Gathering Blue

What I'm listening to right now: If You Could Only See, Tonic
What mood I'm in today: Reading

Today has been kind of weird. For lots of reasons, the least of which is I'm tired of looking at my computer. I'm kind of in a situation where I have to spend a lot of time with my youngest son, which means I get to watch Pokemon, Phineas and Ferb, and The Flash (good thing I actually like this show, though Phineas and Ferb can be pretty funny sometimes) repeatedly for several days. I'm also planning on running through the sprinklers tonight. And cutting back my dying lavender. And probably reading some more of Cogling, by Jordan Elizabeth.

Did I mention it's hot? I need a Popsicle. Be right back.

I almost forgot this little gem, Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry. It's the second book in The Giver series (which I just learned recently is actually a series). While I didn't love it as much as I loved The Giver, I really thought it had a good message and was an interesting story. In a harsh society, much more blatant one than Jonas', the crippled aren't worth much. Kira's mother insists she's strong and is able to contribute to society. Read my entire review here on Goodreads.

Hopefully next month I will be ten degrees cooler, at least.

Happy Reading!

Pretties

What mood I'm in today: Reading
What I'm listening to right now: Avengers soundtrack

Hello Spring!
Well, up until it snowed today, anyway. It's not bad. We need it. And snow makes lovely reading weather. That, and a couple of warm chocolate chip cookies. Is it so bad that I've been making them every few days for, like, a month now? I'm totally addicted.
Not to mention lazy.
Scratch that. I'm a mom, I'm not lazy. I'm busy. And sometimes at the end of the day I'm totally exhausted. But you know what's nice? Reading while sitting in the waiting room. It's the one thing that probably saves me from the stress of doctor, dentist, and orthodontist visits. I get to read! Yay!

Pretties is the second in the "Uglies" series by Scott Westerfeld. Have I mentioned that I like his books? I do. A lot. Read my review of Pretties here on Goodreads. It's short but sweet, that's how I do it. Four stars overall - a really great read and lead up to Specials, which I'm just now trying to finish.
As always, Happy Reading!

The Uglies

What mood I'm in today: Reading
What I'm listening to right now: Lindsey Stirling, Transcendence

It snowed last night. Smiley! Also, a good reason to want to stay in bed all morning. I didn't, which kind of stinks. I didn't even make hot chocolate for breakfast, because it's been around sixty degrees for a couple weeks. Boo. It's a good day to curl up with a good book. Like this one. And maybe some afternoon cocoa.

 

Uglies, by Scott Westerfield (love this author), is a fantastic, well-written and exciting Dystopian YA novel about Tally Youngblood and the world of Pretties (what I'm reading right now). Read my review on Goodreads. If you like Dystopian or Sci-Fi or anything with a remotely good plot line, this is for you.

Happy Reading!

Bones of Faerie

What I'm listening to right now: Greensleeves
What mood I'm in today: Reading

It rained last night. And this morning when I went outside it smelled AWESOME (okay, so I could probably find some better words to describe it than that). Fall is finally showing its face. We've already raked up 8 bags of leaves. Only 37 more to go...
Fall is the perfect time to cuddle up with a mug of hot tea and a good book. This one made me the tiniest bit sad that the leaves didn't change color in the fall anymore...you'll have to read to figure out what I'm talking about.

 

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner is a dystopian faerie novel...so how could I resist? You can read my review on Goodreads.
As always, happy reading!

The Forever Song

What I'm listening to right now: Autumn Forest, Adrian von Ziegler
What mood I'm in today: Writing

After a very fun week of camping, movies, and the Payson Highland Games, here's a link to my latest Goodreads review.

The Forever Song, by Julie Kagawa
(As you now know, one of my fave-or-ite authors)

Happy Reading!

The House of The Scorpion

What I'm listening to: The Celestials, Smashing Pumpkins
What mood I'm in today: Reading

 

 

Recently finished reading another Nancy Famer. Love her. Read my short review on Goodreads. I would recommend this book to ANYONE, not just YA readers. Happy Reading!



Just Keep Swimming...

What I'm listening to right now: Star Wars soundtrack
What mood I'm in today: Reading

I'm loving this new year. I've finished, like, four books. Does it really matter that I started three of them last year? Or that two of them were audio books? Maybe. But I did finally finish Mockingjay and LOVED it. Not only that, but I picked up on a new series about the Syrena, a book called Of Poseidon by Anna Banks. Here are the links to my Goodreads reviews.

 

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

 

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

I decided I must still be a teenager at heart. Not that I want to go through that again (please no!). But I love YA books. It's totally on my level!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Happy New Year!

What I'm listening to: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Audiobook
What Mood I'm In: Writing

Happy New Year! Loved all the books I read last year; here are reviews on Goodreads for the last two I finished:

The Iron Traitor, by Julie Kagawa

and

What Happened to Serenity, by PJ Sara Collins

May you have Happy Readings in your new year! Short but sweet, my mission this year is to link this with my Goodreads reviews. It saves me a lot of work. Good luck to you!

Finally! The Eternity Cure is Finished

What I'm listening to: My kids playing with G.I. Joe toys.
What mood I'm in: Writing

Everybody knows I love Julie Kagawa. The second book in The Blood of Eden series called The Eternity Cure was my most recent finish. It was hard to finish, too, because I've been reading Shakespeare for school. I've got so much time on my hands, right? (Please inject sarcasm here).
The Eternity Cure begins with Allie and Jackal making their way to Keenan to free him from the psycho vamp named Sarren. On their way there, they run into Zeke of all people, and Allie remembers everything, especially how much she's in love with him. But of course, romances for vamps and humans is a no-no (if we haven't learned that from Twilight when will we?). He goes with them anyway, promising to help Allie free Keenan.
They have to deal with a power-hungry Vamp Prince who infects Keenan with the new Red Lung virus just to make sure they can track down Sarren and get a cure. We learn that Jackal has a real name - James - and it's fun for Allie to call him that because he hates it. Through all kinds of twists and turns, the end leaves you hanging and waiting for more.
AUGHHH! Spoiler Alert!
Seriously? I think Zeke is a vamp now.

Anyway...What I loved about this book was the story and the romance between Allie and Zeke. They're two totally tough kids from weird backgrounds who want to prove to the world that they can make it. I like Keenan, he's one of my favorite characters, and I'm still dying to find out why he Turned Allie. I like Jackal too, and I love the reappearance of Stick, who, let's face it, is infatuated with Allie and probably didn't feel a bit sorry for turning Zeke over to Sarren in the end.
What I didn't like about this book....not much. It was long, but sometimes it's worth it. And there were two f-bombs, which you all know I have a thing about, but I really didn't think she should've changed the language. It was there for a reason.

If you're into Dystopian thriller/romance/tough-chic novels, I seriously suggest this for you. And as always, Happy Reading!

Divergent

What I’m listening to right now: It’s Not Over, Daughtry

What mood I’m in today: Reading

Divergent is the first in a series by Veronica Roth. I’d heard about it being great, and thought I’d give it a go.

What the book is about: Beatrice lives in a Dystopian society divided into Factions; Amity, Erudite, Candor, Abnegation, and Dauntless. On her sixteenth birthday she is tested in a simulation in order to give her guidance about which faction to choose. If she doesn’t choose right, she could become factionless, the part of their community that labors.

Something goes wrong with the test, and the woman in charge of the simulation tells her that she’s Divergent, and that she can never tell anyone or her life will be in danger. The results are covered up, and though the test results report that she’d do well in Abnegation, it’s not what she chooses.

What I liked about this book: The conflict. Beatrice is constantly conflicted in her decisions. She admits that she’s a selfish person, that she would do almost anything to earn her place in her new faction. It’s a difficult ride; she loses and gains friends, is betrayed, and falls for one of her instructors. Though some reviews I’ve read say the love story is surprising, I thought it was predictable. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like it, of course.

Divergent has a great plot, and the end is a little sad and cliff-hanger, but that’s what makes it so good. Great series all have great cliff-hangers.

What I didn’t like about this book: It’s repetitive. I like Dystopian, but I’m also finding it a little old. It took me three weeks to finish it. In other words, it wasn’t a “couldn’t-put-it-down” situation.  

Overall I give it 3.5 out of 5, and I do recommend it. An interesting and entertaining read, for sure!