Waiting on Wednesday

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Expected publication: March 6th 2012 by HarperTeen

The old Lena is dead. The old Lena remains with Alex in Portland, Maine, behind a wall of smoke and flame, but the new Lena was born in the Wilds, transformed by hardship, deprivation, and loss. 

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena fights for a world in which love will no longer be considered a dangerous disease. Her inner life is as turbulent as the world around her. . . . Although consumed with grief for Alex, might she be falling in love with someone else? 






Taylor read Delirium and she's dying to get her hands on this one. I haven't read Delirium yet but I know I'm going to love it.....so I guess you can say I am waiting either way!


What about you guys? 

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Top Ten Books on my Winter TBR Pile

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by brokeandbookish and is AWESOME.

Taylor here!
I was so excited when I saw this was the top ten tuesday topic for this week. 

I have SO MANY books I want to read over winter break!

My main goal is to make a dent in my own books that have been sitting on my shelf,

however, I'm sure I will be making some trips to the library, and hopefully Santa will bring me a few new books of my own :)
This list goes for both Rebekah and me!
Enjoy!

The First 5 are books that I already own and have been meaning to get to.

1. Gone by Michael Grant: I WANT TO READ THIS NOW!! everyone says this is such a good series, and hello?? dystopian!
2. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead: Okay, so I've really been wanting to read these for a while. But, I'm going to be honest, I am too embarrassed to read a book entitled "Vampire Academy" while at school. So, Christmas break, I will be all over this series!
3. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare: I need to finish this and City of Fallen Angels! Oh and Clockwork Angel! I can't wait to see where the major twist is going.
4. Across the Universe by Beth Revis:AHH why have I not read this yet!? With A Million Suns coming out soon, I need to get on this!
5. Eve by Anna Carey: Dystopian. Amazing cover. Enough said.

The next 5 are ones that I don't own, but that I hope to soon!

6. Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep: I've been getting really into Mythology lately, and I'm OBSESSED with books with boarding schools. So, hey, why not?!
7.Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien: To be honest, all I know is that this is dystopian and lots of bloggers are raving. So of course, I want in.
8. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: okay, do I even have to explain? This and the one below have been absolutely RAVED about in the blogger community!
9. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: duh. same reason as above. her touch is fatal? WHAT?
10. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon: This one just sounds so interesting! Usually, I'm not one for paranormal, but this one seems like it could really be amazing! and Ireland! I've been there!

Thanks so much for reading! We appreciate all of you so much and would love to hear from you in the comments. We will be sure to check out your blog or try to get to know you better!

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Review: Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Reviewer: Taylor

Title: Elsewhere

Author: Gabrielle Zevin

Published: May 2007

Source: Bought

Series: No

Pages: 227

Rating: 3/5

 Welcome to Elsewhere. It is warm, with a breeze, and the beaches are marvelous. It’s quiet and peaceful. You can’t get sick or any older. Curious to see new paintings by Picasso? Swing by one of Elsewhere’s museums. Need to talk to someone about your problems? Stop by Marilyn Monroe’s psychiatric practice. Elsewhere is where fifteen-year-old Liz Hall ends up, after she has died. It is a place so like Earth, yet completely different. Here Liz will age backward from the day of her death until she becomes a baby again and returns to Earth. But Liz wants to turn sixteen, not fourteen again. She wants to get her driver’s license. She wants to graduate from high school and go to college. And now that she’s dead, Liz is being forced to live a life she doesn’t want with a grandmother she has only just met. And it is not going well. How can Liz let go of the only life she has ever known and embrace a new one? Is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward?     This moving, often funny book about grief, death, and loss will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.

Summary taken from Goodreads

My thoughts:

This story was very cute. It seemed like more of a middle grade read to me, which is totally fine. That just meant I flew through it even faster and was able to enjoy the simplicity of the story. The story follows a girl named Liz who dies at age 15. She wakes up to find herself on a ship on her way to "elsewhere." She finds out that elsewhere is where you go when you die, and when you get there, you begin to age backwards. Once a baby again, you go back to earth to be reborn and become part of a new family.

I loved being able to escape to a world after death. It was so interesting to me to imagine it. It was surprisingly very similar to our world. 

One of the drawbacks to this story (which may come with it being a more middle grade book) was that there was really not too much action or plot. I mean, sure, things happened, but nothing BIG. nothing that wowed me.

Sometimes, I liked our main character- sometimes, not so much. She was stubborn and refused to accept her new life for so long. But, i mean, who can really blame her? 

Final thoughts?

While this book wasn't action packed, it still was a fun look into a world of life after death. It definitely held my interest and was very entertaining.

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IMM (4)

Hello all!

Only one book this week :(

I've been staying away from the library lately because I NEED to start making a dent in the huge stack of books on my own bookshelf! 

Anyways, got a great deal on this one this week. 

Half off at Barnes and Noble!

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare!

I've read City of Bones and City of Ashes so far, but I know I will be getting through City of Glass and onto this one soon!

Just finished reading Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin. Cute read! Review coming very soon :)

Thanks so much for reading!

Let me know if you stopped by so I can go check out your IMM!

Taylor

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Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Reviewer: Rebekah 
Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
From: Bought
Series: no
Rating:4.5/5

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.




So, I loved it.


Lola is - simply put - fabulous. She's ridiculous yet charming. Can't help but love her. This story is cute and funny and makes you want to be best friends with this girl.


Cricket. Need I say more? He makes the story. If he wasn't what he was, then I wouldn't have wanted him for her. Are you following?


I loved that Anna and St. Clair appeared in this, because I did read Anna and the French Kiss (another Perkins must-read) as well. I think I related to Anna better than Lola just because Anna is a little more down to earth, but I admired Lola. Again, she's fabulous.


Perkins is just funny. She'll make you giggle to yourself and then literally laugh out loud in the middle of the library. 


It's a good read that will brighten your day.

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Musing Mondays - Nov. 21st

Hosted by Should Be Reading

How do you decide to read a book by an author you haven’t read before? What sort of recommendations count most highly in making that decision?

If my friend or my sister recommends a book, I am one HUNDRED times more likely to read it than just picking it up on a whim. What can I say? I trust the people who know me and know what I'd appreciate.

However, I also trust The New York Times. USA Today. And a variety of blogs -- but only if a certain author has been mentioned a lot.


I have hard time just picking up a book on a whim if I've never heard of it before. I should probably get over this---there's a LOT of great stories out there written by those we just don't know yet.

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Review: Deliruim by Lauren Oliver

Reviewer: Taylor
Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
From: Bought
Series: YES
Rating:4/5


  
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
 
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Ahhh! I FINALLY,  finally, finally read this. and truly enjoyed it. 


The book did start out a little slow for me. I feel like there were so many pages used just to set up the story. I understand we need a good set up to help us understand the story, but I just found myself not as motivated to read towards the beginning of this book.


However, that is really the only semi-bad thing I have to say about this book. The rest was so, so good. I can't imagine living in a society where love is considered a disease. At the beginning of each chapter, Lauren Oliver would have some sort of quotation or traditional saying that referred to the harmfulness of the deliria. I loved them! They made the society seem that much more real.

Characters- I give an A+. I loved how Lena wasn't a rule breaker at all in the beginning. Too often I think we begin the story with an already strongwilled, hard headed heroine. However, in this case, Lena was stubborn, but she was being stubborn about wanting and needing to follow the rules. She did not want to break the mold of society. And, I loved witnessing the realization and evolution that came with Lena's character. Also, Alex. I loved Alex. Why? because he was NOT a jerk in any way, he treated Lena right, and he was handsome and brave. Ahhh.


but that ending. OH, that ending. Just wait and see if you haven't read it. Basically, I NEED PANDEMONIUM NOW.


thanks so much for reading!


Taylor

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Top Ten Tuesday: All The Books I Want To Read, But Just Haven't Yet.

Hosted by Broke and Bookish

Rebekah:

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stiegg Larsson: I can't tell you how badly I've wanted to start these...I bought the first one a few months ago and the second last month. WILL START ASAP.

2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: Seriously, WHY haven't I read this?

3.1984 by George Orwell: Again. It's happening. Any day now.

4. Emma by Jane Austen: Technically, I started this over the summer just never finished. Hm....I've owned for.....2 years? what's wrong with me?

5. Eragon by Christoper Paolini. I'm skeptical to start but I want to. I promise.

Taylor:

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Wishing For

First of all,

we are SO sorry! We have been MIA for quite a few days now. Rebekah has been really sick, and I've just been super busy. I've hated having to be away!

We just want y'all to know (all 37 of you!!) that we appreciate you taking the time to follow and read our blog SO MUCH. We can't believe it, and we feel so blessed. 

Anyways! With our business and sickness, we haven't been reading too much lately. 

So, we thought we'd do a quick "wishing for" post on the books we hope to add to our collections soon!

Taylor

The Future of Us  by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler: This book looks awesome. I remember getting on dial up internet using AOL, and I can't imagine discovering myself 15 years in the future on Facebook!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: I think this book goes without saying... basically every book blogger on the planet says this is FULL of awesome. and i NEED it.

Outside In by Maria V. Snyder: I know this one isn't new, but I own, read, and loved the first one this summer, and I really want to get my hands on this one!


bekah

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons: Ok so technically I guess this is a "waiting on.." but THIS LOOKS AMAZING!!! and you all know how much we love dystopian. c'mon.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: Beautiful cover. The whole "oh-i-have-amnesia-i-am-tragic-and-beautiful" thing might be overdone, but i want to read this.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater: ok, ok. I didn't think I would like the series. I just finished the first one....I gotta know what happens. Sue me.



P.S. WHO IS EXCITED ABOUT THIS:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674119/hunger-games-trailer.jhtml

SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Review - This Girl Is Different

Author: JJ Johnson
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Evie is different. Not just her upbringing-though that's certainly been unusual-but also her mindset. She's smart, independent, confident, opinionated, and ready to take on a new challenge: The Institution of School. 

It doesn't take this homeschooled kid long to discover that high school is a whole new world, and not in the way she expected. It's also a social minefield, and Evie finds herself confronting new problems at every turn, failing to follow or even understand the rules, and proposing solutions that aren't welcome or accepted. 

Not one to sit idly by, Evie sets out to make changes. Big changes. The movement she starts takes off, but before she realizes what's happening, her plan spirals out of control, forcing her to come to terms with a world she is only just beginning to comprehend. 




Review.
All in all, this was a good book. The protagonist, naive but ambitious (kind of annoying too), goes though a journey---High School. She deals with the realities: friends, boys, teachers, school lunches, pep rallies, you name it. She also deals with herself: who is she? what's the right thing to do? what does she need?


I'm just not in love with it because I didn't become that emotionally invested in it. 
Evie was good (and I thought the author's decision on her name was GOLDEN), but she bothered me. I wanted to root for her more, and I expected myself to do so....still, she went through a transformation and by the end, I saw a better Evie. Just wish I could have seen more of her.


I don't want to give too much away about the plot, but I would have like the story more if I knew more about the other leads and their stories. Jacinda. I liked her, but I didn't know her well enough. I wanted the friendship aspect to be more important. 


I liked the love interest - Rajas - a lot. Just wish the "chemistry" between the two would have been more played out, and therefore, a little more believable.  


I thought the dialogue was SO great though. Martha, el madre, was SO funny. She was such a hippy--I loved her. But I could see how Evie was Evie because of her. Their mother/daughter relationship was unique and funny, but far from perfect. Then again, what mom/daughter combo is?


I'm in love with the cover art. It's fantastic.


All in all, I liked it. It says a lot about being true to what you believe, but more or less, believing in the people around you and not losing hope. 


And who doesn't want to read about that?

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TOP TEN TUESDAY (4)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at brokeandbookish! today's question...

What are the top ten books you have read that were outside of your comfort zone?

Unfortunately, it's late. 

and, unfortunately, we have yet to do our top ten Tuesday post.

And,

Most unfortunately of all,

we are tired and have 8 o'clock classes tomorrow.

Why, college? WHY?

So, I (Taylor) threw together the best partial list I could of books outside of my comfort zone. Considering I just really branched into YA this summer (excluding Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games), a lot of the books I have read could be considered outside my comfort zone since I am still somewhat new to the genre!

So, anyways, short and sweet.

honestly, as heart breaking as this book was, it was a seriously slow paced read for me. definitely out of my comfort zone though to be reading a book dealing with such serious issues.

this series sounded SO WEIRD to me when i heard about it. demon hunters? really? needless to say, I did not think high fantasy was my thing. let me tell you though, in these books it is TOTALLY my thing.

another one dealing with a hard topic- abuse. but I LOVED this book. it was funny, heart wrenching, and heart warming at the same time.

High fantasy, once again! This one didn't quite do it for me, though, like City of Bones and Ashes. Still cute!

finally, paranormal just doesn't appeal to me most of the time. but this book. wow. freaking hilarious and awesome! I have Demonglass on my shelf and can't wait to read it!

so, half of a top ten? that kind of counts, right? 

not really, though. sorry for the lack of list!

we shall be back next week for a more thorough top ten though!

thanks for reading!

link back to your top ten so we can check it out!

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Musing Mondays!

Hosted by: Should Be Reading

Other than for school, do you read books to learn how to do something? What was/were the topic(s)?


Rebekah here.

I haven't read many "how-to" books lately, but I used to love them growing up.

I don't know about you gal readers, but I was a huge American Girl. Like not just the dolls...but all the books.

No, these aren't "How to Build a Rocketship" or "Learn to be Trilingual"....but they're AWESOME. Still refer back to the Hair one....still trying to learn how to french braid..tsk tsk

Check it out. Seriously. Click here.

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In My Mailbox

Hosted by The Story Siren

Every You, Every Me by David Leviathan

Stay With Me by Paul Griffin

Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Audio: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

We've heard a lot of different opinions on all of these books. What do you think? And what's in your mailbox? 

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Follow Friday

Follow my book blog friday is hosted by parajunkee and alisoncanread!

Today's question:

Q: Today’s Question is something new, an activity. We want to see what you look like! Take a pic with you and your current read! Too shy? Boo! Just post a fun pic you want to share.

 So, unfortunately, Rebekah is out of town and can't participate today! but here i (taylor) am with one of my favorite books!

(i also have no idea why all of this is in caps! i swear i'm not yelling at y'all!)

Divergent.. Duh! Can't wait to actually see the faces of the blogs I religiously read! 

Everybody, have a wonderful weekend!

Taylor

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Monthly Wrap Up (October)

Hey! Taylor here. I thought I would do a quick wrap up of the books I read in the month of October. Overall, I would say it was a pretty successful month of books!

Books I was absolutely OBSESSED with

 The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure by James Dashner. HUGE fan of this series. While they played with my emotions the whole time I was reading them, I still could just not put them down.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. 10 stars! okay, that isn't a rating, but let me just go ahead and say I LOVED this book. Even more than Anna!

Looking for Alaska by John Green. Ahhh. I don't even know what it was about this book that got me so excited. I just loved it.

Books I loved

 

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. Wow. This series is so amazing! Totally action packed. Can't wait to continue reading the series!

Books I liked

 

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin. I definitely enjoyed this book, however I just can't rank it with the other books i loved this month. It's classified as Dystopian, however it lacked in the action I often identify with Dystopian novels.

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken. Now, i know that a ton of people obssesed over and loved this book. And, i truly did enjoy it. However, it just wasn't really the book for me. Sometimes i have trouble really getting into high fantasy and i think that may have been my problem. Definitely worth picking up though!

Books I would skip

 

 

Possession by Elana Johnson. Yes, while this book does have a very pretty cover, the story inside just didn't do it for me.  I didn't hate it, but it was just a book that I couldn't wait to get through so I could get to other books in my pile. If you want to read it, I would definitely borrow, not buy.

So, there you have it! My favorite and not so favorite books of the month. Leave a comment letting me know what you read so I will know to pick it up for November!

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