Random Update.

This week in the life of a book reviewer-- starring.... Nadine-Stella (trublu93)

Okay, so I haven't been on the blog much and here's why.

I've been Studying my BUTT off. I have the ACT coming up, an FBLA competition coming up, and an Academic (Governor's Cup) competition coming up. Plus there's the random test and quizzes that my teachers want to give(even though we're barely at school anymore).

I have still been reading though. I finished Audrey Wait! by Robin Benway a couple of days back and am on my way to finishing Hate List by Jennifer Brown. I was unable to finish a Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray though. Although I finish the first two in the series, I just can not get myself through this one. The series was more fantasy than romance and I'm pretty much just in it for the romance so...

Today they canceled school again. This makes the 25th day. This means that we're only been to school NINE WHOLE DAYS since we got back from Winter Break and this also means that we have yet to go to school an entire week (monday-friday) since Winter Break. This is really sad. So we have kissed our Spring Break goodbye and a couple of weeks from our summer break too. Yay us.

HOpe everyone had a great, if not decent Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year. Yay for the Tiger!

Book Recomendations Anyone?

I've been trying to get back into book reviewing but it's soo difficult when I can't find any books that really interest me anymore. So this is definitely an SOS! If you could please, I'd love for you to tell me about some books that you think I might be interested in.

Here are my preferences, to make it easier on you.
-I'm a huge fan of Sarah Dessen. I Love her works and similar
-I like realistic fiction. I'm not much into paranormal and fantasy, although I have read and did like twilight, harry potter, half magic =) a wrinkle in time...
-I read mainly YA fiction, something I can relate to
-I like historical fiction. I'm really loving the luxe and the season and such.
-I like the RoComs. they are so much fun to read
-I like short chapters better than long but i won't discriminate against long chapters. =)
-I like Meg Cabot and Sharon Creech also.. anything similar too
-I like diary style books too..
-I don't know.. hope i'm not too picky. But i really just like the teenage love relationship problem issues type books.
-I also liked Go Ask Alice even though it was soo raw and scary.

But yea, I guess that's pretty much it. hope you guys can help me and I wasn't soo picky and such. Thank YOU Guys!!

Just A Reminder... and a word of thanks

Today is the VERY LAST DAY to enter my Geektastic Contest! I know you'd love a FREE copy so enter.. enter.. and enter some more. Heck, even tell your friends to enter! But yea, today is the last day to uh.. GOOD LUCK!

















and I have 101followers!! THAT is pretty amazing. I'm so excited. but I feel so bad since I don't post as often anymore. I'm so sorry about that my starrs, but I do do what I can. But Thank YOU soo much for being a follower and visiting my blog and such. I very much appreciate it!

It's Been a While...

Hey guys. Wow, I haven't posted in like FOREVER or payed a visit to the blogging world for that matter. There's so much I've been missing. Like so many great reviews and contests, and apparently, I have 92 followers? When did that happen? and I just had my 1year anniversary so YAY me. I really never thought I'd make it this far, but hey, I guess I did.
But anyways, I just wanted to make a post letting you guys know that I'm re-entering the blogging world, hopefully my stay will be more constant and such. But yea, I'm back!!!

I'm Featured on Flip It Friday

For those of you who don't know it, Sarah Ockler, debut author of 20 Boy Summer has a feature on her blog called Flip It Friday. During this, she puts us bloggers in the spotlight with a awesome interview. It's pretty cool. Well today was my day to be featured so be sure to head on over there and learn some more about me. Also, if you'd like to be featured on Flip It Friday, be sure to send her an e-mail. I'm sure she'd live ot have you. LINK

And BTW, Sarah will be featured on my blog in a few days... along with a CONTEST!!!!!!

The Season Contest Update

Hey Guys!

I guess this might be the time to tell you that it looks like I'll only be able to post like once or twice a week? In case you already haven't noticed. 

But anyways, moving on.. To tell you the truth, I haven't even started to pick a winner for The Season by Sarah MacLean. It was such an AWESOME contest though and I had a GREAT turn out so there are A LOT of names to put in the "hat" and extra entries to add to that hat so it's taking me a while, especially since I haven't started yet. (slap on the wrist moment).

But I'll try and start soon, especially since the contest for Kiss Me, Kill Me and Kisses and Lies is ending soon. GO ENTER IT RIGHT NOW IF YOU ALREADY HAVEN'T. LOOK FOR THE LINK ON MY LEFT SIDEBAR!!! AND TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS!!!  It looks like I'm getting a pretty good turnout but I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE for it to end up like the one of The Season. 

On more contest news. I'll have another one up on monday, hopefully, or as soon as I edit/do last minute changes to the post. 

Other than that, if you have any question or anything just send me an e-mail and i'll get back to you.

Through The Looking Glass + CONTEST!!

Do YOu Subscribe to any magazines??? I know, that's a pretty odd question. But if you do and would like to help out a worthy group of students raise some money for a trip to Paris and England in the summer of 2010 please feel free to email me [stellargurl93 @ aim . com] and I'll get more details to you.

Sorry I haven't been posting lately. My days have become so very busy with practice and school and house work and other crap that I have to do. 

I started on Twenty Boy Summer (yea, I kinda took a break from Jane Erye) and it's pretty good so far. I'll be reading it right after I get done posting this so yea, I can't wait.

This week is looking like it's going to be even bussier than this past one so unfortunately, I'll be away from the blog again. At least I told you guys beforehand this time. =)

And I can't really think of what else to say. Just email me if you have any questions especially about the magazines!!

And Some exciting news, we might have a track meet scheduled in the next two weeks. YAY

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE CONTEST FOR THE SEASON BY SARAH MACLEAN. IT ENDS THIS SUNDAY TO HURRY UP AND GET THOSE ENTRIES IN, ESPECIALLY THOSE EXTRA ENTRIES. THE MORE YOU ENTER THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES.

Through the Looking Glass II

I got bored and figured I'd update the book-blogging blog-o-sphere about what on-goings in my life. Enjoy. As for the title, IDK.

Well all the test I had to take last week went by very well. I did good on all of them. Hopefully I can keep it up with the Spanish test tomorrow, World Civ test Wednesday, and Chapter 1 Spanish test Friday. So guys, wish me luck.

I joined Random Buzzers yesterday. So if I [semi-ly]know you from this blog, you should totally friend me. My handle there is TruBlu. I thought I'd keep it simple, kinda, so yea.

I went skating with my friends Friday. It was A LOT of fun, especially since I don't know how to skate. But then again, it's kinda hard when you're on the floor the entire time, so yea.

Saturday we visited my sister which was LOTS of fun. So all together this was a pretty good weekend. Except for my being sore. I don't know what from but it was awful. I'm getting un-sore now though so that's good.

I'm finally caught up on The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Today's epic was just like the others really, But Amy really gets on my nerves. I mean she's such a cry baby. But for some odd reason, I am attracted to the show. And just for the record, I think she's going to choose Ricky over Ben, but that's just me.

But I guess that's enough randomness for the day. and Hopefully this weekend I'll have a review for The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren by Wendy Toliver. I've just been really lazy lately and now that I've "promised" to have it this weekend, maybe that's motivation to buckle down and do it. Don't get me wrong though, it was a really good read.

Oh yea, and I was thinking of starting this thing called Curiosity Killed the Cat where I ask a question and you guys answer it. What do you think about that?

Through the Looking Glass

I got bored and figured I'd update the book-blogging blog-o-sphere about what on-goings in my life. Enjoy. As for the title, IDK.

Okay well first off, Soo Sorry about not posting an On My Door Step the past two Sundays. It's not that I forgot, I just didn't get any books. =(. But that's okay. Once I do get a book, you guys would be the first to know. PROMISE. =)

I just finished Wendy Toliver's The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren, LOVED IT. RoComs are soo great! They really just keep you turning those pages!

I'm starting on The Center of the Universe by Anita Liberty. Does anyone know if it's a series or anything? Cause Anita has written two other books with similar titles so I was just wondering. Like is that just her style or is this is series? Cause if it is a series, I'd hate to start in the middle of it.

Track conditioning has started and it's going by well. I love it and can't wait for the actual season to start. Soo Soo EXCITED!!

I got my permit last Monday so yay. Haven't been driving yet, but I can steam a car. (That's a total HIGH-FIVE moment)

I have a Spanish test tomorrow.. A Biology one on Wednesday (but can change) and a Geometry one on Wednesday too.. So I might not be on as much but I'll try and schedule Teaser Tuesday and Waiting On Wednesday and Cover Craziness So I won't be terribly behind.

The weather was WONDERFUL today. I LOVED IT so very very much!

And looks like I won't be getting out of school till June 9. What a BUMMER!!!!

But I don't know what other randomness to share.

New Layout.. Yay!

Well I fixed my page, kinda. I've got a new layout that I like. Thanks to This Place . And The page is looking cleaner, I'm kinda glad it got rid of some of that stuff, it was pretty cluttery. But one thing I'm upset about is that Now I have Lost my blog roll. It's pretty sad. But I'll try to add everyone back using the people I follow. If you're not already on my blog roll and you'd like to be added please leave your blog link in a comment and you'll be added ASAP.

Red Scarf Girl by Ji LI Jiang

This is a summary, kinda, not a review.


Red Scarf Girl by Ji Li Jiang
-A memoir of the Cultural Revolution-

"Ji-li's deeply moving story should be on teh shelf of ever person's library. Her courage in the face of adversity and her steadfast loyalty and love for her family are truly inspirational for young and old alike."

-Nien Cheng
Author of A aLife and Death in Shanghai.

Well the back of the book didn't give a summary, but it did give that quote. Amazon didn't have a summary up either, but it did have reviews is that helps. LINK

There's a New Kid on the Blog

Have you heard/read the whispers? Well it's all true, there's a new kid on the blogging-sphere and they're totally Anonymous. No really, no one knows who they are. But be the first to guess right and YOU get a prize. Don't believe me, check it out yourself over at Ask A. LINK

So... what happened to my new rating system?

Well, I decided to just do away with it all. Like Lenore put it, "Giving a rating can be so hard." And that is totally true. Hopefully my voice really stands out and you can tell if I liked the book or not through my regular reviews. But what I will do is like if something really stands out to me, such as characters (look at my review of Poison Ivy) or the plot or the beginning or ending [you get the idea], then I'll be sure to add that in my review. So really, everyone wins, kinda. But thanks for all the suggestions you guys gave me. And I'm sorry if you feel you wasted your time in leaving a comment/suggestion, since I'm just not rating really.

The Best Birthday Present Ever

My brother just gave me my b-day present and I'll have to say it's the best I've gotten so far. It is a quarter and he gave it practically a day late, but this quarter is no ordinary quarter. It's the quarter I would have payed DOLLARS for. It's the State Quarter Hawaii, it's the one and only quarter I still needed, It's the final installment in my State Quarter Collection!! Let's just say I am filled with joy because my collection is finally complete, and just in the nick of time too. Thank you very much Gilmore. You are so awesome, for the moment! Anyone else collect these?

Here are pictures of my COMPLETE collection!

New Rating System

I thought with the new year, I needed a new rating system. I realized that when I give a book "thumbs" up, it is solely based on how much I like the book, and doesn't really tell much about the book, although I did try to explain in my review. So, I need your help to decide what I'll base my new ratings on. I have a few "categories" in mind, but I was wondering if you had any more suggestions?

So far I'm thinking about:
Beginning--Like if it grabbed my attention right away. x/10
Ending--Like if it fit the book perfectly/if I like it and what not. x/10
Plot--The story line/idea in general. x/10
maybe cover and title cause that has a impact on the books i choose to read. x/5 each
And I guess if I liked it or not--which would be like the sum /40 ( so far)

But let me know what you think and any suggestions you might have and I'll try and cook something up.

Thanks.

2009--A New Beginning

In 2009 there are a lot of things that I'd like to accomplish. Here's a few.

1. Read and review MORE books, MORE often. For a Book Reviewing site, I don't put up as many reviews as I'd like.

2. Post on the blog everyday. I do Teaser Tuesday and On My Door Step(In My Mailbox) but what about Monday and Wednesday - Saturday? Am I just not going to post on those days except for the occasional review? I have some ideas but I'd like for them to be interactive. I'll list them and let me know what you think.
----Have a Caption This. where I post a picture and you get to stick a caption underneath. (fun!)
----Have a weekly goal. where I post what my goal for the week is and you do to, in comments or however. And the next week, a new goal comes up along with if we accomplished out previous goal or not. (also fun, but a lot of thinking goes into this one.. kinda.)
----Questions. where I like ask a question about like anything and you give me an answer. Sometimes it could be something I can answer also or just something stupid cause I'm bored. (this would also take a lot of my thinking)
----I don't know what else. Any ideas? I was thinking of joining in on Waiting on Wednesday but I'm not sure yet.

3. Get my permit, although that driver's book thingy looks way too long and boring.

4. Get a job, I'd love to babysit, although I don't know how to go about asking people if they need a babysitter. I think it'd be kinda awkward. ( I can make like anything awkward, it's a curse)

5. I guess complete my goals, keep my word, and just DO MORE.

6. And exercise. Track conditioning is starting so I guess I will be exercising (kinda) but I want to continue with Yoga and do it more regularly. --Can't believe I almost forgot this one.

7. I totally have to read the Bible more. I'm just too lazy to read it, I don't know.

8. And I need to QUIT being lazy. I used to not be lazy and this year I've just adopted it as my middle name or something.

WISH ME LUCK.
OH, and I ALMOST FORGOT.



TO MY BLOG FAMILY, THE WHOLE BOOK READING COMMUNITY, AND THOSE WHO TAKE THE TIME TO READ MY BLOG. THANK YOU SOOO VERY MUCH AND I REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE IT. REALLY, I SMILE EVERY TIME I GET A COMMENT. IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS ALL OVER AGAIN.. LOL.. BUT THANK YOU SOO MUCH AND WISHING YOU WELL!

In My Hands

I guess I better explain that big ole stack I've got going on in a series of BOOK, AUTHOR, and REASON for reading the book.






The Season
Sarah MacLean
Pleasure and Review









Marley: A Dog Like No Other
John Grogan
November Read Learn and Serve Club requirement. I was suppose to finish this in November, but yea, that didn't happen.










Skipping Christmas
John Grisham
RLA Challange for December at the YABC Forum. I need to read and review by the end of December.










The Dating Game: Breaking Up Is Really Really Hard To Do
Natalie Standiford
Pleasure and maybe review.










A Separate Peace
John Knowles
English Class. Must finish by Thursday and I'm still in Chapter 8






And where is book number six? Well I don't have one....... YET

For All Those Pretty LIttle LIars Fans

YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED!!

What: LIVE chat with Sara Shepard
Where: Pretty Little Truths and Lies Blog
When: Tuesday, November 25. 8pm to 9pm EST --- WHICH JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE THE RELEASE OF WICKED!

BONUS
Read the first seven chapters online..as a mini teaser

ARC'S and NEW AUTHORS

This is really cool. Over at My Favorite Author, Aubrey and Speedy Reader are having a tribute to debut authors, whose novels are to be released in 2009. Through out the month of November, they will blog, featuring a new author, along with interviews, reviews, A CONTEST, and more. Not only is the contest enough to make you head on over to My Favorite Author, but you will also be introduced to whom could possibly become one of your new favorite authors. How Exciting! Why let a chance like that slip away? Head on over to My Favorite Author to officially know what I'm talking about.

*****And by the way, the first author, Sarah MacLean, is already up, along with her book, The Season, which sounds really good by the way, already up for grabs.

I Give this five thumb up's

Why Would Anyone Be A Follower Of Their Own Blog?

Did you know that you could follow you're own blog? Yea, I know! I was just being stupid and I clicked to follow my blog and next thing I know, I'm on my own Blog Following LIst/Roll thingy. HOw cool is that. lol. But this got me to thinking. Why would someone need to follow their own blog?