Update! And just randomness!

Hey guys!
Well I know I promised a review of WInter Wood by Steven Augaurde, but that's not going to happen. I tried, I mean I REALLY tried with this book, but I just couldn't do it. It's not that it was badly written (it was actually written quite well) or anything, it was just the story itself. I couldn't read it. I think I made it like page 62-ish, but I couldn't make it past that. I didn't know it was the THIRD book in a trilogy I'd never heard of before, let along read, or whether it's because I couldn't grasps what these chacters had to do with one another. Either way, this is NOT a stand alone book at all. I was so bored and confused by the time I made it as far as I did that I simply couldn't go on, and that my friends' is somehting I haven't done since school (The Red Badge of Courage and The Scarlett Letter were the only two books this has EVER happened with). But not to worry!

I did however mange to finish Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers in about two hours last night and got the review written and sent into TRT and once that is posted there, I will also post it here. I was planning on starting Freaky Monday by Mary Rodgers & Heather Hach today, but it wasn't such a great day for me personally, so I will start it tomorrow. I should start posting more now, so that's good! I still don't think I will post every single day, but I will try to post much more often than I have been.

Now I pose a question for all you lovelies! How do you simply waste you time? I don't mean reading and the like, I mean to you play meaningless video games or anything like that. If so what do you play?

Personally, I play Free Realms
I am Loreli Moonbeam in game.

And I've also been spending quite a bit of time on ourWorld.
That is me! And if you guys click there and sign up and play, it helps me out too! (You know you want too, and thanks in advance)!

So those are a couple ways I waste my time, her lately it's been on ourWorld, but yea. And don't worry, both game are family friendly and have mods to make sure they stay that way. It's just fun and wa time waster. So.
How do you waste your time?

XOXO,
Samantha

In My Mailbox

Hey guys! I'm probably not going to do this every week, that is unless I get something every week. But anyways, since this is my first one, I am going to include the books I've gotten lately! So here we go...

• Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley
• Ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley
• Lock & Key by Sarah Dessen
• Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers
• Freaky Monday by Mary Rodgers and Heather Hach
• The Young City by James Bow
• Erec Rex: The Dragon's Eye by Kaza Kingsley
• Erec Rex: The Monsters of Otherness by Kaza Kingsley
• Erec Rex: The Search for Truth by Kaza Kingsley
• Winter Wood by Steve Augaurde

Okay so that's what I've gotten lately, which basically means that's the stuff I've recieved in the last 3 to 4 weeks. Right now I am TRYING to read Winter Wood, but what I didn't know before I got it was that it is the third in a series that I had never even heard of, much less read before. It's confusing, and I'm having a major issue getting into it, but I am trying. Anyways, as long as time permitting, I will have the review for it up, as soon as I can. I am really hoping that it gets better as I go, so wish me luck! Later guys!

XOXO

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Author: Carrie Ryan

Release Date: March 10, 2009

Category: Paranormal/Fantasy

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Mary lives in a world that is set in stone; there are things you just know and things that you just shouldn’t wonder about. Some things are simple, true, and have been for as long as anyone knows:
1. The Guardians will always protect
2. The Sisterhood is always right.
3. The Unconsecrated are always there, and always trying to break through.

Mary has spent her entire life surrounded by these infected shells of people, some of which were her friends, family, neighbors, etc. They attack the fences, crave human flesh, and moan the most chilling sound you’ve ever heard. Think of every zombie movie you’ve ever saw, and combine all those creepy figures into one and that’s the image that goes through my mind when I think of the Unconsecrated. Now imagine living in a lone village, smack in the middle of a forest that is full of these “people” with only chain link fences and the armed Guardians to protect you. This is Mary’s life.

The Sisterhood controls the knowledge; they control what everyone else knows about the world outside the fence, and what everyone doesn’t know. Mary dreams of life outside the fence, of life at the other end of the gate that leads to the path, the only path that leads to and from the village, the path that no one has ever been allowed to go down. Slowly everything Mary has ever known starts falling apart one by one; the Sisterhood has secrets and Mary learns things that she was never supposed to know.

One day the fences are breached, the Unconsecrated descend upon the village, upon the only lives these people have ever known. The village is in chaos, there’s only one safe place to go, and it’s forbidden. Now Mary has some choices to make: Will she stay in her village and fight for it or will she save herself and the people she can and take the path? Will she choose the one she loves or the one that loves her? Will she find out if there is life outside a village and a forest that is surrounded by so much death and constant danger?

This is such an amazing book! I am having trouble putting how much I actually love this book into words outside of a fangirl scream “OMG”! I am also tickled purple (not pink, pink is too girly and not exciting enough!) to find out from Carrieryan.com that there is not only a sequel called The Tossed-Dead Waves that will come out Spring of 2010, but there will be a THIRD (!!!!!!) book that will come out Spring of 2011. And the possibility of a movie, because Seven Star Pictures (which is a new company, but they are doing K-11, with Kristen Stewart and Nikki Reed), and it is listed on their website as an “Upcoming Film”. This is such an amazing read, as I have already said, but it chilling, gripping, it has just enough romance to satisfy someone, without overwhelming the horror, and the hope that the story employs. It’s such a dark and terrifying tale, but at the same time it’s extremely beautiful and hopeful; and that mix is just what the doctor ordered.

Update, Knowing, and Up!

Hey guys!

It's been a little over a week or so since I posted my review on Bloodhound, and I know I haven't been around much, but in that time I have been keeping busy (sorry nothing majorly blog worthy, i.e. working, then got sick, then caught up on some BFF time with my best friend). But I did manage to read a book, only one, but still! I read The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

And I will have my review on that up shortly. I have to work tomorrow so maybe Wednesday lol. Anyone that works in retail (as I do) knows that it generally wipes you out, so shoot for Wednesday.

In other news though. Last week I went to the movies...twice. Once was at what we call the $1 movies, which is actually $2 now (it used to be $1, but as times have changed, so has the price) and they usually show movies that are out of the major theaters, but not on DVD yet. So we went and saw Knowing. For all who don't remember that one, it's the Nicolas Cage movie where they open a time capsule from 50 years before, and they find the page full of numbers that correspond to major disasters in the world, and he tries to be the hero (as Nicolas Cage does in all his movies). Anyways it was good, it was odd, it was a stretch of the imagination. Most younger audiences probably would care for it, and depending on how much younger probably wouldn't understand it (no offence to anyone, it just takes a knowledge of some things that aren't really taught until later in school, unless you study independently). And if you are easily offended when it comes to religion, then it's not the movie for you (it takes different aspects of the whole apocalypse and creation stories from different religions and combines then)But in any case, I would recommend renting it. But it's not something I would personally buy.

Now the second movie we went to see was by far superior to Knowing. We went to see Up! Another one of Pixar's masterpieces, and OMG! I loved it! I think we have all either seen, heard, or read something about Up, so I will skip the whole summary thing and get right to my thoughts. I love, love, love it! I generally love Pixar's movies in the first place, but this movie has cemented itself as my third favorite Pixar movie (The first being Finding Nemo and the second being Toy Story). The characters were so adorable and funny, the animation is just awesome, and the dialogue is HI-larious! But I do feel that I must say that after the first 15 or so minutes, it did leave me a bit depressed, but that was quickly rectified. I also think that if you are taking a young child to see it, that they at least know that people do not live forever, and that people do eventually pass away (there was a young child in my theater that apparently didn't know this, and since most younger children have no concept of whispering , we all had to listen to her repeatedly ask about what happened, why, etc. and that can be quite distracting and unfair to other the other people in the theater) Now this is a movie I not only recommend buying (once it comes out on DVD), but I also recommend seeing it in theaters. It is one of those movies that has something for everyone!

I know this is kinda long...sorrys! But as long as I still have your attention (I hope), then I will tell you guys what I got this week in terms of books! By the way, the reason I don't do the weekly "In My Mailbox" posts like most bloggers' do, is because, well I don't always get new books every week lol. But...I could start doing it for the weeks I do actually get books...hmmm. I don't know. Maybes, I will peruse the thought and see what I can come up with.

This week I got four books!

1. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
2. Winter Wood by Steve Augarde
3. Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley
4. Ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley

So for my next book I will be reading Winter Wood, since that it a review book. It's a bit long, but I have a couple days off this week and so I should have some time to get some reading done. Well I think I have rambled long enough, and it's almost 5 AM so I better try to sleep a little bit. Bye bye guys!

Samantha

*Edit* June 16, 2009
I know I said I would have The Forest of Hands and Teeth review up by last Wednesday....but I sorry. I haven't had a chance to get it done yet. My aunt and cousin came in from NY and that only happens like once a year, so I haven't had much time at home, much less near the computer. I am hoping to get it up tomorrow night (I mean it this time!) I have to take my sister to the doctor in the morning, so it will be when I get home. Thanks for your paitence guys!

Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce

Author: Tamora Pierce

Release Date: April 14, 2009

Category: Fantasy

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Rebekah “Beka” Cooper is now a Dog, a fully qualified member of Provost’s Guard, which is basically the police force in Corus, the capital of Tortall. Beka is a natural at Dog work, she’s observant and persistent, but her magical traits set her apart from the rest, she has the ability to gain information from the spirits that attach themselves to pigeons and the dust and dirt that swirl on the ground called dust spinners. These skills along with the help from the company she keeps make Beka a skilled Dog.

Beka has been a Dog for five months at this point, and her fourth partner has just decided to leave her, which sends her back to her (amusing) training Dogs, Tunstall and Goodwin. One her first day back with Tunstall and Goodwin, they learn of counterfeit silver coins being used throughout Corus, which begins their investigation on the subject. On the second day, the merchants raise their prices in order to cover their losses, which cause a riot in the Lower City. During the riot, Tunstall is injured and in trying to get him to safety, they meet a group of men from a security caravan, who turn out to be quite useful to them.

After the riots, it’s found that the counterfeit coins are being brought in by gamblers from Port Caynn and the Port Caynn Dogs don’t seem to be doing anything about it. With Tunstall on bed rest, Cooper and Goodwin are sent undercover to Port Caynn to try and locate where these fake coins are coming from and who is sending them out into the mainstream. Beka and Goodwin must explore the deep world of gambling and find the root of the problem, in a strange city.

Along the way, Beka sees Dale Rowan, a bank courier that sometimes works on the caravan, whim she met in the riot. Dale becomes more than just someone to help the women learn about the gambling places, and the eating houses that could help aid them, he becomes someone Beka really begins to like. He is handsome, buys her fine gifts, and becomes a bedmate for her, all in a matter of days. There is just enough romance that you almost want to root for him, but personally I am still rooting for her and Rosto, the Rogue of Corus.

With the help of the adorable Achoo, Beka’s new scent hound, Slapper, a hilarious pigeon that carries the voices of the dead, and their new friends from the riots, they have just the in they need to get their investigation started. Things finally start falling into place when Goodwin goes to Corus to report what they have so far. Once Goodwin is gone, things come together rather quickly for young Beka, and it is up to her alone, to keep it all from blowing up before help arrives. And it is up to Achoo to teach Beka that there is more to finding a criminal than the chase, and sometimes you have to sniff them out of their hiding place.

I love this story! It’s told very well, everything you read is written through Beka’s journal and despite the length of the book, the entire story covers just under three weeks. I didn’t read Terrier, the first book in the trilogy, but Bloodhound seems to stand on its own, with only a slight temporary confusion. Some of the terminology is quite different, but there is a dictionary in the back, along with a few other things that are quite helpful when it comes to keeping things straight. The cast of characters are quite colorful, and very interesting, particularly when Dogs, mages, thieves, and the Rogue not only live in the same lodgings, but also dine frequently together and intertwine themselves in each others lives as they do. It’s easy to see that despite what they all do for a living, they all care and respect each other as friends.

There are some aspects of the story that could become a little much for younger readers and I think I should state that Beka may only be 16 or 17, but in her time, that is classified as an adult. She deals in adult situations, there is crime, gambling, adult relationships, and violence, but nothing is told in explicit detail or anything like that. This is a story that I could totally recommend for almost anyone, male or female, teenager or adult. Either way, it is a good story and I for one, am waiting for the next book, Mastiff.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Before I get started, I just want to let you guys know that I’m going to be experimenting with my review format a bit, see what works, what doesn’t, etc. Let me know what you guys think!

Author: John Green
Release Date: September 21, 2006
Category: Contemporary
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Ever wanted to know how long a relationship would last? Who would break up with who? Have a way to figure out if beginning the relationship in the first place is even worth the trouble? Receive all those answers by plugging in a few factors into a mathematical theorem, sounds simple enough to me, and to Colin Singleton. Colin is a new high school graduate, a soon-to-be-ex child prodigy, and this theorem, the theorem that could potentially make him a genius, is the problem he is facing.

You see, Colin has a problem. Colin falls in love very easily. That wouldn't be such a bad thing if it wasn't for the fact that all his "loves" have been named Katherine (exactly 19 of them). Each of those Katherines have broken up with him for whatever reason; and after the love of his life (Katherine XIX) leaves him in a terribly bad place he decides to use that to his advantage. He tries to make himself a genius by coming up with the Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, to not only make himself known for something, but to also figure out why all nineteen Katherines have dumped him.

As a distraction, Colin and his best friend Hassan set out on a road trip to nowhere, in The Hearse (Colin's car). Seeing a sign for the grave of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the boys head to Gutshot, Tennessee; a small town, where they happen upon Lindsey Lee Wells, a girl who is nothing like any Katherine has been for Colin. She reads celebrity rag magazines, her friends, her boyfriend (also named Colin, aptly dubbed T.O.C. aka The Other Colin), and her wealthy mother Hollis, who offers the boys a place to stay. The palace-sized home on top of the hill being more than just large and full of interesting things, but it's also a shade of pink only rivaled by a bottle of Pepto Bismol.

Hollis hires the boys to accompany Lindsey with getting an oral history of Gutshot, which means visiting everyone that works in the factory (which produces tampon strings, just so you know), the people too old to work, and the people so old to work they are in the old folks home. Colin also decides his "Eureka" moment is finishing the Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, but what he doesn't count on is better than finishing any theorem. He not only finds himself, but that there are some things (i.e. chance, memory recollection, the unpredictability of matters of the heart) that can't be solved in a theorem, math, or science. Some things have to be lived, and we follow these three through their adventures, learning to be somebody, mattering as a person without being world-famous, and just growing up.

There are so many things about this book that I love! Upon meeting Lindsey's friends, the boys immediately came up with amusing acronyms for them (J.A.T.T. aka Jeans Are Too Tight, hehe). As someone who lives in Tennessee, I still couldn't help giggle every time Gutshot was mentioned. The footnotes! I forgot how fun those could be! The characters are quirky, and there is the ability to relate to them in a sense, and real. And the book taught me things I didn't know! Just for amusement, here are five things I didn't know before reading An Abundance of Katherines:

1. Nikola Telsa loved...pigeons (yea, I know)...and had the original electricity idea, not Thomas Eddison.
2. Looking at it from a scientific point of view, there is no proof that drinking eight glasses of water will do a darn thing for your health.
3. William Taft was not only the fattest president, but got stuck in a bath tub one time (hehehe, so funny)
4. Abligurition is an actual word, that I can't pronounce, but means "the spending of too much money on food."
5. Not only is there a World's Largest Crucifix, but it is in Kentucky.

This is one of the few books that I would recommend to everyone! Don't worry about all the math, there are footnotes and graphics to explain it all. This is a book that guys and girls alike can enjoy!

Update!

I am still in the process of reading Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce. I'm quite behind on my usual reading schedule, because not only have things been crazy here at home, but my allergies have been miserable! They have never been this bad before! Anyone else had that problem this year?

But anyways, I am going to my aunt's lake house for the weekend and since it is nice and quiet up there, hopefully I will be able to get some MAJOR reading done! I hope. I just wanted to let you guys know that I haven't forgotten about you or anything! hehe.

I also wanted to give an extra special "THANK YOU" to Fantastic Book Review for her "5 Star Review" contest, in which I won a copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth! YaY!

Must get some sleep now, since it's 2:30 AM and I have to be up early to do some things around the house and pack my stuff before I leave at 1 tomorrow, ARGH! lol. Hope to be farther along in a few days! Bye guys! XOXO!