In My Mailbox (#4)

In my mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren

So I have put the kabosh on my major book buying streak, but I did get 2 new books in the last 2 weeks.

The first one was on my Kindle and it was FREE. Free doesn't count.
Songs for a Teenage Nomad (Kim Culbertson)

I'm already half-way through this one and I'm LOVING it.









A Pocket Guide to the Stars & Planets (Duncan John)
Only $4. That's practically free.

On My Wishlist (#4)

On My Wishlist is hosted over at Book Chick City
Here's a small sampling of books I'm desperately wishing to read:

Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun (Carla Sonheim) (July 1, 2010)

Goodreads Summary: Carla Sonheim is an artist and creativity workshop instructor known for her fun and innovative projects and techniques designed to help adult students recover a more spontaneous, playful approach to creating. Her innovative ideas are now collected and elaborated on in this unique volume. Carla offers a year's worth of assignments, projects, ideas, and techniques that will introduce more creativity and nonsense into your art and life. Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists offers readers a fun way to learn and gain expertise in drawing through experimentation and play. There is no right or wrong result, yet, the readers gain new skills and confidence, allowing them to take their work to a new level.

Why I Want It: I've actually met Carla at an art retreat I've gone to a couple years called Art and Soul. This book appeals to me on soo many levels and if it can help my lack of drawing skillz I'm all for it.

The Crystal Cave (Arthurian Saga #1) (Mary Stewart) (May 1, 2003)

Amazon Summary:  The first in a series of four books, this novel focuses on the early life of Merlin the magician, and the political developments of fifth-century Britain.

Merlin's childhood is formed by the absence of his reticent, convent-bound mother and his unnamed and unknown father. As the bastard grandson of a local king, Merlin is the object of both envy and ridicule. His strange powers and predictions earn him greater status as a pariah, and he leaves home as a preadolescent. Returning years later as a young man--empowered by self-knowledge and magic--Merlin finds himself caught in the currents of the shifting kingdoms.
Why I Want It: One of my most favorite stories EVER is that of King Arthur and Merlin. This sounds like a very different take on the classic legend and I'm excited to check it out.

Divergent (Veronica Roth) (May 3, 2011)

Goodreads Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Why I Want It:  I reallyreallyreally want to read this book. I LOVE dystopian and the premise of this book sounds AWESOME.

Hunger and Rage (The Horseman of the Apocalypse: The Rider's Quartet #1 and #2) (Jackie Kessler)

Goodreads Summary for Hunger: “Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?

Goodreads Summary for Rage:

Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different.
That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control.
A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation,Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.
Why I Want Them: These books sound highly fascinating with the connection of one of the four horsemen to a social issue such as anorexia and self-mutilation.  I'm definately drawn to the summaries, especially book 2.

What's on YOUR wishlist?

Dude.

Geez. It's been a while since I last posted. Work sucks man, you dig?
Anyhoo, on my blog it says that I'm reading Demonglass..such a lie. I started it, only to realize I can't remember what happened in the first one, so I'm gonna have to re-read Hex Hall first.

So in the mean time I have finished reading Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead- I LOVE this series (Vampire Academy).  Spirit Bound is the 5th book, one more to go, and I DON'T WANT IT TO END!  I love the characters and the story line and the writing and Dimitri and the different take on vampires and Dimitri...I'm def anxious to get my hands on the last one. Prolly from the library, cause I have all of them in paperback and I think the last one is in hardback only and I can't have a mismatched series. I just can't.

I'm almost done reading Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, and I surprisingly REALLY like it, I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I do. I'll post my thoughts on it when I'm done.  

Oh I almost forgot, the world ends tonight at approx. 6 pm...Eastern time? 

Waiting and Waiting and Waiting... (#2)

This little gem is hosted over at Breaking the Spine.

One book that I can't wait to get my grubby little claws into is: Wildefire (Karsten Knight) (July 26, 2011)

Goodreads Summary:

Every flame begins with a spark.

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned.

Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

This book sounds like it has all the ingredients needed to be Fantastic.  Come on July.

The Iron Queen

The Iron Queen (Iron Fey #3) by Julie Kagawa

My Thoughts: This is going to be short and sweet. I LOVED The Iron Queen. AMAZING. It might possibly be my favorite in the series so far.  I found myself catapulted into another world and enjoyed every minute of it, even when my heart was breaking.  There's love, loss, humor, war, magic, heart break, and fearlessness. I connected with even the most unhuman-like characters, like the little gremlin Razor (and I loved the packrats in the previous book).  The parts with Ash and Meghan just get better and better..  So if you've read the first 2 books, don't wait to start this one.  If you haven't stumbled across this incredible series yet, I highly recommend you check it out. Even if you're skeptical about faeries..this isn't your average faerie book.

Bottom line: An amazing continuation of an already loved series. Can't wait for the Iron Knight.  5/5 "Stars"

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss (Stephanie Perkins)

My Thoughts:

What I Know about France: Eiffel Tower.Louvre.Paris.Croissants.Crepes.Je voudrais un coca sil'vous plait. I went to Europe when I was 17 (Italy,France and Spain) Unfortunately we didn't visit Paris. I went to Southern France-Provence, Cannes, Nice, Nimes, Carcassonne-all absolutely GORGEOUS, like out of a movie. The food was amazing, there were incredible gardens, old castles, the Mediterranean...so I instantly liked the setting of this book.

I had no trouble getting through this sweet, romantic, cute, funny story. First of all it's set at a boarding school in France..um AWESOME. I easily connected with the main character, Anna, and her feelings of insecurity. I personally hated high school with a fiery passion. I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of a mean girl (or in my case mean boys).  And then there's St.Clair-oh I mean Etienne. Where can I get one??  I now have another literary crush.

The supporting characters really didn't do much for me, but I warmed up to them towards the end of the book. The writing style was easy to follow and I liked that the author didn't cute-sify the writing. There are some young adult books where some of the things the characters say make me cringe. Oh and then there are the descriptions of Paris-I felt like I could close my eyes and picture myself standing on Point Zero making a wish or standing atop Notre Dame looking down on the city.

Bottom Line: This book came highly recommended and it did NOT disappoint. I'm ready to go to Paris!   4.5/5 "Stars"

In My Mailbox (#3)

In My Mailbox is hosted over at The Story Siren

Okay. so I know I said I was going to try not to buy anymore books for a while seeing as I have so many new ones I still need to read. But I seem to have a problem where I can't pass up a bargain or a sale or a deal..I thought I was safe, I mean I was at the grocery store for goodness sake. Safe I was not. I noticed this book, saw it was on sale and snatched it up because hey, it's Sarah Dessen and she's awesome. But hey, one book in 2 weeks...not bad.

It's also time to introduce my new cat... SOOKIE.  It's not the best picture, but she wouldn't cooperate with her photo shoot.  She can be very loving, but she can also act like a nut-ball.


Sookie chillin' with Sarah Dessen's Lock and Key

Can't wait to see what you got in YOUR mailbox!



On My Wishlist (#3)

On My Wishlist is hosted over at Book Chick City
Here's a small sampling of books I'm desperately wishing to read:

Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse #11) (Charlaine Harris) May 3, 2011

Goodreads Summary:

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. But Sookie suspects otherwise and she and Sam work together to uncover the culprit - and the twisted motive for the attack. But her attention is divided. Though she can't 'read' vampires, Sookie knows her lover Eric Northman and his 'child' Pam well - and she realises that they are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master.

Why I Want It: I love this series. Even though I have been a tad bit disappointed with the last couple books I will read every one that comes out. Love the characters. TEAM ERIC!

Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir (Steven Tyler) May 3, 2011

Goodreads Summary:

"I've been mythicized, Mick-icized, eulogized and fooligized, I've been Cole-Portered and farmer's-daughtered, I've been Led Zepped and 12-stepped. I'm a rhyming fool and so cool that me, Fritz the Cat, and Mohair Sam are the baddest cats that am. I have so many outrageous stories, too many, and I'm gonna tell 'em all. All the unexpurgated, brain-jangling tales of debauchery, sex & drugs, transcendence & chemical dependence you will ever want to hear."

Why I Want It: I'm usually not a fan of memoirs but I'm a loong time fan of Aerosmith, and actually my first concert ever was Aerosmith's Nine Lives tour when I was like 14 or 15. It was AWESOME. And I love Steven Tyler, and this memoir sounds funny.

The Mortal Instrument Series (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass) (Cassandra Clare)

Goodreads Summary: (For City Of Bones)

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Why I Want It: I'm prolly one of the only people who hasn't read this series yet. I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

This has been week 2 of hell at work. Which is why I haven't been able to post much recently.

Hopefully I can catch up on posts and reading this weekend.