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I hesitate giving this book a review, mostly because it's been so well-reviewed for such obvious reasons, but I'd listed it on a reading list and I have to cross it off now.
I literally spent the whole afternoon with my nose in this book. Years ago, back in fifth grade, my teacher had read this out loud to my class during reading time. (I wonder if, given the controversy surrounding the book, any parents of my classmates had complained. She got to finish it, so I guess not.) Embarrassingly, I'd forgotten most of the story, save for one incredibly heart-breaking scene that has stayed with me - and one I relived this afternoon.
( He did not know what his selection meant. He did not know what he was to become. Or what would come of him. )
- Mood:
melancholy
In my mind, I promised to get this posted before the week was out.
This is the hardcover version which, while perhaps underwhelming, reflects the theme of the book better than the paperback version, which is more generic. I was surprised to see that this is published in part by Disney; does this mean we can expect to see a made-for-TV movie starring Selena Gomez soon? Well, I don't know about that.
( Makeover. Dev's term for it was reinvent the brand, but I understood what it really meant. )
- Mood:
accomplished - Music:"Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl" - Broken Social Scene
So. It's been a little while since I last posted (a hint of what life might be like once I'm in grad school). But that doesn't mean I haven't been reading! It just means that between decorating, buying presents, and generally getting into the Christmas spirit, things are kinda busy.
But this book was a surprisingly engrossing read, which is why I finished it before Little Women and The Market. It was a recent purchase, a cheap treat for myself courtesy of Half-Price Books. It'd caught my interest months ago, and stuck out primarily because this seemed to be a Meg Cabot book that dealt with fantasy. ( I couldn't believe this was happening. And yet, at the same time, I sort of could. Which seemd to be how my life was going at Avalon High. )
- Mood:
blah - Music:"If I Never See Your Face Again" Maroon 5
First things first: No one - I repeat, no one - back then had bleach-blonde hair. I can almost garuntee you that. Also, I highly doubt that there were cotton candy pink or navy blue dresses, and that they would show that much back. However, they did get the style of the dresses right, for the most part, and the intricate hairdos. Sorry, I had to get this off my chest.
( After all, a carefully won marriage was far more important than affairs of state. )
I know I said this about the previous volume, but I think this one is my new favorite. I can't get enough of this series.
( You had a SEXY phase?! )
- Music:"Beyond the Sea" Bobby Darin
So I FINALLY got to this book, at least a month after checking it out. My goal of reading the entire body of work from Rachel Cohn is going slow but steady.
I must say, I really prefer these versions of the book covers instead of the ordinary stripes motif:
Total meh.
( Perhaps I am a sucky mean person destined to walk through life without Good Karma! Oh, well, I accept my fate. Could you all go away now, please? )
- Mood:
creative
On my copy, it says "scratch and sniff here" on the top of the cup. Unfortunately, I can't confirm the verity of that statement, since the cover is covered with plastic.
( Is love an STD? From what I've seen, it's harder to cure than herpes. )
- Mood:
sleepy - Music:"Sleep On It" - Saving Jane
It really sucks when you finish a book and the first thing you can think of, regardless even of whether or not you liked it, is "At least I didn't pay money for this." Well, okay, maybe I'm feeling a bit miserly lately, but the point is I was disappointed in the direction this book took.
( It's the first time Iris has ever seen her stepsister look, for just a moment, as if she doesn't mind being beautiful. )
- Mood:
confused
I literally squealed with delight as I finished reading this.
The title is so similar to How to Be Popular, I wondered if this was written as a response to that book. And yet, it bears many more similarities to Stargirl. On a different note, it's wonderful to see an original cover instead of some stock photo.
( Lunch at a new school is like the SAT of social tests. It determines your immediate standing. Whomever you choose to sit with tells people who you are, or who you see yourself as. )
- Mood:
bouncy - Music:"Feelings Show" Colbie Caillat
This book is basically a non-musical version of Hannah Montana (and yes, it is sad that I know even one lyric from the opening song by heart).
Jen Calonita has written for Teen People and Entertainment Weekly, one of which is my favorite zine and other something I never read when I was actually a teen. Predictably, this is the first in a series.
( Work, work, work, Kaitie-kins. It will pay off. )
- Mood:
hungry
Holy wow, am I really posting another book review two days in a row, even though this book was more than the combined lengths of the two previous books* I'd read? I am quite surprised at myself.
This was one of those instances where I gobbled the book up out of the good kind of fascination, and not the bad kind (see: The Luxe). I was riveted.
*I'm bad at math, so this may be a slight exaggeration.
( In which fate deals me a savage blow, leaving me to my own pitiably meager devices. )
Mangled quote from that one scene in White Christmas (you know, when they sing about snow). Anyway, about the book: it was another quick read, but I think it was just light and quirky enough to get away with it. 
Wow, that's pretty big. I love that cover - I like it when the cover of the book reflects themes or tropes in the book. It strikes me as a friendly cover.
- Music:"Duet" Rachael Yamagata
This is another of my library finds, a short and sweet offering from Carolyn Mackler. Apparently it's a sequel of a previous book, but the main character is different.
Interesting that this should be a road-trip story, since I've been thinking of writing a road-trip story of my own. (This may or may not have to do with the fact that a good friend of mine recently moved to Oklahoma, and many of my school friends are back in Manhattan KS).
( Or maybe we should meet in St. Louis? )
- Mood:
indifferent - Music:"The Artist" Sara Bareilles
This post's title is a slightly altered quote from one of my all-time favorites, Mansfield Park. It's funny (well, not funny ha-ha) how well it describes the extreme non-events in this book. However, I find myself confused as to how I feel about it.
Disclaimer: They didn't wear dresses like that in 1899. But, oh my God, the marketing people they have are geniuses.
( In life, Elizabeth Holland was known not only for her loveliness but also for her moral character, so it was fair to say that in the afterlife she would occupy a lofty seat with an especially good view. )
- Mood: confused
- Music:"Back at Your Door" Maroon 5
I have no idea how I'm going to write this review, but I'm looking forward to trying. I have just finished reading it - all 973 pages - and now I can return it to my grandmother (with one page slightly dog-eared, but let's just keep that a secret).
Warning: Very unsavory details ahead. This book is quite explicit.
- Mood: working
How fitting that my first review of October should be for a book like this. If I time it right, I could have Twilight read and reviewed by Halloween. (Not that I'm making any promises.) (EDIT: Yeah, didn't follow through with that.)
There's been a lot of horror/fantasy stuff coming out lately - not just books, but TV shows and movies - but nevertheless I was surprised to see that this book came out earlier this year. Is it weird that I kinda want those shoes?
( Whatever was going down, it wasn't Settler stuff. It was black-arts stuff, the kind of thing that led to nothing but seriously bad news for average humans and Settlers alike. )
- Mood:
loved
I'm totally serious. The only reason I did is because I had to read it for my Shakespeare & Children's Lit class (other survivers are here and here). I've tried so hard to forget I ever read it, but I finally decided to bite the bullet and post a review.
Apparently, Sharon Draper has other book out that are much better, and reflect her decent talent for YA writing. But this book is one huge FAIL, and I'm not about to excuse her. Here's how much I didn't like it: I've sold it to a used book store.
( Seriously, don't read this. )
- Music:"Never Meant To Hurt You" Wire Daisies
All right, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, since I never really lost my faith in the first place. But I have been noticing that some of the books I've read lately, with the exception of Sweet 16, haven't really wowed me. This book, however, is a major game-changer.
First of all, feast your eyes on this doozy of a cover. Don't you just wish you could jump into it, a la Mary Poppins, and live in that colorful, cartoony version of New York? Because among other things, this book is a gentle celebration of all things New York.
( Every other person in Silicon Valley is of Indian descent or related to an Internet tycoon, and frequently they're both. I'm actually considered pretty mainstream. )
- Mood: amused
- Music:"Can't Behave" Courtney Jaye
This is one of the many fantasy-themed books noww out on the market, thanks to the intense popularity of Twilight. Now, the only fantasy books I've read in the past few years are the Harry Potter and Discworld series; despite being a fantasy-lover in my youth (I offer this as exhibit A), I've really gone off it lately.
My paperback is quick to declare, rather vaguely, that this is a "New York Times Bestseller." I bought this mostly because of the title and having seen this book featured on another blog.
( Passive resistance, that was what Grams would counsel. Just get through it and get away. )
- Mood: mellow
- Music:"Handsome Drink" Aberdeen
I bought this book because the sequel, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, is out right now. I decided that I had to read this, partly in order to glean how much I'd like the sequel, and partly because it would help me in my quest to read more Austen-inspired books.
Side note: Even in paperback form, it's $4-$6 more than your average YA novel, some of which are just as long as this. I wonder why this is?
( I'm sure wherever the real Jane is, she's just as eager to get back to her own life as I am to mine. So why not just relax in the meantime ...? )
- Mood: confused
- Music:"One Sweet Love" Sara Bareilles
