"I am ashamed"

     ...as Jacques from Finding Nemo would say...

     I haven't posted in a month, and that is shameful and rude. I do have a couple good excuses; Holly and I were exiled from our apartment for three days due to a fire (not in or near our unit, thank god). Get this: someone shoved a screwdriver into the electrical panel and started two fires. No one was severely hurt, but the hydro was out for three days, so we had to stay elsewhere.

     Excuse number two; my job at Chapters took up so much of my time, since I was working full time hours in the summer, and then when school started, I was still working full time hours, and my days were spent waking up at dawn for class, and falling asleep in the wee hours of the morning after work. Also all the other little stressors of life, like shopping, finances, chores, relationships. Never mind any hobbies.

     I did get a chance to read when we were out of the apartment. Holly and I went to the library and picked up a few books, so I got about halfway through The Weird Sisters, and made more progress on One Day. No comments for now, you'll have to wait for my reviews. (And they're coming, I promise!)

     I am taking an english class this semester, partly because it seemed so interesting, partly because I needed another class to be a full time student. No way was I going to take another Crim class, and since I've maxed out my Psych class allowances, I figured I'd do this for me. The class is called Children's Literature. I assumed this meant Roald Dahl and Robert Munch, but actually we are reading older books. My reading list includes Little Women (which I have to have read for Friday evening, yet have not started), Tom Sawyer, Anne of Green Gables, The Silver Chair and a bunch more novels and short stories. I think I lucked out!

     Now all I need is to catch up on my IMM posts (I have about four in the works - yay for being a Chapters employee and having an income!) and a few reviews which I have started, but of course, not finished.

     Stay tuned! I'll be around.

Playing Hurt - Holly Schindler

March 8, 2011
   Star basketball player Chelsea Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college, and everyone’s admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.
   As a graduation present, Chelsea’s dad springs for a three-week summer "boot camp" program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she’s immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who’s haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain – or finally heal their heartbreak? (Chapters, CA)

     Playing Hurt is a book I received from a giveaway (as I’m sure you are all well aware of by now). I was excited to read it, mostly to see how the dynamic between Chelsea and Gabe vs. Clint would work out. I was thinking, how could you have the perfect boyfriend, and still be interested in someone else. I know it happens, but I was looking forward to reading about it, in such a specific example.

     I really liked how each chapter skipped back and forth between Chelsea and Clint. A few times I got frustrated; the chapters ended on a bit of a cliffhanger and it was not something easily resolved through the point of view of the other person. I really got into the book, though, I found it very cute and touching, and it pulled me easily the whole way along from beginning to end.

     I do recommend this book to other readers. It was cute and light, and I was able to relate to the characters, and found myself daydreaming about them often. It actually made me pick my next book along the same lines, because even when I was done the book, I really wanted more like it!

     Like I said, I was curious to see how the author would do with the torn-between-two-lovers scenario. Gabe, Chelsea’s boyfriend, was painted to be perfect. Beyond perfect, even. He was handsome and supportive and understanding and loving and all the things a perfect boyfriend should be. I definitely understand being in a good relationship and falling for someone else despite all your best efforts, but usually the former partner has at least a couple flaws. Gabe had zero. So I was intrigued at how Chelsea was going to fall for Clint. Turns out that it wasn’t about Gabe vs. Clint. I liked it.

     I really enjoyed the story, and hated having to put it down. It was cute and light, and their relationship gave me butterflies. I loved picturing myself in Chelsea’s position, falling for Clint. The cute flirting, and the fun times they had, hidden away in the middle of the woods. It was secret, and reminded me of Tuck Everlasting or something along those lines. I love romances like that.

     The one thing that annoyed me about the book was Chelsea’s brother Brandon. He’s supposed to be her younger brother, and having a brother who was once that age, I know how they generally act. Brandon seemed way too mature to be realistic to me. He was always on Chelsea’s case about Gabe at home, and how what she was doing with Clint was wrong. He never did anything immature like tattle on her, or spy, but he seemed to be her very mature conscience. He always seemed to know what she was thinking, or doing, and it was too omnipresent. This didn’t jive for me with the rest of his actions in the story. He spent all his time obsessing over his bass, and playing in the band with Clint’s friends. All he seemed to care about was music, and the band which he inspired, and usually younger brothers like that don’t also have a side devoted to the questionable morals of his sister. Especially since his band was made up of Clint’s friends, that would make me think he would lean towards being on Clint’s side, and it’s not like he and Gabe were friends at all at home. It was a little too off for me.

     I felt similar frustration as did Chelsea when Gabe kept wanting to talk to her while she was away on vacation. Even despite Clint, Chelsea was away for a reason. She was supposed to take so time to herself, do some physical rehab, enjoy the quiet and the wilderness. She’s out in the woods; it’s not time for an LAN gaming session or three way video chat, it’s just not the point of the retreat. Let her do her thing, you do yours, and you’ll see her when she gets home. She’s only gone for three weeks, not a year and half, you’ll live, buddy. It just really annoyed me.

     When Chelsea got back from Pike’s, and saw Gabe, I felt her uncomfortability in the pit of my own stomach. I wanted him to leave, and not take her out to the hotel. I wanted Chelsea’s Dad to finally do something decent and send Gabe away, at least so Chelsea could have a night to herself, to prepare for the inevitable breakup. I felt during their whole date-sex night, that it was all being rushed through, and she didn’t have a second to collect her thoughts to be able to talk to Gabe. Granted, Chelsea did have a thing with someone else while she was away, but I really felt that Gabe overreacted. If he really cared about Chelsea like he says he does, I don’t think he would have been so cruel, throwing in her face the fact that he’s held off sex for her and everything. That was terrible.

     The thing that really bothered me was that after everything, Chelsea and Clint went through during the summer, the healing and falling in love, they didn’t even stay in touch during the year. Chelsea won a free vacation for her family next year, and presumably she would go and they would see each other and be together then too, but from another angle, it almost seemed like she considered that invitation as a goodbye, and almost like a thank you from Clint, ‘for everything we shared this summer, and for helping me to get past it all and move on’. And then it was over.

In My Mailbox (2)

     A year ago, I impulsively bought a Kobo. Somehow since then, the screen got cracked. I was so sad, assumed there was nothing I could do, and put it away indefinitely. Since I work at Chapters, I decided to ask if there was any solution. Apparently, they exchange Kobo's due to broken screens all the time, so as long as I purchased it within a year. So I went home and found the receipt, and it actually had been a year (well, a year and a week, but I figured that was okay).

     I brought it back, expecting to pay about $30 to cover the difference between the first generation which I had, and the new Touch. Turns out, that there was only a ten dollar difference between what I paid, and the new Touch, with the latter being cheaper! So I got the new Kobo Touch, screen intact, and $10. Amazing!

     Because I needed a book to read while out of the house, I purchased two e-books to read on my Kobo. I know it comes with tons of free ones, but after finishing Playing Hurt, I really wanted a modern chick-lit book, and none come free. So I purchased One Day by David Nicholls, and Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares. I do intend to purchase them in physical form, but One Day was only a couple dollars, and Sisterhood Everlasting is a year away from coming out in trade paperback.

     I'll be starting with One Day, reading it on my Kobo when out of the house. This will be my first experience reading on a tablet, so I'll let you know how it was when I'm done! Can't wait.

In My Mailbox (1)

Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler

     So a few weeks ago a won a giveaway from Book ♥ Soulmates: a signed copy of Playing Hurt. I only recently received it in the mail, due to the unfortunate and annoying postal strike, but it's finally here! Like I previously mentioned, I am so excited to read this book ... except I almost don't want to touch it because it's so beautiful. Okay, whatever, I'm a freak, get over it.

     I also received a hand written note from Holly Schindler herself! On personal paper which was such a cute touch! Thank you thank you thank you! Expect a review soon!

Sleep for Success! - Dr. James B. Maas

August 26, 2010

   Given the present, stress-inducing state of the economy and the world, there has never been a better time to provide a wake-up call on how to relax, get centered, get eight hours of sleep, and be happier and more successful. Recent research has shown us that when we get enough sleep, we are able to accomplish more in less time and with less stress and greater health. What if you could take a few small steps every day that would enable you to eventually achieve all these things? You can. In fact, it''s easy. Sleep for Success!, a convincing, psychological approach to changing attitudes and behaviors, is written for anyone who wants to get a great night''s sleep, feel wide awake, and be a peak performer all day. If you''re human, chances are that you are at least somewhat sleep deprived. Sleep for Success! can change your life-literally overnight.(Chapters, CA)

     My dad works in a large prestigious company, and he once had a sleep doctor give a presentation in his office. He came home that night and told us all about what the guy had said, and started listing all the tips and suggestions he had given for better sleep, and how that relates to pretty much every other facet of life from athletic performance to longevity. This sleep doctor was Dr. James B. Maas, who also gives this presentation to Olympic athletes, important business executives, and even on reputable television shows. Sleep for Success! is his second book, and I read the entire thing in a day.

     I have had some sleep problems for the past few years. Usually I’m exhausted if I get less than 12-14 hours of sleep per night, yet I have trouble falling asleep before 2am. Lately I have also been waking up several times every night, and I always want to take naps. After reading this book and seeing the tips, I’m for sure going to work at it, and hopefully my grades will improve, I will lose weight, and eventually need less sleep (all of which is promised to those who follow the rules outlined in the book).

     Since this is the type of book in which you would want me to write spoilers, I’ll just warn you now: the whole post will be spoilers. I won’t go into too much detail, list all the tips, or even discuss all the chapters. I’m only going to be writing stuff that I found relevant and interesting; there’s still a lot in the book to make it worthwhile to pick up yourself.

     If you need an alarm to wake up, it takes you significantly less or more than 20 minutes to fall asleep, or if you are sleepy during the day, then you are sleep deprived. And these days, nearly everyone is.

     First I want to share some interesting facts and statistics mentioned in the book related to sleep deprivation.
          - The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 80 000 sleep-related accidents per day, resulting in 1500 fatalities and 71 000 injuries per year.
          - Your mattress doubles in weight every ten years due to dust mites (ew!)
          - Sleep beginning before midnight is no better than sleep beginning after midnight; it is instead the amount and quality of sleep which matters.
          - You cannot condition yourself to need less sleep.
          - The human body can never adjust to night-shift work.
          - University and high school students' level of alertness equals that of an untreated narcoleptic (someone who is chronically tired and feels the need to sleep all the time no matter how much actual rest they are getting)
          - Driving drowsy is the same as driving drunk; one drink on six hours of sleep is equal to six drinks on eight hours (the recommended average).
          - After 17-19 hours of wakefulness your brain has the same level of activity as someone with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.05. Twenty eight hours of wakefulness results in activity levels equal to a BAC of 0.1.

     Sleep is incredibly important for humans to function properly. More specifically, it is REM sleep that is critical. (I’m not going to explain all about the sleep cycles and brain waves, though it is explained well in the book, so go here to read up on it, probably before continuing to read the review). Briefly: REM sleep occurs every 90 minutes during your sleep cycle, doubling in length each time. This is why hours 6-8 are the most important of the night; they consist almost entirely of REM sleep. If you have to sleep for less than 6 hours, you won’t be getting anything out of the sleep, except I suppose less racking up of your sleep-debt.

     One of the most important aspects of sleep is the fact that your brain is super active. REM sleep is the only time when memory enhancement occurs, and also commits events to long term memory, such as muscle memory from a soccer practice, understanding an impossible physics problem, and even remembering conversations you had during the day with friends and family. Sleep is also known to affect the following things: cancer, heart disease, memory consolidation, concentration, motor skills and coordination, ability to communicate, mood and anxiety, skin, diabetes, weight gain, and illnesses.

     The book talks a lot about sleep time and quality for all the different age groups, but I’m not going to go into that. You’ll just have to read the book yourself. Maas also talks in depth about various sleep disorders, cures and treatments, as well as various helpful and not-so-helpful inventions related to sleep. Something described in his chapter on teens that I do want to mention is that the circadian rythym of teenagers usually allows for sleep during 3 and 11 am. Maas has influenced some schools to postpone the start of the school day, and even just an hour made a huge difference on attitude, grades, athletic performance and health.

     Some of the hints and tips given by Dr. Maas to help get better sleep are as follows.
          - No caffeine after 2pm
          - Cutting back on alcohol (which is not a ‘sleep aid’) and nicotine will help with quality of sleep.
          - You shoud be going to sleep and waking up at the same time everty day, regardless of workdays, weekends or holidays.
          - Determine your personal sleep quotient (explained very well in the book) and meet it every night
          - Get your required amount of sleep in one continuous block, rather than several chunks of sleep.
          - Make up for lost sleep as soon as possible (while still adhering to the guidelines)
          - Avoid boredom
          - As a rule, for every 2 hours of being awake, your body requires 1 hour of sleep. Ergo, every 24 hour period should be spent with 16 hours awake, and 8 hours asleep.
if you don’t get enough sleep, you begin to accumulate sleep-debt. This cannot be “paid off” by sleeping in on the weekends, or having naps all the time.
          - If you absolutely need a nap, it should be between 2:00pm and 4:00pm, and should last either 20 minutes or 90 minutes.
          - The best time to exercise is between 5:00pm and 7:00pm. The worst time is early in the morning. Also a bad time: within 3 hours of bedtime. Sex is the exception: it promotes good quality sleep.
          - Light has the most significant impact on our circadian rythyms by far, so try to avoid bright light – natural or artificial – in the few hours before you plan on going to sleep (especially the blue light of TV and computer screens).
          - One's bedroom environment is very important for quality of sleep. Light, noise and temperature drastically affect sleep. There should be dim lighting in your room, and no electronics. Noise should be kept to below 60dB (also, should be constant white noise, not the TV or radio, and should be turned off after the onset of sleep to avoid waking you up later in lighter stages of sleep). The temperature of your bedroom should be 65 degrees F (use blankets if you really need to, but don’t raise the temperature). Otherwise, your bedroom should not be used for anything other than sleeping (no eating or studying!) and should be relatively empty of decorations (no cluttered dresser or stacks of magazines). Having a bedtime ritual starting 1 hour before you wish to sleep consisting of warm bath/shower, reading for pleasure, mediatiation, no electronics (among other things) is very helpful.
          - Good nighttime snacks: crackers, vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, peanut butter, cereal, oatmeal.
          - Bad nighttime snacks: alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, spicy food, dairy (exception of warm milk), processed foods, garlic, meats.

     I really enjoyed the book; I felt as though it explained simply and interestingly many things which I had been wondering about. There are sleepiness quizzes, extended reading material suggestions, and many helpful tips and explanations geared toward helping you get a better night's sleep. I will definitely be testing this out, and I'll keep you posted on the results!

Fireworks Over Toccoa - Jeffrey Stepakoff

March 30, 2010

   An unexpected discovery takes eighty-four-year-old Lily Davis Woodward to 1945, and the five days that forever changed her life. Married for only a week before her husband was sent to fight in WWII, Lily is anxious for his return, and the chance to begin their life together. In honor of the soldiers' homecoming, the small Georgia town of Toccoa plans a big celebration. And Jake Russo, a handsome Italian immigrant, also back from war, is responsible for the elaborate fireworks display the town commissioned.
   But after a chance encounter in a star-lit field, he steals Lily's heart and soul--and fulfills her in ways her socially-minded, upper-class family cannot. Now, torn by duty to society and her husband--and the poor, passionate man who might be her only true love--Lily must choose between a commitment she's already made and a love she's never known before.(Chapters, CA)

     This book truly moved me, and I am still in complete awe. I almost cannot express how much I loved this book. I might even say it is one of my top five favourites … Not sure if that’s going too far, but I’m so entranced right now, I can’t help but believe so.

     I found the writing style really painted a vivid picture in my head, and I really appreciated having that canvas backing up the love story which was magically unfolding. The characters, Lily and Jake specifically, were so true and feasible/realistic, that I had no problem diving right into their story. I felt so strongly for Lily the whole time, as if I were experiencing the same happiness and struggles, and I really love it when a book can drag me in so profoundly. This is a tear-jerker for sure, and not a read to be passed up ever!

     Oddly, there were small aspects which reminded me of two movies; Titanic and The Notebook (though, they too are amazing stories). The beginning was set up similarly to Titanic, in which a woman and granddaughter stumble across something significant from the former’s past, who then goes on to tell the epic story. Later on, I found Lily’s struggle between two men - obligation versus love – as well as her father’s intervention similar to events in the Notebook. But truthfully, this similarity didn’t detract from the story at all.

     I felt bad for Lily before she met Jake. She just went about her life, dutifully going shopping or cleaning, but not really enjoying it. It was obvious to me that Lily cared for Paul out of duty, not love, and she was stuck in an inescapable rut. The first night they met, Lily had her reservations about Jake, but I was already gunning for them to be together. She kept worrying what would be thought of her; a married woman, having dinner in a secluded field with a sexy male stranger was not considered appropriate behavior. I wanted to reach in and let her know that times change, and in present day, she wouldn’t be made to feel guilty.

     Something I will address is the cheating factor. My personal views vary quite a bit from case to case, but in this particular situation, that aspect of Lily and Jake’s relationship never once entered my mind. Thinking about it now, I still feel the same; when Lily met Jake, she knew immediately there was something very powerful and special about him, which was missing in Paul, and the rest of her life. How could you try to let go of those feelings from that night in the field. It seemed to me almost that her body was reacting instinctively, and only her socially-closed mind was in objection, and love is more important than etiquette.

     I really didn’t agree with Lily’s decision in the end about Paul. I’m sure some of you are aghast at this statement, saying of course she did the right thing, in the end she upheld her commitment to her marriage and blah blah whatever. But I felt it was unfathomably necessary for Lily to end up with Jake. I don’t quite see how Paul’s death caused her to change her mind; she had ultimately decided to leave him, and I don’t see the ‘duty of being a widow’ as any greater than ‘the responsibility of being a wife’. I understand that she didn’t want to tarnish his memory, insult his service in the war, and everything else society would throw at her, but she had already taken that into consideration, and decided to be with Jake anyway. She ended up marrying another anyway, so why couldn’t it have been Jake? I just don’t like it. However, on that note, I loved how real the ending was. It wasn’t predictable, and it really got to me emotionally. (I was sobbing in the middle of the mall as I finished it).

     I was so engrossed in this book, I found it very hard to put down and sleep at night. I was so swept up right there with Lily, that I was just as excited as she to go back to Jake when she eventually had to leave. When she had butterflies, I had butterflies; when she was teary because he created a firework specially for her, so was I; and when they made love, I felt that passion (emotionally of course, I don’t think any book could be that good). And when they didn’t end up together, I was heartbroken, because I had fallen in love with him too.

The Chosen One - Carol Lynch Williams

May 12, 2009

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters, with two more on the way. That is, without questioning them much---if you don't count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her.
But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty-year-old uncle---who already has six wives---Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever. (Chapters, CA)

     Somehow when I picked up this book, I had completely forgotten what it was about, so I was temporarily surprised when I started. The book unapologetically throws you right into the middle of Kyra's story. Don't say I didn't warn you.

     The one thing that bothered me throughout the whole book was the writing style, which I found too young for my taste. The book does speak as a naive, sheltered thirteen year old, but I didn't get the sense that the taint of immaturity was due to her age and circumstance. My opinion is this book is geared toward a much younger audience (ie. tweenagers).

     I didn't dislike the book, but it just doesn't make the cut as a favourite. As I was reading, I found that I was pulling information about polygamists from my previous knowledge to fill in the gaps. Again, perhaps these gaps were there on purpose by the author as a way of further showcasing Kyra's age and cluelessness, but that can only go so far. I think someone new to the idea of polygamy, and these isolated societies which revolve around their prophet and his teachings, would have a hard time really understanding the whole situation. It's way more complicated and sensitive than we as outsiders could ever imagine, and I really felt that that concept was lost in this book.

     That being said, I do think it is a good book for tweens. I give this book a 3 star rating overall, but I really liked the ending, and felt like it deserved a half star. The book speaks on a personal level, so you really get to know and understand Kyra, and get a realistic glimpse into a very different world and way of life.

     I have to start off with the ending, because it's still fresh in my mind. And boy, did it make me cry! The ending itself made me change my rating from its original 3 stars. The whole book, I was rooting for Kyra to run away, leave the compound, and go off with Joshua so they could be together for real. I wanted to throw the book across the room when he left without her! I really thought after that point that no hope was left for her to escape.

     The whole part with Kyra having to marry her Uncle Hyrum (who was not only old and gross, but violent and strict) really disgusted me. I know though that many girls are forced into such marriages for the sake of their religion. Some of these girls truly believe the Prophet and his teachings, others are too scared to question it, and the fact that this causes them to end up this way makes me really sad. Kyra's situation would make her the seventh wife of her Uncle, fifty years her senior. Her disgusted feelings were certainly echoed by me when I was reading.

     The punishments enforced by the God Squad in this compound were absolutely appalling and frightening. Hyrum forced Mother Claire to near-drown her two year old in ice water for crying. Crying! That is really just too far for me. I couldn't tear my thoughts away from the reality of this life that many people lead.

     Poor Partick. He was so nice and sweet, I loved him the whole time. He was like a safety rope, linking Kyra with the outside world, saving her from being swallowed in her compound. I loved the part when Kyra first started borrowing books, Patrick made an excuse to take a rest so Kyra could read with him in the truck. When he understood the danger, and offered to take her away from her life, I was worried that she would get scared and balk. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time that they were racing away, even when the God Squad appeared in their scary Hummers, and took Patrick down. I cried when he was killed.

     I was partly frustrated and partly saddened that Kyra thought everything was her fault. Even at 13, I thought she should be old enough to know that her thoughts can't be read, and no one knows about her books. She kept thinking that she was being punished when she was 'chosen' for Hyrum, when Mariah was punished, when her father nearly lost his family, when Joshua was beaten, or when Patrick was killed. None of these things were her fault; it's just the way her society works.

     The ending, when Kyra finally realized that she was free, and really could do anything she wanted now, really got to me. I felt like I was personally invested in her journey, and was happy when she was finally free. It just really hit home when Kyra was finally safe, and in bed, and she heard tapping at her window. I, too, thought it was Joshua. But it was a Russian olive tree, watching over Kyra. It really was the perfect ending.

Covergasms♥ (1) Emily Giffin

     So this is my first Covergasms♥ post. It is brought to you by Book♥Hooker who hosts the meme, and the fact that I’m waiting for nearly 20 000 photos to upload into Photoshop, and then back themselves up.

     I thought I’d start off with the Emily Giffin books. Ever since Holly came up with the idea for Covergasms, these books popped into my mind, so I figured it was a sign to do them first.

     I’m not usually a fan of simple covers such as these, but for some reason, they just hit the right chord.  First of all, they all match! That is really important for me, especially with series. I know these books aren’t exactly a series, but they do relate via six degrees of separation, so I can appreciate their matching-ness. The fact that they’re just different colours (still all pastels, though!), but otherwise the same really works for me. The font is simple and cute (and the same!), and the little image tie-in on each cover which matches both the book and the other images is clever and well done.

   Something Borrowed – engagement ring; Darcy and Dex are engaged, and Rachel makes things complicated

   Something Blue – the whole idea of the book is getting something you never saw coming or expected, ergo wrapped present

   Baby Proof – well it revolves around having a baby ... that was a little too obvious

   Love The One You're With – daisy; the universal sign of choosing in love: in this case not he-loves-me, he-loves-me-not, but Andy vs Leo

   Heart of the Matter – keys; well, I haven’t read it yet, but I’m sure it applies

     As I’m further examining and appreciating the covers, I notice the ‘a novel’ bit is stuck in cleverly on all the covers. Okay, except that someone clearly dropped the ball on Heart of the Matter. Come on, you could have done something; maybe written it along one of the keys. (and FYI: the hard cover version doesn’t say a novel anywhere, let alone somewhere clever. Hmm).

     I have to rate this as a remarkably good set of books that you can really get into, with equally sweet covers (for some reason it makes me think of cake icing??)

I Love Me Some Giveaways!

     Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college-and everyone''s admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.
     As a graduation present, Chelsea''s dad springs for a three-week summer "boot camp" program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she''s immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who''s haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain-or finally heal their heartbreak?
     - Chapters.ca


     I just want to say HUGE thank you to Book♥Soulmates for their giveaway of Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler. I won! I've never won anything before!
     Needless to say, I'm DYING of excitement! I will be posting a review the moment I am finished reading it, which will be later on the same day that I receive it!

Splendor (A Luxe Novel) - Anna Godbersen

June 21, 2010

New beginnings. Shocking revelations. Unexpected endings.
As spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searches for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father's death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes. In the dramatic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most dazzling socialites chase dreams, cling to promises, and tempt fate. Only one question remains: Will they fade away or will they shine ever brighter? (Chapters, CA)

     This book starts off far from the usual polished scene of early 20th century New York, and instead presents a vibrant and zesty Cuba. Diana and Henry are both on the island; she with short hair and no inhibitions, and he upon the pretense of being at war. Elizabeth is already married when the book begins, and seems to be embracing said life. Penelope and Carolina are the same status-whores as always; no surprise there.

     Throughout the series I have loved Diana and been most interested in her story, and this book was no exception. Needless to say, I was glad that she seemed to be showcased a bit more than the others. Don’t get me wrong, the different stories were all realized to their full potential, but Diana was definitely the heroine of this one.

     I probably liked Splendor the best of the books, but only slightly more than The Luxe. Overall, I have to say I am satisfied with how everyone ended up. In some cases I was pleasantly surprised that the outcome wasn’t predictable; it made the books seem that much more real. There wasn’t exactly any more character development necessary, leaving so much more room for plot development, which was just right in my opinion for the last book of the series.

     I loved every moment of each book, and found that every aspect was enchanting yet believable. I strongly urge you to read this book; this is a series which won’t disappoint!

     I have to say, I just knew there was something not right about Snowden. I rarely pick up on cues like that, but Godbersen’s writing style really speaks to me. What a cold, calculating creep! Having Will murdered, and being there in the wing the whole time, waiting for the opportune moment to pounce on Elizabeth and her golden oil field. Admittedly, for him to have held on so long, and remained undiscovered so long is an impressive feat, but of course it just makes the deed that much more repulsive. I was surprised when he died; the description of how fragile was Elizabeth, and how strong and sturdy Snowden stood didn’t add up to her pushing him down the stairs, to his death.

     I love Teddy (see my Book Beau post for more luscious details). I spent the entire book waiting for him to come back from war. As soon as he and Diana were talking at Schoonmaker Sr.’s funeral, I knew he would rescue Elizabeth, and they would end up together. I really liked that ending for Liz; she had a fairly shitty last few years, so I felt that this conclusion really suited her. And of course she and Teddy are perfect for one another.

     Referring back to my earlier Luxe posts, I really hate Lina, "aka Carolina" (blah-blah-hoity-toity-nonsense). I didn’t want to see her out on the streets, and Longhorn’s fortune made it possible for her to still appear as a society girl, therefore giving me more chances to hate her. Such a shallow little girl, with ridiculous hopes of marrying the likes of Leland Bouchard. *here is where I roll my eyes* I will say though, that I personally hate Lina, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate her story or character. I was hooked the entire time. That said, I felt bad for Leland the whole time he was falling in love with Lina. I still don’t think she knows what love is, unless it’s love of self or wealth. The fact that Tristan kept popping up annoyed me, I really felt like his time had come and gone. His presence did however, offer me more opportunities to scoff at Lina for trying to pay him off the way she did. Obviously that wasn’t going to end well. I was very happy for Claire (who I’ve been silently rooting for all along) when she was finally able to step out of the position of maid, and live with her sister in sweet naïve, ignorant bliss.

     I did have a very short moment of sympathy when Leland finally broke up with Carolina. Granted, what she did was wrong in so many ways, but I feel that him not forgiving her, or giving her a second chance, despite how he felt just proves that he is shallow like the rest of them. Perhaps they deserve each other. Out of all the characters, Leland is perhaps the only one who I feel I didn’t get to know very well. Throughout the book I thought that his story was building slowly and something big would happen at the end, but then he breaks it off with Carolina and *poof* all gone. I found that a little strange, and I still don’t quite know what to make of it.

     Penelope. What a character. She cares so much about keeping up appearances, so I found it odd when she was out so soon after her "miscarriage" and while her husband was at "war". But of course, Penelope reminds me a bit of Scarlett O’Hara; all she wants to do is dance and flirt with rich men. Obviously her condition wasn’t going to prevent her from appearing in society for too long. Penelope’s first public appearance was at Carolina’s party at the latter’s new house, where the former met the Prince of Bavaria. He too has a wild side, and Penelope felt their relationship was perfect. She even began to give up fighting for Henry. She didn’t actually stop trying to make his life miserable, but she did temporarily distract herself with games and royal sex.

     Is it harsh for me to say that she finally got hers in the end? Penelope is a bad person. Sure, she’s relatable and human, but that doesn’t mean she’s not bad. She spent the entire series trying to win Henry over, resorting to force and blackmail when her sexual allure lost its fire, threatening to ruin the reputation of his true love, and cheating on him with someone with a higher title. Princess trumps Schoonmaker. I too thought she would end up with Bavaria, but I suppose we both should have known it was nothing more than a Prince taking what he wanted in the impressionable new-world society before settling down with a comptesse, as is his duty. And I am satisfied with the way this turned out. Penelope needed to learn once and for all that being conniving will come back to haunt you.

     I left Diana and Henry until the end, because I’m still savouring their story, and I wish it wasn’t over.

     I have believed in the strength and magic of their connection since halfway through Rumors; there is no way for them not to end up together. Despite all Penelope’s threats to ruin her, Diana is so much stronger than to allow society to dictate her life. Through Envy, I still thought they would be together, but I didn’t have full conviction that Henry would find a way to leave Penelope. As soon as the Prince appeared, I knew there was nothing stopping him anymore, and practically started holding my breath waiting for him to finally go to his father. Of course, the shock of Henry asserting himself was enough for the old man to kick the bucket. Even after the death, I was still convinced that Henry would take his inheritance and run away with Di to Paris. Clearly, that never happened.

     I was really happy when Elizabeth made the suggestion for the two of them to run away to Paris. She was right in saying that they could never truly be together in New York, and I was so sure that Henry would see that too. He’s such a cad, thinking that Diana would be his always and anywhere, but that was never the point. I was surprised when she agreed to be his Mistress (which I think happened in Envy?) because she just seems too proud for that.

     Though I would never turn down another chance to read about Diana, I feel as though her story was complete, if bittersweet. I was drop-jaw shocked when Diana left Henry standing sadly alone on the pier. Some part of me still feels a little cheated by this, but another part feels that it’s the perfect ending. I understand her not wanting to stay in New York, and not wanting Henry to follow her just because, but I almost expected him to tie everything neatly up in New York and follow her to Paris later. Instead he sent letters asking her to come back? .... Maybe that’s how this would have ended up in todays world, but back then you often married your first love, and often young. It felt very ahead of her time what she did, and that is perhaps the only thing which I feel doesn't fit perfectly.

     I love stories, or at least the idea of stories, which do not have a predictable and sappy ending. There is just something about this book, and Diana’s character in particular, which really made me want love for her. And not just any love, but Henry’s love. Her first love. The passion and energy and intensity they had was so pure, it just makes sense for them to end up together after everything.

     Despite all that, I really loved the way Henry ended up. Married unhappily – dumbfounded perhaps – to Penelope. Two peas of the same pod; brought together by stale lust and threats, remaining together out of convenience and because there is nothing else for either of them to do. They are condemned to a bejeweled life of false pretenses, disingenuous parties and melancholy.

Book Beaus (1) Teddy Cutting

Teddy Cutting
The Luxe Series by Anna Godbersen

     I really wanted my first Book Beau post to be of a guy in a book I am currently reading. I’ve been reading the Luxe series, and neither Will nor Henry really appealed to me (I love them for Elizabeth and Diana respectively, but my book beau is what I want for me).

     Suddenly, I noticed Teddy Cutting, and realized that my affections for him have been growing silently and steadily for the past few books. He is just the type of guy I like; not at either end of the spectrum, but at a comfy place in the middle of being kind, handsome and wealthy. He is light hearted but not air headed, and I pictured him to have an infectious boyish smile that can’t help but dissolve even the most severe frown. He is often overlooked as anything other than Henry’s best friend, but knowing that’s not all he is just draws me to him more.

     In my head Derek Hough fills the role of Teddy Cutting. He has a round face, longish blonde hair and piercing grey eyes. He is very easy to talk to, and can always be counted upon. Teddy is always ready for a good time of drinking and dancing, though he will always support his friends in whatever serious choices lie within their hearts.


     My favourite Teddy moment: When everyone was in Florida and Teddy tried to propose to Elizabeth on the dance floor. He was so sweet, her refusal just killed me. I wish she had said yes (especially given what happened next, and the fact that he was then gone). At the moment of his sincere and amazingly awkward proposal, all his little moments came flooding back. I remembered how sweet he was when he came to call on me *cough* I mean Elizabeth, after the "accident" and how it was obvious that he cared. No longer was his infatuation a simple boyhood crush, but a devoted, tender love for her.

    

     Now that I am finished Splendor, I just have to add something: yay that Teddy came back to save Elizabeth! When he was talking to Diana at Schoonmaker Sr.'s funeral, I knew he was back for good, and that he was going to save her. My faith waivered in him a little when he first went to see Elizabeth, but allowed himself to be ushered out so quickly. Of course, as my hero, he came back right when he was needed the most, and literally carried his love to safety.

Wish I Could Win...

     I am fairly new to the book-blogosphere, and I'm really trying to get my foot in the door. I know I don't read as much as I should/usually do, but school and other pressures have been hampering my reading time of late.

     I've joined a bunch of blogs, and I try to comment wherever I feel my two cents is worth sharing. I love reading other book blogs, I get a real sense of validation of my opinions and feelings (and sometimes some not-so-validating-entries). Either way, reading the reviews of other book lovers is very inspiring.

     My strategy now is to enter some book blog giveaways. I feel that this will tie me in to the more professional blogs in a good way. I'd really love to win, seeing as the giveaways are usually awesome books that I probably never would have picked up otherwise.

     These are some of the awesome giveaways I've entered. The prize packs look truly amazing!

The Bookish Brunette's 500 Followers Giveaway
Gripped Into Books 500 Follower Giveaway
Confessions of a Bookaholic Giveaway
Awesomesauce Summer Releases Giveaway
I Swim For Oceans Forever ARC Giveaway

     Wish me luck!!

Rumors (A Luxe Novel) - Anna Godbersen

July 22, 2009

True love. False friends. Scandalous gossip. Welcome back to Manhattan, 1899. As rumors fly about the untimely demise of New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, all eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her sister, Diana, the family's only hope for redemption; Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind; even Elizabeth's former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency. In this delicious sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal ... or more precious than a secret. (Chapters, CA)

     We left off in Manhatten, December 1899. Elizabeth Holland has just been reported dead, but Penelope and Diana know the truth; that Elizabeth faked her death to be able to run off to California to be with Will, the love of her life. Penelope now has full acess to Henry, her original prize, and Diana is able to release the guilt originally felt over being in love with her dead sister’s fiancée.

     I liked Rumors marginally better than I did The Luxe, but admittedly only because there was more stuff happening rather than back story or setups for future events. As much as Elizabeth is seemingly supposed to be the heroine of the series, I enjoyed Diana's story the most. Perhaps it’s the hopeless romantic side of me, or perhaps I just don’t like backstabbing bitches.

     I really liked the character development in this book, how you can see the development and different facets to everyone's characters, Henry's in particular. Each character’s story is crafted so well, and all interwoven just the right amount to be plausible and realistic. Though I can’t say I like Lina, I did enjoy the dramatic irony present in her story line with regards to Will and Elizabeth.

     Overall, I loved this book, and am still thoroughly engrossed in the series. I would definitely recommend this series to teens and young adults looking for an entertaining read that’s not too heavy. Read The Luxe first though! The ending provided me with mucho excitement, and I am very excited to continue on with Envy and Splendor.

     I really hate Lina. She’s such a selfish, naïve and terrible person; I almost find myself wanting to scream at her through the pages of my book. The whole time it was so obvious that Lina cared much more about herself and her increasing social position than she did Will or even her own sister, and frankly it disgusts me. Even when she meets Claire in the park, she is so focused on impressing her own sister, that she treats her as she would if Claire was her maid. Lina condescendingly gives Claire her muff, bragging that she can get others whenever her heart desires, and yet she so obviously regrets her decision immediately after. She is stuck between maid and socialite, and in my opinion will never be able to rise above that.

     I felt so justified in my feelings towards Lina when she sees Will in the department store, and we see proof of just how self-centered she really is. She obviously never loved him – she may have had a puppy crush when she was younger – but became obsessively jealous when she found out about Elizabeth and Will. But then as her selfish nature would dictate, she is much more pleased with herself and her new social position to even consider talking to Will, and it is especially in this instance where we see just how strikingly different Liz and Lina are. Elizabeth gave up her money, family, friends and social life to be with Will, and she obviously loves him very much. Lina won’t even acknowledge her childhood friend because she is now “too good” to be on familiar terms with a stable hand.

     I’m not finished dishing about Lina: her relationship with Tristan really pisses me off. Tristan actually gives me the creeps. And Lina is so desperate, that she doesn’t even care that Tristan stole all her money. Granted, it wouldn’t have been a good idea for her to make a fuss, given her social goals, but it just really bothered me when she didn’t react at all. I felt like Lina needed a good smack in the back of the head whenever Tristan came into the picture; he used and manipulated her so much, and she thought he was actually trying to help her. I felt that she deserved to be exposed, but of course that never happened.
     The most despicable thing about her, though, is that she sold the story about Diana and Henry to Penelope in exchange for social priority and connections. Claire told Lina that in confidence, and she just turns around and sells her out. Admittedly it was clever, but I can’t appreciate that aspect because I just hate her so much.

     Okay I’m done with Lina.

     Even though The Luxe set up Elizabeth as the main character, I enjoyed her relative absence in this book. I love Diana, and I was really satisfied that she is the focus of Rumors, and I really felt as though I was riding along with her as she was living through these experiences. The little love letters exchanged between Henry and her, and the sweet and innocently romantic night they spent together in the greenhouse made my heart flutter, and I remembered what it was like to fall in love for the first time. Perhaps another reason why I hated Lina so much is that she played such a pivotal part in ruining Diana’s chances for happiness. The night she spent with Henry in her bedroom was so tender and beautiful, I felt as though there is no way for them not to end up together. I don’t care for Henry so much, but I love him when he’s with Diana. Diana is definitely one of my favourite literary characters. I have such a strong picture in my head of what she looks like and how she acts, and I always find myself wanting to read more of her.

     As I mentioned, Elizabeth didn’t play much of a part in the book, and I was okay with that. I just found myself shaking my head at her when she and Will returned to New York. You faked your death, and that’s not something you can change your mind about. You abandoned your family to be with Will, and though I think that’s so romantic, you can’t just decide to go back to try and fix the mess you knew you were going to leave behind. That annoyed me a little. Of course, nothing good was bound to come of her return, even though she wanted to help. I didn’t expect Will to be killed though! That was probably the only part of the book that really surprised me. I never like to think ahead when I’m reading so as not to spoil any surprises, so maybe it was obvious to another reader, but not to me. I really felt heartbroken for Elizabeth.

     I still can't figure out what's going on with Snowden and the Hollands as far as money goes. Is Snowden really their dad's old partner? Did the money he have really belong to Mr. Holland? Is it even legally his money, or is he actually some sort of crime lord? Snowden appeared in the book so suddenly; I really couldn’t help but be suspicious. Even by the end of the novel there is no character development, which makes me think that it’s not important anyway, he’s just supposed to be someone who comes to the Hollands’ aid, and you’re just supposed to accept that at face value. But I can’t help but still be a little curious…

     Penelope. I don’t like her for being the one to ruin Diana and Henry’s lives (yes Lina helped, but she’s not important enough to receive full credit, since she really is Penelope’s minion). I spent the entire book waiting on the edge of my seat for her karma to catch up to her. Of course, it never did. I should say ‘yet’ seeing as there are still two books in the series to be read, and she has to have it coming for her somehow. I did appreciate that it isn’t predictable in the way that the hero always wins and the bad guy always gets what’s coming to him. It made for an exciting struggle between Penelope, and Henry and Diana.

     You know I like the book, because even though I hate Lina, I really enjoyed feeling so strongly, and you know the book is well written if it can evoke such a strong feeling in me. The book ends with Penelope and Henry’s wedding, and a promise from Elizabeth to Diana that they will somehow get Henry back for her.

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins (Parts 2 & 3)

     So the rest of this book was the absolute opposite of disappointing! I literally couldn't stop after each part like I had planned. I did contemplate giving this book only a four and a half rating because I wasn't so impressed with the first part of the book, but overall it really deserves five stars. I see now how everything had to be set up, and really was necessary for the actions and emotion to shine through like they did in the rest of the book (I just wish part one was shorter, that's all).

     After reading the whole book, I am glad that there wasn't another Games. I don't think that could have been pulled off a third time, and still been able to follow up with the end of the rebellion and tie up all the loose ends so nicely.

     I enjoyed that Gale was more a part of this book than he was in the first two. It helped to develop his character further than just Katniss' childhood friend. I never really felt the whole Katniss-Gale thing (it just seemed like Dawson and Joey all over again) but I was able to open up a little more to the idea after his character became more dynamic.

     One of the things I didn't expect from the book was how damaged Peeta became from the torture. I was very unsure in the beginning just what was happening to him, and why he was always on TV going against Katniss. I assumed he was just being threatened to do so, but to have him transformed so darkly in much more of a permanent way added some depth to the plot and created a beautiful struggle his relationship with Katniss that I didn't expect.

     I know I haven't commented so much on the politics or the actual war element of the book, but if you've read some of my other entries, you'll understand how much I loathe and detest politics, so I breezed right through that with a smile on my face, hungering for the next part I would like, and as such, I have no comments now.

     I have to say that I felt cheated when right at the seemingly most exciting part of the story, all of a sudden the reader is wrenched away from the action. It made me even more thirsty for an ending (which was really not necessary by this point), and I enjoyed that unpredictable twist. The one thing I seem to be a little confused about is what happened between Katniss and Snow and Coin? Okay, so Coin was actually the one who bombed the children, pretending it was instead the Capitol. That's why she shot Coin in the end and not Snow? Because it seems to me that Coin could have waited for her punishment until after Snow was disposed of. And what's the deal about Snow and Katniss not lying to each other, and what does that have to do with the whole war? So Katniss shoots Coin, and then is locked away. So she sings?! Hmmm. Whatever.

     Actually the only part of this book that made me cry was right at the end when Katniss was grooming Buttercup (Prim's cat) and pulling the thorns out of his paws. It was heartbreaking how even though they hated each other, they came together to comfort one another over the death of a very important loved one. Ususally this sort of thing happens with people, but the fact that it was Katniss and Buttercup, who have always not gotten along, to a humorous extent, was really satisfying.

     I loved the ending. I hate feel-good books and movies because they seem so shiny and hardly realistic at all. I was kind of sad that Gale didn't come back with Katniss and Peeta, but of course he had nothing left in district twelve. More importantly, Katniss can't have her cake and eat it too (note to Bella). It was really just the fact that their friendship had to end so suddenly; I felt like there would have been some unfinished business between them, or at least a parting conversation. But maybe that was the bittersweet point. The fact that Katniss and Peeta ended up together (yay!) was exactly what should have happened, but the lack of a happily ever after really drove in the last nail; the impact of the Games and the war and rebellion will never go away, not for years. People don't just wake up one week later the way they were before all the hardships. Things this big and serious really mess with peoples cores, in an inarguably incorrigible way.

     Overall, this is one of the most amazing books I've ever read, and definitely a favourite for the vault! ♥

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins (Part 1)

The Hunger Games Trilogy
date began: February 04 2011

Part I - "The Ashes"

     I really had no idea what to expect for this book. I had no clue what the series was about before having read it, and also having no significant exposure to dystopian society books. Now that the first two books revolved around the two Hunger Games, I expected a third Games. So far, having read all of part one, not only has no Games occurred, but there appears to be nothing of the sort in the future.

     That aside, I still have no real idea where the book is going. I get that there's a whole revolution going on, but I never really paid much attention to the politics of the first two books. I cared so much more about the exciting Games and the love story between Katniss and Peeta (duh). So I have to say I am having a bit of trouble really embracing it and loving it as I did the first two.

     Not much has been established. I get that Collins has to lay the groundwork for the revolution to build on by bringing us back to a demolished District 12, and just like Katniss had to be introduced to the ruthless war tactics of the Capitol by bombing the hospital in District 8, so did the reader. I read and allowed myself to sympathize, but I admit, I've been sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for something exciting to happen. Where is Haymitch, and Cinna? And why is Caesar being such a dick... I never really felt he was part of the whole Capitol regime, but here he is now making Peeta look awful, basically doing the opposite of what he did the first two books.

     I also hate how we've hardly heard anything about Peeta. I honestly am confused as to what's going on with him and the cease fire and all that stuff. (Again, this is politics and is too dense for me. I may sound dumb, but I just don't like that kind of stuff!) I want some romance here! I want the Gale-Katniss-Peeta triangle to play out (obviously with Katniss and Peeta together... Gale can fall in love with Prim, and they can all live happily ever after).

     So this would be my take on the first 134 pages. Keep posted!

Mockingjay (Intro)

August 24, 2010

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. (Chapters, CA)

     I have been anticipating this book since I finished Catching Fire back in the summer. I think I waited this long to read it because I am trying to prolong the inevitable; the end of the series. But Holly throws death threats at me daily, so I decided it was time.

     Check later for the review!