Popcorn Saturday

This is a post where I start out a story then I tag two other people. These two people will then continue writing. Once done, they'll tag two more people. And those two people will continue writing then tag two more people and ...... you get the point. It goes on till it reaches the 16th person. The 16th person gets to finish the story. I guess it's kinda like a meme.
I remember doing this back in grade school and it was always interesting what the finished product looked like. It's also a great exercise to sharpen your writing skills. Hopefully, everyone will be willing to participate in this. You don't need to write more than 5sentences or something. and Add as many twists as you can.

I'll start. Link your blog to the list as your add to the story. Be sure to also change the text color as you add to the story. This way your addition will be yours and be copy righted. So no one can steal our work. I think you get what I'm trying to get at here.

Starry Night

Today was the day of the big competition and Marley was barely ready. Having gotten up late this morning, everything just seemed to fall out of place. She couldn't let anything stop her though. She'd been practicing for this moment her entire life, and there was no time to waste. Literally, because at the moment, the blaring of her name over the speaker signaled that it was her time to shine.....

Here's who I tag to continue where I left off.
Stacked
Serenehours

Be sure to let the person know that you have tagged them. and also if you're the 16th person, please tag me. If you could tag everyone who worked on the story then that would be great too. I'm sure they'd also love to see how the story turned out too.

Teaser Tuesday (01/26/10)

I saw this over at Fizzy Thoughts and I thought it was interesting, so I decided to try it.

GRAB your current read OR the closest book to you
LET the book fall open to a random page.
SHARE with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
YOU also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
PLEASE avoid spoilers!


Hot Girl
Dream Jordan

pg 72

"Then in a flash, she was all smiles. Felt like a false rebound to me. But, I was about to be laced from head to toe, so I didn't have time to be worrying about what was really on Naleejah's mind. Call me shallow if you want. I don't give a snap. I haven't been fly since the day I was born."



it's kinda late but better late than never. =)

Introducing... BOOKS MAKE GREAT LOVERS

Books Make Great Lovers
Ashley

Books Make Great Lovers is written in a friendly way. I want to be inviting so anyone will feel comfortable starting to read my blog at any point. I review new books but I also review many old books so we can give them the love they deserve

What drew you into the book blogging world?

The realization that other people loved books as much as me. Who else could understand the incredible connections I feel to authors and characters?

What's your favorite part about book blogging?

The other bloggers! I love meeting new people and there is nothing better than the ones that have so much in common with you.

Who's your favorite author?

The classic YA author, Judy Blume. She is amazing!

What kind of fiction are you into? or are you a nonfiction reader?

Realistic fiction. I love things that can happen, and living vicariously through characters.

If you could change your name what would you go by?

I kinda like the name Annabelle.

IF you could have an AWESOME super power what would it be?

The speeding up of time. I hate High School and am ready to be done!
AMEN to that!

What is your guilty pleasure?

Smutty tv like desperate housewives. Oooh and fancy coffee.

Why should I visit your blog?

Because I want you to get to know me!

And.. anything else you'd like to add?

Thanks for the interview!

------------------------------------------------------------

Don't forget to visit Ashley at her blog!

If you're interested in being feature on Introducing...YOU email me or leave a comment with you're email and I'll get you set up

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. In it, you get to introduce to everyone the books you're looking forward in the upcoming year and such.

Spring Fling
Sabrina James

352pages
Point (February 1, 2010)

"Spending the week in Florida with her two best friends is the perfect opportunity for 17-year-old Danielle to shed her shy-girl image. And it turns out she'll be getting lots of help from a houseful of cute guys staying right next door ...

Romantic twists, turns, and comic mishaps abound! Will Danielle find love -- and discover who she really is -- before spring break ends?" (Amazon)

This one sounds like a light fun read! I HEART RoComs.

Popcorn Saturday

This is a post where I start out a story then I tag two other people. These two people will then continue writing. Once done, they'll tag two more people. And those two people will continue writing then tag two more people and ...... you get the point. It goes on till it reaches the 16th person. The 16th person gets to finish the story. I guess it's kinda like a meme.
I remember doing this back in grade school and it was always interesting what the finished product looked like. It's also a great exercise to sharpen your writing skills. Hopefully, everyone will be willing to participate in this. You don't need to write more than 5sentences or something. and Add as many twists as you can.

I'll start. Link your blog to the list as your add to the story. Be sure to also change the text color as you add to the story. This way your addition will be yours and be copy righted. So no one can steal our work. I think you get what I'm trying to get at here.

Starry Night

The snowy mountain top took my breath away. I couldn't believe I had really make it to the top. "Yes!" I pumped my fists. The feeling was sensational.
"While we're up here, what do you want to do?" dad asked.
"How about a nap? I'm exhausted." Mom was never into the out doors.
"How about a picture?" I said taking my camera out. The view was definitely worth capturing. I only hoped that my camera would do it justice.......

Here's who I tag to continue where I left off.
Laina Has Too Much Spare Time
Mis(h)takes

Be sure to let the person know that you have tagged them. and also if you're the 16th person, please tag me. If you could tag everyone who worked on the story then that would be great too. I'm sure they'd also love to see how the story turned out too.

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

Wherever Nina Lies(ARC) Lynn Weingarten

Overview[from the back cover]
Have you seen Nina? Nina was beautiful, artistic, wild…and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But one day, without any warning, Nina disappeared. Two years later, Ellie can’t stop thinking about her sister. Although everyone else has given up hope that Nina will return, Ellie just knows her sister is out there, somewhere. If only Ellie had a clue where to look. And then she gets one, in the form of a mysterious drawing tucked into the pages of a book. Determined to find her sister, Ellie takes off on a crazy, sexy, cross-country road trip with the only person who believes she’s got a chance – her hot, adventurous new crush. Along the way, Ellie finds a few things she wasn’t planning on. Like love. Mysteries. Lies. And something far more shocking… the truth.

Just So You Know
I won this book in a contest and was neither bribed nor threatened to give my thoughts on the book.

Review
Wherever Nina Lies was terribly amazing. Lynn Weingarten is terribly amazing. I greatly enjoyed this book, such an original plot and story line. The way the plot carried out, I’m pretty sure I’ve never read anything like it before. I was impressed, especially at how some of the minor details played a greater role later on in the book, and how each clue presented before Ellie was truly connected to the next.
I like how Lynn wrote about finding a lost sister, instead of a lost love or something cliché. Although love did play a part in Ellie’s life, it took a back seat to her finding Nina.
Sean was definitely a psychopath. He was too good to be true. I knew there wasn’t a girl out there who could stumble upon the perfect guy, even it books, there always turns out to be something wrong with then, and in Sean’s case, let’s just say Ellie was a brave, brave girl. Amanda was a true friend, and so was Brad. They were both just very worried for Ellie, and Amanda was probably jealous too. Nina sounded like lots of fun. One of those people you’d love to be associated with. Ellie was pretty cool too. I loved that she followed her heart, and mind and also how she kept hope alive.
Overall, I really really really really liked this book. I would definitely recommend it to everyone. Its really sweet.
I also liked the pictures, who doesn’t love a pictured chapter book? Since this was an ARC, I only saw the first picture, but I think they are a great way to get the reader to see what Ellie saw and just make it easier for the reader to connect.
One thing I just don’t get is why Nina never called. I mean she didn’t have to disclose her location or anything like that but just to call or even leave a message saying, “Hello mom and Ellie, I’m fine. Don’t worry about.” I mean it would have made all the difference to Ellie. Also I don't really understand the cover. Like I guess that's Ellie on the front, but why does she have her finger to her lips as if she's the one with secrets you know?

Introducing... THE PAGE FLIPPER

The Page Flipper
Chelsea

"The Page Flipper is a blog dedicated to everything YA - both the books and the authors that write them."


What drew you into the book blogging world?
Books! Okay, that's kind of a given. But I was so incredibly sick of the glazed eyes I got from people who didn't read. I'd always have to talk about the book I was reading, and I'd take it out on my poor unsuspecting family. And then I went online in 2007 and found all these cool book websites like Book Divas, etc. Somehow, I came into contact with a publisher at Penguin who was looking for reader feedback. She sent me the book, I emailed her my thoughts, etc. And then I found blogspot and realized I could freely talk about the books I read to the world. And, since then, I haven't shut up.

What's your favorite part about book blogging?
I know this is probably a standard answer, but the community. It's awesome getting to talk to other readers - and even authors - about books. And there is generally no eye-glazing, because they're as excited about books as I am. It's awesome.

Who's your favorite author?
Laurie Halse Anderson. She rocks.

What kind of fiction are you into? or are you a nonfiction reader?
Despite having written a nonfiction memoir, I'm more of a fiction reader. But I love nonfiction that reads like fiction, like David Sedaris' books or I Don't Want to Be Crazy by Samantha Schutz. As far as fiction goes, I'm totally varied. One day, I'll be reading fantasy, and the next contemporary. After that, I'll pick up science fiction and wash it down with chick lit. If it's YA and the summary sounds appealing, no matter the genre, I'll scarf it down. Bon appetit.

If you could change your name what would you go by?
Jade. I love that name. I read The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti solely because of that, and found an awesome author.

IF you could have an AWESOME super power what would it be?
I'd want to control the elements. I mean, really, think about it. Telekenisis? If you master wind, it's basically the same thing. Flying? Wind. Who needs mind control when you can just threaten people with blasts of fire? I think it's just as effective. Plus, how fun would it be to make earthquakes and stuff? Okay, obviously I've thought about this too much for my own good.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Writing fan fiction. Guilty as charged.

Why should I visit your blog?
Because I'll give you a cookie? :) Bribing always works. In that vein, I also have contests for awesome books, like prize packs of YA. And because, if you're reading this, you probably love books as much as I do. So come chat with me about them!

And.. anything else you'd like to add?
That loose-leafed jasmine tea is the best thing to drink alongside a book.

------------------------------------------------------------

Don't forget to visit Chelsea at her blog!
*Pictured from left to right is Chelsea, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Sarah Dessen.

If you're interested in being feature on Introducing...YOU email me or leave a comment with you're email and I'll get you set up

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. In it, you get to introduce to everyone the books you're looking forward in the upcoming year and such.

Pop Princess
Isabelle Merlin

336pages
Random House Australia (February 1,2010)

"A simple twist of fate catapults Lucie Rees from her ordinary life in an ordinary town to a strange, exciting job in Paris as friend to the ultra-famous but troubled young pop star Arizona Kingdom. At first she is more than excited, but soon Lucie finds herself entangled in mysterious happenings that put her and Arizona in terrible danger. Lucie must discover the source of her troubles before it’s too late. Who can she trust? Will the holiday of a lifetime in Paris turn into her last days on Earth?" (Amazon)

Teaser Tuesday

I saw this over at Fizzy Thoughts and I thought it was interesting, so I decided to try it.

GRAB your current read OR the closest book to you
LET the book fall open to a random page.
SHARE with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
YOU also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
PLEASE avoid spoilers!

Suite Scarlett
Maureen Johnson

pg74

"When he didn't reply for a moment, Scarlett thought he was trying to think of a polite way of backing out of this sudden invitation. But then he looked to them both, smiling broadly."

2010 Reading Challenges

So I attempted two reading challenges last year, and am embarassed to say I didn't complete either one of them. It was my first year participating in challenges so let's just say that I took on more than I could handle? Yea, I think that works.

This Year, I will continue both challenges, trying to finish them up, cause I'm not one to give up... most of the time.

But I also signed up for a new challenge, cause it sounds like fun. The What's In A Name Challenge. Here's what I have to do/read.

1. A book with a food in the title: Clockwork Orange, Grapes of Wrath, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
2. A book with a body of water in the title: A River Runs through It, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, The Lake House
3. A book with a title (queen, president) in the title: The Murder of King Tut, The Count of Monte Cristo, Lady Susan
4. A book with a plant in the title: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Wind in the Willows, The Name of the Rose
5. A book with a place name (city, country) in the title: Out of Africa; London; Between, Georgia
6. A book with a music term in the title: Song of Solomon, Ragtime, The Piano Teacher

I'm pretty excited about this one, and finishing last year's remnants!

and Happy Martin Luther Day!