In My Mailbox [4]

Hey--I wanted to wait to do IMM until my packages came - and they're here today!!

Well, some of them, at least :)

In the mail: Troll Mill by Katherine Langrish

Bought: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I had originally planned to wait to read Shiver until closer to July, when Linger's going to be published...but I saw it staring at me at the bookstore, and I just can't say 'no' to books!

As soon as I'm done with Sapphique, which I plan to read over the weekend, I'll start the Troll Trilogy! And then...I'll probably have to work on my research paper (ewwww) so I don't know what I'll read after that... any suggestions?!

some (more) ponderings...

Hey everybody--hope your week's off to a good start! Once again, I'm going to use my blog as a sort of cyber diary and throw out some reading-related questions that have been going through my head recently...

I’m not trying to tattle about stuff from goodreads, or in my personal life, or whatever…but it does make me think. Have you ever felt like your opinions were placed on the defense? Or have you ever had reservations about speaking your mind because you were afraid of the potential backlash? I’m thinking about book reviews and such, but I guess I could be talking about any aspect of life. I don’t know, I’m just babbling. It’s either type away on here or pay attention to the lecture that’s going on a few feet from my table…

That’s not to say that I don’t like arguing—I was on debate team and I started out as pre-law…but I guess somewhere along the way I’ve just grown tired (or lazy) of always being on the defense. It was fun and noble when I was younger—now it’s just a pain in the butt. And my reading tastes have changed, I think. Now, for some reason I like books that people have never heard of, or books that are old (my favorite series, The Chronicles of Prydain, was popular in the 60s when my parents were little kids). And I seem to foam-at-the-mouth over books that everybody enjoys. There are exceptions, though. I love Harry Potter and as of yet, I’ve never heard any bad comments about Percy Jackson… And I do occasionally like to “stick up for the little guy” (aka Twilight…off topic real quick: what is up with all the Twi-hating? Come on, everybody!) But yeah, pretty much all the books in my “pile o’ crap” shelf on Goodreads are must-loves elsewhere. And I like being different, I guess…but I don’t really understand all the hostility. Is it really so extraordinary to have different opinions? If someone likes a book that I don’t like, I don’t feel the need to go, “OMG what is wrong with you?!” I really don’t understand the reasoning behind hostile comments…it’s one thing to say, “oh wow, I didn’t really see things that way,” but let’s not play cross-examination here!

- I mean, if I don't like a book, I'm going to say "I don't like this book!" Now my pledge to you - those lovelies who read my reviews: if I say "I don't like this book!" or rate a book down, I promise to explain why. Otherwise it may just look like I'm being PMSy or something. I have reasons---and to be quite honest, if I rate a book 3 or lower, I feel like there is a good reason. Truthfully, I try to look for the good in a book, if for no other reason than to feel like my reading time wasn't wasted. But if I rate a book down (2.5 or lower) there's usually something wrong with it, and not just "ohhh, the writing stank!" or "cardboard characters!" or whatever. It's something serious that I found extremely detrimental or just had a major problem with. And if you agree or disagree, cool! That's totally fine, but I do feel like I should be honest.

** I can't express enough how appreciative I am of honest reviews. That doesn't mean I take pleasure out of books/authors being turned into punching bags, but I really like honesty. If you have something to say, please share it! I know I will :P

Maybe I’m just getting lazy… but I wanted to pose the questions. Have you ever felt like you’ve had to get on the defense over a review, or an opinion you have expressed? Have you ever had reservations about speaking your mind because you were afraid of the potential backlash?

Quote of the Week!

Here's another quote by C.S. Lewis that's an anthem to all of us grown-up YA lovers :)

Have a great week, everybody!! Happy reading.

A Quick Recap

This week hasn't been all that bad! I had Midterms of Death and Sinuses of Death, but on the other hand, I finished up an awesome, awesome series (The Great Tree of Avalon), started a new, promising book yesterday (Incarceron) and launched my first giveaway!

By the way, if you haven't entered already, click here! The deadline is March 16 (oh and remember--you must be a follower!)

Books Read

The Eternal Flame - finished

Incarceron - in progress

Books Reviewed

Shadows on the Stars

The Eternal Flame

My Posts

My 75 Followers Giveaway! (brought to you by Zac & Corbin!)

In My Mailbox [3]

Cover Wars [5]

25 Things Mars [our German Shepherd] Must Remember!

Book Questionnaire

Friday Finds [4]
Cinema Weekend: The History Boys, Death at a Funeral, Starter for 10

Other news...

My friend Sarah @ Book Reviews from Inside an Igloo is having her first giveaway! In honor of reaching 30 followers, Sarah is hosting a giveaway for a chance to win a book of your choice from the Book Depository--around $20 cost. The deadline is March 31.

Cinema Weekend

Happy weekend, fellow bloggers! Time to relax, read a bit, and watch a movie!

Last week, I showed you my trippy side by recommending Jim Henson's Labyrinth, with David Bowie. This week, I want to show off my obsession with British films!

Seriously, I love British films--I love the writing, I love the humor, I love the actors...I just think they're such a top-notch quality, and so I wanted to share three(3) of my favorite British films with you!

1. The History Boys (2006, Comedy-drama)
- This film was adapated from Alan Bennett's 2005 Tony Award-winning play and features the original Broadway cast. Set in 1983, this witty, touching film revolves around 8 working-class schoolboys as they prepare for their examinations to get into Oxbridge (Oxford/Cambridge).
I am a history major, so that added another fun element to this film - there are a few major quote-worthy scenes in which subjects in history are broken down and analyzed in a really thought-provoking way. And of course, I love films that portray strong teachers! Hector reminds me of several of my favorite teachers, even though he, umm...well you'll have to watch it for yourselves!
- The film stars an incredible ensemble cast, including Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia), Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon in the Harry Potter films) and Frances de la Tour (Madame Maxime in Goblet of Fire) among others.
- Favorite quote!

"The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - that you'd thought special, particular to you. And here it is, set down by someone else, a person you've never met, maybe even someone long dead. And it's as if a hand has come out, and taken yours."

- Rated R for language (hey, it is a British film after all)

2. Death at a Funeral (2007, Comedy)
Hilarious tagline: From director Frank Oz (aka, YODA) comes the story of a family that puts the F U in funeral...
- Daniel is a decent young man, married to Jane, still living at his father's home. When his father dies, it is up to him to organize his funeral. On this painful morning, the suitable grave expression on his face, Daniel is ready to welcome his father's friends and relatives. But preserving the dignity inherent in such circumstances will be a hard task. Particularly with an undertaker who botches his work, the return from the USA of his famous but selfish brother, his cousin's fiancé who has accidentally ingested drugs, the presence a moron who takes advantage of the sad event to win back the heart (or rather the body) of a woman who is about to marry another, of a handicapped old uncle who is also the most unbearable pain in the neck. To cap it all, Daniel notices the presence among the mourners of a mysterious dwarf nobody else seems to know...
- Once again, an incredible ensemble cast, including Matthew Macfadyen (Pride and Prejudice), Keeley Hawes, Ewan Bremner, Daisy Donovan, Alan Tudyk, Rupert Graves, Peter Dinklage

- Rated R for language, partial nudity and mild drug content

And last but not least,

3. Starter for Ten (2006, Comedy-drama)
- Based on the 2003 novel by the same name, this story chronicles the misadventures of Brian Jackson (James McAvoy), a student in his first year at Bristol University. A somewhat obsessive collector of general knowledge, Brian has been a fan since childhood of University Challenge. That TV show's famous catchphrase—"Your starter for 10"—gives the film its title. Upon arriving at university, he seizes upon the opportunity to join Bristol's University Challenge team. He promptly falls for his glamorous teammate Alice (Alice Eve), though he may have more in common with a counterculturalist chum, Rebecca (Rebecca Hall). Additionally, Brian finds himself caught between his new life, amongst the posh university set, and his old, with his working-class family and friends in the seaside town of Southend, Essex.
- Favorite quote!

"I admit it. I'd made some mistakes. Okay, some big mistakes. Loads of them. But you can't hide in your room forever feeling sorry for yourself. It's not practical. At some point, you've got to get back out there, face up to things, and confront your demons. Ever since I can remember, I'd wanted to be clever. Some people are born clever, same way some people are born beautiful. I'm not one of those people. I'm going to have to work at it, put in the effort, and if I mess it up, I'll learn from it. Besides, sometimes it's not about knowing the right answer. Sometimes it's about asking the right questions.

P.S.--I tried to put the trailers on here, but they kept screwing up my columns, so sorry about that!

Friday Finds [4]

Friday Finds are books that you've heard about during the past week. For me, I'm taking it a step further: these are books I heard about and may potentially read. Friday Finds is hosted by MizB @ Should be Reading

I'm getting around to this a lot later than I had hoped---I guess I know now not to take 3 benadryl at one time...

This week I found...

Eyes Like Stars (Theatre Iluminata, #1) by Lisa Mantchev

Enter Stage Right All her world's a stage. Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She is not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but has no lines of her own. Until now. Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every place ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known. Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience. Open Curtain

I have to say, I'm already in love with the concept! It seems like Thursday Next for theatre characters. I know that several blog/GR buddies have read and liked this series, so I guess I'll jump on the bandwagon! And the next book, Perchance to Dream, seems incredibly interesting too--but it's not coming out until May 25, 2010...booo. So if you've read this and have an opinion about it, please let me know! Does anyone know how many are going to be in this series--and are the MCs of, say, Book 1 the MCs of Book 2, or do they have different characters and stories?

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Hmm, I'm not really sure about this one. It looks good, and some of my blog/GR buddies have liked it, while others have not. If you know anything about this book, please let me know!

And I just heard of this book only a few minutes ago, and I'm already extremely anxious to read it!

The Replacements by Brenna Yovanoff, release date: 16 September 2010

Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants. A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?

Since it's not out yet, I have like no information on it whatsoever, but just going by the blurb and the cover design (yes, cover designs weigh heavily in my opinion!) I have to say I'm hooked, or at least, pre-hooked :)

What did you "find" this week?

Last week's finds: Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver and James Dashner's Maze Runner

Friday Finds 2: Katherine Langrish's Troll Trilogy

Friday Finds 1: Catherine Fisher's Incarceron & Sapphique and Sarah Addison Allen's The Sugar Queen

Ohhh, a Questionnare!

Saw this questionnaire on Alexia’s Books and Such and couldn’t resist!

1. Book next to your bed right now: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher. It’s been “waiting in the wings” all week but because of Midterms of Death and Sinus Infection of Death, I haven’t been able to start it

2. Favorite series: Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. Started those books as a 10-year old, so in addition to just being a dadgum awesome series, there’s the nostalgia factor, too

3. Favorite book: You are Special by Max Lucado and Skellig by David Almond

4. The one book you would have with you if stranded on a desert island: This may sound ultra-cheesy, but I have to go with the Bible. That seems like a good thing to have in a situation like that…

5. Book/series you would take with you on a long flight: Oh, the Percy Jackson series!

6. Worst book you were made to read in school: Ohh gosh, it would be a tie between Wuthering Heights and The Great Gatsby. It doesn’t matter to me if a book is “classic” or not – if I don’t like the characters, I won’t be engaged in the plot and therefore will not likely care what goes on in the story

7. Book that everyone should be made to read in school: To Kill a Mockingbird, and from what I understand, a lot of people are made to read this! Ohh, and The Divine Comedy by Dante.

8. Book that everyone should read, period: You are Special by Max Lucado. Seriously, everybody! This book is like vitamins for your self-esteem!

9. Favorite character: Percy Jackson. That kid is one awesome little demigod. And in the entirely of a 5-book series, never once is he “boring”. Way to go, Rick Riordan!

10. Best villain: Hmm, of all time? I’ll have to be Miss Nerdy Nerdenstein and say Lucifer from Paradise Lost. Otherwise, Sauron from Lord of the Rings

11. Favorite concept series: T.A. Barron’s Great Tree of Avalon, in which the whole world is made up of one gigantic tree and all its parts: roots, bark, branches, leaves, etc. Once you wrap your mind around that, it’s pretty awesome!

12. Favorite invented world: I’ll say the Redwall world by Brian Jacques because it’s high fantasy with an all-animal cast! Seriously, there’s nothing cooler than sword-wielding MICE!

13. Most beautifully written book: JRR Tolkien has an amazing way with prose, and so does Lloyd Alexander (Chronicles of Prydain)

14. Funniest book/series: Off the top of my head, I’ll have to say the Percy Jackson series…In fact, most of the quotes on my goodreads page are made up of funny quips from those books!

So there you go! I love questionnaires like this because they offer an insight into reading experiences. If you decide to do this questionnaire, I’d love to read your answers and get a glimpse of your reading preferences!