Waiting On Wednesday (#5)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...
  

 

Star Cursed (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #2)

byJessica Spotswood 

Expected publication: June 18th 2013

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

 The first book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles was just amazing! It honestly has to be my favorite witch related book so far. I devoured the book quickly and as a consequence, have been waiting ever so patiently for the next book. I just recently found out that the cover was released, and after seeing it, just couldn't control my eagerness. June 18th seems so far away, but know that when this book hits shelves, I will be be first in line to get it. Check out the first book, Born Wicked, below by clicking on the cover:

(Book 1)

Book Haul (#4)

 

All books shown above were picked up at a Goodwill near my university. After bringing all the books back to my dorm, I realized that nearly all of them have been turned into movies; though the only one I have seen is The Boleyn Girl, which is why I wanted to get the book. I have also already read Northanger Abbey, but I loved the book and didn't have my own copy so I definitely had to grab it when I saw it sitting there on the shelf :)

Every Day by David Levithan

Every Day by David Levithan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published August 28th 2012 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

In his New York Times bestselling novel, David Levithan introduces readers to what Entertainment Weekly calls a "wise, wildly unique" love story about A, a teen who wakes up every morning in a different body, living a different life.

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan, bestselling co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

“The moment you fall in love feels like it has centuries behind it, generations - all of them rearranging themselves so this precise, remarkable intersection could happen. In your heart, in your bones, no matter how silly you know it is, you feel that everything has been leading to this, all the secret arrows were pointing here, the universe and time itself crafted this long ago, and you are just now realizing it, you are just now arriving at the place you were always meant to be.”
― David Levithan, Every Day 

This is the first novel I've read by David Levithan, and after finishing it, I have to say that I will definitely check out more of his work.

GoodReads was advertising this book like CRAZY when this book first came out. I couldn't go anywhere on the website without it being shoved in my face, rather obnoxiously if I may add. So, upon one day stumbling upon the book on the shelf of my county library, I decided, "Why not?" GoodReads is obviously trying to get me to read this so it can't be all bad. And, it wasn't; I fell in love with the first few pages.

Every Day is about a character named A; A doesn't have a definitive gender, at least, not that A knows of. A wakes up in a different person's body everyday; sometimes as a girl, boy, thin, obese, straight, or homosexual; the possibilities are endless. This has been going on for as long as A can remember.

A pretty much accepts this life because there isn't any way to change it. It’s not something s/he can just turn on and off at will; it’s his/her reoccurring ailment. That is, s/he accepts this life, until s/he meets Rhiannon. And to make matters even more complicated, Rhiannon has a rather asinine boyfriend who basically treats her like dirt and she lets him.

I have to say, the whole concept of waking up as a different person everyday and being able to also access all their memories, is definitely a unique plotline. It is what I loved so much about this story. The characters also felt so real that is was hard not to love them or connect with them. Though, at one point, I was getting pretty annoyed with Rhiannon. At parts, she seems a tad judgmental when it came to A’s appearance. A specific example would be when he was a 3 or 400 pound boy. She kept looking at him oddly, and seemed ashamed to be seen with him in public. I guess I can sort of understand her situation; it must be hard to be with someone who is in a different person’s body every day, but A is still the same person inside. She seemed to have trouble seeing that at times when A was on the more unattractive side. For some reason it just irked me a bit.

Overall, the writing was wonderful! I didn’t expect to fall in love with this book like I did. Now, you are probably wondering why if I loved it so much, I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5. I can’t really explain why. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, I found I wasn’t as immersed in the story the closer I got to the end. The ending, don’t get me wrong, wasn’t bad. There probably wasn’t really any alternative to what happened that wouldn’t have completely changed the story. Another factor that could have paid tribute to me giving the book only 4 stars was the fact that A got a little creepy as the book went on. By creepy, I mean obsessed. He constantly thought of Rhiannon and wanted to see her, and would go see her, even if she didn’t want to meet; this interfered with the lives of the people s/he inhabited. I felt like that wasn’t really fair.

As I said, the book was good. I would recommend it to anybody. However, just a warning: the majority of the book is about romance. Yes, there is the sci-fi aspect, but the story itself pretty much revolves around A’s love of Rhiannon. So, if you are expecting some epic sci-fi novel, or are just not a huge fan of romance, then this is probably a book you should skip out on.

View all my reviews

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

So I think the title of this post pretty much says it all.

Yep, it's my birthday! Today I turned 19 and have been listening to all my friends and family tell me that I am now old. That's just what every girl wants to hear on her birthday right? Haha, well anyway, it's been a great day. I opened my door early this morning to be pelted with balloons and party poppers...it was definitely an interesting way to wake up lol.

I wish I could do a giveaway for you guys, but I am currently lacking in the money department right now (the joys of being a college student). So, I hope you guys will be just as happy with me telling you I will definitely be more active on the blog in the upcoming weeks. I have some reviews I am working on right now for you guys (on my birthday :P). I figured I would take a break from studying today and do something productive, yet enjoyable. So look forward to the things to come :)

Breaking Dawn Part 2: WHY???

Well November 16th was the day "twihards" (unlike myself) have been waiting for: the final movie in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga is released! I meant to post this the day I saw the movie, which was opening day, but just haven't had the time :(

To say I haven't been waiting for this movie, would be a small fib; I have been waiting for it, but not for the same reason most other girls my age are. I have just been waiting for it to be over. There, I said it! I am so tired of all the Twilight hype and am so glad it is coming to its end. If I ever have to look at Kristen Stewart's expressionless face, or hear Taylor Lautner's voice again, I will go insane!

Now, I may be a hypocrite; I am sitting here telling you all how much I don't like the movies, yet I see every one of them and own them all as well, so really, who am I to judge?

I do have to say that Breaking Dawn Part 2 was pretty awesome. However, that little twist they threw in there nearly gave me a heart attack. I won't go into detail about it because there may be some of you out there who have yet to see it, but for those of you who saw the movie and know what I am talking about, how did you feel about the twist? I HATED it!

My friend and I were freaking out! I have never been so emotional during a Twilight movie, and am quite ashamed at my reaction...it was pretty bad. The whole scene, I was just sitting there thinking, "What is this?! This didn't happen in the book!" My friend beside me was about ready to get up and leave; though it's a good thing we didn't.

Every other person thought that the twist was clever and brilliant. Well I disagree! And hopefully, I am not the only person out there who does. I think it was pretty cruel to trick us like that...but that's just me.

Waiting On Wednesday (#4)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...
  

The Originals

byCat Patrick

 
Expected publication: May 7th 2013

A riveting new story from Cat Patrick, author of Forgotten and Revived.

17-year-olds Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best grew up as identical triplets... until they discovered a shocking family secret. They're actually closer than sisters, they're clones. Hiding from a government agency that would expose them, the Best family appears to consist of a single mother with one daughter named Elizabeth. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns going to school, attending social engagements, and a group mindset has always been a de facto part of life...

Then Lizzie meets Sean Kelly, a guy who seems to see into her very soul. As their relationship develops, Lizzie realizes that she's not a carbon copy of her sisters; she's an individual with unique dreams and desires, and digging deeper into her background, Lizzie begins to dismantle the delicate balance of an unusual family that only science could have created.

Why am I waiting ever so desperately for the release of The Originals?

Well for starters, I have become a HUGE fan of Cat Patrick. She had be hooked from her first novel Forgotten, and having just finished her last novel Revived only just a few days ago, I cannot express how much I love this author. Cat Patrick is extremely talented in my eyes. It has been quite awhile since an author has made me fallen so hard for a story and its characters. Everything she writes is amazing, and the covers of her novels? Well, they are pretty darn awesome. I am always drawn in by the beautiful covers.

So basically, waiting until May for this book is going to be pretty tough; going to have to read a lot of good books in the meantime to distract me from the anticipation.

Book Haul (3)

 

These are some books I have picked up over the weekend. I went a tad crazy this weekend, raiding library sales and GoodWill. The three books on the top row are ones I have already read, but didn't own. I either bought them because I really liked them, or I had some books in the series and wanted to complete the set :)

I also bought two other books within the last month, and they are: