylor Swift's honor I am now going to post the lyrics of the song '22', but instead change when it says '22' to '23' since thats what she is now!

It feels like a perfect night to dress up like hipsters
And make fun of our exes, uh uh uh uh
It feels like a perfect night for breakfast at midnight
To fall in love with strangers uh uh uh uh
Yeaaaah
We're happy free confused and lonely at the same time
It's miserable and magical oh yeah
Tonight's the night when we forget about the deadlines, it's time uh uh

I don't know about you but im feeling 23
Everything will be alright if you keep me next to you
You don't know about me but I bet you want to
Everything will be alright if we just keep dancing like we're 23, 23

It seems like one of those nights
This place is too crowded too many cool kids
It seems like one of those nights
We ditch the whole scene and end up dreaming instead of sleeping
Yeaaaah
We're happy free confused and lonely in the best way
It's miserable and magical oh yeah
Tonight's the night when we forget about the heartbreaks, it's time uh uh

I don't know about you but im feeling 23
Everything will be alright if you keep me next to you
You don't know about me but I bet you want to
Everything will be alright if we just keep dancing like we're 23, 23

I don't know about you, 23, 23

It feels like one of those nights
We ditch the whole scene
It feels like one of those nights
We won't be sleeping
It feels like one of those nights
You look like bad news I gotta have you, I gotta have you

I don't know about you but im feeling 23
Everything will be alright if you keep me next to you
You don't know about me but I bet you want to
Everything will be alright if we just keep dancing like we're 23, 23

Dancing like 23, yeah, 23, yeah yeah

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAYLOR! ♥♥♥♥♥

It feels like one of those nights
We ditch the whole scene
It feels like one of those nights
We won't be sleeping
It feels like one of those nights
You look like bad news I gotta have you, I gotta have you!

Waiting on Wednesday #2

Hey Guys! Oh gosh I'm so sorry that I forgot to post my WoW post last week! Anyway I am making it up to you by posting a double WoW this week! (I'll feature 2 books instead of 1.)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It highlights upcoming releases that we're greatly anticipating.

This week's picks:

Just One Day by Gayle Forman-
to be released in January 2013

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay
When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer- 
to be released in February 2013

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Link me up!! :)

Maggie Stiefvater- What She Does Well In Her Writing

So if you are a ya literature fanatic as I am then you have definetely heard of Maggie Stiefvater.  If you don't know who she is then let me explain. She is the author of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series (Shiver, Linger, Forever), author of The Raven Boys, The Scorpio Races, Lament, and Ballad.  So far I have read three of her books: Shiver, Linger, and The Raven Boys. And each time she has amazed me.

Why did she amaze me? Well, the way that she is able to pull her readers into the story is astounding. Her writing style works really well with the stories she tells. So today I am going to break down for you what it is exactly that she does well.

• Pulls her readers in from the first page. Her first lines of books or first paragraphs are always highly intriguing. For example, the first line of Shiver is, "I remember lying in the snow, a small red spot of warm going cold, surrounded by wolves." The first line of The Raven Boys is, "Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times someone had told her she would kill her true love." Now is that amazing or what? 
• Creates a thoughtful and different story line while using techniques that teens love. I admire the way that Maggie is able to choose a unique topic to write about while at the same time she stays in the general vicinity of where teenagers like to go- Her Wolves of Mercy Falls series is about werewolves which are very popular in young adult books these days- but she manages to make them non-cliche and pretty awesome. Well the Raven Boys was not something like I'd ever read in young adult literature before but it was amazing because of that. So she is very unique.
• Is one of the most unique YA author voices of today. First Maggie's voice is so clear, she's not one of those authors that just slips out of the scene.  She writes in a different kind of way that makes her voice sound different than all the other ya authors of today.  She says things like, "She grunted to the negative," which is just another cool way of saying that she mumbled no. I love the way she does that and is able to put a picture in her readers mind without going completely overboard *cough* Tahereh Mafi *cough*
• Writes such good books! I've enjoyed all reading experiences by Maggie and her books are simply amazing. If you have not read one of them then you must pick one up immediately! Or at least the next time you are at the bookstore or the library. 

Anyway that was just a quick author profile so I hope this helped you . This is the 1st installment I'm doing of a series called "What Makes a Good Writer (WMAGW)". Throughout the month I will be sharing with you several different talented authors and what makes them so talented. Have a nice week!

Love, Love, Love,

annabel (:

All-Fan Girl Book Series! first installment

Hey Guys! So what I have for you today is a new series I am working on- It's called All-Fan Girl Book Series and I'm really excited about it! it is partly inspired  by the many conversations I have over GoodReads with my online friends about books, boys, and life!

Ever once in a while I am going to feature a new installment of the series, the installments are sort of like chapters but each one is a full story in itself.

Summary of this series: A fivesome of thirteen year old girls who are all avid book lovers and boy-crazies. A series of them fan girling over the diffrent books they have read.

So today, you are going to get to know the girls I created an who they are. 

Brenna:  off in her own world. never pays attention to what's actually going on. Has a  filthy mind and often makes awkward dirty jokes.

Meggie: The crazy one. Cannot stop talking about books and boys.

Norah:  More reserved, thoghtful. Can write like the wind.

Anna: Sensitive, cute, cannot live without her iPod.

Joanie: Sweet but sour at times.  Teasing and pranks are her thing.


So now that you know a little more about the characters I say it is storytime! Let Me begin your first installment of... dun dun a... the ALL-FANGIRL BOOK SERIES!

Curtain goes up. Meggie and Brenna sit on the floor of Meggie's room. They have desolate, sad expressions on their face.  Tears run down Meggie's face. 

Brenna: Don't you wish that he was real? *sniffles*

Meggie (wipes tears from cheek): Yes. Yes  I do. *closes Clockwork Prince sadly*

Brenna: He's just so beautiful. The light hair, beautifull. he can't have his heart broken by that awful Tessa... Oh I can't take it. If he were real my life would be so different.

Meggie (snaps head up): BRENNA! Surely you are not talking about JAMES CARTSTAIRS??

Brenna (confused): What? of course I am.

Meggie (at this, starts crying even more): Oh crap..oh crap. I'm not talking about Jem...I'm talking about WILL! because Will isn't real. Well neither is Jem. But that doesn't fit my point.

Brenna (shakes head vigorously): No. No! You don't mean that. Team Jem for the win!

Meggie (sits up straight): Team. Will. For. The. Win.

*opening scene blacks out as girls stare at each other in disgust* Curtain.

Scene opens. Meggie, Brenna, Norah, Anna, and Joanie sit in a circle, barefoot, on the grass in a park.  Each one of them is reading a different book. 

Norah (closes The Hunger Games and stares at sky longingly): Cato. My love.

Joanie (snaps head up, shuts The Fault in Our Stars): What are you talking about???

Anna (disgustedly): CATO??!

Norah (defensively): What? He's pretty sexy.

Meggie:

Meggie (eyes pop out of head): Please just tell me that the word "sexy" didn't just come out of your mouth, dear.

Norah (blushes): Well, it's true. (secretly she's like: I regret nothing!)

Meggie (gapes): Oh. My. God! Brenna! DID YOU HEAR THAT?

Brenna (lost in The Maze Runner): Mmmm.

Meggie: Is that a Yes or a No?

Brenna: mmm, what babe?

Meggie (exasperated): I give up!!!!

Anna (puts headphones on): Anyone in the mood for some... sexiness?

Brenna (mumbling): Thats what she said.

Anna (rolls eyes): Honey, I'm talking about Justin Bieber. *clicks buttons on iPod. volume is turned up so loud that all girls can hear 'As long as you love me' blasting*

Joanie (humming): As long as you love, love, love love, love me, love me.

Meggie: Anyone noticed the new guy?

*this gets Brenna's attention. Her head snaps up*

Brenna: What new guy?

Meggie (smiles triumphantly): The one in my Math class. He's so HOT.

Brenna: Whats. His Name.

Meggie (mumbles): Will.

Joanie (sighs): Of course his name is Will. Tell me, Meg, have you ever had a crush on any guy who's name is not Will?

Meggie (in small voice): I mean... Will Herondale...? I can't help it! But hey! That's not the only thing about him that's hot. He's GERMAN.

Anna: Whaaaattttt? *snaps out of J-Biebs trance*

Meggie: Uh-huh. Uh-huh *bounces on toes* He totally has an accent, too!

Everyone:

Joanie: Oooh, now THAT is something worth talking about.

Meggie: I know right!

Brenna (impressed): Ah. Well.

Meggie (concerned): But, my loves. He is MINE. Meaning he is off limits. No hopeless flirting, Anna. No offering to do his science homework for him, Norah. No touching his hair or complimenting his accent, Joanie. And Brenna, absolutely NO kissing his cheek!

Anna (secretly, behind Meggie's back):

Brenna's reaction

Brenna (blushes): Hey, that was a one shot deal. And I was eleven!

Anna (rolls eyes): Oh, like you're sooooo much older now.

Brenna (confused and missing Anna's sarcasm): Umm... yeahh?

Meggie (closes book and hops up): Meh, this is boring. And I'm done with this piece of crap anyway. *throws Shatter Me into the air*

Joanie (horrified): What? Did you just call my baby a piece of crap? *shocked, cradles book in arms, talks soothingly to it* Honey, honey. It'll be alright. She's just a mean old hobo, a good-for nothing grndma.

Meggie (utterly offended): Uh..shit Joan, did you just call me a 'mean old hobo?' and a 'good for nothing grandma'??

Joanie (looks at her in the eye): Why yes in fact I did.

Meggie (clenches fist): It's ON!

Norah (during this entire exchange):


To Be Continued...