writing, reading, art, and randomness
Hope everyone is doing awesome.
MOCKINJAY by (do I really have to say it…you already know) Suzanne Collins
Can I be honest here? I’ve had this book for like a week and I totally haven’t touched it. I did the same thing with the last Harry Potter book. I don’t want it to end. 
MATCHED by Ally Condie
For some reason this book has me so interested — a society where your choices are predicted and controlled and there’s a love triangle somehow?? It doesn’t come out until November, but I really want to see how the plot turns out. Such an intriguing concept.
PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White
LOOOOOVE the concept of this book. Working for the International Paranormal Containment Agengcy??? I’m in. And I’m ordering it from Amazon on payday–which is tomorrow! Can’t wait.
And since my dear kARi always does that fun “What’s in my mailbox” post, I figured I’d share my most recent deliveries:
INCARERON by Catherine Fisher
Okay, so I’m halfway through this book and I’m really liking the plot. It’s like you know what’s coming, but that’s much too simple–so what’s around the next corner?? Plus the imagery and setting is soooooo cooooool. Dystopian Victorian???
THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE by Joan Aiken
I haven’t read this one yet, but the Joan Aiken books I have read have stuck with me for their clarity and plot and interesting characters. This book is older, but I had to get it! Cruel governesses and wolves–need I say more??
THE DEATH (AND FURTHER ADVENTURES) OF SILAS WINTERBOTTOM: THE BODY THIEF by Stephen M. Giles
Oh, don’t try to act like that title didn’t intrigue you. Be honest. I can’t wait to start this book and it looks like a short fun read.
And I’m currently listening to:
FAIREST by Gail Carson Levine
Wow–this story is magnetic. I’m about 5/8ths through and I’m so wrapped up in the plot! Love the characters and the setting–kingdoms and magic mirrors and an ugly protagonist that you root for!!
I haven’t heard many full-cast audio books (every character has an actor doing their voice vs just one actor doing all the voices) so it takes some getting used to. That and there’s singing. Lots of singing. I’m starting to love it.
-M♥lly
Isn’t the year going by fast?????
-M♥lly
Like I found a faithful, trustworthy friend who knows about magic and romance and laughs and charm and delight and green slime and weed killer and PLOT TWISTS.
And you know I like all those things.
sigh.
Allow me to introduce you (I think many of you have already met):
THANK YOU SO MUCH to Sandy Shin and Kari, who were genius enough to recommend this amazing book that I can’t believe I never read before.
So clever, so witty, so unexpected…I could go on and on.
I hope you add it to your TBR list.
Also, look at this cover that doesn’t do the book any justice:
Seriously, just stick with the cover at the top of the post. That one’s more like the story. (But the story’s even better.)
Have a great weekend!
-M♥lly
I’m working on my new beginning for my manuscript. This means lots of bike rides and showers are in order, since those are the only activities that seem to get my brain in super-hyperdrive-creative mode.
Otherwise, I’ve been reading.
Have I told you how much I love reading?
Ahhhhh…reading.
Reading at stoplights. Reading in the drive-thru. Reading when you're waiting on a train. Reading while someone else is driving. Reading when I should be sleeping.
I wish my job was to wake up every morning, make some tea, sit on my porch and READ.
If you would like to hire me to do this, I have an extensive reading resume. lol. I seriously drive to work thinking, “How can I earn a living by reading in my pajamas?”
You could do it, too. We could form a Readers Union, requiring benefits and chocolate and tea.
We could go to lunch at bistros and cafes and read! And then we wouldn’t look silly for sitting at a table by ourselves! And maybe the waiter wouldn’t feel sorry for us and ask us what we’re reading and then we could avoid an awkward situation!
I think we should make it happen.
Okay–well, I have to get to work…so, uh, see ya around.
Have a great day!
-M♥lly
So my fortune cookie this weekend said:
Do not strive for happiness, create happiness.
Which I thought didn’t quite make sense, but maybe kinda did…? Also, I paraphrase (but I’m pretty sure that’s word for word) bc the fortune unfortunatley (snicker) fell prey to the jowls of my washing machine.
Kari was genius enough to come up with this idea of weekly writing goals where you comment on her blog what your goal is and then you try to hit it by the end of the day on Wednesday.
So, I didn’t meet my goal last week. BUT I GOT CLOSE!!
And even though I’ve already dropped off the face of the earth to work on these revisions, this new challenge made me kick up the pace. I really think I can finish this round of revisions by the end of June. (Which was my goal in the first place, but I didn’t really think I could hit it!) Yay!
My story is getting better, I can feel it. STILL NEEDS A LOT OF STINKING WORK, but I have a little more faith in it.
And I have this new story buzzing about my brain that I’m really really really excited for.
Sometimes my dream of being a published author seems so attainable–I read these books that get movie deals and notoriety and think I can soooo do that.
But then I get my critiques back on some pages I thought were really good and I see all these holes!! Why have I not figured this out yet????!!??i
Funny. Funny. Kinda messed up, but okay, funny. Funny. Hmmmm. I hope this ends funny. I’m confused and unconvinced. Sad. Wait, maybe it will end funny and happy. NO. sad. sad. hmmm.
So if you liked the movie, uh, well, that’s cool. My kissyface and I were both bummed out by it WHICH IS NOT THE POINT OF REDBOXING A COMEDY!
Lastly, I’m reading some books this weekend and hopefully a couple will be review-worthy. So watch out!
yeah. that kinda book.
First off, let me be real with you…
No, but seriously. If I didn’t have you guys as readers/supporters/friends, I would be quite sad. Everyday at least one of you comments or blogs something that cheers me up, and everyday I learn something from you.
(That’s me blowing you a kiss for being awesome.)
Anyways–All of the above are reasons why I need your help. Thanks to Tahereh’s genius and generous contest, I won a gift card to buy some books off Amazon. But here’s the thing. I don’t want just any books.
Can you pllllleeeeaaaassssseeeee pretty please recommend some amazing books?????
“meh. This one was okay. You should check it out.”
“Oh my freaking goodness this book was spectacular and amazing and I’m in love and I want you to read it. And it transported me to this really fun place and I giggled everytime I got to crack it open because I was so giddy to read it. And it made me cry in a good way NEVER IN A SAD WAY because I know you don’t like to be sad. But this book is my new best friend and you should buy it.”
So if you know something like that, please share.
Have I told you lately that I love you???
Peace♥
.
.
So with the fun holiday weekend and the extra day off work, I kinda forgot Monday was Monday.
OOPS.
my apologies.
.
Like these redwinged blackbirds that do this weird radar chirp as you get nearer. They’re all over the paths around my apartment, so when I’m walking the dog they go erp……………….erp…………..erp………..erp…..erp…erp erp erp as you get closer and then they bolt away right when you walk by. It was pretty cool.
And then somehow my kissyface dragged me out of bed at like 5:30 in the morning to go fishing. (Don’t worry, I only do catch and release…Kissy wants to eat them, though!! ) I caught the first fish and the biggest! I felt like a champ. This huge heron flew right by me and there was all this mist on the lake and it was pretty magical.
I read a book every 24 hours this weekend. It felt great!! It would feel greater if I could find a book/series that I just fall in love with, but that hasn’t happened lately. sad.
But I did read FEED by M.T. Anderson. I’d heard lots about this book, but Kate’s analysis of it was what sealed the deal. I HAD to read the book after her review!!!
It was really disturbing and forboding. I will admit that I cried at the end and then texted my Kissy to tell him I loved him. (SO cheesy. I know.) Then I saw some people throwing their garbage out their car window and I wanted to kick their face and tell them that they need to read FEED.
Anderson did a great job of creating a realistic and terrifying world where our commerce-obsessed society has ruled and ruined everything. The teenagers made me really sad because they seemed so depraved and out of touch, but in a glossy, privileged way. I totally see it foreshadowed in our society today. I recapped the story for my mom and it really scared her!!
Peace ♥
So the other day I was talking to someone.They were in tears.
They are going through a situation and they feel like they can’t talk to anyone about it
because no one will understand
because no one else has
gone through it.
This issue has made them feel completely alone in the universe.
And they were like, “REALLY???”
And then I had an epiphany. This is exactly the reason books are so powerful. I mean, I think I already knew this, but this was the first time I’d ever felt it. Like deep-down felt it.
Have you ever had a story get you through a rough time when you thought you were flying solo through the cold cosmos?
Where the characters became good friends.
Where you felt more at home between the pages then in your own mind.
Where you knew you weren’t crazy because the main character felt the same feelings you were going through.
And you suddenly felt like it wouldn’t be impossible to smile again.
Yeah. I love that about stories.
The books I hold dear…well, mine are pretty darn cheesy.
I can’t help it. These are the books that got me through the
social terror/
peer pressure/
nightmare that is
adolescence.
And they’re still the good friends I turn to on dark and stormy nights (along with a cup of earl grey and some candles). Or when I’m not feeling motivated and just turning the pages feels like an effort. Or when I’m sick. Or when I’m lonely.
These are the books that got me through.
And all I can hope is that my books (that will be published someday, right?) will impact someone else positively. I want to help someone else get through the crap that makes you feel like you’re all by yourself out there.
Seriously, I pray that my nonsense fantasy stories can help someone else out.
Just writing them has changed my life.
.
So technically I saw the movie first and I still watch it everytime I feel sick. But then I read the book and loved it just as much.
.
.
Anyways, I’d love to hear which stories got you through 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Peace♥
By Rosemary Clement MooreFirst off, I have to let you know that I briefly met this author. I also took one of her classes at the DFW conference. I also bought her book. I also had her sign it.
This did not in any way influence my opinion.
Well, maybe a little, but I tried to be pretty straightforward with myself as I read the book.
The main character, Maggie Quinn, is a cynical senior in high school who suddenly finds herself surrounded by strange, dangerous, possibly (probably) (well–okay, definitely) supernatural events. She has to either trust her gut and try to save the world at the risk of looking crazy, or leave the snobs of the senior class to their fate. *cue scary music*
Oh, and there are hott guys. Yes, guys as in plural.
There are swimming pools, demons, witches, elitist clicks, hazings, quirky chemistry teachers, creepy dreams, plot twists, and a Jeep, all in whirled into a mystery that propels you along to the final (formal attired) showdown.
I loved the pacing of the book–I was able to read it in about a day and a half over a hectic weekend. The MC’s perspective of high school is one many of us non-all-stars can relate to. The mystery was well woven and kept you guessing. I loved the voice and there were lots of funny descriptions and witty bits of dialogue. I may have even laughed aloud.
When I purchased this book, a lady standing at next to me at the merch table asked me if I thought it would be appropriate for her 9 year old daughter with a high reading level. Since at that point in time I hadn’t read the book yet, I admitted I had no idea. Now having read the book, all I can say is–as with many YA reads, there are a couple comments on religion and politics here, there’s also a bit of blood, cursing, and some characters with serious life issues, so parents might want to skim it first to make sure they’re okay with it, but for readers that are able to use books to strengthen their perspectives rather than weaken them, this is a fun rollercoaster ride.
Just keep the salt handy. (that’s an inside joke. You won’t get it until you read the book, so read it and then we can laugh together. mwahh ha haaa.)
I give this one 4 3/4 stars out of 5
(another review Monday!!!)
Peace♥
Recent Comments